[edit]

This means "is", "am", or "are" (depending on the situation), though the meaning in English is a
lot broader than in Japanese. Some other words ( and ) also mean "is",
depending on the situation.
Example: I am Mike.
Example: This is a pen.
[edit]
This means "too", "and", or "also".
Example: He likes soccer.
I like soccer, too.
Example: ! Ken ate both cake and cookies.
[edit]
This means "at" or "in", and is used when spei!"ing where something happens.
Example: "#$%&$'(&! Emi studies math at school.
)/*[edit]
This means "to", and is used when desribing a destination.
Example: +",-)! Rieko went to Rome.
)[edit]
This is a general use preposition. #t an mean "in", "at", "to", "!or", and other general
prepositional phrases, depending on the ontext.
Example: ./)0'123456 Please give the book to that person.
Example: 7)89:;! In winter, it snows.
'[edit]
This denotes the ob$et o! an ation.
Example: .<='> That cat ate the ish.
?!@[edit]
This means "%on&t "ou ' (" or "Shall we ' (". #t&s an in)itation.
Example: '!@A !on"t #ou have some cake$
Example: 2'B!@A !on"t #ou %shall we& watch a movie$
[edit]
This denotes a topi.
Example: CDE 'he is happ#.
?;![edit]
This means "there is". #t is used !or non*li)ing things (use ! !or li)ing things).
Example: F42.G)HI;! There is a ball on the desk.
Example: .J)KLMN;! Is there a present in the bo($
?![edit]
This means "there is" or "is" and is used !or li)ing things.
Example: O.P.Q)8,RS/! There are two children under the
tree over there.
Example: (&F)TJUV! Is Mr. Tanaka in the classroom$)
W[edit]
This is a partile used to lin+ nouns in a omplete list.
Example: XYLZ[W)\WX]^_`a! The salad was
made rom lettuce, carrot, and radish.
?!(&[edit]
This is a polite )olitional phrase, meaning "#&ll" or "let&s".
Example: >!(& *et"s eat+
?!(&[edit]
This is a polite )olitional phrase used !or suggestions.
>!(& How about we eat$
?3456[edit]
This is used to lin+ )erb opulas, ending in "3" or "", to "456", ma+ing it into a re,uest.
Example: b0cd3456 Please speak in ,apanese.
Example: CWe3456 Please go with him.
?3[edit]
This is used to lin+ )erb opulas to "" meaning "it&s enough" or "it&s good". #t an be
used as a re,uest !or permission.
Example: fg3 -an I cook$
?3!@[edit]
This is used to lin+ opulas to " !@", meaning "it&s not good". #t is used to sold or
otherwise disappro)e.
Example: X.hi!@ 'arah"s handwriting is not great #et.
?a[edit]
-hrase meaning "!rom".
Example: .jkl@amX_[n)! This train goes rom
'an ,ose to 'an .rancisco.
?3[edit]
, when used a!ter the 3 !orm o! a )erb, indiates that an ation is ongoing (progressi)e
tense, mar+ed in English b" "ing",) or in a ertain state.
Example: o p!# am reading.
Example: qrs3! The door is open.
Example: tuv3! # am married.
Example: ,wxe3! The hildren are running.
?)4[edit]
#t means to go somewhere or to go do something.
Example: oyz){4I go swimming.
Example: C|}){eHe went to stud#.
Example: CD~){4'he"s going to Tok#o.
d456[edit]
This means "please don&t do", used in plae o! a "*te" !orm o! a )erb.
Example: .;'>d456Please don"t eat this apple.
Example: O.0'p!d456Please don"t read that book
?.[edit]
#t means to li+e doing something.
Example: or'.I like watching anime.
Example: CD&.'he likes singing.
?.\(&[edit]
#t means to be good at something.
Example: CD&.\(&'he"s good at singing.
Example: dy.Gh( /re #ou good at swimming$
?.*[edit]
#t means to be bad at something.
Example: o.*I"m bad at dancing.
Example: C|}.QhHe"s bad at stud#ing.
!5?3!@[edit]
#t means that someone hasn&t done something "et.
Example: o!53!@I haven"t decided #et.
Example: C!5e3!@He hasn"t returned #et.
?.&?;[edit]
#t means that something is more (interesting.expensi)e.et.) than something else.
Example: .0.&.;This book is more e(pensive than that
newspaper.
Example: i.$%;*ibrar# is 0uieter than school.
?.d??[edit]
#t means the best !rom something or the most (new.old.expensi)e.li+eable.et.).
Example: .i.d.0This book is the best book in that
librar#.
Example: .,.J.rom these sweets I like
cookies the most.
F;[edit]
This means a plan or an intent o! doing something.
Example: o'){4F;I"m going to go see a movie.
Example: d'|}F;( !hat are #ou going to stud#$
?4/ ?)d[edit]
#t means to beome (smart.tall.et.). #! used with 1na ad$eti)es it&s ad$/)d, !or 1i ad$eti)es
it&s ad$/4d.
Example: .D)deThat woman became beautiul.
Example: .k4deThis bic#cle became old.
V stem + [edit]
0reates the polite &want to do& !orm o! a )erb
Example * # want to eat some a+e * t ' > * 1o+u*wa +2+i*o tabetai
desu.
?; ?;[edit]
#t ma+es a list o! ati)ities or attributes. #t means something li+e "this and that.sometimes this
and sometimes that.in some parts this in other parts that". %ith nouns or *na ad$eti)es it
beomes "?5e; 3?5e;".
Example: bo0'p;,'>;2esterda# I was reading a
book and eating sweets.
Example: .e;F!ade;That movie is interesting in
some parts and boring in other parts.
Example: CD5e;5e;'he"s nice and beautiul.
?W[edit]
#t indiates that something has (or hasn&t e)er) happened in the past.
Example: o~*{eWI"ve been to Tok#o.
Example: oO'WdI"ve never heard o this.
[edit]
This is a partile used to lin+ nouns in an inomplete list.
Example: <)! There are cats and dogs and monke#s
%among other things& at the 3oo.
?[edit]
#t aents the sentene&s ontent or so!tens a re,uest or an order. #t ma" be also said as "'.
". %ith *na ad$eti)es and nouns it beomes "'d.".
Example: oI"m bus# right now.
Example: oO&\Jd.I"m cleaning right now.
Example: -[A 4o #ou pla# tennis$ %at all, not right now&
?z[edit]
#t means "too muh" or "too (big.small.expensi)e.et.)".
Example: T6>zMr. 2amada eats too much.
Example: o>'zI bought too much ood.
Example: ._zThis shirt is too big.
?&[edit]
#t means "it&s better" or "it would be better", it ma" be also used to sa" that something should (or
shouldn&t) be done.
Example: d.0'&&2ou should bu# this book.
Example: o.'>de&I shouldn"t eat that cake.
.[edit]
#t means "beause" or "so". The ause is more impartial (li+e beause a building is red or tall)
than with "a" or "5a" where it&s more sub$eti)e (li+e beause "ou thin+ an apple tastes
good). %ith nouns and *na ad$eti)es it beomes "d.".
Example: .0.dI"m not bu#ing this book, because it"s e(pensive.
Example: .'..'&I"ve seen this movie so let"s watch a
dierent one.
Example: CDd.d'he isn"t coming because she"s sick.
?d4d[edit]
#t means that something has to be done (lit: it&s bad not to do it).
Example: d'ad4d2ou have to inish #our homework.
%It"s not good or #ou to not inish #our homework.&
(&[edit]
#t means something li+e "isn&t it.aren&t "ou.aren&t #.et." or "right(". #t&s used when the spea+er
isn&t sure about something or in rhetorial ,uestions.
Example: d!(A 4ou&ll ome ba+ be!ore 5 o&lo+, right(
Example: 0(( #t&s a boo+, isn&t it(
Example: .I\d(( That building isn&t normal, is it(
Example: Cyd(( 6e an&t swim, an he(
?!2)[edit]
#t means "be!ore doing (something)" or "ago" (li+e 7 da"s ago).
Example: >)h'e3Q6Please wash #our hands beore eating.
Example: o)eI came back an hour ago.
?3a[edit]
#t means to do something a!ter doing something else.
Example: 23ae3456Please speak ater thinking.
Example: oh'e3a>'I had a meal ater washing m# hands.