kono gizyutu ha atarasii desu.

Questions & Answers about kono gizyutu ha atarasii desu.

Why are there spaces in この 技術 は 新しい です。? Does Japanese normally use spaces like this?

No. Normal Japanese writing does not usually use spaces between words.

This sentence would normally be written as:

この技術は新しいです。

Spaces are often added in beginner materials to make it easier to see the parts of the sentence.


What does この mean here, and how is it different from これ?

この means this, but it must be followed by a noun.

So:

  • この技術 = this technology / this technique

By contrast, これ means this one / this thing and can stand by itself.

Compare:

  • この技術 = this technology
  • これは新しいです。 = This is new.

So in your sentence, この is correct because it directly modifies 技術.


What does 技術 mean, and how is it read?

技術 is read ぎじゅつ.

It usually means:

  • technology
  • technique
  • technical skill

The exact English meaning depends on context. In this sentence, this technology is new is a very natural interpretation, but in some situations it could also mean this technique is new.


Why is the particle written は but pronounced wa?

This is one of the most common beginner questions.

When は is used as the topic particle, it is pronounced wa, not ha.

So:

  • この技術は新しいです。
  • pronounced roughly: kono gijutsu wa atarashii desu

But when は is part of a word, it is usually pronounced ha.

Example:

  • はな = hana = flower

So in your sentence, は is the topic marker, so it is read wa.


What is the role of は in this sentence?

は marks the topic of the sentence.

So この技術は means something like:

  • As for this technology, ...
  • Speaking of this technology, ...

Then the rest of the sentence says something about that topic:

  • 新しいです = is new

So the full structure is:

  • この技術 = this technology
  • は = topic marker
  • 新しいです = is new

Japanese often works like Topic + comment.


Why is 新しい used before です? Is 新しい an adjective by itself?

Yes. 新しい is a complete i-adjective and means new.

Japanese has a type of adjective called an i-adjective because its dictionary form usually ends in い.

Examples:

  • 新しい = new
  • 高い = expensive / tall
  • おいしい = delicious

In this sentence:

  • 新しい describes 技術

Then です is added for politeness:

  • 新しいです = polite way to say is new

So 新しい is doing the main descriptive work.


Is です really the same as English is here?

Not exactly.

In beginner translations, です is often translated as is, but that can be misleading.

In a sentence with an i-adjective, the adjective already carries the main meaning:

  • この技術は新しい。 = This technology is new.
    casual/plain style

  • この技術は新しいです。 = This technology is new.
    polite style

So here, です mainly adds politeness, rather than acting exactly like the English verb to be.

That is why:

  • この技術は新しいです。 is correct
  • この技術は新しいだ。 is incorrect

You do not use だ after an i-adjective.


Can I say この技術は新しいです without the final です?

Yes.

You can say:

  • この技術は新しい。

This is grammatically correct, but it is plain/casual style.

With です:

  • この技術は新しいです。

This is polite and more appropriate in many everyday situations, especially for learners, formal speech, or speaking to people you do not know well.


Why is the word order so different from English?

Japanese sentence order is often different from English.

English:

  • This technology is new.

Japanese:

  • この技術は新しいです。
  • literally closer to: As for this technology, [it] is new.

A useful way to think about it is:

  • topic first
  • description later

So Japanese does not always try to match English subject + is + adjective directly. Instead, it often presents the topic and then comments on it.


Is この技術は新しいです。 a natural sentence?

Yes, it is a natural and correct sentence.

It is a standard polite sentence meaning that the technology or technique in question is new.

Depending on context, native speakers might also say things like:

  • この技術は新しいものです。
  • この技術は最新です。 = This technology is cutting-edge / state-of-the-art.

But この技術は新しいです。 is perfectly normal and good Japanese.


Do Japanese sentences always need a subject like English does?

No. Japanese often omits information that is clear from context.

In this sentence, この技術 is stated explicitly, but in conversation it could be omitted if everyone already knows what you are talking about.

For example, after pointing at something, a person might just say:

  • 新しいです。 = It’s new.

This is one reason Japanese can feel very different from English: context matters a lot.

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Japanese verbs conjugate based on tense, politeness, and mood. For example, the polite present form adds ‑ます to the verb stem, while the past tense uses ‑ました. Unlike English, Japanese verbs don't change based on the subject — the same form works for "I", "you", and "they".

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