Satousan wa maccho desu ne
Ending particles in Japanese serve to convey the speaker’s emotions and attitudes. These particles can be attached to both short forms and long forms of verbs and adjectives, allowing the speaker to express a wide range of feelings such as excitement, uncertainty, or politeness.
In this lesson, we focus on using long forms, as they provide a neutral and more formal way of communication. By mastering these long forms with appropriate ending particles, you can effectively communicate your feelings while maintaining a polite and respectful tone.
In Japanese, there are numerous ending particles that can be used to express a speaker’s feelings.
…yo
The particle “yo” is often used in Japanese to convey information or express an opinion to the listeners. It serves to highlight that the information being shared is new or significant to the audience. When a speaker uses “yo,” they are indicating that the listeners might not be aware of what is being said, thereby emphasizing the novelty or importance of the statement.
Satousan wa kakkoyokute maccho desu yo. – Mr. Sato is handsome and macho, you know.
Koko wa kin’en desu yo. – This place is non-smoking.
Asokoni konbini ga arimasu yo. – There is a convenience store over there.
Konban wa ame ga furimasu yo. – It’s going to rain tonight, you know.
Kore wa totemo oishiidesu yo. – This is really delicious, you know.
…ne
The particle “ne” is commonly used in Japanese to confirm and share information, opinions, and situations with the listener. It functions as a way to seek agreement or validation, indicating that both the speaker and the listener are already aware of or agree with the information being discussed.
The particle “ne” in Japanese functions similarly to the English expressions “no?”, “right?”, or “isn’t it?” It is used to confirm information, seek agreement, or share opinions and situations where both the speaker and the listener are assumed to have a shared understanding.
The sound of “ne” can resemble the informal “no?” used in English to prompt confirmation or agreement, making it a versatile tool in conversation for ensuring that both parties are aligned.
Satousan wa maccho desu ne. – Mr. Sato is macho, isn’t he?
Ano hito ga satousan desu ne? – That person is Mr. Sato, right?
Satousan, kinou kouen ni imashita ne? – Mr. Sato, you were in the park yesterday?
Kyou wa atsui desu ne. – It’s hot today, isn’t it?
Kare wa shinsetsuna hito desu ne. – He’s a kind person, isn’t he?
…yone
The particle “yone” combines “yo” and “ne” to serve a dual purpose in Japanese conversation. “yo” is used to provide new information or to emphasize that the speaker is sharing something the listener may not know. On the other hand, “ne” is used to seek confirmation or agreement, implying that the information or opinion is already known or agreed upon by both parties.
When combined as “yone,” it serves to express the speaker’s opinion or observation and simultaneously seeks to confirm if the listener shares the same view. This creates a sense of collaboration and mutual understanding.
Satousan wa maccho desu yone. (The listener might know Mr. Sato is masculine, but the talker is checking to the listener that Mr. Sato is masculine.)
Raishuu wa miitingu ga arimasu yone? (The listener might know that there is a meeting to be held, but the talker is double checking if there is a meeting.)
Ashita wa hare desu yone? (The listener might know it will be sunny tomorrow, and the talker is checking if it’s fine tomorrow. )