"Desu": what does this word mean? Where and why it is used?

The Japanese language is an interesting and complex intricacies of hieroglyphs, strange rules, incomprehensible adverbs and inappropriate prefixes. But it is only necessary to begin to disassemble its fundamentals, as it becomes clear that one without the other is nowhere. And you have to learn everything in order, paying attention to even the smallest trifles. In Japanese, most of the narrative sentences end with the prefix "desu". What does this word mean and why is it used so often? Let's try to understand.

Verb

So, what does "desi" in Japanese mean? In a literal translation, this word means "to be." Quite reasonably, the question may arise: why does the word "desu" appear in almost all sentences? The fact is that in Japanese verbs do not have forms and numbers. Most of them are placed at the end of the sentence and translated by the single word "desu" - "to be."

In order to be clear, we will give a small example.

あ れ わ 新 幹線 で す. (Are wa shinkansen desu) - If you translate this phrase verbatim, you get something like: "That is the train." In conversational Japanese, it will be perceived as: "This is a train."

In fact, "desu" does not mean anything. This prefix gives verbs a neutral-polite shade. And since politeness is considered the main link in the Japanese mentality, this style of speech is most often encountered in everyday life.

Question

What does "desi" mean, now it's a little clear. However, this verb has several more uses. Those who teach Japanese, and those who have just started to learn the basics, may notice that after the "desu" often there are particles. These particles are called "gobies" and in the sentence they are responsible for the emotional background.

One of the most popular particles is "ka". If it is after desy, then the sentence is interrogative. For clarity, we give a few examples:

1. あ れ わ 新 幹線 で す ? (Are wa shinkansen desu ka?) - In the first example, this phrase was of an affirmative nature, but after adding the particle "ka" it turned into an interrogative sentence: "Is this a train?".
2. ど な た で す ? (Donata desu ka?) - Another example in the literal translation will sound like: "Who is?". This interrogative pronoun, which is used when it comes to a person, is perceived as a question: "Who is this?". Such an expression is often used in a polite, formal conversation. For less formal cases it is customary to say: だ れ で す ? (Dare desu ka?). The essence of the question remains the same, only the degree of politeness changes.

Thus, "desu" (which means "to be") can appear not only in narrative, but also in interrogative sentences. But there are two more "gobi" particles that can be found in tandem with "desu".

"Yo" and "ne"

Studying materials on the Japanese language for beginners, you can often find a combination of "desu ne". Often it appears in such phrases as:

• わ, 畳 の 部屋 で す ね. (Wa, tatami no heya desu ne.) - In translation, the sentence sounds quite simple: "This is a room with tatami." But you should pay attention to the prefix "va" at the beginning of the sentence, which means delight or admiration from what you saw. In turn, the combination of "dese ne" means that a person who admires a room with tatami is not sure that the interlocutor shares his emotions.

Expressions of this kind are often encountered when speaking Japanese with visitors. Visiting everything in Japan seems to be a novelty, and for native people it is a common everyday occurrence. This also works in the opposite direction: if a Japanese comes to a foreign country and talks to someone in his native language, you can often find a combination of "dese ne".

Another particle that can be found after "desu" (which means "to be") is read as "yo." Accordingly, it turns out "deso yo." This tandem is used in conversation, when the interlocutor wants to share new information about something. If to compare with the Russian language, then the combination of "desu yo" is used in the manner of the word "by the way". That is, it is used to say information that the speaker knows about, but does not know the interlocutor. For example, the speaker can say that this restaurant is cozy and there is deliciously prepared. And if the interlocutor for the first time hears about this institution, at the end of the sentence it is necessary to put the phrase "desu yo".

And not "desi" is at all

Those who teach Japanese, you should know that "desu" (which means "to be") is never fully pronounced. Because of the reduction of the vowels at the output, the word "des" will be obtained. That is, when writing a word, it will consist of two syllables "de" (で) and "su" (す), but it will be read as "des".

Because people who popularize oriental culture do not always have enough knowledge, many Internet users are mistaken about the correct pronunciation.

To be or not to be

So, at this stage, the "desi" has already been mastered, what it means to be. But what to do when it is necessary "not to be." "To be or not to be" - Shakespeare's words approach this issue at the right time.

The word "desu" has a negative form "de va arimasen", which in literal translation means "is not." For example:

• 山田 さ ん は 学生 で は あ り ま せ ん. (Yamada-san wa gakusei de wa arimasen.) - With a full literal translation, it turns out: "Yamada-san is a student is not." That is, the listener receives information that Yamada-san is not a university student.

The word "desu" has a special popularity. It can be found in the original anime or manga, hear in the voice acting dubber or remember after watching some videos. But no matter what importance is attached to the word "desu" - this is nothing more than a particle of speech. A kind of analogue point at the end of the sentence. And it is only thanks to this analogue that it is much easier to achieve understanding in conversation, because "desu" can "be" or "not be", ask, express emotions and provide additional information.