Grammar Info

N5 Lesson 3: 12/13

んだ・んです

Explanatory, Emphasis, The fact is

Structure Legend

Structure

Verb + (1) +
[い]Adjective + (1) +
[な]Adjective + + (1) +
Noun + + (1) +

(1)

Details

  • Part of Speech

    Expression

  • Word Type

    Auxiliary Verb

  • Register

    Standard

  • 品詞

    表現

  • 単語の種類

    助動詞

  • 使用域

    一般

About ~んです・のです

のです is a construction with several different forms, each meaning roughly the same thing. This expression behaves similarly to and です by themselves (asserting that something is true). However, the addition of の strengthens the relationship being highlighted. Due to this, it will come across a bit like 'it is a fact that (A)' in English.
  • ここコーヒー美味(おい)んです
    The coffee here is really good. (Strong assertion)
  • (わたし)(わる)のです
    I am the one to blame. (Strong assertion)
In these sentences, we can think of the , or as simply adding emphasis to the statement. Due to adding emphasis, this expression will be heard very frequently in explanations.
Caution
There is no real difference between and . Only is considered 'correct Japanese', but evolved to make things easier to say. is the most common form in spoken Japanese, and the use of could be considered a bit formal, or 'stiff'.
While both the and です forms are equally as natural, only the です form will be used if adding to the end ~んです. This construction shows that the speaker is looking for an explanation about something.
  • あなたこれ()んです
    Is this what you want?
  • (なか)()いたのです
    Have you become hungry? (Are you hungry?)

Examples

  • いいんです

    Is it good?

  • (あか)いいんです

    Is red good?

  • いいのです

    Is it good?

  • これいいのです

    Is this good?

  • (かわ)があるんです

    There is a river.

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~んです・のです – Grammar Discussion

Most Recent Replies (34 in total)

  • mrnoone

    mrnoone

    About 3 years ago

    @chrischriskurisu
    Hey and long time no see!

    Particle よ is a particle expressing strong assertion.
    That is, when you have an information and you believe that the interlocutor (person you are talking with) doesn’t know it, then you add よ to emphasize that.

    Another use, basically extension of the above is when you try to change the way someone thinks about something. Make them adopt your line of thought. Because of that it might not be the best particle to use towards your boss!

    On the other hand, のだ・んだ expresses additional explanation, for example reason (You can think in some cases for んだ to mean “it is because” or “it is that”), describe something (summarize it), express determination. It kinds of adds “background” to what interlocutor knows.

    So to sum up:
    Both are ok, but a slightly different nuances.

    よ - assertion, imposing your views ...

  • Jackalopalen

    Jackalopalen

    About 1 year ago

    Dropping in with a bit of local dialect trivia!

    「んだ」 is one of the most prominent and well-known aspects of the Yamagata Prefecture dialect (山形弁). It’s used on is own as an affirmative response (replacing はい, そうです, etc.)

    It’s further embellished with one (or more) final particle depending on the region within the prefecture:

    • 村山弁「んだず」「んだべした」「んだずにゃー」
    • 新庄弁「んだじゅー」「んだにゃー」
    • 置賜弁「んだっそ」「んだごで」
    • 庄内弁「んだのー」
  • Nadarina

    Nadarina

    About 9 months ago

    Hey, so in many reading practices i noticed “なのです” instead of just “のです” is being used. Can someone please explain this to me?

    Thanks in advance!

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