An introduction to Japanese - Syntax, Grammar & Language

190 CHAPTER 4. PARTICLES

and excluding the last moment can be critical, as for instance in the previ-

ous example phrases. If we imagine a situation where a group of people

are assembling in order to set off on a journey by bus at 9, forgeĴing the

innocent looking will make the difference between people enjoying a

nice holiday, or standing stranded at the bus stop because they missed the

deadline and the bus already left.

• Comparative (classical origin)

Before explaining the modern use, it might make sense to explain that
used to play the role that plays today. In fact, in legal documents
is still used instead of. Now, this may not have been a very
lengthy explanation, but it does make understanding why does what
it does in modern Japanese easier: in modern Japanese, is used to label
something as a reference point for a comparison:

Literally this line reads ”Anpan ( ), with respect to dinner

bread ( ), is sweeter ( ).” which makes the somewhat abstract

explanation earlier a lot clearer.

Typically, gets translated with ”rather than”, but this can be

confusing because usually does not link the two things being com-

pared, as in English, but links the reference point and the quality. In the

previous sentence, for instance, is the reference point, and the

quality is , sweet. To make this more obvious, we can even leave the

compared item out entirely, relying on context to make it clear what it was

supposed to be:

”(it) is sweeter than dinner bread.”

• simultaneous actionPerforming two acts at the same time

This particle, which follows a verbs in

, or verbal adjectives and

nouns directly, signifies that two actions are taking place at the same time,

for the same duration of time. This particle is sometimes translated with