Breakdown of kono kikai wo atukau.
Questions & Answers about kono kikai wo atukau.
What does この mean here, and why is it not これ?
Why is there a を after 機械?
The particle を marks the direct object of the verb. In other words, it shows what is being handled or operated.
Here:
- 機械 = machine
- 機械を = the machine / machine as the thing being acted on
- 扱う = to handle, deal with, operate
So 機械を扱う means to handle/operate the machine.
What is the reading of 機械 and 扱う?
The reading is:
- 機械 → きかい
- 扱う → あつかう
So the full sentence is read:
この きかい を あつかう。
What exactly does 扱う mean? Is it the same as use?
Not exactly. 扱う has a broader meaning than simple use.
Common meanings of 扱う include:
- to handle
- to deal with
- to treat
- to manage
- sometimes to operate, depending on context
With 機械, it often means something like:
- to handle a machine
- to operate a machine
But 扱う is more general than a verb like 使う (to use).
For example:
- 道具を使う = use a tool
- 機械を扱う = handle/operate a machine
So in this sentence, 扱う suggests dealing with the machine properly, possibly as equipment that requires skill.
Why does the sentence end with 扱う instead of a form like 扱います?
扱う is the dictionary form (plain form) of the verb.
Japanese often uses the plain form in:
- dictionary entries
- casual speech
- written instructions or labels
- simple example sentences
If you want the polite form, it becomes:
- この機械を扱います。
So the difference is mainly plain vs. polite style, not a change in core meaning.
Is there a subject missing in this sentence?
Yes, the subject is omitted, which is very normal in Japanese.
この機械を扱う。 could mean:
- I handle this machine.
- You handle this machine.
- He/She handles this machine.
- (Someone) handles this machine.
The subject is understood from context.
Japanese often leaves out information that is already clear to the listener or reader.
Could this sentence also mean to deal with this machine rather than to operate this machine?
Yes. 扱う is flexible, so the exact English translation depends on context.
Possible translations include:
- handle this machine
- operate this machine
- deal with this machine
If the context is about using equipment, operate may fit well. If the context is more general, handle is often the safest translation.
So the Japanese is slightly broader than any one English verb.
Why is there no space in normal Japanese writing?
Japanese is normally written without spaces. The sentence would usually appear as:
この機械を扱う。
Spaces are often added in beginner materials to make it easier to see the word boundaries:
- この / 機械 / を / 扱う
But in natural Japanese writing, spaces are usually not used.
Is この機械 definite, like this specific machine?
Yes. この points to a specific machine that is near the speaker, near the listener, or otherwise identifiable in context.
Japanese demonstratives work like this:
- この = this ...
- その = that ... near the listener / that ... just mentioned
- あの = that ... over there
So この機械 means this machine, not just a machine.
Can 扱う be used for things other than machines?
Yes, very often. 扱う is used with many kinds of objects and topics.
For example:
- 商品を扱う = deal in products / carry products
- 問題を扱う = deal with a problem
- データを扱う = handle data
- 危険物を扱う = handle dangerous materials
So in この機械を扱う, the verb is being used in one of its common senses: handling or operating something.
Is this sentence natural on its own?
Yes, as a short example sentence it is natural. However, by itself it feels a little context-dependent, because Japanese often relies on context.
Depending on the situation, a full natural sentence might be:
- 私はこの機械を扱う。 = I handle this machine.
- 彼はこの機械を扱う。 = He handles this machine.
- この機械を扱います。 = I/you/he/she handle(s) this machine. (polite, subject omitted)
So この機械を扱う。 is grammatically fine, but in real conversation it usually appears within a larger context.
What pitch accent or pronunciation point should I watch out for?
A useful pronunciation point is that を is pronounced o, even though it is written with the kana を.
So:
- 機械を sounds like kikai o
Also, try to keep the vowels clear:
- きかい = ki-kai
- あつかう = a-tsu-ka-u
Do not turn 扱う into something like atsukō; pronounce the final う clearly.
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