A Dictionary of Basic Japanese Sentence Patterns Naoko ChinoDistributed in the United States by Kodansha America, Inc., 575 Lexington Avenue, New York N.Y. 10022, and in the United Kingdom and continental Europe by Kodansha Europe Ltd., 95 Aldwych, London WC2B 4JF. Published by Kodansha Interna- tional Ltd., 17-14 Otowa I-chome, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 112-8652, and Kodansha America, Ine. Copyright © 2000 by Kodansha International Ltd. All rights reserved. Printed in Japan First edition, 2000 00 0102 03 1098765432 ISBN 4-7700-2608-0CONTENTS Preface 18 EAE 24 Abbreviations and Definitions 27 Laude ie Noun and Adjective Sentences 29 cuapter 1 Basic Patterns 1-3 30 ® Basic Pattern 1 ~ 3 @ Variation 2 sense nseeeees AO Noun Sentence Adjective Sentence with mo NLIEN2 CHS after the Subject NI wa N2 desu. N® Adj CF. N1is N2. Nimo Adj desu. Nalso is Adj. & Basic Pattern 2 32 Adjective Sentence ® Variation 3 42 NILAdj CF. Noun Sentence in Past Tense N wa Adj desu. NIIEN2 TL. Nis Adj. NI wa N2 deshita, . NI was N2. Basic Pattern 3 36 Adjective Modifying @ Variation 4 43 the Subject L-adjective and Na-adjective 1, Ladjl NI td N2/I-adj2 CT. Ladjl NI wa N2/I-adj2 desu. Adj NisN/Adj. 2.Na-adji NI (LN2/Na-adj2 CF > Na-adjl NI wa N2 / Na-adj2 desu. Adj NisN/ Adj. ® Variation 1 39 Noun Sentence with mo after the Subject NIBN2TH. NI mo N2 desu. Nl also is N2. Sentences in Past Tense LNikLadj Poke TH. N wa 1-adj (past tense) desu. Niwas Adj. 2.N IE Na-adj C Lito Nwa Na-adj deshita, Nwas Adj. Variation 5 46 Noun and Adjective Sentences as Questions LNIIEN2 THA NI wa N2 desu ka. IsNEN2?ZNIk badj CHA% Nowa I-adj desu ka. IsN Adj? 3. NIXNa-adj THA Nwa Na-adj desu ka. IsN Adj? # Variation 6 60 Questions with Interrogative Words Nd Interrog CFA. Nwa Interrog desu ka. Interrog is N? # Variation 7 52 N2 desu ka, N3 desu ka as Predicate in Questions LNUEN2 THA NZ THA NI wa N2 desu ka, N3 desu ka. Is N1 N2 or N3? N wa Adjl desu ka, Adj2 dest ka. Is N Adjl or Adj2? @ Variation 8 55, Negative Noun and Adjective Sentences LNIIEN2 THSY HAAS Cth) EEATLED NI wa N2 dewa arimasen/ dewa arimasen deshita. N1is/ was not N2. Nid Ladj C40 / KE PoP ch. Nwa F-adj-ku nai /-ku nakatta desu. Nis/ was not Adj. 3.N 1d Na-adj THY EAEA/ THHDETATLZD N wa Na-adj dewa arimasen / dewa arimasen deshita. DNISAGU THA Adj2 THA Nis / was not Adj. cuarrer 2 Basic Patterns 4-5 _ _ 60 m Basic Pattern 4 « 60 NI no N2 wa N3 desu. Noun Sentences with N2 no NI’s N2 is N3. N3as Predicate 2.NLO N2 1b Adj THs NIIEN2ZON3 CH NI no N2 wa Adj desu. NI wa N2 no N3 desu. NI’s N2is Adj. NI is N2’s N3. Basic Pattern 5 68 @ Variation 1 64 Noun Sentence with N2 to N3 Noun Sentence with N2 no as as Predicate Predicate NIIEN2E NSCS NIENZOTH Niwa N2 no desu. Nl is N2’s. @ Variation 2 “66 Noun and Adjective Sentences with NI no N2as Subject L.NIDN2EN3 TH. NI wa N2 to N3 desu. N1 is N2 and N3. Variation 1 70 Noun and Adjective Sentence with NI fo N2as Subject LN E N2UEN3B TH. NI to N2 wa N3 desu.Ni and N2 are N3. 2NLE NZIS Adj CHS NI to N2 wa Adj desu. NI and N2 are Adj. 8 Variation 2 73 ‘Two Noun Sentences Connected by de NIIEN2°C. N3IENATHO. NI wa N2 de, N3 wa N4 desu, N1 is N2, and N3 is N4. Variation 3 75 Adjective Sentence with AdjI te/de Adj2as Predicate NI& Adjl T/T Adj2 CF. Nwa Adjl -te/de Adj2 desu. Nis Adjl and Adj2. ® Variation 4 7 Adjective Sentence with Adjec- tives Connected by shi/da shi Nid Adjl L/7EL, Adj2 THe Nwa Adjl shi/da shi, Adj2 desu. Nis Adjl and also Adj2. cuapter 3 Basic Patterns 6-14 80 ®@ Basic Pattern 6 80 ™ Basic Pattern 9 85 Adjective Sentence with Topic Adjective Sentences Connected (wa) and Subject (ga) by te/de NI lk N26 Adj CF. Ni Ud Adjl TC /°G (N2 Id) Adj2 NI wa N2 ga Adj desu. Ch. Concerning N1, N2 is Adj. Nl wa Adjl -te /de (N2 wa) Adj2 m Basic Pattern 7 82 desu, Adjective Sentences with Topic N1is Adjl, and / so N2 is Adj2. / Subject and shi/da shi Basic Pattern 10 38 . . asic Pattern o NIIEN2B Adj L/EUN3D Noun Sentence with the Sub- Adj2 TF. ject Omitted NI wa N2 mo Adjl shi/da shi (NL 18) N2°C Ho N3 mo Adj2 desu. (NI wa) N2 desu. Concerning N1, N2 is Adjl, and (N1 is) N2. NB is Adj2. Basic Pattern 11 90 m Basic Pattern 8 8a Adjective Question with Adjective Sentences Connected dochiraand Answer with ho by ga/da ga LNIENZELB SAAT NL tk N2 tk Adjl AE/ EAE NS Ta. ik Adja THe NI to N2 to dochira ga Adj desu . ka. NI N2 Adjl di N3 aay i deste ga/da ga Which one is Adj, NI or N2? Concerning N1, N2 is Adjl, but 2. NI (N2) DIE 4 A Adj CT Nis Adj2. NI (N2) no ho ga Adj desu.NI (N2) is Adj. @ Variation | 92 Adjective Sentence Stating Preference with hd and yori NI DUEF ANZ EY adj TF. NI nto ho ga N2 yori Adj desu. NI is more Adj than N2. wm Basic Pattern 12 ~ G8 Adjective Question with dore and Answer with ichiban LNIENZENZOUC, EN 28H Adj CTA. NI to N2 to N3 no naka de, dore ga ichiban Adj desu ka. Among N1, N2, and N3, which is the most Adj? 2. NI (N2/N3) BEB Adj TH NI (N2/N3) ga ichiban Adj desu, cuarrer 4 Basic Patterns 15-17 w Basic Pattern 15 100 Subjunctive Adjective Sen- tence with tara/dattara NIA Ad ES /Kokd Adj2 TF o NI wa/ ga Adjl -tara /dattara Adj2 desu. JEN1 is Adjl, then Adj2. @ Variation | 102 Subjunctive Adjective Sentence with to/da to Nid AeA E/E adja CF. Nwa /ga Adjl to /da to Adj2 desu. Itis Adj2 if N is Adjl. Variation 2 104 Subjunctive I-adjective Sen- tence with kereba N1 (N2/N3) is the most Adj. 96 Adjective Sentence Indicating Equality with onaji kurai NIE NZ EK US Be (Adj) TH. NI wa N2 to onaji kurai (Adj) desu. Nl is about the same (Adj) as N2. m Basic Pattern 14 98 Adjective Sentence Indicating Inequality with hodo ... nai NI Id N2UE E Ladj ¢ ZT F/Naadj THY) ETA. Nl wa N2 hodo I-adj-ku nai desu /Na-adj dewa arimasen. N1is not as much Adj as N2. _—____!00 NIE/A¥ Ladj WUE Adj TH. Nwa/ga I-adj-kereba Adj desu. It is Adj if Nis Adj. # Variation 3 106 Subjunctive Adjective Sentence with nara NI (dk / 28 Adj /N2 % % Adj2 tH. NI wa / ga Adjl /N2 nara Adj2 desu, It is Adj2 if NI is Adjl /N2. m Basic Pattern 16 108 Adjective Sentence about Appearance with -s6 NI AdGTI TH. Nwa Adj-s6 desu. Nlooks like Adj.@ Variation 1 V0 Negative Adjective Sentence about Appearance with -s6 Nid Adj eF THHY ETA. Nwa Adj-so dewa arimasen. N doesn’t look like Adj. m Basic Pattern 17 12 Adjective Sentence Indicating Hearsay with so NIL AGSI/ETITH. Nwa Adj s6/da so desu. ‘They say Nis Adj. @ Variation 1 4 Negative Adjective Sentence Indicating Hearsay with so LN Lad) < BVSZI TH. Nwa F-adj-ku nai so desu, ‘They say N isn’t Adj. 2NUNaadj CBS TH. Nwa Na-adj dewa nai so desu. ‘They say N isn’t Adj. Variation 2 "7 Conjectural Noun and Adjec- tive Sentences with daré to omoimasu NUENI/AG RAF EBOET. NI wa N2/Adj daré to omoimasu, I think N1 is N2/ Adj. PART y Verb Sentences 121 cuapter | Basic Pattern 18 7 122 w Basic Pattern 18 122 w Variation 2 127 Verbs of Existence for Inani- mate and Animate Objects LNAV(HV EF). Nga V (arimasu). Nexists. LNBV(WED). Nga V (imasu). Nexists. @ Variation 1 125 Verbs of Existence with mo after the Subject LNSV(SYV EF). N mo V (arimasu). Nalso exists. ZNEV(WED). N mo V (imasu), Nalso exists. Verbs of Existence in Questions LNAV (HY EF) Do N ga V (arimasu) ka. Does N exist? ZNAV(VEF) Dr Nga V (imasu) ka. Does N exist? w Variation 3 129 Verbs of Existence with Inter- rogatives 1. Interrog 2° V (2) EF) Ar Interrog ka V (arimasu) ka. Does any Interrog exist? 2. Interrog 2° V (V2 EF) Ao Interrog ka V (imasu) ka. Does any Interrog exist?@ Variation 4 132 Verbs of Existence in the Neg- ative LNA HAV(HY EAA). N ga /wa V (arimasen). N does not exist. DNV (WEA). Nga /wa V (imasen). N does not exist. @ Variation 5 134 Negative Verbs of Existence with mo after the Subject LNSV(HY EttA). No V (arimasen). There isn’t any N. LNBV(VETA). N mo V (imasen). ‘There isn’t any N. m Variation 6 ~~ 137 Verbs of Existence in the Past Tense la NAIV(HYV ELK) Nga V (arimashita). Nexisted. ID.NATV (OE LE) cuaprer 2 Basic Patterns 19-22 _ m Basic Pattern 19 147 V-masu Sentence in the Present / Future Tense NUVEF. Nwa V-masu. N does V. / N will do V. m Variation 1 149 V-masu Sentence with mo after the Subject NOVEF. N mo V-masu. Nga V (imashita). Nexisted. 2a NBV(HY) EA TL?) N ga V (arimasen deshita). N did not exist. 2b.N AV (VERA TLE). N ga V (imasen deshita). N did not exist. @ Variation 7 141 Verbs of Existence with Place (ni) and Subject LNIIEN2DV(HV ED). NI ni N2 ga V (arimasu). N2isat (on, in, under etc.) NI. ZNUCN2BV(WEF)o NI ni N2 ga V (imasu). N2isat (on, in, under etc.) NI. ® Variation 8» sevens PAZ, Verbs of Existence with Sub- ject and Place (ni) LNUIENZEV(HY ET). NI wa N2 ni V (arimasu). N1isat (on, in, under etc.) N2. ZNUIENIICV(WED)6 NI wa N2 ni V (imasu), N1 isat (on, in, under etc.) N2. 147 Nalso does V. / N also will do V. ® Variation 2 18} V-masu Sentence as Question NIVETD. Nwa V-masu ka. Does N V?/ Will N V? # Variation 3 182 V-masu Sentence in the Negative Nikv EttA. N wa V-masen.N does not V. / N will not V. @ Variation 4 154 V-masu Sentence in the Past Tense Ni&VELK. Nwa V-mashita. NdidV. w Basic Pattern 20 185 Time Indicated by ni NIIEN2ZIE VES. NI wa N2 ni V-masu. NI does V at N2./ NI willdo V at N2. w Pattern 2] eons BT Direction of Movement Indi- cated by ni/e NLIENIN/IV EF. Ni wa N2e/ni V-masu. NI goes to N2. / NJ will go to N2. @ Variation 1 -- . 158 Time (ni) and Movement (ni/e) NIENDIENIN/E VES. NI wa N2 ni N3 e/ni V-masu. m Basic Pattern 22 ~~ 160 Direct Object Indicated by 0 NUENZEVEF. NI wa N20 V-masu. NI V’s/ will V N2. a Variation 1 162 Direct Object (0) and Loca- tion (de) NUILN2TNIZVEF. NI wa N2 de N30 V-masu. NI V’s/ will VN3 at N2. @ Variation 2 164 Time (ni), Location (de), and Direct Object (0) NUEN2IZNITNIEV EF. NI wa N2 ni N3 de N40 V-masu. N1V’s/ will V N4 at N2in N3. Variation 3 166 Purpose of V-masu Verb Indi- cated by ni NUEN2F VII VI2EF. NI wa N20 V1 ni V2-masu. NI goes to N3 at N2. / NI will go Ni V2’s /will V2 in order to VI N2. to N3 at N2. cuapter 3 Basic Patterns 23-27 _ 168 m Basic Pattern 23 168 N wa V-te imasu. Te imasu Showing Action in Nis doing / does V (on a regular Progress basis). NUVTOET. Nwa V-te imasu. w Variation 2 172 NisdoingV. Te imasu Showing an Uninten- tional State or Condition # Variation 1 soe VIO NAVTOES. Te imasu Showing Regular or Nwa V-te imasu. Habitual Action Nis in the condition of V. NAVTREF.& Variation 3 174 Te arimasu Showing an Inten- tional State or Condition NAV THD ET. Nga V-te arimasu. Nhas been put in the state of V. wm Basic Pattern 24 175 Te Form Indicating Successive Actions NUVIT. V2T. VIEF. Nwa Vi-te, V2-te, V3-masu. N does V1, V2, and V3. @ Variation | V7 Te kara Indicating One Action Occurs after Another NILVITAPS V2EF. Nwa V1-te kara V2-masu. N does / will do V2 after V1. @ Variation 2 179 Mae nilndicating One Action Occurs before Another Nid vite v2 EF. Niwa VI mae ni V2-masu. N does / will do V2 before V1. m Basic Pattern 25 180 Te kudasai for a Polite Request VERSO. V-te kudasai. Please do V. w Variation 1 182 Nai de kudasai for a Negative Polite Request VEUTCRS A. V-nai de kudasai. Please don’t do V. w Variation 2 184, Te kudasaimasen ka fora Polite Request VEC ESWEtAD V-te kudasaimasen ka. Would you please do V? = Variation 3 185 Te itadakemasen ka for a Polite Request VEORETERAD V-te itadakemasen ka. Would you mind doing V? w Variation 4 186 Te hoshii for a Request VTRLOA THA V-te hoshii’’n desu ga. I would like to have V. wm Basic Pattern 26 188 Requesting Permission with te mo ii desu ka (NI) VTBLMUITH AY (N wa) V -te mo ii desu ka. Isit all right if N does V? w Variation 1 190 Requesting Permission with te mo kamaimasen ka (NIA)VTEMEOETAD (N wa) V-te mo kamaimasen ka. Do you mind if N does V? m Basic Pattern 27 192 Saying “Shouldn’t” with te wa ikemasen (NID) VTIRUMT ERA. (N wa) V-te wa ikemasen. You shouldn’t do V.Variation 1 ~ 193 (NIE) V TEED TH. Expression Prohibition with (N wa) V-te wa dame desu. dame desu You can’t do V. cuarter 4 Basic Patterns 28-29 195 m Basic Pattern 28 195, with te agemasu Giving with agemasu NHENZIENBEV(HTFED)o NI wa N2 ni N30 V (agemasu). NI gives N3 to N2. Variation 1 . 197 Receiving with moraimasu NIG NZS ANTE V(S BET). NI wa N2 kara/ni N30 V (moraimasu). NI receives N3 from N2. Variation 2 ~ . 200 Giving with kuremasu NHENZIENSEV(K NEF). NI wa N2 ni N3 0 V (Kuremasu). NI gives N3 to N2. m Basic Pattern 29 202 Doing Something for Another NUENUCNBEV(THPEF) NI wa N2 ni N30 V (-te age- masu). NI does N3 for N2. ® Variation 1 204 Being the Recipient of an Action with te moraimasu NUE NZ /S NIEV(T BHvET). NI wa N2 ni/kara N30 V (-te moraimasu). NI receives N3 from N2. ® Variation 2 206 Giving with te kuremasu NUENZINBEV(TK MES)o Ni wa N2 ni N30 V (-te kure- masu). NI does N3 for N2. jarteR 5 Basic Patterns 30-41 208 ‘= Basic Pattern 30 208 w Variation | ---~ “201 Inviting with V-masen ka Inviting with V-masho ka (NIS)V EAD. VELEID (N wa) V-masen ka. V-masho ka, Won't you do V (with me)? Shall we do V? m Basic Pattern 31 210 wm Basic Pattern 32 212 Inviting with V-masho Showing Intention with tsumori VELEG. N&VOBDTH. V-masho. Nwa V tsumori desu. Let’s do V. N intends to do V.w Variation £ 213 Showing Negative Intention with V-nai tsumori NUVEVOSY CH. Nwa V-nai tsumori desu. Nintends not to do V. @ Basic Pattern 33 215 Showing Intention with V-yo to omoimasu NIVEF (BF) EMVET, Nwa V-yo (6) to omoimasu, Nis thinking of doing V. @ Basic Pattern 34 217 Expressing a Desire with V-tai NEVEOTH. Nwa V-tai desu. Nwants to do V. Variation | 219 Expressing a Desire with V-tai to omoimasu/omotte imasu NEVER ERED / Bo THET. Nwa V-tai to omoimasu /omotte imasu. N would like to do V. aB Pattern 35, 220 Expressing Ability with V koto ga dekimasu NlEVOEMCSET. Nwa V koto ga dekimasu. NeandoV. @ Basic Pattern 36 ~ 222 Expressing Ability with V (potential)-masu Nd V (potential) Eo Nwa V(potential)-masu, NeandoV. Basic Pattern 37 223 Becoming Able with V(poten- tial) yo ni narimasu /nari- mashita N1 t£ N22 V (potential) £ 5 CEVEFIEV ELK. NI wa N2 ga V (potential) yo ni narimasu/ narimashita, NI becomes / became able to VN2. = Variation 228 Commencing an Action with V y6 ni narimasu/narima- shita NUVEFEEVEF/EY ELK. Nwa Vy6 ni narimasu / nari- mashita, Nstarts / started to do V. w Variation 2 ~ 226 Avoiding an Action with V-nai ‘yo ni V-masu NUVIBWOEZC VETS. Nwa Vi-nai yo ni V2-masu, N does V2 in order not to do V1. m Basic Pattern 38 228 Stating Previous Experience (V-ta koto ga arimasu) NIUVECEMH VES. N wa V-ta koto ga arimasu. Nhas had the experience of doing, v. m Basic Pattern 39 - 229 Indicating Habitual Action with V koto ga/mo arimasu NEVIEAM/SSVETF. Nwa V koto ga/mo arimasu. N occasionally does V.m Variation 1 231 Indicating Habitual Actions with V-tari V-tari shimasu NUVIED V2ED LES. Nwa VI-tari V2-tari shimasu. @ Variation | 234 Offering Advice with V-nai ho ga ii/yokatta NIV EUMED A ED okt. Sometimes N does V1 or V2 or Nwa V-nai hé ga ii /yokatta desu. the like. You shouldn’t do/ shouldn’t have done V. @ Basic Pattern 40 233, Offering Advice with Vota ho Basic Pattern 41 237 gaiilyokatta Doing Things in Advance NIVANEZ A Edo with V-te okimasu CFs NQVCBEET. N wa V-ta ho ga ii/yokatta desu, N wa V-te okimasu. You should do/ should have done Ndoes V beforchand. v. . cuarter 6 Basic Patterns 42-46 oe 239 m Basic Pattern 42 239 Niwa V N2 desu. Expressing Duty and Necessity N1 is N2 who does V. with V-nakereba narimasen/ ikemasen 8 Variation 1 244 NIEVEGHIEEY EAL Negative Verb Modifying WIP EtA. Noun (V-nai N) Nwa V-nakereba narimasen / NEEVGON2 TH. ikemasen, NI wa V-nai N2 desu. N must do V. N1 is N2 who doesn’t do V. m Basic Pattern 43 24) + @ Basic Pattern 45, 246 Expressing Duty and Neces- Expressing Hearsay with V sé sity with V-nakute mo » iifkamaimasen NAVEVEI TH. NEVES TROUTH EVETA. Nwa V-nakute mo ii desu /kamai- masen. N doesn’t have to do V. Basic Pattern 44 202 Verb Modifying Noun (VN) NIE VN2-CH. Nga/wa V s6 desu. It is said that N does V. # Variation | 247 Expressing Negative Hearsay with V-nai so NAHMEVEOVSI CH. N ga /wa V-nai so desu, It is said that N does not do V.@ Basic Pattern 46 Conjecturing and Making Suppositions with V-s6 NBNEVEI TT. Noga /wa V-s6 desu. N looks as though it might V. 248 Variation 1 ov 250 Conjecturing and Making Suppositions with V yo cuaprer 7 Basic Pattern 47 m Basic Pattern 47 253 ‘The Subjunctive with V-tara ( L) NIA VIZ B (NZIS) N3TH/VIET. (Moshi) NI ga V1-tara (N2 wa) N3 desu /V2-masu, IfN1 does V1, (N2) isN3/does V2. # Variation 1 255 ‘The Subjunctive with V-ba (& U) NI AE VIE (N2 14) NB CHIVIET. @ Basic Pattern 48 Direct Passive (N ni [transi- tive] V[passive]-masu) 260 NI I&N2IE V (passive) EF NI wa N2 ni V(passive)-masu. N1 is V-ed by N2. g Variation | 262 Indirect Passive (N ni [intran- sitive] V[passive]-masu) NIE N2 tC V (passive) EF. NI wa N2 ni V(passive)-masu. N1 is V-ed by N2. asic Patterns 48-50 NA MEVEFCH. Nga/wa V yo desu. N seems as though it will do V. = Variation 2 Conjecturing and Making Suppositions with V rashii NANEVSLWETH. Nga /wa V rashii desu. N seems to be V. 251 . 253 (Moshi) NI ga V1-ba (N2 wa) N3 desu / V2-masu. IENI does V1, (N2) is N3 / does v2. Variation 2 The Subjunctive with to (NL (K/A8) VIE (N2 1E/28) NB CHIVES. (NI walga) V1 to (N2 wa/ga) N3 desu/V2-masu. I£N1 does V1, N2 is N3/ does V2. 257 _ 260 w Variation 2 264 Suffering Passive (N ni No [transitive] V[passive]- masu) N1 td N2(< N3 & V (passive) NI wa N2 ni N3 0 V(passive)- masu, NI is V-ed N3 by N2. m Basic Pattern 49 Causative with N oni V(causative)-masu ~ 265,Nik /2IN2& /1V (causative) ¥ Fo NI wa/ga N20/ni V(causative)-masu, NI makes N2 do V. w Variation 1 . 267 Causative with N o/ni N V(causative)-masu Nid / AS N2S / (NIE V (causative) EF. NI wa/gaN20/ni N30 V(causative)-masu, NI makes N2 do V N3. @ Basic Pattern 50 “268 Causative Passive with N ni Appendices 273 Verb Conjugation Chart 274 Adjective Inflection Chart 292 Index 300 V(causative-passive)-masu NI ld N2(< V (causative-pas- sive) EFo NI wa N2 ni V(causative-pas- sive)-masu. N1 is made to do V by N2. @ Variation 1 270 Causative Passive with N ni N o V(causative-passive)- masu N1 (& N2 (2 N3 & V (causative- passive) EF. NI wa N2 ni N3 0 V(causative- passive)-masu. N1 is made to do V N3 by N2.PREFACE Tr purpose of this dictionary is to help students gain a better grasp of the basic sentence patterns of the Japanese language, either by refreshing their knowledge of what has been learned in the past or by acquainting them- selves with new patterns. The dictionary contains fifty basic patterns and explains and exemplifies them through example sentences. When there are variations on these basic patterns, they are also explained and exemplified. The book can be used purely for reference or it can be read profitably from beginning to end as a textbook. The latter method has the benefit of fixing the patterns in the stu- dent’s mind by means of repetition. There are three basic types of Japanese sentences that form the basis for the entire language; all the other sentence patterns and variations contained in this dictionary are based on one or another of these three. Once the student has become completely familiar with these patterns, the other patterns and variations based upon them should not be difficult to pick up. These three basic sentence patterns are as follows: 18The Three Basic Sentence Patterns Noun Sentence Adjective Sentence Verb Sentence Ina noun sentence, it is the noun at the end of the sen- tence, followed by desu in polite usage, that provides information about the subject. In the following example, book tells you what this is; that is, book is acting as the predicate, providing information about the subject. ECNIATT 6 Kore wa hon desu. This is a book. In an adjective sentence, the part of the sentence pro- viding information about the subject (“he”) is an adjec- tive (followed by desu in polite usage). PILZ CT Kare wa wakai desu. He is young. In a verb sentence, the part of speech providing infor- mation about the subject (“she”) is a verb. BKILLNET. Kanojo wa tabemasu. She eats. / She will eat. Noun and adjective sentences are dealt with in Part 1; verb sentences in Part 2. All patterns are exemplified in polite and informal usage, sometimes in language that is characteristic of either male or female speech. Using the sentences above, polite and formal usage might be exemplified as follows: Preface 19Noun Sentence Polite CHILACH o Kore wa hon desu. Informal CAIUEA (72)0 Kore wa hon (da). In the case of informal adjective sentences, na-adjec- tives (see Basic Pattern 2) are optionally followed by da but i-adjectives, as in the following example, are not. Adjective Sentence Polite BULB TT. Kare wa wakai desu. Informal ILAIV« Kare wa wakai. Ina verb sentence, polite usage calls for the masu form of the verb, while informal usage calls for the plain form. (See the Verb Conjugation Chart at the back of the book for examples of both.) Verb Sentence Polite PRKILENET 6 Kanojo wa tabemasu. 20 PrefaceInformal PKILENS 5 Kanojo wa taberu. Informal usage is usually not given in books like the pre- sent one. By providing it as a point of reference, even though commentary is limited owing to space considerations, we hope that students who come in contact with it in daily life or in their reading will find its inclusion here of some help. Another feature of this dictionary is the use of a “for- mula” to provide information on the structure of the basic pattern under consideration. For example, the for- mula of the sentence # li HA ACH (Kare wa Nihon-jin desu) would be appear as follows: Formula N1 wa N2 desu. NI =a noun acting as a subject N2 =a noun providing information about the subject Students who have some familiarity with the basics of Japanese can refer to these formulas to reinforce their under- standing or check areas they are unsure of. By inserting their own words in the underlined slots indicating parts of speech, students can expand their range of expression. For example, by placing watashi (“I”) in the N1 slot and vari- ous other nouns concerning oneself in the N2 slot (e.g., name, nationality, occupation), students can easily create sentences that could serve as a self-introduction, ASHP CT. Watashi wa Tanaka desu. Pm Mr. Tanaka. Preface 21AMEFAVAAKTT 0 Watashi wa Amerika-jin desu. Tm an American. BISBEE CT. Watashi wa ginko-in desu. Tm a bank employee. Students who are just starting out in their study of Japanese might try the following: find in this dictionary the basic sentence you are studying in your school text- book, read the explanation, and then substitute words for the underlined elements so that you create a sentence that expresses what you wish to say. By using even one basic pattern, you can create a variety of sentences. The conjugation of verbs has not been discussed in this book because that topic would take up entirely too much space. However, I have covered verbs in the Power Japan- ese title Japanese Verbs at a Glance. Please refer to that book if you need help with conjugation. This dictionary does contain, however, charts at the end to be used as quick-reference guides to verb conjugation and adjective inflection. Students who need help with particles might refer to my All about Particles. While the basic patterns in this book are not compre- hensive in their coverage, they do represent many of the most common patterns. In fact, all of the patterns needed for passing levels 3 and 4 of the Japanese Language Profi- ciency Test are included. Moreover, many of the basic patterns have variations that also receive individual treat- ment in this dictionary. Among the patterns not included, such as past tense variations, some have been intention- ally excluded because they can be easily surmised from the given patterns. 22 PrefaceFinally, the student should check the section entitled “Abbreviations and Definitions” before proceeding to the main text. 7 It is my hope that this dictionary will be of help to stu- dents of Japanese. I would like to thank Shigeyoshi Suzuki and Michael Brase at Kodansha International for not only encouraging me to write the book but providing invalu- able help in bringing it to final form. Naoko Chino Tokyo 2000 Preface 23Se DAE MS AS EAE UC 95297 JE BE NY 2 50 O 3C Se WE SAG DBAS HEEL BRED bP fil BRIG LZ MCT. HED HI & Dit, £O FIHUEL ERASED, STOMMICH MENU, POBLM OP LECT IED IKE Eo Tw AWB (Polite) 6, KEP RIROM CH 4 BiG #K(Informal)® = OEL. HR ORK SEO BURL PEWLIMMBLEL LC MAEM RIC koTHc Bi RS AL 7 RS EL @ 72 wD TMD MDM LV EAL, HR WRMOF EARS (LHEY BMAD SF SCE BARE wD ~ MH BIZLOEDERoTWET. lil --O 30M & formal % ZBL L informal 7s HL CHAT SEB CASA Hid, MEL CLD OCHS SRBEL TERK PMOCELMWET. SCMUIL KES SOC CWE Ke [Mild BI. IG 24Ame (MMIC. AMM SAIL PICT | OIF MED CHRD SED. WE MML(HPSALHY CHIDO LIBAN TS. BD MMS HP SAR SET LOLI CHDS BNEMLET. SHAD MINS, RERIEKOLIENEFS NI wa N2 desu. Nl is N2. N1 = noun (subject) N2 = noun (predicate) D FEE EEE D MO aR Le A Bl LOND LLADMHE ATER TO AWA Te EE HEH ATSB LY RMD MoT ET. MAIR LCST RMEMY CARO A FE HR BOREL ENICANSE, ACA OMNIS CS ET. AILS, | CARD AMLHAA CH. (EE) ANEBUT ACT. (MSE) GEVEL CT. RAEMIS, MED E072 ECA © HED BLEMTCEBIEDY CHS. ADEA LECCE TIT ITA EABW IG CHE. THCERM CSET, FLASH OD TEA ad & Wy He IS ICM Ko T BALA A EF. BLO LOW Tid, CORO WAL Mad EBAADENRE ME CHVET OC, THe BIR LTC RSW. EMMI OV THEL CFA LE Vs Alk, Power Japanese Y') —A% (aiid 4 ¥- FY AME 25atv HW) DMIZ ARTS [Japanese Verbs at a Glance] & BRI LT RSV, HGLILAAEIAZE Cld eh, MRA WOK Re ABI CHEE ARSED RRA DATES, CO ASICS, DBD 5 RACE CREST STN CORA MEDS SNTWET OC, BARBED ARO 3 LA Be HT DAL BY RAS Ze ME MASS SSEMWET. CORA SAD AAGEE A CECI £3 Hilo THYVET. HDVIZ, SHO HEM eC EFC BD COR SoM RIAYO VAT TL-KSALE AR EAE S AS 5 HAL © HL IP ES. 260 KAS