Japanese Lessons

Lesson 7 - Nouns and Pronouns

Nouns don't really say anything where they are singular or plural, and also, are not indicated to make a case. One example is,

Hana - Flower

This doesn't tell whether it is one flower or more flowers or whether this is a subject or an object. You will tell if this is the subject or the object by looking at the particle that comes after the specific noun in the sentence.

A pronoun, by definition, is a word that has indicated a once mentioned or understood noun.

A pronoun can be a subject of a sentence or the object. Subject pronouns are not used before a verb, when the subject is clear from the sentence or context. Also, again, you can tell whether it will be a subject or object by the particle.

Watashi wa nihongo no hon o yomimasu. - I read a Japanese book.

Yoho-san wa watashi o yonda. - Mr/Ms. Yoho called me.

Here are some pronouns that are commonly used:

Watashi/Watakushi/Boku - I, me (see male/female speech)
Anata/Kimi (Omae) - you (singular)
Kare - he, him
Kanojo - she, her
Watashitachi - we, us
Anatatachi - you (plural)
Karera - they, them (masculine)
Kanojotachi - they, them (feminine)

Mostly, the third person pronouns, kare, kanojo, karera, kanojotachi, are not commonly used as many first or second person pronouns.

Ko-so-a-do

Japanese has three degrees of saying some of the following pronouns: kore, sore, and are. When you ask a question, dore, is used. These are the pronouns that are called, ko-so-a-do.

1. If you are near the speaker - kore (adjective: kono) (this)
2. If you are farther from the speaker and you are near the person is addressed - sore (adjective: sono) (that)
3. If you are at a distance from the speaker and also from the listener - are (adjective: ano) (that over there)
4. When you are going to ask which one - dore (adjective: dono) (which)