A Dictionary of Basic Japanese Sentence Patterns (Kodansha Dictionary)

By Naoko Chino

Book Overview

A Dictionary of Basic Japanese Sentence Patterns is a fundamental learning tool for all students of the Japanese language, whether they be unblemished beginners or scarred veterans. With both types of struggling student, as well as for all the gradations that fall in between, there is a strong tendency, in the heat of battle, to lose sight of the essential nature of the Japanese sentence. It is for just such people that this dictionary has been created, to help them keep their eyes fixed firmly on the target and not be led astray.

The dictionary contains fifty of the most fundamental Japanese sentence patterns as well as sixty-nine variations. This number covers all the patterns that are needed for levels 3 and 4 of the Japanese Language Proficiency Test. Each pattern and variation is clearly defined by a formula given in Japanese, romanization, and English. Each is exemplified by sample sentences (both in single sentences and in dialogues), and each is represented in both polite and informal usage.

By means of this approach, the essential nature of the Japanese sentence is clarified, and once that has been done, the many patterns and variations fall easily into place. The simple, undisguised truth is that there are only three types of sentence in Japanese, and all of the convolutions and complications that distract and bemuse the student are nothing more than modifications of these three fundamental types. The study of the Japanese sentence need not be as difficult as it is seems.

A Dictionary of Basic Japanese Sentence Patterns may be used as a reference book to look up individual patterns for the purpose of learning, confirming, or reapproaching them, or it may be used as a textbook to be read from beginning to end, providing an overview of the Japanese sentence while buttressing the student's grasp of individual patterns.

Naoko Chino, the author of the best-selling All about Particles and Japanese Verbs at a Glance, has again presented one of the more forbidding aspects of the language in a way that is both approachable and eminently comprehensible.

Main Features
- Fifty of the Most Common Basic Patterns
- Sixty-nine Variations of the Basic Patterns
- Formulas Delineating Basic Pattern Structure
- Definitions of Terms Used in the Formulas
- Polite Example Sentences and Dialogues
- Informal Example Sentences and Dialogues
- Commentary on Individual Usages
- All the Basic Patterns Needed for Levels 3 & 4 of the Japanese Language Proficiency Test

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 4770026080
• ISBN13: 9784770026088
• Release Date: January 2000
• Publisher: Kodansha
• Length: 324 Pages
• Weight: 0.72 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 7.1" x 5.1"

Customer Reviews

Excellent book on topic

In addition to its extensive lexicon of so-called particles, word order is another thing that differs in Japanese from English, and this book will help you master this important aspect of Japanese grammar. Supposedly, English has only 20 basic sentence patterns because of its fairly regular word order, and according to the author, there are only really 3 in Japanese--Noun, Verb, and Adjective sentences. This book covers 50 basic patterns and 69 variations. The variations are set off by little text boxes throughout the book in which the pattern is illustrated, and then it is discussed in more detail in the text. Polite and informal patterns are shown along with discussions of various issues. The similarities and differences from other patterns are discussed. The intro says the book contains all the patterns needed for the Levels 3 and 4 Japanese Language Proficiency Test. In addition, there is a brief section where terms are defined, and also there is an appendix convering conjugation patterns of 103 verbs. There is a similar chart showing inflections for dozens of adjectives and also "na" adjectives. Adjectives are another major area where Japanese differs from English, and adjectives are conjugated to agree with verbs, rather than declined to agree with nouns as in most Indo-European languages. Here are some examples of what some of the patterns look like, ranging from easy to complex:1) Noun sentences with N2 mo as predicate2) Negative verbs of existence with mo after the subject3) Adjective sentence with topic wa and subject ga4) The subjunctive with V-tara, as in: (Moshi) N1 ga V1-tara (N2 wa) N3 desu/V2-masu5) Indicating habitual action with V koto ga/mo arimasu6) Indirect passive: N ni [intrasitive] / V [passive] - masuThe book is over 300 pages and so should contain considerable material for even the intermediate and advanced student of Japanese. Overall, this is an excellent grammar on Japanese syntax that should help you with this important aspect of the language.

Always on my nightstand

Being determined to learn Japanese on my own, I find this book on sentence patterns invaluable. I like the easy lookup, and I use it contantly when trying to hold a conversation with Japanese friends online! If you are learning Japanese, I think this book is an excellent help!

Excellent supplement

I'd highly recommend this book to beginning / intermediate students of Japanese. Although it's not suitable as a stand-alone introduction to Japanese, it's an excellent supplement to whatever text or course you're using (I'm using Jorden's Japanese - The Spoken Language).It recognizes that there are only 3 basic sentence types in Japanese (Nominal, Adjectival, and Verbal), and even the most complex sentences are just an elaboration of one or another of these sentence types. The author presents 50 sentence patterns, with over 60 variations. Each pattern and variation is explained (in English!), and for each pattern, there are a number of sample sentences in Japanese script, romanization (Hepburn), and an English translation. Included in these representative sentences are many short dialogues, as well. The majority use the distal-style, but there are a good number illustrating the plain / direct style as well.By internalizing these basic patterns, I think the learner will develop a sound basis for continued progress in Japanese. I'm glad I bought it.

Very useful book!

This is one of the best Japanese grammar books that I have seen! I'm teaching myself Japanese, so this book is very useful for me. I especially like the way the example sentences are shown: Japanese script on the top, roomaji in the middle, and the English translation of the example sentence on the bottom. Formal and informal sentence patterns are shown, which is another reason why I like this book. (Most Japanese grammar books that I've seen only show the formal sentences.) The author gives detailed explanations of the sentence patterns. The formulas that she uses to clarify the sentence patterns are especially useful. This book is a must-have for anyone studying Japanese!