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1. N o V (transitive) โ O is used to indicate the object of a transitive verb.
Eg., Kลcha o nomimasu. (I drink black tea.)
2. N o shimasu โ The words used as the objects of the verb shimasu cover a fairly wide range. Shimasu means that the action denoted by the noun is performed.
2.1. to "play" sports or games
Eg., tenisu o shimasu (play tennis)
[Watashi wa tenisu o shimasu] (I play tennis.)
Eg., toranpu o shimasu (play cards)
[Anata wa toranpu o shimasu ka.] (Do you play cards?)
2.2. to "hold" gatherings
Eg., patii o shimasu (give a party)
[Kare wa patii o shimasu.] (He gives a party.)
2.3. to "do" something
Eg., shukudai o shimasu (do homework)
[Watashi wa shukudai o shimasu.] (I do homework.)
3. Nani o shimasu ka โ This is a question to ask what someone does.
Eg., Kin-yobi nani o shimasu ka. (What will you do on Friday?)
...Mekishiko e ikimasu. (...I'll go to Mexico.)
Eg., Kinล nani o shimashita ka. (What did you do yesterday?)
...Tenisu o shimashita. (...I played tennis.)
[Note] *You can make a word expressing time the topic by adding "wa".
Eg., Kin-yลbi wa nani o shimasu ka. (On Friday what will you do?)
...Mekishiko e ikimasu. (...I'll go to Mexico.)
4. Nan and Nani โ Both Nan and Nani mean "what".
4.1. Nan is used in the following cases.
*When it precedes a word whose first mora is either in the t, d or n-row.
Eg., Sore wa nan desu ka. (What is it?)
Eg., Nan no hon desu ka. (What is the book about?)
Eg., Neru mae ni, nan to iimasu ka. (What do you say before going to bed?)
*When it is followed by a counter suffix or the like.
Eg., Sakura-chan wa nan-sai desu ka. (How old is Sakura?)
4.2. Nani is used in all other cases.
Eg., Nani o kaimasu ka. (What will you buy?)
5. N de โ When added after a noun denoting a place, de indicates the place where an action occurs.
Eg., Eki de shinbun o kaimasu. (I buy the newspaper at the station.)
6. V-masen ka โ When you want to invite someone to do something, this expression is used.
Eg., Issho ni Mekishiko e ikimasen ka. (Won't you come to Mexico with us?)
...E, ii desu ne. (...Yes, that's a nice idea.)
7. V-mashล โ This expression is used when a speaker is positively inviting the listener to do something with the speaker. It is also used when responding positively to an invitation.
Eg., Chotto yasumimashล. (Let's have a break.)
Eg., Issho ni hirugohan o tabemasen ka. (Would you like to have lunch with me?)
...E, tabemashล. (...Yes, let's go and eat.)
[Note] An invitation using V-masen ka shows more consideration to the listener's will than that using V-mashล.
8. The prefix "o-" โ You learned in Lesson 3 that the prefix "o" is attached to words regarding the listener or the person being referred to, to show respect (eg., [o-] kuni country, [o-] namae name). "o" is also attached to various other words when the speaker is speaking politely.
Eg., [o-] sake alcohol, [o-] hanami cherry blossom viewing.
[Note] There are some words that are usually used with "o" without respect or politeness.
Eg., ocha (tea)
Eg., Okane (money)
I drink black tea.
Kลcha o nomimasu.
I buy milk.
Miruku o kaimasu.
Won't you come to France with me?
Issho ni Furansu e ikimasen ka.
Let's take a rest for a little bit.
Chotto yasumimashล.
What do you eat every morning? ... I have pan and milk.
Maiasa nani o tabemasu ka. ... Pan to miruku o tabemasu.
What did you eat this morning? ... I didn't eat anything.
Kesa nani o tabemashita ka. ... Nani mo tabemasen deshita.
What did you do last Saturday? ... I played tennis. Then I went to the restaurant.
Sen-shลซ no Doyลbi nani o shimashita ka. ... Tenisu o shimashita. Sorekara resutoran e ikimashita.
Where did you buy that CD? ... I bought that CD at the station.
Sono CD wa doko de kaimashita ka. ... Eki de kaimashita.
Won't you drink some tea with me? ... Yes, let's have a drink.
Issho ni ocha o nomimasen ka. ... E, nomimashล.
Miss Ramos
Ramos-san
Yes?
Nan desu ka.
I'm going to enjoy cherry-blossom viewing with my friends tomorrow. Won't you join us, Miss Santos?
Ashita tomodachi to issho ni o-hanami o shimasu. Santos-san mo issho ni ikimasen ka.
That sounds nice. Where will you go?
Ii desu ne. Doko e ikimasu ka.
Osakajo-koen
ลsakajล-kลen e ikimasu.
What time?
Nan-ji ni.
At nine o'clock. Let's meet at Osakajo-koen Station.
Ku-ji ni. ลsakajล-kลen-eki de aimashล.
Ok.
Wakarimashita.
Well, see you tomorrow.
Ja, mata ashita.