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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30. Can you say “There are only four hundred yen” in Japanese?

 30. Expressing Quantity: "Shika" and "Mo"




In Japanese, "shika" and "mo" are used to emphasize the quantity of something. "Shika" is used when the amount is considered too small, while "mo" is used when the amount is considered large.

Examples:

しか(shika)

コピーの紙が5枚しかありません。(Kopī no kami ga gomai shika arimasen.)
There are only five sheets of photocopying paper.

教室に学生が三人しかいません。(Kyōshitsu ni gakusē ga sannin shika imasen.)
There are only three students in the classroom.

この池に魚が少ししかいません。 Kono ike ni sakana ga sukoshi shika imasen.
There are only a few numbers of fish in this pond.

も(Mo)

リーさんの机の上に教科書が4冊もあります。
Rī-san no tsukue no ue ni kyōkasho ga yonsatsu mo arimasu.
There are as many as four textbooks on Lee's desk.

教室に学生が二十人もいます。
Kyōshitsu ni gakusē ga nijūnin mo imasu.
There are as many as twenty students in a classroom.


It's important to remember that the perception of what is considered large or small is subjective. “しか(shika)” emphasizes a small quantity, while “も(mo)” emphasizes a large quantity.

Location: Japan

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