An introduction to Japanese - Syntax, Grammar & Language

204 CHAPTER 4. PARTICLES

things can be real is if they are somehow common place, or social customs:

literally: ”It is a thing to ’not be a bother to people’.”

”One should not cause problems for others.”

Colloquially, can be shortened to , but this typically makes

the speaker sound ”childish”:

A:

B:

A: ”Why the heck do you always eat anpan?”

B: ”Because I like it.”

• Possibility

The particle is actually the expression

with the verb

left off. This construction is used to indicate something ’might be’ the case,

and is used quite frequently in every day language:

A:

B:

A: ”Eh? You’re going to buy it? Don’t you think it’s (a liĴle) expen-

sive?”

B: ”Maybe... But then again, isn’t it exactly (what we want)?”

There is no functional difference between using and using
, although again the ”the longer it is, the more formal polite
your speech” rule applies, so is less formal than which is
less formal than , which in turn is less formal than

. Typically, you’ll either use or.

4.4 Enrichment.

4.4.1 Further particles.

• Even, merely

Typically used preceded by , is yet another ”even”, being similar to
, or. However, where means ”only” in the ”just” way,