A1 Sentence Structure 21 min read Easy

The Politeness Sticker: Desu (です)

Desu is the polite equals sign placed at the end of a sentence to define what the subject is.
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Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds

Add {です|です} to the end of a sentence to make it polite and respectful to your listener.

  • Use {です|です} after nouns or adjectives to end a polite sentence: {私|わたし}は{学生|がくせい}です。
  • It does not change based on the subject (I, you, he, she): {彼|かれ}も{学生|がくせい}です。
  • To make it a question, just add {か|か} at the end: {学生|がくせい}ですか。
Noun/Adjective + {です|です} = Polite Statement

Overview

At the foundational level of Japanese grammar, です (desu) stands as the primary polite copula, a crucial element for constructing predicative sentences in formal or semi-formal contexts. It primarily functions to equate a topic with a descriptive element (a noun or な-adjective) while simultaneously conveying politeness. Linguistically, desu is a contraction of the older form でございます (de gozaimasu), and its widespread use highlights a core aspect of Japanese communication: the pervasive importance of politeness and social hierarchy in speech.

You will encounter desu in nearly every polite interaction, from daily conversation to professional settings.

Understanding desu goes beyond simply knowing its meaning; it involves recognizing its role in shaping social interactions. Unlike English verbs that conjugate based on the subject's person (I am, you are, she is), desu remains invariant regardless of the subject. This simplifies initial learning, as you do not need to memorize multiple forms for different pronouns.

Instead, its placement at the end of a sentence signals a complete thought delivered with respect towards the listener. Its pronunciation is critical: the u is almost always devoiced, rendering it as dess (IPA: /de̞sɯ̥/). Mispronouncing it as de-soo is a common beginner error that can sound unnatural to native speakers.

Consider desu as the grammatical glue that creates polite assertions of identity, state, or characteristics. For instance, stating これはペン (kore wa pen, "This pen") is abrupt and impolite, implying a basic utterance without regard for the listener. Adding です transforms it into これはペンです (kore wa pen desu, "This is a pen"), a complete, polite statement.

This simple addition elevates your speech from informal to appropriate for most public and professional interactions, serving as your essential tool for respectful communication.

How This Grammar Works

です (desu) serves two fundamental, interconnected functions in Japanese: predication and politeness marking. First, as a copula, it links a subject or topic to a noun or な-adjective, asserting that the subject is or is like the descriptive element. Second, it explicitly marks the sentence as 丁寧語 (teineigo), or polite language, which is the standard form of speech for most non-intimate social contexts.
You must understand both aspects to use desu effectively.
When desu follows a noun, it functions as the direct equivalent of the English verb "to be," asserting identity. For example, 私は学生です (watashi wa gakusei desu) translates to "I am a student." Here, です connects 私 (watashi, "I") with 学生 (gakusei, "student"), defining who the speaker is. This is a straightforward grammatical operation.
| Element | Japanese Example | English Translation |
|:------------|:----------------------|:--------------------|
| Topic (私) | 私は | I |
| Description (学生) | 学生 | student |
| Copula (です) | です | am |
With な-adjectives, desu operates similarly, attributing a quality or state to the topic. For instance, この本は有名です (kono hon wa yūmei desu, "This book is famous.") Here, 有名 (yūmei, a な-adjective meaning "famous") describes この本 (kono hon, "this book"), and です completes the polite predicate. The な in な-adjectives is typically omitted when directly preceding です, as in 有名です.
| Element | Japanese Example | English Translation |
|:------------|:----------------------|:--------------------|
| Topic (この本) | この本は | This book |
| Description (有名) | 有名 | famous |
| Copula (です) | です | is |
For い-adjectives, the mechanism is slightly different. い-adjectives intrinsically carry the meaning of "is" or "to be" within their conjugations. Therefore, です does not act as a copula in the same way it does with nouns or な-adjectives.
Instead, it simply attaches to the polite form of the い-adjective to add an extra layer of politeness to the assertion. For example, この部屋は広いです (kono heya wa hiroi desu, "This room is spacious.") Here, 広い (hiroi, an い-adjective meaning "spacious") is already an adjective that can stand alone. Adding です makes the statement polite.
Attaching です directly to the plain form of い-adjectives (e.g., 広い + です becomes 広いです) is the standard practice, never い + です (いdesu).

Word Order Rules

Japanese sentence structure fundamentally differs from English, placing the predicate (verb or copula) at the end of the sentence. This is a consistent and non-negotiable rule that you must internalize early. The basic polite sentence pattern involving です (desu) for making a statement about a noun or な-adjective is A は B です.
This structure establishes a clear relationship where A is the topic and B is the descriptive element.
Let's break down each component:
  • A (Topic/Subject): This is the focus of your sentence, what you are talking about. It can be a person, object, place, or concept. In English, this is often the subject. For instance, in "I am a student," I is A.
  • は (wa, Topic Marker Particle): This particle always follows the topic A. Although written as は (ha), it is pronounced wa when functioning as a topic marker. Its role is to clearly demarcate the topic of the sentence, indicating that what follows is a statement about A. It sets the context for the entire sentence. For example, 私は (watashi wa, "As for me...").
  • B (Description/Predicate): This is the information you are conveying about the topic A. It can be a noun (学生 - gakusei, "student") or a な-adjective (有名 - yūmei, "famous"). This element provides the core meaning of your assertion. In "I am a student," student is B.
  • です (desu, Copula/Politeness Marker): This is the final element, always concluding the sentence in this pattern. It performs the dual function of predicating (linking A to B) and adding politeness. Its consistent position at the end means you do not need to reorder your sentence for questions or past tense, only modify です itself.
Consider the sentence "This is a book."
  • これ (kore) = A (This)
  • は (wa) = Topic Marker
  • 本 (hon) = B (book)
  • です (desu) = Copula/Politeness
Resulting in: これは 本 です (kore wa hon desu). You can visualize this as: [TOPIC] [TOPIC_MARKER] [DESCRIPTION] [COPULA/POLITENESS]. This structure is rigidly maintained, providing a predictable framework for polite Japanese sentences.

Formation Pattern

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The formation of です (desu) sentences is highly regular, making it one of the most straightforward aspects of Japanese grammar for beginners. You primarily conjugate です itself, or combine it with negative and past forms of the descriptive element, to express different tenses and polarities. This section outlines the core patterns for nouns and な-adjectives, which follow identical rules.
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1. Present Affirmative (It is...)
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To state that something is something else in the present tense and polite form, you simply place です after the noun or な-adjective.
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Pattern: Noun / な-Adjective + です
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Example 1 (Noun): 田中さんは先生です。 (Tanaka-san wa sensei desu. "Mr./Ms. Tanaka is a teacher.")
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Example 2 (な-Adjective): この街は静かです。 (Kono machi wa shizuka desu. "This town is quiet.")
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2. Present Negative (It is not...)
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There are several polite ways to express negation, varying in formality and nuance. These forms replace です.
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More Formal: Noun / な-Adjective + ではありません
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これは鉛筆ではありません。 (Kore wa enpitsu dewa arimasen. "This is not a pencil.")
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Conversational Polite: Noun / な-Adjective + じゃありません
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私は医者じゃありません。 (Watashi wa isha ja arimasen. "I am not a doctor.")
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Casual Polite (Commonly used): Noun / な-Adjective + じゃないです
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彼のカバンは新品じゃないです。 (Kare no kaban wa shinpīn janai desu. "His bag isn't new.")
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3. Past Affirmative (It was...)
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To state that something was something else in the past tense and polite form, you use でした (deshita).
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Pattern: Noun / な-Adjective + でした
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Example 1 (Noun): 昨日、彼は学生でした。 (Kinō, kare wa gakusei deshita. "Yesterday, he was a student.")
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Example 2 (な-Adjective): その映画は面白かったです。 (Sono eiga wa omoshirokatta desu. "That movie was interesting.") – Note: 面白かったです is for い-adjectives, but the structure 面白かった + です makes it polite. For a な-adjective, e.g., 静かでした (it was quiet). Let's correct this example to a な-adjective to avoid confusion with い-adjectives for now.
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Corrected Example 2 (な-Adjective): そのホテルはとても綺麗でした。 (Sono hoteru wa totemo kirei deshita. "That hotel was very clean.")
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4. Past Negative (It was not...)
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Similar to the present negative, there are options for past negative polite forms.
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More Formal: Noun / な-Adjective + ではありませんでした
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彼は犯人ではありませんでした。 (Kare wa hannin dewa arimasen deshita. "He was not the culprit.")
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Conversational Polite: Noun / な-Adjective + じゃありませんでした
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先週は忙しいじゃありませんでした。 (Senshū wa isogashī ja arimasen deshita. "Last week wasn't busy.") – Again, い-adjective issue. 忙しくなかったです is for い-adjectives. Let's fix.
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Corrected Example 2 (な-Adjective): 彼の説明は明確じゃありませんでした。 (Kare no setsumei wa meikaku ja arimasen deshita. "His explanation was not clear.")
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Casual Polite (Commonly used): Noun / な-Adjective + じゃなかったです
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その日は休日じゃなかったです。 (Sono hi wa kyūjitsu ja nakatta desu. "That day wasn't a holiday.")
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Summary Table for Nouns/な-Adjectives:
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| Tense/Polarity | Polite Form | Example (学生/gakusei - student) |
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|:-------------------|:----------------------------------|:------------------------------------------------|
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| Present Affirmative | です | 学生です (gakusei desu) |
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| Present Negative | ではありません / じゃありません / じゃないです | 学生じゃありません (gakusei ja arimasen) |
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| Past Affirmative | でした | 学生でした (gakusei deshita) |
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| Past Negative | ではありませんでした / じゃありませんでした / じゃなかったです | 学生じゃなかったです (gakusei ja nakatta desu) |
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Politeness for い-Adjectives:
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As mentioned, い-adjectives carry their own conjugation for tense and negation. です simply attaches to the plain form of the い-adjective (e.g., 暑い - atsui, "hot").
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Present Affirmative: い-Adjective + です
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今日は暑いです。 (Kyō wa atsui desu. "Today is hot.")
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Present Negative: い-Adjective (-い -> -くない) + です
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この本は面白くないです。 (Kono hon wa omoshirokunai desu. "This book is not interesting.")
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Past Affirmative: い-Adjective (-い -> -かった) + です
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昨日は寒かったです。 (Kinō wa samukatta desu. "Yesterday was cold.")
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Past Negative: い-Adjective (-い -> -くなかった) + です
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あの映画は良くなかったです。 (Ano eiga wa yokunakatta desu. "That movie was not good.")
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Questions with か (ka):
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To form a polite question, simply add the particle か (ka) directly after です (or ではありません, でした, etc.). The particle か carries a rising intonation when spoken.
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Pattern: ...です/でした/ではありません + か
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Example 1: あれは犬ですか？ (Are wa inu desu ka? "Is that a dog?")
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Example 2: 佐藤さんは学生ですか？ (Satō-san wa gakusei desu ka? "Is Mr./Ms. Sato a student?")
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Seeking Agreement with ね (ne):
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The particle ね (ne) is appended after です to solicit agreement or confirmation from the listener, similar to English tags like "isn't it?" or "right?" It carries a slight falling intonation.
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Pattern: ...です/でした/ではありません + ね
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Example 1: この料理は美味しいですね。 (Kono ryōri wa oishii desu ne. "This dish is delicious, isn't it?")
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Example 2: 明日は晴れですね。 (Ashita wa hare desu ne. "Tomorrow will be sunny, right?")

When To Use It

Knowing how to form sentences with です (desu) is only half the battle; understanding when to employ it is equally critical for appropriate communication in Japanese. です signifies 丁寧語 (teineigo), the standard polite speech level, and its use is dictated by social context, the speaker's relationship with the listener, and the formality of the situation. Mastering this social nuance is paramount for effective interaction.
1. Addressing Superiors and Strangers:
  • You must use です when speaking to anyone in a position of authority or seniority, such as teachers, professors, supervisors, or elders. This demonstrates respect and acknowledges their status.
  • When interacting with strangers, です is the default safe choice. Whether you are asking for directions, ordering at a restaurant, or making a purchase, polite language prevents miscommunication and ensures you are perceived as courteous. For instance, すみません、駅はどこですか？ (Sumimasen, eki wa doko desu ka?, "Excuse me, where is the station?") is universally appropriate.
2. Formal Settings:
  • Any formal environment, such as business meetings, official presentations, job interviews, or public speaking engagements, necessitates the consistent use of です and other polite forms. This includes written communication like formal letters or emails. An example might be この資料は重要です。 (Kono shiryō wa jūyō desu. "This document is important.")
  • Even in casual conversations that occur in formal spaces, maintaining polite language is often expected, especially if you are not intimately familiar with everyone present.
3. Acquaintances and Colleagues:
  • When speaking with new acquaintances or colleagues you do not know well, です is the appropriate choice. It maintains a professional distance and respect. As relationships deepen, you might gradually shift to more casual speech, but starting polite is always advisable. For example, お疲れ様です。今日の会議は何時ですか？ (Otsukaresama desu. Kyō no kaigi wa nanji desu ka?, "Good work. What time is today's meeting?")
4. Written Communication:
  • Formal written texts, such as academic papers, official reports, news articles, and many blog posts (especially those aimed at a general audience), consistently use です/ます forms. Even personal correspondence to non-close friends or distant relatives often employs polite language.
5. Self-Correction and Learning:
  • As a beginner, adopting です as your default ending for all statements is the most practical strategy. It is far better to err on the side of politeness than to inadvertently sound rude. You can gradually learn when and how to shift to casual speech as your proficiency and cultural understanding grow.
When to Omit です:
  • Intimate Relationships: With very close friends, family members, or romantic partners, です is typically omitted for casual, intimate speech. Using です in such contexts can create an unnecessary distance.
  • Casual Monologue/Thinking Aloud: When speaking to yourself, or in contexts where no listener is present (e.g., journaling, some forms of social media for a personal audience), です is usually dropped.
  • Specific Grammatical Structures: Certain grammatical structures inherently negate the need for です, such as when using plain form verbs or in subordinate clauses. You will learn these as you progress.

Common Mistakes

Despite its apparent simplicity, です (desu) is a frequent source of errors for Japanese learners, particularly at the beginner and intermediate levels. These mistakes often stem from trying to apply English grammatical logic to Japanese, or from a lack of exposure to authentic native speech patterns. Identifying and correcting these common pitfalls is crucial for sounding natural and respectful.
1. The "Double Verb" Trap: ます (masu) and です (desu)
  • Error: A pervasive mistake is attempting to use です after a verb that is already in its polite ます form. For example, 食べますです (tabemasu desu). This is grammatically redundant and incorrect. The ます form of a verb already conveys politeness and concludes the predicate; です is not needed.
  • Explanation: Verbs and copulas (です) occupy the same position in a sentence (the predicate). You use one or the other, but not both in immediate succession. 食べます already means "(I) eat (politely)." Adding です is like saying "(I) eat is politely." It sounds like broken Japanese.
  • Correction: Use only the ます form for polite verbs. 私はご飯を食べます。 (Watashi wa gohan o tabemasu. "I eat rice.")
2. Incorrect Usage with い-Adjectives:
  • Error: Learners sometimes try to conjugate い-adjectives in ways that are incompatible with です, or place です incorrectly. For example, 美味しいです becomes 美味しいじゃないです for negative, or 美味しいでした for past.
  • Explanation: Remember that い-adjectives already contain the "to be" meaning. です simply adds politeness to their plain forms. For negation and past tense, the い-adjective itself conjugates, and です follows the conjugated form. It does not replace the い-adjective's conjugation. The polite negative of 美味しい (oishii, "delicious") is 美味しくないです (oishikunai desu). The polite past affirmative is 美味しかったです (oishikatta desu).
  • Correction: Learn the proper い-adjective conjugations first, then attach です.
  • Plain Affirmative: 暑い (atsui) → Polite Affirmative: 暑いです (atsui desu)
  • Plain Negative: 暑くない (atsukunai) → Polite Negative: 暑くないです (atsukunai desu)
  • Plain Past Affirmative: 暑かった (atsukatta) → Polite Past Affirmative: 暑かったです (atsukatta desu)
  • Plain Past Negative: 暑くなかった (atsukunakatta) → Polite Past Negative: 暑くなかったです (atsukunakatta desu)
3. Mispronunciation: De-SOO instead of Dess
  • Error: Pronouncing the u in です (desu) as a full vowel, making it sound like de-soo (e.g., /de̞su/).
  • Explanation: In standard Japanese, the u sound in です is almost always devoiced (silenced) when it appears at the end of a word or before a voiceless consonant. This makes です sound like dess. This devoicing is a natural phonological process in Japanese and applies to other words ending in u after a voiceless consonant (e.g., ます becomes mass).
  • Correction: Practice devoicing the u. Listen carefully to native speakers and try to mimic the dess sound. Pay attention to pitch accent as well; です has a low-high pitch (de-SU), but often flattens slightly in natural speech.
4. Omitting Particles or Over-reliance on English Word Order:
  • Error: Dropping the topic marker は (wa) or other particles, or trying to construct sentences like 私は学生です、彼は先生です。 without connecting them properly in a natural flow.
  • Explanation: While は can be omitted in very casual speech when the topic is clear from context, in polite です sentences, its inclusion is standard. Beginners sometimes struggle with the fixed SOV (Subject-Object-Verb) or Topic-Predicate word order and try to insert です in the middle of a thought.
  • Correction: Consistently use は for your topic until you are confident in contexts where it can be omitted. Always place です at the very end of your main clause.
5. Overusing です in Casual Contexts:
  • Error: Using です with close friends or family, which can make your speech sound stiff, overly formal, or even sarcastic.
  • Explanation: While erring on the side of politeness is good for beginners, you must eventually learn to differentiate between formal and informal situations. Overuse of です where casual speech (だ/da or simply omitting the copula) is expected can impede the development of natural-sounding relationships.
  • Correction: Gradually expose yourself to casual Japanese through media and interactions. Pay attention to when native speakers switch from です to casual forms. Recognize that while です is your safety net, it's not always the most natural choice.

Contrast With Similar Patterns

Understanding です (desu) becomes clearer when you contrast it with other seemingly similar grammatical patterns. While です is the cornerstone of polite predication, Japanese offers other ways to express existence, identity, or politeness, each with distinct nuances and usage contexts. Confusion often arises between です and だ (da), and です and あります (arimasu).
1. です (desu) vs. だ (da)
  • Core Difference: です is the polite copula, while だ is the plain/casual copula. They both assert identity or state (A is B), but their social implications are vastly different.
  • だ Usage: だ is used exclusively in very casual, intimate settings: among close friends, family members, or when speaking to oneself. It is also the form used in dictionary definitions, in quotes, and often in news reports. Using だ with strangers or superiors is considered impolite, potentially even rude. For example, これは本だ (kore wa hon da, "This is a book.") is the casual equivalent of これは本です (kore wa hon desu).
  • Grammar: だ follows nouns and な-adjectives directly, just like です (e.g., 学生だ, 静かだ). However, い-adjectives and verbs in their plain form do not take だ (e.g., 暑い is already plain, not 暑いだ).
  • Nuance: だ can sometimes convey a sense of certainty or assertion, especially in monologues. However, for beginners, the primary distinction should always be politeness level.
  • Key takeaway: Always default to です unless you are certain the relationship and context warrant だ. Never use だ with people you need to show respect to.
2. です (desu) vs. あります (arimasu)
  • Core Difference: です is a copula (meaning "is/am/are," asserting identity or state), while あります is an existence verb (meaning "there is/are" for inanimate objects or non-mobile entities).
  • あります Usage: あります is used to indicate the existence or possession of inanimate objects, concepts, or locations. For example, 本があります (hon ga arimasu, "There is a book" or "I have a book"). It answers the question of what exists or what is present.
  • Grammar: あります typically follows a noun marked by が (ga), as in Noun があります. It can also follow location phrases. あります has its own conjugations for politeness and tense (e.g., ありません for negative, ありました for past).
  • Nuance: While both です and あります can translate to forms of "to be" in English, their Japanese functions are distinct. です defines A as B, whereas あります states B exists. You would not say 私は学生あります (incorrect), nor would you say 机はあります when defining it as a table, only when describing its presence (机はここにあります - Tsukue wa koko ni arimasu - "The desk is here.").
  • Key takeaway: Use です to define or describe something (e.g., これは机です - "This is a desk."). Use あります to state the existence of inanimate objects (e.g., 机があります - "There is a desk."). For animate beings, the verb います (imasu) is used instead of あります.
3. です (desu) vs. でございます (de gozaimasu)
  • Core Difference: でございます is a more formal and humble equivalent of です. It is a highly honorific form.
  • Usage: You will hear でございます in very formal situations, such as in high-end customer service (e.g., department stores, hotels, airlines) or public announcements. It is not typically used in everyday conversation. It conveys a deep level of respect and humility from the speaker.
  • Example: こちらが私の名刺でございます。 (Kochira ga watashi no meishi de gozaimasu. "This is my business card.")
  • Key takeaway: As a beginner, focus on です. You will passively recognize でございます in specific contexts, but active use is generally reserved for advanced learners in professional or highly formal environments.

Real Conversations

Observing です (desu) in authentic conversational contexts is essential for understanding its practical application and nuances. These examples demonstrate how native speakers use です in various everyday scenarios, from introductions to confirming information, highlighting its role as the polite default.

1. Self-Introduction (初対面 / shotaime - first meeting)

- Scenario: Two colleagues meeting for the first time at a company event.

- Dialogue:

- A: 初めまして。山田です。よろしくお願いいたします。 (Hajimemashite. Yamada desu. Yoroshiku onegai itashimasu.) - "Nice to meet you. I am Yamada. Pleased to make your acquaintance." (Note: よろしくお願いいたします is a very polite fixed phrase.)

- B: 鈴木です。こちらこそ、よろしくお願いいたします。 (Suzuki desu. Kochira koso, yoroshiku onegai itashimasu.) - "I am Suzuki. Likewise, pleased to make your acquaintance." (Note: Speakers often omit 私は when it's clear who the topic is.)

- Insight: です is used concisely to state one's name, demonstrating politeness in a formal introduction. It replaces the full sentence 私は山田です.

2. Confirming Information (店員と客 / ten'in to kyaku - store clerk and customer)

- Scenario: A customer confirming a product detail with a store clerk.

- Dialogue:

- Customer: このTシャツは綿100%ですか？ (Kono T-shatsu wa men hyaku-pāsento desu ka?) - "Is this T-shirt 100% cotton?"

- Clerk: はい、綿100%でございます。 (Hai, men hyaku-pāsento de gozaimasu.) - "Yes, it is 100% cotton." (Note: The clerk uses でございます for heightened politeness in customer service.)

- Insight: です followed by か forms a standard polite question. The response confirms the statement, with です (or its more formal equivalent) maintaining politeness.

3. Expressing Opinion/Observation (友人同士 / yūjin dōshi - among friends, but still semi-polite)

- Scenario: Two friends discussing a new movie they watched, opting for semi-polite speech.

- Dialogue:

- A: あの映画、面白かったですね。 (Ano eiga, omoshirokatta desu ne.) - "That movie was interesting, wasn't it?"

- B: ええ、本当に良かったです。 (Ē, hontō ni yokatta desu.) - "Yes, it was really good."

- Insight: い-adjective 面白かった (omoshirokatta) combined with です (desu) and ね (ne) to politely seek agreement on a past event. The response also uses です after an い-adjective's plain form 良かった (yokatta). This level of politeness is common even among friends, especially if they are not extremely close or are in a public setting.

4. Responding Concisely (電話で / denwa de - on the phone)

- Scenario: A short answer in a phone conversation.

- Dialogue:

- A: もしもし、田中さんですか？ (Moshi moshi, Tanaka-san desu ka?) - "Hello, is this Tanaka-san?"

- B: はい、そうです。 (Hai, sō desu.) - "Yes, that's right." (Or simply はい、私です。 - Hai, watashi desu. - "Yes, it's me.")

- Insight: です is frequently used in concise answers like そうです (sō desu, "that is so") or 違います (chigaimasu, "that is incorrect"), providing a polite and complete response without needing to restate the entire sentence.

5. Making an Assertion in Writing (ブログ記事 / burogu kiji - blog post)

- Scenario: An informative sentence in a blog post for a general audience.

- Sentence: 日本の首都は東京です。 (Nihon no shuto wa Tōkyō desu.) - "The capital of Japan is Tokyo."

- Insight: In written texts aimed at a general audience, です is the standard polite ending for factual statements, ensuring accessibility and respect for the reader. This is a common pattern for informational content.

Quick FAQ

This section addresses common questions beginners have about です (desu), reinforcing key concepts and clarifying potential points of confusion.
  • Q: Can I use です with verbs?
  • A: Generally, no. です is a copula used with nouns and な-adjectives to state identity or quality. Verbs have their own polite forms (e.g., 〜ます form) that convey politeness. Using です directly after a 〜ます verb (食べますです) is grammatically incorrect and should be avoided.
  • Q: Is です a verb?
  • A: Not in the same way 食べる (taberu, "to eat") is a verb. です is classified as a copula, sometimes referred to as a "linking verb." Its primary function is to link a subject to a predicate (noun or な-adjective) and to add politeness to the sentence. It does not describe an action.
  • Q: Why is the u in です often silent?
  • A: This is a phenomenon called vowel devoicing in Japanese phonology. The u sound in です is typically devoiced (silenced) when it falls between voiceless consonants or at the end of an utterance after a voiceless consonant. This makes です sound like dess (/de̞sɯ̥/). It is a natural aspect of native pronunciation and not unique to です.
  • Q: Can I drop です from a sentence?
  • A: Yes, you can. Dropping です makes the sentence casual or plain form. This is appropriate only in informal situations with close friends, family, or when speaking to oneself. Using plain form inappropriately can sound rude or abrupt to others. For instance, これは本です (polite) becomes これは本だ (casual) or simply これは本 (very casual, often used as an observation).
  • Q: What is the difference between です and あります (arimasu)?
  • A: です is a copula, used to state what something is (e.g., これはペンです - "This is a pen."). あります is an existence verb, used to state that something exists (e.g., ペンがあります - "There is a pen."). They answer different types of questions and serve distinct grammatical roles.
  • Q: What about ございます (gozaimasu)? Is it related to です?
  • A: Yes. ございます is a more formal and humble equivalent of あります for inanimate objects and is sometimes used as an honorific form of です in certain fixed expressions (e.g., 〜でございます). While です is polite, ございます is typically used in extremely formal or customer service contexts, conveying a higher degree of respect and humility.
  • Q: Does です change based on male or female speech?
  • A: No, the form of です itself does not change based on gender. However, the overall sentence structure and choice of particles, pronouns, and sentence-ending particles (like よ or わ) can sometimes carry gendered nuances in casual speech, but です remains constant as the polite copula for all speakers.

Formation of Desu

Form Affirmative Negative Question
Present
Noun + です
Noun + じゃありません
Noun + ですか

Meanings

The copula {です|です} functions as the polite equivalent of 'to be' in English, linking a subject to a noun or adjective.

1

Identity

Identifying what something or someone is.

“{私|わたし}は{学生|がくせい}です。”

“{これ|これ}は{本|ほん}です。”

2

State of Being

Describing a state or attribute.

“{今日|きょう}は{暑|あつ}いです。”

“{天気|てんき}は{良|よ}いです。”

3

Polite Question

Turning a statement into a polite inquiry.

“{学生|がくせい}ですか。”

“{元気|げんき}ですか。”

Reference Table

Reference table for The Politeness Sticker: Desu (です)
Form Structure Example
Affirmative
Noun + です
{私|わたし}は{学生|がくせい}です。
Negative
Noun + じゃありません
{私|わたし}は{学生|がくせい}じゃありません。
Question
Noun + ですか
{学生|がくせい}ですか。
Past Affirmative
Noun + でした
{学生|がくせい}でした。
Past Negative
Noun + じゃありませんでした
{学生|がくせい}じゃありませんでした。
Polite Adjective
i-Adj + です
{暑|あつ}いです。

Formality Spectrum

Formal
{私|わたし}は{学生|がくせい}です。

{私|わたし}は{学生|がくせい}です。 (Self-introduction)

Neutral
{私|わたし}は{学生|がくせい}です。

{私|わたし}は{学生|がくせい}です。 (Self-introduction)

Informal
{私|わたし}は{学生|がくせい}だ。

{私|わたし}は{学生|がくせい}だ。 (Self-introduction)

Slang
{学生|がくせい}っす。

{学生|がくせい}っす。 (Self-introduction)

The Desu Universe

です

Usage

  • Nouns Identity
  • Adjectives Description
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Examples by Level

1

{私|わたし}は{学生|がくせい}です。

I am a student.

2

{これ|これ}は{ペン|ぺん}です。

This is a pen.

3

{天気|てんき}は{良|よ}いです。

The weather is good.

4

{猫|ねこ}ですか。

Is it a cat?

1

{私|わたし}は{先生|せんせい}じゃありません。

I am not a teacher.

2

{今日|きょう}は{忙|いそが}しいです。

Today is busy.

3

{彼|かれ}は{日本人|にほんじん}ですか。

Is he Japanese?

4

{部屋|へや}は{綺麗|きれい}です。

The room is clean.

1

{会議|かいぎ}は{明日|あした}の{予定|よてい}です。

The meeting is scheduled for tomorrow.

2

{彼|かれ}は{医者|いしゃ}だそうです。

I heard he is a doctor.

3

{それ|それ}は{本当|ほんとう}ですか。

Is that true?

4

{私|わたし}の{趣味|しゅみ}は{読書|どくしょ}です。

My hobby is reading.

1

{重要|じゅうよう}な{点|てん}は{予算|よさん}です。

The important point is the budget.

2

{状況|じょうきょう}は{深刻|しんこく}です。

The situation is serious.

3

{彼|かれ}の{意見|いけん}は{正|ただ}しいですか。

Is his opinion correct?

4

{準備|じゅんび}は{万全|ばんぜん}です。

The preparations are perfect.

1

{結論|けつろん}から{申|もう}しますと、{反対|はんたい}です。

To start with the conclusion, I am against it.

2

{本件|ほんけん}は{極秘|ごくひ}です。

This matter is top secret.

3

{彼|かれ}の{主張|しゅちょう}は{論理的|ろんりてき}ですか。

Is his argument logical?

4

{現状|げんじょう}は{改善|かいぜん}の{余地|よち}があります。

The current situation has room for improvement.

1

{事態|じたい}は{予期|よき}せぬ{方向|ほうこう}へ{向|む}かっています。

The situation is heading in an unexpected direction.

2

{彼|かれ}の{功績|こうせき}は{称賛|しょうさん}に{値|あたい}します。

His achievements are worthy of praise.

3

{本|ほん}プロジェクトの{成功|せいこう}は{確実|かくじつ}です。

The success of this project is certain.

4

{議論|ぎろん}の{余地|よち}は{残|のこ}されていますか。

Is there room for discussion left?

Easily Confused

The Politeness Sticker: Desu (です) vs Desu vs Da

Learners mix up formal and informal.

The Politeness Sticker: Desu (です) vs Desu vs Masu

Learners try to use Desu with verbs.

The Politeness Sticker: Desu (です) vs Desu vs De aru

Learners see 'de aru' in books and use it in speech.

Common Mistakes

✗

{学生|がくせい}です?

✓

{学生|がくせい}ですか。

Questions need {か|か}.
✗

{食|た}べるです

✓

{食|た}べます

Verbs don't take {です|です}.
✗

{私|わたし}は{学生|がくせい}だです

✓

{私|わたし}は{学生|がくせい}です

Don't combine casual and polite.
✗

{私|わたし}は{学生|がくせい}ですます

✓

{私|わたし}は{学生|がくせい}です

Redundant ending.
✗

{綺麗|きれい}だです

✓

{綺麗|きれい}です

Na-adjectives don't take 'da' before 'desu'.
✗

{元気|げんき}じゃありませんでした

✓

{元気|げんき}じゃありませんでした

Wait, this is correct, but learners often forget the past tense.
✗

{学生|がくせい}じゃです

✓

{学生|がくせい}じゃありません

Incorrect negative formation.
✗

{学生|がくせい}であります

✓

{学生|がくせい}です

Too formal for daily use.
✗

{学生|がくせい}ですの

✓

{学生|がくせい}です

Unnecessary particle.
✗

{学生|がくせい}だ

✓

{学生|がくせい}です

Wrong register in formal setting.
✗

{学生|がくせい}でいらっしゃいます

✓

{学生|がくせい}です

Over-honorific usage.
✗

{学生|がくせい}ですけれども

✓

{学生|がくせい}です

Incomplete sentence.
✗

{学生|がくせい}ですわ

✓

{学生|がくせい}です

Gendered speech marker.
✗

{学生|がくせい}ですのよ

✓

{学生|がくせい}です

Too feminine/informal.

Sentence Patterns

___は___です。

___は___ですか。

___は___じゃありません。

___は___です。

Real World Usage

Job Interview constant

{私|わたし}は{山田|やまだ}です。

Ordering Food very common

{これ|これ}を{お願|ねが}いします。

Texting Acquaintance common

{明日|あした}は{暇|ひま}です。

Travel very common

{ここ|ここ}は{駅|えき}ですか。

Social Media occasional

{今日|きょう}は{楽|たの}しいです。

Email constant

{山田|やまだ}です。

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💡

Listen for the 'u'

In fast speech, the 'u' in 'desu' disappears. Listen for 'dess'.
⚠️

Don't use with verbs

Verbs have their own polite forms. Never say 'taberu desu'.
🎯

Use 'ka' for questions

Always add 'ka' to turn a statement into a question.
💬

Politeness is key

When in doubt, use 'desu'. It is safer to be too polite than too blunt.

Smart Tips

Always add 'desu' to nouns/adjectives.

{私|わたし}は{学生|がくせい} → {私|わたし}は{学生|がくせい}です

Always add 'ka'.

{学生|がくせい}です? → {学生|がくせい}ですか

Use 'desu' for adjectives.

{今日|きょう}は{暑|あつ}い → {今日|きょう}は{暑|あつ}いです

Use 'desu' consistently.

{私|わたし}は{山田|やまだ}だ → {私|わたし}は{山田|やまだ}です

Pronunciation

dess

Desu pronunciation

The 'u' at the end of 'desu' is often devoiced, sounding like 'dess'.

Question intonation

Sentence + {か|か} (rising)

Indicates a question.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of 'Desu' as 'De-suit'. You wear a suit (Desu) to formal events.

Visual Association

Imagine a friendly robot wearing a bowtie. Every time it says something, it adds a little 'Desu' sticker to the air.

Rhyme

When you want to be polite, add Desu to your sight.

Story

Ken goes to a party. He meets a stranger. He says 'Hello, I am Ken desu.' The stranger smiles because Ken is polite. Ken feels happy.

Word Web

{学生|がくせい}{先生|せんせい}{日本人|にほんじん}{綺麗|きれい}{元気|げんき}{本|ほん}

Challenge

Write 5 sentences about yourself using {です|です} and say them out loud.

Cultural Notes

Used in all formal situations to show respect.

Sometimes uses 'ya' instead of 'desu'.

Essential for maintaining professional distance.

Derived from the auxiliary verb '{であります|であります}'.

Conversation Starters

“

{お名前|おなまえ}は何ですか。

“

{これ|これ}は{何|なに}ですか。

“

{今日|きょう}は{忙|いそが}しいですか。

“

{日本|にほん}の{料理|りょうり}は{好|す|き}ですか。

Journal Prompts

Introduce yourself.
Describe your room.
Describe your favorite food.
Describe your job or school.

Common Mistakes

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

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Test Yourself

Fill in the blank.

{私|わたし}は{学生|がくせい}___。

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: です
Desu is the polite copula.
Choose the correct question form. Multiple Choice

{彼|かれ}は{先生|せんせい}___?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ですか
Questions need 'ka'.
Fix the sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

{食|た}べるです。

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: {食|た}べます
Verbs don't take desu.
Reorder the words. Sentence Reorder

Arrange the words in the correct order:

All words placed

Click words above to build the sentence

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: {私|わたし}は{学生|がくせい}です
Subject + Topic + Noun + Copula.
Translate to Japanese. Translation

I am not a student.

Answer starts with: {私|...

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: {私|わたし}は{学生|がくせい}じゃありません
Negative polite form.
Which is formal? Multiple Choice

Choose the formal sentence.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: {私|わたし}は{学生|がくせい}です
Desu is formal.
Fill in the blank.

{今日|きょう}は{暑|あつ}___。

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: いです
Adjective + desu.
Make it a question. Sentence Transformation

{これ|これ}は{本|ほん}です。

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: {これ|これ}は{本|ほん}ですか
Add 'ka'.

Score: /8

Practice Exercises

8 exercises
Fill in the blank.

{私|わたし}は{学生|がくせい}___。

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: です
Desu is the polite copula.
Choose the correct question form. Multiple Choice

{彼|かれ}は{先生|せんせい}___?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ですか
Questions need 'ka'.
Fix the sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

{食|た}べるです。

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: {食|た}べます
Verbs don't take desu.
Reorder the words. Sentence Reorder

{学生|がくせい} / です / 私 / は

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: {私|わたし}は{学生|がくせい}です
Subject + Topic + Noun + Copula.
Translate to Japanese. Translation

I am not a student.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: {私|わたし}は{学生|がくせい}じゃありません
Negative polite form.
Which is formal? Multiple Choice

Choose the formal sentence.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: {私|わたし}は{学生|がくせい}です
Desu is formal.
Fill in the blank.

{今日|きょう}は{暑|あつ}___。

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: いです
Adjective + desu.
Make it a question. Sentence Transformation

{これ|これ}は{本|ほん}です。

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: {これ|これ}は{本|ほん}ですか
Add 'ka'.

Score: /8

Practice Bank

12 exercises
Choose the correct particle. Fill in the Blank

Watashi ___ gakusei desu.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: wa
Make it past tense. Fill in the Blank

Kinou (yesterday) wa ame ___.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: deshita
Ask a question. Sentence Reorder

Arrange to ask: 'Is this water?'

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: これ は 水 です か
Select the correct negative form. Multiple Choice

Which is the formal negative of 'desu'?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: dewa arimasen
Fix the verb usage. Error Correction

Watashi wa ikimasu desu.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Watashi wa ikimasu.
Match the Japanese to English. Match Pairs

Match the forms.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ["Desu","Deshita","Ja nai desu"]
Translate to Japanese. Translation

It is a dog.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Inu desu.
Create a negative sentence. Sentence Reorder

Arrange: 'I am not a doctor.'

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 私 は 医者 じゃありません
Complete the past negative. Fill in the Blank

Are wa uco (lie) ja nakatta ___.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: desu
Identify the subject. Multiple Choice

In 'Kore wa pen desu', what is the subject?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Kore
Fix the particle. Error Correction

Watashi wa Genki desu ka.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Watashi wa Genki desu.
Add the question marker. Fill in the Blank

Are you American? = Amerika-jin desu ___?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ka

Score: /12

FAQ (8)

You can, but it might sound distant or like you are being sarcastic.

In Japanese, 'ka' is the question particle. It replaces the question mark.

No, 'desu' is invariant.

No, 'desu' is formal, 'da' is informal.

No, use the 'masu' form for verbs.

You will sound very casual, which might be rude in formal settings.

Yes, in polite letters or emails.

Use 'ja arimasen'.

Scaffolded Practice

1

1

2

2

3

3

4

4

Mastery Progress

Needs Practice

Improving

Strong

Mastered

Sign up free to practice

In Other Languages

Spanish partial

Ser/Estar

Japanese is invariant.

French partial

Être

Japanese is invariant.

German partial

Sein

Japanese is invariant.

Chinese moderate

是 (shì)

Word order.

Arabic partial

Nominal sentence

Japanese requires the copula.

Japanese high

Desu

None.

Learning Path

Prerequisites

Related Grammar Rules

A1

Japanese Word Order: The Verb-Last Rule (SOV)

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A1

Japanese Politeness: ~Desu and ~Masu

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B1

Japanese Grammar: It depends on... (~次第だ / shidai da)

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B1

Japanese Cause & Effect: Thanks to / Because of (~おかげで / ~せいで)

Overview In Japanese, expressing cause and effect is not merely a matter of logical connection; it is an opportunity to...
C2

Forced to do: Noun + o yoginakusareru

Overview At the C2 level, you move beyond merely expressing events to articulating the complex web of causality and age...
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