Basic Japanese

Formal Verbs Informal Verbs Verb Usages WA - Topic Marker

+ + Marks the topic of a sentence. (non-grammatical relationship)
Written with hiragana ha, but pronounced wa
Marks a limited amount or extent of something. (not more than)
Used with (and other potential-form verbs) to mean as ~ as possible
Present/Future Tense + Present/Future Tense DAKE
Past Tense + Past Tense If... + If not... + Contrasts one option or thing against others. (A vs. B, C, D)
Progressive Tense + Progressive Tense + + + Used when elaborating on things already known to the listener. Please wait for just one hour. Please write it as quickly as you can. Please write as much as you can.
Negative Present/Future + Negative Present/Future + +

DOUBLE MEANING

Must/have to... Marks a firm extent/limit (usually one which presents a problem for the speaker).
Negative Past Tense
Command Form
+
+
Negative Past Tense
Command Form
+ +
+
As for the car, I was the one who drove it. Mr. Tanaka has money. (he is rich)
Emphasizes the negation of anything beyond the extent/limit.
GA - Subject Marker SHIKA Therefore, is always is used with a negative verb form.
After...

+ (U-Verbs) +

Usually considered rude! (RU-Verbs) + + Marks the subject of a verb. (grammatical relationship) I havent but one thousand yen. Ive never seen it except in pictures. Only you can do it.
Negative Command + Negative Command + Before... + Distinguishes one option or thing from others. (A vs. ???)
+ Because... + Used when adding new things/information to a conversation. Marks a degree or extent of something. (not small)
Potential Form (U-Verbs) + Potential Form (U-Verbs) + In order to... + Used when describing specific things with adjectives. Marks an approximate number or length of time.
= can/ able to (RU-Verbs) + (RU-Verbs) + While... (at the same time) + Marks objects of potential-form verbs. (can/able to) HODO Marks the greater element in a negative comparison. (not as ~ as)
Even if/when... + (Used as an conjunction [between phrases]) : ..., but... or even though ..., ...

Want to... + Want to... + May... (permissible) That car is not as fast as this car. I laughed so hard that my stomach became painful.
+ +
DOUBLE MEANING

Dont want to... + Dont want to... + Try to... to attempt & check the result + (I) can speak Japanese a little. Mr. Tanaka has the money. (with him now)
Lets... + Lets... to make an effort +
WA vs. GA (Detailed Article) - http://nihonshock.com/waga
Marks the lesser element in a positive comparison. (more than)
From ~ (when closing a private letter)
Shall we.../Shall I ~ for you? + Shall we.../Shall I ~ for you? + Must not... + YORI
Passive Form (U-Verbs) + Passive Form (U-Verbs) + To do in advance... + O - Object Marker Written with hiragana wo, but the w sound is very faint.
= to be ~ed

(RU-Verbs) +

(RU-Verbs)

+ To do too much...
To do... and so on.
+
+ + Marks the object of a verb.
That car is faster than this car.

Marks a possibility or suggestion.

Causative Form
= to allow/force
(U-Verbs)
(RU-Verbs)
+
+
Causative Form (U-Verbs)
(RU-Verbs)
+
+
To (irreversibly) do...
Combination Verb
+ With verbs of motion, shows where the motion occurs.
Turns interrogative words into any~ words.
someone to ~ + VERB 2
DEMO (Used as an conjunction [before a phrase]) : even so/but/however, ...
Chaining Phrases + PHRASE 2 (I) bought shoes. To fly (in) the sky To talk about (things of ) ones self.

Shall we drink some tea or something? Please call me anytime.
Conjugating Verbs Hiragana NI - The Aiming Particle
U-VERB RU-VERB U-VERB TE/TA ENDINGS
A KA GA SA ZA TA DA NA HA BA PA MA YA RA WA
Marks an indirect object (the person/thing an action is done for/directed toward)
Marks a destination, direction or specific place for an action. (to/at)
Marks an approximate or negotiable degree, amount, or length of time.
(speaker feels that the stated number/extent is a fair and/or reasonable estimate)
. . KURAI
Always use these endings.

Final Kana of Verb

Marks a specific point in time (ie. Monday / 3pm / 1972 / July) Alternate form:
. . , ,
. . I KI GI SHI JI CHI JI NI HI BI PI MI RI Marks a period of time that something repeats in. (ie. twice a week) If you write a kanji about 10 times, you wont forget it.
, , Marks direct objects for: (to become), (to meet), (to ride)
. .

. .
Shift final sound .


U KU GU SU ZU TSU ZU NU FU BU PU MU YU RU N
(I) gave her a book. Lets go to the park on Saturday. (I) drink 2 cups of coffee a day. Means only, or to the exclusion of other things
Informally, can be pronounced / / for emphasis.
according to
Hiragana chart. .
BAKARI
E KE GE SE ZE TE DE NE HE BE PE ME RE TO - The Glue Particle When quoting, can become (informal)

(to go) in TE/TA-form becomes /
EXCEPTIONS That classroom has nothing but girls in it. Everything he says is a lie.
Marks a person that an action is done with.
The ending for verbs ending in is: O KO GO SO ZO TO DO NO HO BO PO MO YO RO WO Links nouns to create a complete and group.
Marks a starting place or time.
U-VERBS (to need), (to enter), (to know), (to cut)
(THAT LOOK LIKE RU-VERBS) (to go home), (to slide), (to kick)
Katakana
Marks quoted speech or phrasal objects: (to think), (to write)
Shows a natural/predictable if-then relationship between clauses.
Marks a source of information.
I heard about it from a friend.

KARA Marks a reason when used after . I cant pay because I forgot my wallet.
Marks onomatopoeic words. (words that mimic sounds)
Forms of (to be) Caution! A KA GA SA ZA TA DA NA HA BA PA MA YA RA WA And group Phrasal object

Marks an ending place or time.


FORMAL INFORMAL (I) had an argument with (my) boss and manager. (I) think the chair broke. to speak in whispers When followed by ,
the meeting is from 1 oclock until 3 oclock.
SO N I KI GI SHI JI CHI JI NI HI BI PI MI RI
Present Tense MADE means by/before Please write the report by tomorrow.

DE - The Enabling Particle
Past Tense
U KU GU SU ZU TSU ZU NU FU BU PU MU YU RU N Marks a place, area, or length of time inside which something occurs. Comparison Give/Receive
Probable
Negative Present Tense TSU SHI Marks a method, tool or circumstance under which something happens. Marks the greater element in a positive comparison Superior/Outsider
E KE GE SE ZE TE DE NE HE BE PE ME RE Marks a material or substance; composition. ( marks the lesser element).
Negative Past Tense
Negative Probable



Can take past tense verbs even for non-past sentences.
O KO GO SO ZO TO DO NO HO BO PO MO YO RO WO (I) learned kanji in two years. Today (I) came by train. a scarf made of wool Give Subject
Receive
is very direct. If youre unsure, it is safer to use Rather than looking it up, it would be faster to ask the teacher.
When nominalized (converted to a noun) changes to before , and before
JLPT Level N5 Kanji MO - Even/Also Marker

(103 in all)
Whether or not
Adjective Conjugation Used with other particles to add a meaning of also/too or even.

Insider/Familiar
( replaces , , and completely, but follows all other particles) Give (to me)
i-ADJECTIVES NA-ADJECTIVES Im considering whether or not to buy this book.
Turns interrogative words (, , , etc.) into every~/all~ words. Informal
. fast cheerful person child man woman sun moon fire water tree money ground big small About/Regarding Humble *
(becomes when used)
. NOUN FORM speed NOUN FORM cheer
(I) also/even went to Osaka. Its okay even if (you) ignore (him). He is always like that.

. ADVERB FORM quickly ADVERB FORM cheerfully up down left right in out inside outside front back many few half
This report is about Japanese history. Conjunctions
Marks a sentence as a question. (between phrases)

Can be used instead of
.
.
.
fast and...
was fast
not fast

Adjectives that end in are i-Adjectives,

except where the final is part of a kanji.
cheerful and...
mouth



eye

hand



foot


ear

Yen


book


flower


store


river


mountain



car

street

KA
Links nouns to create an or group.
Turns interrogative words into some~ words.
(who) + = (someone) E
to mark a destination.

Note: hiragana he is used. In order to

Conjunctive Adverbs
(start a sentence)


A, but B
A, but B
. wasnt fast father mother friend now noon hour week year what north south east west Also, ... even though A, B

EASILY CONFUSED NA-ADJECTIVES Therefore (so), ... even though A, B
. if fast Shows possession. ( = my/mine) Links nouns to create an

.
.
if not fast
too fast
( / beautiful)
( / polite)
( / unfair)
go

eat
come

drink

see

live

hear

stand

say

meet
talk

old
language

new

read

high
write

safety
buy

long
learn

interval
understand

previous

rest

each
NO
Combines two nouns.
Note: the final noun becomes the primary meaning.
= the company car
YA
incomplete and group.

In order to go to Japan,
I am studying Japanese.
Adverb form



However (but), ...
However (but), ...
However (but), ...



because of A, B
because of A, B
if A, B
Drop from NA-Adjectives if followed by a form of = a car company books and pencils (and such) Adjective form However (but), ... if A, (unavoidably) B
(good) always conjugates as
It is possible (but uncommon) to add to a NA-Adj. when useing it as a noun (ie. ) station school company country name electricity heaven spirit sky fish rain white : also marks objects of (understand), (want), and (like). : Relative time words, like (today), (tomorrow), (yesterday), (next month) etc. do not take .
: Noun-able form (a form that can be nominalized with or ) : Considered inappropriate when addressing superiors. : is interchangable with (the latter is slightly more formal). : (and ) groups list all their members, only lists some. : can sound patronizing; (to hand over) is a safe alternative. : marks the grammatical subjects of potential-form verbs.

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