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ORTHOGRAPHY Japanese particles, like Okurigana , are usually written in Hiragana . Some of the particles have Kanji forms, but in modern writing, the hiragana forms are always preferred. Three common particles, ''o'', ''e'' and ''wa'', are written with the hiragana ''wo'', ''he'', and ''ha'' respectively. This is a relic of Historical Kana Usage , although the particle ''o'' is still pronounced ''wo'' by some speakers. LIST OF PARTICLES '''' ''bakari ka'' ''bakashi'' (''bakashi'') is another form of ''bakari'', written ばかし. '''' '''' '''' '''' '''' '''' '''' '''' '''' '''' '''' '''' ''kai'' is a gentler variant of the question marker ''ka'', used by some men. '''' '''' ''ka shira'' ''kedo'' ''kiri'' ''koro/goro'' ''koso'' ''kurai/gurai'' ''made'' ''made ni'' me ''mo'' ''mono/mon'' ''mono-de'' ''mono-ka/mon-ka'' ''mononara'' ''mono-o'' ''na'' and ''nā'' ''nado'' ''nanka/nante'' ''nara'' ''ne'' ''ni'' ''ni wa'' ''no'' ''no de'' ''nomi'' ''no ni'' ''o'' ''sa/sā'' ''sae'' ''de sae'' ''sae...ba/ra'' ''shi'' ''shika'' ''sura'' ''to'' ''to ka'' ''to mo'' ''tte'' This is another form of ''to''. It is a shortened version of ''to yū'' or ''to yū-no-wa'', and can mean: What someone else said, and is being repeated by the speaker. It is casual, but can be polite if the final verb is in the ''desu/masu'' form. Sugu kimasu-tte It can be used to show reflection, focus, or an explanatory tone by the speaker. Arabugo-tte, muzukashikunai? ''tteba'' ''Tteba'' is sometimes used for strong emphasis, especially when the speaker has grown impatient. kōhī tteba ''wa'' This is usually written with the hiragana は ''ha'', rather than the hiragana わ , ''wa''. ''ya'' ''Ya'' is used to make incomplete lists of things. Watashi no suki na tabemono wa okashi ya pan ya mikan nado To make an exhaustive list, the particle ''to'' is used instead. ''yara'' Written やら, this particle denotes either uncertainty or listing. ''yo'' ''Yo'' comes at the end of the sentence, and is used to make assertions. Compare ''zo'' and ''ze'' below. Kaeru yo! ''Yo'' is also sometimes used after nouns, and functions as a Vocative marker. This is especially used in older speech, poetry, and songs. Saraba, tomo yo ''Yo'' is written in hiragana: よ. ''yori'' ''Yori'' can mean "from", and is also used to make comparisons. Kono densha-wa, Kashiwa-yori saki, kaku eki-ni tomarimasu Dare-yori-mo kanemochi-ni naritai ''Yori'' is usually written より in hiragana. ''ze'' Written ぜ, ''ze'' is a particle which indicates assertion. Its use is mostly by men, and is never considered polite. Compare ''yo'' and ''zo''. ''zo'' Written ぞ, ''zo'' is a particle which indicates assertion. It is used mainly by men, but its use is considered somewhat less forceful and more positive than ''ze''. Compare ''yo'' and ''ze'' above. ''zutsu'' ''Zutsu'' means "each" and usually follows counted nouns: Chokorēto-o ni-ko-zutsu tabemashita ''Zutsu'' is written with hiragana as ずつ. CONTRAST ''wa'' and ''ga'' Main article: ''ni'' and ''de'' ''Ni'' and ''de'' can both be used to show Location , corresponding to the prepositions "in" or "at" in English. Their uses are mutually exclusive. ''Ni'', when used to show location, is used only with Stative Verb s such as ''iru'', "to be, exist;" ''aru'', "to be, exist, have;" and ''sumu'', "to live, inhabit." Nihon-ni sumu. Gakkō-ni iru. ''De'' is used with Action Verbs to convey the place of action, as opposed to location of being. Gakkō-de neru.
''ni'' and ''e'' ''Ni'' and ''e'' can both indicate Direction Of Motion , meaning "to" or "at" in English. In this sense, ''e'' is perhaps closer to English "towards" in terms of use (see example below). As long as ''ni'' is used directionally, it is possible to substitute ''e'' in its place. ''Ni'' used in other senses cannot be replaced by ''e'': Gakkō ni iku. Gakkō e iku. Gakkō ni iru.
Tomodachi ni au
Hon o kai ni itta
Indicating direction, using ''e'' instead of ''ni'' is preferred when ''ni'' is used non-directionally in proximity: Tomodachi ni ai ni Kyōto e itta. ''no'' and ''ga'' ''ga'' and ''o'' In some cases, ''ga'' and ''o'' are interchangeable. For example, with the ''tai'' form, meaning "want to", it is possible to say either of the following: Gohan-ga tabetai. Gohan-o tabetai. Similarly, ''suki'', a '' Na Adjective '' meaning "liked", can take either ''ga'' or ''o'': Kimi-ga suki da Kimi-o suki de yokatta ''ni'' and ''to'' ''Ni'' and ''to'' are sometimes interchangeable in forms like ''ni naru'' and ''to naru''. The ''to naru'' form suggests a natural change, whereas ''ni naru'' suggests some indirect agent. ''ya'' and ''to'' ''Ya'' is used for incomplete lists, whereas ''to'' is used for complete ones. DIFFERENCES FROM ENGLISH PREPOSITIONS Many Japanese particles fill the role of prepositions in English, but they are unlike prepositions in many ways. Japanese does not have equivalents of prepositions like "on", and often uses particles along with verbs and nouns to modify another word where English might use prepositions. For example, ''ue'' is a noun meaning "top/up"; and ''ni tsuite'' is a fixed verbal expression meaning "concerning", and when used as postpositions: Tēburu-no -ue-ni aru :Table-OF top/up-AT exists. :"It's on the table." Ano hito-wa, gitā-ni tsuite nandemo wakaru :That person-TOPIC guitar-TO concerning anything knows. :"That person knows everything about guitars." NOUN- AND VERB-DERIVED POSTPOSITIONAL IDIOMS Noun-derived postpositional idioms ''jō'' ''chū'' ''jū'' ''kata/gata'' ''ra'' ''tachi'' Verb-derived postpositional idioms ''zoi'' SEE ALSO REFERENCES
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