Phrase of the Day: watashi wa _____ arimasen.
How do you say what you’re not?
watashi wa _________ arimasen.
watashi – I
wa – topic marker
arimasen – (negative) not/isn’t/etc.
Simply it means: I am not __________ .
arimasen can be used with nouns the same as desu.
Example:
watashi wa inu arimasen.
I’m not a dog.
watashi wa neko arimasen.
I’m not a cat.
watashi wa sutea masuta- arimasen.
I’m not a stair master.
watashi wa boru arimasen.
I’m not a ball.
How does arimasen differ when being used with adjectives?
Japanese adjectives have two types ‘i’ (ee) and ‘na’. Here are some examples of i and na adjectives:
i:
kawaii – cute
kowai – scary
nagai – long
mijikai – short
futoi – fat
hosoi – slender
na:
kantan – simple
fukuzatsu – complicated
binboo – poor
shizuka – quiet
hen – strange
genki – healthy
With these examples I’m sure you’ve noticed that the ‘i’ adjectives all end in ‘i’. Although with anything there are exceptions to the rule, but pretty much every adjective to end in ‘i’ is and ‘i’ adjective.
Exceptions to the rule:
kirei – pretty
yuumei – famous
kirai – dislike or the least favorite
These exceptions are ‘na’ adjectives. ‘na’ is added to the end of ‘na’ adjectives when using different forms, and as well as that when using arimasen ‘dewa’ is used.
For example:
watashi wa genki na dewa arimasen.
I’m not healthy/feeling well.
watashi wa yuumei na dewa arimasen.
I’m not famous.
However when using it in the positive ‘desu’ form, ‘na’ is omitted.
Example:
watashi wa kirei desu.
I’m pretty.
watashi wa shizuka desu
I’m quiet.
So are there any changes with arimasen and i-adjectives?
i-adjectives are pretty straight forward when using in the negative. Simply take off the last ‘i’ and add ku.
Example:
watashi wa kowaku arimasen.
I’m not scary.
watashi wa nagaku arimasen.
I’m not long.
watashi wa hosoku arimasen.
I’m not slender.
That’s pretty simple right?
Why not try it yourself!
Phrase of the Day: watashi wa _____ desu.
watashi wa _________ desu.
watashi – I
wa – topic marker
desu – to be/is/etc.
Simply it means: I am __________ .
If you put a describing word (adjective) or your name in the blank, you are saying you are that way or you are called that.
For example:
watashi wa ookii desu.
ookii – big
I am big.
watashi wa chiisai desu.
chiisai – small
I am small.
watashi wa heron desu.
I’m Helen.
watashi wa jakku desu.
I’m Jack.
Understand?
You can also put nouns in the blank. You can be silly about it or use it to describe your job position.
watashi wa inu desu.
I’m a dog.
watashi wa neko desu.
I’m a cat.
watashi wa sekyuriti- offasa desu.
I’m a security officer.
watashi wa kaoboi desu.
I’m a cowboy.
Simple right?
Try it yourself! ^-^
