Avoid Being Monotone, the End of Japanese Sentences

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Introduction

It is likely that Japanese learners don’t have difficulty in finding Japanese sentences to be unnatural very much, but it is difficult to find how to improve them. As you may not be aware, there are some tricks in Japanese sentences to make them colorful. In this article, you will learn one of the easiest, but most practical ways.

Don’t Repeat the Same End of Japanese Sentences for 3 times

Are you surprised with the ‘easiness’? Yet, the effectiveness is significant. This is one of the most common theories when writing Japanese sentences. In order to understand it correctly, let me show you compared examples as below.

Bad Japanese Sentences

わたしはやきをするのがにがでした。これまでなんはやきにちょうせんしても失敗しっぱいしてばかりでした。だから、おもってよるごとをすることにしました。

Good Japanese Sentences

わたしはやきをするのがにがでした。これまでなんはやきにちょうせんしても失敗しっぱいしてばかりです。だから、おもってよるごとをすることにしました。

Translation

I was not good at getting up early. I have tried to get up early many times so far, but it always ended in failure. So, I daringly decided to work at night.

I have just replaced “でした” with “です” in the second sentences, but the effect is very big. For native speakers, the below is much easier to read than the above. It is not necessarily that you have to use “た” in past tense and “です、ます” in present tense. Japanese language does not have the concept of tense as well as English does. This word; ”これまで” is rather important than “です” or “でした” in regards to determining the tense. Thus, you can focus on whether you are using the same end of Japanese sentences for 3 times or not.

More Advance Expressions for Japanese sentences

体言たいげんTaigendome

Instead of using “です” , “ます” , “でした”, “ました” or other auxiliary verbs and normal verbs at the end, you can use this technique, 体言止め; placing a noun at the end of Japanese sentences

Japanese Sentences with 体言たいげんめ (1)

先週せんしゅう富士ふじさんってきました。圧巻あっかんだったのは頂上ちょうじょうから 感動かんどうのあまり写真しゃしんるのもわすれていました。

Translation

I went to Mt. Fuji last week. What overwhelmed me was the rising sun seen at the top of Fuji. I was so moved that I forgot to take pictures.

Japanese Sentences with 体言たいげんめ (2)

JLPTのけっ公開こうかいされました。ちたとおもっていましたが、なんとけっ合格ごうかくおもわずいてしまいました。

Translation

The result of JLPT was announced. I thought I would fail, but surprisingly the result was a pass. I could not help crying.

It could be “でした” and “合格ごうかくでした” respectively. By using 体言たいげんめ, I did emphasize what I said and to lead my readers to reflect on the situation or the background. On the other hand, you should pay attention to the frequency. If you often used this technique, your audience would be confused, like “what is the point?”

じょJyoshidome

With the similar technique to 体言たいげんめ, you can use this technique じょめ; placing a particle at the end of Japanese sentences. This is often used in headlines, titles, catchphrase and advertisement.

Japanese Sentences with じょ

すべては、おきゃくさまの「うまい!」のために。

Quoted from Asahi Breweries

Translation

Everything is dedicated to the word; “delicious” said by customers.

じょめ mainly has 2 functions. The first one is to shorten a sentence which will be wrote in a place where restricts the number of words. The second one is to make readers reflect on plural meanings only by one phrase. In the case of the example, a reader might regard it as “in order to dedicate everything to the word; “delicious” said by customers, they are developing more advanced technologies.” By letting readers to determine what the verb is supposed to be, you can make your Japanese sentences more attractive.

Conclusion

  1. Don’t repeat the same end of Japanese sentences for 3 times.
  2. 体言たいげんめ; place a noun at the end of Japanese sentences
  3. じょめ; For sentences in headlines, titles, etc., place a particle at the end of Japanese sentences

Simply speaking, it is not good for the end of Japanese sentences to use the same end for 3 times in a row, which includes using a technique such as 体言たいげんめ and じょめ. I think that it is simple to adopt this advice to your writing. So, please start using these tips and enjoy making your Japanese sentences more colorful.

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