By taking the time to understand how the Japanese language works, you'll be able to speak Japanese naturally, and read and write in Japanese. We know this can be one of the more challenging parts of your course, and we’re here to help! You can browse the topics, do a search in the top right corner of this page, or start a new conversation. Don’t be shy!
Hello, I'm confused by this sentence: のみ すぎ です よ / Nomi sugi desu yo / You drank too much As "drank" is past tense, why wouldn't it be "nonda" instead のんだ すぎ です よ / nonda = past tense Thank you!!
4 replies - Last post by Tony-S10 - July 24, 2019
Would both of these sentences be correct?
Hello everyone, Whenever I begin a new module, I try to write example sentences in Japanese before looking at the translation so that I can see how accurate/inaccurate I am. In module 3.9 is the phrase: にほんご のべんきょう は たのしい です か / Nihongo no benkyō wa ta...
11 replies - Last post by イ リ ニ - July 20, 2019
わたし は sometimes used, sometimes not?
Hello, I've noticed that in some of the lessons when referring to "I" that sometimes わたし は is used and sometimes it isn't. Is this a case where it's not used in conversation that is more casual? E.g. n lesson 3.7 it is used in the 1st example, but not ...
11 replies - Last post by toru e - July 17, 2019
Hello! I have a question with regard to using み vs. みる in this example: あした えいが を み に いきません か？ / Ashita ēga o mi ni ikimasen ka? / Why don't we go to see a movie tomorrow? When I first saw the sentence and guessed at the translation, I wrote: あした えいが を...
2 replies - Last post by Tony-S10 - July 11, 2019
Hello! I have a question about the modules up to 3.5. As these phrases keep popping up, I want to make sure I more or less understand how to use them. Could someone please see advise if my assumptions are correct/incorrect here? Ne ...
1 reply - Last post by Crystal-Rocket-Japanese-Tutor - July 5, 2019
こんにち は みなさん! I have two questions from lesson 3.1 I hope someone can help me with. Question 1: I want to make sure I understand how to express walk / walking. In lesson 3.1, there is the example: あるく より らく / Aruku yori, raku desu yo! Easier t...
3 replies - Last post by Crystal-Rocket-Japanese-Tutor - June 26, 2019
Hello, I have a question on the use of mimasu vs. mitai. In lesson 3.2 there is the example: のんで みます か? / nonde mimasu ka? / would you like to try drinking it? Would it also be correct to say?: のんで みたい です か? / nonde mitai desu ka? Does the ...
2 replies - Last post by イ リ ニ - June 21, 2019
Hello, I wanted to make sure I fully understood the difference in meaning of the two phrases below in bold: The following is used when asking someone's permission to do something for you (i.e. "will you take a photo for me" in module 2.2) もらって も いい です か...
3 replies - Last post by イ リ ニ - May 22, 2019
Hello everyone, I'm spending time trying to wrap my head around 'wa' and every time I think I understand where it should go, I make a mistake. In this example from module 1.6, if "wa" signifies the subject of a sentence, then in the following example: ...
15 replies - Last post by teacup - May 17, 2019
Hello! In looking at the word Japanese (にほん ご) and Japanese beer (にほん の ビール), is the difference between using ご and の because in the first instance we are referring to a person, whereas in the second instance we are referring to an object? Which would ...
7 replies - Last post by イ リ ニ - May 16, 2019
Hello everyone, In lesson 1.9, we're given three examples of how long it takes someone to do something. There isn't really any explanation as to why に in the first example, を in the second example, and nothing in the third example is used. I'm still h...
6 replies - Last post by Crystal-Rocket-Japanese-Tutor - May 16, 2019
Question on wa placement in this example
In doing a recap of all my lessons to date, I'm finding much is clicking in place. For the most part, even "wa" and "o" are starting to intuitively make sense most of the time. I say intuitively, because most of the time I just seem to know where they g...
3 replies - Last post by イ リ ニ - May 16, 2019
Hello! Could someone please help me understand the difference in usage of は vs が in this example? Is there a person who can speak English? えいご を はなせる ひと は います か? I would have thought that が should be used: えいご を はなせる ひと が います か? It seems to be the on...
1 reply - Last post by teacup - May 16, 2019
Please explain the function of the particle ga in sentences ending with desu ga.
5 replies - Last post by イ リ ニ - May 3, 2019
Hello! Can someone please help me understand the use of the particle も in lesson 2.2? ここ で しゃしん を とって も いい です か Koko de shashin o totte mo ii desu ka? / Is it alright to take photos here? しゃしん を とって もらって も いい です か Shashin o totte moratte mo ii desu ka?...
4 replies - Last post by teacup - May 2, 2019
Hello, Could someone please help me understand why, in both of these examples, the U is pronounced in the first, but not in the second sentence? Ikka getsu benkyō shite imasu Oishii o-mise o shitte imasu Anata hodo jōzu ja nai desu Mochiron desu Tha...
12 replies - Last post by teacup - April 10, 2019
Hello, Now that I've learned how to write in hiragana, I'm redoing the modules I've learned so that I can practice them in hiragana. I have a question about the double length vowel O. In the lessons, Ōsaka is written like this: おおさか Why isn't it writt...
5 replies - Last post by イ リ ニ - April 10, 2019
Hello everyone, From lesson 1.3, I'd like to ask for some help in understanding something . I've only just started practicing writing the characters, so I apologize for having to ask in romanji. Konya o sushi o tabe ni iki mashō ka? / Shall we go and e...
11 replies - Last post by イ リ ニ - March 25, 2019
Still confused about "wa" - can someone please help me?
Hello, I began Rocket Japanese yesterday and I'm on 1.2 (tea time). I know it's early on but I'm trying to get my head wrapped around "wa" used in the first two lessons. From what I've read in the forum, it seems: 1. You use it to indicate the subjec...
4 replies - Last post by イ リ ニ - March 4, 2019
Module 1.3 At the Sushi Bar introduced the phrase 「もちろん です」. Presumably this is the politest way to say "of course". However, while watching a show today I heard a character say,「 もちろんさ」. It does not change the meaning, but can anyone tell me what type o...
3 replies - Last post by ClaudiaR27 - January 3, 2019
Asking for a drink -- onegai shimasu vs. kudasai
Am I correct in that I would use onegai shimasu for a more formal, polite setting vs. say with a friend? For example, I would ask a waitress, waiter, or a new acquaintance this way: mizu, onegai shimasu vs. Asking a friend or loved one: mizu, kudasai
5 replies - Last post by Tony-S10 - November 21, 2018
1.4 grammar question about desu
みはさん こんにちは, I’ve being studying the dialog of lesson 1.4. It starts with: あなた は にほんご が はなせます か？ So far, so good. The topic is you, the subject is the Japanese language that is being asked if the topic can speak. The answer is: はい、 げも すこし げか がけ...
4 replies - Last post by TheresaH8 - August 27, 2018
Hi everyone! I want to ask on how to properly understand both ～なんて and なんか expressions. As I'm digging the audio lessons from lessons 13... I've encountered both of them but is still on the fence on how to interpret or understand them... Here's the line...
3 replies - Last post by ClaudiaR27 - July 24, 2018
Hi おおきい (Ōkii) → おおきたっか (Ōkikatta) → おおきかったら (Ōkikattara) should be changed to おおきい (Ōkii) → おおきかった (Ōkikatta) → おおきかったら (Ōkikattara) Best
2 replies - Last post by Crystal-Rocket-Japanese-Tutor - July 19, 2018
Lesson 4.4: He´s very popular (desu or ga arimasu)
Quick question: In lesson 4.4 (sporting conversation) the sentence "He´s very popular" translates as " かれ は とても にんき が あります" Shouldn´t it be with DESU at the end? (かれ は とても にんき です) Sayaka uses both versions in the audio course but I'm slightly confused and...
2 replies - Last post by TheresaH8 - July 16, 2018
I noticed when you say I like sushi, it is spoken, o sushi wa suki desu. I have notice on a few other sites people saying just, sushi ga suki desu. Since i am only on Lesson 1.3, i dont understand yet but I read ga is used to emphasize sushi. How do you k...
2 replies - Last post by lzwiers91 - April 19, 2018
In Lessen 2.5 it says Nara ni yūmē na ōkii o tera ga arimasu. Shouldn't the first of the two adjectives be in the te form?
2 replies - Last post by Crystal-Rocket-Japanese-Tutor - March 2, 2018
I dont understand this piece of grammar
I don't get why this sentence has "eigo wo hanaseru" in it instead of "eigo ga hanaseru". I thought "ga" was preferred when you use verb forms that mean "i can talk/etc..." Is this because this phrase works as a modifier to "hito"? 英語を話せる人はいますか？ Eigo o ...
1 reply - Last post by Goran34 - August 30, 2017
How to properly use and understand ～きり pattern?
Hi everyone! While I've been slowly studying the materials on the advanced course but, there is this one grammar at chapter 13 that I'm really getting difficulty to understand. It's the ～きり phrase. I will paste here the context of that particular sentenc...
3 replies - Last post by padcsantos - June 19, 2017
Is it acceptable, since I'm a male to say instead of watashi no namae wa jifu desu; to say boku no namae wa jifu desu to introduce myself.
2 replies - Last post by Tony-S10 - April 12, 2017
I foudn this article elsewhere, thought it might interest some people. http://en.rocketnews24.com/2017/03/18/one-simple-kanji-character-in-super-simple-japanese-sentence-has-five-different-pronunciations/ It gives an example of 日 being used five times i...
1 reply - Last post by trutenor - April 2, 2017
Textbook or Workbook Recommendations?
Hi everyone! I'm just about finished going through Genki I with my tutors and, although I already have Genki II on hand, I'm thinking about using another book. My biggest problem with Genki is that the scenarios are centered on the life of an exchange stu...
3 replies - Last post by toru e - March 6, 2017
Level 1 lesson 2.5: きてくれますか vs きてくれませんか
On level 1 lesson 2.5 we have the question いっしょうにきてくれますか。I have been told by another Japanese teacher that it is usually said as いっしょうにきてくれませんか。Are they interchangeable or is one better than the other? Also, would it be wrong or would it have a similar m...
1 reply - Last post by Crystal-Rocket-Japanese-Tutor - February 24, 2017
Hi this might sound like a silly question but i was listening through lesseon 2.4 and the part that says "o yasumi de kite iru no desu ka?" Just wondering why "kite iru no" is used and what does it mean exactly? also if i said "...
5 replies - Last post by Davide--4 - February 4, 2017
What is the difference between dore gurai and dono gurai?
1 reply - Last post by Crystal-Rocket-Japanese-Tutor - December 21, 2016
Placement of Japanese Adjectives
Hey, I was listening to a song in Japanese, and it used the phrase "Aoi ano sora." So, can adjectives be placed before ano/kono/sono and is it common? Thanks in advance, Derrick
2 replies - Last post by derricklee43 - December 21, 2016
Alternate form for the hiragana そ
So I was attempting to read a manga in Japanese to test my proficiency, and I was pretty proud that my training has paid off, as I immediately recognized ようこそ (welcome)。However, as I looked at the hiragana for "そ", I noticed that something was off about i...
2 replies - Last post by trutenor - August 10, 2016
I noticed that many Japanese word ending with the syllable "WA" as "KonnichiWA, KonbanWA" and others were transcribed in Hiragana with the syllable "HA" instead of "WA" that is not the case when the syllable "WA" is at the beginning of the word as Watashi...
3 replies - Last post by Crystal-Rocket-Japanese-Tutor - May 27, 2016
Occasionally in the lessons I see a verb tense that I am not familiar with, like the following. Can someone explain the conjugation of kaeru? Otorikae itashimasukedo Thanks. Marc
1 reply - Last post by Crystal-Rocket-Japanese-Tutor - May 23, 2016
Minasan, Konnichiwa! I am writing an email to my Japanese penpal and I want to make sure that I am using the correct words and grammar. I'm still learning so sumimasen if I have butchered this. My penpal has commented in English that "I am full of cur...
2 replies - Last post by artemis9109 - March 22, 2016
What does this kanji symbol mean?
Hi, Can someone tell me the meaning of the kanji symbol in this picture please? I am getting a tattoo designed like this to cover up some bad artwork I had done when younger and was just wondering what the meaning was. Thanks for any help..... http://...
1 reply - Last post by Tony-S10 - March 9, 2016
Konnichiwa I was hoping someone could help me with the word toki. Is it correct to use the TA form of a verb to express: when I.... For example: When i was in japan – nihon ni ita toki ni sake o nomimashita When i went to japan – nihon ni it...
3 replies - Last post by Janice-D14 - February 1, 2016
Can せる be added to a any verb to convey what someone can do?
In the module I've stumbled upon this sentence. えいご を はなせる ひと は います か Here はなす has been changed to はなせる to mean "someone who can speak". How does this verb ending せる apply to other words? Could I say for example: スーさんはりょうりせるいます。 Sue i...
1 reply - Last post by Shirakawa-T - September 10, 2015
Hi i am a little bit confuse on using Verb+方法. in the conversation yoshiko used 飲める方法 the gramma める is the ability right? so why does Kenny use 食べる方法(dict form) instead of 食べられる方法 ?
1 reply - Last post by keiko-rocket-japanese-tutor - June 28, 2015
question from 2.4 Catching a Ride
i didn't quite understand this part of the sentence お やすみ で きて いる の です か what is "iru no desk ka" really mean in this sentence? does it has something relate to " ~tai no desu ga?" can i also ask お やすみ で きてimashita ka? instead?
2 replies - Last post by gunn-t - June 27, 2015
Hi there! Can anyone explain why "kara" is used in the sentence "Demo ima kara Karaoke no jikan desu yo!"? Previously, it was explained that "now" was expressed as "ima wa". Thanks! -Michael
2 replies - Last post by Michael-S303 - June 12, 2015
Hello on one of the mega cards it states 'Isu wa kirei ni narande iru.' Surely because they are in-animate it should be aru? Thanks :0
3 replies - Last post by keiko-rocket-japanese-tutor - May 30, 2015
Hi. I was reading about the use of "you desu" in Japanese.：ようです In using it to describe conjecture or resemblance, it is used with nouns + の；なーadjectives + な or with verbs in the plain form, right? However, I came across this sentence: 君の部屋はひどい散らかりよ...
3 replies - Last post by keiko-rocket-japanese-tutor - April 13, 2015
How are Japanese sentences ordered?
I have been wondering how Japanese words in sentences are ordered. I know in English we have the adj, subject, (maybe another adj), and verb. I also have been wonderind what ni, mo, ha, ga, and wa. Could someone help me out with that s...
1 reply - Last post by keiko-rocket-japanese-tutor - March 22, 2015
I was wondering about the different particles used when using 'koto' to express having done/experienced something. Most of the time the particle ga is used "koto ga arimasu" and this is the particle I naturally use. However, often when they are using a ne...
1 reply - Last post by keiko-rocket-japanese-tutor - January 27, 2015