Many Different Expressions  with Sentence Endings

Sentence Endings | さまざまな文末の表現

Many Different Expressions with Sentence Endings

In Japanese, the meaning of a sentence can be significantly altered by its ending. It might even come to mean the complete opposite. Even when the expression is exactly the same, its nuance is changed depending on the tone (upward / downward, strong / weak). The following sentences are examples of sentence endings using the verb iku (go).

日本語にほんご
nihonngo
Japanese
no
in
ぶん
bunn ha
(a) sentence
文末ぶんまつ
bunnmatsu
its ending
de
by
意味いみ
imi ga
(the) meaning of
おおきく
ookiku
significantly
わります。
kawarimasu.
can be altered
まった
mattaku
complete
ぎゃく
gyaku no
(the) opposite
意味いみになる
imi ni naru
to mean
ことも
kotomo
even
あります。
arimasu.
(it) might come
おな表現ひょうげん
onaji hyougenn
(the) expression is exactly the same
でも、
demo,
even when
かた調子ちょうし
iikata no choushi
(the) tone
上昇じょうしょう調ちょう下降かこう調ちょう
jyoushouchou kakouchou,
upward downward
つよい/よわい)
tsuyoi yowai
strong weak
で、
de,
depending on
ニュアンスにゅあんす
nyuannsu mo
(its) nuance
わります。
kawarimasu.
is changed
つぎ
tsugi ha
(the) following (sentences)
」くを
iku wo
(the verb) iku (go)
使つかった
tsukata
using
文末ぶんまつ
bunnmatsu
sentence endings
no
of
例文れいぶん
reibunn
examples
です。
desu.
are
[ 質問しつもん ]
shitsumonn
Questions
これからおよぎにく?
korekara oyogi ni iku?
Shall we go swimming now?
[ 勧誘かんゆう ]
kannyuu
Inviting
ねえ、こうよ。 
nee, ikou yo.
Why don’t you come?
[ 命令めいれい ]
meirei
Issuing an Order
きなよ。
iki na yo.
You should go.
け!
ike!
Go!
[ 確認かくにん ]
kakuninn
Confirming 
あなたもくよね。
anata mo iku yo ne.
You are also coming, aren’t you?
[ 主張しゅちょう ]
shuchou
Making an Assertion 
絶対ぜったいくぜ。(男性だんせい
zettai, iku ze.
I’ll absolutely go. (male)
わたしくわ。(女性じょせい
watashi ha iku wa.
I’ll go. (female)
[ 反語はんご ]
hanngo
Rhetorical Questions 
まさかおまえくのか。(男性だんせい
masaka omae, iku no ka.
Are you really going? (male)
[ 感動かんどう ]
kanndou
Being Deeply Moved
すごいね、くんだあ。
sugoi ne, ikunndaa.
Great, you’re coming.
[ 禁止きんし ]
kinnshi
Trying to Stop Someone 
あぶないから、くな(よ)。
abunai kara, iku na (yo).
It’s dangerous, so don’t go.
[ 質問しつもん ]
Shitsumonn
Questions 
これからおよぎにく?
korekara oyogi ni iku?
Shall we go swimming now?
[ 勧誘かんゆう ]
kannyuu
Inviting
ねえ、行こうよ。
nee, ikou yo.
Why don’t you come?
[ 命令めいれい ]
meirei
Issuing an Order
きなよ。
iki na yo.
You should go.
け!
ike!
Go!
[ 確認かくにん ]
kakuninn
Confirming 
あなたもくよね。
anata mo iku yo ne.
You are also coming, aren’t you?
[ 主張しゅちょう ]
shuchou
Making an Assertion 
絶対ぜったいくぜ。(男性だんせい
zettai, iku ze.
I’ll absolutely go. (male)
わたしくわ。(女性じょせい
watashi ha iku wa.
I’ll go. (female)
[ 反語はんご ]
hanngo
Rhetorical Questions
まさかお前まえくのか。(男性だんせい
masaka omae, iku no ka.
Are you really going? (male)
[ 感動かんどう ]
kanndou
Being Deeply Moved 
すごいね、行> いく んだあ。
sugoi ne, ikunndaa.
Great, you’re coming.
[ 禁止きんし ]
kinnshi
Trying to Stop Someone 
あぶないから、くな(よ)。
abunai kara, iku na (yo).
It’s dangerous, so don’t go.
[ ひとごと ]
hitorhigoto
Speaking to Oneself 
仕方しかたないから、こうかな。
shikata nai kara, ikou kana.
It can’t be helped, I guess I’ll come along.
[ 疑問ぎもん ]
gimonn
Doubting 
かれく(の)かな?
kare ha iku (no) kana?
I wonder whether he’ll come along.
[ 推量すいりょう ]
suiryou
Guessing
たぶんかれかないかな。
tabunn kare ha ikanai kana.
He might not come.
[ 願望がんぼう ]
gannbou
Wishing 
きっとくでしょう。
kitto iku deshou.
He will surely come.
[ かる断定だんてい ]
karui danntei
Coming to a Conclusion 
そりゃあ、くさ。
soryaa, iku sa.
No matter what happens, he’ll come.
[ 強調きょうちょう念押ねんおし ]
kyouchou nennoshi
Forcing the Issue
ほら、くぞ(よ)。
hora, iku zo (yo).
Now, we’ll go.
じゃあ、くね。
jaa, iku ne.
Well, let’s go.
[ わけ ]
iiwake
Making an Excuse 
たのまれたから、くんだもん。(ども)
tanomareta kara, iku nn da monn.
I have to go, because I was asked. (child)
[ 伝聞でんぶん ]
dennbunn
Hearsay 
結局けっきょくくんだってさ。
kekkyoku, iku nn datte sa.
I heard he’ll come after all.
[ 残念ざんねん ]
zannnenn
Expressing Regret 
かれっちゃう。
kare ha icchau.
He is going.
っちゃった。
icchatta.
He has gone.
[ 依頼いらい ]
irai
Making a Request 
あぶないから、あなたもってよ。
abunai kara, anata mo itte yo.
It’s dangerous, I want you to go with him.
すぐにってね。
suguni itte ne.
I wish you could go right away.
[ 同調どうちょう ]
douchou
Agreeing
むかしはみんなおよぎにったもんな(男性だんせい)。
mukashi ha minnna oyogi ni itta monn na.
We used to go swimming. (male)
[ 自慢じまん ]
jimann
Being Proud
そうそう、何回なんかいったもんね。
sousou, nannkai mo itta monn ne.
That’s right, we often went there.

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