Differences Between だ and です Suffixes
Some people might think that だ is just a casual
version of です. While they may seem similar,
they have significant differences. Let’s go over them one by
one.
Function and Usage of だ
The だ
ending is used to emphasize a statement. It is placed at the end of
a sentence and only uses nouns and positive na adjectives. Men often use this form because it sounds more assertive.
Examples:
-
これは本だ
(Kore wa hon da): This is
a book. -
彼は医者だ
(Kare wa isha da): He is a
doctor. -
ここは静かだ
(Koko wa shizuka da):
This place is quiet.
Function and Usage of です
The です ending makes a sentence more polite. It can
be used by anyone, both men and women. It applies to nouns,
-na adjectives, and -i adjectives as
well.
Examples:
-
私はアメリカ人です
(Watashi wa amerikajin desu): I am American. -
山田さんは優しいですね
(Yamada-san wa yasashii desu ne?): Yamada is kind, right? -
彼女は有名な歌手です
(Kanojo wa yuumei na kashu desu): She is a famous singer. -
今日は暑いです
(Kyou wa atsui desu):
Today is hot.
Conclusion
Although both endings are placed at the end of a sentence,
です can be used with -i adjectives,
whereas だ cannot. だ makes a
sentence sound more direct and is often used by men, while
です adds politeness and is neutral for both men and
women.
Hopefully, this explanation helps you understand the difference
between だ and です in Japanese! 😊
Vocabulary Used in Examples
| Kanji | Hiragana | Romaji | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 本 | ほん | hon | Book |
| 彼 | かれ | kare | He |
| 医者 | いしゃ | isha | Doctor |
| ここ | ここ | koko | Here |
| 静か | しずか | shizuka | Quiet |
| 私 | わたし | watashi | I / Me |
| アメリカ人 | アメリカじん | amerikajin | American (person) |
| 山田 | やまだ | yamada | Yamada (name) |
| 優しい | やさしい | yasashii | Kind |
| 彼女 | かのじょ | kanojo | She |
| 有名 | ゆうめい | yuumei | Famous |
| 歌手 | かしゅ | kashu | Singer |
| 今日は | きょうは | kyou wa | Today |
| 暑い | あつい | atsui | Hot |
