[MoCHE] Japanese Lesson 3: Basic Sentences (+Today in History: Taiwn Crisis)
shirosakura
Hello everyone! おはようみんなさん!
Today we're going to cover our first point of Japanese grammar! Before I begin, it's important that we're covering both vocabulary and grammar, so I'm going to link to the vocabulary associated with this section here. Don't worry, I'm not going to use any word that you guys don't know!
1. Basics of Sentence Structure: X は Y です!
The simplest sentences in the Japanese language are factual statements tied together by the verb です (desu), or "it is" English (and remember in a lot of speech the "u" is kept short~"
- せんせいです。 (sensei desu) -- (I am) a teacher.
- りゅうがくせいです。 (ryuugakusee desu) -- (I am) an international student
These sentences are unique that the "I am" is implied in these sentences. They are dropped because the subject is already implied by the sentence. However, when we want to make clear that we are talking about something, we are able to add the subject!
- せんこうはにほんごです。(Senkoo wa nihongo desu) -- (My) major is the Japanese language.
- やましたさんはせんせいです。 (Yamashita-san wa sensei desu) -- Mr. Yamashita is a teacher.
- わたしはゆきです。 (Watashi wa Yuki desu) -- I am Yuki.
Note that the character "は" (ha) is known as a particle, which is a grammar device that better indicates how a phrase relates to a sentence. In this case, ”は" is used to connect the subject to the predicate, or the rest of the sentence. There are many more particles you'll use in the future to make all kind s of sentences.
Also, the final thing is that there isn't word like "a" in Japanese, or plural markers either. With any background, a sentence like せんこうはにほんごです could be directed towards one person or a group of people.
And that's all! In the next lesson, I'll cover question sentences and possessive sentences. Until next time, stay fresh~!
Today in eJapanese History: Day 1,724 of the New World (3 Years Ago)
After declaring Taiwan a Natural Enemy in preparation of a Circle of Trust-aligned attack on the nation, Japan found itself with its hand tied as South Korea pulled out of the operation and the CoT forces disintergrated or just simply never showed up. The result was a national panic spearheaded by the purging of the national forums by last remaining child of the late Emperor, then Crown Prince (and President) Nowe.
What followed were a chaotic number of hours before eJapan's total collapse. The Ministers of Security and Foreign Affairs defected to the eUnited Sates, and the Minister of Finance ULJ beta giant Akki resigned after Vice President Sumeragi Akeiko declared Martial Law, one of the few known public incidents up until the Great Coups. eJapan would be wiped by the eRepublic of China, and would remain so for a few days. This would also mark the first nail in the coffin for eJapan's involvement in the Circle of Trust.
Crown Prince Nowe eventually did aplogize, in a heartfelt plea for compassion in his final address as Country President.
*Note that his title as Emperor is disputed, so I refer to him as Crown Prince here.
Comments
Good work. I'm glad that we have you in team.
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Finally something more than colour names, good job! And now for corrections 😉
1. You forgot です in the りゅうがくせい sentence.
2. さん is not used when referring to/introducing yourself, except perhaps by children. The reason is that the suffix reflects the relation between two people.
You aren't the first person to tell me, and thank you xD when I was trying to think of ideas for the example, It didn't occur to me I shouldn't have done that.
Thank you!
Attack on Taiwan was beginning of the end...many would say xD
I wasn't around for it, but no doubt, they look like trying times.
Excellent work Shirosakura, and thanks for the correction Tomasz.
I'm glad to see people supporting and sharing knowledge about Japan. :>
actually みなさん(皆さん) or みんな(皆)?
gosh darn it. 😛
Thank you!
Although Nowe claimed descent from the Founding Emperor, this claim was never recognized by the rest of the government, as the Emperor had never publicly adopted any children nor named a successor. Nowe's claim to be the successor to the throne, made only after he had been inaugurated as President and thus combining the offices of President and Emperor into one in a way unenvisioned by the Imperial Constitution, was very controversial at the time, perhaps even more so than the secretly planned and executed attack on Taiwan.
Cool, thanks for that tidbit! That's a really cool part of the story that I wish I had come across.