Common Japanese Phrases and Sentence Patterns

Example sentences

1.

Are? Pasokon ga ugokanai.

are? Um..., Huh?, What?, pasokon personal computer

2.

Are? Eakon ga ugokanai. Aa..., Rimokon no denchi ga nai.

are? Um..., Huh?, What?, aa Ah!, Oh!, Hi, Yes
eakon air conditioner, rimokon remote-control
denchi ga nai the battery is dead, the battery ran out (expression)
denchi battery, nai nai form of arimasu; do not have, be not

3.

Are? Soojiki ga ugokanai. A! Konsento ga nuketeru (nukete iru).

are? Um..., Huh?, What?, A! Oh!, Oops!
soojiki vacuum cleaner, konsento wall outlet (Wasei-Eigo "Japanese-made English")
konsento ga nukete iru the cable is disconnected, the cable is plugged out
nukete te form of nukemasu; fall out, come out, -te iru expressing progressive or state

i in -te imasu / -te iru is often (almost always) omitted, and
it becomes -te masu / -te ru in daily conversation.

4.

Denshi-renji ga ugokanai. Kinoo wa ugoita noni.

denshi-renji microwave (oven), kinoo yesterday
ugoita ta form of ugokimasu, -noni expressing one's regret or disappointment; despite, in spite of, although

5.

Sumaho ga ugokanai. Sakki otoshita kara, kowareta no kamo shirenai.

sumaho smartphone, sakki some time ago, a little while ago
otoshita ta form of otoshimasu; drop, -kara because, therefore, so
kowareta ta form of kowaremasu; break, -(no) kamo shirenai expressing possibility; possibly, could be, probably, maybe

-no in -no kamo shirenai is added when the speaker brings up an issue, topic or question

6.

Sentaku-ki ga ugokanaku natta. Kore wa furui kara, kowareta mitai. Atarashii no o kaoo.

sentaku-ki / sentakki washing machine, ugokanaku made from the nai form ugokanai
-naku narimasu expressing a change; come not to do, become not able to do, natta ta form of narimasu; become, come to
furui old, -kara because, therefore, so, kowareta ta form of kowaremasu; break, -mitai it seems, it looks
atarashii no new one, atarashii new, -no representing an object which is clearly understood
kaoo volitional form of kaimasu; let's buy

Practice the following words

1. ugokimasuto move, run, drive, work 2. ugokuroot form of ugokimasu 3. ugokanainai form of ugokimasu 4. ugoitata form of ugokimasu 5. pasokonpersonal computer 6. eakonair conditioner 7. rimokonremote-control 8. denchibattery 9. nainai form of arimasu 10. arimasuto exist, be at, there is, have 11. soojikivacuum cleaner 12. konsentowall outlet 13. nukemasuto slip out, fall out, come out

15. denshi-renjimicrowave (oven) 16. kinooyesterday 17. sumahosmartphone 18. sakkisome time ago, a little while ago 19. otoshimasuto drop 20. kowaremasuto break, be damaged, be destroyed 21. sentaku-ki / sentakkiwashing machine 22. furuiold 23. atarashiinew 24. kaoovolitional form of kaimasu; let's buy 25. kaimasuto buy