Breakdown of kanozyo ha kanarazu yakusoku wo mamorimasu.
はha
topic particle
をwo
direct object particle
必ずkanarazu
always
彼女kanozyo
she
約束yakusoku
promise
守るmamoru
to keep
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Questions & Answers about kanozyo ha kanarazu yakusoku wo mamorimasu.
What is the particle は doing in 彼女は, and why not が?
- は marks the topic: “As for her, …”
- が marks the grammatical subject and often adds focus/contrast: 彼女が必ず約束を守ります can imply “It’s she (not someone else) who will definitely keep the promise.”
- With neutral, general statements about someone’s habits or character, は is the default choice.
Does 必ず mean “always” or “definitely”? How is it different from similar words?
- 必ず = “without fail.” Depending on context, it can mean “always” (habit) or “definitely” (assurance about a specific instance).
- Differences:
- いつも: “always” (habit/frequency), weaker than 必ず in the sense of guarantee.
- きっと: “surely/probably”; expresses the speaker’s conjecture, not a guarantee.
- 絶対に: “absolutely,” very strong; often used for emphatic promises or prohibitions.
- ちゃんと: “properly,” focuses on doing something correctly, not on certainty.
Is the sentence about a habit or a specific future event?
Japanese polite non-past (守ります) covers both. Context decides:
- Habit: “She always keeps promises (as a rule).”
- Specific: “She will definitely keep the promise (this time).”
How do I specify “the promise” versus “promises (in general)”?
- Japanese nouns don’t mark singular/plural by default. 約束 can be “promise” or “promises.”
- To specify a particular one: その約束 (“that promise”).
- Example: 彼女は必ずその約束を守ります。
Why is を used with 約束? Can it be dropped?
- 守る is a transitive verb, so its object 約束 takes を: 約束を守る.
- In casual speech, を can be omitted in some contexts: 約束(を)守る. In careful speech/writing, keep を.
What exactly does 守ります mean, and what is the dictionary form?
- Dictionary form: 守る.
- Polite form: 守ります (stem 守り
- ます).
- Meanings include “to keep/observe” (a promise, rules) and “to protect/guard.” With 約束, it means “to keep (a promise).”
How do I say “break a promise”?
- 約束を破る (polite: 約束を破ります).
- Antonym set: 約束を守る (keep) vs 約束を破る (break).
- Stronger idea of betrayal: 裏切る (to betray), but that’s broader than just breaking a promise.
Can I move 必ず around in the sentence?
Yes, with slight nuance shifts:
- 彼女は必ず約束を守ります。 (neutral/default)
- 彼女は約束を必ず守ります。 (slight emphasis on the object)
- 約束は必ず守ります。 (topicalizes/emphasizes the promise)
- 必ず、彼女は約束を守ります。 (fronted adverb for emphasis; more rhetorical)
Can I omit 彼女は?
Yes, if the subject is clear from context: 必ず約束を守ります。
- Note: In conversation, a subjectless 〜ます sentence is often interpreted as “I/we,” so make sure the context indicates you’re talking about her.
How would this sound in casual speech?
- 彼女は必ず約束を守る。
- If context is clear, drop the topic: 必ず約束守るよ。
- Other natural casual variants: 絶対約束守るからね。, ちゃんと約束守るよ。
How do I make it a question like “Will she definitely keep the promise?”
- Polite: 彼女は必ず約束を守りますか。
- Casual: 本当に守る?, 約束、必ず守る?
How do I say “never” here? Is 必ず〜ない correct?
- Don’t use 必ず〜ない for “never.”
- Use 決して〜ない:
- “She never keeps promises”: 彼女は決して約束を守らない。
- “She never breaks promises”: 彼女は決して約束を破りません。 (polite)
How do I pronounce each word? Anything tricky?
- 彼女: かのじょ (kanojo)
- は: pronounced “wa” here (topic marker)
- 必ず: かならず (kanarazu)
- 約束: やくそく (yakusoku)
- を: pronounced “o”
- 守ります: まもります (mamorimasu; the final “u” in ます is often devoiced)
Is 必ず polite or formal? When is it used?
- 必ず is neutral and works in both speech and writing.
- It’s common in instructions/announcements: 必ずマスクを着用してください。 (“Please be sure to wear a mask.”)
Is 必ずしも related to 必ず?
Yes. 必ずしも is used with a negative to mean “not necessarily”:
- 彼女が必ずしも約束を守るとは限りません。 (“It’s not necessarily the case that she keeps promises.”)
Does 守る also mean “protect”? Is there ambiguity?
- 守る can mean “protect/defend” (e.g., 子どもを守る, “protect a child”), and “observe/abide by” (e.g., ルールを守る, 時間を守る “be punctual,” 締切を守る “meet a deadline”).
- With 約束, the collocation 約束を守る is fixed and means “keep a promise,” so there’s no ambiguity in this sentence.