---
type: Knowledge
title: Synthesized Japanese Class Notes
date: '2025-10-23'
---

# Synthesized Japanese Class Notes

This note is a synthesized compilation of all Japanese class notes from the `10-Input` folder. The content has been organized by topic for clarity and ease of reference.

79674766584:0173

## Grammar

### Parts of Speech

- **めいし (名詞)** - Noun
- **どうし (動詞)** - Verb
- **けいようし (形容詞)** - Adjective
- **じょし (助詞)** - Particle
- **しゅご (主語)** - Subject of a sentence

### Particles

- **か** - Placed at the end of a sentence to make it a question.
- **の** - Connects two nouns (Noun 1 + の + Noun 2), where Noun 1 modifies or describes Noun 2. Can also be used as a placeholder for aforementioned or unknown things.
- **に** - Indicates a specific point in time, purpose, or location of existence.
- **で** - Indicates the location where an action takes place or the means by which an action is done ("by").
- **も** - Means "also" or "too." Can be used to show surprise at a large quantity.
- **が** - Marks the subject of a sentence or the object of liking/disliking.
- **を** - Marks the direct object of a verb.
- **から / ので** - Both mean "because" or "so." ので is generally more formal/polite.
- **や** - Used to list things loosely, similar to saying "like" or "such as".
- **なら** - Conditional particle for hypothetical situations, contrasts, or providing information based on a premise ("if").

### Verb Conjugations

#### て-form (Te-form)

The て-form is used to connect verbs, make requests, and in many other grammatical patterns.

- **Rules:**
    - Verbs ending in **う, つ, る** → **って**
    - Verbs ending in **ぬ, む, ぶ** → **んで**
    - Verbs ending in **く** → **いて**
    - Verbs ending in **ぐ** → **いで**
    - Verbs ending in **す** → **して**
    - **Irregular:** する → して, くる → きて

- **Usages:**
    - **〜てください** - Please do...
    - **〜てもいいですか** - May I do...?
    - **〜てはいけません / 〜てはだめです** - You must not do...
    - **〜て〜て...** - To list activities in sequential order.
    - **〜ています** - Present continuous tense.
    - **まだ + 〜ていません** - I haven't done... yet.

#### Non-Polite (Plain) Form

- **のむ (to drink):** のまない (neg), のんだ (past), のまなかった (past-neg)
- **くる (to come):** こない (neg), きた (past), こなかった (past-neg)
- **ある (to exist):** ない (neg), あった (past), なかった (past-neg)

#### Volitional Form

Used to express intention or suggestion in a non-polite way.

- **Godan verbs (u-verbs):** Change the final 'u' sound to an 'o' sound and add 'u'. (e.g., 飲む → 飲もう)
- **Ichidan verbs (ru-verbs):** Replace the final 'る' with 'よう'. (e.g., 食べる → 食べよう)
- **Irregular:** する → しよう, くる → こよう

#### Potential Verbs

The potential form in Japanese is used to express **ability** or **possibility** (e.g., "can do," "is able to"). Once a verb is in its potential form, it functions grammatically as a **Group 2 (Ichidan) verb**.

##### 1. How to Form Potential Verbs (Conjugation)

| Verb Group | Base Form (Dictionary) | Conjugation Rule | Potential Form (Plain) | Example |
| :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- |
| **Group 1** (Godan/U-verbs) | Ends in a U-row kana | Change the final U-sound to the equivalent **E-sound** and add **る** ($U \rightarrow E + る$) | $E-る$ verb | **話す** (hanasu - to speak) $\rightarrow$ **話せる** (hanaseru - can speak) |
| **Group 2** (Ichidan/Ru-verbs) | Ends in **る** (preceded by E or I sound) | Replace **る** with **られる** ($る \rightarrow られる$) | $られる$ verb | **食べる** (taberu - to eat) $\rightarrow$ **食べられる** (taberareru - can eat) |
| **Irregular** (する) | **する** (suru - to do) | Special exception | **できる** (dekiru - can do) | |
| **Irregular** (来る) | **来る** (kuru - to come) | Special exception | **来られる** (korareru - can come) | |

###### 📝 Note: The ら-Drop (ら抜き言葉)
In casual speech, especially for Group 2 verbs, the *ら* (ra) is often dropped.
* **Standard:** 食べられる (taberareru)
* **Colloquial (Non-Standard):** 食べれる (tabereru)

---

##### 2. Key Grammatical Usage: Particle Change

The most important grammatical rule for potential verbs is the change in the direct object particle.

###### Particle Change: を (o) $\rightarrow$ が (ga)

When a transitive verb is put into the potential form, the direct object particle usually changes from **を** (*o*) to **が** (*ga*).

| Verb Form | Example Sentence | Meaning |
| :--- | :--- | :--- |
| **Non-Potential** | 私は**日本語を**話します。 | I speak Japanese. |
| **Potential** | 私は**日本語が**話せます。 | I **can** speak Japanese. |

> **Tip:** While **が** is grammatically correct and preferred in formal writing, you may frequently hear **を** used with potential verbs in casual conversation.

---

##### 3. Alternative Expression of Potential

You can express potential without conjugating the verb into its unique form by using the phrase **～ことができる** (koto ga dekiru), which means "the thing/action of {verb} can be done."

* **Formula:** Plain Form of Verb + **ことができる**

| Method               | Example                  | Meaning               |
| :------------------- | :----------------------- | :-------------------- |
| **Potential Verb**   | 日本語**が** **話せます**。       | I can speak Japanese. |
| **Alternative Form** | 日本語を **話す** **ことができます**。 | I can speak Japanese. |
### Adjective Conjugations

#### い-Adjectives

- **Negative:** Replace い with **くない**.
- **Past:** Replace い with **かった**.
- **Past Negative:** Replace い with **くなかった**.
- **Connecting (Te-form):** Replace い with **くて**.

#### な-Adjectives

- **Negative:** Add **じゃありません**.
- **Past:** Add **でした**.
- **Past Negative:** Add **じゃありませんでした**.
- **Connecting (Te-form):** Add **で**.

### Sentence Structures

- **Making Invitations:**
    - **〜ませんか？** - Polite invitation ("Would you like to...?").
    - **〜ましょう** - Suggestion ("Let's...").
    - **〜ましょうか？** - Suggestion/Offer ("Shall we...? / Shall I...?").

- **Expressing "I think..." (〜と思います)**: Place と思います after a phrase in the non-polite tense. Nouns & な-Adjectives require だ.

- **Quoting Someone (〜と言います)**: Use 「 」 for direct quotes followed by と言います.

- **Making Comparisons:**
    - **A の方が B より ADJ です** - A is more ADJ than B.

- **Expressing Superlatives:**
    - **[Category] の中で [Question Word] が一番 [ADJ] ですか？** - Within [Category], which/what/who is the most [ADJ]?

- **Expressing Intention (〜つもりです)**: Use a non-polite verb followed by つもりです to state you plan to do something.

- **Expressing "To Become" (〜になる / 〜くなる)**:
    - **Noun / な-Adjective + になる**
    - **い-Adjective (stem) + くなる**

- **Expressing "I want to..." (〜たい)**: Change the ます form of a verb to 〜たい. Conjugates like an い-adjective.

- **Expressing someone else wants (〜たがる)**: To describe observations of another person's desire.

- **Stating Purpose**: Use the verb stem + に + verb of motion (e.g., 行きます, 来ます).

- **Expressing "Probably" (〜でしょう)**: Used for predictions.

- **Expressing Preparation (〜ておく)**: Indicates something was done in preparation.

- **Making Suggestions (〜たらどうですか？)**: Suggests trying an action.

- **Polite Questions (〜んです)**: Makes a question less direct and more polite.

- **Listing Activities Loosely (〜たり〜たりする)**: Lists example activities without a specific order.

- **Expressing Experience (〜たことがあります)**: Use the past tense (た-form) of a verb followed by ことがあります.

- **Expressing "Too much" (〜すぎる)**: Add すぎる to the verb or adjective stem.

- **Giving Advice (〜方がいい)**: "It would be better to..."

- **Multiple Reasons Why (〜し)**: Used to list multiple reasons for a result.

- **Expressing "Seems to be..." (〜そうです)**: Used to describe an impression based on appearance.

- **Trying To (〜てみる)**: Conjugate the verb to て form and add みる.

- **Noun Modification**: Use a plain form verb before a noun to modify it.

- **Difficulty Suffix (にくい)**: To express that something is difficult to do, add **-にくい** to the verb stem (pre-ます form).

- **Receiving Favors (〜てもらいます)**: Used when the subject receives a favor or action from someone else. The subject is the one receiving. *Example: 私は先生に日本語を教えてもらいます。 (I receive teaching of Japanese from the teacher.)*

- **Polite Requests (〜ていただけませんか？)**: A very polite way to ask someone to do something. Added to the て-form of a verb. *Example: このコンピュータを教えていただけませんか？ (Would you please teach me about this computer?)*

- **Expressing Hope (〜といいですね / 〜といいんですが)**:
    - **For Others (〜といいですね / 〜といいね)**: Expresses hope for someone else. Added after a plain form verb, い-adjective, or な-adjective.
        - *Example: 早くよくなるといいですね (I hope you get better soon.)*
        - *Example: 合格するといいですね (I hope you pass the exam.)*
    - **For Oneself (〜といいんですが / 〜といいんだけど / 〜といいな)**: Expresses hope for oneself.
        - *Example: すてきな人と結婚できるといいんですが (I hope I can marry a wonderful person.)*
        - *Example: 給料は上がるといいんですが (I hope my salary rises.)*

- **Expressing "When" (〜とき)**: Added to the plain form of a verb to create a time-referencing clause. The tense of the verb before とき indicates the timing of the main action.
    - **Present Tense + とき**: The main action occurs *during* the action in the とき clause.
        - *Example: 会社に行く時に友達を会いました。 (I met my friend on the way to work.)*
    - **Past Tense + とき**: The main action occurs *after* the action in the とき clause was completed.
        - *Example: パリに行った時にこのかばんを買いました。 (When I went to Paris, I bought this bag.)*

- **Expressing Apology (〜てすみませんでした)**: Used to apologize for an action, often for something that couldn't be done.
    - **Formula**: Verb (て-form) + すみませんでした
    - **Note**: If apologizing for *not* doing something, use the negative て-form (なくて).
    - *Example*: パーティーへ行かなくて、すみませんでした (I'm sorry I couldn't go to the party.)
    - *Example*: 本をなくして、すみませんでした (I'm sorry for losing the book.)
            - *Example: 宿題を持って来なくて、すみませんでした (I'm sorry for not bringing the homework.)*
    
    <div style="page-break-after: always;"></div>
    - **Quoting Someone (Informal) (〜って言いました)** - 2025-11-25: A less formal equivalent of `〜と言います` for quoting others. It requires the verb preceding it to be in the plain (dictionary) form, not the -ます form. The latter part of the phrase (e.g., `言いました`) is often omitted in casual conversation.
        - **Formula**: Plain Form + って言いました / って
        - **Examples**:
            - *A-sanが”明日は休む”って言いました* (A-san said, "I'm off tomorrow.")
            - *A-sanが「会議は午後からだ」って* (A-san said, "The meeting is from the afternoon.")
            - *A-sanが「資料を作って」って* (A-san said, "Make the materials.")
            - *ニュースで「けいざいがよくなっている」って* (The news said, "The economy is improving.")
    
    - **Conditional "If" (もし...だったら/たら)** - 2025-11-25: A common, less formal way to express "if" (less formal than `なら`).
        - **Verb**: Conjugate the verb to its plain past tense (た-form) and add `ら`.
            - *Example: もしたくさんお金が**あったら**、新しい車を買います。* (If I had a lot of money, I would buy a new car.)
        - **Noun or な-Adjective**: Add `だったら`.
            - *Example: **もし**明日はいい天気**だったら**、ビーチにいきます。* (If the weather is good tomorrow, I'll go to the beach.)
        - **Negative Noun/な-Adj**: Conjugate the noun/adjective to the negative plain past `じゃなかった` and add `ら`.
        - **い-Adjective**: Replace the final `い` with `かったら`.
            - *Example: もし週末は**晴れだったら**、公園で遊びます。* (If it's sunny this weekend, we'll play at the park.)
    
    - **Trying To (〜てみる)** - 2025-11-20: To express the idea of trying something out, you conjugate a verb to its て-form and then append the verb みる. Since みる is a regular verb itself, it can be conjugated into other forms, allowing for flexible expressions.
        - **Formula**: Verb (て-form) + みる
        - **Conjugation Examples**:
            - `〜みてもいいですか?` - Is it okay if I try...?
            - `〜みたい` - I want to try...
        - **Usage Examples**:
            - *新しいレストランに行ってみます。* (I'll try going to a new restaurant.)
            - *この服は着てみてもいいですか？* (Is it okay if I try on these clothes?)
            - *この靴はサイズが合いますか？履いてみてもいいですか？* (Do these shoes fit my size? Can I try them on?)
            - *この本は面白いですか？読んでみてもいいですか？* (Is this book interesting? May I try reading it?)
            - *沖縄のがまを見てみたい。* (I want to try to see the caves in Okinawa.)
- **Hearsay (〜そうです)** - 2025-11-20: This pattern is used to report information that you have heard from another source. It is appended to the plain (non-polite) form of verbs andい-adjectives. For な-adjectives and nouns, you must add だ before そうです.
    - **Formula**: Plain Form (Verb/Adjective) + そうです
    - **Formula (Noun/な-Adj)**: Noun/な-Adj + だ + そうです
    - **Citing a Source**: To mention where you heard the information, use the pattern: `[Source] + によると`.
    - **Usage Examples**:
        - *今日は雨だそうです。* (I heard it will rain today.)
        - *天気予報によると今日は雨が降るそうです。* (According to the weather forecast, I heard it will rain today.)
        - *明日は天気予報によると寒くなるそうです。* (I heard from the weather report that it will get cold tomorrow.)
        - *週末は天気予報によると嵐になるそうです。* (I heard from the weather report that it will become stormy this weekend.)

- **Confirmation Conditions (ら)** - 2025-12-04: When you're waiting for a certain situation to occur, you can stick なったら after it to show that it's something that is expected to occur, saying "When the situation becomes this....".
    - **Examples**:
        - *彼女は二十歳**なったら**、会社に入社します。* - **After** the girl turns 20, then she can enter the work force.
        - *年を取ったら、田舎に住みたい* - When I grow old, I want to live on the country side.
            - Note, there's no なる here, you can use ら after any verb.
        - *駅に着いたら, 電話してください* - When you get to the station, please give me a call.
        - *今日は家に帰ったら、何をしますか。* - When you return home today, what will you do？ (Asking questions)

- **Need Not To (なくてもいいです)** - 2025-12-04: If you want to say you don't need someone to do something, you can add "なくてもいいです" after the verb.
	- Using just Verb Stem -てもいいです is like asking something to do something very kindly. Like saying "its ok if you turn on the AC".
    - **Examples**:
        - *ホテルでかばんを持たなくてもいいです。* - At the hotel, its ok if you don't hold my bags//don't need to hold my bags.
        - *日曜日は早く起きなくてもいいです* - On Sundays, its ok to not wake up early.
        - *日曜日は仕事に行かなくてもいいです* - I don't need to go to work on Sundays.
        - *AIがあったら、仕事をしなくてもいいです* - If there's AI, we don't need to work.
        - *自動チェックインをしたら、カウンターに行かなくてもいいです.* - If you use self check in, you don't need to go to the counter.

## Vocabulary

### Nouns

- **People & Titles:** うんてんしゅ (driver), おとしより (elderly person), かいしゃいん (office worker), きょうだい (spiritual brother), ちょうろ (elder), 安愛がかり (あんないがかり) - Greeter, お金持ち (rich person), 奥さん (おくさん) - Wife (someone else's), 旦那さん (だんなさん) - Husband (someone else's)
- **Places:** おうこくかいかん (Kingdom Hall), くうこう (airport), こうえん (park), しやくしょ (city hall), としょかん (library), びじゅつかん (art museum), ゆうびんきょく (post office)
- **Time & Frequency:** あさって (day after tomorrow), いちにちじゅう (all day), おととい (two days ago), こんど (next time), しょうがつ / しんねん (New Years), まいしゅう (every week), 将来 (しょうらい) - near future
- **Food & Drink:** ごはん (rice/meal), しお (salt), すきやき (sukiyaki), やきにく (BBQ), やしょく (late night snack), 洋食 (ようしょく) - Western food
- **Objects & Concepts:** いさん (heritage), えんぴつ (pencil), かばん (bag), くるま (car), けいたい (cell phone), しごと (work), しつもん (question), せいしょ (Bible), でんしゃ (train), りょこう (trip/travel), 洋食 (ようしょく) - Western food, 合格発表 (ごうかく はっぴょう) - pass exam announcement, 給料 (きゅうりょう) - salary, 実現 (じつげん) - achievement/realization, 公開講演 (こうかいこうえん) - public talk, 緊張 (きんちょう) - nervousness, 区域 (くいき) - Congregation Territory, 忍耐 (にんたい) - Patience (from God), 基地 (きち) - Military Base, 遅刻 (ちこく) - Delay, 宿題 (しゅくだい) - Homework, 教科書 (きょうかしょ) - Text Book, 日の出 (ひので) - Sunlight, 離島 (りとう) - Small islands off a big island, 天気予報 (てんきよほう) - Weather report, 嵐 (あらし) - Storm
- **Natural Phenomena:** - 2025-11-25: 断水 (だんすい) - Water Main/Cut, 地震 (じしん) - Earthquake, 洗濯 (せんたく) - Laundry
- **Other:** 軍隊 (ぐんたい) - Military, おく - Billion, 自動チェックイン (じどうチェックイン) - Self Check-in

### Verbs

- **あう (会う)** - To meet
- **あるく (歩く)** - To walk
- **いく (行く)** - To go
- **うんてんする (運転する)** - To drive
- **およぐ (泳ぐ)** - To swim
- **かう (飼う)** - To keep (a pet)
- **きく (聴く)** - To listen
- **する (suru)** - To do
- **たべる (食べる)** - To eat
- **でかける (出かける)** - To go out
- **はなす (話す)** - To speak
- **まつ (待つ)** - To wait
- **よむ (読む)** - To read
- **差 (さ)** - Range (suffix for adjectives)
- **安愛する (あんないする)** - To guide
- **届ける (とどける)** - To deliver/forward
- **説明する (せつめいする)** - To explain
- **診る (みる)** - To examine (medical)
- **探す (さがす)** - To look for
- **連れていく (つれていく)** - To bring someone
- **出来る (できる)** - to be able to
- **昇進する (しょうしん する)** - to be promoted
- **出世する (しゅっせ する)** - to be promoted (more impactful)
- **慣れる (なれる)** - To get Used to
- **心開く (こころひらく)** - Open Minded/Open Hearted
- **成長する (せいちょうする)** - To grow in size
- **見送る (みおくる)** - To send off, to see off
- **出迎える (でむかえる)** - To go to entrance, and welcome other person
- **誘う (さそう)** - to invite
- **困る (こまる)** - To get in trouble
- **年を取る (としをとる)** - To become old
- **着く (つく)** - to arrive
- **官憲します (かんけんします)** - To do an expedition
- **切る (きる)** - to turn off/cut off
- **消す (けす)** - to turn off/make disappear

### Adjectives

- **い-Adjectives:** あたらしい (new), あつい (hot), いそがしい (busy), おいしい (delicious), おおきい (big), さむい (cold), ちいさい (small), むずかしい (difficult), やさしい (easy/kind), やすい (cheap), 悲しい (かなしい) - Sad (serious), 我慢強い (がまんづよい) - Patient, 使いやすい (つかいやすい) - To be useful
- **な-Adjectives:** かんたん (easy), きれい (pretty/clean), げんき (healthy), しずか (quiet), じょうず (skilled), すき (likeable), べんり (convenient), ゆうめい (famous), 残念 (ざんねん) - Disappointed/Too bad
- **Like/Dislike Scale:** 大好き (love) > 好き (like) > 嫌い (dislike) > 大嫌い (hate)

### Adverbs & Expressions

- **あまり + negative** - Not often
- **じつは** - Actually
- **ずっと** - Much / A lot
- **ぜんぜん + negative** - Not at all
- **たくさん** - A lot
- **ときどき** - Sometimes
- **ゆっくり** - Slowly
- **喜んで (よろこんで)** - With joy/pleasure

## Phrases & Greetings

- **おはよう** - Good morning
- **よろしくお願いします** - Nice to meet you
- **おだいじに** - Take care (when someone is sick)
- **ただいま** - I'm home
- **おかえり** - Welcome back
- **行ってきます (いってきます)** - I'm leaving
- **お帰りなさい (おかえりなさい)** - Welcome Back (more formal)
- **いただきます** - Said before eating
- **おなかがすきます** - I'm hungry
- **のどがかわきました** - I'm thirsty