~は~が Japanese Grammar Lesson
Grammar Type: Structure
Essential Meaning: As for X, it is is Y / Speaking of X, it is Y
Construction:
- (Topic + は) + (Subject + が) + Predicate
- E.g. 彼は足が長い [As for him, his legs are long]
Notes:
- ~は~が is a basic Japanese sentence structure (along with the ~は~だ structure). In the construction XはYがZ, Y and Z constitute a clause in which Y is the subject (marked by the subject marker が) and Z is the predicate (e.g. 足が長い [The legs are long] or 天気が寒い [The weather is cold]). The YがZ clause is then used to describe some attribute or quality of the topic X (which is marked by the topic marker は). Although this construction may sound awkward when translated into English, it is an extremely common structure in Japanese and therefore very important to understand.
- E.g. マイクは足が長い。[As for Mike, his legs are long.]
- E.g コロラド州は天気が寒い。[Speaking of Colorado, the weather is cold.]
- There are 3 basic situations in which the the XはYが Z construction is used:
- (1) X is a human and YがZ expresses X’s physical or mental state, ability, or desire.
- E.g. 私は英語が分かる。[As for me, I understand Japanese.] In this example, the ability to speak English describes the subject’s ability.
- E.g. たかしはテニスが上手だ。[As for Takashi, he’s good at tennis.] In this example, being good at tennis describes Takashi’s ability.
- E.g. 私はボーイフレンドが欲しい。[As for me, I want a boyfriend.] In this example, wanting a boyfriend describes the subject’s desire.
- (2) Y is a part of X, and Z expresses something about Y, which in turn expresses something about X.
- E.g. 花子は目がきれいだ。[As for Hanako, her eyes are beautiful.] In this example, prettiness is a quality of the eyes, and pretty eyes is in turn a quality of Hanako.
- E.g. 像は鼻が長い。[As for elephants, their trunks are long.] In this example, longness is a quality of the trunk, and long trunks is in turn a quality of elephants.
- E.g. 私はお腹がすいた。[As for me, my stomach is empty.] In this example, being empty is a quality of the stomach, and an empty stomach is in turn a quality of the subject.
- E.g. ミラーさんは背が高い。[As for Mira-san, her stature is tall.] In this example, tallness is a quality of the stature, and a tall stature is in turn a quality of Mira-san.
- E.g. 日本はステーキが高い。[As for Japan, the steaks are expensive.] In this example, expensiveness is a quality of the steaks, and expensive steaks are in turn a quality of Japan.
- (3) Y belongs to the category of X, and Z expresses something about Y.
- E.g. 辞書はウェブスターがいい。[Speaking of dictionaries, Webster’s is good.] In this example, Webster’s belongs to the category of dictionaries, and Webster’s happens to be a good one.
- E.g. 海は日本海がきれいだ。[Speaking of seas, the Sea of Japan is pretty.] In this example, the Sea of Japan belongs to the category of seas, and the Sea of Japan happens to be a pretty one.
- E.g. 日本の野球はどこが強いですか。[Speaking of Japanese baseball, which team is strong?] In this example, the category of Japanese baseball is introduced, and the speaker wants to know which member of this category (i.e. which team) is the strongest.
- (1) X is a human and YがZ expresses X’s physical or mental state, ability, or desire.
- When referring to the speaker’s own emotions, abilities, et cetera, the topic can typically be omitted.
- E.g. (私は)英語が分かる。[I can understand Japanese.]
- Certain verbs and adjectives idiomatically require the ~は~が construction. The following expressions generally require the ~は~が construction.
- Words of Ability:
- わかる [To understand]
- E.g. 日本語が分かる。[I can understand Japanese.]
- できる [To be able]
- E.g. けん玉ができる。[I can use a kendama.]
- られる [Potential verb ending]
- E.g. 刺身が食べられる。[I can eat sashimi.]
- 見える [To be visible]
- E.g. 富士山が見える。[I can see Fuji-san.]
- 聞こえる [To be audible]
- E.g. 声が聞こえる。[I can hear voices.]
- 上手だ [To be good at]
- E.g. テニスが上手だ。[I’m good at tennis.]
- 下手だ [To be bad at]
- E.g. テニスが下手だ。[I’m bad at tennis.]
- 得意だ [To be one’s strength]
- E.g. テニスが得意だ。[Tennis is a strength for me.]
- 苦手だ [To be one’s weakness]
- E.g. テニスが苦手だ。[Tennis is a weakness for me.]
- わかる [To understand]
- Words of Desire / Need:
- Words of Fondness:
- Words of Emotion:
- 恥ずかしい [Embarrassing]
- E.g. 発表が恥ずかしい。[Presentations are embarrassing.]
- 懐かしい [Nostalgic]
- E.g. 小学が懐かしい。[Elementary school is nostalgic.]
- にくらしい [Detestable]
- E.g. あの国がにくらしい。[That country is detestable.]
- おそろしい [Terrifying]
- E.g. あの国がおそろしい。[That country is terrifying.]
- こわい [Scary]
- E.g. 犬がこわい。[Dogs are scary.]
- うらやましい [Enviable]
- E.g. 彼がPS5を持っているのがうらやましい。[I’m jealous that he has a PS5.]
- くやしい [Frustrating]
- E.g. 負けるのがくやしい。[Losing is frustrating.]
- 恥ずかしい [Embarrassing]
- Words of Ability:
Example Sentences:
私は英語が分かる。[I can understand English.]
花子は目がきれいだ。[As for Hanako, her eyes are pretty.]
辞書はウエブスターがいい。[Speaking of dictionaries, Webster’s is good.]
たかしはテニスが上手だ。[As for Takashi, he’s good at tennis.]
私はボーイフレンドが欲しい。[As for me, I want a boyfriend.]
僕はフットボールが好きだ。[As for me, I like football.]
像は鼻が長い。[As for elephants, their trunks are long.]
私はお腹がすいた。[As for me, my stomach is empty.]
ミラーさんは背が高い。[As for Mira-san, her stature is tall.]
日本はステーキが高い。[As for Japan, the steaks are expensive.]
海は日本海がきれいだ。[Speaking of seas, the Sea of Japan is pretty.]
日本の野球はどこが強いですか。[Speaking of Japanese baseball, which team is strong?]
WILD Examples:
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