In the two previous lessons I have mentioned that we would learn now Time and the particle NI. Instead, we will learn directions and the particle NI. I think there are some steps to keep in mind before we work with time.
That is why I will leave the time lesson for later.
That is why I will leave the time lesson for later.
Particle NI (に)
In the particles lesson and up until now, we have always used only three particles: wa, ga, wo. Today, we will expand our particle horizon with ni(に).
In Japanese, the particle ni(に) has several purposes like directions and time. Officially, it is called an indirect object marker but that definition makes it just confusing.
What it does is, it indicates where something is, who did what to who. It basically shows the direction of an action nothing more. Its english cousin would be “to” but it also has several other cousins which we will learn in the coming lessons.
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Vocabulary
Since directions need places we will learn some vocabulary with a little vocabulary charts of common places.
The vocabulary is straightforward. Japanese people have separate words for Japanese style Hotels (Japanese Inn) and Western style hotels. Japanese Inn (りょかん) have a Shōwa era style. They are very classic and give you a feeling like you traveled back in time. The workers are dressed in kimonos, the rooms have tatami floors and futons.
The only vocabulary I would like to explain is the Shop suffix (ーや). It works very simple. You simply attach it to a noun and it will turn that noun into a store.
Example :
We have learned in the Particles Lesson the word for Book (ほん).
ほん = Hon
(Book)
ほんや = Hon ya
(Book Store)
はな = Hana
(Flower)
はなや = Hana ya
(Florist/ Flower Shop)
You see, simple isn’t it ?
Particle NI (に) & Places
Now that we know some vocabulary and a little bit about what this particle does, we can start learning how to use it for places.
All you have to do is tag it after a word or place in this case. The simplest way to use it is by putting it between your word(place) and the verb. An interesting thing about Japanese is that sentences are made of blocks. These blocks can be rearranged as you will see in the coming examples.
Example:
(1) がっこうに いきます = gakko ni ikimasu
(I go to school)
(2) えきに いきません でした = eki ni ikimasen deshita
(I didn’t go to the train station)
As you have noticed until now, there is no need to put an “I” in the sentence because it is assumed you are talking about yourself. This only changes when you talk about somebody else.
Example:
(3) せんじさんは えきに いきました = Senji-san ha eki ni ikimashita
(Senji went to the train station)
For now all you have to do is to attach the particle to your word(place) and add a verb to describe the action.
This particle is quite simple isn’t it ?
Block nature
Now, I have written about “blocks” that can be rearranged a little earlier. Can you recognize these “blocks” in the first two examples ?
※ Tip: Remember that the verb has to go always at the end of the sentence.
In the first two examples there were two “blocks”.
Block 1: がっこうに || えきに
(gakko ni) (eki ni)
Block 2: いきます || いきません でした
(ikimasu) (ikimasen deshita)
Example 3 is a little bit different because we have a person in it. The “blocks” for example three are still easy to figure out.
Block 1: えきに
(eki ni)
Block 2: いきました
(ikimasu)
Block 3: せんじさんは
(senji-san ha)
In the first two examples, it was easy to figure out the “blocks” but the last example was a bit tricky. “せんじさんは(Senji-san ha)” is a “block” by itself.
Now, lets see how we can rearrange our “blocks”. The first two examples have just two “blocks” of which one(the verb) has to go at the end of the sentence. So, we are left with the last example which can be rearranged as follows:
えきに せんじさんは いきました = eki ni senji-san ha ikimashita
(Senji went to the station)
As you can see, the meaning is the same the only difference is that the order changed. The reason I'm showing this to you is not to confuse you. I personally don't like rearranging blocks but it is necessary to recognize them and understand them. That way when you encounter them one day you understand what it means.
For Anime Fans
Here is another example for the anime fans. You may remember Monkey D. Luffy’s famous phrase in One Piece: “I will become the Pirate King”. As of now, we would say it like this:
おれは かいぞくおう に なる = Ore ha kaizoku ou ni naru
(I will become the Pirate King)
But he actually rearranges the blocks like this:
かいぞくおう に おれは なる = Kaizoku ou ni ore ha naru
(I will become the Pirate King)
The three blocks in this case are “かいぞくおう に(kaizoku ou ni)” , “おれは(ore ha)”, “なる (naru)”.
※ Vocabulary check: Please keep in mind that “KAIZOKU” is Pirate and “KAZOKU” is Family. They sound very similar so keep this in mind.
Blocks with "wo"
It is important to note that the block that actually moves is the "place & NI" block. The rest stays as it is.
In the case of the particle "wo", it is a simple extension of the verb. Your object is attached to the verb with this particle. It means that you don't move the "verb block". To illustrate this, here is an example:
せんじさんは にほんに ほんを よみます = Senji-san ha nihon ni hon wo yomimasu
(Senji reads a book in Japan)
にほんに せんじさんは ほんを よみます = nihon ni Senji-san ha hon wo yomimasu
(Senji reads a book in Japan)
Now, this is actually a bit beyond just telling direction but it this shows you how the block nature applies to the particle "wo".
This should be enough for this lesson. You can feel happy and proud because with this you have archived another milestone in your Japanese journey.
Remember to make your own sentence with this new knowledge and keep in mind that monologues help you practice your knowledge as well.