Beginning Japanese for Professionals: Book 3

41 nekutai ネクタイ necktie nekkuresu ネックレス necklace ringu リング ring iyaringu イヤリング earring sukaafu スカーフ scarf beruto ベルト belt megane めがね eye glasses tokei 時計 watch meeku メーク make-up Grammar Notes 10-4-1 Expressing Negative Permission ‘Do Not Have To’ In Dialogue 2, we discussed the /affirmative ~ te mo / in permission patterns. Now we discuss the /negative ~ nakute mo / in negative permission patterns. Negative permission means ‘It’s okay NOT to do X’ or ‘You do not have to do X.’ Matanakute mo ii desu yo. You don’t have to wait. Mou ganbaranakute mo ii desu. You don’t have to try so hard anymore. Honyaku-shinakute mo ii desu ka. Is it okay if I don't translate it? You can also combine more than one permission pattern together to indicate options. Kite mo konakute mo ii desu. It’s okay whether you come or not. Kekkon-shite mo, shinakute mo ii desu. It doesn't matter if you get married or not. Meeru-site mo denwa-shite mo ii desu. It’s okay whether you email or call. 10-4-2 Expressing Necessities ‘must’ In Dialogue 3, we discussed the /affirmative ~ te wa / in prohibition patterns. Now we consider the /negative ~ nakute wa / in necessity patterns. Necessity means ‘you must do X’ or ‘it’s no good if you do NOT do X.’ The sound change of / te wa /to / cha / and / de wa / to / ja / occurs with this pattern as well. In addition to ikenai , other negative expressions can follow this pattern. Benkyou-shinakute wa ikemasen . You must study. Shigoto ni ikanakute wa dame na n desu. I must go to work, so… Suutsu kinakucha mazui yo . It’s not good if you do not wear a suit. We have seen all the four patterns involving the ~ te form—Permissions, prohibitions, negative permissions, and necessities. Now let’s see how they complement each other. Tabako suttee mo ii desu ka? Is it okay if I smoke? -Iya, suttee wa ikemasen yo. No, it’s no good if you do. Shigoto ni ikanakute mo ii desu ka. Is it okay if I do not go to work? - Iya, ikanakute wa ikemasen yo. No, it’s no good if you do not.