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USING NO
Now perhaps you’re ready to say something a bit more complicated? The particle no can help you! The particle no is basically used to join two nouns so that one noun modifies the other one. You can use no to do several different things:
1. To describe another noun. In the first dialogue, the no as in ie no kagi is used to link ie and kagi and indicates a relationship between the two nouns. It is similar to the English prepositions “of,” “in,” or “’s.”
In Japanese all modifiers come before the nouns modified. Therefore, if the first noun is accompanied by the particle no, it describes the next noun—and so determines the meaning. As in, for example, what kind? which one? when?
See how it works?
2. To say whose it is. In the second dialogue, the no as in watashi no bentō/ ore no bentō refers to possession. The possessive form is made by adding the particle no after personal pronouns or nouns.
3. To ask a question. In the third dialogue, the no used in kore shinsha na no? marks a question in informal speech. The formal speech equivalent of this question would be Kore wa shinsha na no(n) desu ka? The polite question form desu ka? is almost entirely omitted in informal speech.
Women will more commonly add no at the end of the sentence rather than use the single word shinsha with a rising intonation. Men also use it, especially when talking to women.
To make an informal question with verbs or adjectives, you add the particle no at the end of the sentence.
If there is a noun or adjectival noun, you must also add na, before you add the no.
Look back over the Vocabulary lists that you’ve learned so far and choose some nouns, as well as some adjectival nouns. Then go ahead and try making questions with them—using na and no as appropriate.
| Kyōkai na no? | Is it a church? |
| (N) | |
| Shizuka na no? | Is it quiet? |
| (Adj N) |
Now choose a few adjectives and verbs that you know. Make questions with them, by adding no.
| Atarashii no? | Is it new? |
| (Adj) | |
| Shitteru no? | Do you know him? (Chapter 4) |
| (V) |
The above expressions are used by both men and women but men sometimes add the particle ka to the end of the question like this:
| Kyōkai na no ka?Ⓜ | Atarashii no ka?Ⓜ |
| Shizuka na no ka?Ⓜ | Shitteru no ka?Ⓜ |
EMPHASIZE YOUR CONVERSATION BY USING WA, YO, AND ZE
These particles, wa, yo and ze, are placed at the end of the sentence and are used to emphasize the speaker’s emotions (surprise, admiration, etc.) or thoughts. Here is the difference among these three:
1. Wa is used only by women and often used with the particle yo or ne at the end of the sentence.
| Kawaii wa! | It’s cute! |
| Ara, sore osake da wa! | Wow, that’s sake! |
| Ano ko shitteru wa yo. | I know that boy. |
| Kore ōkii wa ne? | This is big, isn’t it? |
2. Yo is frequently and widely used in men’s and women’s speech and added at the end of many kinds of sentence patterns.
| Kono omocha sugoi yo. | This toy is really super. |
| Abunai wa yo. | It’s really dangerous. |
| Nigeru na yo.Ⓜ | Don’t run away, please. |
3. Ze is similar to that of the particle yo or zo. However, it sounds rougher and is consequently less used than they are. It is only used by men.
| Kore yasui ze.Ⓜ | This is really cheap. |
| Sono ko suteki da ze.Ⓜ | That girl is nice, you know. |
| Issho ni ikō ze!Ⓜ | Let’s go together! |
Practice
Try making up some sentences and adding wa, yo, or ze to the ends. It’s a good way to add more feeling to what you are saying.
_______________________________ wa.
_______________________________ wa.
_______________________________ yo.
_______________________________ yo.
_______________________________ ze.
_______________________________ ze.
Who Uses Which? A Summary
The mark indicates that the particle is commonly used by that gender. The × mark shows that the particle is rarely used by that gender. And the ( ) mark indicates it’s used by young women.
WHEN TO END YOUR SENTENCES WITH DESHŌ/DARŌ
Deshō and darō are derived from the polite form desu of da. They are used when asking for the listener’s agreement or confirmation. The meaning is equivalent to “isn’t it?” “don’t you?” etc., like English tag-questions. Both appear at the end of the sentence with a rising intonation.
The polite form deshō is predominantly used by women; the plain form darō is mostly used by men. These are placed directly after nouns, adjectival nouns,
