Every Japanese conversation starts here: saying what something is. In this lesson you'll meet the polite copula です, its negative and past forms, and the topic particle は that frames every sentence.
Take this lesson one step at a time. Try each quick check before revealing its answer, then take the quiz. Add vocabulary and grammar to your reviews to practise them over time.
Yuki and Ken meet for the first time.
Tap a line to hear it. Shadow mode leaves a gap after each line — repeat it aloud, then hear it again. Don’t worry about being perfect; worry about being out loud.
Nice to meet you. I'm Yuki.
N / な-adj + です
Marks a polite statement of identity or state. The neutral, polite way to say that something is something.
More examples: 〜ですN / な-adj + じゃありません
The polite negative of です. じゃ is a contraction of では; ではありません is slightly more formal.
More examples: 〜じゃありませんN / な-adj + でした
The polite past form of です. The negative past is じゃありませんでした.
More examples: 〜でしたN + は
Marks what the sentence is about. Pronounced わ when used as a particle.
More examples: 〜はThe sentences below are extra reading and may use later grammar. Sentence questions in the quiz use the dialogue above.
Two legs mid-stride: a person walking.
A narwhal lounging on a stool — that's what friends are for.
The sun in a window frame — one day.
A sprout pushing up out of the ground — life.
A tree with a line at its root — books come from trees.
An evening mouth — shouting your name into the night.
Dirt sliding down a slide onto legs — whoever slides first goes before.
A viking child — studies conquest. Study.
Horns up top, a moon and a knife below — face what's in front of you.
to be (polite copula)
student · がくせい