What Does Desu Means and How to Use It

Japanese learners will find this blog post useful for understanding how to use です。This is a great introduction to using Grammar in Japanese and some of the nuances that are important to know when trying to communicate with others.

です。Desu has the same meaning as the verb to be in English and is also an expression of politeness, Desu is adjunct verb: 助動詞   used after noun synonyms Group 1 adjectives (adj -i), adverbs and some auxiliary words.It is a polite form of だ and である to show courtesy to an opponent.

How to Use Desu (です) in Japanese

Desu is adjunct verb: 助動詞   used after noun synonyms Group 1 adjectives (adj -i), adverbs and some auxiliary words.It is a polite form of だ and である to show courtesy to an opponent.

1.Express a definite decision or make an opinion

Example :

  1. 彼はアメリカ人です。 He is an American
  1. リーさんとジュンさんは中国人です。 Lee and Jun are Chinese.

2. Used in the form のです or んです or なのです to describe a cause. or used to express a decisive decision

Example: 

1.高いと思ったから、買わなかったのです 

I didn’t buy it because I thought it was expensive

2.今から話すんです I’m talking from now on

3.あなたを守るのは私にとってあなたは大切な人なのです。 

You are an important person to me to protect you.

3.Used to emphasize tones. They are often used together with auxiliary words such as ね or な.

Example:

1.この冬はですね、雪が毎日降ります。 It snows every day this winter

2.私は今朝からですね、まだ、ご飯を食べていません。 

I haven’t eaten yet since this morning.

4.Used in the お+ verb conjugated in the renyoukei form to show respect

Example:

1.何をお飲みですか  What are you drinking

2.どちらへお出かけですか Where are you going

5.bring up a Topic.

Example:

明日の会議のことですが、皆に言っておきたいことがあります

Regarding tomorrow’s meeting, I have something to say to everyone

それは先週のことです。私は幼馴染にばったり出会いました

That was last week. I met my childhood friend

Why is desu at the end of a sentence?

Desu is adjunct verb: 助動詞   used after noun synonyms Group 1 adjectives (adj -i), adverbs and some auxiliary words. It’s translated as “to be,” but its meaning is closer to being equal or equivalent in some sense, so you could say something was good by saying, 

for example, “Kono sushi desu” (This sushi is good). You can also use it with singular nouns without any other words before them and they will still have this effect on sentence endings. For example, if I wanted to say my name was Anna then I would just add “desu” after it and write “Anna desu” which means “I am Anna.

What desu ka means in Japanese 

Normally We will use Japanese Structure : N1 は N2 ですか。 Mean Is N1 N2 

Adding か to the end of a sentence makes a telling sentence into a question sentence. 

desu and desuka Sentence 

あなたは 先生です。 You are Teacher  >  あなたは 先生ですか。 Are you Teacher ?

これは 本です。This is a book  > これはほんですか。Is this a book ?

How do you use desu ka?

Normally We will use Japanese Structure : N1 は N2 ですか。 Mean Is N1 N2 ?

To create the question sentence and use with question word( Interrogative word )

Adding か to the end of a sentence makes a telling sentence into a question sentence. 

We use Desu ka with Question word Who, what, why, where, when, how

These words are questions.it will come before  ですか, exceptどうして why

Japanese Question word ( Interrogative word )

Who = だれ(dare), どなた(donata), the meaning is the same, 

but どなた is more polite. (In case of asking someone who doesn’t know)

 Example.

あの人はだれですか。Who is that person

What = なん(nan)/なに(nani)

When you use it, there is a auxiliary word を  (wo) at the end.

 Example  

A : B さん (B san) = Mr.B.

B : なん ですか?(nan desuka)= What is it?

なに  is asking what you do. Or asking questions with words such as 

Example

A : Bさん あした なに を しますか? What are you doing tomorrow?

B : なに も しません (nani mo shimasen) =  I didn’t do anything.

Where = どこ(doko)/どちら(dochira) 

 Dochira is more polite than doko, as in the case of dare and donata.

Example

A : ここはどこ/どちらですか? 

Where is this place?

When =いつ(itsu) This word is a very broad question. To be specific, I’d say what time is なんじ(nanji), なんにち(nannichi), what month なんがつ (nangatsu) 

Example: 

リーさんの誕生日はいつですか。

When is Lee’s birthday?

How =どう(dou is pronounced as do because it is a question) is used to ask questions where the answer is an adverb.

Example 

A: イギリス は どうですか? How about  England 

B: しずかなくにです It’s a quiet country

.

What does ‘desu ne’ mean in Japanese

 “Desu ne” is a little phrase with a lot of meaning. Depending on the tone one uses, it can either be seeking agreement or presuming it.The particle ね “ne”, variously translated as “right?”, “huh?”, or “isn’t it?”, can be put at the end of a sentence to create sort of question.

How do you use desu ne?

“Ne” is a sentence ender that has many uses. It can be used to ask for agreement or confirmation, as in the previous example, but it also serves other purposes such as showing interest or empathy in a conversation. If you’re not quite sure how to use ne yet, don’t worry – we’ll go over all of its different meanings!

Example :

1.おいしいですね。

It’s yummy. – 

2.さすがですね

That’s you all right.

3.すてきですね

That’s wonderful. 

4.そうなんですね。

I see. 

5.その通りですね

Exactly 

6.可愛いですね

That’s so cute 

7.夏ですね

It’s summer

My Recommendations for your Japanese learning

  • Japanese Pod 101 My Honest Review Read more
  • JLPT N5 Test Prep-course - The Expert Secret Check Out