All About Japanese Particles

There are 69 posts tagged All About Japanese Particles (this is page 5 of 7).

All About Japanese Particles: ところで (tokoro de)

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Note: Tokoro de is always used after the -ta form of a verb. The tense of this verb, however, is not necessarily past, but is determined by the tense of the verb in the main clause.

* 1. Between contrasting clauses, emphasizes that an extent, number, or amount of something is less than expected: “even if, even though.”

Note: This usage is similar to -te mo (#4, no. 1), but the emphasis is greater with tokoro de.

東京は雪が降ったところで、そんなに積もることはありません。
Tōkyō wa yuki ga futta tokoro de, sonna ni tsumoru koto wa arimasen.
Even though it snows in Tokyo, it never snows that much [never gets that deep].

あの人ならいくら頑張ったところで、この程度の仕事しかできないでしょう。
Ano hito nara ikura ganbatta tokoro de, kono teido no shigoto shika dekinai deshō.
Try as he might, this is about the best [level of work] he can do.

*2. Indicates that the outcome of what is stated in the first clause will not be favorable: “even if, no matter how much.”

今から急いで行ったところで、1時の新幹線には間に合いませんよ。
Ima kara isoide itta tokoro de, ichiji no shinkansen ni wa mani-aimasen yo.
No matter how much we hurry now, we’re just not going to be on time for the one o’clock Shinkansen.

高岡さんに頼んだところで、やってくれるはずがないでしょう。
Takaoka-san ni tanonda tokoro de, yatte kureru hazu ga nai deshō.
Even if we asked Takaoka, there’s little chance he would do it for us.

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

Introduction

All About Japanese Particles: けれども (keredomo)

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Note: (1) More colloquial forms of keredomo are keredo, kedo, and kedomo. Keredomo in all its forms lends a softer tone, and in its full form (not the alternative forms) tends to be preceded by desu and the -masu verb forms. (2) In each of the usages below, ga (#2, II-1, 2, 4, 5, 6) can replace keredomo and its more informal variations.

1. Used between two clauses to indicate that they are opposed in meaning: “but, although.”

天気予報で今日は雨は降らないと言ったんですけれども、夕方から降ってきましたね。
Tenki-yohō de kyō wa ame wa furanai to itta-n desu keredomo, yūgata kara futte kimashita ne.
They said on the weather report that it wouldn’t rain today, but it began raining in the evening, didn’t it.

竹内さんに電話をかけたけれど留守でした。
Takeuchi-san ni denwa o kaketa keredo rusu deshita.
I called Takeuchi, but she was out.

2. Used at the end of a sentence, implies something that qualifies what is actually stated: “well, yes, but …”

Note: This usage is essentially the same as that in no. 1, above, except that here the second clause isn’t stated outright. (Words in brackets below show only one of various imaginable contexts.)

たまには旅行にも行きたいと思っているんですけど。。。
Tama ni wa ryokō ni mo ikitai to omotte iru-n desu kedo . . .
I’d really like to go on a trip once in a while … [but I don’t have the time].

私はゴルフをしないわけではないんですけど。。。
Watashi wa gorufu o shinai wake de wa nai-n desu kedo …
It’s not that I don’t play golf … [but I really don’t like it that much].

3. Indicates a preliminary remark.

まだ発車まで1時間もありますけど、どうしましょうか。
Mada hassha made ichi-jikan mo arimasu kedo, dō shimashō ka.
There’s still an hour until [the train] departs, [so] what shall we do [in the meanwhile]? •

谷ですけど、知子さんいらっしゃいますか。
Tani desu kedo, Tomoko-san irasshaimasu ka.
This [my name is] is Tani. Is Tomoko there?

4. Used at the end of a sentence, emphasizes the sense that the speaker wants the event to come out as stated: “it would be nice if, I hope.”

早く暖かくなるといいんですけど。。。
Hayaku atatakaku naru to ii-n da kedo …
It would be nice if it got warm soon. / I hope it gets warm soon.

もう少し大きいのが欲しいんだけれど。。。
Mō sukoshi ōkii no ga hoshii-n da keredo …
I’d like to have one that’s a little bigger. / I had hoped for some-thing a little larger.

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

Introduction

All About Japanese Particles: もので (monode)

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1. Indicates a cause or reason: “in that, inasmuch as, given.”

Note: Mono de is more polite and formal than no de and kara.

東京は物価が高いもので、生活が大変です。
Tōkyō wa bukka ga takai mono de, seikatsu ga taihen desu.
Since prices are high, life in Tokyo is difficult. / Prices in Tokyo being high, it is difficult to make ends meet.

私は体が弱いもので、長い旅行は無理です。
Watashi wa karada ga yowai mono de, nagai ryokō wa muri desu.
In that my constitution is weak [health is poor], long trips are out of the question.

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

Introduction

All About Japanese Particles: ので (node)

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1. Indicates a cause or reason: “in that, since, because.”

Note: No de and kara (#15, II-1) differ in two ways: first, no de usually indicates a more objective cause or reason, kara a more subjective one; thus kara is often used in sentences involving prohibitions, commands, and questions; second, in sentences otherwise identical, no de lends a more polite tone.

車の事故があったので、道が混んでいます。
Kuruma no jiko ga atta no de, michi ga konde imasu.
Since there was a car accident, the roads are crowded.

雪がたくさん降ったので、電車が遅れるそうです。
Yuki ga takusan futta no de, densha ga okureru sō desu.
Because a lot of snow has fallen, it is said [they say, I hear] the train is going to be late. / Because of all the snow, the train will be late, I hear.

病気なので、旅行に行くのは無理です。
Byōki na no de, ryokō ni iku no wa muri desu.
Since I’m ill, taking a trip is out of the question.

Note: As in this example, da changes to na before no de.

 

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

Introduction

All About Japanese Particles: きり (kiri)

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1. Used after nouns and verbs, indicates a “cutting-off point, i.e., a limit; may also be pronounced kkiri (っきり): “only.”

Note: Kiri means basically the same thing as dake (#22, no. 1) but is a more colloquial usage. Shika may be used after kiri for emphasis.

あのおじいさんは、一人きりで大きな家に住んでいる。
Ano ojī-san wa, hitori kiri de ōki na ie ni sunde iru.
That old man lives alone [all by himself] in a big house.

その子供は、黙ったきりで何も言わなかった。
Sono kodomo wa, damatta kiri de nani mo iwanakatta.
The child just sat [stood, etc.] there, without saying a word. (Lit., That child, only keeping quiet, didn’t say anything.)

2. Used with a small number or amount to emphasize a negative meaning; dake may replace kiri: “only.”

あと発車まで2分きりだから、山本さんはとても間に合わないだろう。
Ato hassha made nifun kiri da kara, Yamamoto-san wa totemo ma-ni-awanai darō.
The train leaves in just two minutes, so it’s very unlikely that Yamamoto will make it in time.

お金は1万円きりしかないから、あのコンピューターを買うのは無理だ。
Okane wa ichiman-en kiri shika nai kara, ano konpyūtā o kau no wa muri da.
I have only ¥10,000 to my name, so there’s no way I can buy that computer. / Since all I have is ¥10,000, there is no way I can afford that computer.

3. Indicates the most recent incidence of something: “the last.”

アランさんからは、去年クリスマス・カードが来たきりで、そのあと手紙が来ません。
Aran-san kara wa, kyonen kurisumasu-kādo ga kita kiri de, sono ato tegami ga kimasen.
The last [I heard] from Allen was a Christmas card last year; since then, no letters have come.

岸さんとは、先月のクラス会で会ったきりです。
Kishi-san to wa, sengetsu no kurasu kai de atta kiri desu.
The last [time] I saw Kishi was at last month’s class meeting.

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

Introduction

All About Japanese Particles: のみ (nomi)

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*1. After nouns, indicates that there is nothing other than the thing(s) stipulated : “only.”

Note: In this usage, nomi and dake have the same meaning, but nomi is used more in writing than in the spoken language. Nomi can be combined with (followed by) shika, as in the second sample sentence below.

この会議には、4つの国の代表のみが出席した。
Kono kaigi ni wa, yottsu no kuni no daihyō nomi ga shusseki shita.
The representatives of only four countries attended this conference.

以前、この大学には男性のみしか入れなかった。
Izen, kono daigaku ni wa dansei nomi shika hairenakatta.
In the past, only men were able to enter this university.

*2. Used in the form A nomi narazu B mo: “not only … but also.”

Note: This usage is essentially equivalent to bakari (#21, no. 2) and dake (#22, no. 4), but is found more in the written than in the spoken language.

この大学の文学部の学生は、英語のみならずフランス語も勉強しなければならない。
Kono daigaku no bungaku-bu no gakusei wa, Eigo nomi narazu Furansu-go mo benkyō shinakereba naranai.
The students in the literature department of this university must study not only English, but French as well.

シェークスピアは戯曲のみならず詩もたくさん書いた。
Shēkusupia wa gikyoku nomi narazu shi mo takusan kaita.
Shakespeare wrote not only plays, but many poems as well.

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

Introduction

All About Japanese Particles: しか (shika)

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Note: Shika is used only with negative verbs. It may combine with (follow) dake, nomi, and kiri for further emphasis.

1. After nouns, indicates there is nothing more than the quantity specified, with the connotation that the quantity is small or unsatisfactory: “only, nothing but, merely.”

あの店には、この雑誌しかありませんでした。
Ano mise ni wa, kono zasshi shika arimasen deshita.
This was the only magazine at that store. / The only magazine that store had was this one.

今は1300円きりしか持っていないから、とてもフランス料理など食べられないよ。
Ima wa sen-sanbyaku-en kiri shika motte inai kara, totemo Furansu-ryōri nado taberarenai yo.
Since all I have at the moment is V1,300, there is no way I can [afford to] eat French food.

*2.After verbs, indicates a limit to the action stipulated by the verb: “there is no choice but, all one can do is.”

いやだけれど、出張だから行くしかない。
I ya da keredo, shuccho da kara iku shika nai.
I don’t want to, but since it’s company business [lit., a business trip], I can’t help but go [I have no choice).

このレポートは、明日までだから、今日中に終わらせるしかない。
Kono repōto wa, ashita made da kara, kyōchū ni owaraseru shika nai.
Since this report is due tomorrow, I have no choice but to finish it sometime today [will just to have to finish it sometime today).

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

Introduction

All About Japanese Particles: だけ (dake)

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1. Indicates an absolute quantitative limit with the connotation that the amount is small: “only, just.”

昨日クラスに来た学生は、5人だけでした。
Kinō kurasu ni kita gakusei wa, gonin dake deshita.
Only five students came to class yesterday.

今日は1時間だけテレビを見ました。
Kyō wa ichi-jikan dake terebi o mimashita.
Today I watched TV for only an hour.

2. Indicates an extent or amount: “as … as.”

どうぞお好きなだけお飲みください。
Dōzo osuki na dake onomi kudasai.
Please drink as much as you wish.

できるだけ早く行きます。
Dekiru dake hayaku ikimasu.
I’ll go [be on my way, leave, get there] as soon as I can. (Lit., To the extent that I can, I will go quickly.)

*3. In the phrases dake ni, dake atte, and dake no koto wa aru, indicates the cause or precondition for a certain result or state of affairs (when the result meets expectations, does not meet expectations, or is considered a natural outcome).

a) When the result meets expectations and is therefore worth the effort of achieving: “… was worthwhile.”

あの大学に合格できたから、勉強しただけのことはあった。
Ano daikagu ni gōkaku dekita kara, benkyō shita dake no koto wa atta.
I passed [the entrance examination to] that university, so the studying I did was worth it.

寺田だんは私のプレゼントを喜んでくれたので、無理して買っただけのことはあった。
Terada-san wa watashi no purezento o yorokonde kureta no de, muri shite katta dake no koto wa atta.
Since Terada was happy [pleased] with my present, it was worth all the trouble I went to in buying it.

b) When the result does not meet expectations and is therefore discouraging: “given the fact that.”

彼は彼女に夢中だっただけに、失恋のショックはとても大きかった。
Kare wa kanojo ni muchū datta dake ni, shitsuren no shokku wa totemo ōkikatta.
Given the fact that he was head over heels in love, losing her was a big blow.

一生懸命に勉強しただけに、不合格の通知を受け取ったとき、山本さんは非常にがっかりした。
Isshō-kenmei ni benkyō shita dake ni, fu-gōkaku no tsūchi o uke-totta toki, Yamamoto-san wa hijō ni gakkari shita.
Since he had studied so hard, Yamamoto was extremely disappointed when he received notification that he had failed. / Given the fact that he had studied so hard, Yamamoto was crushed when he learned that he had not been accepted.

c) When the outcome is seen as a natural result of foregoing conditions: “as you might expect.”

佐藤さんは英国の大学で勉強しただけあって、英語がうまいですね。
Satō-san wa Eikoku no daigaku de benkyō shita dake atte, Eigo ga umai desu ne.
As you might expect from his having studied at a university in England, Sato’s English is quite good.

ジョンさんは、京都に15年も住んでいるだけあって、お寺のことをよく知っています。
Jon-san wa, Kyōto ni jūgo-nen mo sunde iru dake atte, otera no koto o yoku shitte imasu.
As you might expect from his having lived in Kyoto for fifteen years, John is very knowledgeable about temples. / Since John has lived in Kyoto for fifteen years, it is not surprising that he knows a lot about temples.

一流のピアニストだけに、すばらしい演奏をしますね。
Ichiryū no pianisuto dake ni, subarashii ensō shimasu ne.
As you might expect of a first-rate pianist, he plays wonderfully, doesn’t he.

ここは北海道だけに、寒さが厳しいです。
Koko wa Hokkaido dake ni, samusa ga kibishii desu.
As you might expect from this being Hokkaido, it is terribly cold. / It is terribly cold here in Hokkaido, as you might expect.

4. “Not only … but also.”

Note: While bakari (#21, no. 2) may replace dake in this usage, it is slightly more emphatic.

原田さんはピアノだけでなく、歌もうまいんですよ。
Harada-san wa piano dake de naku, uta mo umai-n desu yo.
Harada is good not only at the piano but also at singing.

英語だけでなくフランス語も勉強したいんです。
Eigo dake de naku Furansu-go mo benkyō shitai-n desu.
I want to study not only English but French as well.

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

Introduction

All About Japanese Particles: ばかり (bakari)

[Serie: All About Japanese Particles]

Note: More informal forms of bakari are bakkari, bakashi, and bakkashi

1. Indicates an approximate amount or extent; in contrast to kurai and hodo, bakari tends (but only tends) to focus on the smallness of the amount: “approximately, about.”

Note: Kurai (#19, no. 1) and hodo (#20, no. 1) may replace bakari in this usage.

明日から2日ばかり旅行に行ってきます。
Ashita kara futsuka bakari ryokō ni itte kimasu.
Beginning tomorrow, I’ll be making a trip for a day or two. / Tomorrow I’ll be leaving on a trip for a couple of days.

1万円ばかり貸していただけませんか。
Ichi-man-en bakari kashite itadakemasen ka.
Could you lend me, say, something like ¥10,000?

2. “Not only … but also.”

Note: While dake (#22, no. 4) may replace bakari in this usage, bakari is slightly more emphatic.

原田さんはピアノばかりでなく、歌もうまいんですよ。
Harada-san wa piano bakari de naku, uta mo umai-n desu yo.
Harada is good not only at the piano but also at singing.

英語ばかりでなく、フランス語も勉強したいんです。
Eigo bakari de naku, Furansu-go mo benkyō shitai-n desu.
I want to study not only English but French as well.

3. Emphasizes the singularity of the immediately preceding word: “only, nothing but.”

Note: (1) Since the position of bakari in the sentence affects the meaning, several versions of one sentence have been given to exemplify the difference. In loose usage, however, bakari tends to shift from the word it is intended to modify, leaving the meaning to be gathered from context. (2) In this usage, bakari contains a degree of disapproval which lake does not.

課長はこの頃ウイスキーばかり飲んでいますね。
Kachō wa konogoro uisukii bakari nonde imasu ne.
The section chief is drinking nothing but whiskey these days.

課長はこの頃ウイスキーを飲んでばかりいますね。
Kachō wa konogoro uisukii o nonde bakari imasu ne.
The section chief is doing nothing but drink whiskey these days.

課長はこの頃ウイスキーを飲んでいるばかりですね。
Kachō wa konogoro uisukii o nonde iru bakari desu ne.
All the section chief does these days is drink whiskey.

テレビばかり見ていると目を悪くしますよ。
Terebi bakari mite iru to me o waruku shimasu yo.
If all you do is watch TV, you’ll ruin your eyes. / If you watch TV all the time, you’ll ruin your eyes.

Note: Here, terebi o mite iru bakari da to me o waruku shimasu yo is also possible (and grammatically more acceptable), but the example above is more common and has the same meaning.

4. Used after the – ta form of verbs: “just.”

Note: If tokoro (#38, no. 1) replaces bakari in this usage, the meaning is similar, but bakari shows more emphasis.

父は今帰ってきたばかりです。
Chichi wa ima kaette kita bakari desu.
My father just now came home [just got home).

順ちゃんは、ご飯を食べたばかりなのに、もうおやつを欲しがっています。
Jun-chan wa, gohan o tabeta bakari na no ni, mō oyatsu o hoshigatte imasu.
Even though Jun has just eaten a meal [just finished eating], he already wants a snack.

*5. Emphasizes a reason or cause in the phrase bakari ni; “(Just, merely) because, for the simple reason.”

渡辺さんはステレオを買いたいばかりに、一生懸命にアルバイトをしている。
Watanabe-san wa sutereo o kaitai bakari ni, isshō-kenmei ni arubaito o shite iru.
Watanabe is working like a dog at his part-time job for the simple reason that he wants to buy a stereo. / Watanabe wants to buy a stereo so badly that he is working for all he’s worth at his part-time job.

山田さんは政治家と結婚したばかりに、苦労している。
Yamada-san wa seiji-ka to kekkon shita bakari ni, kurō shite iru.
Simply because Yamada married a politician, she is having a hard time. / Just because she married [happened to marry] a politi-cian, Yamada is finding the going tough.

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

Introduction

All About Japanese Particles: ほど (hodo)

[Serie: All About Japanese Particles]

1. Indicates an approximate amount or approximate maximum extent; in contrast with kurai and bakari, hodo tends to stress approximate upper limit: “approximately, about.”

Note: Kurai (#19, no.1) and bakari (#21, no. 1) may replace hodo in this usage, although hodo is somewhat more formal.

来月は、一週間ほど九州へ出張します。
Raigetsu wa, isshukan hodo Kyūshū e shuccho shimasu.
Next month I’ll be going on a business trip to Kyushu for as long as a week.

今度の事項で、100人ほどの人が死んだそうです。
Kondo no jiko de, hyakunin hodo no hito ga shinda sou desu.
I hear that some 100 people died in this traffic accident.

2. Indicates a comparison (used only in negative sentences): “as … as.”

Note: Kurai may replace hodo in this usage, but hodo is more common.

今年は去年ほど寒くないです。
Kotoshi wa kyonen hodo samuku nai desu.
This year is not as cold as last year.

あの人ほど頭のいい人はいないでしょう。
Ano hito hodo atama no ii hito wa nai deshō.
No one has as good a head as he has. / No one is as smart as he is.

3. Indicates the extent of an action or condition by citing a specific example: “so … that, to the extent that.”

Note: This usage is similar to kurai (#19, no. 2).

今日は勉強ができないほど疲れた。
Kyo wa benkyō ga dekinai hodo tsukareta.
Today I’m so tired that I can’t study.

試験に合格したので、うれしくて眠れないほどです。
Shiken ni gōkaku shita no de, ureshikute nemurenai hodo desu.
Since I passed the examination, I’m so happy that I can’t sleep.

4. Used in the form V-ba + V hodo: “the more … the more.”

北へ行けば行くほど寒くなります。
Kita e ikeba iku hodo samuku narimasu.
The further north you go, the colder it gets.

年を取れば取るほど、体が弱くなります。
Toshi o toreba toru hodo, karada ga yowaku narimasu.
The older you get, the weaker your body becomes.

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

Introduction