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Tag: Japanese polite requests
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Understanding 〜ように in Japanese | My Language Classes
Using 〜ように in Japanese
The Japanese expression 「〜ように」 is an essential grammatical structure that serves various purposes, including expressing hopes, requests, instructions, comparisons, goals, and habitual actions. This guide will provide an in-depth look at the different uses of 「〜ように」, along with clear explanations and example sentences.
1. Expressing Hopes or Wishes
「〜ように」 is used to express a hope or wish for something to happen, similar to saying “I hope that…” in English.
Structure:
Verb (potential form / negative form) + ように
Examples:
- 試験に合格できますように。
(Shiken ni goukaku dekimasu you ni.)
→ “I hope I can pass the exam.” - 雨が降らないように。
(Ame ga furanai you ni.)
→ “I hope it doesn’t rain.”
2. Expressing Goals or Objectives
This usage is similar to saying “in order to” in English. It indicates a goal or purpose for an action.
Structure:
Verb (potential form / dictionary form) + ように
Examples:
- 日本語が話せるように、毎日勉強しています。
(Nihongo ga hanaseru you ni, mainichi benkyou shiteimasu.)
→ “I study every day in order to be able to speak Japanese.” - 風邪を引かないように、マフラーをします。
(Kaze wo hikanai you ni, mafuraa wo shimasu.)
→ “I wear a scarf so that I don’t catch a cold.”
3. Giving Instructions or Advice (Indirect Commands)
When making polite or indirect requests, suggestions, or advice, 「〜ように」 is often used.
Structure:
Verb (plain non-past form) + ように 言う / 注意する / 頼む / 伝える
Examples:
- 先生は学生に宿題を忘れないように言いました。
(Sensei wa gakusei ni shukudai wo wasurenai you ni iimashita.)
→ “The teacher told the students not to forget their homework.” - 医者に早く寝るように注意された。
(Isha ni hayaku neru you ni chuui sareta.)
→ “The doctor advised me to sleep early.” - 彼に遅刻しないように頼みました。
(Kare ni chikoku shinai you ni tanomimashita.)
→ “I asked him not to be late.”
4. Making Comparisons
When used with verbs like なる (to become), 「〜ように」 can indicate a comparison or similarity.
Structure:
Noun + のように / Verb (plain form) + ように
Examples:
- 彼は先生のように話します。
(Kare wa sensei no you ni hanashimasu.)
→ “He speaks like a teacher.” - この部屋はまるでホテルのように綺麗です。
(Kono heya wa marude hoteru no you ni kirei desu.)
→ “This room is as clean as a hotel.”
5. Indicating Habitual Actions or Natural Consequences
This structure shows that something naturally happens or occurs habitually.
Structure:
Verb (dictionary form / negative form) + ようになる
Examples:
- 毎日練習して、日本語が話せるようになった。
(Mainichi renshuu shite, nihongo ga hanaseru you ni natta.)
→ “After practicing every day, I became able to speak Japanese.” - 最近、早く起きるようになりました。
(Saikin, hayaku okiru you ni narimashita.)
→ “Recently, I have started waking up early.”
6. Expressing Something Indirectly
When introducing a previous statement or explanation, 「〜ように」 can mean “as mentioned before” or “as expected.”
Structure:
Verb (plain form) + ように
Examples:
- 前に話したように、このプロジェクトは重要です。
(Mae ni hanashita you ni, kono purojekuto wa juuyou desu.)
→ “As I mentioned before, this project is important.” - 先生が言ったように、復習することが大切です。
(Sensei ga itta you ni, fukushuu suru koto ga taisetsu desu.)
→ “As the teacher said, reviewing is important.”
7. Expressing a Desired Outcome in a Prayer or Wish
This structure is common in prayers and formal expressions.
Structure:
Verb (potential form / negative form) + ように
Examples:
- みんなが幸せになりますように。
(Minna ga shiawase ni narimasu you ni.)
→ “I hope everyone becomes happy.” - 悪いことが起こらないように。
(Warui koto ga okoranai you ni.)
→ “I hope nothing bad happens.”
Summary: Situations Where 「〜ように」 is Used
Usage Meaning Example Expressing Hopes or Wishes “I hope that…” 試験に合格できますように。 Expressing Goals “In order to…” 日本語が話せるように勉強しています。 Giving Instructions / Advice Indirect commands 先生は学生に宿題を忘れないように言いました。 Making Comparisons “Like…” 彼は先生のように話します。 Indicating Habitual Actions “To become able to…” 日本語が話せるようになった。 Introducing Statements “As mentioned…” 前に話したように、このプロジェクトは重要です。 Expressing Wishes in Prayer Formal wishes みんなが幸せになりますように。
Conclusion
「〜ように」 is a versatile and essential grammar structure in Japanese. Understanding its different uses can greatly enhance your ability to communicate hopes, goals, indirect commands, comparisons, and habitual changes. By mastering this structure, you will sound more natural and fluent in Japanese!
Would you like me to cover any other grammar points in detail? Let me know in the comments!
If you enjoyed this lesson, be sure to check out more posts like this on my blog at My Language Classes. Don’t forget to subscribe my YouTube channel and follow me on Instagram for the latest language learning tips and lessons. Leave a comment below to share your thoughts, or ask any questions you have about nouns.
Happy learning! 😊
- 試験に合格できますように。
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Expressing “without doing” in Japanese: 〜ないで | My Language Classes
Using 〜ないで in Japanese
Learning how to express “without doing” in Japanese is essential for mastering natural and nuanced communication. The grammar structure 〜ないで (“〜naide”) is a versatile and commonly used expression in Japanese that allows speakers to convey the idea of “not doing something” or “without doing something.” In this blog post, we will explore the various situations where 〜ないで is used, its nuances, and how to incorporate it into your conversations.
What is 〜ないで?
〜ないで is the negative て-form of a verb. It attaches to the plain negative form (〜ない) of a verb to indicate actions that are not done or states that are avoided. Depending on the context, 〜ないで can:
- Express doing something without performing another action.
- Serve as a request or instruction not to do something.
- Indicate cause and effect, such as when one action was done because another was avoided.
Usage of 〜ないで
1. Expressing “without doing something”
This is the most common usage, where 〜ないで describes an action performed in the absence of another action.
- Structure: 〜ないで + another verb/action
- Examples:
- 家を出る前に朝ごはんを食べないで行きました。 (Ie o deru mae ni asagohan o tabenai de ikimashita.) “I left the house without eating breakfast.”
- 仕事を終えないで帰ってはだめです。 (Shigoto o oenai de kaette wa dame desu.) “You shouldn’t go home without finishing your work.”
2. Giving instructions or making requests
When used as a standalone phrase, 〜ないで acts as a direct or polite request not to perform a certain action.
- Structure: Verb (negative form) + ないで
- Examples:
- 詐欺にないで下さい。 (Saguni nai de kudasai.) “Please don’t lie.”
- ここですわらないで。 (Koko de suwaranai de.) “Don’t sit here.”
3. Cause and effect
In some cases, 〜ないで implies that a subsequent action happened because the preceding action was avoided.
- Structure: Verb (negative form) + ないで
- Examples:
- 「話しないで気づいてくれた。」 (Hanashinaide kidzuite kureta.) “They noticed without me saying anything.”
- 親に聞かないで自分で決めました。 (Oya ni kikanaide jibun de kimemashita.) “I decided on my own without asking my parents.”
4. Contrastive emphasis
Here, 〜ないで can emphasize a contrast between what is done and what is not done.
- Structure: 〜ないで + another clause/action
- Examples:
- さんぽを買わないで、アイスを買いました。 (Sanpo o kawanai de, aisu o kaimashita.) “I didn’t buy a sandwich; I bought ice cream instead.”
- 電車で行かないで、歩きました。 (Densha de ikanai de, arukimashita.) “I didn’t take the train; I walked instead.”
Situations Where 〜ないで is Used
- Describing actions done without another action:
- Leaving the house without eating.
- Traveling without packing necessary items.
- Making polite or casual requests:
- Asking someone not to smoke.
- Requesting someone to stay quiet.
- Cause and effect relationships:
- Explaining results stemming from avoiding an action.
- Contrasting actions:
- Highlighting differences between what was done and what wasn’t.
- In storytelling or hypothetical scenarios:
- Creating imagery of what happens when an action is avoided.
Important Notes on 〜ないで
- Formality: 〜ないで is appropriate in both casual and polite speech, but ensure you adjust the overall sentence to suit the context.
- Difference from 〜なくて: While both 〜ないで and 〜なくて convey negation, 〜ないで is specific to “without doing” or “don’t do,” whereas 〜なくて often implies “because not doing.”
- Example:
- 食べないで出かけた。 (“I went out without eating.”)
- 食べなくて出かけた。 (“I went out because I didn’t eat.”)
- Example:
- Verb nuance: The preceding verb influences the meaning and nuance of 〜ないで. Contextual understanding is crucial.
Practice Exercises
Try these sentences to solidify your understanding:
- Translate: “Please don’t run in the hallway.”
- Fill in the blank: 仕事をしないで、\u___。 (Hint: “Relax at home.”)
- Explain the difference in nuance between しないで and しなくて in a given context.
Mastering 〜ないで expands your ability to express nuanced actions and instructions in Japanese. With practice, you’ll find this structure indispensable in your language toolkit. Happy learning!
If you enjoyed this lesson, be sure to check out more posts like this on my blog at My Language Classes. Don’t forget to subscribe my YouTube channel and follow me on Instagram for the latest language learning tips and lessons. Leave a comment below to share your thoughts, or ask any questions you have about nouns.
Happy learning! 😊