Peculiarities of Japanese Language

 Peculiarities of Japanese Language

Every language has its beauty & specialities. In the same manner, Japanese (Nihongo) has its own rules, peculiarities. Japanese is a very polite & sweet language like Japanese people (Nihonjin). If you wish to start learning Japanese, the following things you must know. Knowing these facts will blow your mind.

Japanese writing styles :

1. Yokogaki よこがき　横書き 

2. Tategaki たてがき  縦書き

Japanese has two writing styles.

Yokogaki 横書き  One is Horizontal writing which is a usual European writing style. (The kanji for Yoko represents the meaning sideways or horizontal & 

Kaki is writing) 

This writing style is used in school textbooks, some software & other documents. 

Tategaki  縦書き - Traditionally Japanese used to write vertically from right to left, top to bottom. You will see Japanese newspapers & some magazines etc written vertically. Occasionally there is a blend of Yokogaki & Tategaki in Japanese newspapers. 

The modern Era

The growing digitalization & mobile phones have changed the Japanese writing patterns from vertical to horizontal. Further, the Japanese script was meant to write it vertically & writing horizontally was initially felt different & weird. But, as things like technology, the internet has made Japanese reading & writing easy. 

Sentence formation:

Unlike European languages, Grammar (Bunpou-文法) & sentences are easy to understand if you know one of the Asian Languages. 

Here, we would like to show you one difference between Japanese languages &

English. In English, we form sentences as

Subject+ Verb+ Object 

For example- I eat Mango.

Now we will make the same sentence in Japanese with 

Subject + Object + Verb 

For example- Watashi wa mango o tabemasu.

(私はマンゴーを食べます) 

Articles: NO!

Articles & the use of language go hand in hand. Many of us get scared when we see the articles that we have to use in the sentences. But do not worry! Because In Japanese, there are no articles in the Grammar. 

We got Particles

The Japanese language uses particles in the sentences to indicate the subject & objects. 

Some of the primary particles are Wa (は), O (を), Ni (に)

The above-specified particles indicate the subject, object, place, or specific time, and so on.

Besides these, there is a particle for the action which happens at a particular place. Also, some particles express affirmation or confirmation. 

No plural forms :

Yes, you are reading it correctly. In Japanese, there are no plural forms. Like, there is not much Grammar involved while making plural forms. For some words, like students, we all, you all or Children, etc 

"Tachiー たち” is added as a suffix. Let's see some of the above-mentioned words in their plural forms.

Students- Gakusei tachi

がくせいたち - 学生達

We all- Watashi tachi

わたしたち - 私達

You all- Anata tachi 

あなた達

Children- Kodomo tachi

こどもたち  - 子供達

No Future Tense :

The Japanese language has no specific future tense. 

The future tense is equivalent to the present tense. So the meaning of the sentence depends on the context of what the speaker has said. The words used while communicating or writing depict the nature of the sentence. 

I go to school - Watashi wa gakkou e ikimasu.

私は学校へ行きます。

Tomorrow I will go to school - Watashi wa ashita gakkou e ikimasu.

私は明日学校へ行きます。

Both the sentences are given above used with the same verb -to go-

Ikimasu. However, in the second sentence, the ‘Ashita’ word expresses the meaning of tomorrow. Such types of sentences can be used for future tense. The time expressions make it simple for the usage of this kind of sentence. 

Counters for counting:

Counters are a unique part of the Japanese language that makes it stand out from all other languages.

There are a variety of counters ranging from counting small things to big animals. Namely, the counter for the count of the number of people is Nin 

(にん). If you are traveling alone to Japan, you can say that Nihon e Hitori de ikimasu. 

For detailed information about the counters will be shortly introduced.

Kanji script

Kanji script is an integral part of the Japanese language. 

Learning Kanji takes a little extra effort. Nevertheless, once you start learning the Kanji script, it becomes interesting to know varied combinations of Kanjis that create different words with altogether different meanings. 

It is a pictorial script that depicts the whole word in 1 or a combination of Kanji. After World War II, Japan borrowed the Kanji script from China. Kanji script has two readings.

On Yomi 音読み is the original Chinese pronunciation of the character at the time when it was introduced.  

Kun Yomi 訓読み is a Japanese way of reading Kanji. 

Sea - うみ 海  KAI is ON Yomi here & Umi is Kun Yomi

Outside - そと 外 GAI, Gai is ON Yomi here & Soto is Kun Yomi

Overseas or Abroad - かいがい 海外 Kaigai 

The above-given example is a combination word & by taking the ON Yomi of both the Kanjis. 

Lots of Homophones: Same sound & different meanings

In Japanese, the word Ame means Rain & Candy. If the Kanji is not given one may get confused as to which meaning to take if there is no context. 

On the other hand, If we write the word Ame in Kanji

雨(Rain) 飴(Candy), we get a clear idea.

This is just an example. There are plenty of words in Japanese which have similar pronunciations but different meanings & different Kanji. 

So let's get started with learning more homophones in the Japanese language.

Prolongation :  

We have now seen lots of peculiarities in the Japanese language. 

One more fact we are introducing to you here that distinctly shows the significance of pronunciation. 

The Japanese language has numerous vocabulary that has the prolongation of vowels. Sometimes, the words with the prolongation of vowels & without prolongation of vowels may create confusion. 

This confusion can be eliminated with the help of correct knowledge of pronunciation, Hiragana writing & Kanji.

To name a few words with & without prolongation & change in meanings. 

• おじ = Uncle  (Oji)

おじい = Grandfather (Ojii) 

• ぼし = Mother & child (Boshi) 

ぼうし = Hat, cap (Boushi) 

The above examples will help you understand that prolongation of vowels changes the meaning of the word altogether. 

Gender & use of expressions 

The Japanese language does not have gender-based Grammar rules for its words. 

We know the fact that Japanese people are very expressive while communicating with others. The Japanese language has a unique thing that traces the different expressions & some words as feminine & masculine.

Using these gender-specific expressions help you understand the speaker in a particular situation.

While talking about oneself, the common word used is Watashi　

(わたし - 私) 

If a male person wants to talk about himself, he may use the word Boku 

(ぼく- 僕）& the feminine word is Atashi (あたし)

The sentence that uses the expression "Wa" is considered to be said by a woman. For instance- Kore wa ii wa ne.　

これはいいわね - This is good, isn't it?

Some more cases of expressions that women use are "Kashira", 

"Yo ne", "Da wa" 

Men use expressions as Kana, Da, Dayo

To take here one example, that is easy 

Expressions by male - Yasashii - Nihongo wa yasashii kana!

にほんごはやさしいかな

Expressions by Female - Yasashii - Nihongo wa yasashii yo ne!

にほんごはやさしいよね

Different Verbs used for the verb -To wear (clothes) 

The Japanese language has a set of verbs used for indicating the

action for wearing the clothes. To begin with, Kaburu (かぶる）is the verb used for the things that we wear on the head like Hat/ Cap 

(帽子- Boushi) or Helmet, (ヘルメット - Herumetto) 

In addition to this, if one wants to say that he wants to wear a white shirt, he will say -Shiroi shatsu o kitai desu

 白いシャツを着たいです。 

For shirts, t-shirts, jackets, coats, sweaters, etc 

(above the waist) the verb - Kiru きる is used. 

 Haku はくverb used when one wants to talk about pants, trousers, shoes & socks (below the waist) in Japanese. To give one example, I am wearing black shoes- Watashi wa kuroi kutsu o haite imasu

 私は黒いくつをはいています

These prescribed verbs make it easy to understand the meaning of the sentences. At times, a beginner may find it difficult to remember these verbs, but once we get used to them, it is convenient & great for communication, especially when communicating with a Japanese person.

Stay tuned for detailed information about these verbs. 

Different verbs used for - To give & to receive 

Japanese people believe & follow the mannerism of respecting old or superiors. In Japanese, there are various verbs used following the age & seniority for giving & receiving. There are verbs that we can use for informal relations or the same level. 

To name here, 差し上げる Sashiageru is the verb used at the time when we give something to the person of higher position. 

It includes bosses, seniors, the elderly, etc. 

When one receives something from seniors, the office manager

 いただく Itadaku verb used. 

These verbs indicate the relationship between the people. 

 あげる Ageru shows giving & used when one does not know the specific verb for to give.

In the case of receiving, the general verb is くれる Kureru

くれる is also meant to give, but from the receiver’s point of you. This verb is used when someone else is giving or doing something for you.