[Serie: All About Japanese Particles]

Note: Zo adds force to a sentence in a more emphatic manner than ze (#66). Used mostly by men.

1. Indicates a command or threat.

そろそろ会議を始めるぞ。
Sorosoro kaigi o hajimeru zo.
Let’s get the meeting under way.

今度そんなことしたら、絶対に許さないぞ。
Kondo sonna koto o shitara, zettai ni yurusanai zo.
If you do that again, I’m not going to let you get away with it. / If you do anything like that again, you’re going to pay for it.

2. Adds force to words of self-encouragement or self-urging.

頑張るぞ。
Ganbaru zo.
I can do it!/ Make way. Here I come.

今度こそ成功するぞ。
Kondo koso seikō suru zo.
I’m going to make it this time./ This time I’m coming up a winner.

– Source: All about particles – A handbook of Japanese function words –

Introduction

In this book, I propose to clarify the functions of a considerable number of particles, to describe their various usages, and, most important, to exemplify each and every usage with sample sentences. Only in this way through context can the student truly come to grips with the Japanese particle. Difficulty level:

All About Japanese Particles: に (ni) – 2

All About Japanese Particles: ものか (mono ka)

All About Japanese Particles: ぞ (zo)

All About Japanese Particles: ぜ (ze)

All About Japanese Particles: もの (mono)

All About Japanese Particles: い (-i)