Page 49 - Easy Japanese - Learn to Speak Japanese Quickly! (TUTTLE)

There are several variations of kedo such as keredo, kedomo, and keredomo,
which are more formal than kedo. An alternative is ga, which is more formal and
is common in writing and formal speech.

CULTURAL NOTE Senpai-Kōhai “Senior-Junior” Relationship

The senpai-kōhai relationship is a strong mentoring relationship in many areas
in the Japanese society including in school, in team sports, and at work. Usually

the relationship is determined by who became a member of the group first rather
than by the individual’s merits and abilities. If the person you’re conversing with
does not have any group affiliation, use age to determine your relative ranking
and address the person appropriately.
Once someone is your senpai, you are expected to treat the person as such for
a lifetime. A senpai is also expected to take care of kōhai members for a
lifetime. This relationship can be one of the most reliable connections in one’s

social network long after one leaves the group, company or school.

PATTERN PRACTICE 6

Cue: Satō-san wa gakusei desu ka.
Is Ms. Sato a student?

Response: Mae wa gakusei deshita kedo, ima wa gakusei ja nai desu.

She was a student before, but she is not a student now.
Cue: Satō-san wa Appuru desu ka.

Is Ms. Sato with Apple?
Response: Mae wa Appuru deshita kedo, ima wa Appuru ja nai desu.

She was with Apple before, but she is not with Apple now.

Repeat the drill using the following information.
1. Satō-san wa tomodachi desu ka.
2. Dōryō wa gaikoku-jin desu ka.
3. Jōshi wa otoko no hito desu ka.
4. Ano ryūgakusei wa jōzu desu ka.

5. Senpai wa Nihon-go no sensei desu ka.

PATTERN PRACTICE 7

Cue: Satō-san wa Igirisu Was Sato in England?