XはYです

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Here are the key points of this lesson: Omission of the subject (Xは) Using 'は' for clarity Nouns in Japanese” Omission of the subject (Xは) In Japanese, sentences often omit subjects when the context makes them clear, unlike in English where subjects like "I" or "it" are typically included.  For example, "I am a student," "My major is Japanese language," and "It is 12:30" translate into Japanese as "がくせいです," "にほんごです," and "12じはんです," respectively, without direct subjects. Using 'は' for clarity If the context doesn't provide clarity, Japanese sentences can start with a topic marked by "wa" (は in hiragana), indicating "As for X, it is Y.” For example,  “わたしは がくせいです" (As for me, I am a student), “せんこうは にほんごです" (As for my major, it is Japanese language), and "じかんは12じはんです" (As for the current time, it is 12:30). The particle "wa" (は), used to denote ...
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10. Can you say “Who are you?” in Japanese?

10. N wa dare/donata desuka? 




Are you interested in learning how to ask someone's name in Japanese? Let's explore the basic structure together:

  • Introducing Yourself:
    Imagine you want to know someone's name. You can start by asking: あなたはだれですか？(Anata wa dare desu ka?) Which means, "Who are you?" The person would respond:（わたしは）キムです。(Watashi wa Kimu desu.) This translates to "I am Kim."
  • Inquiring About Others:
    Now, let's say you want to know someone else's name. You can ask:
    あのひとはだれですか？(Ano hito wa dare desu ka?) This means, "Who is that person over there?"
    The other person would reply:（あのひとは）チンさんです。(Ano hito wa Chin-san desu.) This means "That person over there is Cheng." 
  • Showing Respect to Superiors:
    In Japanese, it's important to use respectful language when addressing someone superior or senior to you. To do so, replace "hito" with "kata" and "dare" with "donata." Here's an example:
    If you want to know the name of someone higher in rank or seniority, you can ask:
    あのかたはどなたですか？(Ano kata wa donata desu ka?) Who is that person over there?The response would be:（かれは）モリさんです。(Kare wa Mori-san desu.) He is Mr. Mori."

Remembering these basic phrases will help you engage in conversations and inquire about names politely in Japanese. 

Location: Japan

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