Japanese Self-Studying Updates (Lesson 27)

Konnichiwa minna-san!

For the last three months that I’ve been learning Japanese, the idea of giving up never crossed my mind until last week, last Sunday to be exact. I’ve been having a very sh*tty week and also having a hard time juggling between work, reading, watching anime/movie, then blogging. It also didn’t helped that I’ve been having a hard time at work and it’s really stressing me out. And the negative vibes last week finally had a toll on me and the thought of stopping the lesson just came to mind.

But after watching this verb conjugation video in YouTube, my enthusiasm magically came back. I’ve been following this channel in Youtube named Learning Kanji  for like two months ago but never really got the chance to watch a full video of his tutorial because I’ve been focusing on learning Japanese grammar for now. I thought he’s only teaching kanji and when I stumbled on his verb conjugation video, I got curious so I watched it and dang! I’m magically recharged. I have to say that Misa-sensei is one of the best on explaining things more easily but Learning Kanji uses a very different approach. It’s a bit messy when you compare it to other Japanese tutorials in Youtube but Learning Kanji always tries his best on explaining things completely. It’s super duper complete actually and he has a habit on repeating things for a couple of times especially if he think that the topic is too difficult for us. And I find it really favorable for me because it gives me a lot of time to process the new information and won’t give me an information overload.

And for today’s update, I am only updating two lessons. It’s technically one lesson as the first lesson is only an add-on lesson in Misa-sensei’s Japanese Grammar lessons in Youtube. I’ve noticed lately that I’ve been pushing myself too hard and been pursuing three lessons a week so I decided to take it slow this time.

Last week, I studied information conjugation of verbs and I have to say that it was quite difficult to learn compared to conjugating verbs formally but it’s all good, *wink. For this week, I am learning how to differentiate ageru (to give), morau (to receive) and kureru (to give). You see, Japan loves giving gifts so it’s really ideal to how to differentiate these verbs from each other. Aside from that, I am learning how to say “haven’t done yet” too which I was confused at first because I did an almost the same lesson back in Lesson #20. Btw, you can follow on my update below to see how they differentiate from each other.

And again, this is not an attempt to create a tutorial but just sharing what I’ve learn from Misa-sensei’s Grammar Lessons for Absolute Beginners in Youtube. You can see what I’ve been learning from Lessons 1-26 here.

Click on the lesson number to read the whole update.

Ageru VS. Kureru Vs. Morau

You can go back to lessons #9, #11 and #12 to know how to conjugate verbs formally. Then check out lessons #13 -14, and #15 – #17 for the TE or request form. And for conjugating verbs informally, check out lessons #19, #24 and #26ageru => to give
Ex: To give a present
=> Purezento wo agemasu <formal>
=> Purezento (wo) ageru <informal> For TO someone, you always use the particle NI.

Ex: I gave presents TO my family
=> Kazoku ni purezento wo agemashita <formal>
=> Kasoku ni purezento (wo) ageta <informal>
kodomotachi => children (you use it if you want to emphasize that there’s a lot of kids)
kodomo => can both mean child and children
Ex: Santa Claus gave presents to the children
=> Santa san wa kodomotachi ni purezento wo agemashita <formal>
=> Santa san wa kodomotachi ni purezento (wo) ageta <informal>

AGERU

used when:

• I give something to someone/you
• Someone/you give something to someone else

but never:

• Someone/you give something to me

Ageru can also be used for someone else’s point of view

VS
KURERU

used only when:

• Someone/you give something to me

Ex: This year, Santa Claus didn’t gave me a present
=> Kotoshi wa Santa san wa (watashi ni) purezento wo kuremasen deshita <formal>
=> Kotoshi wa Santa san wa purezento (wo) kurenakatta <informal>

The wa particle is also use to compare like for the example above, you are comparing this year to last year. For kureru, “to me” is already given so you are not request to add watashi ni on the sentence.

Ex: My friend gave me a book
=> Tomodachi  wa hon wo kuremashita <formal>
=> Tomodachi wa hon (wo) kureta <informal>

tanjoubi => birthday
My dad gave me a car on my birthday
=> Chichi wa tanjoubi ni kuruma wo kuremashita <formal>
=> Otousan wa tanjoubi ni kureta <informal>

When using kureru, you need to mention who gave something to you. Normally, time related words are placed before the object but you can still put it after the object ofcourse.

morau => to receive / to get

KURERU

• when using kureru, it’s always required to mention WHO gave it to me/you.
• kureru is used to give emphasis that THIS person gave it to me/you.

VS
MORAU

• when using morau, it’s not required to mention WHO gave it to me/you
• morau is more about myself/yourself; eg. I/you receive this, I/you receive that etc.

Ex: I received a letter
=> Tegami wo moraimashita <formal>
=> Tegami (wo) moratta <informal>
kutso => shoes
I got shoes on Christmas
=> Kurisumasu ni kutso wo moraimashita <formal>
=> Kurisumasu ni kutso (wo) moratta <informal>
kaban => bag
I got a bag on Christmas
=> Kurisumasu ni kaban wo moraimashita <formal>
=> Kurisumasu ni kaban (wo) moratta <informal>

kara => from

• it’s usually used with: from somewhere or from what time

Ex: From Tokyo
=> Toukyou kara
From 1 o’clock
=> Ichi ji kara

For morau, you can still use kara but what they commonly use is the particle NI.

someone ni something wo morau
= to receive something from someone

Also, you can still use morau even if you are mentioning who gave it to you.

I got a letter from my friend
=> Tomodachi ni tegami wo moraimashita <formal>
=> Tomodachi ni tegami (wo) moratta <informal>
(it DOESN’T mean I receive it TO someone but I receive it FROM someone)
douryou => colleague / co-worker
I received a present from my co-worker
=> Douryou ni purezento wo moraimashita <formal>
=> Douryou ni purezento (wo) moratta <informal>

What’s the difference between:
My co-worker gave me a present (Douryou wa purezento wo kuremashita / kureta) and I got a present from my co-worker (Douryou ni purezento wo moraimashita/moratta) ?

• They both mean the same thing but kureru is more about the person WHO gave it to me/you while morau is all about me/you who got the present.
• With kureru, it give emphasis on the person WHO gave it to me/you. It’s usually used with the particle GA.

As you can remember, GA particle put more emphasis on what comes before it, which is the person who gave the present to me/you.

Ex: Mr. Tanaka gave me a present
=> Tanaka san ga purezento wo kuremashita <formal>
=> Tanaka san ga purezento (wo) kureta <informal>
(it means,  Mr. Tanaka IS THE ONE who gave me a present)
Mr. Tanaka gave me a present
=> Tanaka san wa purezento wo kuremashita <formal>
=> Tanaka wan wa purezento (wo) kureta <informal>
(focusing on WHAT Mr. Tanaka did, which is giving me a present)

To know more about WA and GA particles, just refer to lesson #10.

When someone ask you “Who gave ~ to you”, your answer should always use the particle GA to put emphasis on the person who gave it to you.
Ex: Mr. Tanaka gave me ~
=> Tanaka san ga ~ kuremashita <formal>
=> Tanaka san ga ~ kureta <informal>
(when you use the particle WA instead of GA in the sentence above, it will become a bit strange)

But when you ask, you say either of the two:
=> Dare ga kuremashita ka? <formal> / Dare ga kureta? <informal>
(who gave it to you?)
or
=> Dare ni moraimashita ka? <formal> / Dare ga moratta? <informal>
(who did you get/received it from?)

and when answering this question, you say:
=> ~ ga kuremashita <formal> / ~ ga kureta <informal>
(~ gave it)
or
=> ~ ni moraimashita <formal> / ~ ni moratta <informal>
(got it from ~)

New vocabularies learned from this lesson:

• kodomotachi => children (you use it if you want to emphasize that there’s a lot of kids)
• kodomo => can both mean child and children
• tanjoubi => birthday
• kutso => shoes
• kaban => bag
• kara => from / because
• douryou => colleague / co-worker
• maruraa => scarf
• choko => chocolate

LESSON 27: Haven’t Done Yet

For TE / request form, refer to lessons #13 -14, and #15 – #17 to learn more.TE form + (i) nai <informal>
TE form + imasen <formal>
= haven’t done ~ yet Tabenakatta means didn’t eat and not haven’t eaten yet.

(to watch, see, look) miru => mite
mite(i)nai / miteimasen
= not looking now / have not looked (watched) yet

In informal speeches, they usually omit i, eg. mitenai

Have never seen before
=> Mita koto ga arimasen <formal>
=> Mita koto (ga) nai <informal>
(you use this form when you never had the experience before)

TE form + (i) nai / imasen
= have not ~ (for a while or yet)
* means you’ve ~ it before but haven’t ~ for a while or not yet (but you are planning to)

Ex: Have you seen / Did you see the new movie?
=> Atarashii eiga wo mimashita ka? <formal>
=> Atarashii eiga (wo) mita? <informal>
No, I haven’t seen it (yet)
=> Iie, miteimasen <formal>
=> Uun, mite(i)nai <informal>

mite(i)nai/miteimasen

• this is the most appropriate response on the question above
• it’s like, you haven’t seen it but is planning to watch it soon

VS.
mita / mimashita

• sounds like a bit weird of a response
• it’s like, you said that you gonna watch it yesterday but decided not to after all

But when you are talking about a certain TV show that was shown last night or the other day:
Did you watch the drama yesterday? / Did you watch yesterday’s drama?
=> Kinou no dorama mimashita ka? <formal>
=> Kinou no dorama mita? <informal>
Nope, I didn’t watch it
=> Iie, mimasen deshita <formal>
=> Uun, minakatta <informal>

Explanation: It’s because with movie, it will be shown for a while and you still have a lot of time to watch it, but with a TV show, it’s not like they are showing the same episode everyday.

=> Iie, miteimasen <formal>
=> Unn, mite(i)nai <informal>
(it means, you taped it but haven’t watched it yet)

(to eat) taberu => tabete
I didn’t eat breakfast
=> Asagohan wo tabemasen deshita <formal>
=> Asagohan (wo) tabenakatta <informal>
(you didn’t eat breakfast)
I didn’t eat breakfast yet
=> Mada tabeteimasen <formal>
=> Mada tabete(i)nai <informal>
(haven’t eaten breakfast yet but you are planning to)

Sometimes, mada is used like:
Not yet?
=> Mada?

I haven’t eaten breakfast yet
=> Mada asagohan wo tabeteimasen <formal>
=> Mada asagohan (wo) tabete(i)nai <informal>

(to decide) kimeru => kimete
decide it quickly
=> Hayaku kimeru
kimete(i)nai / kimeteimasen
= haven’t decided yet

<verb> ka kimete(i)nai / kimeteimasen
= haven’t decided whether to do or not
Ex: Haven’t decided WHETHER I’ll eat or not
=> Taberu ka kimeteimasen <formal>
=> Taberu ka kimete(i)nai <informal>

nani wo <verb> ka kimete(i)nai / kimeteimasen
= haven’t decided WHAT ~
Ex: Haven’t decided what I’ll eat
=> Nani wo taberu ka kimeteimasen <formal>
=> Nani (wo) taberu ka kimete(i)nai <informal>

(to read) yomu => yonde
yonde(i)nai / yondeimasen
= not reading now / haven’t read yet
Did you / Have you read this book (already)?
=> Kono hon wo yomimashita ka? <formal>
=> Kono hon (wo) yonda? <informal>
I haven’t read this book yet
=> Kono hon wo yondeimasen <formal>
=> Kono hon (wo) yonde(i)nai <informal>

You can also add the word mada before the sentence or before the verb.

zenbu => everything / all
Haven’t finished reading / Haven’t read it all
=> Mada zenbu yondeimasen <formal>
=> Mada zenbu yonde(i)nai <informal>

You can use the verb “to finish” in the sentence above, but they usually use “not read all”.

(to say, tell) iu => itte
itte(i)nai / itteimasen
= haven’t told / haven’t said
shinjitsu => truth <formal>
Did you tell the truth?
=> Hontou no koto wo iimashita ka? <formal>
=> Hontou no koto (wo) itta? <informal>
Haven’t said / Haven’t told yet
=> Mada itteimasen <formal>
=> Mada itte(i)nai <informal>
kokuhaku suru => to confess (someone’s love)

Did you know? In Japan, when you want to date someone, you have to confess your love.

hito => person
barentaindee => Valentines Day
A lot of people confess their love on Valentines Day
=> Takusan no hito wa barentaindee ni kokuhaku shimasu <formal>
=> Takusan no hito wa barentaindee ni kokuhaku suru <informal>

Did you know? Valentines Day is when most girls confess their love in Japan.

Did you already confess your love? / Did you already ask him out?
=> Mou kokuhaku shimashita ka? <formal>?
=> Mou kokuhaku shita? <informal>
I haven’t confessed / ask him out yet
=> Mada kokuhaku shiteimasen <formal>
=> Mada kokuhaku shite(i)nai <informal>
When they confess, they usually say:
I like you! Please go out with me
=> Suki desu. Tsukiatte kudasai!

Did you know? For some reason, a lot of people in Japan speak formally when confessing their love (depends on the person though)

tsukiau => to go out with someone / to date
keeki => cake

Did you know? In Japan, most girls bake / make cake or chocolate for the one they love.

Did you already make / bake it?
=> Mou tsukurimashita ka? <formal>
=> Mou tsukutta? <informal>
I haven’t made yet
=> Mada tsukutteimasen <fornal>
=> Mada tsukutta <informal>

New vocabularies learned from this lesson:

• kimeru => to decide
• zenbu => everything / all
• shinjitsu => truth <formal>
• kokuhaku suru => to confess (someone’s love)
• hito => person
• barentaindee => Valentines Day
• tsukiau => to go out with someone / to date
• keeki => cake

There’s some new vocabularies in these lesson and I really enjoy learning about them. Also, in Lesson 27, we’ve got to learn the Japanese way on how to ask someone on a date (though, I learn some of them by watching anime). And I think it’s really a good dating culture because before they date, they confess their love first. Save’s you a lot of time thinking if the other person likes you right?

Btw, for the earlier lessons, you can refer to my previous updates for lessons 1-26. If you want to study Japanese language as well, I am highly recommending Misa-sensei’s youtube tutorial for Japanese Grammar Lessons for Absolute Beginners. Jaa mata ne!

Subscribe To Blushing Geek