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1

Previously, I learnt basic expressions like “アダムさんは先生です。”,”アダムさんは医者ですが。” I thought は functions like “am/is/are” in English. But when I start learning Japanese verb this morning, I got a bit confused.
“ひろしさんはテレビを見ません。” what is は’s function in this sentence?

grammar

share|improve this question

asked 3 hours ago

Chloe CZChloe CZ

273

add a comment | 

1

Previously, I learnt basic expressions like “アダムさんは先生です。”,”アダムさんは医者ですが。” I thought は functions like “am/is/are” in English. But when I start learning Japanese verb this morning, I got a bit confused.
“ひろしさんはテレビを見ません。” what is は’s function in this sentence?

grammar

share|improve this question

asked 3 hours ago

Chloe CZChloe CZ

273

add a comment | 

Previously, I learnt basic expressions like “アダムさんは先生です。”,”アダムさんは医者ですが。” I thought は functions like “am/is/are” in English. But when I start learning Japanese verb this morning, I got a bit confused.
“ひろしさんはテレビを見ません。” what is は’s function in this sentence?

grammar

share|improve this question

asked 3 hours ago

Chloe CZChloe CZ

273

share|improve this question

asked 3 hours ago

Chloe CZChloe CZ

273

share|improve this question

asked 3 hours ago

Chloe CZChloe CZ

273

asked 3 hours ago

Chloe CZChloe CZ

273

asked 3 hours ago

Chloe CZChloe CZ

273

1 Answer
1

active

oldest

votes

3

は absolutely, definitely does not mean 'am/is/are'. That role is played by です in your example sentences.

は marks the topic of the sentence i.e,

Thing I want to talk about は what I want to say about it.

There is no equivalent concept in English so it causes a lot of confusion for many Japanese learners. It is commonly translated (very clumsily) as 'as for' e.g.

アダムさんは先生です

As for Idamu, (he) is a teacher. = Idamu is a teacher.

アダムさんは医者ですが

As for Idamu, (he) is a doctor, but ... = Idamu is a doctor, but ...

ひろしさんはテレビを見ません

As for Hirsohi, (he) doesn't watch television. = Hiroshi doesn't watch television.

In all these examples I'm marking the thing I want to talk about (i.e the person) with は and then saying something about them.

The topic doesn't have to be just a single noun. It can be a long and complex phrase e.g. "As for that man stood on one leg on the edge of the mountain over there は he's going to fall off."

If you're learning from a resource that just teaches you phrases without teaching you the grammar properly, your going to enter a world of pain.

Finally, here's a link that we normally send people to look at on は/が related questions. It may be a bit confusing at this stage, but it might help.

Footnote:

I wonder if アダムさんは医者ですが was a typo for アダムさんは医者ですか. The latter would obviously by "As for Idamu, is (he) a doctor?" = "Is Idamu a doctor?".

share|improve this answer

edited 2 hours ago

answered 2 hours ago

user3856370user3856370

15k52173

• 
  
  
  

  
  2
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  「アダム」って、「Adam」以外に、「Idam」と綴られることもよくあるんですか。
  
  – Chocolate♦
  2 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

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3

は absolutely, definitely does not mean 'am/is/are'. That role is played by です in your example sentences.

は marks the topic of the sentence i.e,

Thing I want to talk about は what I want to say about it.

There is no equivalent concept in English so it causes a lot of confusion for many Japanese learners. It is commonly translated (very clumsily) as 'as for' e.g.

アダムさんは先生です

As for Idamu, (he) is a teacher. = Idamu is a teacher.

アダムさんは医者ですが

As for Idamu, (he) is a doctor, but ... = Idamu is a doctor, but ...

ひろしさんはテレビを見ません

As for Hirsohi, (he) doesn't watch television. = Hiroshi doesn't watch television.

In all these examples I'm marking the thing I want to talk about (i.e the person) with は and then saying something about them.

The topic doesn't have to be just a single noun. It can be a long and complex phrase e.g. "As for that man stood on one leg on the edge of the mountain over there は he's going to fall off."

If you're learning from a resource that just teaches you phrases without teaching you the grammar properly, your going to enter a world of pain.

Finally, here's a link that we normally send people to look at on は/が related questions. It may be a bit confusing at this stage, but it might help.

Footnote:

I wonder if アダムさんは医者ですが was a typo for アダムさんは医者ですか. The latter would obviously by "As for Idamu, is (he) a doctor?" = "Is Idamu a doctor?".

share|improve this answer

edited 2 hours ago

answered 2 hours ago

user3856370user3856370

15k52173

• 
  
  
  

  
  2
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  「アダム」って、「Adam」以外に、「Idam」と綴られることもよくあるんですか。
  
  – Chocolate♦
  2 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

3

は absolutely, definitely does not mean 'am/is/are'. That role is played by です in your example sentences.

は marks the topic of the sentence i.e,

Thing I want to talk about は what I want to say about it.

There is no equivalent concept in English so it causes a lot of confusion for many Japanese learners. It is commonly translated (very clumsily) as 'as for' e.g.

アダムさんは先生です

As for Idamu, (he) is a teacher. = Idamu is a teacher.

アダムさんは医者ですが

As for Idamu, (he) is a doctor, but ... = Idamu is a doctor, but ...

ひろしさんはテレビを見ません

As for Hirsohi, (he) doesn't watch television. = Hiroshi doesn't watch television.

In all these examples I'm marking the thing I want to talk about (i.e the person) with は and then saying something about them.

The topic doesn't have to be just a single noun. It can be a long and complex phrase e.g. "As for that man stood on one leg on the edge of the mountain over there は he's going to fall off."

If you're learning from a resource that just teaches you phrases without teaching you the grammar properly, your going to enter a world of pain.

Finally, here's a link that we normally send people to look at on は/が related questions. It may be a bit confusing at this stage, but it might help.

Footnote:

I wonder if アダムさんは医者ですが was a typo for アダムさんは医者ですか. The latter would obviously by "As for Idamu, is (he) a doctor?" = "Is Idamu a doctor?".

share|improve this answer

edited 2 hours ago

answered 2 hours ago

user3856370user3856370

15k52173

• 
  
  
  

  
  2
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  「アダム」って、「Adam」以外に、「Idam」と綴られることもよくあるんですか。
  
  – Chocolate♦
  2 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

は absolutely, definitely does not mean 'am/is/are'. That role is played by です in your example sentences.

は marks the topic of the sentence i.e,

Thing I want to talk about は what I want to say about it.

There is no equivalent concept in English so it causes a lot of confusion for many Japanese learners. It is commonly translated (very clumsily) as 'as for' e.g.

アダムさんは先生です

As for Idamu, (he) is a teacher. = Idamu is a teacher.

アダムさんは医者ですが

As for Idamu, (he) is a doctor, but ... = Idamu is a doctor, but ...

ひろしさんはテレビを見ません

As for Hirsohi, (he) doesn't watch television. = Hiroshi doesn't watch television.

In all these examples I'm marking the thing I want to talk about (i.e the person) with は and then saying something about them.

The topic doesn't have to be just a single noun. It can be a long and complex phrase e.g. "As for that man stood on one leg on the edge of the mountain over there は he's going to fall off."

If you're learning from a resource that just teaches you phrases without teaching you the grammar properly, your going to enter a world of pain.

Finally, here's a link that we normally send people to look at on は/が related questions. It may be a bit confusing at this stage, but it might help.

Footnote:

I wonder if アダムさんは医者ですが was a typo for アダムさんは医者ですか. The latter would obviously by "As for Idamu, is (he) a doctor?" = "Is Idamu a doctor?".

share|improve this answer

edited 2 hours ago

answered 2 hours ago

user3856370user3856370

15k52173

share|improve this answer

edited 2 hours ago

answered 2 hours ago

user3856370user3856370

15k52173

answered 2 hours ago

user3856370user3856370

15k52173

answered 2 hours ago

user3856370user3856370

15k52173