Comments on: Speak Japanese in Different Way

By: Tyler

Tyler — Wed, 03 Nov 2010 01:50:40 +0000

Thanks a lot man for posting this! I know it’s been over a year since the last comment but I just had to say thanks.

My Japanese language professor (whose from Japan) always teaches us the polite form. But when I listen to normal Japanese speakers (from movies and shows mostly) I don’t hear it all the time. In fact, I hardly ever hear it. I would recognize the verbs they were using but not the suffix they would put at the end so I thought it was just a different form of conjugation.

Anyways, thanks a lot for this great information!

By: su

su — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 22:32:07 +0000

i love your blog!!! i was so confused about da and datta, now everything is cleared. thank you v. much.

By: Tony

Tony — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 10:01:41 +0000

I believe there is a picture showing the conversation. Anyhow, I think the Otoko No Hito was saying that “The next normal train”. In Japan, there are a 2 types of train “Normal” & “Express”

By: Deisler

Deisler — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 06:52:37 +0000

Hey mate, could you kindly reply on the above question? Kinda confusing. Thanks man

By: Deisler

Deisler — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 08:19:40 +0000

Hey thanks for explaining the “Yo” to me. Really appreciate that. Anyway here are the full converstaion for the first question.

Santosu: Sumimasen. Koushien made ikura desu ka.
Onna no hito: 350en desu.
Santosu: 350en desu ne. Arigatou gozaimashita.
Onna no hito: Dou itashimashite.

Santosu: Sumimasen. Koushien wa nan bansen desu ka?
Eki in: Go bansen desu.
Santosu: Doumo.

Santosu: Anou, Kono densha wa koushien e ikimasu ka?
Otoko no hito: Iie. Tsugi no futsuu desu yo.
Santosu: Sou desu ka. Doumo.

I understand that “Futsuu”, “Kyuukou”, “Tokkyuu” and “Densha”, “Chikatetsu”, “Shinkansen” are somewhat the same. But what I don’t understand is, when to use it?

For example, Futsuu and Densha are the same. But when to use Futsuu or Densha? And why create two different words when they both have the same meaning which is “train”. And explain to me what the “Yo” means for this converstation, if possible. Thanks buddy

By: Tony

Tony — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 15:20:41 +0000

The “yo” is one of the Japanese way to expressing something that is for sure. In English, most of the time you will use “huh” at the back of a sentence.

Example:
Ikimasu yo = Will (sure) go

For the first question, I need the full conversation in order to know what you meant.

By: Deisler

Deisler — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 09:30:05 +0000

Hey man, I have two questions.

First question,

Santosu san: Anou, Kono densha wa koushien e ikimasu ka?

Otoko no hito: Iie. Tsugi no futsu desu yo.

Why “Futsuu” and not densha? And when to use “Futsuu”, “Kyuukou”, “Tokkyuu” and “Densha”, “Chikatetsu”, “Shinkansen”. Also, why add “Yo” at the end? I don’t exactly understand when to use the word “Yo”

Second question,

Tanaka: Senshuu ginkaku ji e ikimashita.

Matsumoto: Sou desu ka. Watashi wa raishuu ikimasu. Donna tokoro desu ka?

Tanaka: Kireina tokoro desu yo.

Again, it is the “Yo” that I don’t understand. Why add a “yo” when “Kireina tokoro desu” is good enough?

By: Tony

Tony — Tue, 02 Jan 2007 07:23:59 +0000

Hi Rekcart,
Good question. In fact the “shika” is special which should follow by “arimasen” instead of “arimasu”. When using “shika arimasen”, we cannot translate them directly to english otherwise you will feel a little wierd.

I try to translate the following phrase to English in different way to clear your mind a little 😀

Ringo wa hitotsu shika arimasen – I don’t have many apples but only one

Just remember that everytime, “shika” is used, “arimasen” shoul be the next word.

Hope this help

By: rekcart

rekcart — Tue, 02 Jan 2007 07:07:36 +0000

Ohisashiburi sensei. Ogenki desu ka? New Year wa dou deshita ka? Anou… about “arimasen”, it still confuses me. Im reviewing what I learned then I ran into your examples again.

This is what I know about “arimasen”:
1. “arimasen”(to not have/be)is negative of “arimasu”(to have/be).
2. Hon ga arimasu. I have a book.
Hon wa arimasen. I don’t have a book.
Meaning: Hon-book, wa-as for, arimasen-to not have. The meaning is pretty clear to me.

Ill try to translate your sample.
Iie, ringo wa hitotsu shika arimasen.
Iie- no, ringo-apple, wa-as for, hitotsu-one, shika-only, arimasen-to not have.

Hon wa arimasen.
Hon wa issatsu shika arimasen.
Cause both have “arimasen” meaning the sentence is negative which means both means “Dont have book” thats what my brain tells me. XD

What can you say bout this sentences.
1. Iie, ringo wa hitotsu shika arimasen.
2. Iie, ringo wa hitotsu shika arimasu.
3. Iie, ringo wa hitotsu shika dewa arimasen.
4. Ringo wa hitotsu shika arimasen.
5. Ringo wa hitotsu shika arimasu.
6. Ringo wa hitotsu mo arimasen.
7. Ringo wa arimasen.

Sorry bout this sensei. But I dont know anyone else who can help me. Doumo arigatou gozaimasu. I guess self-studying really has its limits. XD

By: Tony

Tony — Fri, 29 Dec 2006 02:12:19 +0000

Hi Rekcart,
Not not that well => No, not that well (Amari genki dewa arimasen”

“Ringo wa hitotsu shika arimasen” can be used without the “Iie” and the meaning is the same “There’s only 1 apple”. The use of “Iie” is to answer someone’s question. Example :

Ringo wa futatsu arimasu ka?
Iie, ringo wa hitotsu shika arimasen

Ringo wa ikutsu arimasu ka?
Ringo wa hitotsu shika arimasen

Seems like “arimasen” should be ignored if theres an “Iie”

The “arimasen” should not be ignored. “Iie” is used depending on the question.

Example :
Ski wa umai desu ne.
Iie, ski wa amari umaku arimasen
The “Iie (No)” is to answer the question and the rest it to tell that person that I am not that good in skiing.

Can i also do this:
Chiisakunai -> Chiisai ja nai
Kawaikunai -> Kawaii ja nai

No, Only chiisakunai & kawaikunai. “ja nai” is only for special word such as “kirei”, “teinei”, “jōdan”, etc.

Kesa wa kaze ga zuibun tsuyokatta desu ne.(is this also right?)

Yes, it is correct

Gomenasai sensei. Hontouni gomenasai.

Oh, don’t mention it. It’s always my pleasure to help.