De Do
Hiragana 2
Chapter 6 Β· De Do
πΈ Finishing the D Row β γ§ γ©
Two characters complete the D row: γ§ (de) and γ© (do). They give you one of the most important words in Japanese, γ§γ ("is / am / are"), so from here you can start reading real sentences. Romaji is shown for everything.
| Plain | With γ | Sound before | Sound now |
|---|---|---|---|
| γ¦ | γ§ | te | de |
| γ¨ | γ© | to | do |
| a | i | u | e | o | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| t | γ | γ‘ | γ€ | γ¦ | γ¨ |
| d (t + γ) | γ | γ’ | γ₯ | γ§ | γ© |
The two highlighted characters are today's; the D row is now complete.
β¨ Two New Characters β γ§ γ©
π Read It β New Words
The first three entries are polite phrases. Read the Japanese first, then check the romaji.
| # | Word | Romaji | English | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | γ§γ | desu | is; am; are (polite) | de-su: the u is nearly silent |
| 2 | γγγγγ§γγ | ogenki desu ka | How are you? | o-ge-n-ki de-su ka: lit. "are you well?" |
| 3 | γγ‘γγγγΎγ§γγ | gochisΕsama deshita | thank you for the meal | the full polite form; γ§γγ is the past of γ§γ |
| 4 | γ©γγ | dΕzo | please; go ahead | do-u-zo: when offering or inviting |
| 5 | γ©γγ | dΕmo | thanks; hello (short) | do-u-mo: a short, informal thanks |
| 6 | γ©γ | doko | where | do-ko |
| 7 | γ§γγ | denwa | telephone | de-n-wa |
| 8 | γ§γγ‘ | deguchi | exit | de-gu-chi: you'll see it on signs |
| 9 | γ§γγ | denki | electricity; electric light | de-n-ki |
| 10 | γγ§γ | oden | oden (hot-pot stew) | o-de-n: a winter street-food favourite |
βοΈ Try It Yourself β γγγγ γ
Say each answer out loud first, then click to check.
1. Read aloud: γ§ Β· γ© Β· γ Β· γ’ Β· γ₯
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de Β· do Β· da Β· ji Β· zu
2. Read aloud and translate: γ©γ Β· γ§γγ Β· γ§γγ‘
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doko (where) Β· denwa (telephone) Β· deguchi (exit)
3. Read aloud and translate: γ©γγ Β· γ©γγ
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dΕzo (please; go ahead) Β· dΕmo (thanks)
4. What does γ§γ mean, and what does adding γ do?
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γ§γ = is/am/are (polite). Adding γ makes it a question: γγγγγ§γγ = Are you well?
5. Read aloud and translate: γγ‘γγγγΎγ§γγ
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gochisΕsama deshita: thank you for the meal (the full polite form).
6. Write in hiragana: desu Β· denwa Β· doko (check the stroke order).
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γ§γ Β· γ§γγ Β· γ©γ