Common Phrases

In this chapter common phrases like what my name is or I like something, are explained/listed.

To Like & Not Like

The following words are used:

suki	like/love
suki janai	not like/not love
daisuki	really like
kirai	hate
jozu	good at
heta	bad at

The structure of a sentence is as following:

1. <subject> wa <noun> ga suki desu

2. <noun> ga suki desu

3. <noun> ga suki janai desu

4. <subject> wa <noun> ga suki janai desu

The sentence 1. says that the <subject> likes the <noun>, where in sentence 2. the subject is implicit and can change depending on the context. But mostly it means I like <noun>.

The ga specifies that the <noun> is the thing you love “suki” can be exchanged with daisuki, to say that you really really like something

If you want to say, that you (or somebody else) doesn’t like a thing, than “suki” can be changed to “suki janai” like in 3. This than means, that you don’t like something. To say that you don’t just not like it, but you hate it, you can use kirai, instead of “suki”

As with all sentence in Japanese, if you want to ask a question then just add a “ka” at the end. The last example was translated to you instead of I. This is because you probably want to ask somebody. But if your in a discussion and taking about somebody else then the question would probably ask about him.

Examples

Neko ga suki desu = (I) like cats.

Watashi wa neko ga suki desu = I like cats

Sakā ga suki desu = (I) like soccer

Onisan wa neko ga suki desu = (My) brother likes soccer

Kōhī ga suki janai desu. = (I) don’t like coffee.

Onisan wa Kōhī ga suki janai desu. = (My) brother doesn’t like coffee.

Onisan wa Kōhī ga kirai desu. = (My) brother hates coffee.

Sushi ga suki desu ka? = Do (you) like sushi?

Describing Something

The structure for describing something in Japansee is:

<noun> wa <adjective>.

<noun> ga <adjective>.

Here are some examples: | Yamada-san ga yasashii desu. = Yamanda is kind | Yamada-san wa omoshiroi desu. = Yamada is funny

(For the diffrence between wa and ga read the chapter Wa vs Ga)

Where are you formal

Amerika kara kimashita. = (I am) from America.

<place> kara kimashita. = (I am) from <place>.

Amerika kara kimashita ka? = (Are you) from America?

Doko kara kimashita ka? = Where (are you) from?

kara from “kara kimashita” is a particle and means from. kimashita is the verb “to come” in the past tense. Together they mean “came from”. By adding the ka at the end, you make it a question. And finally the doko means where.

The (I am) are in parenthesises because they are inferred from the context of the conversation.