Japanese Present and Past Tense

 

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1. Today's Japanese words

Here's some basic Japanese vocabulary about samurai with romaji:

* **Samurai (侍 - samurai):** The warrior class of feudal Japan.

* **Bushido (武士道 - bushidō):** The code of honor followed by samurai.

* **Daimyo (大名 - daimyō):** A feudal lord who samurai served.

* **Katana (刀 - katana):** The curved sword carried by samurai.

* **Wakizashi (脇差し - wakizashi):** A shorter sword worn by samurai along with the katana.

* **Kimono (着物 - kimono):** Traditional Japanese clothing, also worn by samurai.

* **Dojo (道場 - dōjō):** A training hall for martial arts, where samurai practiced swordsmanship.

**Samurai Life:**

* **Bushido (武士道 - bushidō):** The "way of the warrior," samurai code of honor emphasizing loyalty, courage, frugality, and respect.

* **Sepukku (切腹 - seppuku):** Ritual suicide by disembowelment, sometimes practiced by samurai to preserve honor.

* **Geisha (芸者 - geisha):** Female entertainers, sometimes associated with samurai entertainment.

**Samurai Equipment:**

* **Yumi (弓 - yumi):** Japanese longbow, a weapon used by samurai archers.

* **Yumiya (弓矢 - yumiya):** Combination of yumi (bow) and ya (arrow).

* **Kabuto (兜 - kabuto):** Samurai helmet, often decorated with crests.

* **Men (面 - men):** Face mask worn as part of samurai armor.

* **Do (胴 - dō):** Chest armor worn by samurai.

* **Guntai (軍隊 - guntai):** Samurai army.

**Other Related Terms:**

* **Shogun (将軍 - shōgun):** The military leader of feudal Japan, above the daimyo.

* **Ronin (浪人 - rōnin):** A masterless samurai, no longer serving a daimyo.

* **Ninja (忍者 - ninja):** Covert operatives and spies, sometimes employed by samurai.

* **Budo (武道 - budō):** Japanese martial arts, encompassing disciplines practiced by samurai.

**Bonus - Samurai Speak (informal):**

* **Sessha (拙者 - sessha):** "I" or "me" used by samurai in a humble or old-fashioned way. (Not commonly used in modern Japanese)

* **Nanji (汝 - nanji):** "You" used in a similar way to sessha, but not recommended in modern conversation due to its old-fashioned and potentially rude tone.

2. Today's topic

Japanese Present and Past Tense

While Japanese tenses seem simpler at first glance, there are some nuances to explore:

**Present Tense:** 

* **Verb Conjugation:**

    * **Regular Verbs:** These fall into two categories:

        * **-ru Verbs:** Conjugate by changing the "-ru" ending to "-masu" (polite) or "-ru" (plain) - e.g., 見る (miru - to see) becomes 見ます (みます - mimasu - I see) or 見る (みる - miru).

        * **-u Verbs:** Similar to -ru verbs, replace "-u" with "-imasu" (polite) or "-u" (plain) - e.g., 話す (hanasu - to speak) becomes 話します (はなします - hanashimasu - I speak) or 話す (はなす - hanasu).

    * **Irregular Verbs:** These have unique conjugations for present tense (polite and plain) - e.g., する (suru - to do) becomes します (します - shimasu) or する (する - suru).

**Past Tense:**

* **Verb Conjugation:**

    * **-ru Verbs & -u Verbs:** Remove the "-ru" or "-u" ending and add "-ta" (polite and plain) - e.g., 見る (miru) becomes 見た (みた - みた - mita - I saw), 話す (hanasu) becomes 話した (はなした - hanashita - I spoke).

    * **Irregular Verbs:** Follow specific past tense conjugations - e.g., する (suru) becomes した (した - shita - I did).

**Formality:**

* **Polite (-masu/-mashita):** Used in formal settings or with people you don't know well.

* **Plain (-ru/-ta):** Used with friends, family, or in casual situations.

**Past Perfect Tense (sort of):**

* Japanese doesn't have a direct equivalent, but you can express similar ideas using the past tense with adverbs like "mou" (already) or "mada" (yet).

    * 食べました (tabemashita - I ate) - implies a completed action in the past.

    * まだ食べていません (mada tabete imasen - I haven't eaten yet) - emphasizes an ongoing state related to the past action.

**Additional Tips:**

* **Temporal Words:** Words like "kinou" (yesterday), "kyou" (today), and "ashita" (tomorrow) help clarify tense.

* **Context:** Sentence structure and surrounding information can often indicate the tense.

3- Today’s news

Fukui in charm drive to attract foreign elderly care workers

https://www.asahi.com/sp/ajw/articles/15271728

Western Japan mayor to run for governor of Tokyo in June

https://www.asahi.com/sp/ajw/articles/15271800

Shinji Ishimaru, who is 41 and represents the city of Akitakada in Hiroshima Prefecture, said May 17 he will run as an independent candidate in the July 7 gubernatorial election.