Definition: The noun is used to identify a person, place, thing, or idea. In Japanese all nouns not have gender and usually the singular and plural form are the same.
Examples:
pencil, the pencil, a pencil,pencils,the pencils
鉛筆 = Enpitsu
The Japanese have the following rules for the use of nouns:
If you use a noun referring to people, you must use the suffix たち (tachi) that indicate the plural form.
Singular | Japanese | Romanji | Plural | Japanese | Romanji |
Woman | 女性 | Josei | Women | 女性たち | Josei-tachi |
Man | 男 | Otoko | Men | 男たち | Otoko-tachi |
Child | 子供 | Kodomo | Childen | 子供たち | Kodomo-tachi |
Girl | 少女 | Shōjo | Girls | 少女たち | Shōjo-tachi |
The suffix ya (や) is used for the store where the objects are sold or the person who sells them.
The suffix ka (か) is used for the person who is an expert or specialist in the designated subject.
Basic noun | Noun with や (ya) or か (ka) | ||
English | Japanese | English | Japanese |
flower | 花 hana | flower shop , florist | 花 屋 hanaya |
meat | 肉 niku | butcher shop, butcher | 肉 屋 nikuya |
novel | 小 説 shōsetsu | novelist | 小 説 家 shōsetsuka |
book | 本 hon | bookstore clerk, bookseller | 本 屋 さ ん honya-san |
If you talk about a shopkeeper or clerk, you have to use the honorific san (さん).
Basic noun | Noun with や (ya) or か (ka) | ||
English | Japanese | English | Japanese |
japanese / class | 日本語 / クラス nihongo / kurasu | Japanese class | 日本語のクラス nihongo no kurasu |
apartment / building | アパート / ビル apāto / biru | Apartment building | アパートのビル apāto no biru |