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Breakdown of kotoba
word
言
Only after a dot is pronounced by three mouths does it become a word.
blade
葉
A leaf of grass is a blade.
Usages of kotoba
辞書 を 使わないで その 言葉 の 意味 を 知って いました。zisyo wo tukawanaide sono kotoba no imi wo sitte imasita.
(She) knew the meaning of that word without using a dictionary.
この 言葉 は 辞書 に ない。kono kotoba ha zisyo ni nai.
This word is not in the dictionary.
私 の 母国 の 言葉 は スペイン語 です。watasi no bokoku no kotoba ha supeingo desu.
The language of my home country is Spanish.
彼 の 言葉 は いつも 厚い 意味 を 持つ。kare no kotoba ha itumo atui imi wo motu.
His words always carry deep meaning.
彼 の 言葉 は 苦かった。kare no kotoba ha nigakatta.
His words were bitter.
お祝い の 言葉 を 申し上げます。oiwai no kotoba wo mousiagemasu.
I would like to offer some words of congratulation.
Test yourself: What does kotoba mean?
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“How do verb conjugations work in Japanese?”
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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