tomodachi o settokushita.

direct object particle

Breakdown of tomodachi o settokushita.

• 友とも達だち: friend
• 説得せっとくする: to persuade

Questions & Answers about tomodachi o settokushita.

What does 説得した break down into?

説得した is the past plain form of the verb 説得する, which means to persuade or to convince.

It breaks down like this:

• 説得 = persuasion / convincing
• する = to do
• した = did

So:

• 説得する = to persuade
• 説得した = persuaded

This is a very common pattern in Japanese: a noun of Chinese origin + する becomes a verb.

Examples:

• 勉強する = to study
• 電話する = to call
• 説明する = to explain

Why is there an を after 友達?

を marks the direct object of the verb — in other words, the person or thing that receives the action.

In 友達を説得した, the friend is the one being persuaded.

So the structure is:

• 友達 = friend
• を = object marker
• 説得した = persuaded

This gives: (I/someone) persuaded a friend / my friend / the friend.

Even though English uses word order to show the object, Japanese uses particles like を.

Why isn’t there a subject like I or he in the sentence?