1. ‘x’ (product) is made from/out of ‘y’ (noun)
patterns:
[product] は [noun] でできる・できている
[product] は [noun] からできる・できている
*で is used when y is still visible/made into the product via a physical change
– x made out of y ex: wooden chair from wood, french fries from potatoes
*から is used when y was made into the product via a chemical change and y is not visible
– x made from y ex: paper from wood pulp, rice wine from fermented rice
*when to useできる vsできている
～できる:
when x is being described as a general statement
when x is in the process of being made into the product
～できている:
when the product is already made and processed as a final product
when describing a specific x from the product
when comparing products
ex:
日本には木でできた家が多いが、この国の家はたいてい石でできています。 (石：いし）
In Japan, there are many houses made from wood, but the houses from this country are usually made from stone.
wood and stone underwent a physical change so で is used
because there is a comparison of houses between different countries, the final phrase has できている
日本の国土は、北海道、本州、四国、九州と呼ばれる四つの大きい島と6000以上の小さい島でできています。 国土：こくど 島：しま
Four main islands called Hokkaido, Honshu, Shikoku and Kyushu and at least 6000 additional small islands make up Japan’s territory.
2. [Nounの/Verb] ように
pattern: X (の)ように Y lit. trans – like; as if
*X can be [noun + の] OR [verb in short form with tense] + ように
if X is a noun – lit trans – X resembles Y
if X is a phrase/verb – lit trans – X is as Y explains/shows
ex:
これはチョコレートのように見えるけれど、消しゴムだから、食べられませんよ。
(x: 消しゴム) (y: チョコレート)
This appears to look like chocolate, but it is an eraser, so it cannot be eaten.
先生がおっしゃるように、言葉は毎日勉強しなければ上手にならないと思います。
I think, as the teacher says, vocabulary needs to be studied everyday in order to be good.
一都は東京都(首都)、一道は北海道、二府は大阪府と京都府で、その他は、静岡県や広島県のよ うに全部、県です。
One “to” prefecture is Tokyo, one “dou” prefecture is Hokkaido, two “fu” prefectures are Osaka and Kyoto, and the rest, like Shizuoka and Hiroshima, are “ken” prefectures.
3. [Adjective stem] + さ
さ is a suffix particle that can attach to the stem of an adjective to form a noun
lit trans. – the ‘x’-ness/-ty
い adjectives: remove the final い and add さ
な adjectives: remove the final な and add さ
いい adjective: conjugate to よさ
ex:
この荷物の重さは何キロくらいでしょうか。
おもい＋さ What is the estimated heaviness in kilograms for that luggage?
この話のよさが分からない人はいないと思います。
いいー＞よさ I think people know the goodness of this story.
「わからないひとはいない」 is a double negative = there is no one who does not know
日本のけいたい電話の便利さには、びっくりした。
べんりなー＞べんりさ The convenience of Japanese cell phones surprised me.
全体の大きさは、アメリカの25分の1、オーストラリアの21の1ぐらいで、ニュージーランド やイギリスと同じです。
The entire total sum is 1/25th of the United States, about 1/21 of Australia, similar to the total land of New Zealand or England.
4. X は Y で [有名だ・知られている] ～ 。 。 。
lit. trans – X is famous for/known for Y
X is the subject topic
Y is the reason/what X is well known/famous for
-Pattern for Y: [phrase/sentence in short form + ことで] OR [object nounで]
most likely the phrase/sentence will be 「 . . . がある」
ex:
このお寺は古いさくらの木があることで有名です。
This temple is famous for its old sakura trees.
イジプトはピラミッドやスフィンクスで有名です。
Egypt is famous for its pyramids and the Sphinx.
5. [Verb present tense short form] + こと ｛が・も｝ ある
lit trans. – there are times when~ / on occasion~/ sometimes~ ‘X’ occurs
difference between が and も
も is used when the speaker is implying that there is something else in addition that may occur
が is used for as is perchance/on occasion/at times that X may occur
ex:
晩ご飯はたいてい家で食べますが、時々友達とレストランに行くこともあります。
I usually eat dinner at home, but sometimes I may go to the restaurant with my friends to eat amongst other activities.
文法の説明を読んでも分からないことがある。そんな時は先生に聞きに行くことにしている。
Even though I read the grammar explanation, there are times when I may not understand. For those times, I decide to go and ask my professor.
週末はたいてい両親の家に帰るが、忙しくて帰れないことがある。
I usually return to my parents’ home for the weekend, but there are times when I may be busy and cannot return.
6. [Verb stem] + 始める
lit trans. – begin to ‘verb’
–if in past tense, it implies a continuous state that has been ‘verb+ing’ since then till now
pattern: [Verb stem] + 始める
ex:
この地方では、11月になると雪が降り始めます。
As for this area, when it becomes November, the snow begins to fall.
私の弟は1歳の時、歩き始めた。そして、１歳半になった時、話し始めました。
When my little brother was 1 year old, he began to walk. When he turned 1 and a half years old, he began to talk.
7. Noun¹ + Particle + の+ Noun²
[noun¹ + Particle + の] = the phrase that modifies [noun²]
-used mostly in situations when responding to an answer or for explanations
-particles allowed to pair with の are: へ・で・と・から・まで・に
-particles that are not used with の are: が・を
ex:
友達へのプゼセントを買います。I am buying a present for a friend.
vs
友達のプレゼントを買います。I am buying a friend’s present.
先生とのミーテイングに行きます。I am going to a teacher meeting.
vs
先生のミーテイングに行きます。I am going with the teacher to a meeting.
ex with question and responses
Q:どんな仕事ですか。What kind of job is it?
A:日本での仕事です。It is a job in Japan.
Q:どちらパーテイーに行くつもりですか。Which party are you planning to go to?
A:八時からのパーテイーに出ようと思います。
I will attend the party that starts at 8 o’clock.
8. ～はsentenceと言われている
-used in writing only, not in speech
lit. trans – X is said to be / It is said that x . . .
pattern: [X]は[object/phrase in dictionary short form] + と言われている (passive form = 言われる)
＊using passive form is another more polite way to express an action. In Japanese, a sentence is usually more polite when it is less direct. In a similar sense, using the passive form makes the sentence less direct because the subject does not directly perform the action. The passive form means that something is being acted upon.
ex:
世界で一番長い川はナイル川だと言われているが、アマゾン川だと言う人もいる。
It is said that the longest river is the Nile, but there are also people who will say that the Amazon is.
風邪を引いた時はビタミンＣをたくさん取るといいと言われています。
The time when one catches a cold, it is said that it is good to take a lot of vitamin C.
たくさんある温泉の中で、愛媛県松山市にある道後温泉は日本で一番古い温泉で3000年の歴史 があると言われています。
Amongst the many hot springs within Japan, Matsuyama city in Ehime prefecture has the Dougo hot spring, which is Japan’s oldest hot spring, and it is said to have a history dating back to 300 years.
9. ～と言えば
–lit. trans – if you say that…/speaking of… X [the topic revisited again in conversation]
-pattern: [noun/modified noun phrase] と言えば、。。。
ex:
1a: これは昔話の絵本ですね。 This is a picture book of an old tale.
1b: 昔話と言えば、昨日「桃太郎」のかみしばいを見ましたよ。
Speaking of old tales, I saw a picture show of “Momotarou” yesterday.
2a: 今晩、道子さんに会うんです。 This evening, I will meet with Michiko.
2b: 道子さんと言えば、来月田中さんと結婚すると聞きました。
Speaking of Michiko, I heard that she will marry Tanaka next month.
10. ～とか～とか
-used in colloquial conversation
-used to provide examples but also implying that there’s more and the examples provided are not part of a defined set (like noun + や or verb + たり)
lit trans – like x and y etc.
patterns:
noun + とか、. . . noun (とか) *the final example noun does not need to end with とか
phrase + とか、. . . phrase + とか + する・できる。
*the phrase’s verbs are in short form with tense indicator and the とか MUST be at the final example
ex:
週末はたいていせんたくとか、そうじをします。
As for the weekends, I usually do things like the laundry or cleaning.
漢字を覚える時は、フラシュカードを作るとか、何回も書くとかするといいです。
When memorizing kanji, things like making flashcards and writing it many times is a good way.
11. X ～というのは . . . Y [4 choices]。
i. noun + のことです。 (exact word to word definition)
ii. noun + ということです。 (synonym)
iii. phrase + ということです。 (synonym)
iv. phrase + という意味です。 (provide the implied meaning or explanation/translation)
-to provide meaning and definition
the tenses in phrases in X and Y should match and be in short form as well
if using なadj, for the present short form, use なand notだ; nouns are as is
lit trans – X is/means Y
ex of i:
パソコンというのはパーソナルコンピューターのことです。 Pakon means a personal computer.
a. すみません。学生証というのは何のことですか。 Excuse me. What does gakuseishou mean?
b. 学生証というのはstudent ID のことです。 Gakuseishou means student ID.
ex of iii:
留学するというのは、 外国で勉強するということです。
To study abroad means to study in a foreign country.
ex of iv:
「話せる」というのは「話すことができる」という意味です。
話せるmeans to be able to or can talk.
12. X ～だけ [でなく(て)/じゃなく(て)]、Y ～も . . .
lit trans – not only X, but Y also
-patterns
[noun¹]だけでなく(て)、[noun²]*も
[phrase]だけでなく(て)、[noun]*も
*if the particle after noun² is: に・へ・で・と・から – they appear before も. But if it isを, omit it
if using なadj, for the present short form, use なand notだ
the phrases are short form with tense indication; nouns are as is
ex:
日本語はひらがなだけなく、カタカナや漢字も覚えなくてはいけません。
For the Japanese language, not only hiragana, but katakana and kanji must be memorized.
「すみません」は「I’m sorry」という意味だけでなくて、「excuse me」という意味もあります。
“すみません” not only means “I’m sorry,” but “excuse me” as well.
京都は古いお寺があるだけでなく、きねいな景色も有名です。
Not only does Kyoto have old temples, but beautiful scenery also.
このアパートは駅が近くて便利なだけじゃなくて、家賃も安いから、借りることにしました。
Not only is this apartment convenient and close to the train station, but the rent is cheap, so I decided to rent it.
その映画は面白いだけじゃなくて、音楽もいいよ。
Not only is this movie interesting/fun, the music is good also.