Japanese Particles Six

In this Japanese Particles Six, in our Learn Japanese series, we look at yo, dake and demo.

Let's start off with "yo." In hiragana, this is よ.

This particle, when added to the end of a statement, gives emphasis to the statement. When you want to assert the truth about something or even brag about something then use this particle よ.

For example: "It's true I tell you!"

                         Hontou desu yo.

After the word list are a few examples:

The truth = 本当　= ほんとう　toaster = トースター

to clean = 掃除する　= そうじする　math = 数学　= すうがく　exam = 試験　= しけん　

to pass = 合格する　= ごうかくする　

It's the truth I tell you!

　 本当ですよ。

I did clean the toaster.

　  トースターを掃除しましたよ。

Of course, I passed the math exam.

　  数学の試験合格しましたよ。

  The particle dake,
だけ

It basically means "just, only."

After the below word list are a few examples:

to say = 言う　= いう　Keven= ケビンさん　there = そこ　to go = 行く　= いく

I just(only) told Mr Suzuki about it.

　 鈴木さんにだけ言いました。

 I told everyone about it but not Mr Suzuki　

    鈴木さんにだけ言いませんでした。.

Only Kevin went there.

　 ケビンさんだけがそこに行きました。

The particle demo でも

Can be translated as "even," when you want to give the idea that the thing under discussion is a complete supprise to you.

After the below word list are a few examples:

This = これ　simple = 簡単　= かんたん　complicated = 複雑　= ふくざつ　

that kind of thing = そんなこと　history = 歴史　= れきし　like = 好き　= すき　

dislike = 嫌い　= きらい　

This is easy. Even Kevin can do it.　

     これは簡単です。ケビンさんでもできます。

This is complicated. Even I cannot do it.　

    これは複雑です。私でもできません。

 Even professor Suzuki can't do that.　

      鈴木先生でもそんなことはできませんよ。

It can also means "but."

I like history, but I hate math.　

     歴史が好きでも数学は嫌いです。

Practice

Basic Japanese vocabulary for the below exercise.

It's written first in English, then kanji and finally hiragana:

This = これ  delicious = おいしい 

to do homework = 宿題をする = しゅくだいをする　

to telephone = 電話する　= でんわをする　book = 本　= ほん　to give = あげる　

money = 金　= かね　beer = ビール　to drink = 飲む　= のむ

difficult　= 難しい = むずかしい　chinese characters = 漢字　= かんじ　

expensive = 高い　= たかい　to buy = 買う　= かう　Ironman = アイロンマン　

whatever = どんなこと　tofu = 豆腐　= とうふ　natto = 納豆　= なっとう

Once you have done it, click here to see how you did.

Now, do it again and again until you are perfect and fast.

The only way to remember all this in Japanese Particles six is to practice it on a regular basis.

The best way to do this is:

1. Come back to this page regularly and check yourself on the above 10 Japanese phrases.
2. Write an example of each of the tenses in a small note book, so as to practice them when you have nothing to do, like waiting for a bus.
3. Learn Japanese kanji by also writing the above kanji in a separate notebook and practicing these on a regular basis too.
   

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