WORD ORDER

In English, we are all familiar with SVO = subject+verb+object. But in Japanese, it’s SOV = subject+oject+verb.

FOCUS

S O V
Watanabe-san wa ringo o tabemasu.
Mr. Watanabe apple eat.

Joe-san wa terebi mimashita.
Joe TV watched

Maria-san wa suika suki desu.
Maria watermelon like

‘wa’ and ‘o’ are participles rather like English prepositions and always used after nouns.

QUESTION FORMS

'ka' at the end is added and omit using question marks.

Watanabe-san wa ringo o tabemasu ka. (Does Mr. Watanabe eat apples?)
Joe-san wa terebi mimashita ka. (Did Joe watch TV?)
Maria-san wa suika suki desu ka. (Does Maria like watermelons?)

'kedo'?

Let’s explore the use of ‘kedo’ (sometimes ‘keredo’).

What is ‘kedo’? It’s a particle that follows a clause and is simply translated into ‘but’.

FOCUS

Kore wa chiisai desu kedo, omoi desu.
(This is small but heavy.)

Yonda kedo, wakarimasen deshita.
(I read it but I didn’t understand it.)

EXPANSION

‘kedo’ is often used as softener at the end of a sentence and to avoid abrupt remarks:

Yakyu ga suki desuka.
(Do you like baseball?)

Hai, suki desu kedo.
(Yes, I like it.)

AND on the phone to identify yourself. Again, as a softener:

Ryan desu kedo.
(This is Ryan.)

Japanese School System – USEFUL WORDS

gakkou = school
youchien = kindergarten
shougakkou = ES
chuugakou = JHS
koukou = HS
daigaku = uni
gakusei = student

JLPT - 日本語能力試験 Nihongo nōryoku shiken?

February is the month when the New Year kicks off for me where resolutions and goals are made.

I’ve always been interested in languages and in fact, I once made a promise to a mate that I’m going to study for life. Here I am living that promise. But I don’t have anything to show for it. Yes, I can speak basic Japanese but learning all four skills (reading, writing, listening and speaking) is a different ball game. That’s what the JLPT is for. JLPT stands for Japanese Language Proficiency Test (日本語能力試験, Nihongo nōryoku shiken?). It’s a test to evaluate the language proficiency of non-native Japanese speakers. It is now as it stance held twice a year in July and December.

I hope to apply for the test in December and complete 4 kyu (level 4) and one day progress to 1 kyu (level 1) which is the most difficult.

Check the website for the application procedure.