It seems the Japanese (in the animes I watch, anyway) use the words "sa" and "na" a lot when they speak. Usually attached to the end of a statement. Why is this? What do they mean?

[L]ewis wrote:

It seems the Japanese (in the animes I watch, anyway) use the words "sa" and "na" a lot when they speak. Usually attached to the end of a statement. Why is this? What do they mean?

"sa" is an expression used by males to indicate emphasis, kind of like "really" or "certainly", "na" indicates a negative.

^ na also means "right?" or "isn't it?"
for example, "kyou atsui naa..." (it's so hot today eh?....)
but the usage of this na is informal.

cannedtuna wrote:

^ na also means "right?" or "isn't it?"

Isn't that "ne?"

^it can also be "ne", but "na/naa" can definitely be used that way too. because it's slang, it's most likely not taught at schools.

cannedtuna wrote:

^it can also be "ne", but "na/naa" can definitely be used that way too. because it's slang, it's most likely not taught at schools.

Interesting, since most (all?) of the J-dramas and J-movies I've seen, I typically hear "ne..."

Of course, that's purely conversational and not in a classroom.

bmwracer wrote:

Isn't that "ne?"

It's both.

Here's a link with info on Japanese particles, with the "naa" and "sa" explanations (as well as a ton of others)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_particles
_________________

Japanese drama trades (on hiatus)

Currently watching: Netflix stuff

cori wrote:

It's both.

Nihongo omoshiroi NE?

I guess you'd have to spend time with some Japanese people to hear all these things regularly...

cori wrote:

Here's a link with info on Japanese particles

Particles??

Panko crumbs?

Senbei?

Anime Dad wrote:

I guess you'd have to spend time with some Japanese people to hear all these things regularly...

or watch a lot of dramas

gaijinmark wrote:

Nihongo omoshiroi NE?

Hai, sou desu yo!

bmwracer wrote:

Particles?? Panko crumbs? Senbei?

I'll take the panko crumb and senbei if you're offering! But only if the panko crumbs are made into tonkatsu.
_________________

Japanese drama trades (on hiatus)

Currently watching: Netflix stuff

cori wrote:

I'll take the panko crumb and senbei if you're offering! But only if the panko crumbs are made into tonkatsu.

I use the best:

bmwracer wrote:

I use the best:

the carpet crumbs!

Tu_triky wrote:

the carpet crumbs!

Just as long as he doesn't use the carpet as panko when he's making my tonkatsu.
_________________

Japanese drama trades (on hiatus)

Currently watching: Netflix stuff

Tu_triky wrote:

the carpet crumbs!

Actually, the floor is covered with panko and the package contains a swatch of beige carpeting.

bmwracer wrote:

Actually, the floor is covered with panko and the package contains a swatch of beige carpeting.

Carpet Cutlet!

bmwracer wrote:

Actually, the floor is covered with panko and the package contains a swatch of beige carpeting.

W Anata, sugoku omoshiroi!
_________________

Japanese drama trades (on hiatus)

Currently watching: Netflix stuff

Tu_triky wrote:

Carpet Cutlet!

Oishii so...!

bmwracer wrote:

Oishii so...!

if it was the food thread i would have posted some good cutlet pix.