Study Resource: Summary of Japanese sentence-ending particles

plain form + よ

plain form + ね

plain form + よね

polite form + よ

polite form + ね

polite form + よね

Neutral

Neutral

Neutral

• Notification:

  あっ、忘れ物ですよ。➚

  Transcription: A, Iwasuremono desu yo.➚

  Translation: Oh, you forgot something!
• Advice / warning:

  よそ見すると危ないよ。➚

  Transcription: Yosomi suru to abunai yo.➚

  Translation: It’s dangerous to look away, you know?
• New information:

  みんな元気ですよ。➚ おかげさまで。

  Transcription: Min'na genki desu yo.➚ Okagesama de.

  Translation: We are all fine. Thank you.
• New information (Dissatisfaction):

  うるさいなあ。今起きるよ。➙

  Transcription: Urusai nā. Ima okiru yo. ➙

  Translation: You’re so loud. I’m getting up now, you know.
• Invitation:

  この辺で少し休みましょうよ。➙

  Transcription: Kono hen de sukoshi yasumimashō yo.➙

  Translation: Let’s rest a little around here, shall we?
• Request:

  向こうに着いたら電話してよ。➚

  Transcription: Mukō ni tsuitara, denwa shite yo.➚

  Translation: Call me when you get there, OK?

  feminine
• Command:

  体に気をつけろよ。➚

  Transcription: Karada ni ki o tsukero yo.➚

  Translation: Take care of yourself, OK?

  masculine
• Command (accusational):

  時間がないんだ。さっさと歩けよ。➙

  Transcription: Jikan ga nainda. Sassa to aruke yo.➙

  Translation: We don’t have time. Walk quickly, I tell you.

  masculine

• Agreement:

  今日はいい天気ですね。➙
  本当にそうですね。 ➙

  Transcription: Kyō wa ii tenki desu ne. ➙
  Hōntō ni sō desu ne. ➙

  Translation: It’s a fine day today, isn’t it!
  It is indeed, isn’t it!
• Ask for confirmation:

  パーティーは土曜日ですね？ ➚

  Transcription: Pātii wa doyōbi desu ne? ➚

  Translation: The party is on Saturday, right?
• New Information (after some thoughts):

  一番大事なものは何ですか。
  うーん・・・やっぱり家族ですね。➙

  Transcription: Ichiban daijina mono wa nan desu ka.
  Ūn…yappari kazoku desu ne.➙

  Translation: What is the most important thing for you?
  Hmmm…it’s got to be my family after all, you know?
• Check understanding:

  天ぷら定食お願いします。
  天ぷら定食ですね。➚　少々お待ちください。

  Transcription: Tenpura teishoku onegai shimasu.
  Tenpura teishoku desu ne. ➚ Shōshō omachikudasai.

  Translation: Tempura Special, please.
  Tempura Special, right? Please wait a moment.
• Sharing emotion (ね or ねえ):

  わあ、桜が満開！
  きれいですねえ。➘

  Transcription: Wā, sakura ga mankai!
  Kirei desu nē➘

  Translation: Wow, the cherry blossoms are in full bloom!
  They are beautiful, aren’t they!
• Comments on the listener (new discovery):

  へえ、友香さんって、絵がじょうずだね。➙

  Transcription: Hē, Yuka san tte, e ga jōzu da ne.➙

  Translation: Oh, you are good at drawing, aren’t you, Yuka?
• Request:

  必ず連絡してね。➚

  Transcription: Kanarazu renraku shite ne. ➚

  Translation: Please contact me by all means, OK?

  feminine
• Invitation:

  また一緒に行こうね。➚

  Transcription: Mata issho ni ikō ne. ➚

  Translation: Let’s go there together again, OK?
• Instruction:

  先生の話をよく聞きなさいね。➚

  Transcription: Sensei no hanashi o yoku kikinasai ne.➚

  Translation: Listen carefully to your teacher, OK?

• Confirmation:

  ねえ、戸締まりちゃんとしてくれたよね。➚

  Transcription: Nē, tojimari chanto shite kureta yo ne.➚

  Translation: Say, you did lock up the place as I asked, right?
• Comments on the listener (foreknowledge):

  友香さんって、本当に絵がじょうずだよね。➙

  Transcription: Yuka san tte, hontō ni e ga jōzu da yo ne.➙

  Translation: You are really good at drawing, aren’t you, Yuka?
• Activation of the listener's knowledge:

  この先にデパートがありますよね。➚ 銀行はその隣です。

  Transcription: Kono saki ni depāto ga arimasu yo ne. ➚ Ginkō wa sono tonari desu.

  Translation: There is a department store ahead, right? The bank is next to it.
• Accusation / complaint:

  そんなこと、今言われても困るんだよね。➙

  Transcription: Son’na koto, ima iwarete mo komaru n da yo ne.➙

  Translation: Saying such things to me now doesn’t help, you know.

polite form + か

plain form / i-adj + かな

ta-form (〜た / だ) + っけ

polite form + かな (by older males)

Neutral

Neutral

Neutral

• Question:

  学生さんですか。➚

  Transcription: Gakusei-san desu ka.➚

  Translation: Are you a student?
• Question:

  学校はどちらですか。➚

  Transcription: Gakkō wa dochira desu ka.➚

  Translation: What school do you go to?
• Indirect question:

  会議が何時に始まるか ➙まだ聞いていない。

  Transcription: Kaigi ga nanji ni hajimaru ka ➙ mada kiite inai.

  Translation: I still haven’t heard what time the meeting starts.
• Doubt:

  子供たちだけで大丈夫でしょうか。➙

  Transcription: Kodomotachi dake de daijōbu deshō ka. ➙

  Translation: I wonder if the children are alright on their own.
• Uncertainty:

  明日は雪になるそうですよ。
  えっ、そうですか。➙/➘ 困ったなあ。

  Transcription: Ashita wa yuki ni naru sō desu yo.
  E, sō desu ka. ➙/➘ Komatta nā.

  Translation: I’ve heard that it’s going to snow tomorrow.
  Oh, is that so? That’s not good.
• Invitation:

  明日うちに来ませんか。➚

  Transcription: Ashita uchi ni kimasen ka.➚

  Translation: Won't you come to my place tomorrow?
• Urging:

  ふくれるのもいい加減にしないか。➙

  Transcription: Fukureru no mo ii kagen ni shinai ka.➙

  Translation: Why don’t you stop sulking already?
• Accusation:

  だから言ったじゃないか。➙/➘

  Transcription: Dakara itta ja nai ka. ➙/➘

  Translation: I told you so, didn’t I!
• Encouragement

  大丈夫！まだ明日もあるじゃないですか。➙

  Transcription: Daijōbu! Mada ashita mo aru ja nai desu ka.➙

  Translation: It’s all right! You still have another chance tomorrow, don’t you?
• Activation of the listener's knowledge:

  昔ここに映画館があったじゃないですか。➙

  Transcription: Mukashi koko ni eigakan ga atta ja nai desu ka.➙

  Translation: There once was a movie theater here, remember?
• Acceptance of new facts:

  ああ、犯人は執事だったか。➙

  Transcription: Ā, han’nin wa shitsuji datta ka. ➙

  Translation: Oh, it was the butler who had done it.

plain form + の

plain form + わ

polite form + なあ (by older males)

polite form + の

polite form + わ

Neutral (sometimes masculine)

Feminine (sometimes neutral)

Feminine

• Discovery:

  ああ、桜がきれいだなあ。➘

  Transcription: Ā, sakura ga kirei da nā.➘

  Translation: Ah, the cherry blossoms are beautiful!
• Remembering the past:

  昨日食べた寿司はおいしかったなあ。➘

  Transcription: Kinō tabeta sushi wa oishikatta nā.➘

  Translation: The sushi I ate yesterday was delicious!
• Sharing discovery/emotions (older male):

  今日も暑いですなあ。➘

  Transcription: Kyō mo atsui desu nā.➘

  Translation: It’s hot today too, isn’t it!

  masculine

• Question (by anybody):

  どうして起きないの？➚

  Transcription: Dōshite okinai no?➚

  Translation: Why aren’t you getting up?

  gender neutral
• Explanation (women & children):

  お腹が痛いの。➙

  Transcription: Onaka ga itai no.➙

  Translation: (Because) my tummy hurts.

  feminine or youthful
• Emotional emphasis (impressed):

  ふーん、そんなに猫が好きなの。➘　

  Transcription: Fūn, son’na ni neko ga suki nano.➘

  Translation: Hmmm, you love cats so much, I see! →

  feminine
• Combined with よ, ね, or よね (disappointment or dissatisfaction):

  そのコンサート、実は行けなかったのよ。➘　

  Transcription: Sono konsāto, jitsu wa ikenakatta no yo.➘

  Translation: Actually, I couldn’t go to that concert, you know.

  feminine
• Prohibition:

  おしゃべりしながら食べないの。➙

  Transcription: Oshaberi shinagarea tabenai no.➙

  Translation: Don’t talk and eat at the same time.

  feminine

• Light-hearted assertion:

  私の方からお電話しますわ。➚

  Transcription: Watakushi no hō kara odenwa shimasu wa.➚

  Translation: I’ll call you.

  feminine
• Expressing emotions:

  まあ、すてきだわ。➚

  Transcription: Mā, suteki da wa.➚

  Translation: My, that’s lovely!

  feminine
• Combined with よ, ね, or よね:

  このお寿司、おいしいわね。➚

  Transcription: Kono osushi, oishii wa ne. ➚

  Translation: This sushi is delicious, isn’t it?

  feminine

plain form + さ

plain form + もん

na-adj / noun だ + かい

na-adj / noun だ + さ

Masculine

Masculine

Feminine

• Question:

  凧の揚げ方、知ってるかい。➚

  Transcription: Tako no agekata, shitteru kai?➚

  Translation: Do you know how to fly a kite?

  masculine
• Strong opposition:

  そんなこと、あってたまるかい。➙

  Transcription: Son’na koto, atte tamaru kai.➙

  Translation: Heaven forbid.

  Literally: lit. I’ll never accept such a thing to happen.

  masculine

• Opinions / observations:

  四年も勉強すれば、これくらい読めて当然さ。➙

  Transcription: Yonen mo benkyō sureba, korekurai yomete tōzen sa.➙

  Translation: Of course I can read this after four years of study.

  masculine
• Consolation:

  心配するな。すぐできるようになるさ。➙

  Transcription: Shinpai suru na. Sugu dekiru yōni naru sa.➙

  Translation: Don’t worry. You’ll be able to do it in no time.

  masculine
• Talking back / accusation:

  どういうことさ。➙ きちんと説明しろよ。

  Transcription: Dōyū koto sa.➙ Kichin to setsumei shiro yo.

  Translation: What do you mean? Explain it to me properly.

  masculine
• Adding rhythms to one’s statements:

  それでさ、先生がさ、怒ってさあ・・・

  Transcription: Sore de sa, sensei ga sa, okotte sā…

  Translation: And then, you know, our teacher,
  you know, got mad, you know, and…

  gender neutral

• Reasons:

  どうして食べないの？
  にんじん、嫌いなんだもん。➙

  Transcription: Dōshite tabenai no?
  Ninjin, kirai nanda mon.➙

  Translation: Why are you not eating?
  Because I don’t like carrots.

  feminine
• Validating oneself:

  そんなこと、私だって知ってるもん。➙

  Transcription: Son’na koto, watashi datte shitteru mon.➙

  Translation: Even I know that!

  feminine

depends on the use (see below)

plain form + ぞ

na-adj / noun だ + かしら

polite form + ぞ (used by older manservant)

Feminine

Masculine

Masculine

• Expressing doubts:

  佐藤さん、ほんとに来てくれるかしら。➙

  Transcription: Satō san, honto ni kite kureru kashira.➙

  Translation: I wonder if Ms. Sato will really come for us.

  feminine

• Prohibition (dictionary form + な):

  おい、家の中であばれるな。➙

  Transcription: Oi, ie no naka de abareru na. ➙

  Translation: Hey, don’t play rough in the house!

  masculine
• Commands (Verb ます + な):

  もっと食べなよ。➙

  Transcription: Motto tabe na yo. ➙

  Translation: Eat more.

  masculine
• Seeking confirmation (plain form + な):

  よし。わかったな。➚

  Transcription: Yoshi. Wakatta na.➚

  Translation: Good. You understood it, right?

  masculine
• Seeking agreement (plain form + な):

  今日は暑すぎるよな。➙

  Transcription: Kyō wa atsusugiru yo na.➙

  Translation: It’s too hot today, don’t you think?

  masculine

• Strong will / opinions:

  今日の試合は絶対勝つぞ。➙

  Transcription: Kyō no shiai wa zettai katsu zo.➙

  Translation: I’ll definitely win today’s game!

  masculine
• Emphasis:

  もう９時だぞ。➙　そろそろ起きろ。

  Transcription: Mō ku ji da zo.➙ Sorosoro okiro.

  Translation: It’s 9:00 already! About time to get up.

  masculine