JLPT N5 Grammar (no desu)

Meaning

to explain something; show emphasis

How to use

Verb (casual)のです
のだ
Noun + な
(only with questions)
な-adjective + な
い-adjective
no desu のです jlpt n5 grammar meaning 文法例文 japanese flashcards

Learn Japanese grammar: (no desu) & (noda). Meaning: to explain something; show emphasis.

(no desu) has the same meaning as , but is different in that it feels a bit more personal since it is used to explain something, give reasoning, or to emphasize something.

It is exactly the same as , which is a bit more casual.

For example, can you tell the difference between 1, 2 and 3?

  1. あつい (atsui desu)
  2. あつい (atsui no desu)
  3. あつい (atsui noda)

1 is simply stating a fact. That it/something is hot.

2 is also stating a fact, but carries a bit more emphasis as the speaker may be answering/asking a question or explaining their feelings.

3 is the same as 2, but the more casual version.

NOTE: This grammar is only used with Nouns when asking questions.

クルーズはいい先生なのですか?

kuruuzu wa ii sensei nano desu ka?

Is Cruise a good teacher?


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- Example Sentences

Each example sentence includes a Japanese hint, the romaji reading, and the English translation.

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Example #1

どこへいきたいのですか。
doko e ikitai no desu ka.
Where would you like to go?
Example #2

あなたがわるいのだ。
anata ga warui no da.
You are the one at fault.
Example #3

どうちがうのだ。
dou chigau no da.
What's the difference?
Example #4

なにをいいたいのですか。
nani o iitai no desu ka.
What exactly do you want to say?
Example #5

あなたはやさしいのですね。
anata wa yasashii no desu ne.
You're a pretty nice person.
Example #6

ひるごはんをたべなかったのですね。
hiru gohan o tabenakatta no desu ne.
You didn't eat lunch, right?
Example #7

きょうはがっこうにいくのですね。
kyou wa gakkou ni iku no desu ne.
You're going to school today, right?
Example #8

たべるたみにいきるのではない。いきるためにたべるのだ。
taberu tame ni ikiru no dewa nai. ikiru tame ni taberu no da.
Eat to live, not live to eat.

Vocabulary List

KanjiKanaEnglish
暑いあついhot; sultry
良いよい/いいgood
先生せんせいteacher; instructor; master
どこwhere; what place​
行くいくto go; to move
どうhow; in what way; how about​
違うちがうto differ
なにwhat
言ういうto say; to call
あなたyou
優しい やさしいkind
昼ご飯ひるごはんlunch
食べるたべるto eat
今日きょうtoday; this day
学校がっこうschool
悪いわるいbad; poor; undesirable
生きるいきるto live
ためにfor the purpose of

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JLPT N5 vocabulary list

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