Grammar Info

N5 Lesson 2: 3/12

Isn't it?, Right? (Sentence ending particle)

Structure Legend

Structure

Sentence +

Details

  • Part of Speech

    Particle

  • Word Type

    Sentence Ending Particle

  • Register

    Standard

  • 品詞

    助詞

  • 単語の種類

    終助詞

  • 使用域

    一般

About ね

is classified as a sentence ending particle in Japanese. It may also be pronounced as ねえ. is used when the speaker is looking for agreement from someone, or wants confirmation about something. Due to this, it is often translated as 'right?', or 'isn't it?'. To use , simply add it to the end of almost any sentence.
  • 仕事(しごと)(つか)れる
    Work is tiring, isn't it?
  • 今日(きょう)(あつ)
    It's hot today too, isn't it?
  • あれ綺麗(きれい)
    That is pretty, isn't it?
  • 今日(きょう)(さむ)です
    It's cold today, isn't it?
As we will cover in our lesson about the sentence ending particle , can almost be thought of as the opposite. is used when expressing a shared opinion, a shared thought, or generally something you think will be agreed with by the listener. However, な focuses almost exclusively on the speaker, and their own thoughts.
  • これ(から)
    This is spicy, don't you think? (You and your friend are at a curry restaurant. After taking your first mouthful, you turn to your friend and say this, because you think they would agree)
  • これ(から)
    This is spicy, yeah? (You and your friend are at a curry restaurant. After taking your first mouthful, you notice that it is spicier than usual. You turn to your friend and say this, because you want them to know that you feel this way)
Fun Fact
and are very frequently combined together to make the sentence ender . This is used purely when you expect the listener will agree with you.
  • 松下さんかわい
    Matsushita-san is cute, isn't she?
Caution
is much weaker than でしょう or だろう, and is sometimes said purely out of habit, without much nuance of 'right' at all.

Examples

  • いいです

    That's good right?

  • 美味(おい)しい

    It's delicious, isn't it?

  • !?

    Right!?

  • (さむ)

    It is cold, isn't it!

  • いい質問(しつもん)です

    That is a good question, isn't it!

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    • みんなの日本語 I

      Page 32 [CH 4]

    • Genki I

      Page 38

    • Genki I 2nd Edition

      Page 66

    • [DBJG] A Dictionary of Basic Japanese Grammar

      Page 286

    • Tae Kim's Japanese Grammar Guide

      Page 79

    • Dictionary of Basic Japanese Grammar

      Page 45

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ね – Grammar Discussion

Most Recent Replies (2 in total)

  • BanjoCollie

    BanjoCollie

    About 3 years ago

    In the sentence “昨日、忙しかったね。︎” 忙しい is the adjective ‘busy’ correct?
    I assume it is using adj + くなる to make it ‘to be busy’ and then conjugating to past tense.
    But shouldn’t that be 忙しくなった?

  • nekoyama

    nekoyama

    About 3 years ago

    Yes.

    忙しかった is just the normal past form of 忙しい, i.e. “was busy”.

    Also, 忙しくなる means to become/get busy.

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