2022年5月30日月曜日

What is the true meaning of "ndesu"? (From "No longer lost in translation")

 Private Japanese Lessons, a group of Japanese teachers which I run make an animation series. This series is full of helpful Japanese learning tips. Every episode is only around 10 minutes long with simple explanations. You may find useful information within, which you won't find in textbooks.

Here is the first episode. If you're interested, please go to our YouTube channel!

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Minako: Shall we start today's topic of "ndesu" now? May pepole say it is difficult.

Bruce: Yes, unfortunately I struggle with it a lot.

Minako: Firstly, let's check the grammar.

Bruce: Actually, I am okay with the grammatical rules. It's the short form plun "N", right? Iku ndesu. Ikanai ndesu. Itta ndesu. Ikanakatta ndesu.

Minako: Exactly. And "N" comes with "desu". Then how about an i-adjective like "takai"? 

Bruce: Takai ndesu. Takakunai ndesu. Takakatta ndesu. Tanakunakatta ndesu.

Minako: Correct. How about a na-adjective like "hima na"?

Bruce: Hima nandesu. Hima janai ndesu. Hima datta ndesu. Hima janakatta ndesu.

Minako: Na-adjectives takes "nandesu". However, the negative and past forms of na-adjectives take just "ndesu". Lastly, how about a noun like "shigoto"?

Bruce: Shigoto nandedsu. Shigoto janai ndesu. Shigoto datta ndesu. Shigoto janakatta ndesu.

Minako: Perfect! You used "noun + nandesu" correctly. Nound and na-adjectives use the same pattern.

Bruce: Yes, I know. I do unerstand the grammar, but I'm not sure how or when I shoudl use it.

Minako: Let's learnd two of these meanings today. Remember them as the "curiosity N" and the "please understand me N".

Bruce: Hmm...interesting.

Minako: "N" is just a single letter, but you can actually put various feeling into it.

Bruce: Like surprised, upset or happy?

Minako: Yes. There are all different feelings, but they can be expressed with "N".

Bruce: Whad does that mean?

Minako: We use the curiosity "N" when the speaker feels surprised or interested to see someone's situation. A question with "ndesu" can express "I want to kno about it!", "I wanto to ask about it!" or "Please tell me about it!".

Bruce: OK.

Minako: And we use the "please understand me N" when we are looking for the listener's empathy. For example, you can express "oh, please understand my pain!"

Bruce: Hmm...

Minako: I know desnse explanations are hard to understand. So, listen to the following conversation. Tanaka is talking with a doctor.

Doctor: dou shimashita ka? (What is the problem?)

Tanaka: koronda ndesu. (I fell over.)

Doctor: 2 shukan gurai de yoku naru hazu desu. (You shourl be fine in two weeks.)

Tanaka: shumatsu kara ski ni iku yotei nandesu ga. (I have a plan to go skiing this weekend.)

Doctor: sore wa muri desu ne. (Ah, sorry, but you can't do that.)

Minako Then, this time, let's focus on "N". The doctore asks "dou shimashita ka?"

Bruce: She doesn't use "ndesu".

Minako: Her job is to ask the symptoms and to diagnose. It's not her curiosity.

Bruce: That's why she is not asking with the "curiosity N".

Minako: Yes. As for Tanaka, he desperately wants the doctor to understand his situation.

Bruce: So, he usese the "please understand me N".

Minako: That's right. In Tanaka's second line, he really wants to go skiing. The "ndesu" shows us his inner voice which is asking "Please, is there any way I can go?" 

Bruce: He wants to say "please understand my situation. I really want to go, right?" However, we just don't say things like this in English.

Minako: Exactly. That's why "ndedsu" is hard to understand. I hope you'll understand it better with the next dialogue. Tanaka and his colleague Yamada are talking.

Yamada: Dou shita ndesu ka? (What happened to you?)

Tanaka: Koronda ndesu. (I fell over.)

Yamada: Ski ni ikeru ndesu ka? (Are you able to go skiing?)

Tanaka: Ikenai ndesu. (I can't.)

Minako: Let's analyze this line by line. Compare with the doctor. Yamada was surprised to see Tanak injured. What happened to you? Where did you get injured? She wants to ask a lot of questions.

Buruce: Indeed. Yamada is really curious and asks "dou shita ndesu ka?

Minako: Yes. And Tanaka answers back with the "please understand me N". So, the next line... Why do you think Yamad uses "ndesu" here?

Bruce: She wants to know what Tanaka's plan is for the weekend skiing.

Minako: That's right. So, why is Tanaka replying with "N"?

Bruce: This one is the "please understand me N". Tanaka shows his disappointment with "N". I think I am getting there.

Minako: OK! Let's practice more.

Bruce: Sure.

Minako: For example, if I gave you some buscuits, but you were not eating them, I woudl be curious about why and ask you something like this. Nande cookie o tabenai ndesu ka? (Why aren't you eating the buiscuits?)

Bruce: Tamago allergy nandesu. (I'm allergic to eggs.)

Minako: Good! Zenzen taberarenai ndesu ka? (You can't eat them at all?) Kodomo no toki kara tabeta koto ga nai ndesu ka? (You haven't tried since childhood?)

Bruce: Sou nandesu. (Yes, that's right.)

Minako: Good! I asked you many questions, but always be aware that "ndesu ka?" is a quetsion with extra curiosity. If you ask too many questions, it might be seen as a rude or pushy.

Bruce: I will be careful.

Minako: Now, Bruce. Try a question of your own. What are you curisous about?

Bruce: Well, let's see... Minako, koibito wa iru ndesu ka? (Do you have a boyfriend?)

Minako: That's a very natural way of using "ndesu ka?"

Bruce: Umm...that was a real question.

Minako: Well, I'm looking for a boyfriend at the moment.


Please watch the video!
 

 

 

 

 

 

2022年5月6日金曜日

Have you seen "Tokyo Vice"?

While they were filming a TV series "Tokyo Vice" in Tokyo last year, luckily I taught the two actresses Japanese. One of them talked about her experiences of learning Japanese. If you're interested, please read it!

https://www.looper.com/851386/rachel-keller-discusses-the-challenges-of-speaking-and-singing-in-japanese-for-tokyo-vice-exclusive/


Tokyo Bay



2022年1月31日月曜日

Which one would you choose "koto" or "no" ? Part 3

 I think everyone has already read about "koto" and "no" before in textbooks and grammar books. In this post, I'll cover "koto" and "no" from my own point of view, and you might come across some points that differ from your own current understanding.

However, there is some ambiguity between "no" and "koto", even when observing how Japanese people use them, so please note that ther might be cases in which you might feel that using either is fine.

First, let me expalin the role of "koto". You've seen that some sentences contain verbal phrases + "koto". The verbal phrase represents an action or state, and "koto" conveys it into a concept that can be used to represent events, incidents, facts, circumstances, and experiences, etc. To state it in grammatical terms, verb + "koto" makes it possible to convert verbs into nouns.

Additionally, "no" performs the same role as "koto". Appending "no" to an action or state converts it to a concept. Also, "no" can represent people, objects, places, times and reasons, too.

This is easier to understand through examples, so let's look at some example sentences. (I'll reuse some of the same sentences from the quiz two posts back.)

  • (A-1) Mainichi joggingu wo tsuzukeru koto/no wa muzukashii.
  • (A-3) Watashi wa shiranai machi ni iku koto/no ga suki desu.
  • (B-3) Uta wo utau koto/ no to, odoru koto/no, docchi ga suki?
  • (B-5) Gaikokugo wo benkyou suru koto/no wa jikan ga kakaru.
The verbal phrases above are "mainichi joggingu wo tsuzukeru", "shiranai machi ni iku", "uta wo utau", "odoru", and "gaikokugo wo benkyou suru".

If you append "koto" or "no" between these, then using the jogging sentence as an example, the meaning changes to "the act (=koto) of jogging every day".
B-4 contains a similar pattern. However, "no" cannot be used in that case.
  • (B-4) Watashi no shumi wa e wo kaku koto desu. (correct)
  • Watashi no shumi wa e wo kaku no desu. (incorrect)
"No" can't be used with sentences containing a verbal phrase + "koto" + "desu". However, it is possible to replace "koto" with "no" when the sentence contains a verbal phrase + "koto" + "wa.../ga...". I believe the reason for this is to avoid confusion with "no desu" and "n desu". (Example: Kare wa itsu kuru no desu ka? / kuru n desu ka?)

Next, when a verbal phrase + "koto" represents an established fact, either "koto" or "no" can be used.
  • Yamada-san ga Amerika ni hikkosu koto/no wo shitteiru?
  • Kanojo wa ninshin shite iru koto/no ga wakatta.
  • Keitai ga kowarete iru koto/no ni ki ga tsuita.
  • watashi wa mae ni kare ni Osaka de atta koto/no wo wasurete ita (or, omoidashita).
Further, "koto" can't be replaced with "no" in "koto ga dekiru", "koto ni suru", "koto wa nai" and other set phrases like that. Thus,
  • (B-2) Kono mise no namae wo kiita koto ga aru? (correct)
  • Kono mise no namae wo kiita no ga aru? (incorrect)
I didn't include any such examples in the quiz, but when verbal phrase express an action and also take "wo", I think "no" is preferable to "koto". (While "koto" can probably be used, too, I just think "no" works better in these cases.)
  • Tomodachi wa watashi ga hikkosu no wo tetsudatte kureta.
  • Watashi wa eki de kare ga kuru no wo matte iru.
  • Kagi wo shimeru no wo wasurechatta.
  • Daietto wo suru! Amai mono wo taberu no wo yameru.

2021年12月29日水曜日

Which one would you choose "koto" or "no"? Part 2

I asked questions about "koto" and "no" in last post. You can find the answers to the quiz below.

A. In which sentences can be "no" replaced with "koto"?

  1. Mainichi joggingu wo tsuzukeru no/koto wa muzukashii.
  2. Akai kutsu to kuroi kutsu, docchi ga niau? → Akai no ga niau yo. *"Koto" can't be used.
  3. Watashi wa shiranai machi ni iku no/koto ga suki desu.
  4. Kono suteeki ga oishii no wa Kobe-gyuu wo tsukatteiru kara desu. *"Koto" can't be used.
  5. Yamada-san ga Amerika ni hikkosu no/koto o shitteiru?

B. In which sentences can "koto" be replaced with "no"?
  1. Kyuujitsu ni donna koto wo suru? *"No" can't be used.
  2. Kono mise no namae wo kiita koto ga aru? *"No" can't be used.
  3. Uta o utau koto/no to odoru koto/no, docchi ga suki?
  4. Watashi no shumi wa e o kaku koto desu. *"No" can't be used.
  5. Gaikokugo o benkyou suru koto/no wa jikan ga kakaru.
That's all for today, but I will post an explanation soon in 2022. Happy new year, every one!! Yoi otoshi o!!


2021年11月17日水曜日

Which one would you choose, "Koto" or "No"?

 Konnichiwa! Genki desu ka? 

First, I'd like to start with a short quiz about "koto" and "no". Then, after I correct your responses, I will follow up with the answers and then an explanation about them. Shall we begin?

A: In some of the following sentences, "no" can be replaced with "Koto". (The meanings don't change, and the sentences remain grammatically correct.) Which ones do you think they are?

  1. Mainichi jogingu o tsuzukeru no wa muzukashii.
  2. Akai kutsu to, kuroi kutsu, docchi ga niau? → Akai no ga niau yo.
  3. Watashi wa shiranai machi ni iku no ga suki desu.
  4. Kono suteeki (steak) ga oishii no wa Kobe-gyuu o tsukatteiru kara desu.
  5. Yamada san ga Amerika ni hikkosu no o shitteiru?
Here are Hiragana sentences. Some of you will find this easier to read.
  1. まいにち ジョギングを つづけるは むずかしい。
  2. あかいくつと くろいくつと どっちが にあう?→ あかいが にあうよ。
  3. わたしは しらないまちに いくが すきです。
  4. このステーキが おいしいは こうべぎゅうを つかっているからです。
  5. やまださんが アメリカに ひっこすを しっている?
B: In which of the following sentences can "koto" be replaced with "no"?
  1. Kyuujitsu ni donnna koto o suru?
  2. Kono mise no namae o kiita koto ga aru?
  3. Uta o utau koto to odoru koto, docchi ga suki?
  4. Watashi no shumi wa e o kaku koto desu.
  5. Gaikokugo o benkyou suru koto wa jikan ga kakaru.
ひらがな
  1. きゅうじつに どんなことを する?
  2. このみせの なまえを きいたことが ある?
  3. うたを うたうことと、おどること、どっちが すき?
  4. わたしのしゅみは えを かくことです。
  5. がいこくごを べんきょうすることは じかんが かかる。
I'm looking forward to your answers!!

2021年10月30日土曜日

I taught Japanese to the two great actresses :)

 About a month ago a Japanese company WOWWOW announced that they will broadcast a TV series "Tokyo Vice" from next spring in 2022. In America you can watch it through HBO Max from the early 2022.

They filmed in Tokyo this year. The directors, producers and actors came from America. The story is set in Japan, so the actors had Japanese lines. They needed to practice Japanese. Fortunately, I got a big change to teach Japanese to the two actresses.

We studied their Japanese lines and Japanese songs as well as basic Japanese. I had a great experiences with them through the lessons. 

I can't wait to watch the series! I hope you will watch them!!

2021年9月29日水曜日

Shibuya de? Or Shibuya ni? (From "No longer lost in translation")

Bruce: Today I want to ask you a question which is a very common among students.

Minako: What is it?

Bruce: "Shibuya ni" or "Shibuya de". I'm always confused with particles. Which one should I use, "ni" or "de"? I usually pick one at random.

Minako: At random... That's not good. Let's solve your confusion today!

Bruce: Thank you.

Minako: How would you say "I ate ramen in Shibuya yesterday." in Japanese?

Bruce: Kinou Shibuya de ramen o tabemashita.

Minako: How about "I was in Shibuya yesterday."?

Bruce: Kinou Shibuya de imashita.

Minako, You said, "Shibuya de" in both sentences, didn't you?

Bruce: Am I wrong?

Minako: Hmm... Then, how about "I went to Shibuya yesterday."?

Bruce: Kinou Shibuya ni ikimashita.

Minako: You made a few mistakes. I'm goin to explain. Please look at this table first.

Verb types

Place + Particle

Example verbs

English

Regular actions

Existence

Movement towards a destination

Bruce: Yeah, I think so. You literally move or do something.Minako: Let's divide verbs into three groups. This grouping is very important! "Regular action" means verbs such as "taberu" (to eat), "nomu" (to drink), "iku" (to go), "miru" (to watch), or "kau" (to buy). Does this make sense?

Minako: You're right! The verb "suru" (to do) like "tennis o suru" (to play tennis) fits here, too.

Verb types

Place + Particle

Example verbs

English

Regular actions

Taberu

Kau

Suru

Existence

Movement towards a destination

Minako: Do you think "iru" is a regular action verb?

Bruce: "Iru" means "to be here or there" or "to stay here or there", so I don't think it's a moving action.

Minako: You're right. You came here intentionally, but you are here now as it states your existence. That's why "iru" is not an action verb.

Bruce: I see. So, this verb belongs to the existence type.

Minako: Do you know any other verbs that state existence?

Bruce: Ah, "aru"! (Something exists.)

Minako: Of course, "aru" is one. So is "sundeiru" (to live).

Verb types

Place + Particle

Example verbs

English

Regular actions

Taberu

Kau

Suru

Existence

Iru

Aru

Sundeiru (Sumu)

Movement towards a destination

Bruce: What's going to be in "movement towards a destination"_

Minako: "Iku" (to go).

Bruce: I see. So, "kuru" (to come) and "kaeru" (to return) also belong there.

Verb types

Place + Particle

Example verbs

English

Regular actions

Taberu

Kau

Suru

Existence

Iru

Aru

Sundeiru (Sumu)

Movement towards a destination

Iku

Kuru

Kaeru

Minako: Let's look at particels now.

Bruce: I said, "Shibuya de ramen o tabemashita." Is this correct?

Minako: Yes, it is. The particle "de" indicates where an action takes place as you said.

Bruce: Another example is "Shibuya de shashin o torimashita." (I took pictures in Shibuya.)

Minako: That's a good one!

Verb types

Place + Particle

Example verbs

English

Regular actions

Shibuya de

Taberu

Kau

Suru

at or in

Existence

Iru

Aru

Sundeiru (Sumu)

Movement towards a destination

Iku

Kuru

Kaeru

Minako: Next, let's have a look at the particle for "existence".

Bruce: Wait! Every time I introduce myself, I say "Tokyo ni sundeimasu." (I liven in Tokyo.)

Minako: Right? So, let's put "ni" here. The particle "ni" indicates where someone or something exists. It doesn't indicate a place where an action takes place.

Verb types

Place + Particle

Example verbs

English

Regular actions

Shibuya de

Taberu

Kau

Suru

at or in

Existence

Shibuya ni

Iru

Aru

Sundeiru (Sumu)

at, in or on

Movement towards a destination


Iku

Kuru

Kaeru


Minako: That's right. Well then, where is your rum and coke?

Bruce; So, my sentece "Shibuya de imashita." should be "Shibuya ni imashita." 

Bruce: "Boku no rum coke wa counter no ue ni arimasu." (My rum and coke is on the conter.)

Minako: Correct! The rum and coke exists here. Lastly, "iku", "kuru" and "kaeru". These verbs require a destination or direction.

Bruce: I said, "Shibuya ni ikimashita." Is this correct?

Minako: This sentence is correct.

Verb types

Place + Particle

Example verbs

English

Regular actions

Shibuya de

Taberu

Kau

Suru

at or in

Existence

Shibuya ni

Iru

Aru

Sundeiru (Sumu)

at, in or on

Movement towards a destination

Shibuya ni

Iku

Kuru

Kaeru

to or towards

Minako: This "ni" inidicates direction. Therefore, it doesn't have the same meanings as "ni" used for "existence". Try to remember this!

Bruce: This table explains everything clearly!

Minako: I'm glad that it helps.

Bruce: When the verb is a regular action, I should use "place plus de". When the verb is an existence verb, I should use "place plus ni". When the verb requires a destination, I should use "place plus ni".

Minako: Bingo!

Bruce: The particle is determined by the verb. I need to check the verb's type, not only its meaning.

Please watch the video!