Japanese 20

て form: Basics & Conjugations

て-form has many uses but the most basic use is to connect simultaneous or sequential actions, events, or states together. For example, you can say you ran and then played tennis: 走ってテニスをした (you CAN use a comma after はしって to help with clarity but not required).

CONJUGATIONS:

Every word type (noun, verb, い-adj, and な-adj has a て-form)

For nouns & な-adjectives it is super easy: just add で (because it is the て-form of だ.)

VERBS:

1) Ichidan: Easy, drop る add て

2) Godan

会う　→　会って
立つ　→　立って
割る　→　割って
書く　→　書いて
話す　→　話して
泳ぐ　→　泳いで
死ぬ　→　死んで
遊ぶ　→　遊んで
休む　→　休んで

3) Irregular:

する → して

くる → きて

行く->行って

い-ADJECTIVES

Easy: drop い add くて. Just remember the stem form of いい is よ so it becomes よくて

て-form Important Usages #1 & #2 (Technically)

て-form “and” usage aka as a SEQUENCE OF ACTION + MEANS OF ACTION (LINKING TWO ACTIONS, STATES, OR NOUNS)

The most important (arguably) usage of the て-form is to hook or connect two actions, states, or nouns together or the English equivalent “and.”

VERBS:

1) SEQUENCE: This not only connects the two verbs and tells that two actions were done but also tells the sequence in how they were connected. Like a “I did this AND I did that.” Kinda says how busy or productive you were

Ex: 立ってトイレにいく。i stand up and go to the toilet.

*** 2) MEANS: it is not always the case that a sentence set up like that will tell sequential actions. The て-form with the exact same structure as (AてBをする) has another meaning: Do B by the means of doing A. So in the previous example, in theory it could say that he goes to the toilet by standing up. As you can see the biggest way to differentiate which one is used is CONTEXT. (Like with 走って駅に行く, this means “I go to the station BY running” and the way to differentiate that is by knowing it makes more sense that way.

Important to note, another way to differentiate is that if there’s a comma after the て form that means it’s most like sequential actions

With 走って駅にく。the relationship between these can also be interpreted as a main action (go to the station) and a sub-action, which is the means or the manner in which the main action was completed (by running).

** you can link more than two actions/action clauses together

LINKING MULTIPLE STATES:

It’s the same as with the actions but it’s not about sequence and more of the “and” meaning. You can also use nouns in here as well and they can all be mixed and matched.

• あの店は広くて静かだ。

• That restaurant is spacious and quiet.

You can also reverse the order and have the same meaning like:

• あの店は静かで広い。

• That restaurant is quiet and spacious.

And like with verbs you can link many states together:

• ここは料理の鉄人のお店で、静かで広くて人気があって、おいしい。

• This is an Iron Chef's restaurant, and it's quiet, spacious, popular and delicious.

It is common like in the example above when you want to list off multiple qualities about a noun you use the て (or I guess で in this case) form

と vs て-form for “and”:

YOU CAN ONLY USE と FORM FOR NOUNS

CONNECTING NEGATIVES:

Just like above, you can instead of connecting two positive verbs or states, you can do it with negatives too. You can in fact mix negatives and positives. So you can say that you didn’t do [action] AND didn’t do [Action] or that something isn’t [description] AND isn’t [description], but the conjugations are different and important.

FOR VERBS:

You DO NOT conjugate to the ない form and then drop い and add くて like you’d think (like 食べなくて), that is something different. What you do here to have a negative て-form of the verb is conjugate to the negative form (走らない) then you add で, that’s it. So it becomes 走らないで.

Example: 彼は朝ごはんを食べないで学校へ行った = he didn’t eat breakfast and went to school (or you could say he went to school without eating breakfast)

FOR STATES AND NOUNS

This one is conjugated how you’d expect:

い-adjectives: conjugate to the ない form drop い add くて (おいしい → おいしくない → おいしくなくて)

な-adjectives and nouns: conjugate to the ない form drop い add くて (しずか->しずかじゃない->しずかじゃなくて

Example: 彼の部屋は綺麗じゃなくて、学校へ行った。His room isn’t clean and he went to school (implying his room isn’t clean moments before he went to school)

*When using the “and” て form with a negative and a positive you can’t have too strong of contrasts/surprises or you’d have to use a different grammatical structure

て-Form Important Uses #3 (basics)

て-form can also be used as “So.” (Or “because”)

Just like how “by means of” and “and” meanings can be hard to distinguish, this is also hard to tell and needs context to know what it mean.

In this meaning, the sentence will be constructed as so:

Reason/cause→ て-form → Result/Effect

Example: 忙しくて、映画を見ませんでした

I was busy [Reason/Cause] so I didn’t see the movie [Result/Effect]

おなかがすいて、しょくじをした = my stomach was hungry so I ate

My own example:

わたしはきがおもくて、しごとをやめた

I was feeling depressed [A] so I quit my job [B]

て-Form Last two: Beyond the basics

1) て-form with other sentence endings

て-forms are very often accompanied by other sentence endings. For example 起きてください means please wake up. In fact, ending your sentence with a て form is interpreted as a command and is quite rude. 起きて means get up. Emphasis on the period. You may use this on your little brother or something similar. As well explore later there are a LOT more variations and endings that attach to て (ある, いる, おく, いく, and くる)

2) Exploring SUBJECTS in て form sentences

We are used to seeing only one subject being shared between the two clauses in a て form sentence. Especially true when the subject in the first clause is marked by は or no particle For example, 私はゴミを出してシャワーをあびました。I took out the trash and took a shower.

Since the subject remained the same in the two clauses, it didn’t need to be mentioned in the second clause. But it IS POSSIBLE TO HAVE TWO DIFFERENT SUBJECTS.

However, it is important that you know that if that is the case, you MUST attach が to the subject in the first clause. So then は would be attached to the second subject

Example: 私がゴミを出して、彼はシャワーをあびました. I took out the trash and he took a shower

IMPORTSNT SIDE BIT:

In the same way we learned to use the て form to explain SEQUENTIAL ACTIONS, that exact same pattern can be used to imply it is two different events occurring at the same time. This is important to be aware of when you use two different subjects like above!!!

かんじょう

1) Emotions; feelings; sentiment

彼は我々の感情に訴えた。He appealed to our emotions.

2) Bill; payment; check

お勘定をお願いします。

3) Calculation; accounting

This refers to the act or result of counting, calculating, or keeping track of money or figures.

れんちゅう

Company (not like kaishya); lot; people; bunch; guys; pack

It is used to refer to a defined group of people, but often with the feeling that the speaker views them with slight disapproval, as being troublemakers, or simply as "those guys/gals."

友達のれんちゅう my buddies

あのうるさいれんちゅう those noisy people/group

ひょうてき

Target (of something, like of jealousy, target to hunt, etc)

さんかく

1) Triangle; triangular shape

2) Participation; involvement

A formal, business, or government-oriented term referring to the act of joining or taking part in a project, plan, or political event (so suru verb would mean to participate or to get involved in. Is intransitive typically takes に)

3) So-So; ambiguous; not quite right

Something is ambiguous, marginal, acceptable but not great, or requires caution. It indicates a "maybe" or a "C-grade" area.

彼の評価は三角だ Kare no hyōka wa sankaku da. His evaluation is marginal/up for debate.

ちゅうもん

Order (for an item)

ピザを注文しない？ Why don't we order pizza?

ご注文を承りましょうか。May I take your order?

はいたつ

Delivery

日曜日に配達していただけますか。Do you deliver on sundays

この郵便は明日配達される。This mail will be delivered tomorrow.

しょり vs しょうり

しょり: Processing; handling; disposal (I like handling the best)

It refers to the physical or intellectual act of managing a problem, task, data, or waste.

Core meaning: The systematic execution of a procedure to achieve a result or solve a problem.

データしょり data processing

ゴミしょり Trash disposal

もんだいしょり handling a problem

この書類は明日までに処理しなければならない。

(Kono shorui wa ashita made ni shori shinakereba naranai.)

I have to process/handle this document by tomorrow.

しょうり: victory; triumph; win

シコシコ

Fap fap; masturbation

うらない

Fortune-telling; divination

トランプ占いをしてあげましょう。Let me tell you your fortune with cards.

ぼうそう

Acting rashly; running wildly; behaving recklessly; rampage

NOUN (suru verb)

Refers to a vehicle, a person, or a thing moving or acting out of control, recklessly, or violently.

Core Meaning: Erratic action or movement beyond acceptable limits; running amok.

ぼうそうこうい reckless act

戦闘ロボＪＡは暴走した。The battle robot JA went berserk.

せいいち

Revealing a card in its upright position (in tarot cards)

Basically what happens is that you draw a card face down. You flip it over, and how the card is oriented (like if it’s upside down to the flipper’s orientation) is the determining factor for “upright.” Upright means the card is right side up. It is based on the flippers perspective. Whether it is a good thing or bad thing depends on the card

ぎゃくいち is the opposite of this

ALSO, this can technically mean a “regular position” or “upright position” in normal contexts as well

せんこう

1) Major (college)

2) Preceding; Going ahead; going first

Doing something ahead of others, or in advance, or being the first to act. It can also refer to the leading thing like in sports or something: 先行する車に続いてください。

Senkou suru kuruma ni tsuzuite kudasai.

Please follow the car ahead (the leading car).

先行発売 (せんこうはつばい) – advance sale, pre-release

先行研究 (せんこうけんきゅう) – previous research, prior studies

先行する企業 – a leading/first-mover company

It emphasizes being before others in order or time.

3) Selection; screening; choice

Refers to the screening or judging process. It literally means “to think about and choose” so it’s a selection after considering. It DOES refer to the actual selection itself

さいようせんこう Employment screening refers to the screening and selection process from the employer’s perspective — the company or organization that is doing the hiring.

この賞の受賞者は厳正な選考で決まります。
→ The winners of this award are decided through a strict selection process.

4) Incense stick (used in home altars, Buddhist rituals, funeral offerings, etc.)

5) Battling/playing first

Means to go first in a game, match, or competition.

The team or player who takes the first turn (especially in sports or games).

この試合はAチームが先攻です。
“Team A bats first in this game.”

Also used metaphorically in debate like take the initiative

6) Flash/gleam (of light)

Like lightning or camera flash

Also figuratively, a sudden inspiration or spark of insight.

閃光が走る – a flash streaks (e.g., lightning)

7) Going underground; submerging; covert ops

Important in military, espionage, and biology contexts

The core meaning is to move while submerged (like a submarine) or to operate secretly

潜水艦が潜行を開始した。

Sensuikan ga senkō o kaishi shita.

The submarine began to submerge.

よぶ

Transitive version

1) To call out (to);

2) To summon (a doctor, police, etc.)

3) To invite (someone)

4) To garner (support, etc.); to attract (attention, etc.)

This usage describes a situation where an action or an event "calls forth" a specific reaction, reputation, or result from the public.

You almost always use it in set phrases by combining an abstract noun (like "popularity" or "criticism") with を呼ぶ (o yobu).

人気を呼ぶ (にんき を よぶ - ninki o yobu)

• Meaning: To garner popularity; to become popular; to attract a following.

• 批判を呼ぶ (ひはん を よぶ - hihan o yobu)

• Meaning: To garner (or invite) criticism.

• 議論を呼ぶ (ぎろん を よぶ - giron o yobu)

• Meaning: To garner controversy; to cause a debate; to get people arguing. Try to do something reaction.

これいじょう

More than this; any more; beyond this point

Most frequently used with a negative verb to express that something has reached its limit and cannot continue.

Usage A: Setting a Limit (Cannot Continue/Stop Now)

This is the most common use, often translating to "I can't/won't any more."

これ以上待ってない I can’t wait anymore/more than this

これいじょうしんぱいしないで please don’t worry any more(than you already are)

Usage B: Emphasizing a High Degree (Superlative)

It is used with a negative statement to create a superlative (the best/most extreme) by saying that nothing surpasses the current state. (Attach to the word, sometimes with の, that you want to target as being the best or most extreme)

これ以上のチャンスわない there is no better chance than this

これいじょうのうつくしいものはない there is nothing more beautiful than this

かこ vs かこう

かこ just means “The past” or “A bygone era

過去の失敗から学ぶべきだ。

Kono kako no shippai kara manabu beki da.

We should learn from past mistakes.

かこう:

1) Processing; manufacturing

(Suru) Commonly encountered in businesses and when discussing food or materials

• Core Meaning: The act of treating, manufacturing, editing, or refining a raw material or data.

かこしょくひん processed foods

がぞうかこう image processing/manufacturing (image editing)

この魚は工場で加工された。

Kono sakana wa kōjō de kakō sareta.

This fish was processed at a factory.

2) Descent; fall; going down

Refers to moving downward in position or value

A little more of a formal usage

気温が下降する (kion ga kakō suru): The temperature is falling/descending.

3) Estuary; river mouth

The part of the river that flows into a larger body of water like a lake or ocean

4) Volcanic crater/vent

The opening of a volcano where the ash and lava come out from

5) To surround; to close; to fence in (transitive)

子供たちを安全に囲う — to keep the children safe (metaphorical)

にわをフェンスでかこう to surround the garden with a fence

How do you express doing something to an object using a tool or method in Japanese?

Mark the object with を, mark the tool/method with で, and put the verb at the end.

Pattern: [Object] を [Instrument/Means] で [Verb]

What is the indirect object in Japanese and how to identify it?

In Japanese, the indirect object is the person, thing, or location that the direct object or the main action is directed toward.

The key marker for the indirect object is the particle に (ni).

Most common with verbs of transfer or communication

私は友達に手紙を送った。 I sent a letter to my friend. Friend is marked by the に particle

How is the role of a word defined? Like how do you know if a word is the direct object or indirect object etc

The role of a word is defined by the particle attached to it, NOT its position in the sentence.

(so を defines direct object に defines indirect object で defines means or instrument in how a verb is done, etc.)

ちょくげき

Direct hit

ミスリード

Mislead

まんなか

Middle; center

せったい

Hospitality; entertainment (of guests, especially in the business world);

Suru verb transitive

In the business world, settai is usually structured entertainment that is paid for by the host company and intended to benefit the host's interests

Typical activities: Dinner at expensive restaurants, drinking at high-end bars or izakaya, golf outings, taking guests to exclusive clubs, or providing tickets to events

While the business context is dominant, settai can also be used in a broader, simpler sense:

• Customer Service: High-level customer service in a store or hotel can be described as good settai.

• General Hospitality: Receiving a guest in your home or giving special treatment can be referred to as settai, though おもてなし (omotenashi) is the more common term for non-business, heartfelt Japanese hospitality.

へそくり

Secret stash/savings

かたち

Shape; form

Katachi primarily emphasizes the physical, tangible, or structural form of an object. It focuses on the shape, configuration, or structural outline.

In simple terms, katachi answers the question: "What does it look like geometrically or structurally?"

Sugata primarily emphasizes the figure, appearance, or overall manner/sight of a person or object, often implying a sense of life, presence, or condition.

ぶんさん

Dispersion; variance

The core concept of 分散 is the opposite of 集中 (shūchū), which means concentration or centralization. It refers to the degree or process of spreading elements across an area, system, or dataset.

This is used as variance in statistics

In finance, bunsan refers to a strategy used to manage risk.

• ***Diversification (リスク分散 - risuku bunsan): This is the act of spreading investment capital across different asset classes, industries, or geographical regions. The goal is that if one investment performs poorly, the others may compensate, leading to a more stable overall return.

• Distribution (流通分散 - ryūtsū bunsan): In logistics, it refers to spreading storage facilities or supply lines across different locations to improve efficiency or guard against disruptions in one area.

しゃっきん

Debt

てきせい

Aptitude; suitable

This refers to the potential or innate quality you possess, often naturally or inherently. It is the raw material that makes training successful.

• Example: Having the physical build and mental focus to be a good marathon runner.

• 能力/スキル (Ability/Skill): This refers to the developed ability acquired through training, practice, or study.

しゅび

1) Defense (like in sports or combat)

Opposite of offense こうげき

しゅびをする to play defense

くにのしゅび a country’s defense

守備につく (Shubi ni tsuku): To take the field (start playing defense).

2) Guard duty; protective position

守備の任務 (shubi no ninmu) — Guard duty/mission or a defensive task

守備位置 (shubi ichi) — Defensive position (used in military and sports).

はんせい

1) Reflection; introspection

2) (Less common) regret; repentance; being sorry

3) Half a lifetime; one’s life so far*

とびこむ

INTRANSITIVE

1) To jump in; to plunge into; to leap in; to dive

2) To burst in; to barge in

消防士たちは燃えている家の中へ飛び込んだ。

The firemen rushed into the burning house.

いくつ

1) How many

2) How old

うえ

First 3 are spatial oriented:

1) Above; top; on

Usage: Noun + のうえ: 本は机のうえにある the book is on top of the desk

2) Upstream; higher part

Usage: same as before: 川の上の方へ行く。 (Go toward the upper part of the river.)

3) Overhead; ceiling (refers to the area above someone, commonly the speaker)

Noun more of a standalone one, no worry about usage

うえをみて look up

And there’s two Time/Sequence meanings

4) After…; upon doing…

This is used when one action must be completed first, and then the next action happens.It expresses a clear sequence.

USAGE: Verb past tense + うえで:

よく考えた上で、決めてください。
After thinking carefully, please decide.

It emphasizes completing the first action before action 2 can begin

5) When doing; in the process of doing

USAGE; Verb present standard tense +うえで (often followed by は!)

大学を選ぶ上で大切なのは、学費と専攻です。
When choosing a university, what’s important is tuition and major.

Can think of it like this because it is NOT exactly meaning “when you’re doing A, you’re doing B”:

When (in the context of) doing X…”

“For the purpose of doing X…”

“In order to do X properly…”

IN OTHER WORDS, IT IS THIS: To do A you need B: 外で歩く上で、くつがひつようです。
= To go outside and walk, you need shoes.

6) Based on; In terms of

Used to state the basis for judgment (based on the clues, we arrested him)

USAGE: Noun+のうえでは

計算の上では、問題ない。 (In terms of calculations, there are no problems.)

7) Seeing as…; since

Strong commitment. Means "Now that A is true, B must be done." Often translated as "Seeing as (A is done)" or "Now that..."

Verb + plain PAST tense + うえは

約束した上は、守るべきだ。 (Since I promised, I should keep it.)

8) Hunger; starvation (often see it attached with で because it means “by starvation” so be careful

労働者の多くは飢えで死んだ。

Many of the workers died of hunger.

9) *** As well as; also; in addition to (A in addition to B)

USAGE: Verb (dictionary, plain past/present tense), い-adj+ うえに

な-adj + なうえに

Note: Whenever a な-adjective (like kirei or shizuka) is used to directly modify a noun or a grammatical pattern that acts like a noun, the connecting particle な is required.

NO NOUN!!!

10) Better; superior; higher (position, rank, etc.)

彼のスキーの腕は私よりはるかに上だ。

He is far above me in skiing.

Often uses the より comparison:

Rule: [A] は [B] より 上だ (ue da)

• Meaning: A is superior to B / A is on a higher level than B. 彼のスキーの腕は私よりはるかに上だ。His skiing skill is far superior to mine.

And also used to describe another noun: Rule: 上の Noun (ue no Noun)

• Meaning: A superior Noun / A Noun of higher rank.

上の席に座る。 (Ue no seki ni suwaru.)

To sit in a superior or higher-ranking seat.

Of course can be standalone too, and can mean a superior

For 4-7: order:

Verb past + うえで

Verb present ＋ うえで (often followed は)

Noun + のうえでは

Verb PAST + うえは

Also think about it like this:

うえで = Time related, ether “after _” or “when doing/to do A you need to do B” (then look at verb)

うえでは = “Based on/ In terms of” though sometimes “when doing” (depends on if noun or verb were before)

うえは = since; Seeing as (A is done)…

のうえ = spatial or “based on”

ごうまん

Arrogant; haughty; insolent; overbearing

なにもかも

Anything and everything; just about everything

彼はまるで何もかも知っているかのように話す。 He talks as if he knows everything

だつりょく

Loss of strength; exhaustion, weakness

Definition: A feeling or state of weakness, fatigue, or being drained of energy.

• Context: Used to describe physical symptoms or effects of exhaustion.

• Example: 熱が出て全身に脱力感がある。 (Netsu ga dete zenshin ni datsuryoku-kan ga aru.) — I have a fever and feel a sense of weakness throughout my body.

たいして

WITH NEGATIVE VERB

Not very; not so; not particularly; not especially; not very much

私はたいして金を持っていない。I don’t have a lot of money

じゅうそう

Gunshot wound