Japanese/Vocabulary/Phrases and Idioms
... が好きです[edit | edit source]
... ga suki desu
Expresses that a thing or person is liked. The subject, marked by が, is liked by the person marked with the topic marker は (if mentioned).
Examples[edit | edit source]
- 彼はリンゴとバナナが好きです
- kare wa ringo to banana ga suki desu.
- He likes apples and bananas.
- 英語を勉強するのがとても好きだよ！
- eigo o benkyo suru no ga totemo suki da yo!
- I really like studying English!
... なければならない[edit | edit source]
... nakereba naranai
The construction "(verb stem)なければならない", -nakereba naranai is used to express an obligation: something that has to be done.
(Literally, the -なければ -nakereba conjunction is the negative conditional form, "if not (this action)"; ならない naranai is "to not become", the plain negative of なる naru. The literal implication is that if the action is not done, nothing else can proceed.)
Examples[edit | edit source]
- 今日は銀行にいかなければならない。
- kyô wa ginko ni ikanakereba naranai.
- I have to go to the bank today.
- おじいさんがすぐに帰らなければ、私はマクドナルドに行きます。
- Ojii-san ga suguni kaeranakereba watashi wa makudonarudo ni ikimasu.
- If Grandpa doesn't return soon, I'm going to McDonald's.
Since ならない naranai is the plain-form negative of the verb なる naru (to become), in a more formal or polite situation one would use the polite negative form なりません narimasen instead.
下手の横好き（へたのよこずき）[edit | edit source]
heta no yoko-zuki
An idiom meaning that you are "unskilled but enthusiastic" or "crazy about it, but not very good at it". Used about a hobby or skilled activity.
Example[edit | edit source]
- 山田： 田中さんは英語がお上手ですね。
- Yamada：Tanaka-san wa eigo ga ojouzu desune.
- Yamada: Mr Tanaka, you speak English well.
- 田中： いいえ、下手の横好きなんですよ。
- Tanaka: iie, heta no yoko-zuki nandesuyo.
- Tanaka: Oh no, I like it, but I'm not very good at it