Private Japanese Lessons, a group of Japanese teachers which I run just began a new animation series. This series is full of helpful Japanese learning tips. Every episode is only 5 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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Bruce: Can I Ask you a question? The other day I was asked, "tokidoki karaoke ni ikimasu ka?" (Do you go to karaoke sometimes?) and I wanted to answer "No, I don't." How should I answer?
Minako: Well, In Japanese you should answer "Iie, ikimasen" (No, I don't go.)
Bruce: How about in casual speech?
Minako: (In Japanese) it will be "Uun, ikanai" (No, I don't go.) How did you answer, Buruce?
Bruce: I said, "Nai." But, my colleague reacted strangely. Was I wrong?
Minako: Hmm, that was not so good. If you translate "No, I don’t" to "Nai", it will be incorrect. You have to conjugate the verb and make the negative form when you answer a question. I suggest "Iie, ikimasen" or in casual style "Uun, ikanai."
Bruce: Hmm... Then what if the question sentence was not a verb sentence? For example...um...
Minako: "Bruce wa America jin desu ka?" (Are you American, Bruce?)
Bruce: Yes! That is a good example.
Minako: "America jin desu ka?" (Are you American?) "America jin ja arimasen" (I’m not American.) is correct. How about in casual style? What do you think?
Bruce: It should be... "America jin ja nai"?
Minako: Yes! Verbs, nouns, or even adjectives, whatever the sentence is, you should NOT answer only with "Nai". So, try these sentences. Bruce, are you going to work on the weekend, too?
Bruce: Hmm... "Shimasen." (In Japanese, "I'm not toing to do.")
Minako: Good, then in casual style. "Shumatsu mo shigoto suru?" (Are you going to work on the weekend, too?)
Bruce: "Shinai."
Minako: "Ima wa 3 ji desu ka?" (Is it 3pm now?)
Bruce: "3 ji ja arimasen." (It's not 3pm.)
Minako: "Ima 3 ji?" (3pm now?)
Bruce: "3 ji ja nai." (Not 3pm.)
Minako: Good! Don't forget to say "3 ji". That's the word you negate. "Ja nai" by itself is not enough.
Minako: "Ima hima desu ka?" (Are you free now?)
Bruce: "Hima ja arimasen." (I'm not free.)
Minako: "Ima hima?" (Free now?)
Bruce: "Hima ja nai." (Not free.)
Minako: Well done! Don't forget to say "hima". "Ja nai" always follows the word which it negates.
Minako: "Samui desu ka?" (Are you cold?)
Bruce: "Samuku nai desu." (I'm not cold.)
Minako: "Samui?" (Cold?)
Bruce: "Samuku nai." (Not cold.)
Minako: Great! Perfect! Okay, I have a question for you. What is the negative form of "aru"?
Bruce: Well...It's "Nai", isn't it?
Minako: Yes. Then, "Bruce, ima jikan aru? (Do you have time now Bruce?)
Bruce: "Uun, Nai." (In Japanese, No, I don't have.)
Minako: Well done! The only time you can just answer with "Nai" is the negative answer to "aru". This is an important point!
Bruce: I see. In this case, this "Nai" means "No, I don't have time."
Minako: Exactly. This is a properly conjugated verb in a negative sentence. Remember! Don't just reply "nai!"
Bruce: Got it!
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