Nov 21, 2009

Japanese Language Made Simpler - Lesson 22

The particle 'で' can also be used to express the means of transport/ tool or language used.

For example:
  • came here by taxi= takushi de kimasu =タクシできます
  • eat with chopsticks= hashi de tabemasu = はしで食べます
  • write using Japanese= nihongo de kakimasu = 日本語で書きます

The structure of the phrase will be in this form:
[transport/tool/language] で[verb]
=
[verb] by/ using [transport/tool/language]

Other examples:

  • I go to work by car. = watashi wa kurma de kaisha he ikimasu. = 私は車で会社へ行きます。(kaisha = company)
  • Please write with a pencil. = enpitsu de kaite kudasai. = 鉛筆で書いてください。
  • I made a speech in Japanese. = nihongo de supiichi o shimashita. = 日本語でスピーチをしました。(supiichi = speech)