When there's a pronoun change in your Japanese phrase, how does this affect the rest of the Japanese sentence?
Actually, very little. In fact, sometimes absolutely not at all.
As I said before, the Japanese have a habit of dropping subjects from sentences when they feel that they are not particularly needed. If the subject happens to be a pronoun then that goes too.
By this I mean the "he, she, you, etc.," of the sentence.
In the dialogues I have used this word "anata," which means "you." In actual practice, the Japanese rarely use this and either use the person's name or drop the subject entirely when understood by both parties.
When you address the person, say his name, followed by "san." This will sound really strange at first. It's like referring to a third person who is not there, when in fact you are addressing a person who is directly in front of you. It does mean that you will have to start remembering names or as I always did, just look directly at the person and drop the subject from the sentence. For example, in stead of saying: Anata(or Suzuki-san or Kenji-san)wa doko kara desu ka?" Just say "Doko kara desu ka?"
There are other words than "san." For example: kun, chan and sama.
You can't get into much trouble using ...san.
We will do the simple Japanese conversation from our dialogues.
On the left side of the screen, it's in English again, but in the third person singular and on the right side of the screen is its Japanese translation.
Imagine that you are pointing at people or that you are speaking with a Japanese friend who has brought along a friend that doesn't speak any English.
Practice this dialogue until you can do it with this pronoun change, without looking at its Japanese translation.
Let's begin at step 1 and work our way through these steps to master these pronouns.
Practice like this:
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Dialogue in English 1A: Excuse me! Is he Japanese? 1B: Yes, he is. 2A: Where is he from? 2B: From Yokohama. 3A: Where is it? 3B: It’s near Tokyo. 4A: Is he on holiday? 4B: Yes, he is. 5A: Is this is first trip to England? 5B: No it isn’t. He was here 10 years ago, on his honeymoon. 6A: Is that so? How long did he stay? 6B: He stayed for six days. He enjoyed it very much. 7A: What did he do? 7B: He visited many places. He especially enjoyed Buckingham Palace. 8A: Yes, He likes Buckingham Palace too. Did he visit anywhere else? 8B: He also went to the British Museum. He liked that very much too. 9A: What's his name? 9B: His name is Harry Watson. 10A: Where will he go this trip? 10B: He will visit the Lake District. 11A: That sounds like fun. I have heard that it’s a very nice place. How long will he stay for? 11B: He plans to stay for seven days. 12A: When will he return to Japan? 12B: After the Lake District, he will return to London and spend another two days there. He will then catch the plane back to Tokyo. 13A: Has he visited any other countries? 13B: Yes, he has. He has been to Italy, Spain and Germany. 14A: Which country did he like the best? 14B: Well, he liked them all, but Spain is his favorite. 15A: Why was Spain his favorite? 15B: He likes Spanish food. 15Ai: Please say that again slowly. 15Bi: Of course. He likes Spanish food. 16A: What is his favorite Spanish dish? 16B: His favorite is Paella. 17A: I like paella too. Well, it’s been nice talking to you. Have a nice trip. 17B: Thank you. Goodbye! |
Dialogue in Romaji 1A: Sumimasen! Kare wa nihon jin desu ka? 1B: Hai, sou desu. 2A: kare wa doko kara desu ka? 2B: Yokohama kara desu. 3A: Doko desu ka? 3B: Toukyou no chikaku desu. 4A: Kare wa ryokou desu ka? 4B: Hai, sou desu. 5A: Igirisu de wa hajimete desuka? 5B: Sou de wa arimasen. Kare wa juu nenkan mae ni, shinkon ryokou de kimashita. 6A: Sou desuka? Kare wa Itsu made taizai shimashita ka? 6B: Kare wa roku nichi taizai shimashita. Totemo tanoshikatta desu. 7A: Kare wa nani o shimashita ka? 7B: Kare wa iroiro na tokoro ni taizai shimashita. Kare wa Buckingham Palace ga daisuki deshita. 8A: Kare mo Buckingham Palace ga daisuki desu. Kare wa Hoka no tokoro o taizai shimashita ka? 8B: Kare wa Igirisu no hakubutsukan mo taizai shimashita. Kare wa sore mo daisuki deshita. 9A: Kare no namae wa nandesu ka? 9B: Kare no namae wa Harry Watson desu. 10B: Kare wa Lake District ni ikimasu. 11A: Tanoshii sou desu. Totemo ii tokoro da sou desu. Kare wa Itsu made taizai shimasu ka? 11B: Kare wa shichi nichi no taizai o shimasu. 12A: Kare wa Itsu nihon ni kaerimasu ka? 12B: Kare wa Lake District no ato de, Kare wa sore kara hikouki de toukyou ni kaerimasu. 13A: Hoka no kuni ni itta koto ga arimasu ka? 13B: Hai, sou desu. Kare wa Doitsu, Supein to Itaria ni itta koto ga arimasu. 14A: Kare wa dono kuni ga ichiban suki deshita ka? 14B: De wa, kare wa subete ga suki deshita kedo, Supein no hou ga ichiban suki desu. 15A: Doushite Supein ga kare no ichiban suki deshita ka? 15B: Kare wa Supein no ryouri ga suki desu. 15Ai: Mou ichido yukkari hanashite kudasai. 15Bi: Mochiron. kare wa Supein no ryouri ga suki desu. 16A: Nani ga kare no ichiban suki na Supein no ryouri desu ka? 16B: Paella ga kare no ichiban suki desu. 17A: Watashi mo paella ga suki desu. De wa o-hanashi dekite ureshii desu. Yoi ryokou o 17B: Arigatou. Sayonara! |
Let's now go on to the next step, which is doing the same thing, only with the pronouns "she" and "her."
All you do is when you see kare, in the abobe dialogue, replace it with kanojo and when you see kare no, replace it with kanojo no.
Isn't Japanese easy!
Step 2
1A: Excuse me!
Is she Japanese?
1B: Yes, she is.
2A: Where is she from?
2B: From Yokohama.
3A: Where is it?
3B: It’s near Tokyo.
4A: Is she on holiday?
4B: Yes, she is.
5A: Is this her first
trip to England?
5B: No it isn’t.
She was here 10
years ago, on her
honeymoon.
6A: Is that so?
How long did she stay?
6B: She stayed for six days.
She enjoyed it very much.
7A: What did she do?
7B: She visited many places.
She especially enjoyed
Buckingham Palace.
8A: Yes, I like Buckingham
Palace too.
Did she visit anywhere else?
8B: She also went to the
British Museum.
She liked that very
much too.
9A: By the way,
what’s her name?
9B: Her name is Yuki Yamada.
10A: Where will she go
this trip?
11A: She will visit the
Lake District.
12A: That sounds like fun.
I have heard that
it’s a very nice place.
How long will she
stay for?
12B: She will stay for
seven days.
13A: When will she return
to Japan?
13B: After the Lake District,
she will return to
London and spend another
two days there.
She will then catch
the plane back to Tokyo.
14A: Has she visited any
other countries?
14B: Yes, she has.
She has been to
Italy, Spain and Germany.
15A: Which country
did she like the best?
15B: Well, she liked them
all, but Spain was
her favorite.
16A: Why was Spain her
favorite?
16B: She likes Spanish food.
16Ai: Please say that again
slowly.
16Bi: Of course.
She likes Spanish food.
17A: What is her favorite
Spanish dish?
17B: Her favorite dish is Paella.
18A: I like paella too.
Well, it’s been nice
talking to you.
Have a nice trip.
18B: Thank you. Goodbye!
Step 2
1A: Excuse me! Is she Japanese?
1B: Yes, she is.
2A: Where is she from?
2B: From Yokohama
3A: Where is it?
3B: It’s near Tokyo.
4A: Is she on holiday
4B: Yes, she is.
5A: Is this her first trip to England?
5B: No it isn’t. She was here 10 years ago,
on her honeymoon.
6A: Is that so? How long did she stay?
6B: She stayed for six days.
She enjoyed it very much.
7A: What did she do?
7B: She visited many places.
She especially enjoyed Buckingham Palace.
8A: Yes, I like Buckingham Palace too.
Did she visit anywhere else?
8B: She also went to the British Museum.
She liked that very much too.
9A: By the way, what’s her name?
9B: Her name is Yuki Yamada.
10A: Where will she go this trip?
11A: She will visit the Lake District.
12A: That sounds like fun.
I have heard that it’s a very nice place.
How long will she stay for?
12B: She will stay for seven days.
13A: When will she return to Japan?
13B: After the Lake District, she will return
to London and spend another two
days there.
She will then catch the plane back to Tokyo.
14A: Has she visited any other countries?
14B: Yes, she has. She has been to Italy,
Spain and Germany.
15A: Which country did she like the best?
15B: Well, she liked them all,
but Spain was her favorite.
16A: Why was Spain her favorite?
16B: She likes Spanish food.
16Ai: Please say that again slowly.
16Bi: Of course. She likes Spanish food.
17A: What is her favorite Spanish dish?
17B: Her favorite dish is Paella.
18A: I like paella too.
Well, it’s been nice talking to you.
Have a nice trip.
18B: Thank you. Goodbye!
Let's now go on to the next step, which is doing the same thing, only with the pronouns "we," "our," "you(talking to two or more people)" and "your(talking to two or more people)"
As you can see, all you are doing is attaching "tachi" to the words you already know.
Step 3
1A: Excuse me!
Are we
Japanese?
1B: Yes, you are.
2A: Where are
we from?
2B: From
Yokohama
3A: Where is it?
3B: It’s near
Tokyo.
4A: Are we
on holiday?
4B: Yes, you are.
5A: Is this
our first
trip to
England?
5B: No it isn’t.
You were
here 10
years ago,
on your
honeymoon.
6A: How long
did we stay?
6B: You stayed
for six days.
You enjoyed
it very much.
7A: What did
we do?
7B: You visited
many places.
You especially
enjoyed
Buckingham
Palace.
8A: Did we
visit
anywhere else?
8B: You also
went to the
British Museum.
You liked
that very
much too.
9A: By the way,
what are
our names?
9B: Your names
are Yuki
and Keisuke.
10A: Where will
we go
this trip?
11A: You will
visit the
Lake District.
12A: How long
will we
stay for?
12B: You will
stay for
seven days.
13A: When will
we return
to Japan?
13B: After the
Lake District,
you will return
to London
and spend
another two
days there.
You will
then catch
the plane
back to Tokyo.
14A: Have we
visited any
other countries?
14B: Yes, you have.
You have
been to Italy,
Spain and
Germany.
15A: Which country
did we like
the best?
15B: Well, you
liked them
all, but
Spain was
your favorite.
16A: Why was
Spain our
favorite?
16B: You like
Spanish food.
16Ai: Please say
that again
slowly.
16Bi: Of course.
You like
Spanish food.
17A: What is
our favorite
Spanish dish?
17B: Your favorite
dish is Paella.
18A: Yes, we
like paella.
Well, it’s
been nice
talking to you.
Have a
nice trip.
18B: Thank you.
Goodbye!
Step 3
1A: Excuse me! Are we Japanese?
1B: Yes, you are.
2A: Where are we from?
2B: From Yokohama
3A: Where is it?
3B: It’s near Tokyo.
4A: Are we on holiday?
4B: Yes, you are.
5A: Is this our first trip to England?
5B: No it isn’t. You were here 10 years ago,
on your honeymoon.
6A: How long did we stay?
6B: You stayed for six days.
You enjoyed it very much.
7A: What did we do?
7B: You visited many places.
You especially enjoyed Buckingham Palace.
8A: Did we visit anywhere else?
8B: You also went to the British Museum.
You liked that very much too.
9A: By the way, what are our names?
9B: Your names are Yuki and Keisuke.
10A: Where will we go this trip?
11A: You will visit the Lake District.
12A: How long will we stay for?
12B: You will stay for seven days.
13A: When will we return to Japan?
13B: After the Lake District, you will return
to London and spend another two
days there.
You will then catch the plane back to Tokyo.
14A: Have we visited any other countries?
14B: Yes, you have. You have been to Italy,
Spain and Germany.
15A: Which country did we like the best?
15B: Well, you liked them all,
but Spain was your favorite.
16A: Why was Spain our favorite?
16B: You like Spanish food.
16Ai: Please say that again slowly.
16Bi: Of course. You like Spanish food.
17A: What is our favorite Spanish dish?
17B: Your favorite dish is Paella.
18A: Yes, we like paella.
Well, it’s been nice talking to you.
Have a nice trip.
18B: Thank you. Goodbye!
I have been very particular about inserting these pronouns, but in actual practice they are often omitted when you have two Japanese people talking together. It sure makes you pay attention to what people are saying.
Sometimes, even when you get the person to repeat the phrase, you still can't understand it. If this happens, then get him to write it down for you.
This is done quite easily by saying:
Sore o kaite kuremasen ka?
Say the word ryokou, which means "travel:" ri-yoh-koh-oo.
Say tanoshii, which means "nice:" tah-noh-shee-ee.
Say Doitsu, which means "Germany:" doh-ee-tsoo.
Say yukkari, which means "slowly:" yook-kah-ri.
Say hanashite, which means "speak:" hah-nah-shee-teh.
You know numbers one to five: ichi, ni, san, shi(yon), go.
Numbers six to ten are: roku, shichi(nana), hachi, kyuu(ku), juu.
For numbers eleven to nineteen: juu ichi, juu ni...and so on.
Twenty to ninety: ni juu, san juu...and so on.
So, 83 would be hachi juu san.
49 would be yon juu kyuu...and so on.
100 is hyaku: hee-ya-koo.
As you can see, some numbers have an alternative word.
It's interesting that the sound, shi, for the number four, also has the same sound that the Chinese character for death has. You won't find many hotel rooms with the room number four.
Give yourself a pat on the back!
You have done what an awful lot of people have tried to do and given up.
If you feel confident about using pronouns, then now is the time to start learning Hiragana.
Don't forget to come back to this page on a regular basis and practice the Japanese dialogue using all the pronouns.
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