Page 29 - Easy Japanese - Learn to Speak Japanese Quickly! (TUTTLE)

be introduced later. The Formal (or courteous) form is typically used when
speaking to superiors, people you are meeting for the first time, or strangers. It is
a safer form that should be first used by learners.

GRAMMAR NOTE Questions with Ka and Ne(e)

Sentence particles such as ka and ne(e) occur after a predicate. Ka is a question
marker. Ne, when used with a rising intonation, checks if your assumption is in

fact correct. Ne(e) with a falling intonation indicates that you assume the
addressee shares your feelings. It is culturally preferred, probably more so in
Japan than in other cultures, to feel that everyone involved are in harmony, and
therefore you will frequently hear nē either at the end of a sentence or all by
itself. Compare the following.

Jōzu desu ka. Is he good at it?
Jōzu nē. He is good at it, isn’t he?

Jōzu desu ne. He is good at it, right?
Jōzu ja nai desu ne. He is not good at it, right?

A question in the negative form is also used 1) to show some uncertainty, and 2)

to politely correct someone.
1) Eigo desu ka. Is it English?

-Nihongo ja nai desu ka. Isn’t it Japanese?
2) Heta desu ne. I’m bad at it, right?

-Iya, jōzu ja nai desu ka. No. You are good, aren’t you?

CULTURAL NOTE Introductions

It is important to know the ritual expressions and use them when meeting people
for the first time in Japan. Hajimemashite, literally meaning “for the first time”,
and Dōzo yoroshiku onegai-shimasu, “please treat me favorably”, are the most

commonly used expressions when making introductions. After a person tells you
his/her name, confirm it by asking X-san desu ka “Are you Mr/Ms X?”
Repetition may seem unnecessary, but it’s customary to do so during
introductions.
In business situations, you’ll need to exchange business cards or meishi, so

make sure you have an ample supply with information in Japanese on the back
(or get a native Japanese speaker to provide a translation on the back). As you