Jump to content
Linguaholic

Conjunctions in Japanese


Dmitry

Recommended Posts

Hi everyone. Today I would like to talk about conjunctions in Japanese language. By saying 'conjunction' I mean such words as から[kara]、ので[node]、けれども[keredomo]、ところで[tokorode]、とこらが[tokoroga]. In fact there are much more different conjunctions in the language, although I think the ones I mentioned about are extremely useful and can be used in everyday talk.

1) から[kara] - 'because of', 'the reason is' (this conjunction describes subjective opinion (reason)):

星が出ているから、あしたもきっといい天気だろう。

[hoshi ga deteirukara, asita mo kitto ii tenki daroo]

Tomorrow probably will be good weather as well, because of the stars on the sky.

今日は妻の誕生日ですから、早く帰らなければならない。

[kyoo wa tsuma no tanjoobi desukara, hayaku kaeranakerebanaranai]

Today my wife`s birthday, that`s why I need to come back home early.

明日は忙しいですから、どこも行きません。

[asita wa isogasii desukara, dokomo ikimasen]

Tomorrow I`ll be busy, that`s why I won`t go.

As you can see から can be used with a verb in infinitive (Vる/ます+から) or a noun + だ/です and adjective (しい/な) + から. Yes, it`s that simple!

2) ので[node] - the same meaning as から 'because of', 'the reason is' (but unlike から, ので describes objective reason).

バスがすぐ来なかったので会社におくれました。

[basu ga sugu konakatta node kaisha ni okuremasita]

I was late for a work, because the bus didn`t arrive on time.

家は安いので買います。

[ie wa yasui node kaimasu]

This house is cheap, that`s why I will buy it.

Note, these sentences are formed only by adding ので to a verb in a form of る/った (you are not supposed to use ので with verbs of ます), a noun in a form of だ/だった and adjective しい/な.

3)けれども/けれど/けど/けども [keredomo/keredo/kedo/kedomo] - 'but'

2時間待ってけれど、彼は姿を現さなかった。

[ni jikan mattekeredo, kare wa sugata wo awasanakatta]

I had waited for him for 2 hours, but he didn`t show up.

今日は日曜日だけれども、学校へ行かなければならない。

[kyoo wa nichiyoobi da keredomo, gakkoo e ikanakerebanaranai]

Although today is Sunday, I still have to go to school.

4) ところで[tokorode] - 'by the way'

Note, generally used at the beginning of a sentence:

やっと夏休みですね。ところで、今年の夏休みはどうしますか。

[yatto natsuyasumi desu ne. tokoro de, konnen no natsuyasumi wa doosimasuka]

Finaly, it is a summer vacation. By the way, what are you going to do this summer?

「ところでお仕事は?」「電子工学関係なんですよ、実は」

["tokorode o sigoto wa?" "densikoogakukankei nandesu yo, jitsu wa"]

"What do you do, by the way?" "I`m in electronics, actually."

5) とこらが[tokoroga] - 'but', 'although' (this one is generally used at the beginning of the second sentence, contrarying the meaning of a previous sentence).

天気予報では今日は雨になると言っていた。ところが少しむし暑かっただけど、結局は降らなかった。

[tenki yohoo wa kyoo wa ame ni naru to itteita. tokoro ga sukosi musi atsukattadakedo, kekkyoku wa furanakatta]

It was said in the weather forecast that today would rain. Although it was just stuffy a little bit and it didn`t rain eventually.

Ok, hope you`ll find this material useful. As usual you can leave a comment and ask a question if you have one. グッドラック!.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

Loading...
×
×
  • Create New...