Let’s learn Japanese with Kazuhiko Hanawa’s quote from Chibi Maruko-chan.
CONTENTS
Video
Kazuhiko Hanawa’s Quote
Japanese: 女性は誰だって美しくなれるのさ。
Romaji: josei wa dare datte utsukushiku nareru no sa.
English: Any woman can become beautiful.
Analysis
女性 means “woman”.
は is the particle which marks the topic of the sentence.
誰だって means “no matter who” or “anyone”. For example, 誰だってできる meaning “Anyone can do it”. You can also use other WH-words such as, 何だってできる meaning “I can do anything”, どこだって行ける meaning “I can go anywhere”, いつだっていい meaning “anytime is fine”.
美しく means “beautiful” and なれる means “can become”.
When you want to say “to become an i-adjective, in this case 美しい”, just replace the い with く and use the verb なる which will be 美しくなる meaning “to become beautiful”. If it’s a na-adjective such as 元気, simply add に and use なる which will be 元気になる meaning “to become well”.
As なれる is the potential form of なる, 美しくなれる means “can become beautiful”.
The の particle is used when the speaker wants to emphasise the statement to convince the listener, usually used with the declarative auxiliary verb だ.
But in this sentence さ is used instead of だ in order to make the speech sound cool, dry, frank and more casual. It’s often used by optimistic and snobbish men like him who is a typical rich boy from an upper-class family. Although, in this usage, you don’t usually hear it in real life as it sounds cheesy.
The other さ particle which is often used in real life is the one Maruko used; そりゃ花輪くんのお母さんは若くて美人だからなんでも似合うだろうけどさ meaning “Hanawa-kun’s mom is young and pretty so of course everything would look good on her”. This さ can be used multiple times in a sentence to adjust the tone and in this usage both males and females can use it. It can also indicate that there is something the speaker wants to say after. So Maruko wanted to say “Everything would look good on your mom but not on my mom”.
Examples
WH-word + だって (no matter …)
誰だって幸せになりたい。
dare datte shiawase ni naritai.
Everyone wants to become happy.
何だって食べられる。
nan datte taberareru.
I can eat anything.
ランチどこ行きたい？ – どこだって構わないよ。
ranchi doko ikitai? – doko datte kamawanai yo.
Where do you want to go for lunch? – Anywhere is fine.
いつだってそばにいるよ。
itsu datte soba ni iru yo.
I will be by your side anytime.
でも and だって are interchangeable. だって sounds more casual than でも.
うつ病は誰でもかかる可能性のある病気だ。
utsu-byō wa dare demo kakaru kanōsei no aru byōki da.
Depression is an illness that can happen to anybody.
Adjective + なる (to become …)
I-Adjective く+ なる
砂糖を少し入れると、もっとおいしくなるよ。
satō o sukoshi ireru to, motto oishiku naru yo.
If you put some sugar in, it will become more delicious.
だんだん眠くなってきた。
dandan nemuku natte kita.
I’m gradually getting sleepy.
Na-Adjective + に + なる
先生が注意すると、教室は静かになった。
sensei ga chūi suru to, kyōshitsu wa shizuka ni natta.
When the teacher reprimanded, the class became quiet.
大人になってコーヒーが好きになった。
otona ni natte kōhī ga suki ni natta.
I got to like coffee after I became an adult.
Sentence Ending Particle さ
used to make the speech sound cool, dry, frank and more casual by optimistic & snobbish men
心配することなどないさ。
shinpai suru koto nado nai sa.
There is nothing to worry about.
君のために歌を作ったのさ。
kimi no tame ni uta o tsukutta no sa.
I made a song for you.
used to adjust the tone by both males and females
あのさ、聞きたいことがあるんだけどさ、時間ある？
ano sa, kikitai koto ga arunda kedo sa, jikan aru?
Well, I have something to ask you but do you have a minute?
実はさ…、言いにくいんだけどさ…、別れたい。
jitsu wa sa…, iinikuinda kedo sa…, wakaretai.
Actually…, it’s hard to say but… I want to break up with you.
The さ particles in these usages are only used in casual speech.
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