Nouns In Japanese: Explained Clearly For New Beginners
Ichika
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:
- English
pencil, the pencil, a pencil,pencils,the pencils
- Japanese
鉛筆 = Enpitsu
The Japanese have the following rules for the use of nouns:
For Nouns Referring to People
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) and The Suffix "ka" (か)
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The suffix ya (や) is used for the store where the objects are sold or the person who sells them.
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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).
For Compound NounsWhen you use two nouns together, you form a compound noun are joined by the particle no.
| 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 |
