Guides & Virtual Hub

With a combination of research, content organizing, AI, Adobe Photoshop/Illustrator, and open-source databases, I was able to create some learning materials organized in the guides and virtual hub for this website.

The virtual hub has various vocabulary lists and resources.  This can also be viewed from inside tonbo cafe.

virtual hub

Next are the various guides I’ve put together.  Particles build the fundamental structure of Japanese sentences so I started with them.  More guides are in the works, so check them out if you are interested.

guides

If you are learning English or Japanese, go check them out; you may find them useful!

WordPress Blog Design

This website was redesigned (from the original) using the free Twenty Seventeen WordPress community theme with heavy CSS and HTML modifications.  There are also many plugins and widgets installed for a more secure and interactive blog-style website.   The plugins range from anti-spamming, secure logins, and other security-related features, to Google Analytics boosters, Twitter/Facebook/Pinterest plugins, and secure web form builders designed for WordPress.

  I often try other color schemes just for the experience of doing so.  Since this theme was implemented there have been several, but the screenshots above show the latest design as of this post. 

Thanks for visiting!

Guide – Particle 「ので」

The ので grammar particle is used to indicate a reason or cause-and-effect relationship between two clauses in Japanese. It can be translated as “because” or “due to” in English. The particle is a combination of the possessive particle の and the particle で, which indicates the means or method by which something is done.

The ので particle is often used in situations where the speaker wants to explain the reason for something or to give an excuse for a particular action or behavior. Here are some examples:

明日はテストがあるので、今晩は勉強します。 (Ashita wa tesuto ga aru node, konban wa benkyou shimasu.)
I have a test tomorrow, so I will study tonight.

雨が降っているので、外に出かけられません。 (Ame ga futte iru node, soto ni dekakeraremasen.)
It’s raining, so I can’t go out.

彼女は風邪をひいたので、今日は休みます。 (Kanojo wa kaze wo hiita node, kyou wa yasumimasu.)
She caught a cold, so she’s taking the day off.

車が壊れたので、会社に遅れてしまいました。 (Kuruma ga kowareta node, kaisha ni okurete shimaimashita.)
My car broke down, so I was late for work.

お金がないので、レストランに行けません。 (Okane ga nai node, resutoran ni ikemasen.)
I can’t go to a restaurant because I don’t have any money.

Unlike the conjunction が, which can also be used to express cause and effect, the ので particle implies a stronger causal relationship between the two clauses.

Overall, the ので particle is a useful tool for expressing causal relationships in Japanese, and it’s important to understand its usage to convey meaning accurately in conversations and written communication.

Guide – Particle 「のに」

The particle のに (noni) is a common grammar particle in Japanese that is used to express a contrast between the expected outcome and the actual outcome of a situation. It is often translated as “although,” “despite,” or “even though” in English. Here are some examples:

彼女は疲れていたのに、昨日遅くまで働きました。
Even though she was tired, she worked late yesterday.

私はお金を貯めていたのに、急に旅行に行くことになりました。
Although I was saving money, I suddenly decided to go on a trip.

In these examples, のに (noni) is used to express a contrast between the expected outcome (being tired, saving money, and studying) and the actual outcome (working late, deciding to go on a trip, and failing the test).

The particle のに (noni) can also be used to express a sense of regret or disappointment. In this context, it is often translated as “if only” or “I wish.” Here are some examples:

もう少し早く来てくれたら良かったのに。
I wish you had come a little earlier.

昨日のパーティーに行けば良かったのに。
I wish I had gone to the party yesterday.

In these examples, のに (noni) is used to express a sense of regret or disappointment about the past.

Finally, のに (noni) can also be used in a more emphatic way to express surprise or indignation. In this context, it is often translated as “despite the fact that” or “even though.” Here are some examples:

彼は犬を飼っているのに、犬が嫌いです。
Even though he has a dog, he hates dogs.

彼女は日本語を勉強しているのに、日本の文化に全然興味がない。
Despite studying Japanese, she has no interest in Japanese culture at all.

In these examples, のに (noni) is used to express surprise or indignation at the contrast between the expected situation (liking dogs or having an interest in Japanese culture) and the actual situation (hating dogs or having no interest in Japanese culture).

In summary, the particle のに (noni) is a versatile grammar particle in Japanese that is used to express a contrast between the expected outcome and the actual outcome of a situation, as well as a sense of regret or disappointment and a more emphatic expression of surprise or indignation.

Difference between しか・だけ

Although だけ and しか are both particles in Japanese that express a sense of limitation or restriction, they differ in their usage and meaning.

The particle だけ (dake) is used to indicate “only” or “just” and is used to specify the extent or limit of something. It can be used with both nouns and verbs and is usually placed after the noun or verb it modifies. Here are some examples:

私は一日にコーヒーを一杯だけ飲みます。
I only drink one cup of coffee a day.

彼女は、勉強する時間が一時間だけあります。
She has only one hour to study.

On the other hand, しか (shika) is used to express a negative limitation, indicating that something is the only option or choice available. It is typically used with negative verbs and adjectives to indicate that there is no other alternative. Here are some examples:

私はコーヒーしか飲みません。
I only drink coffee (and nothing else).

彼女は寿司以外は何も食べません。
She doesn’t eat anything except for sushi.

In these examples, しか (shika) is used to indicate that there is no other choice or option available besides the one mentioned.

Another difference between だけ and しか is that だけ can be used in comparative constructions to indicate a slight difference in degree or quantity. For example:

この部屋は、前の部屋よりほんの少し広いだけです。
This room is only a little bit wider than the previous room.

In this example, だけ (dake) is used to indicate that the difference between two things is only a slight degree.

In contrast, しか (shika) is not used in comparative constructions, as it expresses a negative limitation rather than a degree of difference.

In summary, the key difference between だけ and しか in Japanese grammar is that だけ is used to indicate a limit or extent of something, while しか is used to express a negative limitation, indicating that there is no other alternative or option available besides the one mentioned. Additionally, だけ can be used in comparative constructions to indicate a slight difference in degree or quantity, whereas しか cannot be used in this way.

Guide – Particle 「だけ」

The grammar particle だけ (dake) is used in Japanese to indicate “only” or “just”. It is used to indicate a limit or extent to which something occurs or exists. The particle is often used with nouns or verbs, indicating that there is only a specific amount or degree of the thing or action described.

The basic pattern for using だけ is:

[Noun/Verb Phrase] + だけ

Here are some examples:

私は一日にコーヒーを一杯だけ飲みます。
I only drink one cup of coffee a day.

このクーポンは、一回しか使えません。
This coupon can only be used once.

あのレストランのメニューは、肉料理だけです。
The menu at that restaurant only has meat dishes.

彼女は、勉強する時間が一時間だけあります。
She has only one hour to study.

彼は、昨日だけ休みました。
He only took yesterday off.

In each of these examples, だけ (dake) is used to indicate the extent or limit of something.

It is important to note that だけ can also be used in comparative constructions to indicate that something is “just” or “only” a little bit more or less than something else:

この部屋は、前の部屋より広いだけです。
This room is only a little bit wider than the previous room.

In these examples, だけ is used to indicate that the difference between two things is only a little bit more or less.