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Describing appearance, tendencies, emotions, and subjective impressions
What each pattern means, when to use it, and the mistakes that cost marks in the exam.
It converts adjectives of internal feeling (like 'kowai' or 'hoshii') into verbs that describe the observable behavior of someone else. It is essential when talking about a third person's emotions in Japanese.
Common mistakes
It is attached to adjectives describing feelings to express the aura or appearance of another person. It is more literary than 'sou' and focuses on the atmosphere of the emotion.
Common mistakes
It describes a slight physical or mental tendency toward a negative state that is currently occurring. Common examples include 'kaze-gimi' (slight cold) or 'okure-gimi' (running slightly late).
Common mistakes
It is used at the start of a sentence or clause to emphasize the speaker's emotion regarding the fact that follows. It highlights that the event was particularly surprising, sad, or fortunate.
Common mistakes
It expresses a subjective resemblance or a metaphor based on visual or sensory input. It is more casual than 'yō da' but follows the same logic of comparison.
Common mistakes
It expresses a general truth, common sense, or a strong moral duty/expectation. It implies that 'this is just the way things are' or 'this is what one should do'.
Common mistakes
A strong rhetorical negation used to express the speaker's firm determination not to do something or their strong disagreement. It is very casual and often used in a masculine or forceful way (often as 'mon ka').
Common mistakes
It indicates a tendency, a frequent occurrence, or a superficial quality of something. It often carries a slightly negative or casual nuance, suggesting something isn't the 'real deal'.
Common mistakes
It is used to make an inference based on hearsay or objective evidence. It also describes something that possesses the quintessential qualities of its noun.
Common mistakes
It is used to express nostalgia for a habit or state that occurred frequently in the past. It often implies a deep feeling of 'those were the days'.
Common mistakes
Adaptive practice
Our adaptive engine will quiz you on these 10 grammar patterns and track which ones you need to review most.