{"id":218,"date":"2017-10-16T13:08:48","date_gmt":"2017-10-16T17:08:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/guidetojapanese.org\/learn\/?p=218"},"modified":"2022-02-19T20:01:52","modified_gmt":"2022-02-20T01:01:52","slug":"polite-form-and-verb-stems","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/guidetojapanese.org\/learn\/grammar\/polite","title":{"rendered":"Polite Form and Verb Stems"},"content":{"rendered":"

Not being rude in Japan<\/h2>\n

Vocabulary<\/h3>\n
    \n
  1. \u4e01\u5be7\u8a9e \u3010\u3066\u3044\u30fb\u306d\u3044\u30fb\u3054\u3011 – polite language<\/li>\n
  2. \u5c0a\u656c\u8a9e \u3010\u305d\u3093\u30fb\u3051\u3044\u30fb\u3054\u3011 – honorific language<\/li>\n
  3. \u8b19\u8b72\u8a9e \u3010\u3051\u3093\u30fb\u3058\u3087\u3046\u30fb\u3054\u3011 – humble language<\/li>\n
  4. \u306f\u3044 – yes (polite)<\/li>\n
  5. \u3044\u3044\u3048 – no (polite)<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    The Japanese we have learned so far is all well and good if you’re 5-years old. Unfortunately, adults are expected to use a politer version of the language (called \u4e01\u5be7\u8a9e<\/span>) when addressing certain people. People you will probably use \u4e01\u5be7\u8a9e<\/span> with are: 1) people of higher social rank, and 2) people you are not familiar with. Deciding when to use which language is pretty much a matter of “feel”. However, it is a good idea to stick with one form for each person.<\/p>\n

    Later (probably much later), we will learn an even politer version of the language called honorific \uff08\u5c0a\u656c\u8a9e<\/span>\uff09 and humble \uff08\u8b19\u8b72\u8a9e<\/span>\uff09 form. It will be more useful than you may think because store clerks, receptionists, and such will speak to you in those forms. But for now, let’s concentrate on just \u4e01\u5be7\u8a9e<\/span>, which is the base for \u5c0a\u656c\u8a9e<\/span> and \u8b19\u8b72\u8a9e<\/span>.<\/p>\n

    Fortunately, it is not difficult to change casual speech to polite speech. There may be some slight changes to the vocabulary (for example, “yes” and “no” become \u300c\u306f\u3044<\/span>\u300d and \u300c\u3044\u3044\u3048<\/span>\u300d respectively in polite speech), and very colloquial types of sentence endings are not used in polite speech. (We will learn about sentence endings in a later section.) Essentially, the only main difference between polite and casual speech comes at the very end of the sentence. You cannot even tell whether a person is speaking in polite or casual speech until the sentence is finished.<\/p>\n

    The stem of verbs<\/h2>\n

    Vocabulary<\/h3>\n
      \n
    1. \u98df\u3079\u308b \u3010\u305f\u30fb\u3079\u308b\u3011 (ru-verb) – to eat<\/li>\n
    2. \u6cf3\u3050 \u3010\u304a\u3088\u30fb\u3050\u3011 (u-verb) – to swim<\/li>\n
    3. \u3059\u308b (exception) – to do<\/li>\n
    4. \u6765\u308b \u3010\u304f\u30fb\u308b\u3011 (exception) – to come<\/li>\n
    5. \u6012\u308b \u3010\u304a\u3053\u30fb\u308b\u3011 (u-verb) – to get angry<\/li>\n
    6. \u9244\u62f3 \u3010\u3066\u3063\u30fb\u3051\u3093\u3011 – fist<\/li>\n
    7. \u4f11\u307f \u3010\u3084\u3059\u30fb\u307f\u3011 – rest; vacation<\/li>\n
    8. \u98f2\u3080 \u3010\u306e\u30fb\u3080\u3011 (u-verb) – to drink<\/li>\n
    9. \u660e\u65e5 \u3010\u3042\u3057\u305f\u3011 – tomorrow<\/li>\n
    10. \u6620\u753b \u3010\u3048\u3044\u30fb\u304c\u3011 – movie<\/li>\n
    11. \u898b\u308b \u3010\u307f\u30fb\u308b\u3011 (ru-verb) – to see<\/li>\n
    12. \u884c\u304f \u3010\u3044\u30fb\u304f\u3011 (u-verb) – to go<\/li>\n
    13. \u53cb\u9054 \u3010\u3068\u3082\u30fb\u3060\u3061\u3011 – friend<\/li>\n
    14. \u904a\u3076 \u3010\u3042\u305d\u30fb\u3076\u3011 (u-verb) – to play<\/li>\n
    15. \u697d\u3057\u3080 \u3010\u305f\u306e\u30fb\u3057\u3080\u3011 (u-verb) – to enjoy<\/li>\n
    16. \u51fa\u3059 \u3010\u3060\u30fb\u3059\u3011 (u-verb) – to bring out<\/li>\n
    17. \u8d70\u308b \u3010\u306f\u3057\u30fb\u308b\u3011 (u-verb) – to run<\/li>\n
    18. \u8d70\u308a\u51fa\u3059 \u3010\u306f\u3057\u30fb\u308a\u30fb\u3060\u30fb\u3059\u3011 (u-verb) – to break into a run<\/li>\n
    19. \u7740\u308b \u3010\u304d\u30fb\u308b\u3011 (ru-verb) – to wear<\/li>\n
    20. \u66ff\u3048\u308b \u3010\u304b\u30fb\u3048\u308b\u3011 (ru-verb) – to switch<\/li>\n
    21. \u7740\u66ff\u3048\u308b \u3010\u304d\u30fb\u304c\u30fb\u3048\u308b\u3011 (ru-verb) – to change (clothes)<\/li>\n
    22. \u4ed8\u3051\u308b \u3010\u3064\u30fb\u3051\u308b\u3011 (ru-verb) – to attach<\/li>\n
    23. \u52a0\u3048\u308b \u3010\u304f\u308f\u30fb\u3048\u308b\u3011 (ru-verb) – to add<\/li>\n
    24. \u4ed8\u3051\u52a0\u3048\u308b \u3010\u3064\u30fb\u3051\u30fb\u304f\u308f\u30fb\u3048\u308b\u3011 (ru-verb) – to add one thing to another<\/li>\n
    25. \u8a00\u3046 \u3010\u3044\u30fb\u3046\u3011 (u-verb) – to say<\/li>\n
    26. \u8a00\u3044\u51fa\u3059 \u3010\u3044\u30fb\u3044\u30fb\u3060\u30fb\u3059\u3011 (u-verb) – to start talking<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      In order to conjugate all u-verbs and ru-verbs into their respective polite forms, we will first learn about the stem of verbs. This is often called the masu-stem<\/i> in Japanese textbooks but we will call it just the stem<\/i> because it is used in many more conjugations than just its masu-form. The stem is really great because it’s very easy to produce and is useful in many different types of grammar.<\/p>\n

      Rules for extracting the stem of verbs<\/span><\/p>\n
        \n
      • For ru-verbs:<\/b> Remove the \u300c\u308b\u300d
        \nExample: \u98df\u3079\u308b<\/span><\/em><\/span> \u2192 \u98df\u3079<\/span><\/li>\n
      • For u-verbs:<\/b> The last vowel sound changes from an \/ u \/ vowel sound to an \/ i \/ vowel sound.
        \nExample: \u6cf3\u3050<\/span><\/em><\/span> \u2192 \u6cf3\u304e<\/em><\/span><\/li>\n
      • Exceptions:<\/b>\n
          \n
        1. \u300c\u3059\u308b<\/span>\u300d becomes \u300c\u3057\u300d<\/li>\n
        2. \u300c\u304f\u308b<\/span>\u300d becomes \u300c\u304d\u300d<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n

          The stem when used by itself can be a very specialized and limited way of creating nouns from verbs. While the \u300c\u306e\u300d particle allows you to talk about verbs as if they were nouns, the stem actually turns verbs into nouns. In fact, in very rare cases, the stem is used more often than the verb itself. For example, the stem of \u300c\u6012\u308b<\/span>\u300d\uff08\u3044\u304b\u308b\uff09 is used more often than the verb itself. The movie, “Fists of Fury” is translated as \u300c\u6012\u308a<\/span>\u306e\u9244\u62f3<\/span>\u300d and not \u300c\u6012\u308b<\/span>\u9244\u62f3<\/span>\u300d. In fact, \u300c\u6012\u308b<\/span>\u300d will most likely be read as \u300c\u304a\u3053\u308b<\/span>\u300d, a completely different verb with the same meaning and kanji! There are a number of specific nouns (such as \u300c\u4f11\u307f<\/span>\u300d) that are really verb stems that are used like regular nouns. However, in general we cannot take any verb and make it into a noun. For example, the following sentence is wrong.<\/p>\n

            \n
          • \u98f2\u307f\u3092\u3059\u308b<\/span><\/span>\u3002
            \n(This sentence makes sense but no one talks like this)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

            However, a useful grammar that works in general for stems of all verbs is using the stem as a target with a motion verb (almost always \u300c\u884c\u304f\u300d and \u300c\u6765\u308b\u300d in this case). This grammar means, “to go or to come to do [some verb]”. Here’s an example.<\/p>\n

              \n
            1. \u660e\u65e5<\/span>\u3001\u6620\u753b<\/span>\u3092\u898b<\/span>\u306b<\/em>\u884c\u304f<\/span>\u3002- Tomorrow, go to see movie.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

              \u300c\u898b<\/span>\u306b\u300d is the stem of \u300c\u898b\u308b<\/span>\u300d \uff08which is \u898b\uff09 combined with the target particle \u300c\u306b\u300d.<\/p>\n

              The motion target particle \u300c\u3078\u300d sounds like you’re literally going or coming to something while the \u300c\u306b\u300d particle implies that you are going or coming for the purpose of doing something.<\/p>\n

                \n
              1. \u6628\u65e5<\/span>\u3001\u53cb\u9054<\/span>\u304c\u904a\u3073<\/span>\u3078<\/em>\u304d\u305f<\/span>\u3002
                \nYesterday, friend came to a playing activity. (Sounds a bit strange)<\/li>\n
              2. \u6628\u65e5<\/span>\u3001\u53cb\u9054<\/span>\u304c\u904a\u3073<\/span>\u306b<\/em>\u304d\u305f<\/span>\u3002
                \nYesterday, friend came to play.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

                The expression \u300c\u697d\u3057\u307f<\/span>\u306b\u3059\u308b<\/span>\u300d meaning “to look forward to” is formed from grammar similar to this but is a special case and should be considered a set expression.<\/p>\n

                Other verbs are also sometimes attached to the stem to create new verbs. For example, when \u300c\u51fa\u3059<\/span>\u300d is attached to the stem of \u300c\u8d70\u308b<\/span>\u300d, which is \u300c\u8d70\u308a<\/span>\u300d, you get \u300c\u8d70\u308a\u51fa\u3059<\/span>\u300d meaning “to break out into a run”. Other examples include \u300c\u5207\u308a\u66ff\u3048\u308b<\/span>\u300d, which means “to switch over to something else”, and \u300c\u4ed8\u3051\u52a0\u3048\u308b<\/span>\u300d, which means “to add something by attaching it”. You can see how the separate meanings of the two verbs are combined to create the new combined verb. For example, \u300c\u8a00\u3044\u51fa\u3059<\/span>\u300d means “to start talking”, combining the meaning, “to speak” and “to bring out”. There are no general rules here, you need to just memorize these combined verbs as separate verbs in their own right.<\/p>\n

                Things that are written in a formal context such as newspaper articles also use the stem as a conjunctive verb. We will come back to this later in the formal expression lesson.<\/p>\n

                Using \u300c\uff5e\u307e\u3059\u300d to make verbs polite<\/h2>\n

                Vocabulary<\/h3>\n
                  \n
                1. \u660e\u65e5 \u3010\u3042\u3057\u305f\u3011 – tomorrow<\/li>\n
                2. \u5927\u5b66 \u3010\u3060\u3044\u30fb\u304c\u304f\u3011 – college<\/li>\n
                3. \u884c\u304f \u3010\u3044\u30fb\u304f\u3011 (u-verb) – to go<\/li>\n
                4. \u5148\u9031 \u3010\u305b\u3093\u30fb\u3057\u3085\u3046\u3011 – last week<\/li>\n
                5. \u4f1a\u3046 \u3010\u3042\u30fb\u3046\u3011 (u-verb) – to meet<\/li>\n
                6. \u6669\u3054\u98ef \u3010\u3070\u3093\u30fb\u3054\u30fb\u306f\u3093\u3011 – dinner<\/li>\n
                7. \u98df\u3079\u308b \u3010\u305f\u30fb\u3079\u308b\u3011 (ru-verb) – to eat<\/li>\n
                8. \u9762\u767d\u3044 \u3010\u304a\u3082\u30fb\u3057\u308d\u30fb\u3044\u3011(i-adj) – interesting<\/li>\n
                9. \u6620\u753b \u3010\u3048\u3044\u30fb\u304c\u3011 – movie<\/li>\n
                10. \u898b\u308b \u3010\u307f\u30fb\u308b\u3011 (ru-verb) – to see<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

                  Of course, the reason I introduced the verb stem is to learn how to conjugate verbs into their polite form… the masu-form! The masu-form must always come at the end of a complete sentence and never inside a modifying relative clause. When we learn compound sentences, we will see that each sub-sentence of the compound sentence can end in masu-form as well.<\/p>\n

                  To conjugate verbs into the masu-form, you attach different conjugations of \u300c\u307e\u3059\u300d to the stem depending on the tense. Here is a chart.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
                  A conjugation chart with sample stem \u300c\u904a\u3073<\/span>\u300d<\/caption>\n
                  <\/th>\n\u307e\u3059 conjugations<\/th>\nStem+\u307e\u3059<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n
                  Plain<\/th>\n\u307e\u3059<\/td>\n\u904a\u3073\u307e\u3059<\/em><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
                  Negative<\/th>\n\u307e\u305b\u3093<\/td>\n\u904a\u3073\u307e\u305b\u3093<\/em><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
                  Past<\/th>\n\u307e\u3057\u305f<\/td>\n\u904a\u3073\u307e\u3057\u305f<\/em><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
                  Past-Neg<\/th>\n\u307e\u305b\u3093\u3067\u3057\u305f<\/td>\n\u904a\u3073\u307e\u305b\u3093\u3067\u3057\u305f<\/em><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

                  Examples<\/h3>\n
                    \n
                  1. \u660e\u65e5<\/span>\u3001\u5927\u5b66<\/span>\u306b\u884c\u304d\u307e\u3059<\/span><\/em>\u3002
                    \nTomorrow, go to college.<\/li>\n
                  2. \u5148\u9031<\/span>\u3001\u30dc\u30d6\u306b\u4f1a\u3044\u307e\u3057\u305f<\/span><\/em>\u3088\u3002
                    \nYou know, met Bob last week.<\/li>\n
                  3. \u6669\u3054\u98ef<\/span>\u3092\u98df\u3079\u307e\u305b\u3093\u3067\u3057\u305f<\/span><\/em>\u306d\u3002
                    \nDidn’t eat dinner, huh?<\/li>\n
                  4. \u9762\u767d\u304f\u306a\u3044<\/span>\u6620\u753b<\/span>\u306f\u898b\u307e\u305b\u3093<\/span><\/em>\u3002
                    \nAbout not interesting movies, do not see (them).<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

                    Using \u300c\u3067\u3059\u300d for everything else<\/h2>\n

                    Vocabulary<\/h3>\n
                      \n
                    1. \u304b\u308f\u3044\u3044 (i-adj) – cute<\/li>\n
                    2. \u9759\u304b \u3010\u3057\u305a\u30fb\u304b\u3011 (na-adj) – quiet<\/li>\n
                    3. \u5b50\u72ac \u3010\u3053\u30fb\u3044\u306c\u3011 – puppy<\/li>\n
                    4. \u3068\u3066\u3082 – very<\/li>\n
                    5. \u597d\u304d \u3010\u3059\u30fb\u304d\u3011 (na-adj) – likable; desirable<\/li>\n
                    6. \u6628\u65e5\u3010\u304d\u306e\u3046\u3011 – yesterday<\/li>\n
                    7. \u6642\u9593 \u3010\u3058\u30fb\u304b\u3093\u3011 – time<\/li>\n
                    8. \u3042\u308b (u-verb) – to exist (inanimate)<\/li>\n
                    9. \u305d\u306e – that \uff08abbr of \u300c\u305d\u308c\u306e\u300d\uff09<\/li>\n
                    10. \u90e8\u5c4b \u3010\u3078\u30fb\u3084\u3011 – room<\/li>\n
                    11. \u5148\u9031 \u3010\u305b\u3093\u30fb\u3057\u3085\u3046\u3011 – last week<\/li>\n
                    12. \u898b\u308b \u3010\u307f\u30fb\u308b\u3011 (ru-verb) – to see<\/li>\n
                    13. \u6620\u753b \u3010\u3048\u3044\u30fb\u304c\u3011 – movie<\/li>\n
                    14. \u9762\u767d\u3044 \u3010\u304a\u3082\u30fb\u3057\u308d\u30fb\u3044\u3011(i-adj) – interesting<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

                      For any sentence that does not end in a ru-verb or u-verb, the only thing that needs to be done is to add \u300c\u3067\u3059\u300d or \u300c\u3067\u3057\u305f\u300d. You can also do this for substituted nouns (both \u300c\u306e\u300d and \u300c\u3093\u300d) by just treating them like regular nouns. Another important thing to remember is that if there is a declarative \u300c\u3060\u300d, it must be removed. In being polite, I guess you can’t be so bold as to forwardly declare things the way \u300c\u3060\u300d does. Just like the masu-form, this must also go at the end of a complete sentence. Here is a chart illustrating the conjugations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
                      i-adjective (\u3060 cannot be used)<\/caption>\n
                      <\/th>\nCasual<\/th>\nPolite<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n
                      Plain<\/th>\n\u304b\u308f\u3044\u3044<\/span><\/td>\n\u304b\u308f\u3044\u3044<\/span>\u3067\u3059<\/em><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
                      Negative<\/th>\n\u304b\u308f\u3044\u304f\u306a\u3044<\/span><\/td>\n\u304b\u308f\u3044\u304f\u306a\u3044<\/span>\u3067\u3059<\/em><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
                      Past<\/th>\n\u304b\u308f\u3044\u304b\u3063\u305f<\/span><\/td>\n\u304b\u308f\u3044\u304b\u3063\u305f<\/span>\u3067\u3059<\/em><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
                      Past-Neg<\/th>\n\u304b\u308f\u3044\u304f\u306a\u304b\u3063\u305f<\/span><\/td>\n\u304b\u308f\u3044\u304f\u306a\u304b\u3063\u305f<\/span>\u3067\u3059<\/em><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
                      na-adjective\/noun (might have to remove \u3060)<\/caption>\n
                      <\/th>\nCasual<\/th>\nPolite<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n
                      Plain<\/th>\n\u9759\u304b<\/span>\uff08\u3060\uff09<\/td>\n\u9759\u304b<\/span>\u3067\u3059<\/em><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
                      Negative<\/th>\n\u9759\u304b\u3058\u3083\u306a\u3044<\/span><\/td>\n\u9759\u304b\u3058\u3083\u306a\u3044<\/span>\u3067\u3059<\/em><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
                      Past<\/th>\n\u9759\u304b\u3060\u3063\u305f<\/span><\/td>\n\u203b\u9759\u304b<\/span>\u3067\u3057\u305f<\/em><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
                      Past-Neg<\/th>\n\u9759\u304b\u3058\u3083\u306a\u304b\u3063\u305f<\/span><\/td>\n\u9759\u304b\u3058\u3083\u306a\u304b\u3063\u305f<\/span>\u3067\u3059<\/em><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

                      \u203b Notice in the case of noun\/na-adjective only<\/u>, the past tense becomes \u300c\u3067\u3057\u305f\u300d. A very common mistake is to do the same for i-adjectives. Remember \u300c\u304b\u308f\u3044\u3044<\/span>\u3067\u3057\u305f<\/span><\/em>\u300d is wrong!<\/p>\n

                      Examples<\/h3>\n
                        \n
                      1. \u5b50\u72ac<\/span>\u306f\u3068\u3066\u3082<\/span>\u597d\u304d<\/span>\u3067\u3059<\/em>\u3002
                        \nAbout puppies, like very much. (The most natural translation is that someone likes puppies very much but there is not enough context to rule out that the puppies like something very much.)<\/li>\n
                      2. \u6628\u65e5<\/span>\u3001\u6642\u9593<\/span>\u304c\u306a\u304b\u3063\u305f<\/span>\u3093\u3067\u3059<\/em>\u3002
                        \nIt was that there was no time yesterday.<\/li>\n
                      3. \u305d\u306e<\/span>\u90e8\u5c4b<\/span>\u306f\u3042\u307e\u308a<\/span>\u9759\u304b\u3058\u3083\u306a\u3044<\/span>\u3067\u3059<\/em>\u3002
                        \nThat room is not very quiet.<\/li>\n
                      4. \u5148\u9031<\/span>\u306b\u898b\u305f<\/span>\u6620\u753b<\/span>\u306f\u3001\u3068\u3066\u3082<\/span>\u9762\u767d\u304b\u3063\u305f<\/span>\u3067\u3059<\/em>\u3002
                        \nMovie saw last week was very interesting.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

                        \u203b Reality Check<\/h3>\n

                        I have heard on a number of occasions that the negative non-past conjugation as given here is not an “officially” correct conjugation. Instead what’s considered to be a more “correct” conjugation is to actually replace the \u300c\u306a\u3044\u3067\u3059\u300d part with \u300c\u3042\u308a\u307e\u305b\u3093<\/span>\u300d. The reasoning is that the polite negative form of the verb \u300c\u3042\u308b<\/span>\u300d is not \u300c\u306a\u3044\u3067\u3059\u300d but \u300c\u3042\u308a\u307e\u305b\u3093<\/span>\u300d. Therefore, \u300c\u304b\u308f\u3044\u304f\u306a\u3044<\/span>\u300d actually becomes \u300c\u304b\u308f\u3044\u304f\u3042\u308a\u307e\u305b\u3093<\/span>\u300d and \u300c\u9759\u304b\u3058\u3083\u306a\u3044<\/span>\u300d becomes \u300c\u9759\u304b\u3058\u3083\u3042\u308a\u307e\u305b\u3093<\/span>\u300d.<\/p>\n

                        The reality of today’s Japanese is that what’s supposed to be the “official” conjugation sounds rather stiff and formal. In normal everyday conversations, the conjugation presented here will be used almost every time. While you should use the more formal conjugations for written works using the polite form, you’ll rarely hear it in actual speech. In conclusion, I recommend studying and becoming familiar with both<\/u> types of conjugations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
                        A more formal negative conjugation<\/caption>\n
                        <\/th>\nCasual<\/th>\nPolite<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n
                        Negative<\/th>\n\u304b\u308f\u3044\u304f\u306a\u3044<\/span><\/td>\n\u304b\u308f\u3044\u304f<\/span>\u3042\u308a\u307e\u305b\u3093<\/em><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
                        Past-Neg<\/th>\n\u304b\u308f\u3044\u304f\u306a\u304b\u3063\u305f<\/span><\/td>\n\u304b\u308f\u3044\u304f<\/span>\u3042\u308a\u307e\u305b\u3093\u3067\u3057\u305f<\/em><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
                        Negative<\/th>\n\u9759\u304b\u3058\u3083\u306a\u3044<\/span><\/td>\n\u9759\u304b\u3058\u3083<\/span>\u3042\u308a\u307e\u305b\u3093<\/em><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
                        Past-Neg<\/th>\n\u9759\u304b\u3058\u3083\u306a\u304b\u3063\u305f<\/span><\/td>\n\u9759\u304b\u3058\u3083<\/span>\u3042\u308a\u307e\u305b\u3093\u3067\u3057\u305f<\/em><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

                        Examples<\/h3>\n
                          \n
                        1. \u305d\u306e<\/span>\u90e8\u5c4b<\/span>\u306f\u3042\u307e\u308a<\/span>\u9759\u304b\u3058\u3083\u306a\u3044<\/span>\u3067\u3059<\/em>\u3088\u3002
                          \nYou know, that room is not very quiet.<\/li>\n
                        2. \u305d\u306e<\/span>\u90e8\u5c4b<\/span>\u306f\u3042\u307e\u308a<\/span>\u9759\u304b<\/span>\u3058\u3083\u3042\u308a\u307e\u305b\u3093<\/em>\u3088\u3002
                          \nYou know, that room is not very quiet.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

                          \u300c\u3067\u3059\u300d is NOT the same as \u300c\u3060\u300d<\/h2>\n

                          Vocabulary<\/h3>\n
                            \n
                          1. \u305d\u3046 – so<\/li>\n
                          2. \u601d\u3046 \u3010\u304a\u3082\u30fb\u3046\u3011 (u-verb) – to think<\/li>\n
                          3. \u306f\u3044 – yes (polite)<\/li>\n
                          4. \u7b54\u3048\u308b \u3010\u3053\u305f\u30fb\u3048\u308b\u3011 (ru-verb) – to answer<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

                            Many of you who have taken Japanese classes have probably been taught that \u300c\u3067\u3059\u300d is the polite version of \u300c\u3060\u300d. However, I want to point some several key differences here and the reasons why they are in fact completely different things. It is impossible to fully explain the reasons why they are fundamentally different without discussing grammar that have yet to be covered so I would like to target this toward those who have already started learning Japanese and have been incorrectly misinformed that \u300c\u3060\u300d is the casual version of \u300c\u3067\u3059\u300d. For the rest of you new to this, you can easily skip this part.<\/p>\n

                            I’m sure most of you have learned the expression \u300c\u305d\u3046<\/span>\u300d by now. Now, there are four ways to make a complete sentence using the state-of-being with \u300c\u305d\u3046<\/span>\u300d to produce a sentence that says, “That is so.”<\/p>\n

                            Different ways to say, “That is so.”<\/h3>\n
                              \n
                            1. \u305d\u3046<\/span>\u3002<\/li>\n
                            2. \u305d\u3046<\/span>\u3060\u3002<\/li>\n
                            3. \u305d\u3046<\/span>\u3067\u3059\u3002<\/li>\n
                            4. \u305d\u3046<\/span>\u3067\u3054\u3056\u3044\u307e\u3059\u3002<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

                              The first \u300c\u305d\u3046<\/span>\u300d is the implied state-of-being and \u300c\u305d\u3046<\/span>\u3060\u300d is the declarative. As I’ve stated before, the non-assuming soft spoken \u300c\u305d\u3046<\/span>\u300d is often used by females while the more confident \u300c\u305d\u3046<\/span>\u3060\u300d is often used by males.<\/p>\n

                              \u300c\u305d\u3046<\/span>\u3067\u3059\u300d is the polite version of \u300c\u305d\u3046<\/span>\u300d, created by attaching \u300c\u3067\u3059\u300d to the noun. \u300c\u305d\u3046<\/span>\u3067\u3059\u300d is not<\/b> the polite version of \u300c\u305d\u3046<\/span>\u3060\u300d where the \u300c\u3060\u300d is replaced by \u300c\u3067\u3059\u300d and I’ll explain why.<\/p>\n

                              Perhaps we wanted to make that sentence into a question instead to ask, “Is that so?” There are several ways to do this but some possibilities are given in the following. (This grammar is covered in a later section.)<\/p>\n

                              Different ways to ask, “Is that so?”<\/h3>\n
                                \n
                              1. \u305d\u3046<\/span>\uff1f<\/li>\n
                              2. \u305d\u3046<\/span>\u304b\uff1f<\/li>\n
                              3. \u305d\u3046<\/span>\u3067\u3059\u304b\uff1f<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

                                As I’ve explained before, the \u300c\u3060\u300d is used to declare what one believes to be a fact. Therefore, \u300c\u305d\u3046<\/span>\u3060\u304b\uff1f\u300d is not a valid way to ask a question because it is declaring a fact and asking a question at the same time. But the fact that \u300c\u305d\u3046<\/span>\u3067\u3059\u304b\u300d is a valid question shows that \u300c\u3067\u3059\u300d and \u300c\u3060\u300d are essentially different. \u300c\u305d\u3046<\/span>\u3067\u3059\u300d, in showing respect and humbleness, is not as assertive and is merely the polite version of \u300c\u305d\u3046<\/span>\u300d.<\/p>\n

                                Besides the difference in nuance between \u300c\u3060\u300d and \u300c\u3067\u3059\u300d, another key difference is that \u300c\u3060\u300d is used in many different types of grammar to delineate a relative clause. \u300c\u3067\u3059\u300d, on the other hand, is only used at the end of a sentence to designate a polite state-of-being. For instance, consider the two following sentences. (This grammar is covered in a later section.)<\/p>\n