Out and about
Collocations, Stage 3chunk 17 of 23Describing people
Remarks about a shop, a place or a day out: crowded, popular, a nice vibe, well reviewed, heavy bags.
- hito ga ooibe crowded, lots of people
- ninki ga arube popular
- ii fun'ikia nice atmosphere, good vibe
- hyouban ga iihave a good reputation
- nimotsu ga omoithe bags are heavy
Mix-ups ninki ga aru means lots of people like it, hyouban ga ii means people speak well of it (reviews, word of mouth). Crowded is hito ga ooi or konderu, never isogashii. ii fun'iki puts ii first, though fun'iki ga ii is just as natural.
hito ga ooi
polite hito ga ooi desube crowded, lots of people
人が多い ひとがおおい 人が多いです
adjectiveooi 多いooi: many, a lot (used as a predicate)typical 1% of hito
trap Not ooi hito ga iru: ooi rarely goes before a noun, so 'there are lots of people' is hito ga ooi (or hito ga ippai), and before a noun it's takusan no hito.
The everyday comment on a crowded place: kyou, hito ooi ne, usually with ga dropped. Said of stations, festivals, shops and tourist spots; for a place packed right now, konderu is just as common. The opposite is hito ga sukunai, or suiteru (not crowded).
shuumatsu wa hito ooi kara, heijitsu ni ikou.
Weekends are crowded, so let's go on a weekday.
週末は人多いから、平日に行こう。
shuumatsu wa hito ga ooi node, heijitsu ni ikimashou.
Weekends are crowded, so let's go on a weekday.
週末は人が多いので、平日に行きましょう。
hitogomi (a crowd) is the noun: hitogomi nigate (I can't stand crowds).
Same adjective: kuruma (cars, traffic), kankoukyaku (tourists), shukudai (homework)Learn alongside: mise ga komu, michi ga komuMain list: hito (Stage 3), ooi (Stage 4), sukunai (Stage 4)
ninki ga aru
polite ninki ga arimasube popular
人気がある にんきがある 人気があります
verbaru あるaru: there is; have (things, qualities)typical 42% of ninki
trap Not popyuraa: in Japanese it's for things that are widely known or standard (popyuraa na kyoku), never for a person. A person or shop that people like ninki ga aru.
For people, shops, shows and products: ano mise, ninki aru yo ne. Casual speech drops ga, and also says ninki da yo or sugoi ninki da yo. 'Popular with X' is X ni ninki ga aru, very popular is ninki ga takai, and unpopular is ninki nai. Before a noun: ninki no aru mise, or just ninki no mise (a popular shop).
ano sensei, seito ni ninki aru yo.
That teacher's popular with the students.
あの先生、生徒に人気あるよ。
ano sensei wa seito ni ninki ga arimasu yo.
That teacher is popular with the students.
あの先生は生徒に人気がありますよ。
Popular with the opposite sex is the single verb moteru. Hyouban ga ii is different: people speak well of it (reviews, word of mouth), while ninki ga aru means lots of people like it or go there.
Same verb: sainou (talent), jishin (confidence), yuuki (courage)Main list: aru (Stage 1)
ii fun'iki
a nice atmosphere, good vibe
いい雰囲気 いいふんいき
adjectiveii いいii: good, nicetypical 23% of fun'iki
trap 'Atmosphere' isn't kuuki here: ii kuuki or kuuki ga ii means fresh air, and kuuki as a mood is mostly kuuki o yomu or kuuki ga omoi (an awkward mood). A place's nice feel is ii fun'iki.
Said about cafes, restaurants, shops and towns: kono mise, ii fun'iki da ne, or with the noun first and ga dropped, fun'iki ii ne. About a person, fun'iki is their air: ano hito, fun'iki ii yo ne (he/she has a nice vibe), or yasashii fun'iki no hito (someone with a gentle air). About two people, ii fun'iki means they seem into each other.
kono kafe, ii fun'iki da ne.
This café has a nice vibe.
このカフェ、いい雰囲気だね。
kono kafe wa ii fun'iki desu ne.
This café has a lovely atmosphere.
このカフェはいい雰囲気ですね。
fun'iki kawatta ne (you look different) is the usual remark on a new hairstyle; many natives say fuinki.
Same adjective: nioi (ii nioi: a nice smell), kuuki (ii kuuki: fresh air)Learn alongside: sutairu ga ii, atama ga ii, sensu ga ii, seikaku ga ii, seikaku ga warui, kanji ga ii, hyouban ga ii, seiseki ga ii, me ga warui (Stage 4)Main list: ii (Stage 1)
hyouban ga ii
polite hyouban ga ii desuhave a good reputation
評判がいい ひょうばんがいい 評判がいいです
adjectiveii いいii: goodtypical 15% of hyouban
trap Not ii hyouban o motte iru ('has a good reputation'): the reputation is the subject, hyouban ga ii (hyouban no ii mise). yuumei only says famous, not that people speak well of it.
Said when recommending a shop, restaurant, doctor or teacher: ano mise, hyouban ii yo, with ga dropped. Before a noun ga becomes no (hyouban no ii mise), and the opposite is hyouban ga warui.
ano haisha-san, hyouban ii yo.
That dentist's got a good reputation.
あの歯医者さん、評判いいよ。
ano haisha-san wa hyouban ga ii desu yo.
That dentist has a good reputation.
あの歯医者さんは評判がいいですよ。
For online reviews, kuchikomi is the word: kuchikomi mo ii yo.
Same adjective: kuchikomi (reviews), uke (uke ga ii: go down well)Learn alongside: sutairu ga ii, atama ga ii, sensu ga ii, seikaku ga ii, seikaku ga warui, kanji ga ii, ii fun'iki, seiseki ga ii, me ga warui (Stage 4)Main list: ii (Stage 1), warui (Stage 1)
nimotsu ga omoi
polite nimotsu ga omoi desuthe bags are heavy
荷物が重い にもつがおもい 荷物が重いです
adjectiveomoi 重いomoi: heavy; also serious, weighing on youtypical 3% of nimotsu
Said while carrying shopping or luggage, often before an offer to help: nimotsu omoi desho, motou ka? Casual speech drops ga, and before a noun it's omoi nimotsu (heavy bags).
nimotsu omoi desho? motou ka?
Your bags must be heavy. Want me to carry them?
荷物重いでしょ？持とうか？
onimotsu, omoi desu yo ne. mochimashou ka?
Your bags must be heavy. Shall I carry them for you?
お荷物、重いですよね。持ちましょうか？
omotai is a spoken variant that stresses how heavy it feels: kono kaban, omotai. Shop staff and juniors offer with the humble omochi shimashou ka.
Same adjective: kaban (bag), suutsukeesu (suitcase)Main list: motsu (Stage 1)