(I) can't (speak) Japanese = nihongo dekimasen (日本語できません)
I can't (play) piano = boku wa piano ga dekinai (ピアノができない)
Can you also (speak) french? = furansugo mo dekimasu ka
(フランス語もできますか)
You can also use this verb in conjunction with other verbs to mean you can or can't do something else.
(I) can dance = dansu suru koto ga dekimasu
(ダンスすることができます)
(He) can't write katakana = katakana o kaku koto ga dekimasen
(カタカナを書くことができません)
Can you drink wine = wain o nomu koto ga dekimasu ka
(ワインを飲むことができますか)
(I) can't swim! = oyogu koto ga dekinai yo! (泳ぐことができないよ)
(I) can't do that kind of thing = sonna koto dekimasen
(そんなことできません)
we learned the verb dekiru (出来る) which means to be able to do something. The same word also means that something is made out of a certian material. Lets take a look at some different materials.
This book is made out of paper = kono hon wa kami de dekite iru
(この本は紙で出来ている)
Chair is made out of wood = isu wa ki de dekiteiru
(いすは木で出来ている)
My sushi rolling mat is made out of bamboo = watashi no makisu wa take de dekite imasu (私の巻き簾は竹で出来ています)
That building's windows are made out of glass = ano tatemono no mado wa garasu de dekiteru (あの建物の窓はグラスで出来てる)
Wakaru- To understand
(I) also understand Spanish = supeingo mo wakarimasu
(スペイン語も分かります)
(I) don't understand Japanese = nihongo wakarimasen
(日本語分かりません)
Do you understand teacher? = sensei wa wakarimasu ka
(先生は分かりますか)
You can also use this to show that you understand other things such as meanings or commands.
(I) don't understand this sign = kono hyoushiki wakarimasen (I) don't know meaning of that kanji = sono kanji no imi ga wakarimasen (その漢字の意味が分かりません)
Yes, I got it = hai, wakatta (はい、分かった)
Shiru is used to show that you have knowledge of something. One way you can use it is to talk about knowing someone, or knowing something.
Do you know (of) onsen? = onsen shiteru? (温泉知ってる？)
Do you know him? = kare o shirimasu ka (彼を知りますか)
Do you know this song = kono uta o shitte imasu ka
(この歌を知っていますか)
Shiru - To know
The words shite iru and wakatte iru mean two different things. Mixing them up could make you sound rude. shite iru is used to show that you currently know something or someone.
However, wakatte iru means that you are already in the state of knowing something. It is something one would say to someone when they are being persistent in telling you something, such as instructions or lecturing you about something you did. It is almost like saying "I know I know I know already!!" in English.
Another difference is the negative form shiranai can be considered rude. It not only means (I) don't know, But it also sometimes has a hidden meaning that the person doesn't care to know, or that the question doesn't matter. Wakaranai is preferred to be said when you are saying "I don't know" to someone.
Sometimes in English we would use the word know, but the Japanese use the word understand. Sometimes they can be interchangeable. Often one is more common and natural than the other.
Do you understand the road? (do you know the way?)
michi wa wakarimasu ka (道は分かりますか)
No comments:
Post a Comment