Join Our Newsletter
  • Visit Our Store
  • Come Write for J-List!
J-List Blog
Visit J-List - Your Favorite Online Shop and Friend in Japan
  • Featured
  • News
  • Gallery
  • Product Reports
  • Your Friend in Japan
No Result
View All Result
J-List Blog
  • Featured
  • News
  • Gallery
  • Product Reports
  • Your Friend in Japan
No Result
View All Result
J-List Blog
No Result
View All Result

Using English Words with Japanese: Suru and Na Adjective

Peter Payne by Peter Payne
11 years ago
in Your Friend in Japan

One aspect of the Japanese language is its heavy use of foreign loan words, usually borrowed from English. Since the grammar of the two languages is different, however, something is needed to “bridge” the two, and conveniently there are two such grammatical aides built right into Japanese. The first is the adjective particle na which allows a foreign adjective to be plugged into a Japanese sentence without breaking any rules, and you can hear phrases like surimu na onna (a slim, slender woman), hansamu na otoko (a handsome man) or torendii na dorama (the latest trendy drama on television) spoken every day in Japan. The Japanese can get quite creative with these English adjectives, and I’ve heard “almighty” and “epoch-making” used in this fashion — e.g. epokkumeekingu na ibento, an Earth-shattering event. The other linguistic aid that helps foreign words be used in Japanese is the catch-all verb suru which means “to do.” Some common examples include getto suru (GET-toh suru, to get or find something), doraibu suru (doh-RAH-ee-bu suru, to go for a drive), kamingu auto suru (kah-min-GU AH-oo-toh suru, to come out of the closet about something), and one of my favorites, sekkusu suru (to have, well, you know). The staff at J-List uses lots of English in their Japanese, too, and you can hear terms like sukyan suru (to scan a product) or pikku suru (to pick products in preparation for shipping) being used everyday.

I tried to getto suru one of these limited Hatsune Miku origami, but failed.

Tags: fashionJapanese languageLearning Japanese

More Posts Like This

Watashi No Shiawase No Kekkon
Your Friend in Japan

‘My Happy Marriage’ is a Serotonin Boost For Your Brain

by Peter Payne
2 months ago

There are so many worthwhile anime series for fans to enjoy each season it can be easy to miss one....

Learn Japanese Through Anime! Otonari No Tenshi
Your Friend in Japan

Learn Japanese With Anime! Otonari no Tenshi-sama Edition

by Peter Payne
6 months ago

One of the most enjoyable romance anime of the winter 2023 season was Otonari no Tenshi-sama ni Itsunomanika Dame Ningen...

Does Sarcasm Exist In Japan?

Does Sarcasm Exist in the Japanese Language? Let’s Find Out!

1 year ago
Your Saya, My Saya Kanji Names Blog Post

Nine Facts About How Kanji Names Work in Japanese!

2 years ago
Six Strange Things I Learned By Studying Japanese

Six Surprising Things I Learned by Studying Japanese!

2 years ago
Iyapan Mou Sukoshi

Tycoon? Honcho? 16 Japanese Words We Use in English!

2 years ago
Next Post
Jlistfront 4yjyzo W

On Japan, Death and Robotech

Trending Today

Why Is Umi Yatsugake So Popular
Your Friend in Japan

Why is Umi Yatsugake The Most Popular JAV Actress?

2 days ago
Roxy Migurdia Blog Post
Figures

This is the Roxy Migurdia Figure We All Needed!

4 days ago
Tan Fighters List1 6
Featured

Lovely Tanned Fighters Who Need No Protection

6 days ago
Why Are There So Many Characters Named Sakura
Your Friend in Japan

Why Are So Many Anime Characters Named Sakura?

4 days ago
Summer Heat Anime Fan Service
Your Friend in Japan

Summer Heat! What Were the Best Fan Service Moments This Season?

2 weeks ago
Get the Newest Figures from J-List - Your Favorite Online Shop and Friend in Japan
What Autumn 2023 Anime Will J List Watch
Your Friend in Japan

The J-List Autumn 2023 Anime Guide! Which Anime Should You Watch?

by Peter Payne
September 28, 2023

TenPuru, Episode 12 [END]: Where Are You Looking?

Comic Con Africa Is a Slice of Global Otaku Culture

The J-List Autumn 2023 Anime Guide! Which Anime Should You Watch?

Bibury Animation 100 Girlfriends Who Really Love You

New Slime Isekai OVA, Coleus’ Dream, Releases PV

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Discord
  • YouTube

© J-LIST. All trademarks, characters and images are property of their respective owners.

No Result
View All Result
  • Featured
  • News
  • Gallery
  • Product Reports
  • Your Friend in Japan

© J-LIST. All trademarks, characters and images are property of their respective owners.