SUBJECT:

JAPANESE LANGUAGE

 

 

TOPIC:

Expressing Preferences

 

 

SOURCE:

Association for Japanese-Language Teaching (1994) Japanese for Busy People I (Revised Edition) Lesson 28

 

 

DATE:   

10 Mar 2003

 

 

 

LESSON DIALOGUE

 

Mr. Smith wants to buy some antique furniture. He is asking Miss Yamada where to find some.

 

Sumisu:

Watashi wa Nihon no furui kagu ga suki desu. Sengetsu tansu o kaimashita. Tsugi wa tsukue o kaitai desu. Ii mise o shitte imasu ka.

Yamada:

Sā, shirimasen. Hayashi wa iroirona koto o yoku shitte imasu kara Hayashi-san ni kite kudasai.

 

Sumisu-san wa furui kagu ga suki desu. Sumisu-san wa Yamada-san ni furui kagu no mise ni tsuite kikimashita.

 

Translation

 

Smith:

I like antique Japanese furniture. Last month I bought a tansu. Next I want to buy a table. Do you know a good store?

Yamada:

Let me see…No I don’t. Mr. Hayashi knows a lot about various things, so ask him.

 

Mr. Smith likes antique furniture. Mr. Smith asked Miss Yamada about stores that sell antique furniture.

 

Vocabulary

 

kagu

tansu

tsukue

iroirona koto

iroirona

koto

mise ni tsuite

ni tsuite

furniture

tansu (chest of drawers)

table

various things

various (-na adj)

thing

about stores

about, concerning

 

GRAMMAR

 

  1. person WA noun GA SUKI DESU.
  2. person WA noun GA II DESU.

(person WA) noun WA noun GA II DESU.

  1. Watashi wa verb –TAI DESU.

 

Particle GA is used with SUKI DESU (-na adj) and II DESU (-i adj).

 

In “I like bananas”, “like” is a verb and “bananas” is the object, but in Japanese, “bananas” takes the particle GA, and they are described as being likable,” using an adjective rather than a verb.

e.g.                BANANA GA SUKI DESU. “I like bananas.” (Bananas are likable.)

e.g.          ANATA GA SUKI DESU. “I love you.” (You are lovable.)

 

The same construction is used with the adjective II, “good, preferable,” etc.

e.g. O-CHA GA II DESU. “I’d like tea.” (Tea is preferable) Note the following constructions all mean I’d like tea.”

1.                    Watashi wa o-cha ga ii desu. “I’d like tea.” (As for me, tea is preferable.)

2.                    Nomimono wa o-cha ga ii desu. “I’d like tea.” (As for something to drink, tea is my choice.”

3.                    Watashi wa nomimono wa o-cha ga ii desu. “I’d like tea.” (As for me, regarding something to drink, tea is my choice.)

In this last sentence, the speaker first talks about himself, then he chooses the category of drinks, and talks about it.

 

The verb WAKARIMASU also takes GA as does the verb DEKIMASU, expressing possibility, ability, etc.

e.g.                WATASHI WA TAIPU GA DEKIMASU. “I can type.” (As far as I’m concerned, typing (is something) I can do.”

Note that DEKIMASU also has the meaning “be done” or “be ready”.

 

Verb –TAI DESU

Constructions expressing desire can be made from the –MASU form as follows:

                IKI-MASU    IKI-TAI

                TABE-MASU    TABE-TAI

The verb –TAI form is inflected like an –i adjective.

e.g.          IKITI DESU. “(I) want to go.”

                IKITAKUNAI DESU. “(I) don’t want to go.”

                IKITAKATTA DESU. “(I) wanted to go.”

                IKITAKUNAKATTA DESU. “(I) didn’t want to go.”

 

Verb –TAI expresses the speaker’s desire.

e.g.                 TAKUSHĪ DE IKITAI DESU. “(I) want to go by taxi.”

It can be made into a question by adding the question marker KA.

But asking a  person, especially someone senior, what he wishes to do in this form, is often considered not polite, and simply questions are preferable.

e.g.                TAKUSHĪ DE IKIMASU KA. “Do you (want to) go by taxi?”

This form cannot be used to refer to a third person.

The particle GA is sometimes used instead of O.

SURAIDO O/GA MITAI DESU. “(I) want to see the slides.”

 

NOTES

 

1.                    SHITTE IMASU, “(I) know” always takes the verb –TE form. The reply is irregular.

Aa: HAI, SHITTE IMASU. “Yes, (I) know.”

An: IIE, SHIRIMASEN. “No, (I) don’t know.”

2.                    SĀ is an expression often used in Japanese when thinking about an answer.

 

 

Present Form

Past Form

affirmative

negative

affirmative

negative

-na adj

Skilled in

 

Like, love

Jōzu desu

 

Suki desu

Jōzu dewa arimasen

Suki dewa arimasen

Jōzu deshita

 

Suki deshita

Jōzu dewa arimasendeshita

Suki dewa arimasendeshita

verb

Be able to (do)

dekimasu

dekimasen

dekimashita

Dekimasendeshita

-i adj

Be painful

Itai desu

Itakunai desu

Itakatta desu

Itakunakatta desu

 

 

 

USEFUL VOCABULARY

 

dō shimashita ka

dōzo o-daiji ni

 

ni tsuite

 

itai

jōzuna

 

dekimasu

 

atama

-do

funabin

iroirona koto

iroirona

isha

kibun

kōkūbin

koto

-kagetsu

kagu

netsu

nimotsu

nodo

tansu

tsukue

what’s the matter?

look after yourself

 

about, concerning

 

aching (-i adj)

good at (-na adj)

 

can (do)

 

head

degrees (centigrade)

seamail

various things

various (-na adj)

doctor

feeling

airmail

thing

month (counter)

furniture

fever

parcel

throat

tansu (chest of drawers)

table

 

 

KEY SENTENCES

 

1.                    Tanaka-san wa gorufu ga jōzu desu. “Mr. Tanaka is good at golf.”

2.                    (Watashi wa) Ringo ga suki desu. “I like apples.”

3.                    (Watashi wa) Taipu ga dekimasu. “I can type.”

4.                    (Watashi wa) Atama ga itai desu. “I have a headache.”

5.                    (Watashi wa) Yōroppa ni ikitai desu. “I’d like to go to Europe.”

6.                    (Watashi wa) Ima nani mo tabetakunai desu. “I don’t want to eat anything now.”

 

 

SHORT DIALOGUES

 

Japanese Dialogue 1

 

Tanaka:

Kono ryōri wa totemo oishii desu.

Howaito:

Sō desu ka. Mō sukoshi ikaga desu ka.

Tanaka:

Arigatōgozaimasu. Itadakimasu. Howaito-san wa ryōri ga jōzu desu ne.

 

Translation

 

Tanaka:

This dish is very good.

White:

Is it? Would you like some more?

Tanaka:

Thank you. I’d love some more. You’re a good cook.

 

Japanese Dialogue 2

 

Isha:

Dōshimashita ka.

Yamada:

Kinō kara kibun ga warui desu.

Isha:

Netsu ga arimasu ka.

Yamada:

Ee, 39-do arimasu. Atama mo itai desu.

Isha:

Nodo mo itai desu ka.

Yamada:

Hai, itai desu.

Isha:

Kusuri o agemasu kara shokuji no ato de nonde kudasai. Dōzo o-daiji ni.

 

Translation

 

Doctor:

What’s the matter?

Yamada:

I haven’t felt well since yesterday.

Doctor:

Do you have a fever?

Yamada:

Yes. My temperature is 39 degrees (C). I have a headache.

Doctor:

Do you have a sore throat too?

Yamada:

Yes I do.

Doctor:

(After the examination) I’ll give you some medicine. Take it after meals. Look after yourself.

 

Japanese Dialogue 3

 

Tanaka:

Tsugi no nichi-yōbi ni nani o shitai desu ka.

Hayashi:

Tenisu o shitai desu. Hon mo yomitai desu. Tanaka-san wa nani o shitai desu ka.

Tanaka:

(Watashi wa) Eiga ni ikitai desu.

 

Translation

 

Tanaka:

What would you like to do next Sunday?

Hayashi:

I’d like to play tennis. I’d like to read a book too. What would you like to do?

Tanaka:

I’d like to go to a movie.

 

Japanese Dialogue 4

 

Howaito:

Kono nimotsu o Amerika ni okuritai desu. Donogurai kakarimasu ka.

Yūbinkyoku no hito:

Kōkūbin desu ka, funabin desu ka.

Howaito:

Funabin de onegaishimasu.

Yūbinkyoku no hito:

Sō desu ne.

 

Translation

 

White:

I’d like to send this parcel to the United States. How long will it take?

Post office clerk:

By airmail or sea mail?

White:

By sea mail please.

Post office clerk:

Let me see… It’ll take about one month.

 

Japanese Dialogue 4

 

Hayashi:

Senshū no nichi-yōbi ni haikingu ni ikimashita ka.

Tanaka:

Iie, ikitakatta desu ga, atama ga itakatta desu kara ikimasen deshita.

 

Translation

 

Hayashi:

Did you go hiking last Sunday?

Tanaka:

No, I wanted to, but I had a headache, so I didn’t go.