Unit6 - Subjective Questions

To ask about someone's experience with a past event, you use the phrase "〜はどうでしたか" (〜wa dou deshita ka?). This literally translates to "How was ~?".

• Structure: [Event Name] は どう でしたか？
• Example: If you want to ask "How was the Gion Festival?", you would say: "祇園祭 (ぎおんまつり) は どう でしたか？" (Gion Matsuri wa dou deshita ka?)

This phrase uses the past tense of "desu" (でした, deshita) to inquire about a completed event.

When expressing opinions about a past event, you use the past tense form of adjectives.

• For i-adjectives: Drop the final い (i) and add かったです (kattadesu).

  • Positive Example (Fun): 楽しい (tanoshii) → 楽しかったです (tanoshikatta desu). (It was fun.)
  • Negative Example (Not interesting): 面白い (omoshiroi) → 面白くなかったです (omoshirokunakatta desu). (It was not interesting.)

• For na-adjectives: Add でした (deshita) for positive, and じゃありませんでした (ja arimasen deshita) or ではありませんでした (dewa arimasen deshita) for negative.

  • Positive Example (Lively): 賑やか (nigiyaka) → 賑やかでした (nigyaka deshita). (It was lively.)
  • Negative Example (Not quiet): 静か (shizuka) → 静かじゃありませんでした (shizuka ja arimasen deshita). (It was not quiet.)

A suitable detailed answer would be:

"はい、とても楽しかったです。でも、少し疲れました。" (Hai, totemo tanoshikatta desu. Demo, sukoshi tsukaremashita.)

• Explanation:
  • "はい" (Hai) confirms a positive response.
  • "とても楽しかったです" (totemo tanoshikatta desu) uses the past tense of the i-adjective 楽しい (tanoshii - fun) to express it was very fun.
  • "でも" (demo) acts as "but" or "however", introducing a contrasting idea.
  • "少し疲れました" (sukoshi tsukaremashita) uses the past tense of the verb 疲れます (tsukaremasu - to get tired) with "少し" (sukoshi - a little) to indicate it was a little tiring.

The key difference lies in the tense and the context of the inquiry.

• 〜はどうですか (〜wa dou desu ka?):

  • Meaning: "How is ~?" or "What do you think about ~?"
  • Tense: Present tense.
  • Usage: Used to ask for a current opinion, impression, or the current state of something. It can also be used to ask for a suggestion or proposal.
  • Contextual Example: When you see a new dress your friend bought and want to ask her opinion: "この新しいドレス、どうですか？" (Kono atarashii doresu, dou desu ka? - How is this new dress? / What do you think of this new dress?)
  • Contextual Example (Suggestion): When inviting someone to a movie: "週末に映画、どうですか？" (Shūmatsu ni eiga, dou desu ka? - How about a movie on the weekend?)

• 〜はどうでしたか (〜wa dou deshita ka?):

  • Meaning: "How was ~?"
  • Tense: Past tense.
  • Usage: Used to ask about a past event, experience, or the state of something that has already occurred or finished. It seeks a retrospective evaluation.
  • Contextual Example: After your friend returns from a trip: "旅行はどうでしたか？" (Ryokō wa dou deshita ka? - How was the trip?)
  • Contextual Example: After a meeting concludes: "会議はどうでしたか？" (Kaigi wa dou deshita ka? - How was the meeting?)

In essence, "〜はどうですか" asks about the present or a general opinion/suggestion, while "〜はどうでしたか" specifically asks for an opinion or report on a completed past event.

If a friend asked, "京都はどうでしたか？" (Kyōto wa dou deshita ka? - How was Kyoto?),

I would respond with something like:

"京都はとてもきれいな町でしたよ。特に、お寺や庭園が素晴らしかったです。歴史も深くて、日本の文化をたくさん感じることができました。" (Kyōto wa totemo kirei na machi deshita yo. Toku ni, otera ya teien ga subarashikatta desu. Rekishi mo fukakute, Nihon no bunka o takusan kanjiru koto ga dekimashita.)

• Explanation:
  • "とてもきれいな町でした" (totemo kirei na machi deshita): Uses a na-adjective (きれい - kirei, beautiful) in the past tense to describe Kyoto as a very beautiful city.
  • "素晴らしかったです" (subarashikatta desu): Uses the past tense of the i-adjective 素晴らしい (subarashii - wonderful/splendid) to describe the temples and gardens.
  • "日本の文化をたくさん感じることができました" (Nihon no bunka o takusan kanjiru koto ga dekimashita): Expresses being able to feel a lot of Japanese culture, indicating a rich cultural experience.

To ask someone to choose between two items in Japanese, you use the grammatical structure "〜と〜とどちらが〜ですか？" (〜to 〜to dochira ga 〜desu ka?).

• Structure: [Item A] と [Item B] と どちらが [Adjective/Verb] ですか？
• Example (Coffee vs. Tea): "コーヒーと紅茶とどちらが好きですか？" (Kōhī to kōcha to dochira ga suki desu ka?)
  • This translates to: "Between coffee and tea, which one do you like more?"

If you prefer coffee, you would respond using the structure "〜のほうが〜です" (〜no hō ga 〜desu).

• Response: "コーヒーのほうが好きです。" (Kōhī no hō ga suki desu.)
  • This translates to: "I like coffee more." or "Coffee is better (for me).

Alternatively, you can just say the item with 'ga suki desu': "コーヒーが好きです。" (Kōhī ga suki desu.) However, "〜のほうが〜です" specifically highlights the comparison.

The grammatical structure used to compare two things and state which one is superior or possesses a certain characteristic more strongly is "A のほうが B より [adjective/noun + の] です" or simply "A のほうが [adjective] です" when B is understood from context.

• Core Structure: [Item A] の ほうが [Item B] より [Adjective] です。

  • "A no hō ga" indicates that A is the subject of the comparison.
  • "B yori" means "than B".

• Simplified Structure (when B is clear): [Item A] の ほうが [Adjective] です。

• Example comparing two cities' size: Let's compare Tokyo and Osaka.

  • Question: "東京と大阪とどちらが大きいですか？" (Tōkyō to Ōsaka to dochira ga ōkii desu ka? - Between Tokyo and Osaka, which is bigger?)
  • Answer: "東京のほうが大阪より大きいです。" (Tōkyō no hō ga Ōsaka yori ōkii desu.)
    • This means: "Tokyo is bigger than Osaka."
  • If Osaka was the topic, you could also say: "大阪より東京のほうが大きいです。" (Ōsaka yori Tōkyō no hō ga ōkii desu.)

Here's a short dialogue:

A: "本を読むのと、映画を見るのと、どちらが好きですか？" (Hon o yomu no to, eiga o miru no to, dochira ga suki desu ka?)

• Translation: Between reading books and watching movies, which one do you like?

B: "うーん、映画を見るほうのほうが好きですね。家でゆっくりできますから。" (Ūn, eiga o miru hō no hō ga suki desu ne. Ie de yukkuri dekimasu kara.)

• Translation: Hmm, I prefer watching movies. Because I can relax at home.

• Explanation:
  • Person A uses "〜と〜とどちらが〜ですか" to ask for preference.
  • Person B uses "〜のほうが〜です" to state their preference, adding a reason with "〜から" (kara). Note that for verb phrases, 'no' is often added to nominalize them, making 'no hō ga'.

To express these comparative points:

1. Restaurant A is cheaper:
   "Aレストランのほうが安いです。" (A resutoran no hō ga yasui desu.)

2. Restaurant B's food is more delicious:
   "Bレストランのほうが食べ物がおいしいです。" (B resutoran no hō ga tabemono ga oishii desu.)

   • Alternatively, focusing on the food itself: "Bレストランの食べ物のほうがAレストランの食べ物よりおいしいです。" (B resutoran no tabemono no hō ga A resutoran no tabemono yori oishii desu.)

You could combine them: "Aレストランのほうが安いですが、Bレストランのほうが食べ物がおいしいです。" (A resutoran no hō ga yasui desu ga, B resutoran no hō ga tabemono ga oishii desu. - Restaurant A is cheaper, but Restaurant B's food is more delicious.)

To ask about the 'best' or 'most' of something within a group, you use the superlative expression "[Group] の 中 で いちばん [Adjective] ですか？" (〜no naka de ichiban 〜desu ka?).

• Structure: [Specific Group/Category] の 中 (なか) で いちばん [Adjective] ですか？

  • "の 中 で" (no naka de) means "among/in [Group]".
  • "いちばん" (ichiban) means "the most" or "number one".

• Example (Tallest Mountain): "日本 (にほん) の 中 で いちばん高い山 (たかいやま) はどれですか？" (Nihon no naka de ichiban takai yama wa dore desu ka?)

  • This translates to: "Among Japan, which is the tallest mountain?" (i.e., "What is the tallest mountain in Japan?")

You would respond by stating the name of the mountain followed by the superlative expression.

• Response: "富士山 (ふじさん) が日本でいちばん高い山です。" (Fujisan ga Nihon de ichiban takai yama desu.)
  • This translates to: "Mount Fuji is the tallest mountain in Japan."

You can also simplify it if the context is clear: "富士山がいちばん高いです。" (Fujisan ga ichiban takai desu. - Mount Fuji is the tallest.)

"いちばん" (ichiban) is used to form superlative expressions in Japanese, meaning "the most," "the best," or "number one." It is placed directly before the adjective or adverb.

• Usage Structure:

  • Questioning the superlative: [Category] の 中 で いちばん [Adjective] ですか？ / 誰 (だれ) が いちばん [Adjective] ですか？ / どれが いちばん [Adjective] ですか？
  • Stating the superlative: [Item/Person] が いちばん [Adjective] です。

• Examples:

  • Asking about the most preferred item (food):

    • Question: "日本料理 (にほんりょうり) の 中 で いちばん好きな食べ物 (たべもの) は何 (なん) ですか？" (Nihon ryōri no naka de ichiban suki na tabemono wa nan desu ka?)
      • Translation: Among Japanese food, what is your most favorite food?
        \ * Stating the most preferred item (sushi):
    • Answer: "寿司 (すし) がいちばん好きです。" (Sushi ga ichiban suki desu.)
      • Translation: Sushi is my most favorite.

  • Asking about the fastest person (within a group):

    • Question: "このクラスでいちばん速い人 (はやいひと) は誰 (だれ) ですか？" (Kono kurasu de ichiban hayai hito wa dare desu ka?)
      • Translation: In this class, who is the fastest person?

  • Stating the fastest person (Tanaka-san):

    • Answer: "田中さん (たなかさん) がいちばん速いです。" (Tanaka-san ga ichiban hayai desu.)
      • Translation: Tanaka-san is the fastest.

"いちばん" can be used with both i-adjectives and na-adjectives (e.g., いちばん高い - tallest, いちばんきれい - most beautiful), as well as with verbs (e.g., いちばんよくします - does the best).

Here's the question and a possible answer:

• Question: "日本でいちばんきれいな季節 (きせつ) はどれですか？" (Nihon de ichiban kirei na kisetsu wa dore desu ka?)

  • Translation: In Japan, which is the most beautiful season?

• Possible Answer: "私は秋 (あき) がいちばんきれいだと思います。紅葉 (こうよう) がとても美しいですから。" (Watashi wa aki ga ichiban kirei da to omoimasu. Kōyō ga totemo utsukushii desu kara.)

  • Translation: I think autumn is the most beautiful. Because the autumn leaves are very beautiful.

In this answer, "〜と思います" (to omoimasu - I think) is added to express a personal opinion.

To ask "What is the most popular sport in your country?" in Japanese, you would say:

"あなたの国 (くに) でいちばん人気 (にんき) があるスポーツは何 (なん) ですか？" (Anata no kuni de ichiban ninki ga aru supōtsu wa nan desu ka?)

• Breakdown:
  • "あなたの国で" (anata no kuni de): In your country.
  • "いちばん" (ichiban): The most.
  • "人気がある" (ninki ga aru): Popular (literally, "there is popularity").
  • "スポーツ": Sport.
  • "は何ですか": What is it?

The particle "だけ" (dake) functions to express limitation, exclusivity, or 'only/just'. It emphasizes that nothing else or no one else is involved beyond what is specified. It typically follows the noun, quantity, or verb that it modifies.

• Common Usages:

  • Limiting Quantity/Amount: To indicate 'only a certain number/amount'.
  • Limiting Scope/Exclusivity: To indicate 'only this particular thing/person' and nothing else.
  • Limiting Actions: To indicate 'just doing this action'.

• Example Sentences:

  1. Limiting Quantity: "私はコーヒーだけ飲みます。" (Watashi wa kōhī dake nomimasu.)
     • Translation: I only drink coffee. (Implying no tea, juice, etc.)
  2. Limiting Scope: "パーティーには友達だけ来ました。" (Pātī ni wa tomodachi dake kimashita.)
     • Translation: Only friends came to the party. (Implying no family, colleagues, etc.)
  3. Limiting Action: "今日は勉強するだけです。" (Kyō wa benkyō suru dake desu.)
     • Translation: Today, I will just study. (Implying no other activities.)

Here's how to say those phrases using "だけ":

1. "I only drink coffee."
   "私はコーヒーだけ飲みます。" (Watashi wa kōhī dake nomimasu.)

   • Explanation: "コーヒー" (kōhī - coffee) is the noun being limited, followed by "だけ".

2. "There are only three students."
   "学生は三人だけいます。" (Gakusei wa sannin dake imasu.)

   • Explanation: "三人" (sannin - three people/students) is the quantity being limited, followed by "だけ". "います" (imasu) is used for the existence of living beings.

The interrogative word "どんな" (donna) is used to ask "what kind of?" or "what sort of?" It precedes a noun and inquires about the characteristics, type, or nature of that noun.

• Purpose: To elicit a description or categorization rather than a specific item or simple 'yes/no' answer.

• Structure: どんな [Noun] ですか？

• Example Question (Kind of Music):
  "どんな音楽 (おんがく) が好きですか？" (Donna ongaku ga suki desu ka?)

  • Translation: What kind of music do you like?

This question expects an answer describing genres (e.g., classical, pop, rock) or specific characteristics of music.

If a friend asks "どんな本が好きですか？", a suitable answer would be:

"私はミステリー小説 (しょうせつ) が好きです。読むのがとても楽しいです。" (Watashi wa misuterī shōsetsu ga suki desu. Yomunoga totemo tanoshii desu.)

• Explanation:
  • "ミステリー小説" (misuterī shōsetsu) directly translates to "mystery novel", answering "どんな本" (donna hon - what kind of book).
  • "読むのがとても楽しいです" (yomunoga totemo tanoshii desu) adds a reason or further description (reading them is very fun).

私のいちばん好きな季節は夏です。夏はどんなことでもできるので、とても楽しいです。

海 (うみ) へ行くのが好きですし、花火大会 (はなびたいかい) も日本の夏でいちばんきれいですね。他の季節と比べると、冬のほうがとても寒いですから、夏のように外で遊べません。

だから、私は暑くても夏のほうがいいです。