Manga

Let’s learn Japanese with our analysis of manga. We will analyse a manga snippet from Yotsubato! (よつばと!) Volume 2.

Manga Snippet

©よつばと! (電撃コミックス)

Sentences

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1. どれだ!?どれがケーキだ!?
   dore da!? dore ga kēki da!?
   Which one!? Which one is a cake!?

2. これ全部ケーキだよ
   kore zenbu kēki da yo
   All of these are cakes.

3. なんとまぁ！
   nanto mā!
   Oh dear!

4. よつばちゃんの好きなのを一つ選んでね
   yotsuba-chan no sukina no o hitotsu erande ne
   Choose your favourite one, Yotsuba-chan.

5. 全部で4つほしいんですけど
   zenbu de yottsu hoshiindesu kedo
   We would like to get four in total…

6. ひとつはこのイチゴのー
   hitotsu wa kono ichigo nō
   One will be this strawberry…

Analysis of Manga

1. 「どれだ!?どれがケーキだ!?」

   • どれ (noun) – which one
   • だ (auxiliary) – makes a sentence declarative (attached to a noun or na-adjective)
   • が (particle) – indicates subject
   • ケーキ (noun) – cake

2. 「これ全部ぜんぶケーキだよ」

   • これ (noun) – these
   • 全部 (noun) – all
   • ケーキ (noun) – cake
   • だ (auxiliary) – makes a sentence declarative (attached to a noun or na-adjective)
   • よ (particle) – indicates certainty/emphasis

3. 「なんとまぁ！」

   • なんとまぁ！ (expression) – expresses one’s surprise or amazement; wow!, oh my!

4. 「よつばちゃんの好すきなのを一ひとつ選えらんでね」

   • よつば (noun) – name of the main character meaning four (よつ) leaves (ば)
   • ちゃん (suffix) – shows one’s sense of intimacy/affection toward someone; honey, sweetie
   • の (particle) – used to substitute “ga” in subordinate clauses EXAMPLES
   • 好きな (na-adjective) – favourite
   • の (particle) – makes an adjective into a noun​; one, thing EXAMPLES
   • を (particle) – indicates direct object of action
   • 一つ (noun) – one
   • 選んで (verb) – choose
   • ね (particle) – indicates request for confirmation/agreement; yeah? ok? EXAMPLES

5. 「全部ぜんぶで4よっつほしいんですけど」

   • 全部で – in total
   • 4つ (noun) – four
   • ほしい (i-adjective) – want something
   • んです – makes a sentence into an explanation EXAMPLES
   • けど (particle) – used to introduce an added statement EXAMPLES

6. 「ひとつはこのイチゴのー」

   • ひとつ (noun) – one
   • は (particle) – indicates sentence topic
   • この (adjective) – this
   • イチゴ (noun) – strawberry
   • の (particle) – modifies a noun ケーキ which is omitted

Examples

の (used to substitute “ga” in subordinate clauses)

これは私わたしの作つくったマフィンです。

kore wa watashi no tsukutta mafin desu.

These are muffins that I made.

先生せんせいの言いったことは正ただしい。

sensei no itta koto wa tadashii.

What the teacher said is right.

の (makes an adjective into a noun​)

おいしいのはマフィンだけじゃないよ。

oishii no wa mafin dake janai yo.

It is not just muffins that are delicious.

一番いちばん大事だいじなのは諦あきらめない心こころです。

ichiban daiji nano wa akiramenai kokoro desu.

The most important thing is the spirit to never give up.

ね (indicates request for confirmation/agreement)

明日あした７時じにうちに来きてね。

ashita shichi ji ni uchi ni kite ne.

Come to my place at 7 o’clock tomorrow, ok?

来年らいねんまた会あおうね。

rainen mata aō ne.

Let’s meet again next year, yeah?

んです (makes a sentence into an explanation)

先生せんせい、昨日きのうからお腹なかが痛いたいんです。

sensei, kinō kara onaka ga itaindesu.

Doctor, I’ve had a stomachache since yesterday.

ちょっと話はなしたいことがあるんです。

chotto hanashitai koto ga arundesu.

I just have something I want to talk about.

けど (used to introduce an added statement)

この前まえみた映画えいがだけど、とても良よかったよ。

konomae mita eiga dakedo, totemo yokatta yo.

About the movie I saw the other day, it was very good.

この文法ぶんぽうについて聞ききたいんですけど、今いまお時間じかんありますか？

kono bunpō ni tsuite kikitaindesu kedo, ima ojikan arimasu ka?

I want to ask about this grammar but, do you have time now?

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