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Particles (Japanese) (view source)
Revision as of 08:30, December 12, 2008
, 08:30, December 12, 2008tweak. What I really need is somebody to read this and see if it is understandable as a guide. Volunteers? There will be cake.
It is also used to indicate specific periods of time (but not concepts such as "today" or "tomorrow") and takes on the same usage as the English "at,” "on" or "in". Using an example from above "Hachi-ji '''ni''' ie '''o''' demasu," we get "Eight o'clock (at) house (I) leave" or "I leave home at eight o'clock".
It is also used to indicate specific periods of time (but not concepts such as "today" or "tomorrow") and takes on the same usage as the English "at,” "on" or "in". Using an example from above "Hachi-ji '''ni''' ie '''o''' demasu," we get "Eight o'clock (at) house (I) leave" or "I leave home at eight o'clock".
Combining "ni" with a noun and the verb "narimasu" ("to become", or "to result in") indicates the final result, or state of something after a specific event, something like the English "will". So "Tanjoubi '''ni''' ni-juu-roku-sai '''ni''' narimasu," Means "On my birthday, I will be twenty six". Notice the two different uses for "ni" in that sentence - the first indicates that something happens "on" my birthday, and the second that I "will be" 26. The unbolded "ni" in that sentence is, of course 2 (二) and not the particle "ni" (に). "Sai" is the "[[Japanese numerical system|counter]]" word to indicate years.
Two final uses are at the base of a verb, which is followed by another verb that indicates the purpose of the action. Thus, "Hon '''o''' kai '''ni''' ikimash<i></i>ita" (book buy went) has "ni" linking "went" and the reason I went, "to buy.”
Two final uses are at the base of a verb, which is followed by another verb that indicates the purpose of the action. Thus, "Hon '''o''' kai '''ni''' ikimash<i></i>ita" (book buy went) has "ni" linking "went" and the reason I went, "to buy.”
* "Ano mise '''ni''' iku '''to''' oishii sushi '''ga''' taberareru." - If you go to that restaurant, you can eat delicious sushi (that restaurant go to (if) delicious sushi eat)
* "Ano mise '''ni''' iku '''to''' oishii sushi '''ga''' taberareru." - If you go to that restaurant, you can eat delicious sushi (that restaurant go to (if) delicious sushi eat)
Finally, "to" indicates where an onomatopoeic adverb has been used. Japanese has the quaint mannerism of not just telling you the stars were twinkling, or her heart was beating, but will add in "kare-kare" (for twinkle) or "doki-doki" (for heartbeat) as well as the verb. These are usually written in katakana. For example, "me '''ga''' pika-pika '''to''' kirameita", means "(Her) eyes were "sparkle-sparkle" (and) sparkling."
It can also be used in the combination "word-'''to'''-iimasu" to approximate the English, "This is called..." (literally "word and is called"). Thus, "Kore '''wa''' Nihongo '''de''' sashimi '''to''' iimasu," means "This is called sashimi in Japanese."
Finally, "to" indicates where an onomatopoeic adverb has been used. Japanese has the quaint mannerism of not just telling you the stars were twinkling, or her heart was beating, but will add the onomatopoeic "kare-kare" (for twinkle) or "doki-doki" (for heartbeat) as well as the verb. These are usually written in katakana. For example, "me '''ga''' pika-pika '''to''' kirameita", means "(Her) eyes were "sparkle-sparkle" (and) sparkling."
"Ya" is much the same as "to" in that it is used to link one or more nouns, except that it is much more vague and it implies that the list is incomplete, or may contain surplus items. It is much the same as saying "Etcetera, etcetera" in English.
"Ya" is much the same as "to" in that it is used to link one or more nouns, except that it is much more vague and it implies that the list is incomplete, or may contain surplus items. It is much the same as saying "Etcetera, etcetera" in English.