nan desu ga…

Today, let’s start with a Japanese basic: the particle "wa" (は).

• Watashi wa Minako desu. (I am Minako.)

In this sentence, "Watashi" (I) is the topic. In other words, "wa" acts as a topic marker, signaling to the listener, "I’m going to tell you something about myself now."

• Ashita wa kawara de barbeque o shimasu. (Tomorrow, we are having a BBQ by the river.)

While "wa" isn't strictly necessary after "tomorrow," adding it gives the nuance of "As for tomorrow (speaking of tomorrow)..."

Jay Rubin, whom I occasionally quote on this blog, describes it like this:

"Notice that wa builds suspense, arousing curiosity in the reader or listener about what is to come. If the speaker were to pause at the wa, the listener's brain would whisper subliminally, 'Yes, yes, and then what?'" (*1)

It’s almost funny to think of Japanese people catching the listener's attention like that before they even start their main point!

Another expression similar to this "wa" is the pattern "X nan desu ga..." used to start a conversation. A student asked me about this the other day:

"I was watching YouTube, and the person started by saying, 'Kono coffee maker nan desu ga...' (About this coffee maker...). Why do they use nan desu ga?"

First, it’s important to know that the "nan" in "noun + nan desu ga" is not the "nan" that means "what."

Rather, "nan desu ga" serves as an introduction, effectively saying, "I’m about to talk to you about this new (or favorite/recommended) coffee maker!"

What’s interesting about "nan desu ga" is that while it means "Please pay attention!", it also gives a humble and reserved impression. I think that’s why it’s so easy for Japanese people to use.

You could just say, "Kono coffee maker wa..." to start, but "nan desu ga" creates a stronger sense that a story or specific point is about to begin.

When asking your boss a question, why not try starting with, "Kono ten nan desu ga..." (About this point...)? If you’re talking to a friend, you can use the casual version: "Kore nan dakedo..."

*1: "Making Sense of Japanese: What the Textbooks Don't Tell You," Jay Rubin, Kodansha, 2012.