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Understanding the difference between intransitive verbs (自動詞 – jidōshi) and transitive verbs (他動詞 – tadōshi) is crucial for anyone learning Japanese. While it might seem a bit tricky at first, grasping this concept will significantly improve your sentence construction and overall comprehension. Let’s break it down! What Are Intransitive and Transitive Verbs? In Japanese, verbs are broadly categorized into these two types based on how their action relates to a subject and an object. Intransitive Verbs (自動詞 – Jidōshi) Transitive Verbs (他動詞 – Tadōshi) How to Tell the Difference: Practical Tips! Knowing the definitions is one thing, but how do you actually identify them in practice? Here are some useful […]

When it comes to expressing “if” or conditional statements in Japanese, you’ll encounter several options. While each has its own nuance, 「～たら」 (tara) stands out as the most flexible and frequently used conditional form in daily conversation. Compared to other conditional expressions, 「たら」 can be applied in a remarkably wide range of situations. Let’s dive into how to form 「たら」 and explore its diverse uses. 1. How to Form 「～たら」 Forming 「たら」 is straightforward: simply attach 「ら」 (ra) to the past tense (ta-form) of verbs, adjectives, and nouns. Part of Speech How to Form Examples Verbs ta-form + ら 行く (iku) ⇒行ったら (ittara) – if/when I go食べる (taberu) ⇒食べたら (tabetara)

When you want to talk about something you’ve heard, seen, or inferred in Japanese, you’ll often encounter 「そうです」 (sō desu), 「ようです」 (yō desu), and 「みたいです」 (mitai desu). While they all relate to making educated guesses or reporting information, their usage depends heavily on the source of your information and your level of certainty. Let’s break down each one. 「そうです」 (Sō desu) – The Dual-Purpose Inference The versatile 「そうです」 has two distinct uses, differentiated by how the verb or adjective connects to it. Use A: Indicating Appearance or Seeming (Direct Observation) This usage implies that something appears to be or looks like something, based on your direct sensory observations (what you

The Japanese Volitional Form (意向形 – ikōkei) is a fundamental verb conjugation that allows speakers to express their intentions, make proposals, or even suggest actions to others. It’s a versatile form that adds nuance to your Japanese communication. Let’s break down how to form it and its various applications, including the very common “I’m thinking of doing…” pattern. How to Form the Volitional Form The way you conjugate a verb into the Volitional Form depends on its group: Verb Group How to Form Examples Group 1 (U-verbs) Change the final “-u” sound to an “-o” sound and add 「う」 (-u). 飲む (nomu) ⇒ 飲もう (nomou) – Let’s drink / I’ll

When learning Japanese, you quickly realize that expressing thanks and apologies goes beyond a simple arigatou or sumimasen. The nuances often depend on the speaker’s perspective and the nature of the action. Today, we’re diving into two essential grammatical patterns that use the te-form of verbs to convey specific shades of gratitude and apology: ～てくれてありがとう (te kurete arigatou) and ～てすみません (te sumimasen). Understanding the Core: The Te-Form + Auxiliary Verbs/Expressions Both of these patterns involve connecting the te-form of a verb to an auxiliary verb or expression. This “te-form connection” is incredibly versatile in Japanese, allowing verbs to combine with others to create complex meanings. 「～てくれてありがとう」: Expressing Deep Thanks for

Understanding Japanese can sometimes feel like navigating a maze, especially when it comes to verbs that seem to mean the same thing but are used differently depending on who’s doing what to whom. The verbs あげる (ageru), くれる (kureru), and もらう (morau) are prime examples. They all relate to giving and receiving, but their usage hinges on perspective and the concept of “in-group” (ウチ – uchi) and “out-group” (ソト – soto). Let’s break down these essential verbs to help you use them naturally. The Core Concept: Perspective is Key! Imagine yourself at the center of a circle. People inside your circle (your family, close friends, or yourself) are your “in-group”

When you’re speaking Japanese, you often need to express uncertainty, probability, or strong conviction. Unlike English, which might just use “maybe” or “probably,” Japanese has several distinct grammatical patterns that convey different levels of certainty. Mastering these will significantly improve your naturalness and precision! Let’s break down the nuances of “かもれない,” “だろう/でしょう,” “はずだ,” and “に違いない.” かもしれません (kamoshiremasen): “Might Be,” “May Be,” “Possibly” This is your go-to phrase when you’re not very certain about something. It suggests that something might be true, but there’s also a good chance it’s not. It’s often used when you’re speculating or making a gentle suggestion. How to connect it: Just attach it to the plain

Lesson16．Verb できます。 ※GENKI Lesson13 １．Potential Verbs Particles in potential sentences かんじをよむ → かんじがよめる or かんじをよめるしごとをする →しごとができるやまにのぼる → やまにのぼれる Q：なにができますか。 ① ② ③ ④ ⑤ ⑥ ⑦ ⑧ Q：こどものとき、なにができましたか？ ① ② ③ ④ ⑤ ⑥ Q：Discribe the picture. ① ② ③ ④ ⑤ ⑥ Q : あなたのくにで、できること、できないことは　なんですか。 ex)　にほんで、ふじさんがみられます。 ２．Conjunctive particles Q ：Make a sentence meaning “ I can” or “ I can’t “. Add the reason using 「し」 ① ② ③ ④ ⑤ ⑥ ⑦ ⑧ Q：Describe the picture and make sentences using “conjunctive particles” above.  ① ex) ゴルフをしたことがありますか。 テニスならしたことがありますが、ゴルフはしたことがありません。 ② ③ ④ ⑤ ⑥ ⑦ ⑧ Answer the following questions. Make sentences as many as possible using conjunctive particles. Don’t

～ほうがいいです A：ねむたいんです。B：ねたほうがいいですよ。 Q：Make conversation. Give them advice using　「～ほうがいいですよ」 ① A： B： ② A： B： ③ A： B： ④ A： B： ⑤ A： B： ⑥ A： B： Q：Make conversation. Give them advice using　「～ほうがいいですよ」 ① A： B： ② A： B： ③ A： B： ④ A： B： ⑤ A： B： ⑥ A： B： ～なければいけません/なきゃいけません Q：What do they have to do？ ① ② ③ ④ ⑤ ⑥ Q：What do you have to do today？ Q：What did you have to do when you were a child？ ～すぎる Q：Describe the picture using 「～すぎる」 ① ② ③ ④ ⑤ ⑥ Q：Tell me about your experience you regret. Use 「～すぎた」「～しなければいけなかった」「したほうがよかった」and make sentence in the past tense.

GENKI Lesson12（から：GENKI Lesson９）Describe reasons １，から、ので Q: Why did this situation happen? Please explain using ～から&～ので ① ② ③ ④ ⑤ ⑥ Q: Why did this situation happen? Please explain using ～から&～ので ① ② ③ ④ ⑤ ⑥ Q: What were you unable to accomplish this year and why? Q:What do you want to do next year and why? ２，んです 1. To Explain or Clarifyどうして おくれたんですか？ (Why were you late?)みちがこんでいたんです。 (It’s because the road was crowded.)2. To Add a Sense of Softness or Politenessあの、おねがいがあるんですが… (Um, I have a favor to ask…)3. Expressing Surprise, Realization, or Interestあ、あめが　ふっているんですね。 (Oh, it’s raining!)にほんに　きたことが　あるんですね。(You’ve been to Japan, right?) Q : どうしたんですか？ What happened? Explain using〜んです. ①