A1 Basics

In English, we change the word "be" all the time. We say "I am," "You are," or "It is." Japanese is much kinder to your brain. You only need one word: desu. It covers am, is, and are all at once. But how do we know what we are talking about? That is where the particle wa comes in. In Japanese, particles are like little sticky notes. They follow a word to tell you its job in the sentence. The particle wa marks the topic. It tells the listener, "Hey, regarding this thing I just said..." Then, desu wraps everything up with a polite bow at the end. It is the verbal equivalent of a respectful nod.

1. 1Start with your Topic (the thing you want to talk about).
2. 2Add the particle wa (written as は but pronounced as wa).
3. 3State the Description or Noun (what the topic is).
4. 4Finish with desu to make it a complete, polite sentence.
5. 5Pattern: [Topic] wa [Description] desu.
6. 6Example: Watashi (I) + wa + gakusei (student) + desu.
7. 7Result: Watashi wa gakusei desu (I am a student).

You will use this pattern constantly in daily life. Use it when introducing yourself at a party or a job interview. It is perfect for identifying objects when shopping. "This wa 500 yen desu." Use it to state facts about the world. "Today wa Tuesday desu." It is also your best friend when ordering food. In a restaurant, you can simply say Ramen wa oishii desu (Ramen is delicious). Or, if you are pointing at a menu, Kore wa ramen desu (This is ramen). It is the ultimate "safe" grammar for any formal or semi-formal situation. Even if you forget everything else, this pattern will get you through the day.

Don't use desu when you are talking to your cat. Or your best friend. In very casual settings, desu can sound a bit too stiff. It’s like wearing a tuxedo to a backyard BBQ. In those cases, people often use da or just drop it entirely. Also, do not use wa if you are introducing brand new, shocking information where the subject is the main star. That is a job for the particle ga, which we will tackle later. Finally, desu only works with nouns and adjectives. Do not stick it directly after a dictionary-form verb like taberu (to eat). That is a grammar crime that will make your teacher cry.

The biggest trap is the "Ha vs Wa" confusion. The particle wa is written with the Hiragana character ha (は). This is a historical quirk. Just remember: if it is acting as a particle, say wa. If you say ha, people might think you are laughing. Another mistake is forgetting desu at the end. English speakers often stop after the noun. In Japanese, a sentence without an ending feels like a sneeze that never happens. It is unfinished! Also, avoid overusing watashi wa. Japanese people often drop the "I" if it is obvious. If you say watashi wa in every sentence, you sound a bit self-obsessed. We get it, you're the star! But try to let the context do the work.

You might hear people using mo instead of wa. Mo means "also." If your friend is a student and you are too, you say Watashi mo gakusei desu. Think of wa as a spotlight and mo as a plus sign. There is also the casual version, da. While desu is a polite handshake, da is a fist bump. Use desu with bosses, teachers, and strangers. Use da (or nothing) with people who have seen you in your pajamas. Lastly, don't confuse desu with arimasu. Desu identifies what something is. Arimasu states that something exists. If you say Hon desu, you mean "It is a book." If you say Hon ga arimasu, you mean "There is a book."