Breakdown of kaze wo hiita node, watasiha yakkyoku de kusuri wo kaimasita.
はha
topic particle
私watasi
I
をwo
direct object particle
でde
location particle
買うkau
to buy
のでnode
reason particle
〜た〜ta
past tense
薬kusuri
medicine
風邪kaze
cold
ひくhiku
to catch a cold
薬局yakkyoku
pharmacy
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Questions & Answers about kaze wo hiita node, watasiha yakkyoku de kusuri wo kaimasita.
Why is the object particle を used after 風邪 in 風邪をひいた?
The verb ひく (in this context “to catch,” as in “to catch a cold”) is transitive and takes a direct object. In Japanese, transitive verbs require the object marker を to show what is being caught. So 風邪をひく literally means “to catch a cold.”
What does ひいた mean here? Isn’t ひく usually “to pull”?
Yes, ひく can mean “to pull,” but when paired with 風邪 it becomes an idiomatic expression meaning “to catch (a cold).” The form ひいた is simply the past tense, so 風邪をひいた = “(I) caught a cold.”
Why is ので used instead of から in 風邪をひいたので?
Both ので and から can mean “because/so,” but they differ slightly in nuance and formality:
- ので expresses a more objective or explanatory reason and is considered a bit softer or more formal.
- から is more direct and colloquial.
In polite or written contexts, learners often choose ので to sound more neutral or polite.
Is 私は necessary in 私は薬局で薬を買いました? Can we omit it?
Japanese often omits subjects when they’re clear from context. If you’re already talking about yourself, you can drop 私は and say:
薬局で薬を買いました。
Adding 私は simply emphasizes or clarifies the subject, but it’s not grammatically required here.
What role does で play in 薬局で薬を買いました?
The particle で marks the location where an action takes place. So 薬局で means “at the pharmacy,” indicating where you bought the medicine.
Why is there another を after 薬 in 薬を買いました?
薬 (“medicine”) is the direct object of the verb 買いました (“bought”), so it needs the object marker を. That tells us 薬 is what was purchased.
Why is the verb in the polite past form 買いました rather than the plain 買った?
Using 買いました places the sentence in the polite register (丁寧語), which is standard in many everyday situations, especially when speaking to people who are not extremely close friends or family. 買った is the plain past and feels more casual or informal.
Could you rearrange or shorten this sentence in natural Japanese?
Yes. Native speakers might:
- Omit the topic if it’s clear:
薬局で薬を買いました。 - Use から for a more casual feel:
風邪をひいたから薬局で薬を買った。 - Merge similar words to avoid repetition or make it smoother, but generally the original order is perfectly natural.