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Unit 4 - Notes

JAP601 6 min read

Unit 4: いっしょにいきませんか

1. Key Phrases

いらっしゃい (Irasshai)

  • Meaning: "Welcome!" / "Come in."
  • Usage: This is a welcoming phrase used in two main contexts:
    1. At Home: A host says いらっしゃい to a guest who has just arrived at their home. It's a warm and friendly greeting.
    2. In a Business: Shopkeepers, restaurant staff, etc., say いらっしゃい or the more formal いらっしゃいませ (irasshaimase) to greet customers entering their establishment.
  • Example Dialogue (at a friend's house):
    • Guest: (Knocks on door) ごめんください。 (Gomen kudasai. - Excuse me, is anyone home?)
    • Host: (Opens door) あ、ミラーさん、いらっしゃい。どうぞ、あがってください。(A, Miraa-san, irasshai. Douzo, agatte kudasai. - Oh, Mr. Miller, welcome! Please, come on up/in.)

そろそろ失礼します (Soro soro shitsurei shimasu)

  • Meaning: "It's about time I was leaving." / "I should be going soon."
  • Breakdown:
    • そろそろ (soro soro): An adverb meaning "soon," "gradually," or "it's about time."
    • 失礼します (shitsurei shimasu): Literally "I am doing a rude thing." It's a very common and polite phrase used to excuse oneself when leaving a place, entering a professor's office, or interrupting someone.
  • Usage: This is a polite way to signal your intention to leave a social gathering, such as a party or a visit to someone's house. It prepares the host for your departure without being abrupt.
  • Example Dialogue (at the end of a party):
    • Guest: もう１０時ですね。そろそろ失礼します。(Mou juu-ji desu ne. Soro soro shitsurei shimasu. - It's already 10 o'clock, isn't it? I should be going soon.)
    • Host: そうですか。じゃあ、また遊びに来てくださいね。(Sou desu ka. Jaa, mata asobi ni kite kudasai ne. - Is that so? Well then, please come and visit again.)
    • Guest: はい、ありがとうございました。(Hai, arigatou gozaimashita. - Yes, thank you for everything.)

2. Grammar: Invitations & Suggestions

These two grammar patterns are fundamental for making and responding to invitations.

〜ませんか (masen ka) - The Polite Invitation

  • Meaning: "Won't you...?" / "Would you like to...?" / "How about we...?"

  • Function: This is the standard, polite way to invite someone to do an activity with you. Because it's a negative question, it feels less demanding than a direct command and gives the listener an easy way to decline if they wish.

  • Formation:

    1. Take the ます (masu) form of a verb.
    2. Drop the ます.
    3. Add ませんか (masen ka).

    TEXT
        Verb (ます-form)   ->   Verb (stem) + ませんか
    いき(ます) (ikimasu) ->   いきませんか (ikimasen ka)
    たべ(ます) (tabemasu) ->   たべませんか (tabemasen ka)
    み(ます) (mimasu)   ->   みませんか (mimasen ka)

  • Example Sentences:

    • いっしょに京都へ行きませんか。
      • Issho ni Kyouto e ikimasen ka.
      • Won't you go to Kyoto with me? / How about we go to Kyoto together?
    • 日曜日、えいがを見ませんか。
      • Nichiyoubi, eiga o mimasen ka.
      • Would you like to see a movie on Sunday?
    • お茶を飲みませんか。
      • Ocha o nomimasen ka.
      • How about a cup of tea?

〜ましょう (mashou) - The "Let's" Suggestion

  • Meaning: "Let's..."

  • Function: This pattern has two primary uses:

    1. Making a Suggestion: When you proactively suggest an activity to a group you are part of. It's more of a positive assertion than an invitation.
    2. Accepting an Invitation: It is the most common and enthusiastic way to accept an invitation made with 〜ませんか.

  • Formation:

    1. Take the ます (masu) form of a verb.
    2. Drop the ます.
    3. Add ましょう (mashou).

    TEXT
        Verb (ます-form)   ->   Verb (stem) + ましょう
    いき(ます) (ikimasu) ->   いきましょう (ikimashou)
    やすみ(ます) (yasumimasu) -> やすみましょう (yasumimashou)
    はじめ(ます) (hajimemasu) -> はじめましょう (hajimemashou)

  • Example Sentences (as a suggestion):

    • ちょっと休みましょう。
      • Chotto yasumimashou.
      • Let's take a little break.
    • 昼ご飯を食べに行きましょう。
      • Hirugohan o tabe ni ikimashou.
      • Let's go eat lunch.

  • Example Dialogue (accepting an invitation):

    • A: いっしょにビールを飲みませんか。 (Issho ni biiru o nomimasen ka. - Won't you have a beer with me?)
    • B: ええ、飲みましょう。 (Ee, nomimashou. - Yes, let's!)

3. Grammar: Giving & Receiving

These verbs are crucial for talking about exchanges. The correct verb depends on the perspective (who is the subject of the sentence).

あげます (agemasu) - To Give

  • Structure: Giver は/が Receiver に Object を あげます。
  • Explanation:
    • This verb is used when the speaker (or a third party) gives something to someone else.
    • The Giver is the subject, marked with は (wa) or が (ga). If the giver is "I" (私), it is often omitted.
    • The Receiver is marked with the particle に (ni).
    • The Object being given is marked with を (o).
  • Important Rule: Use あげます when giving outwards from your perspective or your in-group. Do NOT use it for items given to you.
  • Example Sentences:
    • 私は山田さんに花をあげました。
      • Watashi wa Yamada-san ni hana o agemashita.
      • I gave flowers to Mr. Yamada.
    • 佐藤さんは木村さんにプレゼントをあげます。
      • Satou-san wa Kimura-san ni purezento o agemasu.
      • Ms. Sato will give a present to Ms. Kimura.
    • (私は) 友だちにCDをあげました。
      • (Watashi wa) Tomodachi ni shiidii o agemashita.
      • I gave a CD to my friend.

もらいます (moraimasu) - To Receive

  • Structure: Receiver は/が Giver に/から Object を もらいます。
  • Explanation:
    • This verb is used when the subject receives something from someone else.
    • The Receiver is the subject, marked with は (wa) or が (ga).
    • The Giver (the source of the item) is marked with に (ni) or から (kara). Both are correct, but に is more common when receiving from a person.
    • The Object being received is marked with を (o).
  • Usage: The perspective is that of the person getting the item.
  • Example Sentences:
    • 私は山田さんに花をもらいました。
      • Watashi wa Yamada-san ni hana o moraimashita.
      • I received flowers from Mr. Yamada.
    • ミラーさんは会社から時計をもらいました。
      • Miraa-san wa kaisha kara tokei o moraimashita.
      • Mr. Miller received a watch from the company. (Here から is more natural as the source is an organization).
    • 誰にそのネクタイをもらいましたか。
      • Dare ni sono nekutai o moraimashita ka.
      • Who did you receive that tie from?

Perspective Shift: あげます vs. もらいます

The same event can be described using either verb, just by changing the subject and perspective.

  • Event: Tanaka gives flowers to Yamada.
    • Tanaka's Perspective (Giver):
      • 田中さんは山田さんに花をあげました。
      • Tanaka-san wa Yamada-san ni hana o agemashita.
      • (Mr. Tanaka gave flowers to Mr. Yamada.)
    • Yamada's Perspective (Receiver):
      • 山田さんは田中さんに花をもらいました。
      • Yamada-san wa Tanaka-san ni hana o moraimashita.
      • (Mr. Yamada received flowers from Mr. Tanaka.)

4. Adjectives (形容詞 - keiyoushi)

Japanese has two main types of adjectives. They have different rules for conjugation and for modifying nouns.

い-形容詞 (i-keiyoushi) - i-adjectives

  • Identification: These adjectives end with the hiragana い (i) in their dictionary (plain) form.

  • Usage:

    1. Modifying a Noun: Place the i-adjective directly before the noun. No particle is needed.
      • 大きい (ookii) + 犬 (inu) -> 大きい犬 (ookii inu) - a big dog
      • おもしろい (omoshiroi) + えいが (eiga) -> おもしろいえいが (omoshiroi eiga) - an interesting movie
    2. As a Predicate (ending a sentence): Simply add です (desu) for politeness.
      • このかばんは高いです。 (Kono kaban wa takai desu. - This bag is expensive.)

  • Conjugation (Present Tense):

    • Affirmative: Adjective + です
    • Negative: Drop the final い and add くないです (kunai desu).
  • Conjugation Table: Dictionary Form Meaning Present Affirmative Present Negative
    新しい (atarashii) new 新しいです 新しくないです
    大きい (ookii) big, large 大きい です 大きくないです
    小さい (chiisai) small 小さいです 小さくないです
    寒い (samui) cold (weather) 寒いです 寒くないです
    暑い (atsui) hot (weather) 暑いです 暑くないです
    難しい (muzukashii) difficult 難しいです 難しくないです
    いい (ii) good いいです よくないです (yokunai desu)

IMPORTANT EXCEPTION: The adjective いい (ii) is irregular. Its negative form is based on its older form, よい (yoi). Therefore, the negative is よくないです (yokunai desu), not いくないです.

な-形容詞 (na-keiyoushi) - na-adjectives

  • Identification: These are adjectives that do not end in い. (Note: Some, like きれい - kirei, do end in い but are still na-adjectives. These must be memorized.)

  • Usage:

    1. Modifying a Noun: Place the na-adjective before the noun and connect them with the particle な (na).
      • しずか (shizuka) + 町 (machi) -> しずか**な**町 (shizuka na machi) - a quiet town
      • きれい (kirei) + 花 (hana) -> きれい**な**花 (kirei na hana) - a beautiful flower
    2. As a Predicate (ending a sentence): Add です (desu) directly. The な is NOT used.
      • この町はしずかです。 (Kono machi wa shizuka desu. - This town is quiet.)

  • Conjugation (Present Tense):

    • Na-adjectives conjugate like nouns.
    • Affirmative: Adjective + です
    • Negative: Adjective + じゃありません (ja arimasen) (or the more formal ではありません - dewa arimasen).
  • Conjugation Table: Dictionary Form Meaning Modifying a Noun Present Affirmative Present Negative
    しずか (shizuka) quiet しずかな町 しずかです しずかじゃありません
    げんき (genki) healthy, lively げんきな人 げんきです げんきじゃありません
    ゆうめい (yuumei) famous ゆうめいなお寺 ゆうめいです ゆうめいじゃありません
    きれい (kirei) beautiful, clean きれいな写真 きれいです きれいじゃありません
    すき (suki) likeable, fond of すきな食べ物 すきです すきじゃありません
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