--- type: Classes title: 09/08/2025 - Japanese Class date: '2025-09-08' --- 次回: 79674766584:0173 # RANDOM WORDS ひれ酒 -> Sake that they stick fins in. *Yikes* 使いやすい -> easy to use もみじ・こうよう・紅葉 -> Autumn Leaves # Try To -> みる When saying your trying to do something, you conjugate the verb your trying to do into て form, and then add みる at the end. Note, this is NOT 見る, this is its own thing, just みる by itself. 新しいレストランに行ってみよう -> Let's go to a new restaurant Notice the volitional form. Not required, but adds some flare 刺身を食べてみます -> I'll try the sashimi 彼女は服を着ってみます この服は着って見ってもいいですか -> この靴はサイズが合いますか？履いてみてもいいですか？ -> Are these shoes the right size? Can I try them on? この辞書は使いやすいですか？見てみてもいいですか？-> These shoes fit my size? ピアノは音がいいですか？引いてみてもいいですか？ -> Does the piano sound good? Can I play it? # If / なら The Japanese grammar point **なら (nara)** is a versatile conditional particle that expresses **hypothetical situations**, **contrasts**, or **provides information based on a premise**. It's often translated as "if," "if it's about," or "in that case." Here's a breakdown of its main uses: ## 1. Conditional Statements (If...) **なら** can be used to create conditional sentences, similar to **ば (ba)** or **たら (tara)**, but it often implies a more specific or hypothetical condition. - **Structure:** - Noun/な-adjective + なら - い-adjective + なら (less common, usually the stem + なら) - Verb (plain form) + なら - **Meaning:** "If [condition] is true/happens, then..." - So like, its an if/then statement type logic particle. - **Examples:** - **時間があるなら**、手伝ってください。(Jikan ga **aru nara**, tetsudatte kudasai.) - "**If** you have time, please help me." - **雨なら**、家で映画を見ます。(**Ame nara**, ie de eiga o mimasu.) - "**If** it's rain(ing), I'll watch a movie at home." - **疲れているなら**、休みましょう。(**Tsukarete iru nara**, yasumimashou.) - "**If** you are tired, let's rest." - **日本へ行くなら**、お土産を買ってきてください。(**Nihon e iku nara**, omiyage o katte kite kudasai.) - "**If** you go to Japan, please bring back souvenirs." **Comparison with ば (ba) and たら (tara):** - **ば (ba):** Tends to express more general, natural consequences or conditions. - **たら (tara):** Often used for specific past events or completed actions as a condition. - **なら (nara):** Frequently used when the condition is about a specific **topic** or **person**, or when introducing a **hypothetical scenario**. ## 2. Referring to a Specific Topic/Thing (If it's about...) This is a very common use of **なら**. It's used to focus on a particular subject and then provide information related to it. - **Structure:** - Topic/Noun + なら - **Meaning:** "If it's about [topic]," "Regarding [topic]," "When it comes to [topic]." - **Examples:** - **寿司なら、** この店が一番おいしいです。(**Sushi nara**, kono mise ga ichiban oishii desu.) - "**If it's about sushi / When it comes to sushi,** this restaurant is the most delicious." - **田中さんのことなら、** 何でも知っていますよ。(**Tanaka-san no koto nara**, nandemo shitte imasu yo.) - "**If it's about Mr./Ms. Tanaka,** I know everything." - **この仕事なら、** 私に任せてください。(**Kono shigoto nara**, watashi ni makasete kudasai.) - "**If it's this job / Regarding this job,** leave it to me." ## 3. Contrast or Alternative (Instead of...) **なら** can sometimes imply a contrast or suggest an alternative. - **Structure:** - Option A + なら + Option B (or different action) - **Meaning:** "If it's [Option A], then (but if not/alternatively) [Option B]." - **Example:** - 映画を見る**なら**、もっと静かな場所がいいです。(Eiga o miru **nara**, motto shizuka na basho ga ii desu.) - "**If** you're going to watch a movie, a quieter place would be better." (Implies: but for other activities, a loud place might be okay.) ## 4. Introducing Information or a Decision based on a Premise **なら** can introduce a logical consequence or a decision made based on the preceding statement. - **Structure:** - Previous statement/premise + なら (followed by a new statement/decision) - **Meaning:** "In that case," "Then," "So." - **Examples:** - A: 「明日、仕事が休みです。」(Ashita, shigoto ga yasumi desu. - "Tomorrow, work is off.") B: 「**そうなら**、一緒に買い物に行きましょう。」(**Sou nara**, issho ni kaimono ni ikimashou. - "**In that case/Then,** let's go shopping together.") - A: 「この本は面白くないです。」(Kono hon wa omoshirokunai desu. - "This book isn't interesting.") B: 「**なら**、他の本を借りましょう。」(**Nara**, hoka no hon o karimashou. - "**Then,** let's borrow another book.") ## Key Points to Remember: - **Politeness:** **なら** itself is neutral. The politeness of the sentence depends on the verb or copula used at the end (e.g., です/ます for polite speech, plain form for casual speech). - **Not for general truths:** While it can be conditional, **なら** is often less about natural laws (like "If you heat water, it boils") and more about specific hypothetical situations, topics, or decisions. For general truths, **と (to)** is more common. - **Usage with pronouns:** **なら** can be used with pronouns like **そう (sou - like that)** and **それ (sore - that)** to refer back to a previous statement, as seen in "Sou nara" (In that case). らめんが美味しいところがありますか？　らめんならいちらんが美味しいですよ Another common use of なら is answer a question by setting a limit on possible results. Kind of only means "only" here. 英語ができますか？ -> 少しならできます ​Can you speak english? -> Only a little bit. 日本語が読みますか？ -> ひらがななら読みます。 ​Can you read Japanese? -> I can only read hiragana. 紅葉がいいところがありますか？紅葉なら京都が綺麗ところですよ 英語の先生なら大学にいますよ -> If english teachers, they are at University 山に登ろなら北海道がいいですよう -> 日本に行くなら刺身が食べたいです -> If I go to Japan, I want to eat sashimi. 北海道に行くならスキーがしたいです -> If I go to Hokkaido, I want to go skiing いい人がいるなら結婚したいんです -> If I find a good person, I want to get married. # Discussing Intervals 週二回 -> Twice a week (LIT: week, two times) 週二回英語を見ました -> Two times in a week I saw a movie 日三回ご飯を食べます -> Eat three times a day 日に二時間テレビを見ます -> Two hours 日に四時間本を読みます -> I read four hours a day 月何回運動しますか？ 週に何時間勉強しますか？ -> How many hours a week do you study? 年に何回旅行しますか？ -> How many times a year do you travel? 次回: 79674766584:0173