“I hope” in Japanese Part 2

Let’s practice making a Japanese sentence with a Japanese way of thinking.

First, rephrase "I hope you (will) have a nice trip" with “if”.  

It would be good if it will be a nice trip.

Transalte this to Japanese.

Tanoshii ryoko ni naru to ii ne.

How would you say the next phrase in Japanese? “I hope to see you again.”

First, rephrase this sentence with “if”.

It would be good if I will see you again.

Transalte this to Japanese.

Watashi wa anata ni mata au to ii.

I’m sorry, but this sentence isn’t correct. A “hope” preceding “to ii” has to end in a potential form. “Aeru” is the potential form of “au”(to meet).

Watashi wa mata anata ni aeru to ii.

[Grammar rule]

• Potential form of transitive verb + to ii.

Watashi wa mata anata ni aeru to ii.

• Dictionary form of intransitive verb + to ii.

Tanoshii ryoko ni naru to ii ne.

As you know, you can omit “watashi wa” and “anata ni” because they’re easily understood from the context.

[English] I hope to see you again.

[Japanese] mata aeru to ii desu. (polite),

[Japanese] mata aeru to ii ne/na. (casual, friendly)

I want to point out one more thing. In English you say “I will see you again”, but in Japanese we say “watashi wa mata anata ni au.” Don’t say “watashi wa mata ananta o miru.”

The next sentence is “I hope so”. How would you say this in Japanese?

First, rephrase with “if”.

It would be good if it is so.

Translate “it is so” to Japanese.

sou desu. (polite) >> sou da. (casual)

Translate “it would be good if it is so.” to Japanese. A hope has to end in the casual form.

sou da to ii.

[Grammar rule]

• Noun da+ to ii

Example: sou da to ii.

• Na adjective da+ to ii

Example: Ojiichan ga genki da to ii.

• I Adjective + to ii

Example: Ryoko ga tanoshii to ii ne.