で
Used in Unit 2 in the middle and latter half of the Unit
One use seems to be as a particle that means 'by way of' or 'using'
Like, 手で is used when something is done by hand, or left or right hand if it's done with one hand or the other (左手で). 1-2-5, I think.
Used when describing what something is doing with their head, and the hands are used to do it.
1-2-9
Sunday, February 7, 2016
Japanese - size comparison and placement in hands
1-2-4
Using the phrase 'よりも.'
When used to compare the sizes of circles and squares, the pattern is this:
Object A は Object B よりも 大きい(おおきい))/ 小さい(ちいさい) です。
It seems to mean: Object A, in comparison to object B, is bigger/smaller.
Placement in hand
left hand - 左手 (ひだりた)
right hand - 右手 (みぎて)
To say how many of something was in one hand or the other, for inanimate objects, the Rosetta stone patter introduced was this:
Object A が 'counter' 左手 / 右手 に あります。
It seems to mean: Counter # of Object A are in the left/right hand.
Example: 黄色いボールが二つ左手にあります。
Another example pattern was:
Object A は Person の 左手 / 右手 にありまう。
It seems to mean: Object A is in Person's left/right hand.
The 'left hand'/'right hand' plus に seems to be the important part, as if the verb 'to have' (持つ) is used, then ball is made an object, using を. But に is still used with the hands designated.
Also a reminder, the counters come AFTER the を, just like they came after the が.
Questions or unknowns about placement or hands
When asking about where something was, and it's in the hand, they used 'どこに,' with the pattern:
Object は どこにありますか。
When talking about 'something unspecified' being in the left or right hand, the object was referred to as 何か (なにか) and treated like an object (like nanika wo motteimasu.)
Using the phrase 'よりも.'
When used to compare the sizes of circles and squares, the pattern is this:
Object A は Object B よりも 大きい(おおきい))/ 小さい(ちいさい) です。
It seems to mean: Object A, in comparison to object B, is bigger/smaller.
Placement in hand
left hand - 左手 (ひだりた)
right hand - 右手 (みぎて)
To say how many of something was in one hand or the other, for inanimate objects, the Rosetta stone patter introduced was this:
Object A が 'counter' 左手 / 右手 に あります。
It seems to mean: Counter # of Object A are in the left/right hand.
Example: 黄色いボールが二つ左手にあります。
Another example pattern was:
Object A は Person の 左手 / 右手 にありまう。
It seems to mean: Object A is in Person's left/right hand.
The 'left hand'/'right hand' plus に seems to be the important part, as if the verb 'to have' (持つ) is used, then ball is made an object, using を. But に is still used with the hands designated.
Also a reminder, the counters come AFTER the を, just like they came after the が.
Questions or unknowns about placement or hands
When asking about where something was, and it's in the hand, they used 'どこに,' with the pattern:
Object は どこにありますか。
When talking about 'something unspecified' being in the left or right hand, the object was referred to as 何か (なにか) and treated like an object (like nanika wo motteimasu.)
Phrases de wa nai
Rosetta - 1 -2 - 2
Describing something by what it is not:
男の人でわない人
The person who is not a man
the 'de wa nai' construction seems to hold true for people and animal descriptions, at least.
Describing something by what it is not:
男の人でわない人
The person who is not a man
the 'de wa nai' construction seems to hold true for people and animal descriptions, at least.
Counters in Japanese
Counting words used in Japanese*
Things that are counted in Japanese often have these counting words, and sometimes more than one word can be used for one item. As an example, a noodle might have one counting word for cylindrical items, but also can be counted with the food counting word, or with the counting word for 'bundled items' if it was in a bundle. So, it's flexible.
Things that are counted in Japanese often have these counting words, and sometimes more than one word can be used for one item. As an example, a noodle might have one counting word for cylindrical items, but also can be counted with the food counting word, or with the counting word for 'bundled items' if it was in a bundle. So, it's flexible.
Wednesday, February 3, 2016
japanese Particles ne and yo, and sou desu
http://www.japaneseprofessor.com/lessons/beginning/the-sentence-ending-particles-ne-and-yo/
There was so much good information for me to remember, I've got a lot more quotes this time around, to help.
Notes:
- both work kind of like 'ka,' it changes the meaning of the sentence.
- "The particle ね “ne”, variously translated as “right?”, “huh?”, or “isn’t it?”, can be put at the end of a sentence to create sort of question."
- "Essentially, ne asks for agreement or confirmation. This sentence ender is used frequently when making observations, as in “Ii o-tenki desu ne?” which you learned earlier. In such situations, the speaker is trying to promote a smooth conversation by giving the other person an easy way to agree with them.
There was so much good information for me to remember, I've got a lot more quotes this time around, to help.
Notes:
- both work kind of like 'ka,' it changes the meaning of the sentence.
- "The particle ね “ne”, variously translated as “right?”, “huh?”, or “isn’t it?”, can be put at the end of a sentence to create sort of question."
- "Essentially, ne asks for agreement or confirmation. This sentence ender is used frequently when making observations, as in “Ii o-tenki desu ne?” which you learned earlier. In such situations, the speaker is trying to promote a smooth conversation by giving the other person an easy way to agree with them.
It’s also used when the speaker fully expects the listener’s agreement..."
- The sentence ending particle, よ “yo” asserts a fact that the listener may not know. So, rather than asking for agreement, it's more like telling
"Oishii desu ne. This is delicious, isn’t it? (Listener has also tasted it)
Oishii desu yo. It’s good, you know. (Listener hasn’t tried it yet)
The particle is also translated as “I tell you”, but is often left out of the English translation.
In general, yo shows the speaker’s conviction towards whatever they are asserting. When used with commands, it makes the command more forceful. The particle is also sometimes used to answer questions using who/what/etc. as a means of emphasis. (Read more about question words)
In summary, ne asks for agreement, and yo tells how it is."
- "Somewhat paradoxically, Japanese people will often use both yo and ne at the end of a statement.
...Tanoshii desu yo ne. This is fun! (And I hope you agree)
Basically, the yo shows the speaker’s strong conviction for their opinion, but also expects the other person to agree with them. This highlights the softening effect of the particle ne. In an effort to avoid seeming overly assertive, Japanese people will often ask for the other person’s agreement, as well as a variety of other strategies to soften the message of the sentence."
- Some great information on sou desu that I've been trying to figure out forever!
"はい、そうです。 Hai, sou desu. exp. “Yes, that right.” (Response to a question)
そうですか。 Sou desu ka? exp. “It that so?” (Receiving new information)
そうですね。 Sou desu ne. exp. “So it is, isn’t it?” (Agreement with a statement)
そうですよ。 Sou desu yo. exp. “Yes, I agree.” (Strong agreement with a statement)
そうですよね。 Sou desu yo ne. exp. “Yes, I agree.” (Strong agreement with softening)
“Sou desu” means something “that’s how it is” or “so it is”. Each of its variants has a different nuance.
The first version is a way to affirm a yes-no question without repeating the complete sentence.
“Sou desu ka?” is a general response to any new information, and doesn’t necessarily imply any doubt about what was just said.
The variants including yo and ne all express agreement with what the other person just said.
Note that the simple confirmation “sou desu” (or the informal “sou da” or “sou”) can be somewhat abrupt, and adding yo or ne (or both) is often more appropriate."
Japanese Adjectives and Copula (to be)
This site has been very useful for some basics to go over again.
On adjectives: http://www.japaneseprofessor.com/lessons/beginning/japanese-adjectives/
On the copula, desu: http://www.japaneseprofessor.com/lessons/beginning/the-copula-desu/
Notes on interesting points:
Copula -
- verbs are pretty much past and non-past, as there is really little distinction made between now and the future in Japanese. If the time period (now, in a week) isn't specified, it must be inferred.
- "As a side note, desu is believed to be a contraction of "de gozaimasu", which is now mainly used in keigo (honorific speech). At some point, the negative forms of gozaimasu were also replaced by the negative forms of arimasu."
- the topic of a sentence is often implied rather than stated.
And some more links on copula information:
http://www.japaneseprofessor.com/reference/grammar/conjugations-of-the-japanese-copula/
On adjectives: http://www.japaneseprofessor.com/lessons/beginning/japanese-adjectives/
On the copula, desu: http://www.japaneseprofessor.com/lessons/beginning/the-copula-desu/
Notes on interesting points:
Copula -
- verbs are pretty much past and non-past, as there is really little distinction made between now and the future in Japanese. If the time period (now, in a week) isn't specified, it must be inferred.
- "As a side note, desu is believed to be a contraction of "de gozaimasu", which is now mainly used in keigo (honorific speech). At some point, the negative forms of gozaimasu were also replaced by the negative forms of arimasu."
- the topic of a sentence is often implied rather than stated.
And some more links on copula information:
http://www.japaneseprofessor.com/reference/grammar/conjugations-of-the-japanese-copula/
Japanese color notation
This information is collected from various sources, on color vocabulary.
This is a great source for information on colors, on why sometimes there is an 'i' at the end, and sometimes not. Why sometimes you use a 'no' between the color and the word it modifies, and sometimes you don't.
Lots of very good information, and many color words. Worth exploring more.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)