Home Forums The Japanese Language Particle wa (ha)

This topic contains 11 replies, has 4 voices, and was last updated by  Karun 11 years, 9 months ago.

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  • #38546

    Karun
    Member

    Hiya!

    I’m at season 2 of TextFugu.
    Before starting here I’ve been studying a bit of Japanese on my own.
    I learned that the particle wa (ha) is a subject marker.
    And desu means is/are/am etc.

    But, here Koichi explains it’s the other way around.
    particle wa/ha = is/am/are
    Desu = present tense
    http://www.textfugu.com/season-2/identity/7-4/#top

    Is this just the way he explains it?
    Which way is ‘better’?

     

     

    Cheers!

    #38547

    HanaHanabi
    Member

    The way Koichi teaches it makes it easier to build on later. です is used for more than just “is” in Japanese, so first you have to remove your preconceptions about it. I know it’s hard, but just take a deep breath and trust in Koichi. Try not to get all nitpicky about what’s an article and what’s a machine gun, because you’re wasting effort on that when you could be forging ahead and learning all the other ways to use です。 ^_~

    #38548

    Joel
    Member

    Particle は is the topic marker. The topic is not the same as the subject – the topic is what the sentence is about, while the subject is the doer of the verb.

    As for directly equating either は or です with “is”, neither is really correct. As Terry Pratchett would put it, it’s a lie that helps you understand. Personally, I’d say です is closer though, because as a coupla, it kinda functions as the verb in the sentence when no other verb is needed, rather like “is”.

    The “better” way to explain it is the way that makes the most sense to you. In the end, it’s an aid to help you learn.

    #38550

    Karun
    Member

    Joel:
    Mhm, but if I were to use desu as the verb like I used to do it”ll just confuse me later on since Koichi will be explaining it the other way around, right?
    Hah.. I thought ha/wa was subject marker.
    and wo/o was direct object marker.
    So.. wo is subject marker and ha is topic marker?

    #38551

    Joel
    Member

    が = subject marker

    を = direct object marker

    Subject =/= object

    P.S. invest in an IME. Means you don’t have to rely on romaji. =P

     

    Like I said, though, learn it whichever way makes the most sense to you. In the end, it’s all about you, not Koichi.

    #38552

    Karun
    Member

    Haha, I have an IME at home. But, I’m at my internship right now.
    When nothing to do, learn all the japanese!

     

    Ah.. I just learned ga is a emphasize on the word that’s said before it.
    Kanojo wa daisuki
    Kanojo ga daisuki
    I LOVE her
    I love HER!
    Well, not in caps but just, emphasize ”kanojo”
    Wa emphasize/attentions towards the word that’s after wa
    Ga emphasize/attention towards the word that’s before ga

     

     

    ._. Or is this all wrong?

    • This reply was modified 11 years, 9 months ago by  Karun.
    #38553

    Karun
    Member

    (unneeded post)

    • This reply was modified 11 years, 9 months ago by  Karun.
    #38558

    Joel
    Member

    Ok, forum software is being even more of a pain on the iPad lately, so I can’t paste links (for some reason). However, we have had a thread on this topic recently that might help – it’s on the second page at the moment, called something like “Confusion over は/が”.

    #38559

    Karun
    Member

    Ah okay. I saw the cheat sheet just now. With particles, done by Koichi.
    And he said it was just emphasizing. I guess there is more to it of course. I’ll check it out. Thanks!

    #38560

    kanjiman8
    Member
    #38561

    Joel
    Member

    Ah, yes, that’s the one. =)

    #38562

    Karun
    Member

    The link in the link was quite helpful.
    Knowing the difference between wa and ga is quite helpful.
    Clears up a lot of stuff as well.

     

    Thanks you all!

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