Casual Japanese. How to speak Japanese with friends.

[starrycat]

I have a question. Conerning asking a question that ends in -desu ka, can't you just leave the ka off, and answer with desu?
Like for example "anata wa sushi ga suki desu"
I've heard people do this with other topics when talking, and they seemed to be speaking informally, so I was just wondering.

[AoshiShinomori]

From what I understand, "Ka" is what makes it a question. Just saying anata wa sushi ga suki desu is a sentence and not a question.

[Nattybumppo]

Originally Posted by starrycat

I have a question. Conerning asking a question that ends in -desu ka, can't you just leave the ka off, and answer with desu?
Like for example "anata wa sushi ga suki desu"
I've heard people do this with other topics when talking, and they seemed to be speaking informally, so I was just wondering.

Your question doesn't make sense. You say "answer with desu" but then you give an example that sounds like a question, with a ka. That's confusing. And if someone's using desu/masu form, they're not really speaking "informally," by all rights.

If what you're trying to ask is "Can someone end a question in 'desu' instead of with 'desu ka?'" the answer is yes, they can.

すしが好きです？

Sorry AoshiShinomori, the above is perfectly legitimate Japanese and you see/hear it sometimes, but it's far more normal to include the か, and (to me at least) it sounds more formal not to.

[Nattybumppo]

Originally Posted by Yukiyasu

Can anyone tell me how to pronounce either of these sentences, please? あなたがしたすべてをありがとう。and 私達にしがみつきなさい。

The romaji is like so:

Anata ga shita subete o arigatou.

Watashitachi ni shigamitsukinasai.

As for the actual pronunciation of the Japanese language itself, you'll have to consult a textbook or take a Japanese class. But that romaji should get you close enough.

[MMM]

Originally Posted by starrycat

I have a question. Conerning asking a question that ends in -desu ka, can't you just leave the ka off, and answer with desu?
Like for example "anata wa sushi ga suki desu"
I've heard people do this with other topics when talking, and they seemed to be speaking informally, so I was just wondering.

Nope. "desu" makes it polite. "ka" makes it a question.

Stick with the polite stuff until you have it down, or else you might be making a "casual" question into a "rude" question.

[Yukiyasu]

Thank you so much, Nattybumppo!

[AoshiShinomori]

Now I'm doubly confused!

Natty-San said that "anata wa sushi ga suki desu" was a valid question while MMM-san mentioned that it wasn't.

Which is it?

[Yukiyasu]

Hmm, I have another question for those of you with greater knowledge then I! I am writing a song and I wanted some Japanese lyrics in there, so I tried to translate the lyrics and it all came out in Japanese, so I tried translating that into romaji...I just need to do a double check. Can anyone tell me if this is correct...if not, please give me a better translation! Arigatou!

姉妹、
私のためそこに常にである人である。
姉妹、
美しく、あることを試みない。
姉妹、
世界によりよい場所をする。
姉妹、
私はあなたの表面のその微笑を保つことを何でも、する 。

=

shimai ,
watashi notamesokoni tsuneni dearu nin dearu .
shimai ,
utsukushi ku , arukotowo kokoromi nai .
shimai ,
sekai niyoriyoi basho wosuru .
shimai ,
watashi haanatano hyoumen nosono bishou wo tamotsu kotowo nande mo , suru .

[Taotao]

Nice to meet you Yukiyasu.I have some to teach you.

姉妹、
simai(=sisters),
私 の ため そこに 常に である人 である。（→私のため　いつも　そこに　いる　人）
watashi no tame sokoni tsuneni iru hito dearu （→watashi no tame itsumo sokoni iru hito）
or You are the one that always stay there(here?) for me.

姉妹、
simai,
美しく、あることを試みない。
utsukushi ku , arukotowo kokoromi nai
or You dont try to become beautiful.
姉妹、
simai,
世界によりよい場所をする。（→世界を　よりよい　場所に　する）
sekai niyoriyoi basho wosuru .
or You make my world brigter(better or more wonderful).
姉妹、
shimai ,
私はあなたの表面の(→顔の)その微笑を保つ（→守る）ことを何でも、する（→しよう） 。(→)

That would be better i think...
Taotao

[Yukiyasu]

Arigatou...unfortunately, I can't fit it all with my tune, so I have to stick with boring old english... Thanks again though!