Ajectives and particles question!

[Malice Mices]

Hia! I just had a quick question about placement of agectives in japanese sentences. I know the basic format is "subject object verb" but there would you place an ajective? after or before the subject? for example would it be:

shiro neko (white cat)

or

Neko shiro (cat white)

And also, what of certain particles. what is the differnence between "de" and "dewa" "o" and "ni"

Please help me! I'd be really greatful

 

[tasuki]

Usually, you place the adjective before the noun in the sentence, no matter if it's the subject or not. So, in your example, it would be "shiroi neko" (shiroi, not shiro; shiro is a noun). This rules holds true in most cases, but it depends on the situation.

As for your particle question, it would take pages and pages to explain in detail, but

de is basically used to identify a means, as in "basu de eki ni ikimasu" I go to the station by bus. Sometimes, de can be used to identify the location where an action takes places, but that's more complicated.

dewa is not a particule, but a conjuction. It's main use (in my experience) is in closing a conversation or letter. Again something rather complicated to explain.

wo or o is used to link the object to the verb, as in "eiga wo miru" I watch/see a movie. This is only used when necessary and often skipped in daily converstation.

ni is another doozy. ni often indicates direction, as in where your going. Eki ni ikimasu. I'm going to the station. But this can also be illustrated by "e" as in "eki e ikimasu", which means the same. It is often used in the passive voice as well. Another subject of length.

I suggest you look up a Japanese text book if you're really keen on learning more, but even the best books doesn't explain it perfectly... I've been living in Japan for years now and still have trouble keeping my particles straight...

 

[Malice Mices]

Ohh thanks alot! That does help some even though you couldn't expain much. I always used "ni" as "in" or "to" like

"uta wa ii atashi ni" the song is good to me or somthing like that. I have a few nihongo books, but none of them really explain anything, its mostly vocabulary and just giving you random senteces and what they mean. And for the shiroi shiro thing, is that true with all colors? like "ao" and "aori" if so that's a big help too *anata o dekishime*

 

[Elizabeth]

Originally posted by Malice Mices
Ohh thanks alot! That does help some even though you couldn't expain much. I always used "ni" as "in" or "to" like

"uta wa ii atashi ni" the song is good to me or somthing like that. I have a few nihongo books, but none of them really explain anything, its mostly vocabulary and just giving you random senteces and what they mean. And for the shiroi shiro thing, is that true with all colors? like "ao" and "aori" if so that's a big help too *anata o dekishime*

Do you mean dakishime? What is "aori"? And no, "iroi" (adj.) or "iro" (n.) doesn't work as an ending with all colors -- like you said, blue is "aoi" and "ao(iro)".

I would definately recommend mastering standard Japanese before trying to get too kudaketa.

 

[Malice Mices]

whaaarg! i keep messing up that word. "da" and "de" run together in my mind alot, I don't know why, but yes "Dakishime". And I should probably learn to TYPE before I bother learning japanese, I mean Aoiro, but I didn't notice I forgot to type in the o and i transposed letters... man, I'm in sorry shape

 

[Elizabeth]

Originally posted by Malice Mices
whaaarg! i keep messing up that word. "da" and "de" run together in my mind alot, I don't know why, but yes "Dakishime". And I should probably learn to TYPE before I bother learning japanese, I mean Aoiro, but I didn't notice I forgot to type in the o and i transposed letters... man, I'm in sorry shape

Shikkari shite kudasai.

あせらないでゆっくり勉強していきましょう。

よろしくね (more natural than dakishime),

エリザベス

 

[Malice Mices]

ack! wakarimasen yo! I can't read kanji yet, only a few. So you usually use "yoroshikune" instead of dakishime for hug? *writes that down* could you please tell me what else was said, onegaiii? I sould only understand a little bit. x_x

 

[Elizabeth]

Originally posted by Malice Mices
ack! wakarimasen yo! I can't read kanji yet, only a few. So you usually use "yoroshikune" instead of dakishime for hug? *writes that down* could you please tell me what else was said, onegaiii? I should only understand a little bit. x_x

Did you understand "Shikkari shite kudasai"?

Why not try putting something together from the rest of the romaji first....:note:

あせらない で Aseranai de ゆっくり yukkuri 勉強して benkyou shite
いきましょう ikimashou。

 

[Malice Mices]

hmm
my translator is very bad, i couldn't find "asera" at all, but from what i could tell you were telling me to take it slow and study hard?

 

[Elizabeth]

Originally posted by Malice Mices
hmm
my translator is very bad, i couldn't find "asera" at all, but from what i could tell you were telling me to take it slow and study hard?

Well, half right . The first sentence doesn't have anything to do with studying and the verb in this case is "aseru" (焦る).