🇯🇵 Japanese
日本語 • Kana + Kanji
Word order: what’s normal (and how to sound natural)
Understand the default word order and a simple strategy to avoid ‘translation‑English’.
The key idea
Japanese is typically SOV and uses particles (は/が/を/に/で) to mark roles.
- Memorize patterns (whole sentences), not just single words.
- When you change the meaning, keep the grammar skeleton the same.
- If word order is flexible, use ‘neutral’ order first — emphasis comes later.
ここにいます。
Koko ni imasu
I am here.
水がほしいです。
Mizu ga hoshii desu
I want water.
わかりません。
Wakarimasen
I don't understand.
英語を話しますか？
Eigo o hanashimasu ka
Do you speak English?
トイレはどこですか？
Toire wa doko desu ka
Where is the toilet?
これは私の友だちです。
Kore wa watashi no tomodachi desu
This is my friend.
Tiny practice routine
Pick one sentence and create 5 variations. Example: ‘I want water’ → water/coffee/tea/ticket/help.
- Speak each variation out loud.
- Record yourself and compare rhythm.
Mini‑quiz
Mini-quiz
1/9 • Score: 0
Typical word order for this language is closest to…