Monday, January 17, 2011

Lesson 17: is/are part II

One important thing to know about spoken Japanese is that Japanese people often leave out the subject when speaking. In English we always say: I am sad. We never say: Am sad

However, in Japanese it is quite common to say "Am sad" if it is inferred that the listener understands who you are talking about.

Examples:

私は悲しい
わたし は かなしい
becomes
悲しい
かなしい
meaning: I am sad


彼女はきれい
かのじょ は きれい
becomes
きれい
meaning: she is pretty


あなたは賢い
あなた は かしこい
becomes
賢い
かしこい
meaning: you are smart

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