Learn Hardcore Japanese: watasi no heya ha semai ga, genkan ha hiroi. - My room is small, but the entrance area is spacious.

私の: わたしの (watashi no)
部屋: へや (heya)
は: topic particle, pronounced wa
狭い: せまい (semai)
が: conjunctive ga (“but”)
玄関: げんかん (genkan)
は: wa
広い: ひろい (hiroi) Note: The spaces are just for learning; normal Japanese writing doesn’t use spaces.

Why is は pronounced “wa” here?

When は is the topic particle, it’s pronounced wa (historical spelling). When it’s part of a word (like はな), it’s pronounced ha. So 部屋は is read “heya wa.”

Why are there two は’s?

Both 部屋 and 玄関 are set up as contrastive topics: Aは X が、Bは Y. Marking both with は makes the contrast clear: “as for my room…, but as for the entryway…”. You’ll see this pattern a lot when comparing two things.

What does the が in the middle do? Isn’t が also a subject marker?

Here が is a conjunction meaning “but.” It links two clauses in contrast. The subject-marking が exists too, but in this sentence the が between clauses is clearly the conjunction.

Can I use けど, けれど(も), でも, or しかし instead of が?

Yes, with nuance differences:

けど / けれど(も): neutral to casual; very common in speech. (けれども is a bit more formal.)
が: a little more formal/written; also fine in polite speech.
でも: starts a new sentence. Example: 部屋は狭い。でも、玄関は広い。
しかし: formal “however,” also starts a new sentence.

Why use 狭い and 広い instead of 小さい and 大きい?

For spaces/areas (rooms, hallways, entryways), Japanese typically uses 狭い (narrow/cramped) and 広い (spacious). 小さい/大きい describe object size or overall scale (a small desk, a big house). Don’t confuse 狭い (narrow space) with 細い (thin/slender objects).

Does 狭い sound like a complaint?

Often yes—狭い can carry a slightly negative, “cramped” feel, though context decides how strong it is. 広い tends to feel positive. You can soften complaints by adding positives, e.g., 狭いけど、居心地がいい (“It’s small but cozy”).

Is 私の necessary?

Not always. Japanese often omits pronouns when context is clear, so 部屋は狭いが、玄関は広い can be enough. Use 私の when you need to disambiguate whose room you mean.

Should I add です to sound polite? And can I say 狭いだ?

For polite speech, add です: 狭いですが、玄関は広いです. Do not use だ after i‑adjectives—狭いだ is incorrect. i‑adjectives can directly end a sentence or take です for politeness.

Why not say 私の部屋が狭いが、玄関が広い?

It’s grammatically possible, but using が as a subject marker here weakens the clear A‑vs‑B contrast. With comparisons, Aは…が、Bは… is the default, natural pattern. You might hear Aが…けど、Bが… in casual speech, but は is better for explicit contrast.

Can I swap the clause order?

Yes: 玄関は広いが、私の部屋は狭い is fine. What you put first often frames the topic; what you put last can feel slightly emphasized.

What exactly does 玄関 refer to?

玄関 is the entryway/foyer area of a home or building—the space just inside the door where you take off shoes (often with a step up). It’s not the door itself or an outdoor porch; it’s the indoor entrance area.

Is the comma before が required?

No. The comma is optional and mainly for readability. You can write …狭いが、玄関は広い or …狭いが玄関は広い; both are acceptable.

How do I say this in the past or negative?

Negative: 狭くない / 広くない. Example: 私の部屋は狭くないが、玄関は広くない。
Past: 狭かった / 広かった. Example: 私の部屋は狭かったが、玄関は広かった。

Are 狭い and 広い i‑adjectives, and how do they combine with other words?

Yes, both are i‑adjectives. They modify nouns directly (狭い部屋, 広い玄関) and link to other adjectives with –くて (狭くて暗い部屋, 広くて明るい玄関). For a slightly formal link without “but,” you can use –く: 広く、明るい玄関.