{"title":"Conjugations","description":"Every verb and adjective form a conversation needs, with tables built by rule and how often each is heard, plus the grammar patterns that attach to them.","conventions":{"romaji":"kotoba's stored spelling: modified Hepburn, lowercase, no macrons, long vowels as spelled (sou, daijoubu, kirei), wa/o/e particles, っ before ch = t (kotchi). Leading hyphen = attaches to a word.","register":"romaji = casual form, learned first; polite = desu/masu counterpart, or null when there is no register difference.","freqRank":"rank in jiten.moe drama frequency list (CC BY-SA 4.0); freqNote explains tokenizer-split forms. null = no usable rank.","scores":"spread / reach / speakNeed, 1-5, judged.","prereqs":"item ids to learn first.","contrastGroup":"items sharing a group name are learned side by side; their examples share a base sentence."},"stats":{"total":123,"chunks":30,"candidatePool":135},"stages":[{"name":"Stage 1","summary":"57 forms and patterns in 15 chunks: verb forms, adjectives and the copula, grammar patterns.","items":57,"chunkIds":["verbs-1","verbs-2","verbs-3","verbs-4","verbs-5","verbs-6","verbs-7","verbs-8","verbs-9","verbs-11","verbs-13","verbs-14","adjectives-1","adjectives-2","patterns-1"]},{"name":"Stage 2","summary":"16 forms and patterns in 4 chunks: verb forms, grammar patterns.","items":16,"chunkIds":["verbs-12","patterns-7","patterns-10","patterns-14"]},{"name":"Stage 3","summary":"25 forms and patterns in 5 chunks: grammar patterns.","items":25,"chunkIds":["patterns-2","patterns-3","patterns-4","patterns-5","patterns-9"]},{"name":"Stage 4","summary":"25 forms and patterns in 6 chunks: verb forms, grammar patterns.","items":25,"chunkIds":["verbs-10","patterns-6","patterns-8","patterns-11","patterns-12","patterns-13"]}],"categories":[{"key":"verbs","name":"Verb forms","scope":"Verb forms","chunkIds":["verbs-1","verbs-2","verbs-3","verbs-4","verbs-5","verbs-6","verbs-7","verbs-8","verbs-9","verbs-11","verbs-13","verbs-14","verbs-12","verbs-10"]},{"key":"adjectives","name":"Adjectives and the copula","scope":"Adjectives and the copula","chunkIds":["adjectives-1","adjectives-2"]},{"key":"patterns","name":"Grammar patterns","scope":"Grammar patterns","chunkIds":["patterns-1","patterns-7","patterns-10","patterns-14","patterns-2","patterns-3","patterns-4","patterns-5","patterns-9","patterns-6","patterns-8","patterns-11","patterns-12","patterns-13"]}],"blocks":[{"id":"verbs-1","label":"How verbs work","rationale":"The machinery every form below uses: which group a verb is in, how its stem shifts, the te/ta sound changes, and the few exceptions.","interference":"Godan lookalikes like kaeru and hairu get treated as ichidan (kaeta, haita instead of kaetta, haitta).","items":[{"id":"g-r-groups","romaji":"ichidan, godan, suru, kuru","polite":null,"english":"Every verb is in one of three groups, and the group decides how it changes.","use":"Check a new verb's group once; every form follows from it.","ja":"一段・五段・する・来る","kana":"いちだん・ごだん・する・くる","politeJa":null,"pos":"rule","flags":[],"contrastGroup":null,"example":{"romaji":"gohan tabete, sugu kaetta yo","ja":"ご飯食べて、すぐ帰ったよ。","english":"I ate and went straight home."},"examplePolite":{"romaji":"gohan o tabete, sugu kaerimashita","ja":"ご飯を食べて、すぐ帰りました。","english":"I ate and went straight home."},"freqRank":null,"score":null,"notes":"Lookalikes: kaeru (go home), hairu, shiru, hashiru, iru (need) and kiru (cut) end in -iru/-eru but are godan: kaetta, haitta, shitte. Kiru (wear) and iru (be) are ichidan.","listLinks":[],"name":"verb groups","formation":"Ichidan verbs end in -iru or -eru and just drop ru (taberu → tabe-). Godan verbs change their last syllable (kau → kawanai, kaimasu). Only suru and kuru are irregular.","table":[{"word":"taberu","romaji":"taberu","ja":"食べる"},{"word":"miru","romaji":"miru","ja":"見る"},{"word":"kau","romaji":"kau","ja":"買う"},{"word":"matsu","romaji":"matsu","ja":"待つ"},{"word":"kaeru","romaji":"kaeru","ja":"帰る"},{"word":"nomu","romaji":"nomu","ja":"飲む"},{"word":"asobu","romaji":"asobu","ja":"遊ぶ"},{"word":"kaku","romaji":"kaku","ja":"書く"},{"word":"oyogu","romaji":"oyogu","ja":"泳ぐ"},{"word":"hanasu","romaji":"hanasu","ja":"話す"},{"word":"iku","romaji":"iku","ja":"行く"},{"word":"suru","romaji":"suru","ja":"する"},{"word":"kuru","romaji":"kuru","ja":"来る"}],"measured":null,"cv":4,"focus":false,"n":1},{"id":"g-r-stems","romaji":"kaka-, kaki-, kake-, kako-","polite":null,"english":"Godan verbs shift their last vowel to a, i, e or o to fit the ending.","use":"Know which ending takes which vowel and you can build most forms of any godan verb.","ja":"書か・書き・書け・書こ","kana":"かか・かき・かけ・かこ","politeJa":null,"pos":"rule","flags":[],"contrastGroup":null,"example":{"romaji":"ima wa kawanai kedo, raigetsu kaou kana","ja":"今は買わないけど、来月買おうかな。","english":"I'm not buying it now, but maybe next month."},"examplePolite":{"romaji":"ima wa kaimasen ga, raigetsu kaou to omoimasu","ja":"今は買いませんが、来月買おうと思います。","english":"I won't buy it now, but I think I'll buy it next month."},"freqRank":null,"score":null,"notes":"Verbs ending in a vowel plus u take wa before -nai: kau → kawanai, iu → iwanai (not kaanai).","listLinks":[],"name":"the four stems","formation":"Godan: a before -nai (kakanai), i before -masu and -tai (kakimasu), e before -ba and can-do (kakeba, kakeru), o plus u for let's (kakou). Ichidan just drops ru and adds the ending (tabenai, tabemasu). Watch the sounds: a final u becomes wa (kawanai), tsu becomes chi (machimasu), su becomes shi (hanashimasu).","table":[{"word":"taberu","romaji":"tabemasu","ja":"食べます"},{"word":"miru","romaji":"mimasu","ja":"見ます"},{"word":"kau","romaji":"kaimasu","ja":"買います"},{"word":"matsu","romaji":"machimasu","ja":"待ちます"},{"word":"kaeru","romaji":"kaerimasu","ja":"帰ります"},{"word":"nomu","romaji":"nomimasu","ja":"飲みます"},{"word":"asobu","romaji":"asobimasu","ja":"遊びます"},{"word":"kaku","romaji":"kakimasu","ja":"書きます"},{"word":"oyogu","romaji":"oyogimasu","ja":"泳ぎます"},{"word":"hanasu","romaji":"hanashimasu","ja":"話します"},{"word":"iku","romaji":"ikimasu","ja":"行きます"},{"word":"suru","romaji":"shimasu","ja":"します"},{"word":"kuru","romaji":"kimasu","ja":"来ます"}],"measured":null,"cv":4,"focus":false,"n":2},{"id":"g-r-te","romaji":"-te / -ta","polite":null,"english":"Godan verbs change sound before -te and -ta, depending on their last syllable.","use":"-te, -ta, -tara and -teru all share these changes, so drilling them once pays off everywhere.","ja":"〜て・〜た","kana":"〜て・〜た","politeJa":null,"pos":"rule","flags":[],"contrastGroup":null,"example":{"romaji":"eki made aruite, densha ni notta","ja":"駅まで歩いて、電車に乗った。","english":"I walked to the station and got on the train."},"examplePolite":{"romaji":"eki made aruite, densha ni norimashita","ja":"駅まで歩いて、電車に乗りました。","english":"I walked to the station and got on the train."},"freqRank":null,"score":null,"notes":"iku → itte, not iite. Some forms sound the same: itte can come from iku (go) or iu (say), katte from kau (buy) or katsu (win).","listLinks":["E-te-and"],"name":"te/ta sound changes","formation":"Ichidan: drop ru, add te (tabete). Godan: u/tsu/ru → tte, mu/bu/nu → nde, ku → ite, gu → ide, su → shite. Exceptions: iku → itte, suru → shite, kuru → kite; -ta works the same way.","table":[{"word":"taberu","romaji":"tabete","ja":"食べて"},{"word":"miru","romaji":"mite","ja":"見て"},{"word":"kau","romaji":"katte","ja":"買って"},{"word":"matsu","romaji":"matte","ja":"待って"},{"word":"kaeru","romaji":"kaette","ja":"帰って"},{"word":"nomu","romaji":"nonde","ja":"飲んで"},{"word":"asobu","romaji":"asonde","ja":"遊んで"},{"word":"kaku","romaji":"kaite","ja":"書いて"},{"word":"oyogu","romaji":"oyoide","ja":"泳いで"},{"word":"hanasu","romaji":"hanashite","ja":"話して"},{"word":"iku","romaji":"itte","ja":"行って"},{"word":"suru","romaji":"shite","ja":"して"},{"word":"kuru","romaji":"kite","ja":"来て"}],"measured":null,"cv":5,"focus":false,"n":3},{"id":"g-r-irregular","romaji":"suru, kuru, iku, aru, ii","polite":null,"english":"The few verbs (plus the adjective ii) that break the patterns.","use":"They are among the most common words in speech, so their odd forms come up constantly.","ja":"する・来る・行く・ある・いい","kana":"する・くる・いく・ある・いい","politeJa":null,"pos":"rule","flags":[],"contrastGroup":null,"example":{"romaji":"jikan nai kara, kyou wa konai tte","ja":"時間ないから、今日は来ないって。","english":"He says he has no time, so he's not coming today."},"examplePolite":{"romaji":"jikan ga nai node, kyou wa konai sou desu","ja":"時間がないので、今日は来ないそうです。","english":"Apparently he has no time, so he isn't coming today."},"freqRank":null,"score":null,"notes":"There is no aranai or kuranai: aru → nai, kuru → konai.","listLinks":[],"name":"the exceptions","formation":"suru → shinai, shite, dekiru (can); kuru → konai, kite, korareru (can). iku → itte, itta; aru → nai; ii → yokunai, yokatta. Honorifics irassharu, kudasaru, ossharu and nasaru take -aimasu: irasshaimasu, kudasaimasu.","table":[{"word":"taberu","romaji":"tabenai","ja":"食べない"},{"word":"miru","romaji":"minai","ja":"見ない"},{"word":"kau","romaji":"kawanai","ja":"買わない"},{"word":"matsu","romaji":"matanai","ja":"待たない"},{"word":"kaeru","romaji":"kaeranai","ja":"帰らない"},{"word":"nomu","romaji":"nomanai","ja":"飲まない"},{"word":"asobu","romaji":"asobanai","ja":"遊ばない"},{"word":"kaku","romaji":"kakanai","ja":"書かない"},{"word":"oyogu","romaji":"oyoganai","ja":"泳がない"},{"word":"hanasu","romaji":"hanasanai","ja":"話さない"},{"word":"iku","romaji":"ikanai","ja":"行かない"},{"word":"suru","romaji":"shinai","ja":"しない"},{"word":"kuru","romaji":"konai","ja":"来ない"}],"measured":null,"cv":5,"focus":false,"n":4}],"stage":1,"range":"1-4","category":"Verb forms"},{"id":"verbs-2","label":"Now and not","rationale":"Present and negative in both registers: the four forms behind most sentences.","interference":"Plain and polite pairs blur together; aranai for nai, and -u verbs losing their w (kaanai for kawanai).","items":[{"id":"g-dict","romaji":"-u / -ru","polite":"-masu","english":"Plain present and future: I do, I will do.","use":"The everyday verb form with friends and family. It also goes before a noun to describe it: taberu mono (things to eat).","ja":"〜う・〜る","kana":"〜う・〜る","politeJa":null,"pos":"verb","flags":[],"contrastGroup":null,"example":{"romaji":"ashita nan ji ni kuru?","ja":"明日何時に来る？","english":"What time are you coming tomorrow?"},"examplePolite":{"romaji":"ashita nan ji ni kimasu ka?","ja":"明日何時に来ますか？","english":"What time are you coming tomorrow?"},"freqRank":null,"score":null,"notes":"There's no separate future tense: taberu covers both 'I eat' and 'I'll eat'. For 'I'm eating now', use -te iru.","listLinks":[],"name":"dictionary form","formation":"It's the form you find in the dictionary, so nothing changes. Every verb ends in u: ichidan in -iru/-eru, godan in u, ku, gu, su, tsu, nu, bu, mu or ru; plus suru and kuru.","table":[{"word":"taberu","romaji":"taberu","ja":"食べる"},{"word":"miru","romaji":"miru","ja":"見る"},{"word":"kau","romaji":"kau","ja":"買う"},{"word":"matsu","romaji":"matsu","ja":"待つ"},{"word":"kaeru","romaji":"kaeru","ja":"帰る"},{"word":"nomu","romaji":"nomu","ja":"飲む"},{"word":"asobu","romaji":"asobu","ja":"遊ぶ"},{"word":"kaku","romaji":"kaku","ja":"書く"},{"word":"oyogu","romaji":"oyogu","ja":"泳ぐ"},{"word":"hanasu","romaji":"hanasu","ja":"話す"},{"word":"iku","romaji":"iku","ja":"行く"},{"word":"suru","romaji":"suru","ja":"する"},{"word":"kuru","romaji":"kuru","ja":"来る"}],"measured":{"count":541997,"perMillion":170968.6,"shareOfHeads":0.2374},"cv":5,"focus":false,"n":5},{"id":"g-masu","romaji":"-masu","polite":null,"english":"Polite present and future: I do, I will do.","use":"With strangers, staff, colleagues and anyone you'd call -san. The safe default while you're learning.","ja":"〜ます","kana":"〜ます","politeJa":null,"pos":"verb","flags":[],"contrastGroup":null,"example":{"romaji":"kono densha wa shibuya ni ikimasu ka?","ja":"この電車は渋谷に行きますか？","english":"Does this train go to Shibuya?"},"examplePolite":null,"freqRank":null,"score":null,"notes":"The final u is nearly silent: tabemasu sounds like 'tabemas'.","listLinks":[],"name":"polite present","formation":"Ichidan: drop ru, add masu (tabemasu). Godan: change the last u to i, add masu (kaimasu, machimasu, hanashimasu). suru → shimasu, kuru → kimasu.","table":[{"word":"taberu","romaji":"tabemasu","ja":"食べます"},{"word":"miru","romaji":"mimasu","ja":"見ます"},{"word":"kau","romaji":"kaimasu","ja":"買います"},{"word":"matsu","romaji":"machimasu","ja":"待ちます"},{"word":"kaeru","romaji":"kaerimasu","ja":"帰ります"},{"word":"nomu","romaji":"nomimasu","ja":"飲みます"},{"word":"asobu","romaji":"asobimasu","ja":"遊びます"},{"word":"kaku","romaji":"kakimasu","ja":"書きます"},{"word":"oyogu","romaji":"oyogimasu","ja":"泳ぎます"},{"word":"hanasu","romaji":"hanashimasu","ja":"話します"},{"word":"iku","romaji":"ikimasu","ja":"行きます"},{"word":"suru","romaji":"shimasu","ja":"します"},{"word":"kuru","romaji":"kimasu","ja":"来ます"}],"measured":{"count":42700,"perMillion":13469.4,"shareOfHeads":0.0187},"cv":4,"focus":false,"n":6},{"id":"g-nai","romaji":"-nai","polite":"-masen","english":"Plain negative: I don't, I won't.","use":"The everyday 'don't / won't' with friends and family. -nai desu is a softer polite option.","ja":"〜ない","kana":"〜ない","politeJa":null,"pos":"verb","flags":[],"contrastGroup":null,"example":{"romaji":"kyou wa ikanai. chotto tsukareta","ja":"今日は行かない。ちょっと疲れた。","english":"I'm not going today. I'm a bit tired."},"examplePolite":{"romaji":"kyou wa ikimasen. chotto tsukaremashita","ja":"今日は行きません。ちょっと疲れました。","english":"I'm not going today. I'm a bit tired."},"freqRank":null,"score":null,"notes":"With a rising tone, ikanai? is an invitation (want to go?), not just a question.","listLinks":["I-nai-negative"],"name":"plain negative","formation":"Ichidan: drop ru, add nai (tabenai). Godan: change the last u to a, add nai (kakanai, matanai); a final u becomes wa (kawanai). suru → shinai, kuru → konai, aru → nai.","table":[{"word":"taberu","romaji":"tabenai","ja":"食べない"},{"word":"miru","romaji":"minai","ja":"見ない"},{"word":"kau","romaji":"kawanai","ja":"買わない"},{"word":"matsu","romaji":"matanai","ja":"待たない"},{"word":"kaeru","romaji":"kaeranai","ja":"帰らない"},{"word":"nomu","romaji":"nomanai","ja":"飲まない"},{"word":"asobu","romaji":"asobanai","ja":"遊ばない"},{"word":"kaku","romaji":"kakanai","ja":"書かない"},{"word":"oyogu","romaji":"oyoganai","ja":"泳がない"},{"word":"hanasu","romaji":"hanasanai","ja":"話さない"},{"word":"iku","romaji":"ikanai","ja":"行かない"},{"word":"suru","romaji":"shinai","ja":"しない"},{"word":"kuru","romaji":"konai","ja":"来ない"}],"measured":{"count":113039,"perMillion":35657.2,"shareOfHeads":0.0495},"cv":5,"focus":false,"n":7},{"id":"g-masen","romaji":"-masen","polite":null,"english":"Polite negative: I don't, I won't.","use":"Politely saying you don't or won't do something, including polite refusals.","ja":"〜ません","kana":"〜ません","politeJa":null,"pos":"verb","flags":[],"contrastGroup":null,"example":{"romaji":"sumimasen, osake wa nomimasen","ja":"すみません、お酒は飲みません。","english":"Sorry, I don't drink alcohol."},"examplePolite":null,"freqRank":null,"score":null,"notes":"In everyday polite talk -nai desu (tabenai desu) is also common and sounds a little softer.","listLinks":[],"name":"polite negative","formation":"Swap -masu for -masen: tabemasen, kaimasen, machimasen. suru → shimasen, kuru → kimasen.","table":[{"word":"taberu","romaji":"tabemasen","ja":"食べません"},{"word":"miru","romaji":"mimasen","ja":"見ません"},{"word":"kau","romaji":"kaimasen","ja":"買いません"},{"word":"matsu","romaji":"machimasen","ja":"待ちません"},{"word":"kaeru","romaji":"kaerimasen","ja":"帰りません"},{"word":"nomu","romaji":"nomimasen","ja":"飲みません"},{"word":"asobu","romaji":"asobimasen","ja":"遊びません"},{"word":"kaku","romaji":"kakimasen","ja":"書きません"},{"word":"oyogu","romaji":"oyogimasen","ja":"泳ぎません"},{"word":"hanasu","romaji":"hanashimasen","ja":"話しません"},{"word":"iku","romaji":"ikimasen","ja":"行きません"},{"word":"suru","romaji":"shimasen","ja":"しません"},{"word":"kuru","romaji":"kimasen","ja":"来ません"}],"measured":{"count":22113,"perMillion":6975.4,"shareOfHeads":0.0097},"cv":3,"focus":false,"n":8}],"stage":1,"range":"5-8","category":"Verb forms"},{"id":"verbs-3","label":"The past","rationale":"The same four slots moved into the past, plain and polite.","interference":"-nakatta used for 'not yet' where mada -tenai belongs; dropped sound changes (kaeta for kaetta).","items":[{"id":"g-ta","romaji":"-ta","polite":"-mashita","english":"Plain past: I did.","use":"Casually telling what happened; with mou it means 'already' (mou tabeta).","ja":"〜た","kana":"〜た","politeJa":null,"pos":"verb","flags":[],"contrastGroup":null,"example":{"romaji":"kinou, ano eiga mita?","ja":"昨日、あの映画見た？","english":"Did you see that movie yesterday?"},"examplePolite":{"romaji":"kinou, ano eiga o mimashita ka?","ja":"昨日、あの映画を見ましたか？","english":"Did you see that movie yesterday?"},"freqRank":null,"score":null,"notes":"-ta also marks a discovery right now: a, atta! means 'oh, here it is!', not 'it was here'.","listLinks":["I-ta-past"],"name":"plain past","formation":"Same sound changes as -te, with a instead of e: tabeta, katta, nonda, kaita, oyoida, hanashita. iku → itta, suru → shita, kuru → kita.","table":[{"word":"taberu","romaji":"tabeta","ja":"食べた"},{"word":"miru","romaji":"mita","ja":"見た"},{"word":"kau","romaji":"katta","ja":"買った"},{"word":"matsu","romaji":"matta","ja":"待った"},{"word":"kaeru","romaji":"kaetta","ja":"帰った"},{"word":"nomu","romaji":"nonda","ja":"飲んだ"},{"word":"asobu","romaji":"asonda","ja":"遊んだ"},{"word":"kaku","romaji":"kaita","ja":"書いた"},{"word":"oyogu","romaji":"oyoida","ja":"泳いだ"},{"word":"hanasu","romaji":"hanashita","ja":"話した"},{"word":"iku","romaji":"itta","ja":"行った"},{"word":"suru","romaji":"shita","ja":"した"},{"word":"kuru","romaji":"kita","ja":"来た"}],"measured":{"count":332220,"perMillion":104796.1,"shareOfHeads":0.1455},"cv":5,"focus":true,"n":9},{"id":"g-mashita","romaji":"-mashita","polite":null,"english":"Polite past: I did.","use":"Telling what happened to people you speak politely to. Set phrases too: wakarimashita (understood), arigatou gozaimashita.","ja":"〜ました","kana":"〜ました","politeJa":null,"pos":"verb","flags":[],"contrastGroup":null,"example":{"romaji":"shuumatsu wa tomodachi to umi ni ikimashita","ja":"週末は友達と海に行きました。","english":"I went to the beach with friends at the weekend."},"examplePolite":null,"freqRank":null,"score":null,"notes":"The i is nearly silent: tabemashita sounds like 'tabemashta'.","listLinks":[],"name":"polite past","formation":"Swap -masu for -mashita: tabemashita, kaimashita, ikimashita. suru → shimashita, kuru → kimashita.","table":[{"word":"taberu","romaji":"tabemashita","ja":"食べました"},{"word":"miru","romaji":"mimashita","ja":"見ました"},{"word":"kau","romaji":"kaimashita","ja":"買いました"},{"word":"matsu","romaji":"machimashita","ja":"待ちました"},{"word":"kaeru","romaji":"kaerimashita","ja":"帰りました"},{"word":"nomu","romaji":"nomimashita","ja":"飲みました"},{"word":"asobu","romaji":"asobimashita","ja":"遊びました"},{"word":"kaku","romaji":"kakimashita","ja":"書きました"},{"word":"oyogu","romaji":"oyogimashita","ja":"泳ぎました"},{"word":"hanasu","romaji":"hanashimashita","ja":"話しました"},{"word":"iku","romaji":"ikimashita","ja":"行きました"},{"word":"suru","romaji":"shimashita","ja":"しました"},{"word":"kuru","romaji":"kimashita","ja":"来ました"}],"measured":{"count":24624,"perMillion":7767.4,"shareOfHeads":0.0108},"cv":4,"focus":false,"n":10},{"id":"g-nakatta","romaji":"-nakatta","polite":"-masen deshita","english":"Plain negative past: I didn't.","use":"Casually saying something didn't happen.","ja":"〜なかった","kana":"〜なかった","politeJa":null,"pos":"verb","flags":[],"contrastGroup":null,"example":{"romaji":"kesa wa nani mo tabenakatta","ja":"今朝は何も食べなかった。","english":"I didn't eat anything this morning."},"examplePolite":{"romaji":"kesa wa nani mo tabemasen deshita","ja":"今朝は何も食べませんでした。","english":"I didn't eat anything this morning."},"freqRank":null,"score":null,"notes":"For 'haven't done it yet', use mada -tenai (mada tabetenai), not mada tabenakatta.","listLinks":[],"name":"plain negative past","formation":"Make the -nai form, then swap nai for nakatta: tabenakatta, kawanakatta, ikanakatta. suru → shinakatta, kuru → konakatta.","table":[{"word":"taberu","romaji":"tabenakatta","ja":"食べなかった"},{"word":"miru","romaji":"minakatta","ja":"見なかった"},{"word":"kau","romaji":"kawanakatta","ja":"買わなかった"},{"word":"matsu","romaji":"matanakatta","ja":"待たなかった"},{"word":"kaeru","romaji":"kaeranakatta","ja":"帰らなかった"},{"word":"nomu","romaji":"nomanakatta","ja":"飲まなかった"},{"word":"asobu","romaji":"asobanakatta","ja":"遊ばなかった"},{"word":"kaku","romaji":"kakanakatta","ja":"書かなかった"},{"word":"oyogu","romaji":"oyoganakatta","ja":"泳がなかった"},{"word":"hanasu","romaji":"hanasanakatta","ja":"話さなかった"},{"word":"iku","romaji":"ikanakatta","ja":"行かなかった"},{"word":"suru","romaji":"shinakatta","ja":"しなかった"},{"word":"kuru","romaji":"konakatta","ja":"来なかった"}],"measured":{"count":17519,"perMillion":5526.2,"shareOfHeads":0.0077},"cv":5,"focus":false,"n":11},{"id":"g-masen-deshita","romaji":"-masen deshita","polite":null,"english":"Polite negative past: I didn't.","use":"Politely saying something didn't happen, often in apologies: shirimasen deshita (I didn't know).","ja":"〜ませんでした","kana":"〜ませんでした","politeJa":null,"pos":"verb","flags":[],"contrastGroup":null,"example":{"romaji":"sumimasen, zenzen kizukimasen deshita","ja":"すみません、全然気づきませんでした。","english":"Sorry, I didn't notice at all."},"examplePolite":null,"freqRank":null,"score":null,"notes":"In conversation -nakatta desu (tabenakatta desu) is just as common and a little softer.","listLinks":[],"name":"polite negative past","formation":"Take -masen and add deshita: tabemasen deshita, kaimasen deshita. suru → shimasen deshita, kuru → kimasen deshita.","table":[{"word":"taberu","romaji":"tabemasen deshita","ja":"食べませんでした"},{"word":"miru","romaji":"mimasen deshita","ja":"見ませんでした"},{"word":"kau","romaji":"kaimasen deshita","ja":"買いませんでした"},{"word":"matsu","romaji":"machimasen deshita","ja":"待ちませんでした"},{"word":"kaeru","romaji":"kaerimasen deshita","ja":"帰りませんでした"},{"word":"nomu","romaji":"nomimasen deshita","ja":"飲みませんでした"},{"word":"asobu","romaji":"asobimasen deshita","ja":"遊びませんでした"},{"word":"kaku","romaji":"kakimasen deshita","ja":"書きませんでした"},{"word":"oyogu","romaji":"oyogimasen deshita","ja":"泳ぎませんでした"},{"word":"hanasu","romaji":"hanashimasen deshita","ja":"話しませんでした"},{"word":"iku","romaji":"ikimasen deshita","ja":"行きませんでした"},{"word":"suru","romaji":"shimasen deshita","ja":"しませんでした"},{"word":"kuru","romaji":"kimasen deshita","ja":"来ませんでした"}],"measured":{"count":1555,"perMillion":490.5,"shareOfHeads":0.0007},"cv":2,"focus":false,"n":12}],"stage":1,"range":"9-12","category":"Verb forms"},{"id":"verbs-4","label":"The te-form","rationale":"The te-form and the requests built on it: do it, please do it, please don't.","interference":"-naide (please don't) confused with -nakute; bare -te heard as unfinished rather than as a request.","items":[{"id":"g-te","romaji":"-te","polite":"-te kudasai","english":"Links actions (and then), gives a reason, or on its own asks someone to do something.","use":"Everywhere: chaining what you did, explaining why, and casual requests like chotto matte.","ja":"〜て","kana":"〜て","politeJa":null,"pos":"verb","flags":[],"contrastGroup":null,"example":{"romaji":"chotto matte, sugu iku kara","ja":"ちょっと待って、すぐ行くから。","english":"Hang on, I'll be right there."},"examplePolite":{"romaji":"chotto matte kudasai, sugu ikimasu","ja":"ちょっと待ってください、すぐ行きます。","english":"Just a moment, please. I'll be right there."},"freqRank":null,"score":null,"notes":"The tense comes from the last verb: okite, gohan tabete, dekaketa = I got up, ate and left.","listLinks":["E-te-and"],"name":"te-form","formation":"Ichidan: drop ru, add te (tabete). Godan: u/tsu/ru → tte, mu/bu/nu → nde, ku → ite, gu → ide, su → shite. iku → itte, suru → shite, kuru → kite.","table":[{"word":"taberu","romaji":"tabete","ja":"食べて"},{"word":"miru","romaji":"mite","ja":"見て"},{"word":"kau","romaji":"katte","ja":"買って"},{"word":"matsu","romaji":"matte","ja":"待って"},{"word":"kaeru","romaji":"kaette","ja":"帰って"},{"word":"nomu","romaji":"nonde","ja":"飲んで"},{"word":"asobu","romaji":"asonde","ja":"遊んで"},{"word":"kaku","romaji":"kaite","ja":"書いて"},{"word":"oyogu","romaji":"oyoide","ja":"泳いで"},{"word":"hanasu","romaji":"hanashite","ja":"話して"},{"word":"iku","romaji":"itte","ja":"行って"},{"word":"suru","romaji":"shite","ja":"して"},{"word":"kuru","romaji":"kite","ja":"来て"}],"measured":{"count":180317,"perMillion":56879.6,"shareOfHeads":0.079},"cv":5,"focus":false,"n":13},{"id":"g-te-kudasai","romaji":"-te kudasai","polite":null,"english":"Please do...","use":"Asking politely, for example to staff or strangers, and in instructions.","ja":"〜てください","kana":"〜てください","politeJa":null,"pos":"verb","flags":[],"contrastGroup":null,"example":{"romaji":"sumimasen, mou ichido itte kudasai","ja":"すみません、もう一度言ってください。","english":"Sorry, please say that again."},"examplePolite":null,"freqRank":null,"score":null,"notes":"kudasai still sounds like an instruction; to ask a favour, -te kuremasen ka or -te moraemasen ka is softer.","listLinks":[],"name":"polite request","formation":"te-form plus kudasai: tabete kudasai, matte kudasai, nonde kudasai. suru → shite kudasai, kuru → kite kudasai.","table":[{"word":"taberu","romaji":"tabete kudasai","ja":"食べてください"},{"word":"miru","romaji":"mite kudasai","ja":"見てください"},{"word":"kau","romaji":"katte kudasai","ja":"買ってください"},{"word":"matsu","romaji":"matte kudasai","ja":"待ってください"},{"word":"kaeru","romaji":"kaette kudasai","ja":"帰ってください"},{"word":"nomu","romaji":"nonde kudasai","ja":"飲んでください"},{"word":"asobu","romaji":"asonde kudasai","ja":"遊んでください"},{"word":"kaku","romaji":"kaite kudasai","ja":"書いてください"},{"word":"oyogu","romaji":"oyoide kudasai","ja":"泳いでください"},{"word":"hanasu","romaji":"hanashite kudasai","ja":"話してください"},{"word":"iku","romaji":"itte kudasai","ja":"行ってください"},{"word":"suru","romaji":"shite kudasai","ja":"してください"},{"word":"kuru","romaji":"kite kudasai","ja":"来てください"}],"measured":{"count":9762,"perMillion":3079.3,"shareOfHeads":0.0043},"cv":2,"focus":false,"n":14},{"id":"g-naide","romaji":"-naide (kudasai)","polite":"-naide kudasai","english":"Don't...; also 'without doing'.","use":"Asking someone not to do something: -naide with friends, -naide kudasai politely. Also 'without': nani mo tabenaide deta (left without eating).","ja":"〜ないで（ください）","kana":"〜ないで（ください）","politeJa":null,"pos":"verb","flags":[],"contrastGroup":null,"example":{"romaji":"shinpai shinaide. daijoubu da kara","ja":"心配しないで。大丈夫だから。","english":"Don't worry. I'm fine."},"examplePolite":{"romaji":"shinpai shinaide kudasai. daijoubu desu kara","ja":"心配しないでください。大丈夫ですから。","english":"Please don't worry. I'm fine."},"freqRank":null,"score":null,"notes":"'Please don't' is -naide, not -nakute: tabenaide (don't eat it).","listLinks":["F-naide"],"name":"please don't","formation":"Make the -nai form and add de: tabenaide, kawanaide, ikanaide. suru → shinaide, kuru → konaide. Add kudasai to make it polite.","table":[{"word":"taberu","romaji":"tabenaide kudasai","ja":"食べないでください"},{"word":"miru","romaji":"minaide kudasai","ja":"見ないでください"},{"word":"kau","romaji":"kawanaide kudasai","ja":"買わないでください"},{"word":"matsu","romaji":"matanaide kudasai","ja":"待たないでください"},{"word":"kaeru","romaji":"kaeranaide kudasai","ja":"帰らないでください"},{"word":"nomu","romaji":"nomanaide kudasai","ja":"飲まないでください"},{"word":"asobu","romaji":"asobanaide kudasai","ja":"遊ばないでください"},{"word":"kaku","romaji":"kakanaide kudasai","ja":"書かないでください"},{"word":"oyogu","romaji":"oyoganaide kudasai","ja":"泳がないでください"},{"word":"hanasu","romaji":"hanasanaide kudasai","ja":"話さないでください"},{"word":"iku","romaji":"ikanaide kudasai","ja":"行かないでください"},{"word":"suru","romaji":"shinaide kudasai","ja":"しないでください"},{"word":"kuru","romaji":"konaide kudasai","ja":"来ないでください"}],"measured":{"count":11273,"perMillion":3556,"shareOfHeads":0.0049},"cv":4,"focus":false,"n":15}],"stage":1,"range":"13-15","category":"Verb forms"},{"id":"verbs-5","label":"Ongoing and done","rationale":"te-form plus iru: what's going on, what was going on, and what hasn't happened yet.","interference":"-teru as a resulting state (kekkon shiteru, kiteru) heard as an action in progress; shittenai for shiranai.","items":[{"id":"g-teru","romaji":"-teru / -te iru","polite":"-te imasu","english":"Is doing, or is in a state (is married, knows, lives somewhere).","use":"What someone is doing right now, ongoing habits, and states like shitteru (know) and kekkon shiteru (married). -teru is how it sounds in speech.","ja":"〜てる・〜ている","kana":"〜てる・〜ている","politeJa":null,"pos":"verb","flags":[],"contrastGroup":null,"example":{"romaji":"nee, ima nani shiteru no?","ja":"ねえ、今何してるの？","english":"Hey, what are you doing right now?"},"examplePolite":{"romaji":"ima nani o shite imasu ka?","ja":"今何をしていますか？","english":"What are you doing right now?"},"freqRank":null,"score":null,"notes":"With change verbs it's the result, not the action: kekkon shiteru = is married, kiteru = has come (is here).","listLinks":["I-teru"],"name":"ongoing or state","formation":"te-form plus iru; in speech the i drops: tabeteru, matteru, nonderu. suru → shiteru, kuru → kiteru.","table":[{"word":"taberu","romaji":"tabeteru","ja":"食べてる"},{"word":"miru","romaji":"miteru","ja":"見てる"},{"word":"kau","romaji":"katteru","ja":"買ってる"},{"word":"matsu","romaji":"matteru","ja":"待ってる"},{"word":"kaeru","romaji":"kaetteru","ja":"帰ってる"},{"word":"nomu","romaji":"nonderu","ja":"飲んでる"},{"word":"asobu","romaji":"asonderu","ja":"遊んでる"},{"word":"kaku","romaji":"kaiteru","ja":"書いてる"},{"word":"oyogu","romaji":"oyoideru","ja":"泳いでる"},{"word":"hanasu","romaji":"hanashiteru","ja":"話してる"},{"word":"iku","romaji":"itteru","ja":"行ってる"},{"word":"suru","romaji":"shiteru","ja":"してる"},{"word":"kuru","romaji":"kiteru","ja":"来てる"}],"measured":{"count":277549,"perMillion":87550.6,"shareOfHeads":0.1216},"cv":5,"focus":true,"n":16},{"id":"g-teta","romaji":"-teta / -te ita","polite":"-te imashita","english":"Was doing, or had been in a state.","use":"Setting the scene in a story (what you were doing when...), and past states like 'I used to live in...'.","ja":"〜てた・〜ていた","kana":"〜てた・〜ていた","politeJa":null,"pos":"verb","flags":[],"contrastGroup":null,"example":{"romaji":"gomen, sakki made zutto neteta","ja":"ごめん、さっきまでずっと寝てた。","english":"Sorry, I was asleep until just now."},"examplePolite":{"romaji":"sumimasen, sakki made zutto nete imashita","ja":"すみません、さっきまでずっと寝ていました。","english":"Sorry, I was asleep until just now."},"freqRank":null,"score":null,"notes":"shitteta means 'I knew'; 'I didn't know' is shiranakatta, not shittenakatta.","listLinks":[],"name":"was doing","formation":"te-form plus ita; in speech the i drops: tabeteta, matteta, nondeta. suru → shiteta, kuru → kiteta.","table":[{"word":"taberu","romaji":"tabeteta","ja":"食べてた"},{"word":"miru","romaji":"miteta","ja":"見てた"},{"word":"kau","romaji":"katteta","ja":"買ってた"},{"word":"matsu","romaji":"matteta","ja":"待ってた"},{"word":"kaeru","romaji":"kaetteta","ja":"帰ってた"},{"word":"nomu","romaji":"nondeta","ja":"飲んでた"},{"word":"asobu","romaji":"asondeta","ja":"遊んでた"},{"word":"kaku","romaji":"kaiteta","ja":"書いてた"},{"word":"oyogu","romaji":"oyoideta","ja":"泳いでた"},{"word":"hanasu","romaji":"hanashiteta","ja":"話してた"},{"word":"iku","romaji":"itteta","ja":"行ってた"},{"word":"suru","romaji":"shiteta","ja":"してた"},{"word":"kuru","romaji":"kiteta","ja":"来てた"}],"measured":null,"cv":5,"focus":false,"n":17},{"id":"g-tenai","romaji":"-tenai / -te inai","polite":"-te imasen","english":"Isn't doing; or hasn't done (yet).","use":"With mada, it's how you say you haven't done something yet.","ja":"〜てない・〜ていない","kana":"〜てない・〜ていない","politeJa":null,"pos":"verb","flags":[],"contrastGroup":null,"example":{"romaji":"mada hirugohan tabetenai n da yo","ja":"まだ昼ご飯食べてないんだよ。","english":"I haven't had lunch yet."},"examplePolite":{"romaji":"mada hirugohan o tabete imasen","ja":"まだ昼ご飯を食べていません。","english":"I haven't had lunch yet."},"freqRank":null,"score":null,"notes":"'Not yet' is mada -tenai, not -nakatta. And 'I don't know' is shiranai, not shittenai.","listLinks":[],"name":"not doing, not yet","formation":"te-form plus inai; in speech the i drops: tabetenai, mattenai, nondenai. suru → shitenai, kuru → kitenai.","table":[{"word":"taberu","romaji":"tabetenai","ja":"食べてない"},{"word":"miru","romaji":"mitenai","ja":"見てない"},{"word":"kau","romaji":"kattenai","ja":"買ってない"},{"word":"matsu","romaji":"mattenai","ja":"待ってない"},{"word":"kaeru","romaji":"kaettenai","ja":"帰ってない"},{"word":"nomu","romaji":"nondenai","ja":"飲んでない"},{"word":"asobu","romaji":"asondenai","ja":"遊んでない"},{"word":"kaku","romaji":"kaitenai","ja":"書いてない"},{"word":"oyogu","romaji":"oyoidenai","ja":"泳いでない"},{"word":"hanasu","romaji":"hanashitenai","ja":"話してない"},{"word":"iku","romaji":"ittenai","ja":"行ってない"},{"word":"suru","romaji":"shitenai","ja":"してない"},{"word":"kuru","romaji":"kitenai","ja":"来てない"}],"measured":null,"cv":5,"focus":false,"n":18}],"stage":1,"range":"16-18","category":"Verb forms"},{"id":"verbs-6","label":"Wanting and inviting","rationale":"Wants, suggestions and invitations, from casual to polite.","interference":"-mashou (assumes yes) vs -masen ka (leaves room to refuse); kaerou (let's go home) vs kaeru.","items":[{"id":"g-tai","romaji":"-tai","polite":"-tai desu","english":"Want to do.","use":"Saying what you want to do, or asking a friend what they want to do.","ja":"〜たい","kana":"〜たい","politeJa":null,"pos":"verb","flags":[],"contrastGroup":null,"example":{"romaji":"nanka amai mono tabetai na","ja":"なんか甘いもの食べたいな。","english":"I kind of want something sweet."},"examplePolite":{"romaji":"nanika amai mono ga tabetai desu","ja":"何か甘いものが食べたいです。","english":"I'd like something sweet."},"freqRank":null,"score":null,"notes":"Use it for yourself or to ask the listener; for someone else, say -tagatteru (kodomo ga asobitagatteru).","listLinks":["I-tai"],"name":"want to","formation":"Take the -masu stem and add tai: tabetai, kaitai, machitai, nomitai. suru → shitai, kuru → kitai. It then bends like an i-adjective: -takunai (don't want to), -takatta (wanted to).","table":[{"word":"taberu","romaji":"tabetai","ja":"食べたい"},{"word":"miru","romaji":"mitai","ja":"見たい"},{"word":"kau","romaji":"kaitai","ja":"買いたい"},{"word":"matsu","romaji":"machitai","ja":"待ちたい"},{"word":"kaeru","romaji":"kaeritai","ja":"帰りたい"},{"word":"nomu","romaji":"nomitai","ja":"飲みたい"},{"word":"asobu","romaji":"asobitai","ja":"遊びたい"},{"word":"kaku","romaji":"kakitai","ja":"書きたい"},{"word":"oyogu","romaji":"oyogitai","ja":"泳ぎたい"},{"word":"hanasu","romaji":"hanashitai","ja":"話したい"},{"word":"iku","romaji":"ikitai","ja":"行きたい"},{"word":"suru","romaji":"shitai","ja":"したい"},{"word":"kuru","romaji":"kitai","ja":"来たい"}],"measured":{"count":38324,"perMillion":12089,"shareOfHeads":0.0168},"cv":5,"focus":true,"n":19},{"id":"g-vol","romaji":"-ou / -you","polite":"-mashou","english":"Let's...; with to omou, I think I'll...","use":"Casual suggestions to friends (ikou!), and plans: -ou to omotteru (I'm thinking of...).","ja":"〜おう・〜よう","kana":"〜おう・〜よう","politeJa":null,"pos":"verb","flags":[],"contrastGroup":null,"example":{"romaji":"mou osoi shi, sorosoro kaerou ka","ja":"もう遅いし、そろそろ帰ろうか。","english":"It's late. Shall we head home?"},"examplePolite":{"romaji":"mou osoi node, sorosoro kaerimashou ka","ja":"もう遅いので、そろそろ帰りましょうか。","english":"It's getting late. Shall we head home?"},"freqRank":null,"score":null,"notes":"Hold the long vowel: kaerou (let's go home) vs kaeru (go home).","listLinks":["F-ou-lets"],"name":"let's (casual)","formation":"Ichidan: drop ru, add you (tabeyou, miyou). Godan: change the last u to o and add u (kaou, matou, nomou, ikou). suru → shiyou, kuru → koyou.","table":[{"word":"taberu","romaji":"tabeyou","ja":"食べよう"},{"word":"miru","romaji":"miyou","ja":"見よう"},{"word":"kau","romaji":"kaou","ja":"買おう"},{"word":"matsu","romaji":"matou","ja":"待とう"},{"word":"kaeru","romaji":"kaerou","ja":"帰ろう"},{"word":"nomu","romaji":"nomou","ja":"飲もう"},{"word":"asobu","romaji":"asobou","ja":"遊ぼう"},{"word":"kaku","romaji":"kakou","ja":"書こう"},{"word":"oyogu","romaji":"oyogou","ja":"泳ごう"},{"word":"hanasu","romaji":"hanasou","ja":"話そう"},{"word":"iku","romaji":"ikou","ja":"行こう"},{"word":"suru","romaji":"shiyou","ja":"しよう"},{"word":"kuru","romaji":"koyou","ja":"来よう"}],"measured":{"count":36685,"perMillion":11572,"shareOfHeads":0.0161},"cv":5,"focus":false,"n":20},{"id":"g-mashou","romaji":"-mashou (ka)","polite":null,"english":"Let's...; with ka, shall we...? or shall I...?","use":"Polite suggestions, and offers of help: mochimashou ka? (shall I carry it?).","ja":"〜ましょう（か）","kana":"〜ましょう（か）","politeJa":null,"pos":"verb","flags":[],"contrastGroup":null,"example":{"romaji":"sono nimotsu, omoi deshou? mochimashou ka","ja":"その荷物、重いでしょう？持ちましょうか。","english":"That bag looks heavy. Shall I carry it?"},"examplePolite":null,"freqRank":null,"score":null,"notes":"To invite someone, -masen ka is softer; -mashou assumes they'll say yes.","listLinks":[],"name":"let's / shall I (polite)","formation":"Swap -masu for -mashou: tabemashou, ikimashou. suru → shimashou, kuru → kimashou. Add ka to offer or suggest more softly.","table":[{"word":"taberu","romaji":"tabemashou","ja":"食べましょう"},{"word":"miru","romaji":"mimashou","ja":"見ましょう"},{"word":"kau","romaji":"kaimashou","ja":"買いましょう"},{"word":"matsu","romaji":"machimashou","ja":"待ちましょう"},{"word":"kaeru","romaji":"kaerimashou","ja":"帰りましょう"},{"word":"nomu","romaji":"nomimashou","ja":"飲みましょう"},{"word":"asobu","romaji":"asobimashou","ja":"遊びましょう"},{"word":"kaku","romaji":"kakimashou","ja":"書きましょう"},{"word":"oyogu","romaji":"oyogimashou","ja":"泳ぎましょう"},{"word":"hanasu","romaji":"hanashimashou","ja":"話しましょう"},{"word":"iku","romaji":"ikimashou","ja":"行きましょう"},{"word":"suru","romaji":"shimashou","ja":"しましょう"},{"word":"kuru","romaji":"kimashou","ja":"来ましょう"}],"measured":{"count":5725,"perMillion":1805.9,"shareOfHeads":0.0025},"cv":3,"focus":false,"n":21},{"id":"g-masen-ka","romaji":"-masen ka","polite":null,"english":"Won't you...? Would you like to...?","use":"Inviting someone politely while leaving them room to say no.","ja":"〜ませんか","kana":"〜ませんか","politeJa":null,"pos":"verb","flags":[],"contrastGroup":null,"example":{"romaji":"kondo, issho ni gohan tabemasen ka?","ja":"今度、一緒にご飯食べませんか？","english":"Would you like to get a meal together sometime?"},"examplePolite":null,"freqRank":null,"score":null,"notes":"Despite the negative, it's an invitation. The casual version is -nai? with a rising tone (ikanai?).","listLinks":[],"name":"polite invitation","formation":"-masen plus ka: tabemasen ka, ikimasen ka. suru → shimasen ka, kuru → kimasen ka.","table":[{"word":"taberu","romaji":"tabemasen ka","ja":"食べませんか"},{"word":"miru","romaji":"mimasen ka","ja":"見ませんか"},{"word":"kau","romaji":"kaimasen ka","ja":"買いませんか"},{"word":"matsu","romaji":"machimasen ka","ja":"待ちませんか"},{"word":"kaeru","romaji":"kaerimasen ka","ja":"帰りませんか"},{"word":"nomu","romaji":"nomimasen ka","ja":"飲みませんか"},{"word":"asobu","romaji":"asobimasen ka","ja":"遊びませんか"},{"word":"kaku","romaji":"kakimasen ka","ja":"書きませんか"},{"word":"oyogu","romaji":"oyogimasen ka","ja":"泳ぎませんか"},{"word":"hanasu","romaji":"hanashimasen ka","ja":"話しませんか"},{"word":"iku","romaji":"ikimasen ka","ja":"行きませんか"},{"word":"suru","romaji":"shimasen ka","ja":"しませんか"},{"word":"kuru","romaji":"kimasen ka","ja":"来ませんか"}],"measured":null,"cv":3,"focus":false,"n":22}],"stage":1,"range":"19-22","category":"Verb forms"},{"id":"verbs-7","label":"If and when","rationale":"The four conditionals; -tara covers most needs and the others add shades.","interference":"All four translate as 'if': -to can't be followed by a request, nara looks ahead, -tara means once it's happened.","items":[{"id":"g-tara","romaji":"-tara","polite":null,"english":"If..., or when (once)..., then something happens.","use":"The everyday 'if' and 'when (once)': the conditional to reach for first.","ja":"〜たら","kana":"〜たら","politeJa":null,"pos":"verb","flags":[],"contrastGroup":null,"example":{"romaji":"eki ni tsuitara, renraku shite","ja":"駅に着いたら、連絡して。","english":"Let me know when you get to the station."},"examplePolite":{"romaji":"eki ni tsuitara, renraku shite kudasai","ja":"駅に着いたら、連絡してください。","english":"Please let me know when you get to the station."},"freqRank":null,"score":null,"notes":"On its own with a rising tone it's advice: yasundara? = why don't you take a break?","listLinks":["E-tara"],"name":"if / when","formation":"Make the -ta form and add ra: tabetara, kattara, nondara, ittara. suru → shitara, kuru → kitara.","table":[{"word":"taberu","romaji":"tabetara","ja":"食べたら"},{"word":"miru","romaji":"mitara","ja":"見たら"},{"word":"kau","romaji":"kattara","ja":"買ったら"},{"word":"matsu","romaji":"mattara","ja":"待ったら"},{"word":"kaeru","romaji":"kaettara","ja":"帰ったら"},{"word":"nomu","romaji":"nondara","ja":"飲んだら"},{"word":"asobu","romaji":"asondara","ja":"遊んだら"},{"word":"kaku","romaji":"kaitara","ja":"書いたら"},{"word":"oyogu","romaji":"oyoidara","ja":"泳いだら"},{"word":"hanasu","romaji":"hanashitara","ja":"話したら"},{"word":"iku","romaji":"ittara","ja":"行ったら"},{"word":"suru","romaji":"shitara","ja":"したら"},{"word":"kuru","romaji":"kitara","ja":"来たら"}],"measured":{"count":21822,"perMillion":6883.6,"shareOfHeads":0.0096},"cv":5,"focus":false,"n":23},{"id":"g-ba","romaji":"-ba","polite":null,"english":"If... (a general condition).","use":"Conditions and advice; -ba ii means 'you just have to' or 'you should'.","ja":"〜ば","kana":"〜ば","politeJa":null,"pos":"verb","flags":[],"contrastGroup":null,"example":{"romaji":"sensei ni kikeba ii yo","ja":"先生に聞けばいいよ。","english":"You should just ask the teacher."},"examplePolite":{"romaji":"sensei ni kikeba ii desu yo","ja":"先生に聞けばいいですよ。","english":"You can just ask the teacher."},"freqRank":null,"score":null,"notes":"For a one-off 'when / after', -tara is more natural; keep -ba for conditions and -ba ii advice.","listLinks":["E-ba"],"name":"if (condition)","formation":"Ichidan: drop ru, add reba (tabereba, mireba). Godan: change the last u to e, add ba (kaeba, nomeba, ikeba). suru → sureba, kuru → kureba.","table":[{"word":"taberu","romaji":"tabereba","ja":"食べれば"},{"word":"miru","romaji":"mireba","ja":"見れば"},{"word":"kau","romaji":"kaeba","ja":"買えば"},{"word":"matsu","romaji":"mateba","ja":"待てば"},{"word":"kaeru","romaji":"kaereba","ja":"帰れば"},{"word":"nomu","romaji":"nomeba","ja":"飲めば"},{"word":"asobu","romaji":"asobeba","ja":"遊べば"},{"word":"kaku","romaji":"kakeba","ja":"書けば"},{"word":"oyogu","romaji":"oyogeba","ja":"泳げば"},{"word":"hanasu","romaji":"hanaseba","ja":"話せば"},{"word":"iku","romaji":"ikeba","ja":"行けば"},{"word":"suru","romaji":"sureba","ja":"すれば"},{"word":"kuru","romaji":"kureba","ja":"来れば"}],"measured":{"count":23023,"perMillion":7262.4,"shareOfHeads":0.0101},"cv":4,"focus":false,"n":24},{"id":"g-to","romaji":"-u to","polite":null,"english":"Whenever or if X happens, Y follows naturally.","use":"Directions, how things work, and habits: migi ni magaru to... (turn right and...).","ja":"〜と","kana":"〜と","politeJa":null,"pos":"verb","flags":[],"contrastGroup":null,"example":{"romaji":"kono botan osu to, denki tsuku yo","ja":"このボタン押すと、電気つくよ。","english":"Press this button and the light comes on."},"examplePolite":{"romaji":"kono botan o osu to, denki ga tsukimasu","ja":"このボタンを押すと、電気がつきます。","english":"If you press this button, the light comes on."},"freqRank":null,"score":null,"notes":"No requests or plans after it: say tsuitara renraku shite, not tsuku to renraku shite.","listLinks":[],"name":"whenever / if (automatic)","formation":"Dictionary form plus to: taberu to, kau to, iku to. suru → suru to, kuru → kuru to. For the negative, -nai to.","table":[{"word":"taberu","romaji":"taberu to","ja":"食べると"},{"word":"miru","romaji":"miru to","ja":"見ると"},{"word":"kau","romaji":"kau to","ja":"買うと"},{"word":"matsu","romaji":"matsu to","ja":"待つと"},{"word":"kaeru","romaji":"kaeru to","ja":"帰ると"},{"word":"nomu","romaji":"nomu to","ja":"飲むと"},{"word":"asobu","romaji":"asobu to","ja":"遊ぶと"},{"word":"kaku","romaji":"kaku to","ja":"書くと"},{"word":"oyogu","romaji":"oyogu to","ja":"泳ぐと"},{"word":"hanasu","romaji":"hanasu to","ja":"話すと"},{"word":"iku","romaji":"iku to","ja":"行くと"},{"word":"suru","romaji":"suru to","ja":"すると"},{"word":"kuru","romaji":"kuru to","ja":"来ると"}],"measured":null,"cv":3,"focus":false,"n":25},{"id":"g-nara","romaji":"nara","polite":null,"english":"If that's the case; if you're going to...","use":"Reacting to what someone just said, often with advice.","ja":"〜なら","kana":"〜なら","politeJa":null,"pos":"verb","flags":[],"contrastGroup":null,"example":{"romaji":"kyouto iku nara, kasa motte itte","ja":"京都行くなら、傘持っていって。","english":"If you're going to Kyoto, take an umbrella."},"examplePolite":{"romaji":"kyouto ni iku nara, kasa o motte itte kudasai","ja":"京都に行くなら、傘を持っていってください。","english":"If you're going to Kyoto, please take an umbrella."},"freqRank":null,"score":null,"notes":"nara looks ahead: iku nara = if you're going (advice before you go); ittara = once you've gone.","listLinks":[],"name":"if that's the case","formation":"Dictionary form plus nara: taberu nara, kau nara, iku nara. suru → suru nara, kuru → kuru nara. It also follows nouns and the -nai form.","table":[{"word":"taberu","romaji":"taberu nara","ja":"食べるなら"},{"word":"miru","romaji":"miru nara","ja":"見るなら"},{"word":"kau","romaji":"kau nara","ja":"買うなら"},{"word":"matsu","romaji":"matsu nara","ja":"待つなら"},{"word":"kaeru","romaji":"kaeru nara","ja":"帰るなら"},{"word":"nomu","romaji":"nomu nara","ja":"飲むなら"},{"word":"asobu","romaji":"asobu nara","ja":"遊ぶなら"},{"word":"kaku","romaji":"kaku nara","ja":"書くなら"},{"word":"oyogu","romaji":"oyogu nara","ja":"泳ぐなら"},{"word":"hanasu","romaji":"hanasu nara","ja":"話すなら"},{"word":"iku","romaji":"iku nara","ja":"行くなら"},{"word":"suru","romaji":"suru nara","ja":"するなら"},{"word":"kuru","romaji":"kuru nara","ja":"来るなら"}],"measured":null,"cv":4,"focus":false,"n":26}],"stage":1,"range":"23-26","category":"Verb forms"},{"id":"verbs-8","label":"Must and don't have to","rationale":"Obligation, permission and prohibition, mostly built from -nai and -te.","interference":"-nakya (have to) vs -nakute mo ii (don't have to); -cha dame (mustn't) vs -chau (did it).","items":[{"id":"g-nakya","romaji":"-nakya / -nakereba","polite":"-nakereba narimasen","english":"Have to, must.","use":"Casual -nakya (or -nakucha) for what you've got to do. The full -nakereba naranai is formal.","ja":"〜なきゃ・〜なければ","kana":"〜なきゃ・〜なければ","politeJa":null,"pos":"verb","flags":[],"contrastGroup":null,"example":{"romaji":"yabai, mou ikanakya. mata ne","ja":"やばい、もう行かなきゃ。またね。","english":"Yikes, I've got to go. See you."},"examplePolite":{"romaji":"sumimasen, mou ikanakereba narimasen","ja":"すみません、もう行かなければなりません。","english":"I'm sorry, I have to go now."},"freqRank":null,"score":null,"notes":"Don't mix it up with -nakute mo ii: ikanakya = I have to go; ikanakute mo ii = I don't have to go.","listLinks":["I-nakya"],"name":"have to","formation":"Make the -nai form, then swap nai for nakya (or nakereba): tabenakya, kawanakya, ikanakya. suru → shinakya, kuru → konakya. The 'or else' ending (ikenai, naranai) is usually dropped in speech.","table":[{"word":"taberu","romaji":"tabenakya","ja":"食べなきゃ"},{"word":"miru","romaji":"minakya","ja":"見なきゃ"},{"word":"kau","romaji":"kawanakya","ja":"買わなきゃ"},{"word":"matsu","romaji":"matanakya","ja":"待たなきゃ"},{"word":"kaeru","romaji":"kaeranakya","ja":"帰らなきゃ"},{"word":"nomu","romaji":"nomanakya","ja":"飲まなきゃ"},{"word":"asobu","romaji":"asobanakya","ja":"遊ばなきゃ"},{"word":"kaku","romaji":"kakanakya","ja":"書かなきゃ"},{"word":"oyogu","romaji":"oyoganakya","ja":"泳がなきゃ"},{"word":"hanasu","romaji":"hanasanakya","ja":"話さなきゃ"},{"word":"iku","romaji":"ikanakya","ja":"行かなきゃ"},{"word":"suru","romaji":"shinakya","ja":"しなきゃ"},{"word":"kuru","romaji":"konakya","ja":"来なきゃ"}],"measured":{"count":9945,"perMillion":3137.1,"shareOfHeads":0.0044},"cv":5,"focus":false,"n":27},{"id":"g-nakute","romaji":"-nakute","polite":null,"english":"Not ... and; because (it's) not ...; with mo ii, don't have to.","use":"Giving a reason something didn't work out, and with mo ii, telling someone they don't need to.","ja":"〜なくて","kana":"〜なくて","politeJa":null,"pos":"verb","flags":[],"contrastGroup":null,"example":{"romaji":"kyou wa konakute mo ii yo","ja":"今日は来なくてもいいよ。","english":"You don't have to come today."},"examplePolite":{"romaji":"kyou wa konakute mo ii desu yo","ja":"今日は来なくてもいいですよ。","english":"You don't need to come today."},"freqRank":null,"score":null,"notes":"For 'please don't', use -naide, not -nakute: tabenaide (don't eat it).","listLinks":[],"name":"not, and / don't have to","formation":"Make the -nai form, then swap nai for nakute: tabenakute, kawanakute, ikanakute. suru → shinakute, kuru → konakute.","table":[{"word":"taberu","romaji":"tabenakute","ja":"食べなくて"},{"word":"miru","romaji":"minakute","ja":"見なくて"},{"word":"kau","romaji":"kawanakute","ja":"買わなくて"},{"word":"matsu","romaji":"matanakute","ja":"待たなくて"},{"word":"kaeru","romaji":"kaeranakute","ja":"帰らなくて"},{"word":"nomu","romaji":"nomanakute","ja":"飲まなくて"},{"word":"asobu","romaji":"asobanakute","ja":"遊ばなくて"},{"word":"kaku","romaji":"kakanakute","ja":"書かなくて"},{"word":"oyogu","romaji":"oyoganakute","ja":"泳がなくて"},{"word":"hanasu","romaji":"hanasanakute","ja":"話さなくて"},{"word":"iku","romaji":"ikanakute","ja":"行かなくて"},{"word":"suru","romaji":"shinakute","ja":"しなくて"},{"word":"kuru","romaji":"konakute","ja":"来なくて"}],"measured":{"count":2167,"perMillion":683.6,"shareOfHeads":0.0009},"cv":4,"focus":false,"n":28},{"id":"g-te-mo-ii","romaji":"-te mo ii","polite":"-te mo ii desu","english":"It's OK to...; can I...?","use":"Asking for permission (-te mo ii?) and giving it.","ja":"〜てもいい","kana":"〜てもいい","politeJa":null,"pos":"verb","flags":[],"contrastGroup":null,"example":{"romaji":"kore, tabete mo ii?","ja":"これ、食べてもいい？","english":"Can I eat this?"},"examplePolite":{"romaji":"kore, tabete mo ii desu ka?","ja":"これ、食べてもいいですか？","english":"May I eat this?"},"freqRank":null,"score":null,"notes":"In speech mo often drops: tabete ii? = can I eat it?","listLinks":["I-te-mo-ii"],"name":"may / it's OK to","formation":"te-form plus mo ii: tabete mo ii, katte mo ii, nonde mo ii. suru → shite mo ii, kuru → kite mo ii.","table":[{"word":"taberu","romaji":"tabete mo ii","ja":"食べてもいい"},{"word":"miru","romaji":"mite mo ii","ja":"見てもいい"},{"word":"kau","romaji":"katte mo ii","ja":"買ってもいい"},{"word":"matsu","romaji":"matte mo ii","ja":"待ってもいい"},{"word":"kaeru","romaji":"kaette mo ii","ja":"帰ってもいい"},{"word":"nomu","romaji":"nonde mo ii","ja":"飲んでもいい"},{"word":"asobu","romaji":"asonde mo ii","ja":"遊んでもいい"},{"word":"kaku","romaji":"kaite mo ii","ja":"書いてもいい"},{"word":"oyogu","romaji":"oyoide mo ii","ja":"泳いでもいい"},{"word":"hanasu","romaji":"hanashite mo ii","ja":"話してもいい"},{"word":"iku","romaji":"itte mo ii","ja":"行ってもいい"},{"word":"suru","romaji":"shite mo ii","ja":"してもいい"},{"word":"kuru","romaji":"kite mo ii","ja":"来てもいい"}],"measured":{"count":2369,"perMillion":747.3,"shareOfHeads":0.001},"cv":4,"focus":false,"n":29},{"id":"g-cha-dame","romaji":"-cha dame","polite":"-te wa ikemasen","english":"Mustn't, don't.","use":"Casual 'you can't do that', often to children or close friends.","ja":"〜ちゃだめ","kana":"〜ちゃだめ","politeJa":null,"pos":"verb","flags":[],"contrastGroup":null,"example":{"romaji":"koko de shashin totcha dame da yo","ja":"ここで写真撮っちゃだめだよ。","english":"You can't take photos here."},"examplePolite":{"romaji":"koko de shashin o totte wa ikemasen","ja":"ここで写真を撮ってはいけません。","english":"You mustn't take photos here."},"freqRank":null,"score":null,"notes":"Don't confuse it with -chau (did, often by accident): tabechatta = I ate it all; tabecha dame = don't eat it.","listLinks":["I-cha-dame"],"name":"mustn't","formation":"It's -te wa squeezed together: -te → -cha, -de → -ja, then add dame: tabecha dame, katcha dame, nonja dame. suru → shicha dame, kuru → kicha dame.","table":[{"word":"taberu","romaji":"tabecha dame","ja":"食べちゃだめ"},{"word":"miru","romaji":"micha dame","ja":"見ちゃだめ"},{"word":"kau","romaji":"katcha dame","ja":"買っちゃだめ"},{"word":"matsu","romaji":"matcha dame","ja":"待っちゃだめ"},{"word":"kaeru","romaji":"kaetcha dame","ja":"帰っちゃだめ"},{"word":"nomu","romaji":"nonja dame","ja":"飲んじゃだめ"},{"word":"asobu","romaji":"asonja dame","ja":"遊んじゃだめ"},{"word":"kaku","romaji":"kaicha dame","ja":"書いちゃだめ"},{"word":"oyogu","romaji":"oyoija dame","ja":"泳いじゃだめ"},{"word":"hanasu","romaji":"hanashicha dame","ja":"話しちゃだめ"},{"word":"iku","romaji":"itcha dame","ja":"行っちゃだめ"},{"word":"suru","romaji":"shicha dame","ja":"しちゃだめ"},{"word":"kuru","romaji":"kicha dame","ja":"来ちゃだめ"}],"measured":{"count":1790,"perMillion":564.6,"shareOfHeads":0.0008},"cv":3,"focus":false,"n":30}],"stage":1,"range":"27-30","category":"Verb forms"},{"id":"verbs-9","label":"Can, be done, make do","rationale":"The four voice forms: can (potential), be done (passive), make or let (causative), be made to (causative-passive). They are all built the same way, a vowel change plus -reru or -seru, so they are easiest to tell apart side by side.","interference":"Ichidan potential and passive are identical (taberareru, mirareru), and kuru gives korareru for both. -aseru (make do) and -areru (be done) differ by one sound, and -asareru stacks both.","items":[{"id":"g-pot","romaji":"-eru / -rareru","polite":"-emasu / -raremasu","english":"Says someone can or can't do something.","use":"The everyday way to say can and can't: nihongo hanaseru?, ashita ikeru?, mou taberarenai.","ja":"〜える / 〜られる","kana":"〜える / 〜られる","politeJa":null,"pos":"verb","flags":[],"contrastGroup":null,"example":{"romaji":"nihongo, chotto hanaseru yo","ja":"日本語、ちょっと話せるよ","english":"I can speak a little Japanese."},"examplePolite":{"romaji":"nihongo ga sukoshi hanasemasu","ja":"日本語が少し話せます","english":"I can speak a little Japanese."},"freqRank":null,"score":null,"notes":"Ichidan potential sounds the same as the passive (taberareru, mirareru); context tells. kaeru 'can buy' also sounds like kaeru 'go home'.","listLinks":[],"name":"potential (can do)","formation":"Godan: change the final -u to -eru (kau → kaeru, iku → ikeru). Ichidan: drop -ru, add -rareru (taberareru); in speech often just -reru (tabereru). suru → dekiru, kuru → korareru.","table":[{"word":"taberu","romaji":"taberareru","ja":"食べられる"},{"word":"miru","romaji":"mirareru","ja":"見られる"},{"word":"kau","romaji":"kaeru","ja":"買える"},{"word":"matsu","romaji":"materu","ja":"待てる"},{"word":"kaeru","romaji":"kaereru","ja":"帰れる"},{"word":"nomu","romaji":"nomeru","ja":"飲める"},{"word":"asobu","romaji":"asoberu","ja":"遊べる"},{"word":"kaku","romaji":"kakeru","ja":"書ける"},{"word":"oyogu","romaji":"oyogeru","ja":"泳げる"},{"word":"hanasu","romaji":"hanaseru","ja":"話せる"},{"word":"iku","romaji":"ikeru","ja":"行ける"},{"word":"suru","romaji":"dekiru","ja":"できる"},{"word":"kuru","romaji":"korareru","ja":"来られる"}],"measured":null,"cv":5,"focus":false,"n":31},{"id":"g-pas","romaji":"-areru / -rareru","polite":"-aremasu / -raremasu","english":"Something is done to someone, often with a feeling of 'it happened to me'.","use":"Mostly for things done to you, often unwelcome: okorareta (I got told off), ame ni furareta (I got caught in the rain). At work the same form is also a light honorific (nanji ni kaeraremasu ka).","ja":"〜れる / 〜られる","kana":"〜れる / 〜られる","politeJa":null,"pos":"verb","flags":[],"contrastGroup":null,"example":{"romaji":"kinou buchou ni okorareta","ja":"昨日部長に怒られた","english":"I got chewed out by my boss yesterday."},"examplePolite":{"romaji":"kinou buchou ni okoraremashita","ja":"昨日部長に怒られました","english":"I got scolded by my manager yesterday."},"freqRank":null,"score":null,"notes":"The person who does it to you takes ni (buchou ni). Ichidan passive and potential sound the same: mirareru = 'be seen' or 'can see'.","listLinks":[],"name":"passive","formation":"Godan: change the final -u to -a and add -reru (kau → kawareru, matsu → matareru). Ichidan: drop -ru, add -rareru (taberareru). suru → sareru, kuru → korareru.","table":[{"word":"taberu","romaji":"taberareru","ja":"食べられる"},{"word":"miru","romaji":"mirareru","ja":"見られる"},{"word":"kau","romaji":"kawareru","ja":"買われる"},{"word":"matsu","romaji":"matareru","ja":"待たれる"},{"word":"kaeru","romaji":"kaerareru","ja":"帰られる"},{"word":"nomu","romaji":"nomareru","ja":"飲まれる"},{"word":"asobu","romaji":"asobareru","ja":"遊ばれる"},{"word":"kaku","romaji":"kakareru","ja":"書かれる"},{"word":"oyogu","romaji":"oyogareru","ja":"泳がれる"},{"word":"hanasu","romaji":"hanasareru","ja":"話される"},{"word":"iku","romaji":"ikareru","ja":"行かれる"},{"word":"suru","romaji":"sareru","ja":"される"},{"word":"kuru","romaji":"korareru","ja":"来られる"}],"measured":{"count":86325,"perMillion":27230.5,"shareOfHeads":0.0378},"cv":4,"focus":false,"n":32},{"id":"g-cau","romaji":"-aseru / -saseru","polite":"-sasete kudasai","english":"Makes or lets someone do something.","use":"Heard most as -sasete or -sasete kudasai, 'let me': chotto kangaesasete (let me think). Also for a parent or boss making someone do something.","ja":"〜せる / 〜させる","kana":"〜せる / 〜させる","politeJa":null,"pos":"verb","flags":[],"contrastGroup":null,"example":{"romaji":"kondo wa watashi ni harawasete yo","ja":"今度は私に払わせてよ","english":"Let me pay next time."},"examplePolite":{"romaji":"kondo wa watashi ni harawasete kudasai","ja":"今度は私に払わせてください","english":"Please let me pay next time."},"freqRank":null,"score":null,"notes":"-sasete kudasai asks to do it yourself; -te kudasai asks the other person to do it (harawasete = let me pay, haratte = you pay).","listLinks":[],"name":"causative (make / let)","formation":"Godan: change the final -u to -a and add -seru (kau → kawaseru, matsu → mataseru). Ichidan: drop -ru, add -saseru (tabesaseru). suru → saseru, kuru → kosaseru; the table shows the -te form (-sasete).","table":[{"word":"taberu","romaji":"tabesasete","ja":"食べさせて"},{"word":"miru","romaji":"misasete","ja":"見させて"},{"word":"kau","romaji":"kawasete","ja":"買わせて"},{"word":"matsu","romaji":"matasete","ja":"待たせて"},{"word":"kaeru","romaji":"kaerasete","ja":"帰らせて"},{"word":"nomu","romaji":"nomasete","ja":"飲ませて"},{"word":"asobu","romaji":"asobasete","ja":"遊ばせて"},{"word":"kaku","romaji":"kakasete","ja":"書かせて"},{"word":"oyogu","romaji":"oyogasete","ja":"泳がせて"},{"word":"hanasu","romaji":"hanasasete","ja":"話させて"},{"word":"iku","romaji":"ikasete","ja":"行かせて"},{"word":"suru","romaji":"sasete","ja":"させて"},{"word":"kuru","romaji":"kosasete","ja":"来させて"}],"measured":{"count":31332,"perMillion":9883.4,"shareOfHeads":0.0137},"cv":3,"focus":false,"n":33},{"id":"g-cp","romaji":"-asareru / -saserareru","polite":"-asaremasu / -saseraremasu","english":"Being made to do something you didn't want to.","use":"For complaining about being forced or kept: nomasareta (they made me drink), matasareta (I was kept waiting).","ja":"〜される / 〜させられる","kana":"〜される / 〜させられる","politeJa":null,"pos":"verb","flags":[],"contrastGroup":null,"example":{"romaji":"kinou mo sanjikan matasareta yo","ja":"昨日も三時間待たされたよ","english":"I got kept waiting three hours again yesterday."},"examplePolite":{"romaji":"kinou mo sanjikan matasaremashita","ja":"昨日も三時間待たされました","english":"I was kept waiting three hours again yesterday."},"freqRank":null,"score":null,"notes":"Listen for the extra -sa-: nomasareta = I was made to drink; nomareta = someone drank it (on me).","listLinks":[],"name":"causative-passive (be made to)","formation":"Godan: change the final -u to -a and add -sareru (kau → kawasareru, matsu → matasareru); verbs in -su use -saserareru (hanasaserareru). Ichidan: drop -ru, add -saserareru (tabesaserareru). suru → saserareru, kuru → kosaserareru.","table":[{"word":"taberu","romaji":"tabesaserareru","ja":"食べさせられる"},{"word":"miru","romaji":"misaserareru","ja":"見させられる"},{"word":"kau","romaji":"kawasareru","ja":"買わされる"},{"word":"matsu","romaji":"matasareru","ja":"待たされる"},{"word":"kaeru","romaji":"kaerasareru","ja":"帰らされる"},{"word":"nomu","romaji":"nomasareru","ja":"飲まされる"},{"word":"asobu","romaji":"asobasareru","ja":"遊ばされる"},{"word":"kaku","romaji":"kakasareru","ja":"書かされる"},{"word":"oyogu","romaji":"oyogasareru","ja":"泳がされる"},{"word":"hanasu","romaji":"hanasaserareru","ja":"話させられる"},{"word":"iku","romaji":"ikasareru","ja":"行かされる"},{"word":"suru","romaji":"saserareru","ja":"させられる"},{"word":"kuru","romaji":"kosaserareru","ja":"来させられる"}],"measured":{"count":648,"perMillion":204.4,"shareOfHeads":0.0003},"cv":3,"focus":false,"n":34}],"stage":1,"range":"31-34","category":"Verb forms"},{"id":"verbs-11","label":"Helper verbs after -te","rationale":"Each is the te-form plus a small verb or particle: -te shimau, -te oku, -te miru, -te mo. Two of them shrink in speech (-chau, -toku), so the full and short forms are learned together.","interference":"-toku (do ahead) vs -teku (-te iku); -chau (end up) vs -cha (-te wa, must not); -te mo (even if) vs -te miru (try).","items":[{"id":"g-chau","romaji":"-chau / -te shimau","polite":"-chaimasu / -te shimaimasu","english":"Did it completely, or did it by accident and regret it.","use":"All over casual talk, mostly in the past: tabechatta (I ate it all), wasurechatta (oops, I forgot). The full -te shimau is for more careful speech.","ja":"〜ちゃう / 〜てしまう","kana":"〜ちゃう / 〜てしまう","politeJa":null,"pos":"verb","flags":[],"contrastGroup":null,"example":{"romaji":"a, kasa densha ni wasurechatta","ja":"あ、傘電車に忘れちゃった","english":"Oh no, I left my umbrella on the train."},"examplePolite":{"romaji":"kasa o densha ni wasurete shimaimashita","ja":"傘を電車に忘れてしまいました","english":"I left my umbrella on the train."},"freqRank":null,"score":null,"notes":"-chatta is past (did it, oops); -chau is now or about to (I'll end up doing it).","listLinks":["I-chau"],"name":"end up / finish (-chau)","formation":"Take the te-form: -te becomes -chau, -de becomes -jau (tabechau, katchau, nonjau). suru → shichau, kuru → kichau. Past: -chatta / -jatta.","table":[{"word":"taberu","romaji":"tabechau","ja":"食べちゃう"},{"word":"miru","romaji":"michau","ja":"見ちゃう"},{"word":"kau","romaji":"katchau","ja":"買っちゃう"},{"word":"matsu","romaji":"matchau","ja":"待っちゃう"},{"word":"kaeru","romaji":"kaetchau","ja":"帰っちゃう"},{"word":"nomu","romaji":"nonjau","ja":"飲んじゃう"},{"word":"asobu","romaji":"asonjau","ja":"遊んじゃう"},{"word":"kaku","romaji":"kaichau","ja":"書いちゃう"},{"word":"oyogu","romaji":"oyoijau","ja":"泳いじゃう"},{"word":"hanasu","romaji":"hanashichau","ja":"話しちゃう"},{"word":"iku","romaji":"itchau","ja":"行っちゃう"},{"word":"suru","romaji":"shichau","ja":"しちゃう"},{"word":"kuru","romaji":"kichau","ja":"来ちゃう"}],"measured":{"count":9297,"perMillion":2932.7,"shareOfHeads":0.0041},"cv":5,"focus":false,"n":35},{"id":"g-toku","romaji":"-toku / -te oku","polite":"-tokimasu / -te okimasu","english":"Do it now, ready for later; or leave it as it is.","use":"Planning and getting things ready: yoyaku shitoku ne (I'll book it). Also 'leave it': hottoite (leave me alone).","ja":"〜とく / 〜ておく","kana":"〜とく / 〜ておく","politeJa":null,"pos":"verb","flags":[],"contrastGroup":null,"example":{"romaji":"mise, yoyaku shitoku ne","ja":"店、予約しとくね","english":"I'll book the restaurant."},"examplePolite":{"romaji":"omise o yoyaku shite okimasu ne","ja":"お店を予約しておきますね","english":"I'll book the restaurant ahead of time."},"freqRank":null,"score":null,"notes":"-toku (do ahead) sounds close to -teku (-te iku, do before going): shitoku = I'll do it now for later; shiteku = I'll do it on my way.","listLinks":["I-toku"],"name":"do ahead (-toku)","formation":"Take the te-form: -te oku becomes -toku, -de oku becomes -doku (tabetoku, kattoku, nondoku). suru → shitoku, kuru → kitoku. Request: -toite / -doite.","table":[{"word":"taberu","romaji":"tabetoku","ja":"食べとく"},{"word":"miru","romaji":"mitoku","ja":"見とく"},{"word":"kau","romaji":"kattoku","ja":"買っとく"},{"word":"matsu","romaji":"mattoku","ja":"待っとく"},{"word":"kaeru","romaji":"kaettoku","ja":"帰っとく"},{"word":"nomu","romaji":"nondoku","ja":"飲んどく"},{"word":"asobu","romaji":"asondoku","ja":"遊んどく"},{"word":"kaku","romaji":"kaitoku","ja":"書いとく"},{"word":"oyogu","romaji":"oyoidoku","ja":"泳いどく"},{"word":"hanasu","romaji":"hanashitoku","ja":"話しとく"},{"word":"iku","romaji":"ittoku","ja":"行っとく"},{"word":"suru","romaji":"shitoku","ja":"しとく"},{"word":"kuru","romaji":"kitoku","ja":"来とく"}],"measured":{"count":8786,"perMillion":2771.5,"shareOfHeads":0.0038},"cv":4,"focus":false,"n":36},{"id":"g-te-miru","romaji":"-te miru","polite":"-te mimasu","english":"Try doing it and see how it goes.","use":"Suggesting or reporting a try: tabete mite (try it), itte mita (I went to check it out).","ja":"〜てみる","kana":"〜てみる","politeJa":null,"pos":"verb","flags":[],"contrastGroup":null,"example":{"romaji":"kore oishii yo, tabete mite","ja":"これおいしいよ、食べてみて","english":"This is good, try some."},"examplePolite":{"romaji":"kore oishii desu yo, tabete mite kudasai","ja":"これおいしいですよ、食べてみてください","english":"This is good, please try some."},"freqRank":null,"score":null,"notes":"-te miru is 'try it and see'; -ou to suru is 'attempt it' (and maybe fail).","listLinks":["I-te-miru"],"name":"try doing","formation":"te-form + miru: tabete miru, katte miru, nonde miru, shite miru, kite miru.","table":[{"word":"taberu","romaji":"tabete miru","ja":"食べてみる"},{"word":"miru","romaji":"mite miru","ja":"見てみる"},{"word":"kau","romaji":"katte miru","ja":"買ってみる"},{"word":"matsu","romaji":"matte miru","ja":"待ってみる"},{"word":"kaeru","romaji":"kaette miru","ja":"帰ってみる"},{"word":"nomu","romaji":"nonde miru","ja":"飲んでみる"},{"word":"asobu","romaji":"asonde miru","ja":"遊んでみる"},{"word":"kaku","romaji":"kaite miru","ja":"書いてみる"},{"word":"oyogu","romaji":"oyoide miru","ja":"泳いでみる"},{"word":"hanasu","romaji":"hanashite miru","ja":"話してみる"},{"word":"iku","romaji":"itte miru","ja":"行ってみる"},{"word":"suru","romaji":"shite miru","ja":"してみる"},{"word":"kuru","romaji":"kite miru","ja":"来てみる"}],"measured":{"count":10229,"perMillion":3226.7,"shareOfHeads":0.0045},"cv":4,"focus":true,"n":37},{"id":"g-te-mo","romaji":"-temo","polite":null,"english":"Even if / even though.","use":"For 'even if' and 'no matter what': ame futtemo iku. Also the start of asking permission: -temo ii? (is it OK if I...?).","ja":"〜ても / 〜でも","kana":"〜ても / 〜でも","politeJa":null,"pos":"verb","flags":[],"contrastGroup":null,"example":{"romaji":"ame futtemo, ashita wa iku yo","ja":"雨降っても、明日は行くよ","english":"Even if it rains, I'm going tomorrow."},"examplePolite":{"romaji":"ame ga futtemo, ashita wa ikimasu","ja":"雨が降っても、明日は行きます","english":"Even if it rains, I'll go tomorrow."},"freqRank":null,"score":null,"notes":"After a verb, -demo is -te mo (nondemo = even if I drink), not the word demo 'but'.","listLinks":["E-te-mo"],"name":"even if","formation":"te-form + mo: tabetemo, kattemo, nondemo, shitemo, kitemo.","table":[{"word":"taberu","romaji":"tabetemo","ja":"食べても"},{"word":"miru","romaji":"mitemo","ja":"見ても"},{"word":"kau","romaji":"kattemo","ja":"買っても"},{"word":"matsu","romaji":"mattemo","ja":"待っても"},{"word":"kaeru","romaji":"kaettemo","ja":"帰っても"},{"word":"nomu","romaji":"nondemo","ja":"飲んでも"},{"word":"asobu","romaji":"asondemo","ja":"遊んでも"},{"word":"kaku","romaji":"kaitemo","ja":"書いても"},{"word":"oyogu","romaji":"oyoidemo","ja":"泳いでも"},{"word":"hanasu","romaji":"hanashitemo","ja":"話しても"},{"word":"iku","romaji":"ittemo","ja":"行っても"},{"word":"suru","romaji":"shitemo","ja":"しても"},{"word":"kuru","romaji":"kitemo","ja":"来ても"}],"measured":{"count":9480,"perMillion":2990.4,"shareOfHeads":0.0042},"cv":4,"focus":false,"n":38}],"stage":1,"range":"35-38","category":"Verb forms"},{"id":"verbs-13","label":"Looks, too much, easy","rationale":"All three hang off the -masu stem: tabesou, tabesugiru, tabeyasui. One stem, three common add-ons.","interference":"Stem + sou (looks like) vs dictionary form + sou da (I hear); -yasui (easy to) vs yasui (cheap).","items":[{"id":"g-sou","romaji":"-sou","polite":"-sou desu","english":"Looks like it's about to happen.","use":"Judging from what you see: ame furisou (looks like rain), nakisou (about to cry), ochisou (about to fall).","ja":"〜そう","kana":"〜そう","politeJa":null,"pos":"verb","flags":[],"contrastGroup":null,"example":{"romaji":"sora kurai ne, ame furisou","ja":"空暗いね、雨降りそう","english":"The sky's dark. Looks like rain."},"examplePolite":{"romaji":"ame ga furisou desu ne","ja":"雨が降りそうですね","english":"It looks like it's going to rain."},"freqRank":null,"score":null,"notes":"Stem + sou = 'looks like'; dictionary form + sou da = 'I hear' (furu sou da = I hear it'll rain).","listLinks":["F-sou-looks"],"name":"looks about to","formation":"-masu stem + sou. Ichidan: drop -ru (tabesou). Godan: change the final -u to -i (furisou, nomisou). suru → shisou, kuru → kisou.","table":[{"word":"taberu","romaji":"tabesou","ja":"食べそう"},{"word":"miru","romaji":"misou","ja":"見そう"},{"word":"kau","romaji":"kaisou","ja":"買いそう"},{"word":"matsu","romaji":"machisou","ja":"待ちそう"},{"word":"kaeru","romaji":"kaerisou","ja":"帰りそう"},{"word":"nomu","romaji":"nomisou","ja":"飲みそう"},{"word":"asobu","romaji":"asobisou","ja":"遊びそう"},{"word":"kaku","romaji":"kakisou","ja":"書きそう"},{"word":"oyogu","romaji":"oyogisou","ja":"泳ぎそう"},{"word":"hanasu","romaji":"hanashisou","ja":"話しそう"},{"word":"iku","romaji":"ikisou","ja":"行きそう"},{"word":"suru","romaji":"shisou","ja":"しそう"},{"word":"kuru","romaji":"kisou","ja":"来そう"}],"measured":{"count":3872,"perMillion":1221.4,"shareOfHeads":0.0017},"cv":4,"focus":false,"n":39},{"id":"g-sugiru","romaji":"-sugiru","polite":"-sugimasu","english":"Doing something too much.","use":"Mostly in the past, about overdoing it: tabesugita, nomisugita. Works on adjectives too: takasugiru (too expensive).","ja":"〜すぎる","kana":"〜すぎる","politeJa":null,"pos":"verb","flags":[],"contrastGroup":null,"example":{"romaji":"kinou nomisugite, atama itai","ja":"昨日飲みすぎて、頭痛い","english":"I drank too much yesterday and my head hurts."},"examplePolite":{"romaji":"kinou nomisugite, atama ga itai desu","ja":"昨日飲みすぎて、頭が痛いです","english":"I drank too much yesterday, so I have a headache."},"freqRank":null,"score":null,"notes":"-sugi on its own is a casual exclamation: kawaisugi! (way too cute), not a mistake.","listLinks":["I-sugiru"],"name":"too much","formation":"-masu stem + sugiru: tabesugiru, nomisugiru, hanashisugiru, shisugiru, kisugiru. Adjectives drop -i (takasugiru; ii → yosugiru). It then conjugates like an ichidan verb (tabesugita).","table":[{"word":"taberu","romaji":"tabesugiru","ja":"食べすぎる"},{"word":"miru","romaji":"misugiru","ja":"見すぎる"},{"word":"kau","romaji":"kaisugiru","ja":"買いすぎる"},{"word":"matsu","romaji":"machisugiru","ja":"待ちすぎる"},{"word":"kaeru","romaji":"kaerisugiru","ja":"帰りすぎる"},{"word":"nomu","romaji":"nomisugiru","ja":"飲みすぎる"},{"word":"asobu","romaji":"asobisugiru","ja":"遊びすぎる"},{"word":"kaku","romaji":"kakisugiru","ja":"書きすぎる"},{"word":"oyogu","romaji":"oyogisugiru","ja":"泳ぎすぎる"},{"word":"hanasu","romaji":"hanashisugiru","ja":"話しすぎる"},{"word":"iku","romaji":"ikisugiru","ja":"行きすぎる"},{"word":"suru","romaji":"shisugiru","ja":"しすぎる"},{"word":"kuru","romaji":"kisugiru","ja":"来すぎる"}],"measured":{"count":1368,"perMillion":431.5,"shareOfHeads":0.0006},"cv":4,"focus":false,"n":40},{"id":"g-yasui","romaji":"-yasui / -nikui","polite":"-yasui desu / -nikui desu","english":"Easy to do / hard to do.","use":"Describing things and people: kono pen kakiyasui, hanashiyasui hito. -yasui also means 'tends to': kaze hikiyasui.","ja":"〜やすい / 〜にくい","kana":"〜やすい / 〜にくい","politeJa":null,"pos":"verb","flags":[],"contrastGroup":null,"example":{"romaji":"kono kutsu, sugoku arukiyasui yo","ja":"この靴、すごく歩きやすいよ","english":"These shoes are really easy to walk in."},"examplePolite":{"romaji":"kono kutsu wa totemo arukiyasui desu","ja":"この靴はとても歩きやすいです","english":"These shoes are very easy to walk in."},"freqRank":null,"score":null,"notes":"-yasui after a verb stem is 'easy to', not yasui 'cheap'.","listLinks":["I-yasui-suffix","I-nikui"],"name":"easy / hard to do","formation":"-masu stem + yasui or nikui: tabeyasui, kaiyasui, hanashiyasui, shiyasui, kiyasui. The result acts like an i-adjective (tabeyasukatta, wakarinikui).","table":[{"word":"taberu","romaji":"tabeyasui","ja":"食べやすい"},{"word":"miru","romaji":"miyasui","ja":"見やすい"},{"word":"kau","romaji":"kaiyasui","ja":"買いやすい"},{"word":"matsu","romaji":"machiyasui","ja":"待ちやすい"},{"word":"kaeru","romaji":"kaeriyasui","ja":"帰りやすい"},{"word":"nomu","romaji":"nomiyasui","ja":"飲みやすい"},{"word":"asobu","romaji":"asobiyasui","ja":"遊びやすい"},{"word":"kaku","romaji":"kakiyasui","ja":"書きやすい"},{"word":"oyogu","romaji":"oyogiyasui","ja":"泳ぎやすい"},{"word":"hanasu","romaji":"hanashiyasui","ja":"話しやすい"},{"word":"iku","romaji":"ikiyasui","ja":"行きやすい"},{"word":"suru","romaji":"shiyasui","ja":"しやすい"},{"word":"kuru","romaji":"kiyasui","ja":"来やすい"}],"measured":null,"cv":4,"focus":false,"n":41}],"stage":1,"range":"39-41","category":"Verb forms"},{"id":"verbs-14","label":"Spoken shortcuts","rationale":"Fast casual speech squeezes sounds: wakannai, -teru, -nakya, -chau. These are what make real conversation hard to follow, so each is learned as a map back to its full form.","interference":"-cha (-te wa) vs -chau (-te shimau); -nakya (must) vs -nai (not); the -n of wakannai vs the n of n da.","items":[{"id":"g-nn","romaji":"-nnai","polite":null,"english":"In fast speech, -ranai and -ru before n turn into n.","use":"All over casual speech, so you mostly need to hear it: wakannai (I don't get it), tsumannai (boring), shiran (dunno).","ja":"〜んない","kana":"〜んない","politeJa":null,"pos":"verb","flags":[],"contrastGroup":null,"example":{"romaji":"nani itteru ka zenzen wakannai","ja":"何言ってるか全然わかんない","english":"I have no idea what he's saying."},"examplePolite":null,"freqRank":null,"score":null,"notes":"The doubled n is the whole clue: wakannai is just wakaranai, not a different word.","listLinks":[],"name":"spoken -nnai","formation":"Before n, a verb's r-sound becomes n: kaeranai → kaennai, wakaranai → wakannai, nani shiteru no → nani shiten no. In rough or western speech -nai can shrink to -n: shiranai → shiran.","table":[{"word":"kaeru","romaji":"kaennai","ja":"帰んない"}],"measured":null,"cv":5,"focus":false,"n":42},{"id":"g-contractions","romaji":"-nakya, -teru, -chau","polite":null,"english":"The squeezed sounds of fast casual speech.","use":"Nearly every casual sentence has one; learn to hear each as its full form. Using them with friends sounds natural.","ja":"〜なきゃ・〜てる・〜ちゃう","kana":"〜なきゃ・〜てる・〜ちゃう","politeJa":null,"pos":"rule","flags":[],"contrastGroup":null,"example":{"romaji":"gomen, mou kaeranakya. ashita hayai n da","ja":"ごめん、もう帰らなきゃ。明日早いんだ","english":"Sorry, I've got to head home. Early start tomorrow."},"examplePolite":null,"freqRank":null,"score":null,"notes":"-cha and -chau differ by one sound: tabecha dame = you can't eat it; tabechau = I'll eat it all up.","listLinks":[],"name":"spoken contractions","formation":"-nakereba → -nakya, as in the table (tabenakya, ikanakya, konakya). Also -te iru → -teru, -te oku → -toku, -te shimau → -chau, -te wa → -cha, -te iku → -teku. And de wa → ja, no da → n da, -eba → -ya (ikeba → ikya).","table":[{"word":"taberu","romaji":"tabenakya","ja":"食べなきゃ"},{"word":"miru","romaji":"minakya","ja":"見なきゃ"},{"word":"kau","romaji":"kawanakya","ja":"買わなきゃ"},{"word":"matsu","romaji":"matanakya","ja":"待たなきゃ"},{"word":"kaeru","romaji":"kaeranakya","ja":"帰らなきゃ"},{"word":"nomu","romaji":"nomanakya","ja":"飲まなきゃ"},{"word":"asobu","romaji":"asobanakya","ja":"遊ばなきゃ"},{"word":"kaku","romaji":"kakanakya","ja":"書かなきゃ"},{"word":"oyogu","romaji":"oyoganakya","ja":"泳がなきゃ"},{"word":"hanasu","romaji":"hanasanakya","ja":"話さなきゃ"},{"word":"iku","romaji":"ikanakya","ja":"行かなきゃ"},{"word":"suru","romaji":"shinakya","ja":"しなきゃ"},{"word":"kuru","romaji":"konakya","ja":"来なきゃ"}],"measured":null,"cv":5,"focus":false,"n":43}],"stage":1,"range":"42-43","category":"Verb forms"},{"id":"adjectives-1","label":"Adjectives and the copula","rationale":"The core shapes of adjectives and nouns: is, was, isn't, wasn't, probably. i-adjectives change their own ending; na-adjectives and nouns lean on da, desu and deshou.","interference":"Polite past is -katta desu, not -i deshita; ii becomes yo- in every changed form (yokatta, yokunai); da never follows an i-adjective.","items":[{"id":"g-a-plain","romaji":"-i / da / desu","polite":"desu","english":"Says something is X, casually or politely.","use":"The base of every description. Casually an i-adjective stands alone (takai!) and da is often dropped (kirei!); politely add desu.","ja":"〜い / 〜だ / 〜です","kana":"〜い / 〜だ / 〜です","politeJa":null,"pos":"adj","flags":[],"contrastGroup":null,"example":{"romaji":"kono mise, chotto takai ne","ja":"この店、ちょっと高いね","english":"This place is a bit pricey, huh."},"examplePolite":{"romaji":"kono omise wa chotto takai desu ne","ja":"このお店はちょっと高いですね","english":"This shop is a little expensive, isn't it."},"freqRank":null,"score":null,"notes":"Never put da after an i-adjective (takai da ✗); casually just say takai.","listLinks":[],"name":"adjective plain and polite","formation":"i-adjectives: plain as is (takai, ii), polite + desu (takai desu, ii desu). Na-adjectives and nouns: plain + da (kirei da, gakusei da), polite + desu (kirei desu, gakusei desu).","table":[{"word":"takai","romaji":"takai desu","ja":"高いです"},{"word":"ii","romaji":"ii desu","ja":"いいです"},{"word":"kirei","romaji":"kirei desu","ja":"きれいです"},{"word":"gakusei","romaji":"gakusei desu","ja":"学生です"}],"measured":null,"cv":5,"focus":false,"n":44},{"id":"g-a-past","romaji":"-katta / datta","polite":"-katta desu / deshita","english":"Was X.","use":"Saying how something was: oishikatta, tanoshikatta. yokatta on its own also means 'I'm glad' or 'what a relief'.","ja":"〜かった / 〜だった","kana":"〜かった / 〜だった","politeJa":null,"pos":"adj","flags":[],"contrastGroup":null,"example":{"romaji":"kinou no raamen, mecha oishikatta","ja":"昨日のラーメン、めちゃおいしかった","english":"Yesterday's ramen was so good."},"examplePolite":{"romaji":"kinou no raamen, totemo oishikatta desu","ja":"昨日のラーメン、とてもおいしかったです","english":"The ramen yesterday was very good."},"freqRank":null,"score":null,"notes":"Polite past is -katta desu, not -i deshita (takai deshita ✗).","listLinks":["I-katta-datta"],"name":"adjective past","formation":"i-adjectives: drop -i, add -katta (takakatta); ii → yokatta. Na-adjectives and nouns: + datta (kirei datta, gakusei datta). Polite: -katta desu, or deshita after na-adjectives and nouns.","table":[{"word":"takai","romaji":"takakatta","ja":"高かった"},{"word":"ii","romaji":"yokatta","ja":"よかった"},{"word":"kirei","romaji":"kirei datta","ja":"きれいだった"},{"word":"gakusei","romaji":"gakusei datta","ja":"学生だった"}],"measured":{"count":21447,"perMillion":6765.3,"shareOfHeads":0.0571},"cv":5,"focus":false,"n":45},{"id":"g-a-neg","romaji":"-kunai / ja nai","polite":"-kunai desu / ja arimasen","english":"Is not X.","use":"Everyday 'not': samukunai?, amari suki ja nai. Often softened with sonna ni or amari.","ja":"〜くない / 〜じゃない","kana":"〜くない / 〜じゃない","politeJa":null,"pos":"adj","flags":[],"contrastGroup":null,"example":{"romaji":"sonna ni takakunai yo, daijoubu","ja":"そんなに高くないよ、大丈夫","english":"It's not that expensive, it's fine."},"examplePolite":{"romaji":"sonna ni takakunai desu yo, daijoubu desu","ja":"そんなに高くないですよ、大丈夫です","english":"It's not that expensive. It's fine."},"freqRank":null,"score":null,"notes":"ja nai? with a rising tone means 'isn't it?' (ii ja nai? = that's great, isn't it?), not 'it isn't'.","listLinks":["I-kunai-ja-nai"],"name":"adjective negative","formation":"i-adjectives: drop -i, add -kunai (takakunai); ii → yokunai. Na-adjectives and nouns: + ja nai (kirei ja nai, gakusei ja nai). Polite: -kunai desu, ja nai desu or ja arimasen.","table":[{"word":"takai","romaji":"takakunai","ja":"高くない"},{"word":"ii","romaji":"yokunai","ja":"よくない"},{"word":"kirei","romaji":"kirei ja nai","ja":"きれいじゃない"},{"word":"gakusei","romaji":"gakusei ja nai","ja":"学生じゃない"}],"measured":{"count":4439,"perMillion":1400.2,"shareOfHeads":0.0118},"cv":5,"focus":false,"n":46},{"id":"g-a-negpast","romaji":"-kunakatta / ja nakatta","polite":"-kunakatta desu / ja arimasen deshita","english":"Was not X.","use":"Saying something wasn't so: anmari oishikunakatta. Usually softened with anmari or sonna ni.","ja":"〜くなかった / 〜じゃなかった","kana":"〜くなかった / 〜じゃなかった","politeJa":null,"pos":"adj","flags":[],"contrastGroup":null,"example":{"romaji":"eiga, anmari omoshirokunakatta","ja":"映画、あんまり面白くなかった","english":"The movie wasn't all that good."},"examplePolite":{"romaji":"eiga wa amari omoshirokunakatta desu","ja":"映画はあまり面白くなかったです","english":"The movie wasn't very interesting."},"freqRank":null,"score":null,"notes":"ii changes to yo- here too: yokunakatta, never iikunakatta.","listLinks":[],"name":"adjective negative past","formation":"i-adjectives: drop -i, add -kunakatta (takakunakatta); ii → yokunakatta. Na-adjectives and nouns: + ja nakatta (kirei ja nakatta, gakusei ja nakatta).","table":[{"word":"takai","romaji":"takakunakatta","ja":"高くなかった"},{"word":"ii","romaji":"yokunakatta","ja":"よくなかった"},{"word":"kirei","romaji":"kirei ja nakatta","ja":"きれいじゃなかった"},{"word":"gakusei","romaji":"gakusei ja nakatta","ja":"学生じゃなかった"}],"measured":{"count":342,"perMillion":107.9,"shareOfHeads":0.0009},"cv":4,"focus":false,"n":47},{"id":"g-a-darou","romaji":"deshou / darou","polite":"deshou","english":"Probably; or, said rising, 'right?'.","use":"Guessing (ashita wa ame deshou) and checking that you agree (ii deshou?). Casual speech shortens it to desho and daro.","ja":"でしょう / だろう","kana":"でしょう / だろう","politeJa":null,"pos":"adj","flags":[],"contrastGroup":null,"example":{"romaji":"kore, kawaii desho? kinou katta n da","ja":"これ、かわいいでしょ?昨日買ったんだ","english":"Cute, right? I bought it yesterday."},"examplePolite":{"romaji":"kore, kawaii deshou? kinou katta n desu yo","ja":"これ、かわいいでしょう?昨日買ったんですよ","english":"Isn't this cute? I bought it yesterday."},"freqRank":null,"score":null,"notes":"Rising deshou? asks you to agree; falling deshou is a guess. darou is mostly male or written; most people say desho casually.","listLinks":["F-darou"],"name":"probably / right?","formation":"Plain form + deshou or darou: takai deshou, ii deshou. Na-adjectives and nouns drop da: kirei deshou, gakusei deshou.","table":[{"word":"takai","romaji":"takai deshou","ja":"高いでしょう"},{"word":"ii","romaji":"ii deshou","ja":"いいでしょう"},{"word":"kirei","romaji":"kirei deshou","ja":"きれいでしょう"},{"word":"gakusei","romaji":"gakusei deshou","ja":"学生でしょう"}],"measured":null,"cv":5,"focus":false,"n":48}],"stage":1,"range":"44-48","category":"Adjectives and the copula"},{"id":"adjectives-2","label":"Adjectives that link and change","rationale":"What adjectives do inside a longer sentence: link (-kute / de), change (-ku naru), sit before a noun (na / no), set a condition (-kattara), and say how things look (-sou).","interference":"-ku naru (becomes) vs -ku suru (makes it); stem + sou (looks) vs plain + sou da (I hear); ii → yokute, yoku, yosasou.","items":[{"id":"g-a-te","romaji":"-kute / de","polite":null,"english":"Links descriptions (X and Y), or gives a reason.","use":"Stringing descriptions: yasukute oishii (cheap and tasty). Also a reason: samukute nerenakatta (too cold to sleep).","ja":"〜くて / 〜で","kana":"〜くて / 〜で","politeJa":null,"pos":"adj","flags":[],"contrastGroup":null,"example":{"romaji":"ano mise, yasukute oishii yo","ja":"あの店、安くておいしいよ","english":"That place is cheap and tasty."},"examplePolite":{"romaji":"ano omise wa yasukute oishii desu yo","ja":"あのお店は安くておいしいですよ","english":"That restaurant is cheap and good."},"freqRank":null,"score":null,"notes":"Don't join adjectives with to (yasui to oishii ✗); to only joins nouns.","listLinks":["I-kute-de","E-de-sorede"],"name":"adjective te-form","formation":"i-adjectives: drop -i, add -kute (takakute); ii → yokute. Na-adjectives and nouns: + de (kirei de, gakusei de). Verbs link with their te-form, as in the table (tabete, itte).","table":[{"word":"taberu","romaji":"tabete","ja":"食べて"},{"word":"miru","romaji":"mite","ja":"見て"},{"word":"kau","romaji":"katte","ja":"買って"},{"word":"matsu","romaji":"matte","ja":"待って"},{"word":"kaeru","romaji":"kaette","ja":"帰って"},{"word":"nomu","romaji":"nonde","ja":"飲んで"},{"word":"asobu","romaji":"asonde","ja":"遊んで"},{"word":"kaku","romaji":"kaite","ja":"書いて"},{"word":"oyogu","romaji":"oyoide","ja":"泳いで"},{"word":"hanasu","romaji":"hanashite","ja":"話して"},{"word":"iku","romaji":"itte","ja":"行って"},{"word":"suru","romaji":"shite","ja":"して"},{"word":"kuru","romaji":"kite","ja":"来て"}],"measured":{"count":5679,"perMillion":1791.4,"shareOfHeads":0.0151},"cv":4,"focus":false,"n":49},{"id":"g-a-naru","romaji":"-ku naru / ni naru","polite":"-ku narimasu / ni narimasu","english":"Becomes X; the -ku / ni part is also the adverb form.","use":"For changes: samuku natta, jouzu ni natta. The same -ku / ni form works as an adverb: hayaku, kirei ni.","ja":"〜くなる / 〜になる","kana":"〜くなる / 〜になる","politeJa":null,"pos":"adj","flags":[],"contrastGroup":null,"example":{"romaji":"kyuu ni samuku natta ne","ja":"急に寒くなったね","english":"It suddenly got cold, huh."},"examplePolite":{"romaji":"kyuu ni samuku narimashita ne","ja":"急に寒くなりましたね","english":"It's suddenly turned cold, hasn't it."},"freqRank":null,"score":null,"notes":"naru is for things that change; suru is for changing something yourself (heya o kirei ni suru = tidy the room).","listLinks":[],"name":"becoming (-ku naru)","formation":"i-adjectives: drop -i, add -ku (takaku naru); ii → yoku naru. Na-adjectives and nouns: + ni (kirei ni naru, gakusei ni naru).","table":[{"word":"takai","romaji":"takaku naru","ja":"高くなる"},{"word":"ii","romaji":"yoku naru","ja":"よくなる"},{"word":"kirei","romaji":"kirei ni naru","ja":"きれいになる"},{"word":"gakusei","romaji":"gakusei ni naru","ja":"学生になる"}],"measured":{"count":34699,"perMillion":10945.5,"shareOfHeads":0.0924},"cv":4,"focus":false,"n":50},{"id":"g-a-attr","romaji":"-i / na / no + noun","polite":null,"english":"Describes a noun directly: an X thing.","use":"Constantly, to describe things and people: takai mise, kirei na hito, gakusei no toki.","ja":"〜い / 〜な / 〜の","kana":"〜い / 〜な / 〜の","politeJa":null,"pos":"adj","flags":[],"contrastGroup":null,"example":{"romaji":"kinou, sugoku kirei na hito mita","ja":"昨日、すごくきれいな人見た","english":"I saw a really good-looking person yesterday."},"examplePolite":{"romaji":"kinou, totemo kirei na hito o mimashita","ja":"昨日、とてもきれいな人を見ました","english":"Yesterday I saw a very beautiful person."},"freqRank":null,"score":null,"notes":"Some words end in -ei or -i but take na: kirei na, yuumei na, not kirei hito.","listLinks":[],"name":"before a noun","formation":"i-adjectives go straight before the noun (takai hon, ii hito). Na-adjectives add na (kirei na hito). Nouns add no (gakusei no toki).","table":[{"word":"takai","romaji":"takai","ja":"高い"},{"word":"ii","romaji":"ii","ja":"いい"},{"word":"kirei","romaji":"kirei na","ja":"きれいな"},{"word":"gakusei","romaji":"gakusei no","ja":"学生の"}],"measured":{"count":47154,"perMillion":14874.4,"shareOfHeads":0.2974},"cv":5,"focus":false,"n":51},{"id":"g-a-if","romaji":"-kereba / -kattara / nara","polite":null,"english":"If it's X.","use":"Conditions about qualities: takakattara kawanai. yokattara (if you like) is a very common polite offer.","ja":"〜ければ / 〜かったら / なら","kana":"〜ければ / 〜かったら / なら","politeJa":null,"pos":"adj","flags":[],"contrastGroup":null,"example":{"romaji":"takakattara, betsu no mise ni shiyou","ja":"高かったら、別の店にしよう","english":"If it's expensive, let's go somewhere else."},"examplePolite":{"romaji":"takakattara, betsu no omise ni shimashou","ja":"高かったら、別のお店にしましょう","english":"If it's expensive, let's try another place."},"freqRank":null,"score":null,"notes":"yokattara is less 'if it's good' than 'if you'd like' (yokattara douzo = please, help yourself).","listLinks":[],"name":"adjective if","formation":"i-adjectives: drop -i, add -kattara or -kereba (takakattara, takakereba); ii → yokattara, yokereba. Na-adjectives and nouns: + nara or dattara (kirei nara, gakusei dattara). Verbs use -tara, as in the table (tabetara, ittara).","table":[{"word":"taberu","romaji":"tabetara","ja":"食べたら"},{"word":"miru","romaji":"mitara","ja":"見たら"},{"word":"kau","romaji":"kattara","ja":"買ったら"},{"word":"matsu","romaji":"mattara","ja":"待ったら"},{"word":"kaeru","romaji":"kaettara","ja":"帰ったら"},{"word":"nomu","romaji":"nondara","ja":"飲んだら"},{"word":"asobu","romaji":"asondara","ja":"遊んだら"},{"word":"kaku","romaji":"kaitara","ja":"書いたら"},{"word":"oyogu","romaji":"oyoidara","ja":"泳いだら"},{"word":"hanasu","romaji":"hanashitara","ja":"話したら"},{"word":"iku","romaji":"ittara","ja":"行ったら"},{"word":"suru","romaji":"shitara","ja":"したら"},{"word":"kuru","romaji":"kitara","ja":"来たら"}],"measured":{"count":757,"perMillion":238.8,"shareOfHeads":0.002},"cv":4,"focus":false,"n":52},{"id":"g-a-sou","romaji":"-sou","polite":"-sou desu","english":"Looks X, judging by appearance.","use":"Reacting to what you see: oishisou! (looks good!), tanoshisou, genki sou.","ja":"〜そう","kana":"〜そう","politeJa":null,"pos":"adj","flags":[],"contrastGroup":null,"example":{"romaji":"waa, kore mecha oishisou!","ja":"わあ、これめちゃおいしそう!","english":"Wow, this looks so good!"},"examplePolite":{"romaji":"waa, totemo oishisou desu ne","ja":"わあ、とてもおいしそうですね","english":"Oh, that looks delicious."},"freqRank":null,"score":null,"notes":"kawaisou means 'poor thing', not 'looks cute'. And plain form + sou da is hearsay: takai sou da = I hear it's expensive.","listLinks":["F-sou-looks"],"name":"looks (adjective)","formation":"i-adjectives: drop -i, add sou (oishisou); ii → yosasou, nai → nasasou. Na-adjectives: + sou (genki sou). Verbs use the -masu stem, as in the table (tabesou, furisou).","table":[{"word":"taberu","romaji":"tabesou","ja":"食べそう"},{"word":"miru","romaji":"misou","ja":"見そう"},{"word":"kau","romaji":"kaisou","ja":"買いそう"},{"word":"matsu","romaji":"machisou","ja":"待ちそう"},{"word":"kaeru","romaji":"kaerisou","ja":"帰りそう"},{"word":"nomu","romaji":"nomisou","ja":"飲みそう"},{"word":"asobu","romaji":"asobisou","ja":"遊びそう"},{"word":"kaku","romaji":"kakisou","ja":"書きそう"},{"word":"oyogu","romaji":"oyogisou","ja":"泳ぎそう"},{"word":"hanasu","romaji":"hanashisou","ja":"話しそう"},{"word":"iku","romaji":"ikisou","ja":"行きそう"},{"word":"suru","romaji":"shisou","ja":"しそう"},{"word":"kuru","romaji":"kisou","ja":"来そう"}],"measured":{"count":2509,"perMillion":791.4,"shareOfHeads":0.0067},"cv":5,"focus":false,"n":53}],"stage":1,"range":"49-53","category":"Adjectives and the copula"},{"id":"patterns-1","label":"Deciding and arranging","rationale":"Say what you decided, what got decided for you, and what you were told to do.","interference":"koto ni suru (you chose) vs koto ni naru (it was decided or turned out that way).","items":[{"id":"g-koto-ni-naru","romaji":"-koto ni naru","polite":"-koto ni narimasu","english":"it's been decided that; end up doing","use":"For plans settled by others or by circumstance; the past, -koto ni natta, is the usual way to announce news.","ja":"〜ことになる","kana":"〜ことになる","politeJa":"〜ことになります","pos":"pattern","flags":[],"contrastGroup":null,"example":{"romaji":"raigetsu oosaka ni tenkin suru koto ni natta yo","ja":"来月大阪に転勤することになったよ","english":"I'm being transferred to Osaka next month."},"examplePolite":{"romaji":"raigetsu oosaka ni tenkin suru koto ni narimashita","ja":"来月大阪に転勤することになりました","english":"I'll be transferring to Osaka next month."},"freqRank":388,"score":4,"notes":"Compare -koto ni suru, where you made the choice yourself. -koto ni natte iru states a rule or standing arrangement.","listLinks":[],"formation":"dictionary form or -nai form + koto ni naru","name":null,"cv":4,"focus":false,"n":54},{"id":"g-koto-ni-suru","romaji":"-koto ni suru","polite":"-koto ni shimasu","english":"decide to","use":"Usually past, -koto ni shita, to report a choice you made; -koto ni shite iru means it's your habit or rule.","ja":"〜ことにする","kana":"〜ことにする","politeJa":"〜ことにします","pos":"pattern","flags":[],"contrastGroup":null,"example":{"romaji":"ashita kara hashiru koto ni shita","ja":"明日から走ることにした","english":"I've decided to start running tomorrow."},"examplePolite":{"romaji":"ashita kara hashiru koto ni shimashita","ja":"明日から走ることにしました","english":"I've decided to start running tomorrow."},"freqRank":886,"score":4,"notes":"Compare -koto ni naru (decided for you). To choose an item, use noun + ni suru: 'koohii ni suru'.","listLinks":[],"formation":"dictionary form or -nai form + koto ni suru","name":null,"cv":4,"focus":false,"n":55},{"id":"g-you-ni-iu","romaji":"-you ni iu","polite":"-you ni iimasu","english":"tell someone to; ask someone to","use":"Reports an instruction indirectly; put the verb in -nai form for 'told not to'.","ja":"〜ように言う","kana":"〜ようにいう","politeJa":"〜ように言います","pos":"pattern","flags":[],"contrastGroup":null,"example":{"romaji":"isha ni sake o yameru you ni iwareta","ja":"医者に酒をやめるように言われた","english":"The doctor told me to quit drinking."},"examplePolite":{"romaji":"isha ni osake o yameru you ni iwaremashita","ja":"医者にお酒をやめるように言われました","english":"My doctor told me to stop drinking."},"freqRank":2992,"score":4,"notes":"Most often passive: -you ni iwareta, 'I was told to'. To pass on a message: '-you ni tsutaete' (tell them to).","listLinks":[],"formation":"dictionary form or -nai form + you ni iu (also tanomu, tsutaeru)","name":null,"cv":3,"focus":false,"n":56},{"id":"g-you-ni-suru","romaji":"-you ni suru","polite":"-you ni shimasu","english":"make a point of; try to (as a habit)","use":"For an ongoing effort, not a one-off attempt; -you ni shite iru means 'I make sure to'.","ja":"〜ようにする","kana":"〜ようにする","politeJa":"〜ようにします","pos":"pattern","flags":[],"contrastGroup":null,"example":{"romaji":"yoru wa amai mono tabenai you ni shiteru","ja":"夜は甘い物食べないようにしてる","english":"I try not to eat sweets at night."},"examplePolite":{"romaji":"yoru wa amai mono o tabenai you ni shite imasu","ja":"夜は甘い物を食べないようにしています","english":"I make a point of not eating sweets at night."},"freqRank":903,"score":3,"notes":"Don't mix with -you ni naru (come to be able to) or -ou to suru (try once).","listLinks":[],"formation":"dictionary form or -nai form + you ni suru","name":null,"cv":3,"focus":false,"n":57}],"stage":1,"range":"54-57","category":"Grammar patterns"},{"id":"verbs-12","label":"Doing two things","rationale":"Three ways to fit two actions in one sentence: as examples (-tari), at the same time (-nagara), or one without the other (-zu ni).","interference":"Each takes a different stem: -tari the past (tabetari), -nagara the -masu stem (tabenagara), -zu ni the negative stem (tabezu ni). Mixing the stems is the usual slip.","items":[{"id":"g-tari","romaji":"-tari ... -tari","polite":"-tari ... -tari shimasu","english":"Doing things like A and B, among other things.","use":"Listing sample activities, usually closed with suru: eiga mitari, kaimono shitari shita. A single -tari keeps it vague (netari shiteta = I was sleeping and stuff).","ja":"〜たり〜たり","kana":"〜たり〜たり","politeJa":null,"pos":"verb","flags":[],"contrastGroup":null,"example":{"romaji":"shuumatsu wa eiga mitari, kaimono shitari shita","ja":"週末は映画見たり、買い物したりした","english":"At the weekend I watched movies, went shopping, that kind of thing."},"examplePolite":{"romaji":"shuumatsu wa eiga o mitari, kaimono o shitari shimashita","ja":"週末は映画を見たり、買い物をしたりしました","english":"At the weekend I watched movies and went shopping, among other things."},"freqRank":null,"score":null,"notes":"-tari lists examples; -te strings actions in order (eiga mite, kaimono shita = watched a movie, then shopped).","listLinks":[],"name":"things like (-tari)","formation":"Past form + ri: tabetari, kattari, nondari, shitari, kitari. Close the list with suru (-tari -tari suru).","table":[{"word":"taberu","romaji":"tabetari","ja":"食べたり"},{"word":"miru","romaji":"mitari","ja":"見たり"},{"word":"kau","romaji":"kattari","ja":"買ったり"},{"word":"matsu","romaji":"mattari","ja":"待ったり"},{"word":"kaeru","romaji":"kaettari","ja":"帰ったり"},{"word":"nomu","romaji":"nondari","ja":"飲んだり"},{"word":"asobu","romaji":"asondari","ja":"遊んだり"},{"word":"kaku","romaji":"kaitari","ja":"書いたり"},{"word":"oyogu","romaji":"oyoidari","ja":"泳いだり"},{"word":"hanasu","romaji":"hanashitari","ja":"話したり"},{"word":"iku","romaji":"ittari","ja":"行ったり"},{"word":"suru","romaji":"shitari","ja":"したり"},{"word":"kuru","romaji":"kitari","ja":"来たり"}],"measured":{"count":3393,"perMillion":1070.3,"shareOfHeads":0.0015},"cv":4,"focus":true,"n":58},{"id":"g-nagara","romaji":"-nagara","polite":null,"english":"Doing one thing while doing another (same person).","use":"Two actions at once by one person: arukinagara, terebi minagara. The main action comes last.","ja":"〜ながら","kana":"〜ながら","politeJa":null,"pos":"verb","flags":[],"contrastGroup":null,"example":{"romaji":"itsumo terebi minagara gohan tabeteru","ja":"いつもテレビ見ながらご飯食べてる","english":"I always eat while watching TV."},"examplePolite":{"romaji":"itsumo terebi o minagara gohan o tabemasu","ja":"いつもテレビを見ながらご飯を食べます","english":"I always eat while watching TV."},"freqRank":null,"score":null,"notes":"Only for one person doing both. When someone else does the other thing, use -te iru aida (while they...).","listLinks":["A-nagara"],"name":"while doing","formation":"-masu stem + nagara. Ichidan: drop -ru (tabenagara). Godan: change the final -u to -i (nominagara, hanashinagara). suru → shinagara, kuru → kinagara.","table":[{"word":"taberu","romaji":"tabenagara","ja":"食べながら"},{"word":"miru","romaji":"minagara","ja":"見ながら"},{"word":"kau","romaji":"kainagara","ja":"買いながら"},{"word":"matsu","romaji":"machinagara","ja":"待ちながら"},{"word":"kaeru","romaji":"kaerinagara","ja":"帰りながら"},{"word":"nomu","romaji":"nominagara","ja":"飲みながら"},{"word":"asobu","romaji":"asobinagara","ja":"遊びながら"},{"word":"kaku","romaji":"kakinagara","ja":"書きながら"},{"word":"oyogu","romaji":"oyoginagara","ja":"泳ぎながら"},{"word":"hanasu","romaji":"hanashinagara","ja":"話しながら"},{"word":"iku","romaji":"ikinagara","ja":"行きながら"},{"word":"suru","romaji":"shinagara","ja":"しながら"},{"word":"kuru","romaji":"kinagara","ja":"来ながら"}],"measured":{"count":1489,"perMillion":469.7,"shareOfHeads":0.0007},"cv":3,"focus":false,"n":59},{"id":"g-zu-ni","romaji":"-zu ni","polite":null,"english":"Without doing it.","use":"Doing one thing without the other: nani mo iwazu ni kaetta. In chat -naide is more common; -zu ni turns up in stories and set phrases (wasurezu ni).","ja":"〜ずに","kana":"〜ずに","politeJa":null,"pos":"verb","flags":[],"contrastGroup":null,"example":{"romaji":"nani mo iwazu ni kaetchatta","ja":"何も言わずに帰っちゃった","english":"He went home without saying anything."},"examplePolite":{"romaji":"nani mo iwazu ni kaette shimaimashita","ja":"何も言わずに帰ってしまいました","english":"He went home without saying a word."},"freqRank":null,"score":null,"notes":"suru becomes sezu ni, not shizu ni. -naide means the same and is the everyday choice (tabenaide).","listLinks":[],"name":"without doing","formation":"Negative stem + zu ni. Ichidan: drop -ru (tabezu ni). Godan: change the final -u to -a (kawazu ni, ikazu ni). suru → sezu ni, kuru → kozu ni.","table":[{"word":"taberu","romaji":"tabezu ni","ja":"食べずに"},{"word":"miru","romaji":"mizu ni","ja":"見ずに"},{"word":"kau","romaji":"kawazu ni","ja":"買わずに"},{"word":"matsu","romaji":"matazu ni","ja":"待たずに"},{"word":"kaeru","romaji":"kaerazu ni","ja":"帰らずに"},{"word":"nomu","romaji":"nomazu ni","ja":"飲まずに"},{"word":"asobu","romaji":"asobazu ni","ja":"遊ばずに"},{"word":"kaku","romaji":"kakazu ni","ja":"書かずに"},{"word":"oyogu","romaji":"oyogazu ni","ja":"泳がずに"},{"word":"hanasu","romaji":"hanasazu ni","ja":"話さずに"},{"word":"iku","romaji":"ikazu ni","ja":"行かずに"},{"word":"suru","romaji":"sezu ni","ja":"せずに"},{"word":"kuru","romaji":"kozu ni","ja":"来ずに"}],"measured":{"count":6061,"perMillion":1911.9,"shareOfHeads":0.0027},"cv":2,"focus":false,"n":60}],"stage":2,"range":"58-60","category":"Verb forms"},{"id":"patterns-7","label":"Quoting and referring","rationale":"Ask whether, pass on what you heard, sum it up, and refer back to what was said.","interference":"to ieba (speaking of X) vs sou ieba (that reminds me).","items":[{"id":"g-ka-dou-ka","romaji":"-ka dou ka","polite":null,"english":"whether or not","use":"Tucks a yes/no question into a sentence, usually before wakaranai, kiku or shiraberu.","ja":"〜かどうか","kana":"〜かどうか","politeJa":null,"pos":"pattern","flags":[],"contrastGroup":null,"example":{"romaji":"kare ga kuru ka dou ka wakannai","ja":"彼が来るかどうかわかんない","english":"I don't know whether he's coming."},"examplePolite":{"romaji":"kare ga kuru ka dou ka wakarimasen","ja":"彼が来るかどうかわかりません","english":"I don't know if he's coming or not."},"freqRank":592,"score":4,"notes":"With a question word, use plain ka: 'itsu kuru ka wakaranai'.","listLinks":[],"formation":"plain form + ka dou ka (noun or na-adjective drops da)","name":null,"cv":3,"focus":false,"n":61},{"id":"g-toori","romaji":"-toori","polite":null,"english":"just as; the way (said, planned, shown)","use":"Something matches what was said or shown; iu toori, 'just as you say', is the most common.","ja":"〜とおり","kana":"〜とおり","politeJa":null,"pos":"pattern","flags":[],"contrastGroup":null,"example":{"romaji":"iwareta toori ni yatta kedo, dame datta","ja":"言われたとおりにやったけど、ダメだった","english":"I did exactly what I was told, but it didn't work."},"examplePolite":{"romaji":"iwareta toori ni yarimashita ga, dame deshita","ja":"言われたとおりにやりましたが、ダメでした","english":"I did it exactly as instructed, but it didn't work."},"freqRank":1038,"score":4,"notes":"'sono toori' = exactly, that's right. 'yotei doori' = as planned.","listLinks":[],"formation":"dictionary or -ta form + toori; noun + no toori; noun + doori","name":null,"cv":3,"focus":false,"n":62},{"id":"g-to-ieba","romaji":"-to ieba","polite":null,"english":"speaking of; when you think of","use":"Picks up a word just said to shift topic, or names the classic example: 'kyouto to ieba otera'.","ja":"〜といえば","kana":"〜といえば","politeJa":null,"pos":"pattern","flags":[],"contrastGroup":null,"example":{"romaji":"natsu to ieba, yappari suika da yo ne","ja":"夏といえば、やっぱりスイカだよね","english":"When you think summer, it's got to be watermelon."},"examplePolite":{"romaji":"natsu to ieba, yappari suika desu yo ne","ja":"夏といえば、やっぱりスイカですよね","english":"Speaking of summer, watermelon is the classic, isn't it?"},"freqRank":3418,"score":3,"notes":"Sou ieba is the stand-alone 'that reminds me'. Casual: 'X tte ieba'.","listLinks":[],"formation":"noun or plain form + to ieba","name":null,"cv":4,"focus":true,"n":63},{"id":"g-to-iu-koto-da","romaji":"-to iu koto da","polite":"-to iu koto desu","english":"it means that; I hear that","use":"Sums up or draws a conclusion ('so that means...'), or passes on news you heard.","ja":"〜ということだ","kana":"〜ということだ","politeJa":"〜ということです","pos":"pattern","flags":[],"contrastGroup":null,"example":{"romaji":"jaa, kyanseru to iu koto da ne","ja":"じゃあ、キャンセルということだね","english":"So that means it's cancelled."},"examplePolite":{"romaji":"jaa, kyanseru to iu koto desu ne","ja":"じゃあ、キャンセルということですね","english":"So it's cancelled, then."},"freqRank":4024,"score":3,"notes":"Casual speech says tte koto: 'kyanseru tte koto?'. On the news, '... to iu koto desu' means 'reportedly'.","listLinks":[],"formation":"plain form + to iu koto da","name":null,"cv":4,"focus":false,"n":64},{"id":"g-ni-yoru-to","romaji":"-ni yoru to","polite":null,"english":"according to","use":"Names the source of what you heard; the sentence usually ends in -sou da, rashii or tte.","ja":"〜によると","kana":"〜によると","politeJa":null,"pos":"pattern","flags":[],"contrastGroup":null,"example":{"romaji":"tenki yohou ni yoru to, ashita wa yuki rashii yo","ja":"天気予報によると、明日は雪らしいよ","english":"According to the forecast, it's going to snow tomorrow."},"examplePolite":{"romaji":"tenki yohou ni yoru to, ashita wa yuki da sou desu","ja":"天気予報によると、明日は雪だそうです","english":"According to the weather forecast, it'll snow tomorrow."},"freqRank":4962,"score":3,"notes":"Not the same as -ni yoru, 'it depends on'. -ni yoreba means the same and sounds more formal.","listLinks":[],"formation":"noun + ni yoru to","name":null,"cv":2,"focus":false,"n":65}],"stage":2,"range":"61-65","category":"Grammar patterns"},{"id":"patterns-10","label":"Even though","rationale":"Push back, complain, make allowances and play things down.","interference":"ni shite wa (for a) vs ni shite mo (even allowing for); kuse ni vs the neutral -noni.","items":[{"id":"g-kuse-ni","romaji":"-kuse ni","polite":null,"english":"even though (critical); and yet","use":"Criticises someone for acting against what they are or know; sounds accusing, so keep it out of polite talk.","ja":"〜くせに","kana":"〜くせに","politeJa":null,"pos":"pattern","flags":["casual-only"],"contrastGroup":null,"example":{"romaji":"nani mo shiranai kuse ni, erasou ni iu na yo","ja":"何も知らないくせに、偉そうに言うなよ","english":"You don't know a thing, so quit acting like an expert."},"examplePolite":null,"freqRank":648,"score":3,"notes":"-noni is the neutral 'even though'. Ending a sentence on kuse ni is a jab: 'shiranai kuse ni' (like you'd know).","listLinks":[],"formation":"plain form + kuse ni; noun + no kuse ni; na-adjective + na kuse ni","name":null,"cv":3,"focus":false,"n":66},{"id":"g-kara-tte","romaji":"-kara tte","polite":null,"english":"just because","use":"Almost always followed by a negative or a complaint: 'just because X doesn't mean Y'.","ja":"〜からって","kana":"〜からって","politeJa":null,"pos":"pattern","flags":[],"contrastGroup":null,"example":{"romaji":"yasui kara tte, kaisugi da yo","ja":"安いからって、買いすぎだよ","english":"Just because it's cheap doesn't mean you buy that much."},"examplePolite":{"romaji":"yasui kara to itte, kaisugi desu yo","ja":"安いからといって、買いすぎですよ","english":"Even if it's cheap, that's too much to buy."},"freqRank":884,"score":3,"notes":"Kara to itte is the fuller, more polite form. Compare kara koso, 'precisely because'.","listLinks":[],"formation":"plain form + kara tte","name":null,"cv":3,"focus":false,"n":67},{"id":"g-ni-shite-mo","romaji":"-ni shite mo","polite":null,"english":"even if; even so; still","use":"Grants one point, then adds a reservation: 'even allowing for that'.","ja":"〜にしても","kana":"〜にしても","politeJa":null,"pos":"pattern","flags":[],"contrastGroup":null,"example":{"romaji":"isogashii ni shite mo, renraku gurai shite yo","ja":"忙しいにしても、連絡ぐらいしてよ","english":"Even if you're busy, at least get in touch."},"examplePolite":{"romaji":"isogashii ni shite mo, renraku gurai shite kudasai yo","ja":"忙しいにしても、連絡ぐらいしてくださいよ","english":"Busy or not, please at least let me know."},"freqRank":2105,"score":3,"notes":"'sore ni shite mo' = even so, still: 'sore ni shite mo samui ne'. Compare -ni shite wa, 'for a'.","listLinks":[],"formation":"noun or plain form + ni shite mo","name":null,"cv":3,"focus":false,"n":68},{"id":"g-ni-shite-wa","romaji":"-ni shite wa","polite":null,"english":"for a; considering (it's)","use":"Says something is surprising given what it is: 'pretty good for a beginner'.","ja":"〜にしては","kana":"〜にしては","politeJa":null,"pos":"pattern","flags":[],"contrastGroup":null,"example":{"romaji":"shoshinsha ni shite wa umai ne","ja":"初心者にしてはうまいね","english":"You're good for a beginner."},"examplePolite":{"romaji":"shoshinsha ni shite wa jouzu desu ne","ja":"初心者にしては上手ですね","english":"You're very good for a beginner."},"freqRank":2685,"score":3,"notes":"The result always goes against what you'd expect. Don't mix with -ni shite mo, 'even if'.","listLinks":[],"formation":"noun or plain form + ni shite wa","name":null,"cv":3,"focus":false,"n":69},{"id":"g-to-itte-mo","romaji":"-to itte mo","polite":null,"english":"although; that said; though it's only","use":"Plays down what you just said: 'I cook, though it's just simple stuff'.","ja":"〜といっても","kana":"〜といっても","politeJa":null,"pos":"pattern","flags":[],"contrastGroup":null,"example":{"romaji":"ryokou to itte mo, ippaku dake da yo","ja":"旅行といっても、一泊だけだよ","english":"It's a trip, but only one night."},"examplePolite":{"romaji":"ryokou to itte mo, ippaku dake desu yo","ja":"旅行といっても、一泊だけですよ","english":"I say a trip, but it's only one night."},"freqRank":3797,"score":3,"notes":"Casual: 'tte itte mo'. 'nan to itte mo' = when all's said and done.","listLinks":[],"formation":"noun or plain form + to itte mo","name":null,"cv":3,"focus":false,"n":70}],"stage":2,"range":"66-70","category":"Grammar patterns"},{"id":"patterns-14","label":"Casual emphasis","rationale":"Overdo it, insist, and refuse with feeling.","interference":"tteba (I said!) vs plain tte (quoting).","items":[{"id":"g-makuru","romaji":"-makuru","polite":"-makurimasu","english":"do like crazy; keep on doing","use":"Attaches to the -masu stem for doing something nonstop or to excess.","ja":"〜まくる","kana":"〜まくる","politeJa":"〜まくります","pos":"pattern","flags":["slang"],"contrastGroup":null,"example":{"romaji":"kinou wa karaoke de utaimakutta","ja":"昨日はカラオケで歌いまくった","english":"I sang my heart out at karaoke last night."},"examplePolite":{"romaji":"kinou wa karaoke de utaimakurimashita","ja":"昨日はカラオケで歌いまくりました","english":"I sang nonstop at karaoke yesterday."},"freqRank":2226,"score":3,"notes":"Common with nomu, taberu, warau and kau: 'nomimakutta' (drank a ton).","listLinks":[],"formation":"-masu stem + makuru","name":null,"cv":3,"focus":false,"n":71},{"id":"g-tteba","romaji":"-tteba","polite":null,"english":"I said!; come on! (insisting)","use":"Added to a repeated statement or a name when you're frustrated the other person isn't listening.","ja":"〜ってば","kana":"〜ってば","politeJa":null,"pos":"pattern","flags":["casual-only"],"contrastGroup":null,"example":{"romaji":"dakara, daijoubu da tteba!","ja":"だから、大丈夫だってば！","english":"I'm telling you, I'm fine!"},"examplePolite":null,"freqRank":2263,"score":3,"notes":"On a name it's an impatient call: 'okaasan tteba!' (Mom! Listen!).","listLinks":[],"formation":"plain form or a name + tteba","name":null,"cv":3,"focus":false,"n":72},{"id":"g-mon-ka","romaji":"-mon ka","polite":null,"english":"as if I would!; no way","use":"A strong, emotional refusal or denial.","ja":"〜もんか","kana":"〜もんか","politeJa":null,"pos":"pattern","flags":["casual-only"],"contrastGroup":null,"example":{"romaji":"anna yatsu ni makeru mon ka","ja":"あんなやつに負けるもんか","english":"No way I'm losing to a guy like that."},"examplePolite":null,"freqRank":4306,"score":3,"notes":"Also mono ka; 'mon desu ka' is the polite but still sharp version.","listLinks":[],"formation":"plain form + mon ka (noun or na-adjective + na mon ka)","name":null,"cv":3,"focus":false,"n":73}],"stage":2,"range":"71-73","category":"Grammar patterns"},{"id":"patterns-2","label":"Credit and blame","rationale":"Say what helped, what's to blame, and excuse yourself.","interference":"okage de is for good results, no sei de for bad ones.","items":[{"id":"g-okage-de","romaji":"-okage de","polite":null,"english":"thanks to","use":"For a good result; the helper comes first.","ja":"〜おかげで","kana":"〜おかげで","politeJa":null,"pos":"pattern","flags":[],"contrastGroup":null,"example":{"romaji":"kimi no okage de maniatta yo","ja":"君のおかげで間に合ったよ","english":"Thanks to you, I made it in time."},"examplePolite":{"romaji":"minasan no okage de maniaimashita","ja":"皆さんのおかげで間に合いました","english":"Thanks to all of you, we made it in time."},"freqRank":634,"score":4,"notes":"'okage sama de' is the set reply to 'how are you / how did it go?': 'fine, thanks'. For a bad result use no sei de.","listLinks":[],"formation":"noun + no okage de; plain-form clause + okage de","name":null,"cv":3,"focus":false,"n":74},{"id":"g-no-sei-de","romaji":"-no sei de","polite":null,"english":"because of (blaming)","use":"For a bad result, pinning it on the cause.","ja":"〜のせいで","kana":"〜のせいで","politeJa":null,"pos":"pattern","flags":[],"contrastGroup":null,"example":{"romaji":"kaze no sei de zenzen nemurenakatta","ja":"風邪のせいで全然眠れなかった","english":"I couldn't sleep at all because of this cold."},"examplePolite":{"romaji":"kaze no sei de zenzen nemuremasen deshita","ja":"風邪のせいで全然眠れませんでした","english":"I couldn't sleep at all because of my cold."},"freqRank":748,"score":4,"notes":"'X no sei da' means 'it's X's fault': 'watashi no sei?' (is it my fault?). Compare okage de for good results.","listLinks":[],"formation":"noun + no sei de; plain-form clause + sei de","name":null,"cv":3,"focus":false,"n":75},{"id":"g-no-sei-ni-suru","romaji":"-no sei ni suru","polite":"-no sei ni shimasu","english":"blame it on","use":"The person or thing blamed goes before no sei; often a complaint about unfair blame.","ja":"〜のせいにする","kana":"〜のせいにする","politeJa":"〜のせいにします","pos":"pattern","flags":[],"contrastGroup":null,"example":{"romaji":"nandemo hito no sei ni suru na yo","ja":"何でも人のせいにするなよ","english":"Don't blame everything on other people."},"examplePolite":{"romaji":"nandemo hito no sei ni shinaide kudasai","ja":"何でも人のせいにしないでください","english":"Please don't blame everything on others."},"freqRank":3243,"score":4,"notes":"'watashi no sei ni shinaide' = don't put it on me. Pairs with no sei de, 'because of'.","listLinks":[],"formation":"noun + no sei ni suru","name":null,"cv":2,"focus":false,"n":76},{"id":"g-mon-dakara","romaji":"-mon dakara","polite":"-mono desu kara","english":"because, you see (giving an excuse)","use":"Explains why something went wrong, usually your own slip, in a soft, apologetic way.","ja":"〜もんだから","kana":"〜もんだから","politeJa":"〜ものですから","pos":"pattern","flags":[],"contrastGroup":null,"example":{"romaji":"kyuu ni ame ga futte kita mon dakara, okurechatta","ja":"急に雨が降ってきたもんだから、遅れちゃった","english":"It suddenly started raining, so I ended up late."},"examplePolite":{"romaji":"kyuu ni ame ga futte kita mono desu kara, okurete shimaimashita","ja":"急に雨が降ってきたものですから、遅れてしまいました","english":"It suddenly started raining, so I'm afraid I was late."},"freqRank":3397,"score":3,"notes":"Also mon de: 'isogashikatta mon de'. It sounds like an excuse, so use -kara or -node for a neutral reason.","listLinks":[],"formation":"plain form + mon dakara (noun or na-adjective + na mon dakara)","name":null,"cv":3,"focus":false,"n":77},{"id":"g-kara-koso","romaji":"-kara koso","polite":null,"english":"precisely because; it's because ... that","use":"Stresses that this reason is the real point, often turning a seeming drawback into the reason.","ja":"〜からこそ","kana":"〜からこそ","politeJa":null,"pos":"pattern","flags":[],"contrastGroup":null,"example":{"romaji":"taisetsu da kara koso, hakkiri iu n da yo","ja":"大切だからこそ、はっきり言うんだよ","english":"It's precisely because you matter that I'm being blunt."},"examplePolite":{"romaji":"taisetsu da kara koso, hakkiri iu n desu","ja":"大切だからこそ、はっきり言うんです","english":"It's precisely because you matter to me that I'm being frank."},"freqRank":3375,"score":3,"notes":"Compare kara tte, 'just because ... doesn't mean'. Koso alone stresses the word before it: 'kochira koso' (likewise, the pleasure's mine).","listLinks":[],"formation":"plain form + kara koso","name":null,"cv":2,"focus":false,"n":78}],"stage":3,"range":"74-78","category":"Grammar patterns"},{"id":"patterns-3","label":"Pretending and trying","rationale":"Talk about pretending, attempts that got cut off, and what you won't do.","interference":"-ou to suru (tried, was about to) vs -te goran and -te miru (try it and see).","items":[{"id":"g-furi-o-suru","romaji":"-furi o suru","polite":"-furi o shimasu","english":"pretend to; act as if","use":"Speech often drops the o: 'shiranai furi suru'.","ja":"〜ふりをする","kana":"〜ふりをする","politeJa":"〜ふりをします","pos":"pattern","flags":[],"contrastGroup":null,"example":{"romaji":"kanojo, kikoenai furi shiteta yo","ja":"彼女、聞こえないふりしてたよ","english":"She was pretending not to hear."},"examplePolite":{"romaji":"kanojo wa kikoenai furi o shite imashita","ja":"彼女は聞こえないふりをしていました","english":"She was pretending not to hear."},"freqRank":3947,"score":4,"notes":"Also written フリ. The everyday ones are 'shiranai furi' (playing dumb) and 'neta furi' (pretending to sleep).","listLinks":[],"formation":"plain form + furi o suru; noun + no furi; na-adjective + na furi","name":null,"cv":3,"focus":false,"n":79},{"id":"g-ou-to-suru","romaji":"-ou to suru","polite":"-ou to shimasu","english":"try to; be about to","use":"Mostly past, -ou to shita, for an attempt that failed or got interrupted: 'I was just about to'.","ja":"〜おうとする","kana":"〜おうとする","politeJa":"〜おうとします","pos":"pattern","flags":[],"contrastGroup":null,"example":{"romaji":"neyou to shitara, tomodachi kara denwa ga kita","ja":"寝ようとしたら、友達から電話が来た","english":"Just as I was going to sleep, a friend called."},"examplePolite":{"romaji":"neyou to shitara, tomodachi kara denwa ga kimashita","ja":"寝ようとしたら、友達から電話が来ました","english":"Just as I was about to go to sleep, a friend called."},"freqRank":1815,"score":3,"notes":"Compare -te miru (try it and see) and -ou to omou (plan to). Negative: 'kikou to shinai' (won't even listen).","listLinks":[],"formation":"volitional form (-ou / -you) + to suru","name":null,"cv":3,"focus":false,"n":80},{"id":"g-ki-wa-nai","romaji":"-ki wa nai","polite":"-ki wa arimasen","english":"have no intention of; don't feel like","use":"A firm 'I'm not going to'.","ja":"〜気はない","kana":"〜きはない","politeJa":"〜気はありません","pos":"pattern","flags":[],"contrastGroup":null,"example":{"romaji":"mou ano mise ni iku ki wa nai yo","ja":"もうあの店に行く気はないよ","english":"I've got no intention of going to that place again."},"examplePolite":{"romaji":"mou ano mise ni iku ki wa arimasen","ja":"もうあの店に行く気はありません","english":"I have no intention of going to that shop again."},"freqRank":2757,"score":3,"notes":"The positive is -ki ga aru (be willing): 'yaru ki aru?' (are you up for it?). 'yaru ki' alone means motivation.","listLinks":[],"formation":"dictionary form + ki wa nai","name":null,"cv":3,"focus":false,"n":81},{"id":"g-te-goran","romaji":"-te goran","polite":null,"english":"try doing (said to a child or junior)","use":"A gentle 'go on, try it' from parents, teachers or seniors.","ja":"〜てごらん","kana":"〜てごらん","politeJa":null,"pos":"pattern","flags":["casual-only"],"contrastGroup":null,"example":{"romaji":"chotto tabete goran, oishii yo","ja":"ちょっと食べてごらん、おいしいよ","english":"Go on, have a taste, it's good."},"examplePolite":null,"freqRank":3098,"score":3,"notes":"Never use it upward; to equals say -te mite. 'goran kudasai' is the polite 'please look' in shops and announcements.","listLinks":[],"formation":"-te form + goran","name":null,"cv":2,"focus":false,"n":82}],"stage":3,"range":"79-82","category":"Grammar patterns"},{"id":"patterns-4","label":"Can, must and needn't","rationale":"Fuller ways to say what's allowed, possible, pointless, out of the question or right.","interference":"koto wa nai (no need) vs -ta koto wa nai (never have); wake ni wa ikanai vs wake ja nai.","items":[{"id":"g-te-wa-ikenai","romaji":"-te wa ikenai","polite":"-te wa ikemasen","english":"must not; not allowed to","use":"The fuller, firmer version of -cha dame; heard in rules, warnings and from parents and teachers.","ja":"〜てはいけない","kana":"〜てはいけない","politeJa":"〜てはいけません","pos":"pattern","flags":[],"contrastGroup":null,"example":{"romaji":"koko de shashin totcha ikenai n da yo","ja":"ここで写真撮っちゃいけないんだよ","english":"You're not allowed to take photos here."},"examplePolite":{"romaji":"koko de shashin o totte wa ikemasen","ja":"ここで写真を撮ってはいけません","english":"Photography is not permitted here."},"freqRank":277,"score":4,"notes":"-nakya ikenai / -nakereba ikenai means 'must'. On its own, 'ikenai!' means 'oh no' or 'oops, that's bad'.","listLinks":[],"formation":"-te form + wa ikenai (spoken -cha ikenai)","name":null,"cv":2,"focus":false,"n":83},{"id":"g-koto-ga-dekiru","romaji":"-koto ga dekiru","polite":"-koto ga dekimasu","english":"can; be able to","use":"A fuller, more formal way to say the potential form; common in rules, signs and polite explanations.","ja":"〜ことができる","kana":"〜ことができる","politeJa":"〜ことができます","pos":"pattern","flags":[],"contrastGroup":null,"example":{"romaji":"kono apuri de yoyaku suru koto mo dekiru yo","ja":"このアプリで予約することもできるよ","english":"You can also book with this app."},"examplePolite":{"romaji":"kono apuri de yoyaku suru koto mo dekimasu","ja":"このアプリで予約することもできます","english":"You can also make a booking with this app."},"freqRank":656,"score":3,"notes":"Everyday speech usually prefers the potential form (taberareru, yomeru); -koto mo dekiru, 'can also', is where it sounds most natural.","listLinks":[],"formation":"dictionary form + koto ga dekiru","name":null,"cv":2,"focus":false,"n":84},{"id":"g-koto-wa-nai","romaji":"-koto wa nai","polite":"-koto wa arimasen","english":"there's no need to","use":"Reassures someone or tells them not to bother: 'you don't have to go that far'.","ja":"〜ことはない","kana":"〜ことはない","politeJa":"〜ことはありません","pos":"pattern","flags":[],"contrastGroup":null,"example":{"romaji":"sonna ni ayamaru koto nai yo","ja":"そんなに謝ることないよ","english":"There's no need to apologize so much."},"examplePolite":{"romaji":"sonna ni ayamaru koto wa arimasen yo","ja":"そんなに謝ることはありませんよ","english":"There's no need to apologize like that."},"freqRank":753,"score":3,"notes":"Speech often drops wa. Don't mix with -ta koto wa nai, 'have never'.","listLinks":[],"formation":"dictionary form + koto wa nai","name":null,"cv":3,"focus":false,"n":85},{"id":"g-wake-ni-wa-ikanai","romaji":"-wake ni wa ikanai","polite":"-wake ni wa ikimasen","english":"can't very well; can't just","use":"Something is possible but wrong for social or moral reasons: 'I can't just leave him there'.","ja":"〜わけにはいかない","kana":"〜わけにはいかない","politeJa":"〜わけにはいきません","pos":"pattern","flags":[],"contrastGroup":null,"example":{"romaji":"kyou wa kaisha yasumu wake ni wa ikanai n da","ja":"今日は会社休むわけにはいかないんだ","english":"I can't very well skip work today."},"examplePolite":{"romaji":"kyou wa kaisha o yasumu wake ni wa ikanai n desu","ja":"今日は会社を休むわけにはいかないんです","english":"I really can't take today off work."},"freqRank":1336,"score":3,"notes":"After -nai it means 'have no choice but to': 'ikanai wake ni wa ikanai' (I can't not go). Don't mix with wake ja nai (it's not that).","listLinks":[],"formation":"dictionary form + wake ni wa ikanai; -nai form + wake ni wa ikanai = have to","name":null,"cv":3,"focus":false,"n":86},{"id":"g-beki-da","romaji":"-beki da","polite":"-beki desu","english":"should; ought to","use":"A strong, principled 'should'; for friendly advice -ta hou ga ii sounds softer.","ja":"〜べきだ","kana":"〜べきだ","politeJa":"〜べきです","pos":"pattern","flags":[],"contrastGroup":null,"example":{"romaji":"sore wa saki ni iu beki datta yo","ja":"それは先に言うべきだったよ","english":"You should have said that first."},"examplePolite":{"romaji":"sore wa saki ni iu beki deshita ne","ja":"それは先に言うべきでしたね","english":"You should have mentioned that first."},"freqRank":1636,"score":3,"notes":"-beki datta = should have; -beki ja nai = shouldn't.","listLinks":[],"formation":"dictionary form + beki (suru often becomes subeki)","name":null,"cv":3,"focus":false,"n":87}],"stage":3,"range":"83-87","category":"Grammar patterns"},{"id":"patterns-5","label":"When it happens","rationale":"Say how often, since when, and at what moment something happened.","interference":"-ru koto ga aru (sometimes) vs -ta koto ga aru (have ever).","items":[{"id":"g-ru-koto-ga-aru","romaji":"-ru koto ga aru","polite":"-ru koto ga arimasu","english":"sometimes does; there are times when","use":"Says something happens now and then; often with tama ni or tokidoki.","ja":"〜ることがある","kana":"〜ることがある","politeJa":"〜ることがあります","pos":"pattern","flags":[],"contrastGroup":null,"example":{"romaji":"tama ni asagohan nuku koto aru yo","ja":"たまに朝ご飯抜くことあるよ","english":"I skip breakfast now and then."},"examplePolite":{"romaji":"tama ni asagohan o nuku koto ga arimasu","ja":"たまに朝ご飯を抜くことがあります","english":"I sometimes skip breakfast."},"freqRank":4244,"score":4,"notes":"Don't mix with -ta koto ga aru, 'have done before'; only the verb form tells them apart.","listLinks":[],"formation":"dictionary form or -nai form + koto ga aru","name":null,"cv":3,"focus":false,"n":88},{"id":"g-tabi-ni","romaji":"-tabi ni","polite":null,"english":"every time; whenever","use":"The second thing happens without fail on each occasion.","ja":"〜たびに","kana":"〜たびに","politeJa":null,"pos":"pattern","flags":[],"contrastGroup":null,"example":{"romaji":"kono uta kiku tabi ni naichau","ja":"この歌聞くたびに泣いちゃう","english":"I cry every time I hear this song."},"examplePolite":{"romaji":"kono uta o kiku tabi ni naite shimaimasu","ja":"この歌を聞くたびに泣いてしまいます","english":"I cry every time I hear this song."},"freqRank":4457,"score":4,"notes":"Close to -to itsumo; tabi ni stresses each single time.","listLinks":[],"formation":"dictionary form + tabi ni; noun + no tabi ni","name":null,"cv":3,"focus":false,"n":89},{"id":"g-te-irai","romaji":"-te irai","polite":null,"english":"since; ever since","use":"From a past event until now, usually with something that has stayed true.","ja":"〜て以来","kana":"〜ていらい","politeJa":null,"pos":"pattern","flags":[],"contrastGroup":null,"example":{"romaji":"sotsugyou shite irai, zenzen atte nai ne","ja":"卒業して以来、全然会ってないね","english":"We haven't seen each other at all since graduation."},"examplePolite":{"romaji":"sotsugyou shite irai, zenzen atte imasen ne","ja":"卒業して以来、全然会っていませんね","english":"We haven't met at all since we graduated."},"freqRank":1482,"score":3,"notes":"Sounds a bit formal; casual talk often says -te kara zutto. 'sore irai' = ever since then.","listLinks":[],"formation":"-te form + irai; noun + irai","name":null,"cv":2,"focus":false,"n":90},{"id":"g-to-omottara","romaji":"-to omottara","polite":null,"english":"just when I thought; no sooner ... than","use":"Something unexpected follows right away, or the reality turns out different: 'I thought X, but'.","ja":"〜と思ったら","kana":"〜とおもったら","politeJa":null,"pos":"pattern","flags":[],"contrastGroup":null,"example":{"romaji":"yatto hareta to omottara, mata ame da","ja":"やっと晴れたと思ったら、また雨だ","english":"Just when it finally cleared up, it's raining again."},"examplePolite":{"romaji":"yatto hareta to omottara, mata ame desu ne","ja":"やっと晴れたと思ったら、また雨ですね","english":"Just as it cleared up, it's raining again."},"freqRank":1666,"score":3,"notes":"It can also be a plain 'if you think': 'takai to omottara, kawanakute ii yo'. Context tells them apart.","listLinks":[],"formation":"plain form (often -ta) + to omottara","name":null,"cv":3,"focus":false,"n":91},{"id":"g-saichuu-ni","romaji":"-saichuu ni","polite":null,"english":"in the middle of; right while","use":"Usually for an interruption that came at a bad moment.","ja":"〜最中に","kana":"〜さいちゅうに","politeJa":null,"pos":"pattern","flags":[],"contrastGroup":null,"example":{"romaji":"kaigi no saichuu ni onaka ga natchatta","ja":"会議の最中にお腹が鳴っちゃった","english":"My stomach growled right in the middle of the meeting."},"examplePolite":{"romaji":"kaigi no saichuu ni onaka ga natte shimaimashita","ja":"会議の最中にお腹が鳴ってしまいました","english":"My stomach rumbled in the middle of the meeting."},"freqRank":3536,"score":3,"notes":"Stronger than -te iru aida (while). 'ima saichuu' = I'm right in the middle of it.","listLinks":[],"formation":"-te iru form + saichuu ni; noun + no saichuu ni","name":null,"cv":2,"focus":false,"n":92},{"id":"g-ta-totan","romaji":"-ta totan","polite":null,"english":"the moment that; as soon as","use":"The second thing happens instantly and usually unexpectedly.","ja":"〜た途端","kana":"〜たとたん","politeJa":null,"pos":"pattern","flags":[],"contrastGroup":null,"example":{"romaji":"suwatta totan ni nechatta","ja":"座った途端に寝ちゃった","english":"He fell asleep the second he sat down."},"examplePolite":{"romaji":"suwatta totan ni nete shimaimashita","ja":"座った途端に寝てしまいました","english":"He fell asleep the moment he sat down."},"freqRank":3554,"score":3,"notes":"Not for your own plans: 'as soon as I get home, I'll call' is -tara sugu.","listLinks":[],"formation":"-ta form + totan (ni)","name":null,"cv":2,"focus":false,"n":93}],"stage":3,"range":"88-93","category":"Grammar patterns"},{"id":"patterns-9","label":"Ifs and hopes","rationale":"Suppose things, set conditions and limits, and hope out loud.","interference":"-to ii (I hope) vs -tara ii (you should); sae areba (as long as) vs de sae (even).","items":[{"id":"g-to-shitara","romaji":"-to shitara","polite":null,"english":"if; supposing; if it's true that","use":"For a pure hypothetical or something you just learned; often moshi ... to shitara.","ja":"〜としたら","kana":"〜としたら","politeJa":null,"pos":"pattern","flags":[],"contrastGroup":null,"example":{"romaji":"moshi takarakuji atatta to shitara, nani suru?","ja":"もし宝くじ当たったとしたら、何する？","english":"Say you won the lottery, what would you do?"},"examplePolite":{"romaji":"moshi takarakuji ni atatta to shitara, nani o shimasu ka","ja":"もし宝くじに当たったとしたら、何をしますか","english":"Supposing you won the lottery, what would you do?"},"freqRank":825,"score":3,"notes":"To sureba and to suru to mean the same. 'da to shitara' = if that's the case.","listLinks":[],"formation":"plain form + to shitara","name":null,"cv":3,"focus":false,"n":94},{"id":"g-to-ii","romaji":"-to ii","polite":"-to ii desu","english":"I hope; it would be good if","use":"Mostly -to ii ne to wish someone well, or -to ii na for your own hope.","ja":"〜といい","kana":"〜といい","politeJa":"〜といいです","pos":"pattern","flags":[],"contrastGroup":null,"example":{"romaji":"ashita hareru to ii ne","ja":"明日晴れるといいね","english":"Hope it's sunny tomorrow."},"examplePolite":{"romaji":"ashita hareru to ii desu ne","ja":"明日晴れるといいですね","english":"I hope it's sunny tomorrow."},"freqRank":3058,"score":3,"notes":"Same idea as -tara ii na. As advice it means 'it's best to': 'kono kusuri nomu to ii yo'.","listLinks":[],"formation":"dictionary or -nai form + to ii","name":null,"cv":4,"focus":false,"n":95},{"id":"g-kagiri","romaji":"-kagiri","polite":null,"english":"as long as; as far as","use":"Sets a condition or limit: 'as long as I'm here', 'as far as I know'.","ja":"〜限り","kana":"〜かぎり","politeJa":null,"pos":"pattern","flags":[],"contrastGroup":null,"example":{"romaji":"watashi no shitteru kagiri, kare wa dokushin da yo","ja":"私の知ってる限り、彼は独身だよ","english":"As far as I know, he's single."},"examplePolite":{"romaji":"watashi no shitte iru kagiri, kare wa dokushin desu","ja":"私の知っている限り、彼は独身です","english":"As far as I know, he isn't married."},"freqRank":1890,"score":3,"notes":"'dekiru kagiri' = as much as possible. 'kyou kagiri' = today only, on sale signs.","listLinks":[],"formation":"dictionary, -nai or -te iru form + kagiri","name":null,"cv":2,"focus":false,"n":96},{"id":"g-shidai","romaji":"-shidai","polite":null,"english":"depending on; as soon as","use":"After a noun it means 'it's up to'; after a -masu stem, 'as soon as', a polite promise at work.","ja":"〜次第","kana":"〜しだい","politeJa":null,"pos":"pattern","flags":[],"contrastGroup":null,"example":{"romaji":"iku ka dou ka wa tenki shidai da ne","ja":"行くかどうかは天気次第だね","english":"Whether we go depends on the weather."},"examplePolite":{"romaji":"iku ka dou ka wa tenki shidai desu ne","ja":"行くかどうかは天気次第ですね","english":"Whether we go will depend on the weather."},"freqRank":1911,"score":3,"notes":"'anata shidai' = it's up to you. 'wakari shidai gorenraku shimasu' (I'll contact you as soon as I know) is a set business line.","listLinks":[],"formation":"noun + shidai (da); -masu stem + shidai","name":null,"cv":2,"focus":false,"n":97},{"id":"g-sae-areba","romaji":"-sae areba","polite":null,"english":"as long as there's; all you need is","use":"Says one thing is all it takes; the general shape is X sae + a -ba form, and areba is the common one.","ja":"〜さえあれば","kana":"〜さえあれば","politeJa":null,"pos":"pattern","flags":[],"contrastGroup":null,"example":{"romaji":"sumaho sae areba daijoubu","ja":"スマホさえあれば大丈夫","english":"As long as I've got my phone, I'm fine."},"examplePolite":{"romaji":"sumaho sae areba daijoubu desu","ja":"スマホさえあれば大丈夫です","english":"As long as I have my phone, I'll be fine."},"freqRank":4486,"score":3,"notes":"'kimi sae yokereba' = if it's okay with you. Don't mix with de sae, 'even'.","listLinks":[],"formation":"noun + sae + -ba form (areba, ireba, yokereba)","name":null,"cv":2,"focus":false,"n":98}],"stage":3,"range":"94-98","category":"Grammar patterns"},{"id":"verbs-10","label":"Commands","rationale":"Ways to tell someone to do or not do something, from rough (ike, iku na) to parental (-nasai) to blunt but personal (-te kure). You mostly hear these; for your own requests, -te and -te kudasai do the job.","interference":"The command ike sounds like the potential ikeru; ike (go!) and iku na (don't go!) are opposites built on the same verb. -nasai sounds soft but talks down.","items":[{"id":"g-imp","romaji":"-e / -ro","polite":"-te kudasai","english":"A blunt order: do it!","use":"Heard in anger, among rough-talking male friends, in sports cheering and on signs. Learners mostly need to recognise it; ganbare (go for it!) and chotto mate (hang on) are the friendly exceptions.","ja":"〜え / 〜ろ","kana":"〜え / 〜ろ","politeJa":null,"pos":"verb","flags":[],"contrastGroup":null,"example":{"romaji":"oi, hayaku shiro yo","ja":"おい、早くしろよ","english":"Hey, hurry up!"},"examplePolite":{"romaji":"sumimasen, hayaku shite kudasai","ja":"すみません、早くしてください","english":"Excuse me, please hurry."},"freqRank":null,"score":null,"notes":"The command ike (go!) and the potential ikeru (can go) share the -e sound; the bare -e at the end is the order.","listLinks":[],"name":"command form","formation":"Godan: change the final -u to -e (kau → kae, iku → ike). Ichidan: drop -ru, add -ro (tabero, miro). suru → shiro, kuru → koi.","table":[{"word":"taberu","romaji":"tabero","ja":"食べろ"},{"word":"miru","romaji":"miro","ja":"見ろ"},{"word":"kau","romaji":"kae","ja":"買え"},{"word":"matsu","romaji":"mate","ja":"待て"},{"word":"kaeru","romaji":"kaere","ja":"帰れ"},{"word":"nomu","romaji":"nome","ja":"飲め"},{"word":"asobu","romaji":"asobe","ja":"遊べ"},{"word":"kaku","romaji":"kake","ja":"書け"},{"word":"oyogu","romaji":"oyoge","ja":"泳げ"},{"word":"hanasu","romaji":"hanase","ja":"話せ"},{"word":"iku","romaji":"ike","ja":"行け"},{"word":"suru","romaji":"shiro","ja":"しろ"},{"word":"kuru","romaji":"koi","ja":"来い"}],"measured":{"count":81688,"perMillion":25767.8,"shareOfHeads":0.0358},"cv":2,"focus":false,"n":99},{"id":"g-na","romaji":"-u na","polite":"-naide kudasai","english":"A blunt 'don't!'.","use":"Strong bans: parents to small kids, rough friends, signs and warnings. In normal talk people say -naide (sawaranaide).","ja":"〜な","kana":"〜な","politeJa":null,"pos":"verb","flags":[],"contrastGroup":null,"example":{"romaji":"abunai! sore sawaru na!","ja":"危ない!それ触るな!","english":"Careful! Don't touch that!"},"examplePolite":{"romaji":"abunai desu kara, sawaranaide kudasai","ja":"危ないですから、触らないでください","english":"It's dangerous, so please don't touch it."},"freqRank":null,"score":null,"notes":"Only a bare verb + na is a ban; na after other words is the feeling particle (ii na = that's nice).","listLinks":[],"name":"don't! (blunt)","formation":"Dictionary form + na, for every verb: taberu na, iku na, suru na, kuru na.","table":[{"word":"taberu","romaji":"taberu na","ja":"食べるな"},{"word":"miru","romaji":"miru na","ja":"見るな"},{"word":"kau","romaji":"kau na","ja":"買うな"},{"word":"matsu","romaji":"matsu na","ja":"待つな"},{"word":"kaeru","romaji":"kaeru na","ja":"帰るな"},{"word":"nomu","romaji":"nomu na","ja":"飲むな"},{"word":"asobu","romaji":"asobu na","ja":"遊ぶな"},{"word":"kaku","romaji":"kaku na","ja":"書くな"},{"word":"oyogu","romaji":"oyogu na","ja":"泳ぐな"},{"word":"hanasu","romaji":"hanasu na","ja":"話すな"},{"word":"iku","romaji":"iku na","ja":"行くな"},{"word":"suru","romaji":"suru na","ja":"するな"},{"word":"kuru","romaji":"kuru na","ja":"来るな"}],"measured":{"count":18729,"perMillion":5907.9,"shareOfHeads":0.0082},"cv":2,"focus":false,"n":100},{"id":"g-nasai","romaji":"-nasai","polite":"-te kudasai","english":"A firm instruction, the way a parent or teacher gives it.","use":"Parents to kids, teachers to students: hayaku nenasai, chanto tabenasai. It also lives in set phrases: gomennasai, okaerinasai, oyasuminasai.","ja":"〜なさい","kana":"〜なさい","politeJa":null,"pos":"verb","flags":[],"contrastGroup":null,"example":{"romaji":"mou osoi kara, hayaku nenasai","ja":"もう遅いから、早く寝なさい","english":"It's late, go to bed now."},"examplePolite":{"romaji":"mou osoi desu kara, hayaku nete kudasai","ja":"もう遅いですから、早く寝てください","english":"It's late, so please go to bed."},"freqRank":null,"score":null,"notes":"It sounds gentle but talks down; don't use it to adults you don't know.","listLinks":[],"name":"-nasai command","formation":"Use the -masu stem + nasai. Ichidan: drop -ru (tabenasai). Godan: change the final -u to -i (kainasai, machinasai, hanashinasai). suru → shinasai, kuru → kinasai.","table":[{"word":"taberu","romaji":"tabenasai","ja":"食べなさい"},{"word":"miru","romaji":"minasai","ja":"見なさい"},{"word":"kau","romaji":"kainasai","ja":"買いなさい"},{"word":"matsu","romaji":"machinasai","ja":"待ちなさい"},{"word":"kaeru","romaji":"kaerinasai","ja":"帰りなさい"},{"word":"nomu","romaji":"nominasai","ja":"飲みなさい"},{"word":"asobu","romaji":"asobinasai","ja":"遊びなさい"},{"word":"kaku","romaji":"kakinasai","ja":"書きなさい"},{"word":"oyogu","romaji":"oyoginasai","ja":"泳ぎなさい"},{"word":"hanasu","romaji":"hanashinasai","ja":"話しなさい"},{"word":"iku","romaji":"ikinasai","ja":"行きなさい"},{"word":"suru","romaji":"shinasai","ja":"しなさい"},{"word":"kuru","romaji":"kinasai","ja":"来なさい"}],"measured":{"count":7170,"perMillion":2261.7,"shareOfHeads":0.0031},"cv":2,"focus":false,"n":101},{"id":"g-te-kure","romaji":"-te kure","polite":"-te kudasai","english":"Do it (for me): a blunt request.","use":"Mostly men, to friends or juniors, or in tense moments: matte kure! Everyday requests use just -te (matte) or -te kureru? (matte kureru?).","ja":"〜てくれ","kana":"〜てくれ","politeJa":null,"pos":"verb","flags":[],"contrastGroup":null,"example":{"romaji":"chotto matte kure, sugu iku kara","ja":"ちょっと待ってくれ、すぐ行くから","english":"Hang on, I'll be right there."},"examplePolite":{"romaji":"chotto matte kudasai, sugu ikimasu kara","ja":"ちょっと待ってください、すぐ行きますから","english":"Just a moment, please. I'll be right there."},"freqRank":null,"score":null,"notes":"-te kure is an order; -te kureru? is a friendly question. Same verb, very different tone.","listLinks":[],"name":"blunt request","formation":"te-form + kure: tabete kure, matte kure, nonde kure, shite kure, kite kure.","table":[{"word":"taberu","romaji":"tabete kure","ja":"食べてくれ"},{"word":"miru","romaji":"mite kure","ja":"見てくれ"},{"word":"kau","romaji":"katte kure","ja":"買ってくれ"},{"word":"matsu","romaji":"matte kure","ja":"待ってくれ"},{"word":"kaeru","romaji":"kaette kure","ja":"帰ってくれ"},{"word":"nomu","romaji":"nonde kure","ja":"飲んでくれ"},{"word":"asobu","romaji":"asonde kure","ja":"遊んでくれ"},{"word":"kaku","romaji":"kaite kure","ja":"書いてくれ"},{"word":"oyogu","romaji":"oyoide kure","ja":"泳いでくれ"},{"word":"hanasu","romaji":"hanashite kure","ja":"話してくれ"},{"word":"iku","romaji":"itte kure","ja":"行ってくれ"},{"word":"suru","romaji":"shite kure","ja":"してくれ"},{"word":"kuru","romaji":"kite kure","ja":"来てくれ"}],"measured":{"count":19183,"perMillion":6051.1,"shareOfHeads":0.0084},"cv":2,"focus":false,"n":102}],"stage":4,"range":"99-102","category":"Verb forms"},{"id":"patterns-6","label":"Very polite speech","rationale":"Understand and use the keigo of shops, offices and polite requests.","interference":"kudasaru (they kindly do it for you) vs itadaku (you humbly receive it).","items":[{"id":"g-gozaimasu","romaji":"gozaimasu","polite":null,"english":"is; there is, we have (very polite)","use":"Shop and hotel staff use it in place of desu and arimasu; you mostly hear it rather than say it.","ja":"ございます","kana":"ございます","politeJa":null,"pos":"pattern","flags":["formal"],"contrastGroup":null,"example":{"romaji":"kochira ga atarashii moderu de gozaimasu","ja":"こちらが新しいモデルでございます","english":"This is the new model."},"examplePolite":null,"freqRank":1374,"score":4,"notes":"The dictionary form gozaru is archaic. You do say it in set phrases: arigatou gozaimasu, ohayou gozaimasu, omedetou gozaimasu.","listLinks":[],"formation":"noun + de gozaimasu (= desu); noun + ga gozaimasu (= arimasu)","name":null,"cv":2,"focus":false,"n":103},{"id":"g-te-itadakeru","romaji":"-te itadakeru","polite":null,"english":"could you (kindly)","use":"The standard polite request to strangers, staff and people at work; -te itadakemasen ka is softer still.","ja":"〜ていただける","kana":"〜ていただける","politeJa":"〜ていただけますか","pos":"pattern","flags":["humble"],"contrastGroup":null,"example":{"romaji":"sumimasen, shashin totte itadakemasu ka","ja":"すみません、写真撮っていただけますか","english":"Excuse me, could you take our photo?"},"examplePolite":null,"freqRank":2197,"score":4,"notes":"One step politer than -te moraemasu ka. Literally 'can I receive the favour of you doing'.","listLinks":[],"formation":"-te form + itadakemasu ka / itadakemasen ka","name":null,"cv":2,"focus":false,"n":104},{"id":"g-te-kudasaru","romaji":"-te kudasaru","polite":"-te kudasaimasu","english":"kindly do (for me), said of someone above you","use":"The respectful -te kureru: a teacher, boss or customer does something for you.","ja":"〜てくださる","kana":"〜てくださる","politeJa":"〜てくださいます","pos":"pattern","flags":["formal"],"contrastGroup":null,"example":{"romaji":"sensei ga eki made okutte kudasatta n da","ja":"先生が駅まで送ってくださったんだ","english":"My teacher kindly took me to the station."},"examplePolite":{"romaji":"sensei ga eki made okutte kudasaimashita","ja":"先生が駅まで送ってくださいました","english":"My teacher was kind enough to take me to the station."},"freqRank":2380,"score":4,"notes":"Common in thanks: 'kite kudasatte arigatou gozaimasu' (thank you for coming). -te kudasai is its request form; never use it for your own actions.","listLinks":[],"formation":"-te form + kudasaru (masu form: kudasaimasu)","name":null,"cv":2,"focus":false,"n":105},{"id":"g-sasete-itadaku","romaji":"-sasete itadaku","polite":null,"english":"humbly do; allow me to","use":"Announces your own action very politely, as if asking permission; everywhere in business, shops and speeches.","ja":"〜させていただく","kana":"〜させていただく","politeJa":"〜させていただきます","pos":"pattern","flags":["humble"],"contrastGroup":null,"example":{"romaji":"kyou wa kore de shitsurei sasete itadakimasu","ja":"今日はこれで失礼させていただきます","english":"If you'll excuse me, I'll be leaving now."},"examplePolite":null,"freqRank":2590,"score":3,"notes":"Overused in business talk, so it can sound stiff. With friends, just say -sasete or -sasete morau.","listLinks":[],"formation":"causative -te form + itadaku (yasumasete, ikasete, shitsurei sasete)","name":null,"cv":1,"focus":false,"n":106}],"stage":4,"range":"103-106","category":"Grammar patterns"},{"id":"patterns-8","label":"Seeming and sure","rationale":"Say how sure you are, from 'seems' to 'must be' to 'not necessarily'.","interference":"you da (formal 'seems') vs mitai (casual) vs -sou (looks).","items":[{"id":"g-you-na","romaji":"-you na","polite":null,"english":"like; such as; a kind of","use":"Goes before a noun to compare or give an example; casual mitai na does the same job.","ja":"〜ような","kana":"〜ような","politeJa":null,"pos":"pattern","flags":[],"contrastGroup":null,"example":{"romaji":"dokoka de atta you na ki ga suru","ja":"どこかで会ったような気がする","english":"I feel like I've met you somewhere."},"examplePolite":{"romaji":"dokoka de atta you na ki ga shimasu","ja":"どこかで会ったような気がします","english":"I have a feeling we've met somewhere."},"freqRank":153,"score":3,"notes":"-you na ki ga suru, 'I have a feeling that', is its most common use in speech. Before a verb or adjective it becomes -you ni.","listLinks":[],"formation":"noun + no you na + noun; plain form + you na + noun","name":null,"cv":3,"focus":false,"n":107},{"id":"g-you-da","romaji":"-you da","polite":"-you desu","english":"it seems; it looks like","use":"A judgment from what you see or know; more formal than mitai, so you hear it in polite speech and on the news.","ja":"〜ようだ","kana":"〜ようだ","politeJa":"〜ようです","pos":"pattern","flags":[],"contrastGroup":null,"example":{"romaji":"dare mo inai you da ne","ja":"誰もいないようだね","english":"Looks like nobody's here."},"examplePolite":{"romaji":"dare mo inai you desu ne","ja":"誰もいないようですね","english":"It seems no one is here."},"freqRank":1583,"score":3,"notes":"Casual equivalent: mitai. Compare -sou (looks, from appearance) and rashii (I hear).","listLinks":[],"formation":"plain form + you da; noun + no you da; na-adjective + na you da","name":null,"cv":2,"focus":false,"n":108},{"id":"g-to-wa-kagiranai","romaji":"-to wa kagiranai","polite":"-to wa kagirimasen","english":"not necessarily; not always","use":"Pushes back on an assumption; often with kanarazu shimo or itsumo.","ja":"〜とは限らない","kana":"〜とはかぎらない","politeJa":"〜とは限りません","pos":"pattern","flags":[],"contrastGroup":null,"example":{"romaji":"takai kara oishii to wa kagiranai yo","ja":"高いからおいしいとは限らないよ","english":"Expensive doesn't necessarily mean tasty."},"examplePolite":{"romaji":"takai kara oishii to wa kagirimasen yo","ja":"高いからおいしいとは限りませんよ","english":"Just because it's expensive doesn't mean it's good."},"freqRank":1708,"score":3,"notes":"Kagiru alone means 'nothing beats': 'natsu wa biiru ni kagiru' (nothing beats beer in summer).","listLinks":[],"formation":"plain form + to wa kagiranai","name":null,"cv":2,"focus":false,"n":109},{"id":"g-ni-chigai-nai","romaji":"-ni chigai nai","polite":"-ni chigai arimasen","english":"must be; no doubt","use":"A confident guess from evidence; stronger than hazu.","ja":"〜に違いない","kana":"〜にちがいない","politeJa":"〜に違いありません","pos":"pattern","flags":[],"contrastGroup":null,"example":{"romaji":"ano futari, tsukiatteru ni chigai nai yo","ja":"あの二人、付き合ってるに違いないよ","english":"Those two must be dating."},"examplePolite":{"romaji":"ano futari wa tsukiatte iru ni chigai arimasen","ja":"あの二人は付き合っているに違いありません","english":"Those two are surely going out."},"freqRank":2882,"score":3,"notes":"A little bookish; in chat 'kitto ... da yo' or '... ni kimatteru' (it's obviously) are more common.","listLinks":[],"formation":"plain form + ni chigai nai (noun or na-adjective drops da)","name":null,"cv":2,"focus":false,"n":110}],"stage":4,"range":"107-110","category":"Grammar patterns"},{"id":"patterns-11","label":"Even and let alone","rationale":"Go one step further: far from, not only, rather, even.","interference":"dokoro ka flips the expectation; dake de naku just adds to it.","items":[{"id":"g-dokoro-ka","romaji":"-dokoro ka","polite":null,"english":"far from; let alone","use":"Rejects an expectation and goes further the other way: 'far from cheap, it cost double'.","ja":"〜どころか","kana":"〜どころか","politeJa":null,"pos":"pattern","flags":[],"contrastGroup":null,"example":{"romaji":"yasumu dokoro ka, kyuujitsu mo shigoto da yo","ja":"休むどころか、休日も仕事だよ","english":"Rest? I'm even working my days off."},"examplePolite":{"romaji":"yasumu dokoro ka, kyuujitsu mo shigoto desu yo","ja":"休むどころか、休日も仕事ですよ","english":"Far from resting, I'm working even on my days off."},"freqRank":3071,"score":3,"notes":"'sore dokoro ja nai' = there's no time for that right now. Compare dake de naku, a neutral 'not only'.","listLinks":[],"formation":"noun or plain form + dokoro ka","name":null,"cv":2,"focus":false,"n":111},{"id":"g-dake-de-naku","romaji":"-dake de naku","polite":null,"english":"not only ... but also","use":"The second half usually has mo: 'not only X, Y too'.","ja":"〜だけでなく","kana":"〜だけでなく","politeJa":null,"pos":"pattern","flags":[],"contrastGroup":null,"example":{"romaji":"ano mise, oishii dake ja nakute yasui n da yo","ja":"あの店、おいしいだけじゃなくて安いんだよ","english":"That place isn't just tasty, it's cheap too."},"examplePolite":{"romaji":"ano mise wa oishii dake de naku, yasui n desu yo","ja":"あの店はおいしいだけでなく、安いんですよ","english":"That restaurant is not only good but cheap as well."},"freqRank":3317,"score":3,"notes":"Speech usually says dake ja nakute; dake de naku sounds formal or written.","listLinks":[],"formation":"noun or plain form + dake de naku","name":null,"cv":2,"focus":false,"n":112},{"id":"g-to-iu-yori","romaji":"-to iu yori","polite":null,"english":"rather than; or rather; more like","use":"Corrects your own word choice: 'not so much X as Y'.","ja":"〜というより","kana":"〜というより","politeJa":null,"pos":"pattern","flags":[],"contrastGroup":null,"example":{"romaji":"samui to iu yori, mou itai yo","ja":"寒いというより、もう痛いよ","english":"It's not so much cold as painful."},"examplePolite":{"romaji":"samui to iu yori, mou itai desu ne","ja":"寒いというより、もう痛いですね","english":"It's less cold than actually painful."},"freqRank":3942,"score":3,"notes":"Casual: 'tte iu yori'. The stand-alone filler 'to iu ka' (or rather) is even more common.","listLinks":[],"formation":"noun or plain form + to iu yori","name":null,"cv":3,"focus":false,"n":113},{"id":"g-de-sae","romaji":"-de sae","polite":null,"english":"even","use":"Picks an extreme case to make the point: 'even the teacher couldn't'.","ja":"〜でさえ","kana":"〜でさえ","politeJa":null,"pos":"pattern","flags":[],"contrastGroup":null,"example":{"romaji":"sensei de sae wakaranakatta n da yo","ja":"先生でさえわからなかったんだよ","english":"Even the teacher didn't know."},"examplePolite":{"romaji":"sensei de sae wakarimasen deshita","ja":"先生でさえわかりませんでした","english":"Even the teacher couldn't work it out."},"freqRank":4951,"score":3,"notes":"Casual talk usually says de mo: 'kodomo de mo wakaru'. Don't mix with sae ... -ba, 'as long as'.","listLinks":[],"formation":"noun + de sae; after another particle, plain sae","name":null,"cv":2,"focus":false,"n":114}],"stage":4,"range":"111-114","category":"Grammar patterns"},{"id":"patterns-12","label":"Point of view","rationale":"Say in what role, for whom, toward whom and about what.","interference":"ni totte (from X's view) vs no tame ni (for X's benefit); -muke vs -muki.","items":[{"id":"g-to-shite","romaji":"-to shite","polite":null,"english":"as (a role); in the capacity of","use":"Names the role, status or purpose: 'as a teacher', 'as a present'.","ja":"〜として","kana":"〜として","politeJa":null,"pos":"pattern","flags":[],"contrastGroup":null,"example":{"romaji":"tomodachi to shite suki na dake da yo","ja":"友達として好きなだけだよ","english":"I just like him as a friend."},"examplePolite":{"romaji":"tomodachi to shite suki na dake desu","ja":"友達として好きなだけです","english":"I only like him as a friend."},"freqRank":136,"score":3,"notes":"'watashi to shite wa' = speaking for myself. Not the -te form of -ou to suru (try to).","listLinks":[],"formation":"noun + to shite","name":null,"cv":2,"focus":false,"n":115},{"id":"g-ni-totte","romaji":"-ni totte","polite":null,"english":"for; to (from someone's point of view)","use":"Says who something matters to or how it looks to them, not who benefits.","ja":"〜にとって","kana":"〜にとって","politeJa":null,"pos":"pattern","flags":[],"contrastGroup":null,"example":{"romaji":"watashi ni totte, kazoku ga ichiban daiji","ja":"私にとって、家族が一番大事","english":"For me, family matters most."},"examplePolite":{"romaji":"watashi ni totte, kazoku ga ichiban daiji desu","ja":"私にとって、家族が一番大事です","english":"To me, family is the most important thing."},"freqRank":339,"score":3,"notes":"For 'for your benefit' use no tame ni; for a gift just ni: 'kore, anata ni'.","listLinks":[],"formation":"noun (person or group) + ni totte","name":null,"cv":3,"focus":false,"n":116},{"id":"g-ni-taishite","romaji":"-ni taishite","polite":null,"english":"toward; against; in contrast to","use":"Marks who an attitude or action is aimed at: 'rude to customers', 'angry at him'.","ja":"〜に対して","kana":"〜にたいして","politeJa":null,"pos":"pattern","flags":[],"contrastGroup":null,"example":{"romaji":"kare, okyakusan ni taishite taido warui yo ne","ja":"彼、お客さんに対して態度悪いよね","english":"He's got a bad attitude toward customers, hasn't he?"},"examplePolite":{"romaji":"kare wa okyakusan ni taishite taido ga warui desu ne","ja":"彼はお客さんに対して態度が悪いですね","english":"He's quite rude to customers, isn't he?"},"freqRank":1232,"score":3,"notes":"Second use is contrast, 'whereas': 'ani ni taishite, otouto wa ...' (unlike his older brother, ...).","listLinks":[],"formation":"noun + ni taishite; before a noun: ni taisuru","name":null,"cv":2,"focus":false,"n":117},{"id":"g-ni-kanshite","romaji":"-ni kanshite","polite":null,"english":"about; concerning; regarding","use":"The formal ni tsuite, for meetings, emails and announcements.","ja":"〜に関して","kana":"〜にかんして","politeJa":null,"pos":"pattern","flags":["formal"],"contrastGroup":null,"example":{"romaji":"sono ken ni kanshite wa, ato de gorenraku shimasu","ja":"その件に関しては、後でご連絡します","english":"I'll get back to you about that later."},"examplePolite":null,"freqRank":1329,"score":3,"notes":"In casual talk say ni tsuite instead. Before nouns: 'kankyou ni kansuru nyuusu' (news about the environment).","listLinks":[],"formation":"noun + ni kanshite; before a noun: ni kansuru","name":null,"cv":1,"focus":false,"n":118},{"id":"g-muke","romaji":"-muke","polite":null,"english":"aimed at; made for","use":"Says who a product or service is designed for: 'for kids', 'for beginners'.","ja":"〜向け","kana":"〜むけ","politeJa":null,"pos":"pattern","flags":[],"contrastGroup":null,"example":{"romaji":"kono anime, kodomo muke ja nai yo","ja":"このアニメ、子供向けじゃないよ","english":"This anime isn't for kids."},"examplePolite":{"romaji":"kono anime wa kodomo muke ja arimasen yo","ja":"このアニメは子供向けじゃありませんよ","english":"This anime isn't meant for children."},"freqRank":4367,"score":3,"notes":"Don't mix with -muki, 'suited to': shoshinsha muki means it happens to suit beginners, muke that it was made for them.","listLinks":[],"formation":"noun + muke (no + noun); noun + muke ni","name":null,"cv":2,"focus":false,"n":119}],"stage":4,"range":"115-119","category":"Grammar patterns"},{"id":"patterns-13","label":"Noun add-ons","rationale":"Small endings that make a noun a type, a whole, a without, or a game.","interference":"-goto (and all) and -gokko (playing at) sound alike.","items":[{"id":"g-kei","romaji":"-kei","polite":null,"english":"-type; -style; kind of","use":"Labels a person, look or thing by its type: 'oshare kei' (the stylish type).","ja":"〜系","kana":"〜けい","politeJa":null,"pos":"pattern","flags":["slang"],"contrastGroup":null,"example":{"romaji":"karai kei no tabemono, daisuki nan da","ja":"辛い系の食べ物、大好きなんだ","english":"I love anything spicy."},"examplePolite":{"romaji":"karai kei no tabemono ga daisuki nan desu","ja":"辛い系の食べ物が大好きなんです","english":"I really love spicy kinds of food."},"freqRank":1772,"score":3,"notes":"Standard, not slang, in rikei and bunkei (science and arts tracks). Like 'tte kanji', it keeps a label vague.","listLinks":[],"formation":"noun or adjective + kei","name":null,"cv":3,"focus":false,"n":120},{"id":"g-goto","romaji":"-goto","polite":null,"english":"and all, including; every (-goto ni)","use":"Noun + goto keeps the whole thing together ('skin and all'); -goto ni means each or every.","ja":"〜ごと","kana":"〜ごと","politeJa":null,"pos":"pattern","flags":[],"contrastGroup":null,"example":{"romaji":"kono budou, kawa goto taberareru yo","ja":"このぶどう、皮ごと食べられるよ","english":"You can eat these grapes skin and all."},"examplePolite":{"romaji":"kono budou wa kawa goto taberaremasu yo","ja":"このぶどうは皮ごと食べられますよ","english":"You can eat these grapes with the skin on."},"freqRank":2332,"score":3,"notes":"With ni it means 'every': 'ichi jikan goto ni' (every hour). 'marugoto' = whole, entirely.","listLinks":[],"formation":"noun + goto; noun or counter + goto ni","name":null,"cv":2,"focus":false,"n":121},{"id":"g-nashi-de","romaji":"-nashi de","polite":null,"english":"without","use":"Doing something without a thing; also nashi ni and, in speech, nashi ja.","ja":"〜なしで","kana":"〜なしで","politeJa":null,"pos":"pattern","flags":[],"contrastGroup":null,"example":{"romaji":"koohii nashi ja ikite ikenai yo","ja":"コーヒーなしじゃ生きていけないよ","english":"I can't live without coffee."},"examplePolite":{"romaji":"koohii nashi de wa ikite ikemasen","ja":"コーヒーなしでは生きていけません","english":"I couldn't live without coffee."},"freqRank":2565,"score":3,"notes":"When ordering, 'X nashi de' = hold the X: 'wasabi nashi de onegai shimasu'. With verbs use -naide or -zu ni.","listLinks":[],"formation":"noun + nashi de","name":null,"cv":2,"focus":false,"n":122},{"id":"g-gokko","romaji":"-gokko","polite":null,"english":"playing at; make-believe","use":"Children's pretend games, or an adult doing a mock version of something.","ja":"〜ごっこ","kana":"〜ごっこ","politeJa":null,"pos":"pattern","flags":[],"contrastGroup":null,"example":{"romaji":"kodomotachi ga oishasan gokko shiteru yo","ja":"子供たちがお医者さんごっこしてるよ","english":"The kids are playing doctors."},"examplePolite":{"romaji":"kodomotachi ga oishasan gokko o shite imasu yo","ja":"子供たちがお医者さんごっこをしていますよ","english":"The children are playing doctors."},"freqRank":4581,"score":3,"notes":"Onigokko (tag) is the best-known one. Said of adults it mocks: 'kazoku gokko' (just playing house).","listLinks":[],"formation":"noun + gokko (o suru)","name":null,"cv":2,"focus":false,"n":123}],"stage":4,"range":"120-123","category":"Grammar patterns"}],"cuts":[{"id":"cut-desu-ka","romaji":"desu ka","ja":"ですか","english":"polite question: is it ...?","freqRank":38,"score":5,"verdict":"dropped","reason":"Polite copula plus question ka, a plain conjugated form; da and ka are in the main list."},{"id":"cut-okage","romaji":"okage","ja":"おかげ","english":"thanks to","freqRank":835,"score":4,"verdict":"dropped","reason":"Duplicates おかげで."},{"id":"cut-iu-toori","romaji":"iu toori","ja":"言うとおり","english":"just as (you) say","freqRank":1267,"score":3,"verdict":"dropped","reason":"Duplicates とおり; iu toori is covered there."},{"id":"cut-ni-taishite","romaji":"-ni taishite","ja":"対する","english":"toward, regarding, against","freqRank":1293,"score":3,"verdict":"dropped","reason":"Duplicates に対して."},{"id":"cut-deshita","romaji":"deshita","ja":"でした","english":"was (polite past)","freqRank":1736,"score":5,"verdict":"dropped","reason":"Polite past of desu, a plain conjugated form covered by the conjugation list."},{"id":"cut-mashou-ka","romaji":"mashou ka","ja":"ましょうか","english":"shall I/we (polite)","freqRank":2035,"score":4,"verdict":"dropped","reason":"Duplicates -mashou (ka) in the conjugation list."},{"id":"cut-masen-deshita","romaji":"-masen deshita","ja":"ませんでした","english":"didn't (polite past negative)","freqRank":3367,"score":5,"verdict":"dropped","reason":"Duplicates -masen deshita in the conjugation list."},{"id":"cut-shidai","romaji":"-shidai","ja":"しだい","english":"depending on; as soon as","freqRank":3560,"score":3,"verdict":"dropped","reason":"Duplicates 次第."},{"id":"cut-wake-ni-wa-ikanai","romaji":"wake ni wa ikanai","ja":"わけにはいきません","english":"can't very well do","freqRank":3833,"score":3,"verdict":"dropped","reason":"Polite form of わけにはいかない; duplicate."},{"id":"cut-te-goran","romaji":"-te goran","ja":"ご覧","english":"try ~ (to a junior)","freqRank":3890,"score":3,"verdict":"dropped","reason":"Duplicates ごらん (-te goran)."},{"id":"cut-koto-ni-naru","romaji":"koto ni naru","ja":"事になる","english":"it's been decided that","freqRank":4377,"score":4,"verdict":"dropped","reason":"Duplicates ことになる."},{"id":"cut-furi-o-suru","romaji":"-furi (o suru)","ja":"フリ","english":"pretend to","freqRank":4612,"score":3,"verdict":"dropped","reason":"Duplicates ふりをする."}]}