Grammar Info

Non-JLPT Lesson 2: 1/12

ぞStrong emphasis (toward anyone), !

Structure

Phrase + ぞ

Details

  • Part of Speech

    Particle

  • Word Type

    Sentence-ending Particle

  • Register

    Casual

About ぞ

ぞ is a sentence-ending particle that is used for emphasis in a similar way to よ. However, it is quite a bit stronger and primarily only used by men. While よ may simply state a point or a fact, ぞ is usually reserved for more forcefully highlighting something. In many cases, it will just be translated as an exclamation point.

ぞ may be used at the end of any sentence, but can only follow conjugatable words such as verbs, adjectives, and auxiliary verbs.

The speaker frequently uses ぞ simply to encourage or convince themselves, rather than specifically directing the statement at another.

Caution

Although uncommon, ぞ may also be used as an adverbial particle in the same way as は. In sentences like this, it is more emphatic and draws extra attention to the topic itself.

  • これぞ日本車(にほんしゃ)だ。
    Now, this is a Japanese car.
  • 着物(きもの)ぞ日本(にほん)の文化(ぶんか)だ。
    Kimonos are Japanese culture!

Additionally, this use of ぞ as an adverbial particle may also follow question words such as どこ ‘where’, 誰(だれ) ‘who’, なに ‘what’, etc.

  • 誰(だれ)ぞ手(て)を貸(か)せ！
    Someone, give me a hand!
  • こんな夜(よる)遅(おそ)くまで、どこぞで何(なに)をしていた？
    Where were you and what were you doing out this late at night?

This use is also emphatic, but not quite to the same extent as with standard nouns.

Examples

--:--

    鍵(かぎ)をなくした…。これは弱(よわ)ったぞ。

    I lost the key… Now this is troublesome!

    やった〜！実験(じっけん)が上手(うま)くいったぞ！

    Yahoo! The experiment went well!

    スケジュールより遅(おく)れている。急(いそ)ぐぞ！

    I am running behind schedule. I will hurry up!

    走(はし)るのが遅(おそ)いぞ！もっと速(はや)く走(はし)りなさい！

    Your running is slow! Run faster!

    ヒーロー：「あの怪物(かいぶつ)に好(す)き勝手(かって)はさせないぞ！」

    Hero: 'I will not let that monster freely do whatever it wants!'

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