Noun add-ons

Conjugations, Stage 4chunk 6 of 6Grammar patterns

Small endings that make a noun a type, a whole, a without, or a game.

• -kei-type; -style; kind of
• -gotoand all, including; every (-goto ni)
• -nashi dewithout
• -gokkoplaying at; make-believe

Mix-ups -goto (and all) and -gokko (playing at) sound alike.

-kei

〜系

-type; -style; kind of

Labels a person, look or thing by its type: 'oshare kei' (the stylish type).

Make it noun or adjective + kei

Standard, not slang, in rikei and bunkei (science and arts tracks). Like 'tte kanji', it keeps a label vague.

casualPlay

karai kei no tabemono, daisuki nan da

I love anything spicy.

辛い系の食べ物、大好きなんだ

politePlay

karai kei no tabemono ga daisuki nan desu

I really love spicy kinds of food.

辛い系の食べ物が大好きなんです

Rank #1772 in 3,030 TV dramas

-goto

〜ごと

and all, including; every (-goto ni)

Noun + goto keeps the whole thing together ('skin and all'); -goto ni means each or every.

Make it noun + goto; noun or counter + goto ni

With ni it means 'every': 'ichi jikan goto ni' (every hour). 'marugoto' = whole, entirely.

casualPlay

kono budou, kawa goto taberareru yo

You can eat these grapes skin and all.

このぶどう、皮ごと食べられるよ

politePlay

kono budou wa kawa goto taberaremasu yo

You can eat these grapes with the skin on.

このぶどうは皮ごと食べられますよ

Rank #2332 in 3,030 TV dramas

-nashi de

〜なしで

without

Doing something without a thing; also nashi ni and, in speech, nashi ja.

Make it noun + nashi de

When ordering, 'X nashi de' = hold the X: 'wasabi nashi de onegai shimasu'. With verbs use -naide or -zu ni.

casualPlay

koohii nashi ja ikite ikenai yo

I can't live without coffee.

コーヒーなしじゃ生きていけないよ

politePlay

koohii nashi de wa ikite ikemasen

I couldn't live without coffee.

コーヒーなしでは生きていけません

Rank #2565 in 3,030 TV dramas

-gokko

〜ごっこ

playing at; make-believe

Children's pretend games, or an adult doing a mock version of something.

Make it noun + gokko (o suru)

Onigokko (tag) is the best-known one. Said of adults it mocks: 'kazoku gokko' (just playing house).

casualPlay

kodomotachi ga oishasan gokko shiteru yo

The kids are playing doctors.

子供たちがお医者さんごっこしてるよ

politePlay

kodomotachi ga oishasan gokko o shite imasu yo

The children are playing doctors.

子供たちがお医者さんごっこをしていますよ

Rank #4581 in 3,030 TV dramas