What does akaashi mean in japanese

What animal represents the moon in Japanese culture?

One part of this ancient tradition is the folklore about rabbits living on the moon, which plays a major role in the festival. The story goes like this: The Old Man of the Moon came down to Earth one day to test the kindness of three animal friends (a monkey, a rabbit, and a fox).

In this manner, What does Moon Island mean in Japanese?

Tsukishima (月島) is a place located in Chūō, Tokyo, Japan. … It has been said that the name (literally “moon island”) was originally written using the characters 築島 which can also be read “Tsukishima” but mean “constructed island”.

Keeping this in view, What animal represents Japan?

What animals are Japan’s national symbols? The so-called snow monkey, the Japanese macaque (Macaca fuscata), is Japan’s national animal. Japan also has a national bird – the Japanese pheasant or green pheasant (Phasianus versicolor).

Furthermore, What does a dragon symbolize in Japan?

The colorful Japanese dragon, part of their cultural mythology for hundreds of years, represents balance, freedom, and good luck. It also is known to have supernatural powers and wisdom. Many people choose a dragon to represent balance in their life. … Chinese Dragons symbolize power, strength, and fear.

What animal represents fire Japanese?

In Japan, hou-ou or the phoenix is symbolic of the imperial household. This mythical bird represents a number of other things, including fidelity, fire, justice, obedience, and the sun.

Secondly, What is Daichi in Japanese?

The name Daichi is primarily a male name of Japanese origin that means Large, Great; Land, Earth;wisdom, Intellect.

Table of Contents

What does Akaashi mean in Japanese?

Akaashi (赤葦) – This is probably a reference to the アカアシモリフクロウ (akaashi-mori-fukurou), known as the rufous-legged owl in English.

What does Kuroo mean in Japanese?

black. More meanings for 黒 (Kuro) black adjective.

What animal is a symbol of love?

Doves symbolize both peach and love. They are pretty much the universal symbol for harmony. The dove was singled out to represent passion because Greek mythology related the small, white bird to Aphrodite, the goddess of love (known in Roman mythology as Venus).

What symbolizes death in Japan?

Flowers such as the sakura and chrysanthemum are national symbols of Japan. Such flowers have the power to invoke powerful emotions.
…
3. Red Spider Lily (Higanbana, 彼岸花 )

What symbolizes love in Japan?

Writing love in Japanese is represented as the kanji symbol 愛 which means love and affection.

Are Japanese dragons good or evil?

Whereas in most other cultures, dragons are seen as either always evil creatures that have to be slain by the hero or always benevolent and wise spirits, in Japanese mythology, dragons are more complex, often exhibiting characteristics of both good and evil.

Can Japanese dragons fly?

Like all these Asian dragons, it is shown without wings, has legs with claws, and usually lives in the ocean, the clouds, or heavens. Japanese dragons do not fly as often as the Chinese one, which is the reason why they usually appear much more like serpents. … Japanese dragons usually live in the sea.

What do tigers symbolize in Japan?

The tiger stands for courage and long life. It is thought to ward off evil spirits, diseases, and bad luck. In Japanese culture, tigers are an animal of their zodiac, and they are thought to control the wind. They are considered sacred animals to the Japanese.

What is the Japanese zodiac?

2021 is the Year of the Ox!

As there are twelve animals in the zodiac, it is also referred to as juni-shi (“the twelve branches”, with juni meaning “twelve” in Japanese), as the cycle rotates every twelve years.

What is a Sawamura?

Sawamura (written: 沢村 or 澤村) is a Japanese surname. Notable people with the surname include: Eiji Sawamura (沢村 栄治) (1917–1944), Japanese baseball player. Hirokazu Sawamura (澤村 拓一) (born 1988), Japanese Nippon Professional Baseball player.

What does Dachi mean?

Hachiji dachi (八字立:はちじだち) is a stance used in karate. … Dachi (立:だち), the pronunciation of tachi (立:たち) when the word is second in a compound, translates to “stance,” referring specifically to the body’s position from the waist down.

What is NE in Japanese?

Ne can be translated into “isn’t it?” or “right?” in English. It is added to the end of a sentence in Japanese regardless of the level of politeness you’re using. In general, the particle Ne is asking for confirmation, agreement or assent of the other person or group that the speaker is talking to.

What is Akaashi’s type of girl?

akaashi likes girls who have long, dark hair, nothing too complicated. he likes girls who are of average height and build with slender limbs and pretty napes, small noses and long eyelashes. long, slender fingers that are soft the whole way through, except for a few papercuts from reading or handling paper.

What does Ayakashi mean in Japanese?

Ayakashi (アヤカシ) is the collective name for yōkai that appear above the surface of some body of water. … In western Japan, ayakashi are said to be the vengeful spirits of those who died at sea and are attempting to capture more people to join them.

What does Kageyama mean in Japanese?

Kageyama Tobio: 影山 (Kageyama) literally means shadowed mountain, or dark mountain, with 影 being shadow (or silhouette) and 山 being mountain. Basically a massive presence. Meanwhile, 飛雄 (Tobio) is another completely made up name, with 飛 (tobi) meaning to fly, and 雄 (o) meaning… well, man.

What is Kuroo’s full name?

Tetsurō Kuroo (黒尾 鉄朗, Kuroo Tetsurō) is a third-year student at Nekoma. He is the captain of the volleyball club and a talented middle blocker known for his ‘read blocks’.

What does Kenma call Kuroo?

Kenma also calls Kuroo by his nickname “Kuro”.

Why does Kenma call Kuroo Tetsurou?

Kenma actually calls him by a nickname :D. Kuroo means “black tail” but kuro (with a single o) just means “black”. … Kuroo is 黒尾, split into 黒 (kuro) and 尾 (o). Kenma usually just calls him “クロ” or Kuro.

Last Updated: 7 days ago – Authors : 20 – Contributors : 6 – References : 29 interviews and posts; 11 Videos.

What does akaashi mean in japanese

What does akashi and akaashi mean?

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What Does Sama Mean in Japanese? When, Why & How to Use it

After discussing the other common suffixes san, kun, and chan, in today’s free Japanese lesson I am going to cover the meaning and usage of the Japanese honorific title sama (さま). Whenever it is added to a person’s name in daily life, anime, or manga, what does sama mean?

Sama (様) is the most formal and polite Japanese honorific and means “Mr”, “Mrs”, “Ms”, or “Miss” in English. It is primarily used when addressing guests, visitors, customers, or addressees in letters. Sometimes it is also used with family members, but this is more common in anime than in real life.

Since using the correct honorific is so crucial in Japanese I’m going to tell you exactly when you should and should not use sama (さま) down below. You will also find an in-depth explanation of the meaning of sama and learn the reason why the Japanese invented and say the suffix.

The Meaning of Sama (様, さま)

Among all the common Japanese honorifics sama (様, さま) is the politest, most respectful, and most formal one. In English, it usually translates as “Mr”, “Mrs”, “Miss”, or “Ms” (source), which are unfortunately the same translations as for the most common polite suffix san. Its meaning is different, though.

If you compare the two honorific titles, sama (様, さま) implies way more respect towards the other person. So if you want to convey the real meaning of sama in English a better translation would be something along the lines of “Dear respected Madam“, “Dear respected Sir“, or “Dear respected customer/guest“.

Since it expresses utmost respect and the superiority or higher status of the other person, it is most commonly used in business situations and the service industry where hospitality is indispensable.

In anime, however, sama (様, さま) is also sometimes used in casual situations when characters talk or refer to their family members. So you might hear them say Okaa-sama (お母様, mother) or Onii-sama (お兄様, brother) which means “Dear respected mother” or “Dear respected (older) brother“.

Another implicit meaning that the Japanese word sama (様, さま) includes is admiration. Usually for someone but sometimes also for something. That is why the honorific title is sometimes attached to the name of very talented or famous people that are looked up to (source) and other things or beings of worship.

I know some people, for example, who use the honorific sama for their pets or instruments, but more about that in the next section.

When & How to Use “Sama” in Japanese?

Sama (様, さま) is most commonly used in the customer and service industry where guests and clients have a high status and outstanding hospitality is expected. It is usually used after a person’s last or full name. In daily life, it is mostly used with divine deities and sometimes with admired people.

1. Using Sama in Formal & Business Situations

When you work in the customer or service industry or any other type of business where exceptional hospitality is expected, you should address your guests or customers by their last or full name plus sama (様, さま).

That’s why in Japanese hotels and especially renowned ryokans you will always hear them call you by your name and sama or Okyaku-sama (お客様), which is the Japanese word for “guest”, “visitor”, or “customer”. As you can see it already includes the respectful suffix sama.

At an event or conference, a group of people or members of the audience are also usually referred to by using the polite and respectful Mina-sama (皆様). Mina means “everyone” and by adding the honorific suffix you turn it into its politer version which translates as “ladies and gentleman” and means “Dear respected ladies and gentleman“.

In the office, however, when talking to your own boss or a senior at work it is better to use the common polite suffix san (さん). While you have to be respectful to your superiors and address them politely, sama adds an extra layer of formality and distance that just doesn’t feel appropriate in this situation.

The only exceptions to this rule are emails and letters. In written Japanese sama (様, さま) is the most commonly used honorific title following the addressee’s name. No matter if you are writing a client, guest, or your superiors. Although it can be okay to use san in emails with your seniors and coworkers.

And let’s not forget the usage of sama in the set phrase Otsukare-sama (お疲れ様) which means “thank you for your hard work” or “thank you for your good job“.

2. Using Sama in Informal & Daily Situations

In informal situations sama (様, さま) is used when referring to Japanese deities aka Shinto kami and Jesus Christ, for example. The Japanese word for god is kami (神) and you usually call them respectfully Kami-sama (神様) or Okami-sama (大神様).

It can also be used with someone or something you or the public consider a divine entity or something that is worth worshipping.

That’s why the honorific suffix sama is also commonly used with the royal family (except for the Emperor you have to use Heika), famous people or celebrities, a master or prodigy of a craft or art, or just someone you personally admire and look up to.

When Leonardo DiCaprio was really popular, for example, he was called Leo-sama (source). Probably because a lot of people found him very attractive. Arnold Schwarzenegger, on the other hand, gained the cute suffix chan (ちゃん).

So this is one’s personal preference and therefore all up to you. If you are into classical music you could call Beethoven, Beethoven-sama. If you are into sports, you could refer to your favorite athlete by adding sama to their name. Tiger Woods-sama, Ali-sama, Ronaldo-sama, Serena-sama, etc.

I sometimes call my favorite musician Chiaki-sama (千秋様) or just Okami-sama (オオカミ様) since he is my own personal Jesus..I mean god of music. He also tends to refer to instruments with Gakki-sama (楽器様). Gakki is the Japanese word for “musical instrument”.

Another Japanese musician I really like has a cute dachshund named Lemon, but in his Instagram stories, he usually refers to him as Oinu-sama (お犬様). So feel free to use it for your pet or favorite animal, too!

You might also use sama (様, さま) when referring to or talking about your parents or siblings. It expresses utmost respect towards them. However, while you might hear this in anime, in real life the polite honorific title san and the more affection honorific suffix chan are rather used.

What is the Difference Between Sama and San?

San (さん) and sama (様, さま) are both honorific suffixes that are used to address someone politely. However, sama is more respectful and more polite than san. Therefore it is used for customers, guests, and clients, while san is used for strangers, acquaintances, one’s superiors, and seniors.

San indicates some degree of familiarity or equality. You work for the same company, etc. Sama, on the other hand, implies utmost respect for an individual with a higher rank or status than oneself or someone exceptionally talented or skilled.

Is Dono Higher than Sama?

Dono or tono (殿) is an old honorific that was used to address feudal lords and can be translated as, “lord”, “master”, or “milord”. However, the honorific sama (様, さま) is higher than dono since it indicates that the other person has a higher rank and status, while dono implies the same (high) rank.

If you are curious about the current usage of the old honorific dono in Japan, please be a bit patient. I’m going to add another article about it in the near future.

Why Do Japanese Say “Sama”?

In Japanese, the correct usage of honorifics is important, since just calling someone by their first, last, or even full name, is considered casual or rude.

Japanese say sama (様) to adequately address individuals with a higher rank or status and to express their utmost respect towards them. The previously used honorific dono (殿) became too common and so the Japanese invented the new suffix which was only used for people of a higher rank not the same.

Not adding any type of suffix such as sama, san, chan, or kun is called yobisute (呼び捨て) and should only be done with people you are very close since it implies a high degree of intimacy and closeness. For example, it is okay to drop the suffix after the name of your partner or spouse, younger family members, and close friends.

Summary & Recap: The Japanese Honorific “Sama”

What Does Nanda (なんだ, 何だ) Mean in Japanese? Detailed Guide

In today’s free online lesson, I’m going to explain to you the exact meaning of the Japanese word nanda (なんだ, 何だ) and what it means in English. It is an extremely common expression that I have heard countless times in daily life, anime, and manga. I’m pretty sure you have also come across “Nanda yo!”, “Nanda to?“, “Sou nanda“, or “Nanda kore (wa)?“. So let’s take a look at what nanda means in Japanese and how to translate it into English.

Nanda (なんだ, 何だ) is a Japanese exclamation that is used when something unexpected happens and translates to “Oh?” or “What?”, the colloquial form of nan desu ka (なんですか) which means “What is…?” in English, or the spoken, informal form of na no da (なのだ) which conveys emphasis or an explanatory tone.

That is quite a handful of meanings and use-cases, isn’t it? And that’s not all. There are actually even more like for example expressing frustration or asking someone to repeat what they have just said. But don’t worry, I have all of that covered for you down below.

Let’s start with a detailed explanation of what nanda (なんだ, 何だ) means in Japanese before moving on to the English translations of some of the most commonly found phrases in anime and tons of example sentences to help you understand its meaning and usage.

What Does the Japanese Word “Nanda” Mean in English?

One important thing to mention before we move on is that da (だ) is often just added at the end to make the sentence sound more empathic and declarative (source). You can think of it as an exclamation mark, especially when it is followed by the particle yo (よ).

“Oh?”, “What (the…)?” – Nanda Expresses Disbelief or Dismay

When nanda (なんだ) is used as a stand-alone expression or exclamation it usually means “Oh?“, “Oh, my!“, “Huh?“, “No way!“, or “What?” and expresses disbelief, disappointment, or dismay about something that’s been said, heard, or seen. So you can use this phrase when you hear some bad news from your friend, when someone does or says something you don’t like, or when you notice something strange or unbelievable.

Let’s look at some concrete examples.

When your friend promised you to bring his camera but forgot it at home, or when he tells you that he can’t make it to the baseball game you planned to watch together this weekend, you can express your disbelief or disappointment by using nanda (なんだ).

Nanda? Sugoku tanoshimi ni shita noni…
なんだ？すごく楽しみにしたのに…
What? But I was really looking forward to it…

In case your friend does or says something you don’t wanna hear or you dislike, you can show your displeasure or dismay by snapping at him growling nanda (なんだ) in a slightly angry or annoyed voice.

Nanda!
なんだ！
What!
Do you have anything to say?

Nanda!? Jiro jiro miru na!
なんだ⁉︎じろじろ見るな！
What the hell? Stop staring at me!
What do you want? Don’t stare at me!

Nanda? Kitanai kutsu jan…
なんだ？汚い靴じゃん…
What the… Those are some dirty shoes…

However, when said in a normal or softer voice it can also just be a playful or curious “What?“, “What is it?” or “What do you want?“. Especially when said twice it makes you sound very inquisitive, curious or concerned and can also be translated as “What’s up?“, “What’s the matter?“, or “What’s going up?“.

Nanda? Hen na oto kiita…
なんだ？変な音聞いた…
What (was that?) I heard a strange noise…

Nanda, nanda?
何だ、何だ？
What’s up?
What’s the matter?
What’s going on?

Depending on the situation and intonation it can also be used to vent your frustration or anger about something, though. Especially in the expression “Nanda yo!” (なんだよ) which we are going to talk about in more detail later.

2. “What is …?” – Casual Form of “…Nan Desu ka?”

In formal Japanese when you want to ask what something is you use the phrase “(Kore wa) nan desu ka?” aka (これは)なんですか？ or (これは)何ですか？ which translates as “What is (this)?“.

As we have already discussed da (だ) is the informal version of desu (です). Furthermore, in casual Japanese, the question particle ka (か) is usually omitted. So “(Kore wa) nan da?” (これは)なんだ？ also translates as “What is (this)?” in English but is the phrase that is commonly used in casual situations.

Kore wa nanda?
これはなんだ？
これは何だ？
What is this? (informal)

3. Conveying Emphasis or an Explanatory Tone – Spoken Form of “Na no da”

Nanda (なんだ) can also be added at the end of a sentence to add emphasis or an explanatory tone. In written Japanese, this is usually done by adding no da (のだ) or na no da (なのだ). However, in spoken Japanese, nda (んだ) and nanda (なんだ) are usually used instead. Probably just because it is easier to pronounce.

Here are a few examples that will show you how adding nanda (なんだ) will add emphasis to what you are saying.

Soko nanda!
そこなんだ！
Oh, there it is!

Semai heya desu.
狭い部屋です。
This is a small room.

Semai heya nanda!
狭い部屋なんだ！
What a small room this is!

In situations where you have to explain yourself, you can also use nanda (なんだ) to convey an explanatory tone or a slightly apologetic undertone when, for example, you tell your friends the reason why you have to decline their invitation. It can be translated as “The thing is that…“, or “But the thing is…” or also “Because…“.

Ashita wa isogashii.
明日は忙しい。
I’m busy tomorrow.

Ashita wa isogashii nanda.
明日は忙しいなんだ。
The thing is that I’m busy tomorrow…
But I’m busy tomorrow so… (explanatory tone)

Daisuki na kashi da!
大好きな菓子だ！
My favorite sweets!

Daisuki na kashi nanda!
大好きな菓子なんだ！
Because they are my favorite sweets!

How to Use Nanda – Common Phrases & Example Sentences

After the detailed explanation of what nanda (なんだ, 何だ) means in Japanese and English, let’s take a look at a few more examples. You will find the meaning and translation of some of the most commonly used expressions in anime and manga such as “Nanda yo“, “Nanda to“, “Nandatte“, and “Sou nanda“. Last but not least you will find 15 example sentences that you can immediately use in daily life.

Nanda yo – Means “What?” or “What the Heck Do You Want?”

Nanda yo (なんだよ, 何だよ) is a Japanese exclamation that means “What?“, “What is it?“, or “What the heck do you want?” and usually expresses frustration, displeasure, or dismay. However, sometimes when said in a calm voice or with a joking undertone it can also be used in a playful or funny way.

When a phrase or sentence ends with da yo (だよ) it adds a lot of emphasis and force and usually indicates a rather masculine expression. In combination with a question word like nan (なん, 何) or nande (なんで, 何で) which means “why” it often but not always has a negative nuance or meaning.

Nanda yo?
なんだよ？
What!
What is it?
What do you want?
What the heck/hell do you want?

Ittai nanda yo?
一体なんだよ？
What the hell?
What the hell is that?
What the heck do you want?

A very similar phrase is nanda yo ne (なんだよね). The ne (ね) at the end makes the phrase a bit softer. It also adds the nuance that you agree with what the other person or sounds like you are looking for affirmation. It could be translated along the lines of “What is it, huh?“, or “Yeah, I wonder what it is?“.

Nanda to – Means “What!” or “What Did You Just Say (to Me)?”

Nanda to (なんだと) can be translated as “What!“, “What did you just say (to me)?“, “What the hell did you say?“, or “What do you mean (by that)?“. You can use this phrase when you are surprised, shocked, or upset about what the other person just said. While not always it often expresses displeasure.

Nan…nanda to?
なん…なんだと？
What…what do you mean?

Nanda to? Shine!
なんだと？死ね！
What did you just say to me? Die!

Nandatte – Means “What!” or “What Did You Just Say?”

Nandatte or nanda te (なんだって) translates as “What!” or “What did you just say?” and is the casual version of nanda to (なんだと). The particle tte (って) is used in spoken Japanese but works just like to (と) is the formal quoting particle. So both phrases have the same meaning but nandatte is more casual.

Nan…nandatte?
なん…なんだって？
What…what do you mean?

Nandatte? Shine!
なんだって？死ね！
What did you just say to me? Die!

Sometimes it is also used when you couldn’t entirely catch what the other person was saying.

Kuro, nandatte?
黒、なんだって？
Black, what?

Sou Nanda – Means “Is That So?”, “Really?”, or “You’re Right”

Sou nanda (そうなんだ) is a basic response that means “Is that so?” or “Really?” and expresses slight surprise. However, it can also be used when you agree with what the other person said and be translated as “You’re right“, “That’s correct“. Or just as “I see” to acknowledge that you understood it.

Nanda Kore (wa) – Means “What the Hell is This?” or “What’s This?”

Nanda kore wa (なんだこれは) means “What is this?”. When you want to know what something is or when you are surprised or astonished by something in a causal situation you can use this phrase to express your feelings. It can also be translated as “What the heck (is this)?” or “What the heck is going on?“

E? Nanda kore wa?
え？なんだこれは？
Huh? What is this?

Nanda kore?
なんだこれ？
What the hell is this?

Nanda korya?
なんだこりゃ？
What the f*** is this? (very strong)

Instead of kore (これ) you can also use kono + noun (この + noun) to ask “What’s this…” or “What’s (wrong) with this…“.

Nanda kono nioi?
なんだこの匂い？
What’s this smell?

Ittai nanda kono pen?
なんだこのペン？
What the hell is (wrong) with this pen?

Nanda Sore (wa) – Means “What the Hell is That?” or “What’s That?”

Nanda sore wa (なんだそれは) means “What is that?”, “What the heck is that?” or “What the heck is going on (over there)?“. Sore (それ) is used instead of kore (これ) when the thing or matter that is talked about isn’t something close to the speaker, but close or related to the listener.

E? Nanda sore wa?
え？なんだそれは？
Huh? What is that (in your hand)?

Nanda sore?
なんだそれ？
What the hell is that (thing near you)?

Nanda sono kanashii kao?
なんだその悲しい顔？
What’s up with that sad look on your face?

What Does “Dame” Mean In Japanese? Learn It Now!

There are certain words that you hear over and over again when listening to Japanese people talk. At some point, you can say them yourself without even knowing what they mean! One of those words is dame. So what does dame mean in Japanese?

That is exactly what we’ll go over today in depth.

I’ll provide you with the most common answers when the word is used on its own, and then some of the more complicated interpretations of it for when its used as part of a grammar pattern.

What Does Dame Mean In Japanese?

The Japanese word “dame” can be spelled in several different ways and they are all fairly common to see when reading manga, novels, or blogs on the internet. Here are the many different spellings of it:

For this post, I’ll be hopping from one form of writing to the next so that you can become familiar with all of the different versions of it.

If you enter this word into the dictionary, it will tell you that ため (dame) means “no good” or “useless” which is correct, but doesn’t fully help you when you want to know how it can be used.

Let’s take a look at some example sentences that use ダメ and see how they’re translated into English.

In this example, you can see that 駄目 is being used as a na-adjective which is being used to describe the type of boyfriend that this guy is: a “no-good” one.

So in this usage, 駄目な can be put in front of a noun to say that it is “useless; hopeless, no-good” and so on.

This word can also be used at the end of a sentence with the help of だ (da) or です (desu) to say that something won’t work and that its not a good thing to do.

Usually when you use だめ in this way, you’re telling the other person that they really shouldn’t be doing that.

If you read the manga Yotsubato at all, then you might remember a scene in the first chapter where Jumbo is talking to Yotsuba and gives her dad some grief by saying he’s useless.

The word だめ can also be used to say no in Japanese.

The thing to keep in mind when saying no with だめ is the nuance that it carries. It’s not a straight refusal because you prefer something else, but rather because (once again) you either don’t believe that it will work, or you just feel that its a bad idea.

Person-1:

Person-2:

When Dame Means You Can’t Do Something

There are several ways to tell a person that they can’t do something in Japanese. One of those ways utilizes だめ and we are going to go over it in this section.

In this context when you use だめ to tell someone that can’t do something, its not that they physically can’t do it, but rather that they are not allowed to do it or that they should not do it.

In other words, you’re prohibiting them from performing the action.

Take a look at the following tweet:

What you can see in the hashtag is #触っちゃダメ (sawaccha dame) which means “don’t touch” in English.

This is a pretty common informal grammar pattern where you have a verb in the ちゃ form followed immediately by ダメ which means that you shouldn’t do it.

Technically speaking, this phrase should end in either だ or です to be grammatically correct. It’s pretty common to drop it when speaking casually though.

I mentioned earlier about using ちゃ for this pattern, but what I didn’t say at that time is that ちゃ is just a contraction of the Japanese words ては.

This means that phrases like 作ってはだめだ (tsukutte wa dame da) mean the exact same thing as 作っちゃダメ (tsukuccha dame). In both of these cases it means “you can’t make it.”

When Dame Means You Must Do Something

In this section we’re going to cover how だめ is used to say that you must do something.

This can be used when the person you’re talking to has a need or an obligation to perform an action.

It’s interesting that this is possible considering that we just finished learning how to say that you can’t do something with だめ.

The same word, opposite meanings. Thank you, Japanese.

Anyway, there are two grammar patterns that you can use with だめ and they are both informal or colloquial which means that you won’t want to use them in formal type situations.

The first one is when you use a verb in the

nakereba dame da) form.

If you break the なければだめだ pattern down into its two parts, then what you are literally saying is that “if you don’t (verb), then it won’t do.”

It’s kind of a round about way of saying things when looked at from an English perspective.

Which is a very Japanese thing to do!

The second pattern is just the shortened version of なければ which is きゃ (kya).

Other Meanings For Dame

The meanings for だめ that I’ve covered so far are the most commonly used ones, but there are certain expressions or phrases that use だめ which you might encounter from time to time.

For example, the expression 駄目になる (dame ni naru) means “to spoil; to go bad.”

This makes sense based off of what we’ve learned so far of だめ and the new word なる (naru).

Since なる means “to become” you could figure out that a phrase saying “to become useless” basically means “to spoil” when referring to something such as food.

However, there are also expressions like 駄目を押す (dame o osu) which mean “to make sure” and words such as 駄目元 (dame moto) which means “giving something a try because one has nothing to lose” that a person is less likely to correctly guess because the meanings are so different from dame.

If you encounter any だめ words that you don’t understand from the explanations above, then try searching for expressions that use it and see if you can locate it there.

Is This Post Dame?

Let me know any thoughts or questions that you have by leaving a comment down below.

Hopefully this lesson today was helpful for you in understanding だめ.

If there were any confusing parts, or if you noticed any errors or typos, then please don’t hesitate to let me know and I will be happy to make any necessary corrections.

Further Resources for Learning Japanese: