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Showing posts with the label Commonly confused words

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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"Navigating Japanese Time: The Distinct Uses of 'まで' and 'までに

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Introduction Confused about using " まで " and " までに " in Japanese? You're not alone! These words can be used to talk about time, places, and extent (like level and amounts). But in this blog, we will only look at how they are used with time because many Japanese learners find it confusing. Understanding this will help you plan and schedule better in Japanese. Ready to learn? Let's start. Understanding " まで " and " までに " Let's look at how these phrases are used with time: " まで " (made): This means up to a certain time. It talks about how long something goes on but doesn't talk about ending it by a certain time. Examples: 9時まで勉強します (Ku-ji made benkyō suru) – I will study until nine o'clock. 昼休みは午後1時までです (Hiruyasumi wa gogo ichi-ji made desu) – The lunch break is until 1 PM. " までに " (made ni): This is used when something needs to be finished by a certain time. It's like a deadline. Examples: 明日の朝...
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Location: Japan
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