タグ: shi

Japanese learning (A5 S28): Saying Two Reasons by combination of “-shi,” and “-kara”; ([Subject] wa) [Predicate1] shi, [Predicate2] kara.

Yesterday, we learned a sentence construction to say reasons using the conjunctive particle “-shi,” twice. Basically “-shi,” is to enumerate two things. Today’s sentence also raised two reasons, but uses “-shi,” only once for the first reason. For the second reason, “-kara” is used. Let’s look at today’s sentences;

A : Doushite Nihon no Hokkaido ga Sukina ndesuka. (Why do you like Hokkaido of Japan?)

B1 : Tabemono mo Oishii shi, Fu’ukei mo Kirei desu kara.

(Because foods are delicious, and scenery is beautiful.)

B2 : Onsen mo Kimochi’ii shi, and Suki’i-jou mo Arimasu kara.

(Because hot springs make me feel good, and there are many ski resorts.)

B3 : Yuki mo Mirareru shi, Ainu Bunka mo Wakarimasu kara.

(Because I can see snow, and also, I can learn about Ainu* culture.)

*= proper noun

The question A doesn’t say “Sukidesuka”, instead, it says “Sukinandesuka.” using “-ndesu” which was introduces in the section 26. “-ndesu” has a function to explain a reason/cause. Using “-ndesuka” is an effective way when asking a question using “Doushite” and “Naze” which both mean “why”.

The answers of B1 to B3 end with “-kara.” This is what Minna no Nihongo shows learners. And this is no problem, especially thinking about developmental stage of Japanese as a second language. Saying a reason is important for communication. The sentence-final particle “-kara” is introduced in early stage in Minna no Nihongo. It is at “Sample sentences” in the section 9. But to me, using “-kara” as a sentence-final particle sounds a little bit casual. Again, it’s no problem for a learner of Japanese as foreign language to end the sentence with “-kara.” But if a learner is of intermediate-level, I would like to recommend a different type of sentence ending with “kara”.

Here’s the last half of B1;

– Fu’ukei mo Kirei desu kara.

= [Subject] + [Predicate with Polite Ending] + kara.

My suggestion is as follows;

– Fu’ukei mo Kirei da kara desu.

= [Subject] + [Predicate with Short Ending] + kara desu.

B2 => Suki’i-jou mo Aru kara desu.

B3 => Ainu Bunka mo Wakaru kara desu.

I don’t think it is good to increase the number of variations in the early stage of second language learning. So just stick to the way Minna no Nihongo shows you. But let me say that it is good to end your answer with “-kara desu.” when you are asked a question starting with “Doushite (why)” or “Naze (why)”.

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This post was written with reference to the exercise A5 on Section28 of “Minna no Nihongo (2nd Edition)” published by “3A Corporation”

Japanese learning (A4 S28): Saying Two Things as Reasons; [Subject] wa [Predicate1] shi, [Predicate2] shi, [Conclusion].

The function of the conjunctive particle “-shi,” is to say two things parallelly. And sometime such enumeration tends to be reasons for a conclusion. As shown in yesterday’s post, the connections between a word and “-shi” is usually be short ending form plus “-shi”. In the case of present-positive;

(1) verb : -u+shi, — e.g. Ar-u+shi, Ir-u+shi,

(2) I-adjective: -i+shi, — e.g. Hiro-i+shi, O’o-i+shi,

(3) Na-adjective: -da+shi, — e.g. Shizuka-da+shi, Benri-da+shi,

Let us look at today’s sentences;

[Subject] wa [Predicate1] shi, [Predicate2] shi, [Conclusion].

Examples;

1. Kono Toshokan wa Shizukada shi, Hiroi shi, Itumo Koko de Hon o Yonde imasu.

(This library is quiet and spacious, so I always read a book here.)

2. Kono Toshokan wa Hon mo O’oi shi, Kashidashi mo Benrida shi, Itsumo Koko de Hon o Karite imasu.

(This library has many books, and the lending procedure is convenient, so I always borrow a book here.)

where; Kashidashi; noun(+suru); lending

3. Kono Toshokan wa Zasshi Ko’ona’a mo Arushi, Shinsetuna Hito mo Irushi, Itumo Koko de Hon o Yonde imasu.

(In this library, there is a magazine area, and kind people are there, so I always read a book here.)

Note that there are two intransitive verbs for existing;

– Things without life and plants; Aru/Arimasu

– Human kind and animals; Iru/Imasu

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This post was written with reference to the exercise A4 on Section28 of “Minna no Nihongo (2nd Edition)” published by “3A Corporation”

Japanese learning (A3 S28): Saying Two or Three Predicates Parallelly; [Subject] wa [Predicate1] shi, [Predicate2] shi, [Predicate3].

The sentence construction in the title uses the word “Predicate”. When it comes to predicate, we need to think about four types of it. They are Noun, Na-adjective, I-adjective, Verb predicates. Since a noun predicate and a Na-adjective predicate are using the same sentence endings, let us look at three types of predicates for today’s construction.

(1) Verb

1. Satou-san wa Gita’a mo Hikeru shi, Uta mo Utaeru shi, soreni Sakkyoku mo Dekimasu.

where, sakkyoku; noun(+suru); composition, song-writing

(Sato-san can play a guitar, can sing a song, and she can write a song.)

Note that three verbs in the sentence are all in potential form. Using potential forms are not always necessary for this construction. For example,

2. Miller-san wa Osake mo Nomushi, Osashimi mo Tabemasu.

(Mr. Miller drinks Sake, and eat Sashimi.)

If Miller-san who is not Japanese drinks Sake and eats Sashimi, wouldn’t it be positive things? Someone having potentialities to do is positive. And it is good to say positive things when enumerating two or three words. Therefore, it is good to learn a sentence with verbs in potential forms, when you learn the conjunctive particle for enumeration.,

2’. Miller-san wa Osake mo Nomerushi, Osashimi mo Taberaremasu.

(Mr. Miller can drink Sake and eat Sashimi.)

where; Nomeru and Taberareru are the potential forms of Nomu and Taberu, respectively.

(2) I-adjective

3. Suzuki-san wa Wakai shi, Se mo Takai shi, soshite Ashi mo Hayai desu.

(Suzuki-san is young and tall, and he runs fast.)

where; Se is height of body. Ashi is legs.

An I-adjective is placed in front of “-shi.,” with “i” as you see in the sentence 3.

(3) Na-adjective

4. Takahashi-san wa Majimeda shi, Shinsetsuda shi, Karada mo Kenkou desu.

(Takahashi-san is Majime* and kind, and his body is healthy.)

* It is difficult to express “Majime” by one word in English.

It is important to know how verbs, I-adjectives, and Na-adjectives are connected to “-shi,”. These three types of words need to be “short ending forms” in front of “-shi,”. In the case of present tense;

(1) verb : -u+shi, — e.g. Hiker-u+shi, Utaer-u+shi, Nomer-u+shi, Taberarer-u+shi,

(2) I-adjective: -i+shi, — e.g. waka-i+shi, Taka-i+shi,

(3) Na-adjective: -da+shi, — e.g. Majime-da+shi, Shinsetsu-da+shi,

These “-u+”, “-i+”, and “-da+” are used for present tense. In the case of past tense, connections to “-shi,” can be as below;

(1) verb in past tense

1’. Satou-san wa Gita’a mo Hiketa shi, Uta mo Utaeta shi, soreni Sakkyoku mo Dekimashita.

(Sato-san was able to play a guitar and sing a song, and she was able to write a song.)

(2) I-adjective in past tense

3’. Suzuki-san wa Wakakatta shi, Se mo Takakatta shi, soshite Ashi mo Hayakatta desu.

(Suzuki-san was young and tall, and he ran fast.)

(3) Na-adjective in past tense

4’. Takahashi-san wa Majimedatta shi, Shinsetsudatta shi, Karada mo Kenkou deshita.

(Takahashi-san was Majime* and kind, and his body was healthy.)

Although the conjunctive particle “-shi,” is the main thing to learn here, but you may find that the particle “-mo” is used many times in the examples. “-mo” has already been introduced at A5 in the section 1. At that time, it is explained that “-mo” is a particle to indicate that the noun is the same kind with another noun that appeared in preceding sentence. This time, “-mo”(s) has the function to enumerate two or three nouns within a sentence.

1. Satou-san wa Gita’a <mo> Hikeru shi, Uta <mo> Utaeru shi, soreni Sakkyoku <mo> Dekimasu.

If guitar, song, and composition are not enumerated, and each of them stands alone,  

<Gita’a ga Hikemasu.>, <Uta ga Utaemasu.>, and<Sakkyoku ga Dekimasu.>

So, putting these three into one sentence, the particle “ga” turned to be “mo”.

2. Miller-san wa Osake mo Nomushi, Osashimi mo Tabemasu.

What particle is the original one before it turned to be “mo”?

<Osake o Nomimasu,>, <Osashimi o Tabemasu.>

It is better to know what the original particle was before being replacing by “-mo”.

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This post was written with reference to the exercise A3 on Section28 of “Minna no Nihongo (2nd Edition)” published by “3A Corporation”