An introduction to Japanese - Syntax, Grammar & Language

(Joyce) #1
182 CHAPTER 4. PARTICLES


  • Reiterating


This particle is an excessively contracted form of the constructions
( ) and ( ), and it can be used in a fashion similar to the quoting
particle :


”What did (you) say?”

Somewhat confusingly, it’s sometimes also used as a replacement
for in its quoting role:

”Even though (you) said (you) would come over, why didn’t (you)?”


  • Dubitative


This is a particle that is used when asking oneself a question such as when
trying to recall something, as well as when asking someone who you know
already has the answer you’re looking for, for that answer:

”Now what was the phone number again...”
”What was the phone number again?”


  • Dubitative


This is a combination of the questioning particle and the strong con-
firmation seeking. Combined they mean something like ”I wonder”/”I
guess”:

( )
”(I) guess Uematsu won’t be coming either, huh?”

( )
”(I) wonder if (I)’m free Thursday...”
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