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Mastering the Japanese Copula: Using 'Desu' for Basic Sentences

Use `です` (desu) at the end of sentences to politely say 'A is B' with nouns or adjectives.

The Rule in 30 Seconds

  • Place `です` (desu) at the end of the sentence to mean 'is', 'am', or 'are'.
  • Use it with nouns and adjectives to identify or describe things politely.
  • Never use `です` (desu) immediately after a polite verb like `食べます` (tabemasu).
  • Pronounce it as 'dess'—the final 'u' is usually silent in conversation.

Quick Reference

Target Structure Example English Meaning
Identity (Noun) Noun + です (Noun + desu) 田中です (Tanaka desu) I am Tanaka / It is Tanaka
Description (Adjective) Adjective + です (Adjective + desu) 寒いです (Samui desu) It is 寒い (It is cold)
Question Sentence + か (Sentence + ka) 学生ですか? (Gakusei desu ka?) あれよう a student? (Are you a student?)
Negative (Casual) Noun + じゃない (Noun + janai) 学生じゃない (Gakusei janai) Not a student
Negative (Polite) Noun + じゃないです (Noun + janai desu) 学生じゃないです (Gakusei janai desu) Is not a student
Pointing これ + です (Kore + desu) これです (Kore desu) It's this one

मुख्य उदाहरण

3 / 10
1

私は**学生です**. (Watashi wa **gakusei desu**.)

I am a student.

2

この寿司は**おいしいです**. (Kono sushi wa **oishii desu**.)

This sushi is delicious.

3

あなたは先生**ですか**? (Anata wa sensei **desu ka**?)

Are you a teacher?

💡

The Silent 'U'

Don't say 'deh-soo'. It sounds more natural to whisper the 'u' so it sounds like 'dess'. Think of it like the 's' in 'cats'.

⚠️

The Verb Trap

Never say 'tabemasu desu'. It's a common trap! Verbs that end in '~masu' are already polite. Adding 'desu' is like adding sugar to honey.

The Rule in 30 Seconds

  • Place `です` (desu) at the end of the sentence to mean 'is', 'am', or 'are'.
  • Use it with nouns and adjectives to identify or describe things politely.
  • Never use `です` (desu) immediately after a polite verb like `食べます` (tabemasu).
  • Pronounce it as 'dess'—the final 'u' is usually silent in conversation.

Overview

Imagine you’re standing in a bustling Tokyo train station. You need to tell someone who you are. Or maybe you're pointing at a delicious-looking bowl of ramen. What's the one word that saves the day? It’s です (desu).

In the world of Japanese, です (desu) is your best friend. It’s often called a "copula." That sounds fancy, but it just means it links things together. It’s the "is," "am," or "are" of your sentence. Without it, your Japanese would sound like a collection of floating labels.

Using です (desu) makes you sound polite and clear. It’s the gold standard for beginners. It’s simple, yet it carries a lot of weight. Think of it as the "politeness anchor" for your thoughts. In this guide, we’ll break down how to use it without breaking a sweat.

How This Grammar Works

Japanese sentence structure is like a train. The most important part—the verb or the copula—always comes last. In English, we say "I am Tanaka." In Japanese, we say "Tanaka です (desu)."

The structure is usually [Noun] + です (desu).

It’s like putting a period at the end of a thought. But it’s a period that adds a bow of politeness. It identifies what something is. It describes a state of being.

One thing to remember: Japanese doesn't change です (desu) based on the subject. You don't have to worry about "am," "is," or "are." Whether it's "I," "you," "we," or "that weird cat over there," it’s always just です (desu). It’s like a grammar one-size-fits-all t-shirt. Convenient, right?

Formation Pattern

  1. 1Creating a sentence with です (desu) is a three-step process.
  2. 2Pick your Topic. This is what you’re talking about. Use the particle は (wa) to mark it.
  3. 3Pick your Noun or Adjective. This is the "what" or "how" of the topic.
  4. 4Add です (desu) at the end. This seals the deal.
  5. 5Example 1: The Identity Shuffle
  6. 6私 (Watashi) (I) + は (wa) (topic) + 学生 (Gakusei) (student) + です (desu) (am).
  7. 7Result: Watashi wa gakusei desu. (I am a student.)
  8. 8Example 2: The Descriptive Spin
  9. 9これ (Kore) (this) + は (wa) (topic) + おいしい (Oishii) (delicious) + です (desu) (is).
  10. 10Result: Kore wa oishii desu. (This is delicious.)
  11. 11Notice how the です (desu) just sits there at the end? It’s waiting for the noun or adjective to finish speaking before it steps in to finish the sentence.

When To Use It

You’ll use です (desu) in almost every conversation as a beginner.

  • Self-Introductions: When you meet someone, you’ll say [Name] desu. It’s the standard way to say "I am [Name]."
  • Ordering Food: Point at that sushi and say Kore desu. It translates to "It's this one" or "I'll have this."
  • Identifying Objects: Someone asks what that is? You say Hon desu (It's a book).
  • Describing Things: Want to say the weather is nice? Ii tenki desu (It's good weather).
  • Job Interviews: Stick to です (desu) to show you have manners.

Basically, if you want to be treated like a polite adult, です (desu) is your go-to. It’s safe, it’s respectful, and it’s clear.

When Not To Use It

Even though です (desu) is amazing, it has boundaries.

  • Don't use it with Verbs: This is the #1 mistake. You cannot say Tabemasu desu (I eat is). Verbs like 食べます (tabemasu) (to eat) or 行きます (ikimasu) (to go) are already polite. They don't need です (desu) to help them. It’s like wearing two hats at once. One is enough!
  • Very Casual Settings: If you’re talking to your best friend or your little brother, です (desu) might sound a bit stiff. In those cases, people often use だ (da) or just drop the copula entirely.
  • When using "be" for locations: If you want to say "I am in Tokyo," you use a different verb (います (imasu)). です (Desu) is for identity and characteristics, not physical location.

Common Mistakes

Even native speakers mess this up sometimes... okay, maybe not native speakers, but definitely every student ever!

  • The Double Politeness: As mentioned, avoid Verbu + desu. Nomimasu desu is a classic "oops" moment.
  • Word Order Panic: Don't put です (desu) in the middle. ✗ Watashi desu Tanaka is wrong. ✓ Watashi wa Tanaka desu is the way.
  • Confusing Wa and です (Desu): Wa marks the topic, です (desu) is the verb-equivalent. They are not interchangeable. Think of は (wa) as the "as for..." and です (desu) as the "is."
  • Pronunciation: In standard Tokyo Japanese, the 'u' at the end is silent. It sounds like "dess." If you say "deh-soo" with a strong 'u', you’ll sound a bit like a cartoon character. Keep it clipped!

Contrast With Similar Patterns

です (Desu) vs. だ (Da)

です (Desu) is polite (Desu/Masu style). だ (Da) is the plain/dictionary form.

  • Use です (desu) with teachers, bosses, and strangers.
  • Use だ (da) with friends, family, or when writing a diary.
  • If you're unsure, always choose です (desu). It’s better to be too polite than accidentally rude.

です (Desu) vs. あります (Arimasu)

  • です (Desu) = "A is B" (Identity).
  • あります (Arimasu) = "There is A" (Existence).
  • If you want to say "It is a cat," use Neko desu.
  • If you want to say "There is a cat," use Neko ga imasu (for living things).

Quick FAQ

Q. Is です (desu) a verb?

A. Technically it's a copula, but for you, just think of it as the verb "to be."

Q. Do I need to use watashi wa every time?

A. No! If it's obvious you're talking about yourself, just say Tanaka desu. Japanese loves to drop the subject.

Q. How do I make it a question?

A. Just add か (ka) at the end. Tanaka-san desu ka? (Are you Mr. Tanaka?)

Q. Can I use it with adjectives?

A. Yes! For "i-adjectives" (like おいしい (oishii)), です (desu) just adds politeness. For "na-adjectives" (like きれい (kirei)), it’s required to complete the sentence.

Reference Table

Target Structure Example English Meaning
Identity (Noun) Noun + です (Noun + desu) 田中です (Tanaka desu) I am Tanaka / It is Tanaka
Description (Adjective) Adjective + です (Adjective + desu) 寒いです (Samui desu) It is 寒い (It is cold)
Question Sentence + か (Sentence + ka) 学生ですか? (Gakusei desu ka?) あれよう a student? (Are you a student?)
Negative (Casual) Noun + じゃない (Noun + janai) 学生じゃない (Gakusei janai) Not a student
Negative (Polite) Noun + じゃないです (Noun + janai desu) 学生じゃないです (Gakusei janai desu) Is not a student
Pointing これ + です (Kore + desu) これです (Kore desu) It's this one
💡

The Silent 'U'

Don't say 'deh-soo'. It sounds more natural to whisper the 'u' so it sounds like 'dess'. Think of it like the 's' in 'cats'.

⚠️

The Verb Trap

Never say 'tabemasu desu'. It's a common trap! Verbs that end in '~masu' are already polite. Adding 'desu' is like adding sugar to honey.

🎯

Drop the Subject

In Japanese, if everyone knows you're talking about yourself, you don't need 'Watashi wa'. Just saying 'Gakusei desu' is perfectly natural.

💬

Safety First

When in doubt, use 'desu'. It's the 'polite neutral' setting of Japanese society. It works with teachers, clerks, and new acquaintances.

उदाहरण

10
#1 Basic Identity

私は**学生です**. (Watashi wa **gakusei desu**.)

Focus: 学生です (gakusei desu)

I am a student.

Standard 'A wa B desu' pattern.

#2 Basic Description

この寿司は**おいしいです**. (Kono sushi wa **oishii desu**.)

Focus: おいしいです (oishii desu)

This sushi is delicious.

Using `desu` with an i-adjective for politeness.

#3 Question Form

あなたは先生**ですか**? (Anata wa sensei **desu ka**?)

Focus: ですか (desu ka)

Are you a teacher?

Adding `ka` turns the statement into a question.

#4 Edge Case: Omission

**田中です**. (**Tanaka desu**.)

Focus: 田中です (Tanaka desu)

I am Tanaka.

The subject 'Watashi wa' is dropped because it's obvious.

#5 Edge Case: Na-Adjective

彼女は**きれいです**. (Kanojo wa **kirei desu**.)

Focus: きれいです (kirei desu)

She is beautiful.

Na-adjectives need `desu` to function as a predicate.

#6 Formal vs Informal

それは本**だ**. (Sore wa hon **da**.)

Focus: だ (da)

That's a book.

Using `da` instead of `desu` makes it casual/plain form.

#7 Mistake Corrected

✗ **食べます**です → ✓ **食べます**. (✗ **Tabemasu** desu → ✓ **Tabemasu**.)

Focus: 食べます (Tabemasu)

I eat.

Never add `desu` to a verb ending in `~masu`.

#8 Mistake Corrected

✗ 私です学生 → ✓ 私は**学生です**. (✗ Watashi desu gakusei → ✓ Watashi wa **gakusei desu**.)

Focus: 学生です (gakusei desu)

I am a student.

The copula `desu` must come at the very end.

#9 Advanced Usage

明日は yasumi na **n です**. (Ashita wa yasumi na **n desu**.)

Focus: n です (n desu)

The thing is, tomorrow is a holiday.

The `~n desu` pattern adds an explanatory tone.

#10 Advanced Usage

犬**ですよ**! (Inu **desu yo**!)

Focus: ですよ (desu yo)

It's a dog, you know!

Particles like `yo` can be added after `desu` for emphasis.

खुद को परखो

Complete the self-introduction.

私は田中 ___. (Watashi wa Tanaka ___.)

✓ सही! ✗ बिलकुल नहीं। सही जवाब: です (desu)

You need the copula `desu` at the end to say 'I am Tanaka'.

Ask if the coffee is hot.

コーヒーは暑い ___? (Koohii wa atsui ___?)

✓ सही! ✗ बिलकुल नहीं। सही जवाब: ですか (desu ka)

`Desu ka` is the standard polite question marker.

Identify 'this' as a phone.

これ ___ sumaho です. (Kore ___ sumaho desu.)

✓ सही! ✗ बिलकुल नहीं। सही जवाब: は (wa)

The particle `wa` is needed to mark 'Kore' (this) as the topic.

🎉 स्कोर: /3

विज़ुअल लर्निंग टूल्स

Polite vs. Casual

Polite (Desu)
Inu desu It is a dog
Oishii desu It is tasty
Casual (Da)
Inu da It's a dog
Oishii It's tasty (no copula)

Can I use Desu?

1

Is the previous word a Verb?

YES ↓
NO
Go to next step
2

Is it a Noun or Adjective?

YES ↓
NO
Re-evaluate word type
3

Do you want to be polite?

YES ↓
NO
Use 'da' or omit

Desu Usage Scenes

🤝

Introductions

  • • Hajimemashite
  • • Tanaka desu
🍜

Restaurants

  • • Kore desu
  • • Oishii desu

अक्सर पूछे जाने वाले सवाल

22 सवाल

It's the Japanese copula, which functions like the verb 'to be' (am/is/are). Use it to link a subject to a noun or adjective, like Neko desu (It is a cat).

Yes, です (desu) is part of the 'teinei' (polite) speech level. It is appropriate for most daily interactions with people you aren't close to.

Absolutely! It's the standard way to introduce yourself. Simply say [Name] desu to say 'I am [Name].'

だ (Da) is the casual version of です (desu). You'll hear it in anime or between close friends, but as a beginner, stick to です (desu) to be safe.

No, Japanese doesn't conjugate for number. Gakusei desu can mean 'I am a student' or 'We are students' depending on context.

The past tense of です (desu) is でした (deshita). For example, Ame deshita means 'It was rain' or 'It rained.'

Almost never. In Japanese, the copula or verb belongs at the very end of the sentence to finish the thought.

Sometimes women or people in certain regions might emphasize the 'u' slightly for a softer sound, but 'dess' is the standard.

The polite negative is じゃありません (ja arimasen) or janai desu. Use Gakusei ja arimasen to say 'I am not a student.'

No. To say 'I am at the park,' you use います (imasu). です (Desu) is for identity (I am a teacher) or state (I am happy).

Yes. For i-adjectives like 高い (takai) (expensive), it adds politeness. For na-adjectives like 静か (shizuka) (quiet), it's grammatically required.

Wa is a particle that marks the topic (the 'as for...' part), while です (desu) is the ending that says 'is/am/are'.

Just add the particle か (ka) at the end. Kore wa nan desu ka? means 'What is this?'

No. Masu is for verbs, and です (desu) is for nouns/adjectives. Mixing them, like ikimasu desu, is a common mistake.

It's used in polite letters or speeches. For academic essays or newspapers, the more formal de aru is usually preferred.

Yes, it's a very common and polite way to say 'I'll have this one' while pointing at a menu.

Adding ね (ne) at the end is like saying 'isn't it?' or 'right?'. Samui desu ne means 'It's cold, isn't it?'

Yes, でした (deshita) is simply the past tense form of です (desu). Use it for things that happened in the past.

Yes, like Anata wa gakusei desu ka?. However, Japanese people usually use the person's name instead of 'anata'.

Use janai desu or the more formal ではありません (dewa arimasen). For example, Tanaka janai desu means 'I am not Tanaka.'

It's definitely in the top three! It's the foundation for almost all basic polite conversation.

Yes, children use です (desu) when talking to adults or teachers. They use だ (da) or nothing when talking to friends.

क्या यह मददगार था?
पिछला
Mastering the Japanese Copula: Using 'Desu' and the Topic Marker 'Wa'
अगला
The Japanese Copula: Using 'Desu' for Identity and Description

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