Beginning Japanese for Professionals: Book 1

19 contrasting ideas but sometimes the first sentence simply serves as an introduction and prepares the listener for the second sentence. Kore wa kaimasu kedo, are wa kaimasen. I’ll buy this, but I won’t buy that. Sumimasen kedo, wakarimasen. I’m sorry but I don’t understand. Honda desu kedo, shiturei-shimasu. I’m Honda. Excuse me. (entering a room) The second sentence is often left unexpressed because it is clear from the context or because the speaker hesitates to mention it for some reason. In the dialogue above, Mr. Smith probably wanted to sound less abrupt and is inviting comments from the other speakers. Kaimasu kedo … I’ll buy it but … (Is it okay with you? / Why did you ask?) Ga is more formal than kedo and is more common in writing and formal speeches. There are also several variations of kedo such as keredo, kedomo, and keredomo , which are more formal than kedo . 1-2-4 Particle Wa indicating Contrast Particle wa follows nouns and indicates a contrast between that noun under discussion and other possibilities. The noun can be subject, object, or some other category. Watashi wa mimasu kedo … I watch it, but…(someone else may not) Kore wa wakarimasu. I understand this (but not the other one) Ashita wa kaimasu. Tomorrow, I will buy it (but not today) When particle wa attaches to a noun with a question intonation, it means ‘how about X?’ as in the dialogue above. In answering this type of question, make sure you do not reply “yes” or “no”, since it’s not a yes-no question. 1-2-5 Particle Mo indicating Addition The particle mo performs the opposite function of that performed by the particle wa . The particle mo means ‘too’ or ‘also’ with an affirmative verb and ‘(n)either’ with a negative verb. It can attach to a subject, object or time, among others. Honda-san mo mimasu. Ms. Honda watches it, too (as well as someone else) Kore mo wakarimasen. I don’t understand this, either (in addition to something else) Ashita mo kaimasu. Tomorrow, I will buy it, too (as well as some other time) Drills and Exercises A. Cue: Kore, mimasu ka. Do you watch this? Response: Hai, sore wa mimasu kedo, are wa mimasen. Yes, I watch it, but I don’t watch that one.