* The contents of this page are almost the same as the article “Learn the characteristics of Japanese language and study effectively (1) : What are the characteristics of Japanese?” by KIKUCHI Yasuto (Former professor of the Center for the Japanese Language Education, the University of Tokyo) in International Center News, The University of Tokyo, No.33. (“Anata” is “you”, “itsu” is “when”, “taishikan” is “embassy”, “e” is the particle meaning “to”, “ikimasu” is “go”, “watashi” is “I”, and “ashita” is “tomorrow”.) However, it is much more natural to have a conversation as follows: An understood noun (+ particle) can be omitted in Japanese, even if it is a subject. This is also animportant aspect of Japanese. Traditional Japanese education quotes the “sentence in whole” to put the “sentence pattern (construction)” in the learners’ mind, and it is surely an important element of language education, but doing so in excess could lead to unnatural expressions. It is essential to learn “sentence patterns (constructions)” to understand the systematic structure, and to enhance natural conversation ability at the same time. Needless to say, the Japanese education offered by the International Center puts strength into both elements. 9 An understood noun (+particle) can be omitted You will find conversations such as the following in a traditional Japanese textbook. (6) Anata wa itsu taishikan e ikimasuka. (When will you go to the embassy?) (7) Watashi wa ashita taishikan e ikimasu. (I’ll go to the embassy tomorrow.) (6’) Itsu taishikan e ikimasuka. (7’) Ashita ikimasu. Points: Advise for Japanese learners (1) Particles and verbs are particularly important in Japanese. 1. Particles after nouns mark the role of the noun. Tanakasan wa Satosan to kissaten de ocha o nomimashita. (Tanaka drank tea at a coffee shop with Sato.) 2. Verbs come at the end of the sentence, and include information such as affirmative, negative, and tense. Nomimasu (drink) (present tense / affiramative) Nomimasen(do not drink) (present tense / negative) Nomimashita (drank) (past tense / affiramative) Nomimasendeshita (did not drink) (past tense / negative)
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