#japanese grammar

Source: Genki II Lesson 13.5, Tofugu

〜回 is a Japanese counter used to describe repetitive actions (“I skipped rope ten times”) and express the frequency of events over a period of time (“I shampoo three times a week”). 

1. Structure: 

“describe repetitive actions”

number of times + 〜回 

“express the frequency of events over a period of time”

period に frequency 〜回

2. Examples:

“describe repetitive actions”

縄跳びを１０回跳んだ。I skipped rope ten times.

スクワットを３０回します。I’m going to do thirty squats.

“express the frequency of events over a period of time”

毎日２回お風呂に入ります。I take a bath twice every day.

More information: Tofugu

Source: Genki II Lesson 13.5

〜なら is used to express “limitation” or “contrast” in a sentence.

1. Structure:

noun (A) なら predicate (B)

B only applies to A

2. Examples:

ブラジルに行ったことがありますか。Have you ever been to Brazil? メキシコなら行ったことがありますが、ブラジルは行ったことがありません。I’ve been to Mexico, but I’ve never been to Brazil. 

日本語が分かりますか。Do you understand Japanese? ひらがななら分かります。If it’s in hiragana, I understand.

Source: Genki II Lesson 13.4

〜てみる is used to express the idea of “doing something tentatively” or “trying something”. 

1. Structure:

It combines the て-form with みる, conjugated as a る-verb.

て-form + みる

2. Examples:

漢字がわからなかったので、日本人の友達に聞いてみました。Because I could not understand the kanji, I tried asking my Japanese friend about it. 

友達があの店のケーキをおいしいと言っていましたから、今度食べてみます。I heard from my friend that the cake from this store is good, so I will go try it someday soon.

Source: Genki II Lesson 13.3

Intermediate Japanese Review Day 2 & 3/15

Used to express an impression or inference based on direct observation. Equivalent to “it looks like” or “it seems like”.

1. Structure:

い adjectives: おいしい → おいしいそうです・おいしくなさそうです

exception: いい → よさそうです・よくなさそうです

な adjectives: 元気(な) → 元気そうです・元気じゃなさそうです (drop な)

2. Examples:

Affirmative:

このりんごはおいしいそうです。This apple looks delicious.

明日は天気がよさそうです。It looks like the weather will be fine tomorrow.

メアリーさんは元気そうでした。Mary looked fine.

Negative:

この本は難しくなさそうです。This book doesn’t look difficult.

ともこさんはテニスが上手じゃなさそうです。It looks like Tomoko isn’t good at tennis.

3. Qualifying a noun: adjective + そうな

そう can be used after an adjective to qualify a noun. そう is a な adjective, thus it is written as そうな.

暖かそうなセーターを着ています。She is wears a warm-looking sweater.

For more information: PuniPuni Japan

Source: Genki II Lesson 13.2

Intermediate Japanese Review Day 1/15

から is used to give a reason for something. When you want to express two or more reasons for something, you use the 〜し structure.

(reason 1*) し、(reason 2*) し、 (situation)。

*predicate in short form.

Sentence examples:

1. 日本語はおもしろいし、先生はいいし、私は日本語の授業が大好きです。I really like my Japanese class because Japanese language is interesting and my teacher is good.

2. 家族から手紙を来たし、彼と電話で話したし、昨日はとてもいい日でした。Yesterday was a great day because I received a letter from my family and I talked with my boyfriend on the phone.

Observation: In the present tense, だ is added before 〜し for な adjectives and nouns, but not for い adjectives.

い adjectives: おもしろいし

な adjectives: 好きだし

noun +  です: 先生だし

You can also use just one 〜し clause, implying that this is not the only reason for the situation.

Sentence examples:

1.  物価が安いし、この町の生活楽です。Life in this city is easygoing. For one, things are cheap.

Intermediate Japanese Review Day 1/15

You can use the prompts below to practice potential verbs in Japanese.

Things I could do as a child:

1. 泳げました。I could swim.

2. 絵を描けました。I could draw (pictures).

Things I could not do as a child:

1. 日本語が話せませんでした。I couldn’t speak Japanese.

2. 家賃を払えませんでした。I couldn’t pay rent. *obviously*

Things I can do:

1. 食べ物を作れます。I can cook (food).

2. Photoshopを使えます。I can use Photoshop.

Things I cannot do:

1. 車を運転できません。I can’t drive. *blushes in shame*

2. ピアノを弾けません。I can’t play the piano.

You can practice more potential verbs (+ te form) using the flashcards I made here.

Source: Genki II Lesson 13.1

Intermediate Japanese Review Day 1/15

To express ability to do something (“can”) or possibility.

る-verbs: drop final -る and add -られる

見る→見られる (to see)

う-verbs: drop final -う and add える

行く→行ける (to go)

話す→話せる (to speak)

買う→買える (to buy)

泳ぐ→泳げる (to swim)

遊ぶ→遊べる (to play)

待つ→待てる (to wait)

読む→読める (to read)

死ぬ→死ねる (to die)

取る→取れる (to take)

irregular verbs:

くる→こられる

する→できる

1. The verbs below have alternative, informal variations:

見る→見られる→見れる

出る→出られる→出れる

くる→こられる→これる

2. Potential verbs conjugation pattern:

Short forms

Present: 見られる・見られない

Past: 見られた・見られなかった

Long forms

Present: 見られます・見られません

Past: 見られました・見られませんでした

て-form

見られて

3. Particles

Verbs with を particles: either が or を

漢字を読む→漢字が読める・漢字を読める

する (できる):

仕事をする→仕事ができる

Verbs with other particles:

山に登る→山に登れる

4. Sentence examples:

私は日本語が話せます。I can speak Japanese.

私は泳げないんです。Actually, I can’t swim.

雨が降ったので、海に行けませんでした。We couldn’t go to the beach because it rained.

they are both transualted into twilight in japanese but is the context for these different?

黄昏

Tasogare

 薄暮

Hakumei

bigdisc0very:

~ずじまいregrettably have not completed action ~
見たい映画だったのに、忙しくてとうとう見ずじまいだった。
朝から忙しくて、今日はお昼ご飯を食べずじまいだった。

~ずにいる being in the state of not having done ~ （=ないでいる）
図書館の本を返さずにいたら、図書館から電話がかかってきた。
友人に相談できずにいます。

~ずに済ませるto “finish”/”complete” without doing ~
この授業にはたくさんの本が必要らしいが、できるだけ買わずに済ませたい。
この冬は洋服を買わずに済ませます。

~ずに済むto end without ~ happening
電車では間に合いそうになかったので、タクシーに乗ったら、何とか遅れずに済んだ。
これをやっとけば別れずに済んだのに ．．．

~ずにはいられないcan’t help but do ~
寂しくて、誰かに電話せずにはいられない。
言わずにはいられなかった。

~ずにはおかない~ is bound to occur
この映画は、見る者に感動を与えずにはおかない作品です。
身内の一人が殺されたら、恨みを晴らさずにはおかない。

• Listen to the song with the lyrics and romanization here
  
• Watchthe official music video andthe official dance practice
• Listen to the album medley for “Countdown” here
• The tag for “EXO”
  
• Other vocabulary lists

grammar

• は: (topic particle)
• に: (particle which specifies the target of a verb’s action)
• -て: (connective verb ending; may imply contrast in a sentence, “even though…”)
• -ない: (negative verb ending)
• の: (a particle that (1) modifies nouns and adjectives (2) indicates possession)
• を: (direct object particle)
• -様（-よう）(suffix meaning “method of __-ing”, “way to…” or “appearing…”, “looking…”)
• -でる: (indicates that an action is ongoing)
• -(ら)れる: (turns a verb into the passive voice)
• -たい: (expresses that the speaker wants to do something)
• で: (a particle which allows the context in which an action is performed to be specified, whether time, location, or means/way)
• が: (a particle which indicates that the speaker wants to identify something unspecified)
• -んだ（contraction of -のだ）(a masculine way of conveying an explanatory tone)
• そう: (interjection that may express that the speaker is paying attention) yes, yeah; it’s like that, that’s how it is; I see
• 迄（まで）until, up to; as far as; even, to an extent; only, merely
• かい: (masculine usage; a softer version of the 「か」question ending; may indicate a yes-or-no question)
• -ば: (conditional particle) if
• よう: (masculine usage; a helping verb which may (1) express one’s will to do something, (2) induce or stimulate the listener to do something, and/or (3) indicate that a word is for the use of, used for, or made for [something])
  
• だって: (conjunction) after all, because; but; (particle) even; too, as well, also; “They say…”, “I mean…”, “I hear…”
• 物の（ものの）only…, no more than…; a matter of…
• -だし: (combination of -だ, a helping verb which expresses a declarative tone + -し, a particle which lists multiple reasons for multiple states and/or actions)
• すれば: if so, in that case, in that situation
• も: (inclusive topic particle) also
• う: (a helping verb which may indicate (1) speculation, (2) invitation, and/or (3) will or intention)
• よ: (sentence ending which may indicate emphasis, contempt, request, etc.)
  

verbs

• 居る（いる）to be, to exist
• 成る（なる）to become, get, grow; to result in, prove to be; to play a role; to change into, to be exchanged for
• 止む（やむ）to stop, cease, be over
• 凭れる（もたれる）to lean against, to recline on; to lie heavily [on the stomach], to be uneasily digested
• 寄せる（よせる）to come near, to let [someone] approach or drop by; to include, welcome, let in [a group]; to have feelings for; to rely or depend upon
• 聞く（きく）to hear, listen; to ask, inquire
• 聞かれる（きかれる）to be heard
• 叫ぶ（さけぶ）to shout, shriek, scream, cry; to clamor for/against
• 飲み込む（のみこむ）to gulp down, swallow deeply, engulf; to hold back from saying something, to swallow one’s words; to understand, catch onto, digest
• 上り詰める（のぼりつめる）to be infatuated with, engrossed in, enthusiastic about; to go, climb, or ascend to the top; to reach the summit or peak
• 近づく（ちかづく）to approach, draw near, get closer; to get acquainted with, get to know
• 触れる（ふれる）to allude, to touch on a subject; to touch, to feel; to experience, perceive, come in contact with; to be emotionally moved by
• 閉じる（とじる）to close, to shut [one’s eyes, a book, etc.]
• 刺激（しげき）stimulus; incentive, encouragement, motivation, provocation; excitement, thrill
• 暴れる（あばれる）to act violently, to rage, to struggle
• 飛び散る（とびちる）to fly around, to scatter
• 痺れる（しびれる）to become numb; to be mesmerized, titillated, excited
• 為る（する）to do
• past tense: した
• 怒り出す（おこりだす）to fly into a rage, to lose one’s temper; to burst or break out, to flare up
• 焦らす（じらす）to tease, tantalize, keep [someone] in suspense; to irritate
• 利かせる（きかせる）to exercise, display, use; to season, to bring out a taste
• 手出し（てだし）to meddle, interfere
• 出る（でる）to leave, exit, go out, come out; to move forward
• 抜け出す（ぬけだす）to slip out, sneak away, break free, break out
• 歪む（ゆがむ）to warp, swerve, deflect; to be crooked, distorted, bent, slanted, strained
• 刺さる: to stick [usually something with a sharp point] into; to prick, pierce; to get stuck [in], to lodge [in]

adjectives

• 知らない（しらない）unknown, strange
• 最悪（さいあく）the worst
• 此の（この）this
• いい: (a more casual/informal reading of 「良い（よい）」) good, fine, pleasant, agreeable, excellent, okay
• 彼の（あれの）that [over there] (something mentioned that is distant psychologically or in terms of time)
• 下手（へた）unskillful, poor, awkward
• 狭い: narrow, confined, small

nouns

• 体（からだ）body; build, physique, constitution
• 此処（ここ）here; this place
• 心（こころ）heart; mind; spirit
• 間（ま）time, pause; space; room
• 君（きみ）you (masculine usage; used colloquially by females)
• 鳴り（なり）ringing sound
• 耳（みみ）ear(s); hearing
• 口（くち）mouth; taste, palate
• 音（おと）sound, noise
• 愛（あい）love; affection, care; craving, desire
• 唇（くちびる）lips
• 目（め）eye(s); look, stare, glance
• 火花（ひばな）spark
• 刺激（しげき）stimulus; incentive, encouragement, motivation, provocation; excitement, thrill
• キス: kiss
• 庭（にわ）area, field [of action]; garden, yard
• 馬鹿（ばか）idiot, fool; trivial matter, absurdity
• 幅（はば）gap, difference; range; width, breadth
• 其れ（それ）that (something close to the speaker, either physically or psychologically); that time, then
• 足（あし）foot
• 手（て）hand, arm
• 街（まち）town, block, neighborhood
• 闇（やみ）darkness, the dark; bewilderment, despair, hopelessness
• 誰か（だれか）someone, somebody
• 視線（しせん）one’s line of sight, gaze, glance, look
• 背中（せなか）the back of [someone’s] body

adverbs

• そっと: softly, gently, quietly; secretly, stealthily
• 誰にも（だれにも）anyone, anybody; (when used with a negative verb) no one, nobody
• 段々（だんだん）gradually, increasingly, little by little, more and more
• 限り限り（ギリギリ）just barely, at the very limit, at the last moment
• 未だ（まだ）as yet, only, still; more, besides; (when used with a negative verb) not yet
• 儘（まま）as it is, as one likes; because, as
• 馬鹿に（ばかに）ridiculously, unusually, exceptionally
• もう: now, soon, shortly; already, by now, [not] anymore; (an interjection used to strengthen or emphasize an emotion, often exasperation)
• 馬鹿に（ばかに）ridiculously, unusually, exceptionally