Culture
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
nihonngo
Japanese
の
no
in
文は
bunn ha
(a) sentence
文末
bunnmatsu
its ending
で
de
by
意味が
imi ga
(the) meaning of
大きく
ookiku
significantly
変わります。
kawarimasu.
can be altered
全く
mattaku
complete
逆の
gyaku no
(the) opposite
意味になる
imi ni naru
to mean
ことも
kotomo
even
あります。
arimasu.
(it) might come
同じ表現
onaji hyougenn
(the) expression is exactly the same
でも、
demo,
even when
言い方の調子
iikata no choushi
(the) tone
（上昇調／下降調、
jyoushouchou kakouchou,
upward downward
強い／弱い）
tsuyoi yowai
strong weak
で、
de,
depending on
ニュアンスも
nyuannsu mo
(its) nuance
変わります。
kawarimasu.
is changed
次は
tsugi ha
(the) following (sentences)
「行」くを
iku wo
(the verb) iku (go)
使った
tsukata
using
文末
bunnmatsu
sentence endings
の
no
of
例文
reibunn
examples
です。
desu.
are
[ 質問 ]
shitsumonn
Questions
これから泳ぎに行く？
korekara oyogi ni iku?
Shall we go swimming now?
[ 勧誘 ]
kannyuu
Inviting
ねえ、行こうよ。
nee, ikou yo.
Why don’t you come?
[ 命令 ]
meirei
Issuing an Order
行きなよ。
iki na yo.
You should go.
行け！
ike!
Go!
[ 確認 ]
kakuninn
Confirming
あなたも行くよね。
anata mo iku yo ne.
You are also coming, aren’t you?
[ 主張 ]
shuchou
Making an Assertion
絶対、行くぜ。（男性）
zettai, iku ze.
I’ll absolutely go. (male)
私は行くわ。（女性）
watashi ha iku wa.
I’ll go. (female)
[ 反語 ]
hanngo
Rhetorical Questions
まさかお前、行くのか。（男性）
masaka omae, iku no ka.
Are you really going? (male)
[ 感動 ]
kanndou
Being Deeply Moved
すごいね、行くんだあ。
sugoi ne, ikunndaa.
Great, you’re coming.
[ 禁止 ]
kinnshi
Trying to Stop Someone
危ないから、行くな（よ）。
abunai kara, iku na (yo).
It’s dangerous, so don’t go.
[ 質問 ]
Shitsumonn
Questions
これから泳ぎに行く？
korekara oyogi ni iku?
Shall we go swimming now?
[ 勧誘 ]
kannyuu
Inviting
ねえ、行こうよ。
nee, ikou yo.
Why don’t you come?
[ 命令 ]
meirei
Issuing an Order
行きなよ。
iki na yo.
You should go.
行け！
ike!
Go!
[ 確認 ]
kakuninn
Confirming
あなたも行くよね。
anata mo iku yo ne.
You are also coming, aren’t you?
[ 主張 ]
shuchou
Making an Assertion
絶対、行くぜ。（男性）
zettai, iku ze.
I’ll absolutely go. (male)
私は行くわ。（女性）
watashi ha iku wa.
I’ll go. (female)
[ 反語 ]
hanngo
Rhetorical Questions
まさかお前、行くのか。（男性）
masaka omae, iku no ka.
Are you really going? (male)
[ 感動 ]
kanndou
Being Deeply Moved
すごいね、行> いく んだあ。
sugoi ne, ikunndaa.
Great, you’re coming.
[ 禁止 ]
kinnshi
Trying to Stop Someone
危ないから、行くな（よ）。
abunai kara, iku na (yo).
It’s dangerous, so don’t go.
[ 独り言 ]
hitorhigoto
Speaking to Oneself
仕方ないから、行こうかな。
shikata nai kara, ikou kana.
It can’t be helped, I guess I’ll come along.
[ 疑問 ]
gimonn
Doubting
彼は行く（の）かな？
kare ha iku (no) kana?
I wonder whether he’ll come along.
[ 推量 ]
suiryou
Guessing
たぶん彼は行かないかな。
tabunn kare ha ikanai kana.
He might not come.
[ 願望 ]
gannbou
Wishing
きっと行くでしょう。
kitto iku deshou.
He will surely come.
[ 軽い断定 ]
karui danntei
Coming to a Conclusion
そりゃあ、行くさ。
soryaa, iku sa.
No matter what happens, he’ll come.
[ 強調 ・ 念押し ]
kyouchou nennoshi
Forcing the Issue
ほら、行くぞ（よ）。
hora, iku zo (yo).
Now, we’ll go.
じゃあ、行くね。
jaa, iku ne.
Well, let’s go.
[ 言い訳 ]
iiwake
Making an Excuse
頼まれたから、行くんだもん。（子ども）
tanomareta kara, iku nn da monn.
I have to go, because I was asked. (child)
[ 伝聞 ]
dennbunn
Hearsay
結局、行くんだってさ。
kekkyoku, iku nn datte sa.
I heard he’ll come after all.
[ 残念 ]
zannnenn
Expressing Regret
彼は行っちゃう。
kare ha icchau.
He is going.
行っちゃった。
icchatta.
He has gone.
[ 依頼 ]
irai
Making a Request
危ないから、あなたも行ってよ。
abunai kara, anata mo itte yo.
It’s dangerous, I want you to go with him.
すぐに行ってね。
suguni itte ne.
I wish you could go right away.
[ 同調 ]
douchou
Agreeing
昔はみんな泳ぎに行ったもんな（男性）。
mukashi ha minnna oyogi ni itta monn na.
We used to go swimming. (male)
[ 自慢 ]
jimann
Being Proud
そうそう、何回も行ったもんね。
sousou, nannkai mo itta monn ne.
That’s right, we often went there.
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