εpsγloJapanese, explained word by word
Every Japanese translation comes back broken down word by word: particles, the topic marker and the verb each colored by the job they do and explained, with a dictionary entry and alternatives. The politeness dial moves through the registers of keigo, from rough plain forms to honorific speech.
An example breakdown
Breakdown
I'm going to the library tomorrow.
Japanese marks every role with a particle after the noun, and the verb closes the sentence.
Click any word. The same dialog opens everywhere
はTopic marker
- Why this word
- Marks 明日 as the topic: "as for tomorrow…". It replaces が or を rather than adding to them.
- Dictionary
- は — topic particle, pronounced "wa".
- Alternatives
- が (new information) · も ("tomorrow too")
Politeness in Japanese
The 10 steps of the politeness dial, as the app names them for Japanese.
- 1Abrasiveぞんざい — coarse, rough plain form, almost hostile
- 2BluntRough plain form — curt and masculine
- 3Intimateタメ口 among close friends — clipped plain form
- 4CasualFriendly plain form — だ／じゃない endings
- 5Soft casualPlain form softened with ね／よ and gentle phrasing
- 6Politeです・ます — everyday polite register
- 7PolishedCareful です・ます with courteous set phrases
- 8Respectfulです・ます with first honorifics — お／ご, いただく
- 9Honorific敬語 — 尊敬語 and 謙譲語 forms throughout
- 10Ceremonial最敬語 — maximally humble and honorific, service speech
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