In Japanese, a "counter," or josuushi 助数詞, is a word that comes after a number to say what sort of thing is being counted, e.g. "3 slices," san-gire ３切れ. More technically, it's a morpheme suffixed to a quantifier, which includes non-numbers like zen~ 全～, "all," and nan~ 何～, "how many."
keeki wo san-gire tabeta ケーキを３切れ食べた [I] ate three slices of cake.
banana wo san-bon tabete-iru バナナを３本食べている [I] have eaten three bananas.
nan-nichi ga kakaru? 何日がかかる How many days will [it] take?
suu-byou de owatta 数秒で終わった [It] ended in a few seconds.
{suu-kiromoaru} ton'neru 数キロもあるトンネル A tunnel [with] {many kilometers [of length]}.
So you know nothing about Japanese and you want to know what a sentence in Japanese says. Well, this article is for you. For starters, the basic structure of a simple, typical Japanese sentence looks like this:
As you can see above, you often have a "n. p. n. p." noun-particle pattern, and v.'s tend to come after p.'s.
Some sentences have different structures, and we still don't know what adverbs, adjectives, verbs, nouns, and particles look like exactly. In this article we'll see all of this and some more, so you'll have a starting point even if you know nothing about Japanese.
Then, once you figured out the structure of the sentence, all that's left is to look up the words of the sentence in a dictionary (e.g. jisho.org), and with luck you'll understand what it means.
Note: this article is only about grammar. It's recommended you familiarize yourself with the Japanese "alphabets" before continuing.
One question many weebs ask themselves is: can you learn Japanese with anime? Or: can you learn Japanese with manga? Or with light novels, visual novels, Japanese games, Japanese songs, Japanese dramas, etc.?
The answer is... yes, you can! Except you still have to study. If you work real hard and spend all your time reading rawmanga in Japanese, you'll get really good at Japanese... found in raw manga, which is maybe all you wanted anyway.
In this article, I'll explain how it works, and provide some guidance to learn Japanese by consuming media.
In Japanese, ka no you ni かのように means someone does something "as if" something else were true. Syntactically, this is (likely) the ka か particle turned into a no の adjective qualifying you 様 followed by the ni に adverbial copula. Other conjugations include: ka no you na かのような, ka no you da かのようだ, and ka no you desu かのようです.
tenshi da 天使だ [It] is an angel.
tenshi ka no you da 天使かのようだ [It] is as if [they] were an angel.
{tenshi ka no you na} kao 天使かのような顔 [They have] a face [that] {is as if [they] were an angel}. They have a face that makes you think they're an angel. They have a face like that of an angel.
{tenshi ka no you ni} sora wo tobu 天使かのように空を飛ぶ To fly {as if one were an angel}.
Most likely, it means "to make [something] become in a way that does/doesn't do something," i.e. "to make [it] start doing" or "to stop doing" something; specially "to make it so it would do something" when something else happens, "to ensure" it happens in that case; or "to make it possible for [it] to do something/for something to happen;" Syntactically, this is you 様 followed by the ni に adverbial copula modifying the verb for "to make become," suru する.
watashi wa {{Tarou ga rouya kara nigerareru} you ni} shita 私は太郎が牢屋から逃げられるようにした I made [it] {so [that] {Tarou can escape from the jail cell}}. I made it possible for him to escape from there.
{{{efekuto wo kurikku suru to} kieru} you ni} shimashita エフェクトをクリックすると消えるようにしました [I] made [it] {so [that] {{if [you] click on an effect}, [it] disappears}}. I made the effects disappear when clicked.
Most likely, it means "to become in a way that does/doesn't do something," i.e. "to start doing" or "to stop doing" something; or "to become able/unable to do something;" it can also mean to "to become like/similar to something else." Syntactically, this is you 様 followed by the ni に adverbial copula modifying the verb for "to become," naru なる.
watashi wa {{mai-nichi hon wo yomu} you ni} natta 私は毎日本を読むようになった I became {such way [that] {reads books every day}}. I started reading books every day.
{{hon wo yomanai} you ni} naru 本を読まないようになる To become {such way [that] {doesn't read books}}. To stop reading books.
{{kanji ga yomeru} you ni} naru 漢字が読めるようになる To become {such way [that] {is able to read kanji}}. To start being able to read kanji. To become able to read kanji.
kimi no you ni naritai 君のようになりたい [I] want to become like you.
Most likely, it means something "will become," naru なる, in a way that does X, i.e. it will start doing X; it may also mean to stop doing X by becoming in a way that doesn't do X; it may mean "to make Y become," suru する, in a way that does or doesn't do X; to ensure X happens; to do Y so that X happens; at the end of sentences it may be a prayer wishing that X would happen; it may also mean to do or be X "like" one were Y, in similar way; or to do X like Y were true, as if. Syntactically, this is you 様 followed by the ni に copula.
Tarou ga {{hon wo yomu} you ni} natta 太郎が本を読むようになった Tarou became {in such way [that] {reads books}}. Taroustarted reading books.
Tarou ga {{hon wo yomanai} you ni} natta 太郎が本を読まないようになった Tarou became {in such way [that] {doesn't read books}}. Taroustopped reading books.
{{me-datanai} you ni} shita 目立たたないようにした [I] made [it] {so [that] {[it] doesn't stand out}}. [I] made [it] stop standing out. [I] made [it] inconspicuous.
{{itsu demo nigerareru} you ni} junbi shite-oita いつでも逃げられるように準備しておいた {So that {[I] could escape anytime}}, [I] prepared in advance. (e.g. I prepared a escape route in advance.) {To ensure {[I] could escape anytime}}, [I] prepared in advance.
{shukudai wo wasurenai} you nine 宿題を忘れないようにね Ensure that {[you] don't forget [your] homework}, okay? Make sure you do your homework, alright?
shiken ni ukarimasu you ni! 試験に受かりますように！ [Let it be that] [I] will pass the exam! (used when praying that one would pass some exam, e.g. to enter an university.)
{hane no you ni} karui 羽のように軽い Light {like a feather would be}. Light {like a feather}. As light as a feather.
{marude katta ka no you ni} yorokonde-ita まるで勝ったかのように喜んでいた [He] was happy about [it] {in a way that was like if [he] had won}. (i.e. he lost a match, but he looked like he had won given how pleased he was with it.) [He] was so happy about [it] [it] was as if [he] had won.
Manga: Hataraku Saibou はたらく細胞 Manga: Chainsaw Man, チェンソーマン Manga: Gabriel DropOut, ガヴリールドロップアウト Manga: Historie, ヒストリエ Manga: Ya Boy Kongming!, Paripi Koumei パリピ孔明 Manga: Sousou no Frieren, 葬送のフリーレン
Most likely, it means to be similar, as in "an X that is like an Y," or "an X that is like of an Y;" or it being "like," "as if," something had happened; or to say someone or something is "the sort" of person/thing that would do something. Sometimes it's found at the end of an incomplete sentence where ki ga suru 気がする is omitted, in which case it would mean "[I] have the impression that." Syntactically, this is you 様 followed by the na な copula. It could also be the end of the volitional form followed by a na な particle, in which case it means "let's do X, shall we?"
{taiyou no you na} hito da 太陽のような人だ [He] is a person [that] {is like the sun}. [He] is a sun-like person.
{neko no you na} mimi 猫のような耳 ?Ears [that] {are like cats}. (unlikely.) Ears [that] {are like of cats}. (likely.) Cat-like ears.
{omise no you na} ryouri wa tsukurenai お店のような料理は作れない [I] can't make food {like of the store}. I can't make food like the food a restaurant makes.
{{yuurei demo mita ka no} you na} kao 幽霊でも見たかのような顔 A face {like {[he] saw a ghost [or something like that]}}. [He was making] a face like he had seen a ghost.
{{uso wo tsuku} you na} hito janai 嘘をつくような人じゃない [He] isn't a person {the sort [that] {spews lies}}. He isn't the sort of person that lies.
{{doko ka de mita} you na}... どこかで見たような･･･ (incomplete sentence.)
{{doko ka de mita} you na} ki ga suru どこかで見たような気がする ?[I] got a feeling {as if {[I] saw [it] somewhere}}. (literally.) [I] have the impression that {{[I] saw [it] somewhere [before}}. I feel like I have seen it before somewhere. (in the sense of "I'm not sure but that's the feeling that I got.")
Most likely, it means "it seems that (something is true)" or "(this thing) is like/is similar to (this other thing)." Syntactically, this is you 様 followed by the da だ copula (you desu ようです is polite form). There are also other words pronounced you よう it could be, like you 用, "business," but normally only you 様 is spelled with hiragana. For example:
kanojowa marude {tenshi no} you da 彼女はまるで天使のようだ She completely is like {an angel}. She is just like {an angel}.
douyara {muda no} you da どうやら無駄のようだ It seems {it is futile} after all.
{sekai ga owatta ka no} you da 世界が終わったかのようだ It's like {the world ended}. It's as if {the world had ended}.
nan'no you da? なんのようだ？ What sort of business [do you have with me]?
In Japanese, you よう (or yoo よー, yoo よぉ with a long vowel) may mean various different things depending on context, specially as there are multiple homonyms so it may spell different words. For disambiguation:
you 様, literally "appearance," used in "the way it is," homograph with ~sama ～様. It's an auxiliary (like a light noun that conjugates as a na-adjective) that's normally spelled in hiragana, and has various different uses.
henji ga nai. tada no shikabane no you da 返事がない。ただの屍の様だ There's no response. It seems to be just a corpse.
nige-you ga nai 逃げ様がない There's no way of escaping.
{{yuurei ga mieru} you ni} naru 幽霊が見える様になる To become {in such way [that] {is able to see ghosts}}. To become able to see ghosts.
{{anata wo damasu} you na} mane wa shinai あなたを騙す様な真似はしない [I] wouldn't do something {like {deceiving you}}.
dono you na? どの様な？ What sort of? What sort of [thing is it]? The thing you're talking about is like what?
{{sekai ga owatta ka no} you ni} kanjite-ita 世界が終わったかのように感じていた [It] felt {as if {the world had ended}}.
{{okane wo nusumu} you na} hito janai お金を盗む様な人じゃない [He] isn't a person {the sort [that] {would steal money}}.
{{hayaku} naorimasu} you ni 早く治ります様に [Let it be so that] {[it] heals {quickly}}. (used when making wishes, praying for things.)
you 用, literally "business," "use." Sometimes spelled in hiragana.
nani ka you? 何か用？ [Do you have] any business [with me]? Do you have something to discuss with me?
nan'no you da? 何の用だ？ What business [do you have with me]? (same meaning, basically.)
omae ni you ga aru お前に用がある [I] have business with you.
jissen-you no katana 実戦用の刀 A sword for real-battle. (as opposed to for training.)
~you ～よう is the ending of some verb types in volitional form.
you suru ni 要するに In summary. (i.e. to say only what's necessary.)
you wa kateba ii-n-da 要は勝てばいいんだ In summary, [I] just need to win. (nevermind the details, that's all that's necessary.)
you 陽 means "sunshine," or the spot where the sun hits. Also "yang." Meanwhile "ying" is in 陰. Related words are taiyou 太陽, "sun," and kage 陰, "shade."
you-kyara (or you-kya) 陽キャラ (陽キャ) "Sunshine character." Slang for a character with "cheerful," youki 陽気, personality. An extrovert. A riajuu リア充. Etc.
in-kyara (or in-kya) 陰キャラ (陰キャ) "Shade character." Slang for a character with "gloomy," inki 陰気, personality. An introvert. A hikikomori 引きこもり. Etc.
you 酔う means "to get drunk." Although you're more likely to see it in the te-iru form: yotte-iru 酔っている, "[he] is drunk."
Ironically, you よう doesn't mean "you," the second person pronoun. For that, yuu ユー would be the katakanization, e.g. ai rabu yuu アイ・ラブ・ユー, "I love you."
In Japanese, you よう, also spelledyou 様, homonymous with ~sama ～様, has several different meanings: it refers to the way something is "like," to say one thing is like another; to say that it's like something that isn't true were true; it can be used to say someone is or isn't the sort of person that would do something, also works for sorts of things; it's used to make future-tensed certain phrases (verbal statives) that would otherwise be present-tensed; it can refer to the desired way things should be that you attempt to cause by doing a certain thing; it's used to say that you have been making yourself do, or not do, something, trying to gain a habit or lose it; it's used in sentences that express wishes, specially in prayers; it's used to say there doesn't seem to be a way to do something; and it's used to express you have made a conclusion based on some evidence but you aren't certain the conclusion is true, you're merely proposing it based on available evidence.
marude {tenshi no} you da まるで天使のようだ [She] is just like an angel. It's as if [she] is an angel. (comparison with noun.)
{{tori no} you ni} sora wo tobu 鳥のように空を飛ぶ To fly {like {a bird}}. (adverbial comparison.)
{sekai ga owatta ka no} you da 世界が終わったかのようだ [It] is as if {the world ended}. (counterfactual analogy.)
{{uso wo tsuku} you na} hito janai 嘘をつくような人じゃない [He] isn't a person {the sort [that] {would lie}}. (sort of person.)
Tarou ga {{yasai wo taberu} you ni} natta 太郎が野菜を食べるようになった Tarou became {in such way [that] {eats vegetables}}. Tarou started eating vegetables. (future tense auxiliary.)
{{nigerarenai} you ni} doa ni kagi wo kaketa 逃げられないようにドアに鍵をかけた {So that {[he] couldn't escape}}, [I] put a lock on the door. (desired end result.)
{{uso wo tsukanai} you ni} shite-imasu 嘘をつかないようにしています [I] have been [trying to] {{not spew lies}}. (habit enforcement.)
yuki ga furimasu you ni 雪が降りますように [Let it be so that] it snows. (wish.)
naoshi-you ga nai 直しようがない There's no way to fix [it]. (feasibility.)
douyara {muda no} you da どうやら無駄のようだ It seems {it is futile}. (uncertain conclusion.)
In Japanese, you 用 means various things: it refers to something you have to do, a "task" or "business" you have to care of; the "use" of a thing in doing a task; "for what task" is a thing suitable, its "purpose;" and to refer to the usefulness of a thing in the sense of how many uses it has, what tasks it can do, its "purposefulness."(日本国語大辞典:用)
you ga aru 用がある [I] have business to do [with you]. I have something to discuss with you.
you ni tatsu 用に立つ [This thing] "stands up" to the task. [This thing] is useful for doing this task.
yourei 用例 Usage example. Example of use.
keiko-you no katana 稽古用の刀 A sword for use in sparring. A training sword. (e.g. a "wooden sword," bokutou 木刀.)
In Japanese, wa yo わよ is a combination of two sentence-ending particles: wa わ, generally used by women, used to voice one's decision, surprise, conclusion, or opinion, and yo よ, used when correcting someone or informing, alerting them of something. In manga and anime, it's typically used by "rich girl," ojousama お嬢様 characters speaking in polite language: desu wa yo ですわよ, ~masu wa yo ますわよ, ~masen wa yo ませんわよ.
In Japanese, yo よ is a particle generally used to call for the listener's attention. It can be used in various ways: as a sentence-ending particle when alerting, correcting, asking, ordering, forbidding, or inviting the listener; as an interjection after someone or something's name to call for them, or mid-sentence to add an emphatic pause after a phrase.
chigauyo! 違うよ！ [That's wrong]! [You got the wrong idea]!
kiite yo! 聞いてよ！ Hear [me]!
ore wa yo, tsuyoi-n-da yo 俺はよ、強いんだよ I (insert pause here) am strong.
kami yo, douka wareware wo o-sukui kudasai! 神よ、どうか我々をお救いください！ God, please save us!
In manga and anime, sometimes a character is pierced by arrows symbolizing something harsh that's being said about them, or told them directly. Typically, the arrows go through their chest, and it's just a visual representation of a figure of speech, so nobody dies from being pierced by these, although they may cough blood or bleed or appear to have died temporarily for the sake of comedy..
Context: Nene tells Hanako something that pierces through his very core.
sore de omotta no, Hanako-kuntte shoujiki chottomendou-kusainatte それで思ったの花子くんって正直ちょっと面倒くさいなって [So I thought]... Hanako-kun, honestly [you] are a bit of a pain in the ass, [aren't you].
mendou-kusai - literally "smells of trouble," in the sense it feels like it takes (too much) effort to handle.
