Particles in GENKI: Lessons 1-12 (Emmett)

P Structural patterns
Examples
X Y
()
(Watashi wa) ni-nensee desu.
X {N desu / V / Adj.} Watashi wa gakusee desu.
(As for me,) Im a student. (As for me,) Im a sophomore.
topic marker; contrast
{ / }
as for (X);
(X), at least

Notes
X is often
dropped.

GENKI
L1:39

L2:65-66

Yamada-san wa gakusee ja { nai desu / arimasen}.

(As for) Mr. Yamada(, he) is not a student.
Mr. Yamada is not a student, (at least).

L5:130131

(As for) yesterday, I was busy, but I have a lot of free time
today, (at least).

(
)
(As for you,) do you often drink coffee?

()

L11:257

No, I dont drink [coffee] at all, (at least), but I often drink
tea, (at least).

()

(As for me,) Ill go to the hospital today, but I wont go to

school, (at least).

I go to school by bicycle. I dont go by bus, at least.

L11:258

(another particle)

(another particle)

L11:257

(
)
(As for you,) do you read the newspaper at home?

()

No, I dont read it [at home, (at least) ], but I do at the

library, (at least).

P Structural patterns
(X Y )
1

question marker
(Yes / No-Q)
Is X Y?
(X
QW
)
question marker (WH-Q)
QW is X?

(QW . . . )
question marker (WH-Q)
QW . . . ?

XY
2

alternative
X or Y

Examples
(
)
(Anata wa) ryuugakusee desu ka.
Are you an international student?

Notes

GENKI
L1:39

L1:39

L2:63

L3:84

Senkoo wa nan desu ka.

What is your major?

Dore ga Michiko-san no kasa desu ka.

Which one is Michikos umbrella?

What do you usually do on the weekend?

I intend to go to Korea or Taiwan.

L10:228

Particles in GENKI: Lessons 1-12 (Emmett)

Structural patterns
(X) (Y
)
(X) {N desu / V / Adj.}
similarity
also;
. . ., too;
. . ., either

Examples

Notes

Mearii-san wa gakusee desu.

Mary is a student.

Watashi mo gakusee desu.

Im a student, too.

(
)
I bought a watch.

I didnt go to the library today. I didnt attend college, either.

A:
B:
What are you doing now?
Im not doing anything in
particular.

L4:111
L4:111

(another particle)

- in a

QW
emphasis
(not) any

A:
B:
Will you go anywhere today? No, I will not go anywhere.

I also bought an umbrella.

( )

GENKI
L2:65

Structural patterns
Noun 1
Noun 2
N 1 specifies N 2
N1s N2;
N1 N2;
N2 {of/at/in/for/by/on}
N1

Examples

eego no sensee
an English teacher
a teacher of English

negative sentence
only
QW (another
particle)

L7:167
L8:196
L10:235

Notes

GENKI
L1:44

N2 = location word

L4:109

Michiko-san no kaban
Michikos bag

cf.

Tookyoo no daigaku
a university in Tokyo

Tookyoo daigaku
the University of Tokyo

The hospital is to the right of the bookstore.

The bookstore is between a hospital and a supermarket.

L8:197

I do Japanese language study.

cf.

I study the Japanese language.

A:

. . . . .

L10:228

We have a morning flight and an afternoon flight, but . . .

B:

Special uses of

V-short
nominalizer
-ing
Adj.
pronoun
one

(
)

A morning flight, please.

N2 may be omitted.

L8:194

(
)
I like listening to music.
A:

Have you already bought a dictionary?

B:

{
}

NEVER say:
Adj. Noun
WRONG

Yes, I bought a small {dictionary / one}.

C:

{
}

As for me, I bought a useful {dictionary / one}.

L10:233

MUST retain na in
na-Adj.

L10:233


P Structural patterns
(X ) (subject)~
1

subject marker
target
emphasis
no English equivalent

Particles in GENKI: Lessons 1-12 (Emmett)

Examples

Dore ga Michiko-san no kasa desu ka.

Which one is Michikos umbrella?
(
)

I have 1,000 yen.

There is a hospital over there.

There is a dog here.

There are two children in the park.

The party will begin at 7:00.

cf.

Well begin the party at 7:00.

Kyoko has long legs. She also has long arms, but she has
short hair(, at least).

(
)
I have a stomach ache.

Michiko has a good record.

There are always many students in the library.

{}

My older sister likes {books / reading books}.

{ }

My older brother is bad at {English / speaking English}.

(
)
I have two children.

Notes
NEVER say
does not mark
QW.
Do NOT say

(inanimate

(place) (animate
thing)
Do NOT use .

(sth.)
cf.
{s.o. / sth.} (sth.)

A (s.o. /sth.) B
(place)
thing)

(
)
I need money. (As for me), money is necessary.

L9:211

L8:189
L7:172

may be replaced
(similarity) or
(contrast).
Do NOT say

Do NOT say L12:268

. (There are many
X
X )
A (s.o. /sth.) B C L8:194
(adjective)

fondness; ability
{ / /
/}
A (s.o. /sth.) B L7:174
C (#-counter - NO
Particle){ / }
*
by

A (s.o. /sth.)
(verb)

B C L4:105

ability; need;
physical attribute
Do NOT use

(
)
I got thirsty.; (As for me), my throat got dry.

L4:107108

C (adjective)
B = body part
C = physical attribute

(
)
How many brothers and sisters do you have?
(
)
I understand Japanese language.
(As for me), Japanese is understandable.

GENKI
L2:64

L8:188

.
L12:269

Particles in GENKI: Lessons 1-12 (Emmett)

(clause 1)
(clause
2)
contrast
(clause 1), but (clause
2).
(clause 1)
(clause
2)
connective
(clause 1), but (clause
2).

Structural patterns
(sentence)
confirmation
agreement
alignment
casual exclamation

Tag-Q (e.g.)
isnt it?
is it?
dont you? do you?
right?
you know

Structural patterns
(sentence)
certainty; assertion
I tell you
I assure you
Im telling you

L7:180

Comma ( ) must be
AFTER .

L10:338

Notes
NO comma (
before

GENKI
L2:66

Comma ( ) must be
AFTER .

This dictionary is cheap, but it is not very good.

This bamboo hat is old, but please (use it.)

Examples

Senkoo wa keezai desu ne.

Your major is economics, right?

L2:58

Takai desu ne.

Its expensive, isnt it!

Examples

Notes
NO comma (
before

Oishii desu yo.

Its delicious, I assure you.

GENKI
L2:59
L2:66


P Structural patterns
(direct object)
1

(transitive V)
direct object marker
No English equivalent

Particles in GENKI: Lessons 1-12 (Emmett)

Examples

Notes

GENKI
L2:58

Sono tokee o kudasai.

Give me that watch (close to you).

L2:59
L2:67

Kore o onegai-shimasu.
I will have this one. lit. I request (that you do) this one.

I usually drink coffee at the coffee shop.

L3:87

(sth.)
#-counter (NO

Please give me four stamps.

(
)
I drive a car.

(
)
I drive a car. lit. I do car-driving.
A cat wants to drink milk.

cf. (

(starting point)
2

(intransitive V)
detachment;
starting point where
some movement begins
out; off;; from

(passing point)
3

(intransitive V)
space where some
(unidirectional)
movement occurs
in; on; across;
through

) {
}
I want to drink water.

(s.o. /
(s.o. / sth.)
sth.) V-stem {
}

L2:67
L5:128
L8:189
L8:197

L11:255

L6:149

L6:149

I will get off the bus at the next bus stop.

I was absent from school yesterday.

L6:316
L9:211

L6:165

Please go out the east exit of the station.

Please cross that street (over there).

Please turn left at the next corner.

L9:211

L10:339

I take a walk through the park every day.

The old man went home by walking on the long mountain

road.

Structural patterns
(place)
direction
goal of movement
to

Examples

Notes
may be replaced
by .

I will go to school at 9:00.

GENKI
L3:91

Particles in GENKI: Lessons 1-12 (Emmett)

Structural patterns
(time / date)
a specific point in time
at; on

(place)
direction ; destination;
goal of movement
to

(sth.)
target
in; on; to

Examples

Notes
Do NOT use

I will go to school at 9:00.

I will see a movie on Sunday.

I go to school every day.

may be replaced
by .

GENKI
L3:91-92

L3:91

I will go (back) home at 4:00.

L5:131

L6:149

Please {get on / ride on / board / take} a bus.

I take a bath at 9:00 every night.

L9:211

Professor Yamashita often appears on TV.

L11:253

L11:342

Mr. Yamada was often late for class.

(place)
location of existence
in; at; on; for

I like climbing a nearby mountain.

There are people in the temple.

L4:105
L4:107108

Where is the University of Minnesota?

L6:148

L7:169

Please seat yourself in a chair.

My older brother lives in Tokyo.

My mother {works for / is employed at} a big company.

L10:231

L11:253

I stayed at a cheap hotel.

Have you ever been to England for study?

)





(

I {am interested in / have an interest in} Japanese culture.

Im also interested in Japanese politics.

L12:269


P Structural patterns
(X ) (indirect object)
5 (direct object ) V
indirect object marker
recipient; target
to; for

Particles in GENKI: Lessons 1-12 (Emmett)

Examples

(
)
I saw my friend in the park yesterday.

Notes

GENKI
L4:105

(
)
I wrote a letter to Ms. Honda.

L5:131

L6:148

(
)
I asked Mr. Tanaka the time.

(
)
Did you return the book to the library?

(
)
I made a phone call to my friend.

L6:149

()


Excuse me. Please teach me English a little.

(
)
I bought a souvenir for my family.

(
)
I introduced Ms. Honda to Mr. Yamashita.

(s.o.)(sth.)
6

source
by; from

(sth.)
7

purpose
for

(sth.)
8

role
for; as

(V-stem) motion V
9

purpose of movement
to (V-infinitive)

(
)
I borrowed money from my older sister.

(
)
I received a ticket from my older brother.

I went on a trip last week.

L10:228

L11:253

introduce Y to X

L6:149
L9:211
L6:163
L11:258

I went for a drive to the lake.

I will buy snacks as a souvenir.

Well go to Hawaii for our honeymoon.

Where shall we go to have fun?

L11:258

L7:174


P Structural patterns
(place)
1

place of action
at; in; on

(place)
2

place of event
at; in; on

(sth.)
3

scope; range
in; among

(sth.)
4

means / instruments to do
something
by; in; on; with;
using

(sth.)
5

reason; cause
because of; due to;
for

Particles in GENKI: Lessons 1-12 (Emmett)

Examples

Notes

GENKI
L3:90

I usually drink coffee at the coffee shop.

My father works at a company in Tokyo.

cf.
(workplace)

L11:253
L11:259
L4:107

There will be a festival in Kyoto.

A festival will take place in Kyoto.

L10:232

Among bus, train and subway, which [one] is the fastest?

()

Mr. Minami studies most in this class.

L10:236

May I pay by credit card?

Lets talk in Japanese!

(
)
I usually eat meals with chopsticks.

L11:250

Minnesota is famous for beautiful lakes.

My father got a day off of work because of illness.

P Structural patterns
Examples

(number-counter)

(adnominal)
I waited for my friend at a bus stop for about an hour.
approximate extent
about

How long(, approximately,) will it take to get to Tokyo

Station?

Notes

may be
replaced by .
adnominal
{ ///
}

GENKI
L4:105
L10:228


P Structural patterns
noun noun
1

exhaustive listing
and

Particles in GENKI: Lessons 1-12 (Emmett)

Examples

Notes

I will buy meat and vegetables at the supermarket.

(s.o. / sth.)
2

partner that does

something
w/ the subject of a
clause
with; from

GENKI
L4:113

The bookstore was between a hospital and a department

store.

L4:109

L4:113

My younger sister went to see a movie with her friend.

I will get married to my boyfriend next year.

L7:169
L11:253

I dont want to quarrel with my roommate.

(clause)
3

quotative marker
that

L12:269

L8:189
L8:193

Mr. Yamamoto {broke up with / separated from} his

girlfriend.
(
)
I think (that) Mr. Minami is a student.

Michiko {says / is saying} that she wants to go to China.

P Structural patterns
(situation clause)
(reason clause)

1 (reason clause)

(situation clause)
reason; explanation
because (reason
clause); (reason
clause), so . . .

Examples

Lets hurry! (Its) because we dont have time.

Because we dont have time, lets hurry!

We dont have time, so lets hurry!

Notes
MUST be used
immediately AFTER
(reason clause).

GENKI
L6:153
L7:153
L9:215216

I have good-tasting wine, so wont you come have a

drink?
Wont you come have a drink? (Its) because I have goodtasting wine.

(starting point)

temporal /spatial starting Istudied
from morning till night.
2 point

from

I come home from school and go to cram school right

away.

L5:
additional
L7:321


P Structural patterns
(ending point)
temporal /spatial limit
as far as; till; to:
up to; until;
through

Particles in GENKI: Lessons 1-12 (Emmett)

Examples

Notes

GENKI
L5:128
L5:131

Notes
comparison of two
items

GENKI
L10:232

As for an airline ticket, how much is it (to get) as far as

Chicago?

I studied from 4:00 to 8:00.

P Structural patterns
(s.o. / sth.)
basis of comparison
{more ~ / -er) than

Examples

Hawaii is warmer than Minnesota.

L10:235

Japanese language has gotten more difficult than before.

P Structural patterns
(number-counter)
limit
just; only

Examples

(
)
I bought only one apple.

Notes
(number-counter)

GENKI
L11:253
L11:257

Just two students came.

I have just green tea every day.

P Structural patterns
noun noun

Examples

Notes
cf. (noun)

P Structural patterns
(s.o. /sth.)
exemplification

Examples

Notes
(X ) Y

inexhaustive listing
and (, and things like
that); and so forth;
for example

and so on;
and the like;
for example; etc.

I intend to buy beer and juice, (and things like that) at a

supermarket.

We need notebooks, pencils, and so on.

(noun)

GENKI
L11:256

GENKI
L12:349

()
I bought notebooks, etc. yesterday.

The contents of this table have not been reviewed or approved by the University of Minnesota, the publisher
of GENKI or the authors of GENKI. The author of this table is solely responsible for any errors or
inaccuracies contained in this table.
This table may be revised as necessary. The author encourages the users to discuss with their classmates
and/or instructors, should they have grammatical questions on particles. If you have any comments or
questions regarding this table, contact Keiko Emmett at < emme0007@umn.edu >. (created: March 15, 2005;
1st revision: July 20, 2005; 2nd revision: Aug. 6, 2006; 3 rd revision: Jan. 7, 2015)
10

Particles in GENKI: Lessons 1-12 (Emmett)

References
Banno, Eri, Yoko Ikeda, Yutaka Ohno, Chikako Shinagawa, and Kyoko Tokashiki. 2011. Genki I: An
integrated course in elementary Japanese I. Second edition. Tokyo: The Japan Times.
Endo-Simon, Mutsuko. 1986. Supplementary grammar notes to An introduction to modern Japanese: Part 1
Lessons 1-15. Ann Arbor: The University of Michigan.
Endo-Simon, Mutsuko. 1987. Supplementary grammar notes to An introduction to modern Japanese: Part 2
Lessons 16-30. Ann Arbor: The University of Michigan.
Jorden, Eleanor with Mari Noda. 1987. Japanese: The spoken Language Part I. New Haven and London:
Yale University Press.
Jorden, Eleanor with Mari Noda. 1988. Japanese: The spoken Language Part II. New Haven and London:
Yale University Press.
Jorden, Eleanor with Mari Noda. 1990. Japanese: The spoken Language Part III. New Haven and London:
Yale University Press.
Kojien (Japanese language dictionary, Fifth edition). 1997. Izuru Shinmura (ed.) Tokyo: Iwanami shoten.
Kuno, Susumu. 1973. Nihon bunpoo kenkyuu (Research on Japanese grammar). Tokyo: Taishukan.
Makino, Seiichi and Michio Tsutsui. 1986. A dictionary of Basic Japanese grammar. Tokyo: The Japan
Times.
Obusha kokugo jiten (Japanese language dictionary). 1982. Kenji Shuzui, et al. Tokyo: Obunsha.
Reikai shin kokugo jiten (Japanese language dictionary, Sixth edition). 2002. Shiro Hayashi, et al. Tokyo:
Sanseido.

11