Breakdown of raisyuu sensei to mendansuru yotei desu.
Questions & Answers about raisyuu sensei to mendansuru yotei desu.
Why are there spaces between the words? I thought Japanese normally doesn’t use spaces.
You’re right: normal Japanese writing usually does not use spaces.
So this would normally be written as:
来週先生と面談する予定です。
Spaces are often added in beginner materials to make the parts easier to see.
How is this sentence put together grammatically?
A simple breakdown is:
- 来週 = next week
- 先生と = with the teacher
- 面談する = to have an interview / meeting
- 予定です = is the plan / is scheduled
So the structure is basically:
[time] + [person with whom you do the action] + [action] + 予定です
More literally, it is something like:
Next week, there is a plan to have a meeting with the teacher.
Natural English usually becomes something like I’m scheduled to meet with the teacher next week or I plan to have a meeting with the teacher next week.
Why is there no subject like 私は?
Japanese often leaves out the subject when it is clear from context.
So even though English usually needs something like I, we, or the student, Japanese often just omits it.
In context, this sentence probably means:
- I am scheduled to meet with the teacher next week.
- or We are scheduled to meet with the teacher next week.
The listener usually figures it out from the situation.
Why doesn’t 来週 have the particle に?
Because 来週 is a relative time expression, and words like this often do not take に.
Common examples:
- 今日 = today
- 明日 = tomorrow
- 昨日 = yesterday
- 来週 = next week
- 去年 = last year
So:
- 来週面談します = I’ll have a meeting next week
is natural.
Using に with 来週 is generally unnatural in standard usage.
What does と mean here? Is it and?
Here, と means with, not and.
In this sentence:
- 先生と面談する = to have a meeting with the teacher
This と is used with actions done together or involving another person, such as:
- 友達と話す = talk with a friend
- 先生と会う = meet with the teacher
It can also mean and when listing nouns, but that is a different use:
- 先生と学生 = teacher and student
So you tell the meaning from the context.
Why is it 面談する and not 面談をする?
面談 is a verbal noun, sometimes called a suru-noun. That means it can combine directly with する:
- 面談する = to have an interview / meeting
You may also see:
- 面談をする
Both are possible, but 面談する is very common and natural.
This happens with many Sino-Japanese nouns:
- 勉強する = study
- 相談する = consult
- 予約する = make a reservation
So 面談する is just a standard noun + する verb form.
What exactly does 面談 mean? Is it just any kind of meeting?
面談 is usually a fairly formal one-on-one meeting or interview.
It is often used for situations like:
- a meeting with a teacher
- a conference with a parent
- a meeting with a supervisor
- an interview-style discussion
It sounds more formal than casual verbs like:
- 会う = meet
- 話す = talk
So 先生と面談する suggests something like a scheduled teacher conference, not just casually chatting with a teacher.
What does 予定です mean exactly? Is it the same as つもりです?
They are similar, but not exactly the same.
予定です suggests a plan, arrangement, or schedule. It often sounds a bit more objective, as if something is already planned.
- 来週先生と面談する予定です。
= I’m scheduled to meet with the teacher next week / I have plans to meet with the teacher next week.
つもりです is more about personal intention.
- 来週先生と面談するつもりです。
= I intend to meet with the teacher next week.
So:
- 予定です = planned / scheduled
- つもりです = intend to
In many situations both could work, but 予定です often sounds a little more fixed.
Why is です used after something that already has a verb in it?
Because the main predicate is not just the verb 面談する. The key point is that:
- 面談する modifies 予定
- 予定です is the main ending
So the sentence is structured like this:
- [先生と面談する] 予定です
- [meeting with the teacher] is the plan
In other words, 面談する is part of a clause that describes 予定.
This is a very common Japanese pattern:
- 日本へ行く予定です。 = I plan to go to Japan.
- 明日早く起きる予定です。 = I plan to get up early tomorrow.
So です is attached to 予定, not directly to 面談する.
Why is there no the, a, or my before 先生?
Japanese does not use articles like a or the.
So 先生 can mean:
- the teacher
- a teacher
- my teacher
- your teacher
The exact meaning comes from context.
In many real situations, 先生 here would naturally be understood as the teacher or my teacher, depending on who is speaking.
Can the word order change, or is this the only correct order?
Japanese word order is more flexible than English, but this order is very natural.
The sentence:
来週 先生と 面談する 予定です。
has a common pattern:
- time first
- then the other person
- then the action
- then 予定です
You could move parts around for emphasis, but beginners should treat this version as the safest default.
For example, 先生と来週面談する予定です may also be understood, but 来週先生と面談する予定です sounds very standard and easy to follow.
How do you read this sentence?
It is read:
らいしゅう せんせい と めんだんする よてい です。
More naturally without spaces:
らいしゅう せんせいと めんだんする よていです。
Word readings:
- 来週 = らいしゅう
- 先生 = せんせい
- 面談 = めんだん
- 予定 = よてい
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