A1 Grammar

Japanese sentences work a bit differently than English. Instead of focusing on the "subject," Japanese focuses on the "topic." The particle wa marks this topic. You can think of wa as a giant spotlight. It points at a word and says, "Hey, we are talking about this now!" After you set the topic, you add a description. Finally, you end with desu. This word is like a polite period at the end of a sentence. It confirms that the topic is indeed the description you just gave. For example, if you say Watashi wa gakusei desu, you are saying "As for me, I am a student." The desu makes you sound like a polite, cultured person. Without it, you might sound a bit too blunt or even rude in a shop or office. It is your "politeness shield."

1. 1Building this sentence is like building a sandwich. Follow these three simple steps:
2. 2Pick your Topic: This is usually a noun like watashi (I) or kore (this).
3. 3Add the Spotlight: Place the particle wa right after your topic. Note that it is written as ha but pronounced as wa! Don't let that trick you.
4. 4Add the Description and Finish: Put your second noun (the description) and end with desu.
5. 5Structure: [Noun A] wa [Noun B] desu.
6. 6Example: Tanaka-san wa sensei desu (Mr. Tanaka is a teacher).
7. 7To make it a question, just add ka at the end: Sensei desu ka? (Are you a teacher?). No need for a question mark in formal writing, just the ka!

Use this anytime you want to identify or describe something.

• Introductions: Watashi wa Mike desu (I am Mike).
• Ordering Food: Watashi wa koohii desu (For me, it is coffee/I'll have coffee).
• Stating Jobs or Nationality: Kare wa gaka desu (He is an artist).
• Identifying Objects: Kore wa hon desu (This is a book).

In a job interview, this is your best friend. It sounds professional and confident. When you are lost and asking for a place, use it to confirm where you are. "Is this Shibuya?" becomes Kore wa Shibuya desu ka? It is the ultimate survival tool for any traveler.

Don't use this when you are talking about actions. If you want to say "I eat," you can't use desu. Desu is only for states of being or identification. Also, be careful with very close friends. Using desu all the time with your best friend might make you sound a bit stiff. It's like wearing a tuxedo to a backyard BBQ. In those cases, people often use da or just drop the ending entirely. However, as a beginner, it is always better to be too polite than accidentally rude. Finally, avoid using it with i-adjectives (like samui - cold) in very casual speech, although adding desu after them is the standard way to stay polite.

• The Spelling Trap: Writing wa as わ instead of は. When it's a particle, it's always は. Think of it as a secret code.
• The Double Subject: Saying Watashi wa Mike wa desu. You only need one wa to mark the main topic.
• Forgetting Desu: In English, we can sometimes drop "is," but in polite Japanese, leaving out desu makes the sentence feel unfinished. It's like a sneeze that never happens.
• Pronouncing the 'U': Many beginners say "desoo-oo." The u at the end is almost silent. It sounds more like "dess." Yes, even native speakers skip that u most of the time.

New learners often confuse wa with ga. Think of wa as a general topic marker (the spotlight) and ga as a specific identifier (the finger pointing). If you say Watashi wa gakusei desu, you are talking about yourself in general. If you say Watashi ga gakusei desu, you are saying "I am the one who is the student" (perhaps in response to someone asking who the student is). Also, compare desu with masu. Desu goes with nouns and adjectives. Masu goes with verbs. They are cousins in the politeness family, but they have different jobs.