watasi ha tyuuko no kamera wo mise de yasuku kaimasita.

I bought a used camera cheaply at the store.

Breakdown of watasi ha tyuuko no kamera wo mise de yasuku kaimasita.

• は: topic particle
• 私わたし: I
• を: direct object particle
• の: possessive case particle
• で: location particle
• 買かう: to buy
• 店みせ: store
• カメラ: camera
• 安やすく: cheaply
• 中古ちゅうこ: used (secondhand)

Questions & Answers about watasi ha tyuuko no kamera wo mise de yasuku kaimasita.

What does each particle do here?

• は: topic marker (“as for me/I”).
• の: links nouns; here “used-of camera” = “a used camera.”
• を: marks the direct object (what was bought).
• で: marks the place where the action happens (“at the shop”).

Why is it 安く and not 安い before 買いました?

Because you need an adverb to modify a verb. い-adjectives form adverbs by changing …い → …く. So 安い (cheap) → 安く (cheaply). Same pattern: 早い → 早く, 強い → 強く.

What’s the difference between 安く買いました and 安いカメラを買いました?

• 安く買いました: you bought it at a low price (maybe via discount); focuses on how you bought it.
• 安いカメラを買いました: you bought a camera that is cheap as a characteristic; focuses on the kind of camera.

Why 店で and not 店に?

で marks the location where an action is performed. に marks destinations, time points, or existence. So “buy at a shop” is 店で買いました. Use 店に with motion or existence (e.g., 店に行きました, 店にいます).

中古のカメラ vs 古いカメラ — what’s the nuance?

• 中古(の)カメラ: secondhand/used (pre-owned), regardless of age.
• 古いカメラ: old in age/model; could be brand-new but an old model, or simply aged.

Can I drop 私は?

Yes. If it’s clear you’re the topic, Japanese usually omits the subject: 中古のカメラを店で安く買いました is natural.

Is 中古カメラ (without の) okay?

Yes. 中古カメラ is a compound noun and is common, especially for categories (e.g., 中古カメラ店 “used-camera shop”). 中古のカメラ sounds a bit more descriptive in running text; both are fine.

How do I pronounce everything, including the particles?

• 私: わたし (watashi)
• は: pronounced “wa” (topic marker)
• 中古: ちゅうこ (chuuko)
• の: no
• カメラ: kamera
• を: pronounced “o” (object marker)
• 店: みせ (mise)
• で: de
• 安く: やすく (yasuku)
• 買いました: かいました (kaimashita)

What’s the difference between は and が here?

• 私は… sets “I” as the topic/background.
• 私が… would emphasize/contrast the subject (“It was I who bought…”). Use が if you’re specifying who did it among alternatives.

Can I say 店から買いました (bought from the shop)?

You can, but から emphasizes the source/seller. With shops, Japanese normally prefers 店で買いました. から is very natural with personal sellers: 友だちから買いました.

Can I change the word order?

Yes, as long as particles stay attached:

• 私は店で中古のカメラを安く買いました。
• 私は中古のカメラを店で安く買いました。
• 中古のカメラを私は店で安く買いました。 Adverbs like 安く usually appear just before the verb they modify.

Why can’t I say 安い買いました?

Adjectives can’t directly modify verbs. Make the adjective adverbial: 安く買いました. (For な-adjectives, use …に, e.g., 静かに話す “speak quietly.”)

What’s the casual version of 買いました?

Polite past 買いました corresponds to plain past 買った. Whole sentence (plain): 私は中古のカメラを店で安く買った。 The pronoun/topic can still be dropped.

Do I need a counter like 台 for cameras?

Only if you state a number. Without a number, it’s optional. With a number, use the counter 台:

• 中古のカメラを一台、店で安く買いました。

Is お店 better than 店?

お店 adds a polite, soft tone. Both 店 and お店 are fine; choose based on formality and politeness.

Could I say 安く買えました to mean “I managed to buy it cheaply”?

Yes. 安く買えました uses the potential form and emphasizes successful ability/opportunity (“was able to buy it cheaply”).

How would I say it as a question or in the negative?

• Question (polite): 中古のカメラを店で安く買いましたか。
• Negative (polite): 中古のカメラを店で安く買いませんでした。
• Negative past plain: …安く買わなかった。

Is there a more formal way to say “bought”?

Yes: 購入しました (purchased). For example, 中古のカメラを店で安く購入しました sounds more formal/businesslike.

Does 安い imply “low quality”?

Not by itself; it means “inexpensive.” If you want “cheap-looking/low quality,” use 安っぽい. If you want to praise value, you can say お買い得 (“a good deal”).