Page 149 - Easy Japanese - Learn to Speak Japanese Quickly! (TUTTLE)

The /Sentence + no (n desu)/ pattern is VERY common in Japanese, and not
using this pattern where it is expected may make the speaker seem insensitve or
unaware of the circumstances.
How is the /n desu/ pattern different from kara “because”? A kara sentence
specifically provides THE reason for something. On the other hand the /n desu/
pattern just draws attention to the background of the situation, and is softer and
more indirect.

GRAMMAR NOTE Particle to Indicating Accompaniment

We learned earlier that the particle to connects nouns.
ringo to mikan apples and oranges

In this chapter, we introduce the particle to indicating with whom an action is

performed. It connects the preceding noun to the verb.
Tomodachi to Okinawa ni I’m going to Okinawa with a
ikimasu. friend.

Sensei to hanashimashita. I talked with a teacher.

Now how do you say, “I ate with chopsticks” in Japanese? This “with” does not
refer to who you ate with but rather the means by which you ate. So, Ohashi de
tabemashita is the correct answer.

CULTURAL NOTE Religions in Japan

Shinto (Shintō 神道), Buddhism (Bukkyō 仏教) and Christianity (Kirisuto-kyō
キリスト教) are the three major religions in Japan with Shinto being the largest,
practiced by nearly 80% of the population. However, religion in Japan usually
refers to organized faiths and doctrines, and only a small percentage of people

identify themselves as members of such organized religions. Most Japanese on
the other hand participate in rituals and customs derived from Shinto and
Buddhist traditions. They tend to consider these cultural traditions rather than
religion.
Many Japanese households display both Shinto and Buddhist altars. The birth
of a new baby is celebrated with a visit to a Shinto shrine. Wedding ceremonies

are often performed by Shinto priests, but Christian-style wedding ceremonies
are also popular these days. Funerals and memorial anniversaries for deceased
family members are usually performed according to Buddhist traditions. This