Video

Suzume’s Quote

Japanese: 今は真っ暗闇に思えるかもしれないけれど、いつか必ず朝が来る。
Romaji: ima wa makkurayami ni omoeru kamo shirenai keredo, itsuka kanarazu asa ga kuru.
English: The night might seem endless right now but one day, morning will come.

Analysis

今は真っ暗闇に思えるかもしれないけれど

今 (noun) means “now”.

は (particle) marks the topic and can also indicate contrast. In this case, it contrasts the present with the future.

真っ is the prefix adding intensity to the following word 暗闇 (noun) meaning “darkness”, so 真っ暗闇 means “complete darkness” or “total darkness”.

に (particle) 思える (verb) means “it seems like”, so 真っ暗闇に思える means “it seems like total darkness”.

かもしれない means “might” or “may”, expressing possibility or uncertainty.

けれど (conjunction) is a more formal version of けど meaning “but”.

So, 今は真っ暗闇に思えるかもしれないけれど means “Right now, it might seem like total darkness, but…”

いつか必ず朝が来る

いつか (adverb) means “one day” or “someday”. The particle は can be added, as in いつかは, to emphasise the contrast with 今.

必ず (adverb) means “certainly” or “definitely”.

朝(noun) means “morning”.

が (particle) marks the subject of the verb.

来る(verb) means “to come” or “will come”.

So, いつか必ず朝が来る means “one day, morning will certainly come”.

So today’s quote 今は真っ暗闇に思えるかもしれないけれど、いつか必ず朝が来る means “Right now, it might seem like total darkness, but one day, morning will certainly come”. In the movie, this is paraphrased as, “The night might seem endless right now, but one day, morning will come”.

Review1: 〜に思える

Noun or な-Adjective に思える means “it seems like”.

You may already be familiar with だと思う, which means “to think that”.

They both express a mental process, and 真っ暗闇だと思う and 真っ暗闇に思える could both work, but there is a subtle difference in nuance.

真っ暗闇だと思う means “you think it’s total darkness” indicating that she’s actively forming an opinion that “it’s total darkness”, which is an intentional action. On the other hand, 真っ暗闇に思える means “it seems like total darkness” indicating that she perceives the impression of ‘total darkness’ naturally, without any intentional thought. So, 真っ暗闇に思える fits better in this context, as she’s focusing on her natural perception rather than her intentional thoughts. This choice reflects more empathy and understanding.

Review2: 必ず

必ず (adverb) means “certainly” or “definitely”, expressing strong certainty.

There are words like 絶対 and きっと, which also convey strong certainty, but these three words are used in different contexts.

必ず refers to something that will definitely happen in affirmative sentences. It’s commonly used in formal or objective contexts, based on rules or facts. It can be translated as “certainly”, “definitely”, or“without fail”.

絶対 can be used in both affirmative and negative sentences. It’s often used in casual situations and strongly conveys the speaker’s subjective feelings, based on a strong belief. It can be translated as “absolutely” or “without a doubt.”

きっと can also be used in both affirmative and negative sentences. It’s also used in casual situations and conveys the speaker’s subjective feelings, but with less emphasis than 絶対, as it’s based on speculation or assumption. It can be translated as “surely” or “most likely”.

For this quote, all the words could work, but in this scene, she’s talking to her younger self, and since she already knows her definite future, she can tell her what is going to happen with strong certainty, as if it’s fated. Therefore, 必ず, which is used in fact-based situations, is the most fitting word for this context.

Examples

思える

Noun +（のよう／であるよう）に思える

宇宙うちゅうのことを考かんがえると、自分じぶんがとても小ちいさい存在そんざい（のよう）に思おもえる。

uchū no koto o kangaeru to, jibun ga totemo chiisai sonzai (no yō) ni omoeru.

When I think about the universe, I feel like a very tiny existence.

な-Adjective +（なよう／であるよう）に思える

彼かれの話はなしは少すこし不自然ふしぜん（なよう）に思おもえる。

kare no hanashi wa sukoshi fushizen (na yō) ni omoeru.

His story seems a bit unnatural.

い-Adjective + ように + 思える／い-Adjective (replace い with く) + 思える

日本語にほんごの文法ぶんぽうは【難むずかしいように／難むずかしく】思おもえる。

nihongo no bunpō wa [muzukashii yō ni/muzukashiku] omoeru.

Japanese grammar seems difficult.

Verb Plain-Form + ように + 思える

この計画けいかくはうまくいくように思おもえた。

kono keikaku wa umaku iku yō ni omoeta.

This plan seemed like it would work out.

Adverbs of Strong Certainty (必ず／絶対／きっと)

試験しけん当日とうじつは受験票じゅけんひょうを【必かならず／絶対ぜったい／きっと】持参じさんしてください。

shiken tōjitsu wa jukenhyō o kanarazu jisan shite kudasai.

Please make sure to bring your admission ticket on the day of the exam.

明日あしたの面接めんせつは【必かならず／絶対ぜったい／きっと】遅刻ちこくできない。

ashita no mensetsu wa zettai chikoku dekinai.

I absolutely cannot be late for tomorrow’s interview.

もう遅おそいから、【必かならず／絶対ぜったい／きっと】寝ねてると思おもうよ。

mō osoi kara, kitto neteru to omou yo.

It’s already late, so I think he’s most likely sleeping.

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Video

Mitsuha’s Quote

Japanese: 確かなことが一つだけある。私たちは会えば絶対すぐにわかる。
Romaji: tashika na koto ga hitotsu dake aru. watashitachi wa aeba zettai suguni wakaru.
English: One thing is certain. If we see each other, we’ll definitely know.

Analysis

確かなことが一つだけある

確か is a na-adjective meaning “certain”, modifying the noun こと meaning “thing”. When a na-adjective modifies the following noun, the hiragana な should be attached. That’s why it’s called a “na” adjective. So 確かなこと means “certain thing” or “something certain”.

Something (noun) が (particle) ある (verb) means “something exists” or “there is something”.

And you can add the quantities between が and ある. In this case, the quantity is 一つ. The numeral in kanji read as ひと represents “one” and it’s followed by the counter suffix つ which is used to count general things or abstract things.

And it’s followed by だけ (particle) meaning “only” so 確かなことが一つだけある means “there is only one certain thing”.

私たちは会えば絶対すぐにわかる.

私たち (pronoun) means “we”.

The は particle shows the preceding word 私たち is the topic in this sentence.

会えば means “if (we) meet”. It’s the conditional form of the verb 会う meaning “to meet”. To make a verb conditional form, take the plain form of the verb and switch the last hiragana which is from the う-line to the え-line （う→え）and attach ば. So the conditional form of 会う is 会えば.

絶対 (adverb) means “definitely”.

すぐに (adverb) means “immediately”.

わかる (verb) means “to know, find out or figure out” used when you finally understand something or someone.

There are two adverbs in a row followed by the verb, but each adverb affects different things. すぐに (immediately) simply modifies the following verb わかる which makes “(we’ll) know immediately”. And 絶対 (definitely) affects the whole すぐにわかる part so it’s like “it is definite that we’ll know immediately”.

So 私たちは会えば絶対すぐにわかる directly means “if we meet, it is definite that we’ll know immediately”.

Examples

こと (“thing” that is abstract and intangible)

今日きょうは、やることがたくさんある。

kyō wa, yaru koto ga takusan aru.

Today, I have many things to do.

今日きょう一番いちばん嬉うれしかったことは何なんですか。

kyō ichiban ureshikatta koto wa nan desu ka.

What made you happiest today?

嫌いやなことは忘わすれて、楽たのしもう。

iya na koto wa wasurete, tanoshimō.

Forget about bad things and let’s enjoy.

Noun + が + Quantities + ある (there is/are)

冷蔵庫れいぞうこにゆで卵たまごが一個いっこある。

reizōko ni yudetamago ga ikko aru.

There is one boiled egg in the refrigerator.

約束やくそくしてほしいことが二ふたつある。

yakusoku shite hoshii koto ga futatsu aru.

There are two things that I want you to promise.

読よみたい本ほんがたくさんある。

yomitai hon ga takusan aru.

There are many books that I want to read.

Verb Conditional ば (if)

この道みちをまっすぐ行いけば、駅えきに着つきますよ。

kono michi o massugu ikeba, eki ni tsukimasu yo.

If you go straight this way, you’ll reach the station.

早はやく寝ねれば、早はやく起おきられる。

hayaku nereba, hayaku okirareru.

If you go to bed early, you can wake up early.

明日あしたまでにレポートを提出ていしゅつすれば、問題もんだいない。

ashita made ni repōto o teishutsu sureba, mondai nai.

If you submit the report by tomorrow, you won’t have any problems.

わかる (to know/find out/figure out)

一目ひとめ見みてすぐに偽物にせものだとわかった。

hitome mite sugu ni nisemono da to wakatta.

As soon as I took a glance at it, I found out it was fake.

今週末こんしゅうまつ、何なにするの？  – まだわからない。

konshūmatsu, nani suru no? – mada wakaranai.

What are you going to do this weekend? – I’m not sure yet.

そんな簡単かんたんなことは、ネットで調しらべればわかる。

sonna kantan na koto wa, netto de shirabereba wakaru.

If you look it up on the internet, you can find out such an easy thing.

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Video

Hodaka’s Quote

Japanese: もう二度と晴れなくたっていい！青空よりも俺は陽菜がいい！天気なんて狂ったままでいいんだ！
Romaji: mō nido to harenakutatte ii! aozora yori mo ore wa hina ga ii! tenki nante kurutta mama de ii n da!
English: Who cares if we don’t see the sunshine ever again? I want you more than any blue sky! The weather can go crazy!

Analysis

もう二度と晴れなくたっていい

もう (anymore) 二度 (twice) と means “ever again”. It’s used with a verb negative form to show that it’s not going to happen again.

晴れなくたって means “even if the sky doesn’t clear up”. 晴れない is the negative-form of the verb 晴れる meaning “(the sky) clears up”. To make this grammar, you just need to remove the い in the end of the negative-form and attach くたって.

いい means “fine” so もう二度と晴れなくたっていい directly means “it’s fine even if the sky doesn’t clear up ever again” which can be rephrased as “the sky doesn’t have to clear up ever again” or “Who cares if we don’t see the sunshine ever again?”

青空よりも俺は陽菜がいい

AよりもBがいい means “B is better than A”. よりも indicates the object to compare with and いい with the particle が is used to express one’s preference or hope, so it can be translated as “one likes B more than A” or “one wants B more than A”.

The A is 青空 meaning “blue sky”, the B is 陽菜 which is her first name, and the topic is 俺 meaning “I” used by men as the topic particle は is attached.

So 青空よりも俺は陽菜がいい means “I like Hina more than blue sky” or “I want you more than any blue sky”.

天気なんて狂ったままでいいんだ

天気 means “weather”.

なんて means “something like” which is used to express the speaker’s negative feelings towards the preceding word. So it shows the weather is not important for him.

Verb Ta-Form followed by まま is used to express a certain situation remaining the same. 狂った is the ta-form of 狂う meaning “to go crazy”, so 狂ったまま expresses the unchanged situation after going crazy.

Noun でいい means “fine with something”.

んだ is used when persuading someone. It could be used in the end of all these sentences but it would be repetitive so it’s only used in the last sentence.

So 天気なんて狂ったままでいいんだ means “it’s fine with the weather being crazy”, “I don’t care about the crazy weather” or “The weather can go crazy”.

Examples

〜なくたっていい (don’t have to)

そんなに考かんがえ込こまなくたっていいよ。気楽きらくにね。

sonna ni kangae koma nakutatte ii yo. kiraku ni ne.

You don’t have to think so seriously. Take it easy.

勉強べんきょうしたくないなら、しなくたっていい。

benkyō shitaku nai nara, shi nakutatte ii.

If you don’t want to study, you don’t have to.

あいつの言いうことなんか、聞きかなくたっていい。

aitsu no iu koto nanka, kika nakutatte ii.

You don’t have to listen to what he says.

AよりもBがいい (B is better than A)

朝あさは紅茶こうちゃよりもコーヒーがいい。

asa wa kōcha yori mo kōhī ga ii.

I want coffee more than tea in the morning.

住すむなら、都会とかいよりも田舎いなかがいい。

sumu nara, tokai yori mo inaka ga ii.

I prefer living in the countryside over the city.

渋滞じゅうたいするから、車くるまよりも自転車じてんしゃ通勤つうきんがいいよ。

jūai suru kara, kuruma yori mo jitensha tsūkin ga ii yo.

There is a lot of traffic, so bike commuting is better than car.

Verb Ta-Form + まま (expresses a certain situation remaining the same)

その時計とけいは長ながい間あいだ、壊こわれたままだった。 

sono tokei wa nagai aida, kowareta mama datta.

The clock remained broken for a long time.

ドアは開あけたままでいいよ。 

doa wa aketa mama de ii yo.

You can leave the door open.

電気でんきをつけたままで寝ねないで。

denki o tsuketa mama de nenai de.

Don’t sleep with the lights on.

Noun + でいい (fine with …)

飲のみ物ものは何なにがいい？お水みずでいい？ 

nomimono wa nani ga ii? omizu de ii?

What do you want to drink? Are you fine with water?

明日あしたのパーティーはカジュアルな服装ふくそうでいいよ。 

ashita no pātī wa kajuaru na fukusō de ii yo.

Casual fashion for tomorrow’s party is fine.

急いそいでないから、後あとでいいよ。

isoide nai kara, ato de ii yo.

It’s not urgent so later is fine.

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Video

Taki & Mitsuha’s Quote

Japanese: 君の名前は…
Romaji: kimi no namae wa…
English: Your name is…

Analysis

君 means “you” which is used when a person speaks to the second person in a lower status such as a teacher to a student, or someone equal such as friends or couples. Although you often hear it in songs, manga or anime, you hardly hear it in a real conversation as it sounds a bit cheesy and old-fashioned.

名前 means “name”.

The の particle is used to connect two nouns where the first noun modifies the second. In this case it is used as a possessor so the first noun possesses the second noun which makes 君の名前 mean “your name”.

The は particle in a question shows what comes before is the topic you want to know about. So the rest of the sentence is often omitted because you can guess what’s being asked.

Actually, in this scene the last part is omitted for all the sentences. But you can guess each part with the particles and the context. So Taki says 俺、君をどこかで – the verb used with を in this situation could be 見た which means “I saw you somewhere” or it could be 知っている which means “I know you from somewhere” but I would choose 知っている as the two have a stronger connection than just “having seen each other before”. And for Mitsuha, 私も – the particle も means “too or also” so It would be 私も君をどこかで知っている meaning “I also know you from somewhere”.

As you can see, Japanese people tend to leave sentences unfinished. This is because Japan has a guess culture which is also called a high-context culture that relies mainly on non-verbal, implicit communication. So there are many things you have to guess from the context, personal relationships, traditions, and so on. Also, less talking or indirectness is considered an admirable quality in communication in Japan. So if Taki and Mitsuha said whole sentences, they would have sounded too direct and frank without any humbleness which many Japanese people tend not to prefer.

Examples

の (possessor)

私わたしの彼かれは会社かいしゃの寮りょうに住すんでいる。

watashi no kare wa kaisha no ryō ni sunde iru.

My boyfriend is living in his company’s dormitory.

私わたしの家いえは駅えきからちょっと遠とおい。

watashi no ie wa eki kara chotto tōi.

My house is a bit far from the station.

これは誰だれのペンですか？ – あ、私わたしのです。

kore wa dare no pen desu ka? – a, watashi no desu.

Whose pen is this? – Oh, it’s mine.

は (used to ask about the topic without a predicate)

Your cake is missing from the fridge so you ask your mother:

私わたしのケーキは（どこ）？

watashi no kēki wa (doko)?

(Where is) my cake?

You got the test result from school so your mother asks you:

テストの結果けっかは（どうだった）？

tesuto no kekka wa (dō datta)?

(How was) the result of the test?

You find a boy crying alone so you ask him:

お母かあさんは（どうしたの）？

okāsan wa (dōshita no)?

(What happened to) your mum?

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The post Taki & Mitsuha’s Quote “Your Name Is…” appeared first on Easy Peasy Japanesey.