Hiro

Japanese isn't English. As strange as it sounds, it is important to keep that in mind. It is good to a certain extent to compare the languages to get a better feel for both, but a constant comparision can lead to disappointment and frustration. I don't know how many times I have caught myself saying something like, "Well, English doesn't do that! English... English... AGHH!!" Ok small point exaggerated - sorry. Click on the for sound.

A. Word order:Japanese word order fun is.

Japanese (subject)(object)(verb) わたしは  みせ  へ  いきます。 watashi wa mise he ikimasu. English (subject)(verb)(object) I go to the store.

It isn't as hard as it seems. Constructing a Japanese sentence is like detective work. You collect the clues along the way and then at the end put it all together. For example: わたしは  みせ  へ  いきます。 watashi wa mise he ikimasu.

(わたしは  watashi wa ) means 'I' (は wa) means 'topic)' - Ah! you know who is doing the work, but what, where, why, when??

(みせ  へ  mise he ) means 'store' with the directional (へ  he ) 'to' - Ok! you know where! But what???

And finally (いきます ikimasu) 'go' - Now putting it all together, we understand.

Sometimes it is good to start from the end of the sentence and work your way to the beginning. In that way you will learn the most important info first (the verb) and move to what is made to happen and who does it.

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Last revised: May 09, 2000.