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Show polite vs plain forms with example sentences visualisation

Show polite vs plain forms with example sentences

Unlock Japanese Verb Conjugations: Your Complete Guide: Show polite vs plain forms with example sentences
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Polite and plain forms in Japanese differ mainly in verb conjugation and sentence endings to indicate levels of formality. The plain form is informal, used with friends, family, or people of equal status, while the polite form is more formal, used with strangers, superiors, or in customer service. Below are examples illustrating both forms with verbs, adjectives, and nouns.

Verb Examples

MeaningPlain FormPolite Form
I eat毎日野菜を食べる。 Mainichi yasai o taberu.毎日野菜を食べます。 Mainichi yasai o tabemasu.
I do not eat野菜を食べない。 Yasai o tabenai.野菜を食べません。 Yasai o tabemasen.
Did you eat?野菜を食べた？ Yasai o tabeta?野菜を食べましたか。 Yasai o tabemashita ka.

Adjective Examples

MeaningPolite FormPlain Form
It is cold.寒いです。 Samui desu.寒い。 Samui.
It is not cold.寒くないです。 Samukunai desu.寒くない。 Samukunai.

Noun Examples

MeaningPolite FormPlain Form
I am a student.学生です。 Gakusei desu.学生だ。 Gakusei da.
I am not a student.学生じゃないです。 Gakusei janaidesu.学生じゃない。 Gakusei janai.

Notes

  • Polite form verbs typically end in ます (masu) or です (desu) for copula.
  • Plain forms are sometimes called dictionary forms or short forms.
  • Plain forms are common in casual speech, manga, and informal writing.
  • Questions in polite form end with か (ka), while plain form questions use just rising intonation or a question mark in writing.
  • Adjectives in plain form drop the です at the end.
  • Nouns in plain form use だ instead of です.

These structural differences help convey politeness and are fundamental for appropriate communication across social contexts in Japanese. 1, 2, 6

References

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