Structure
Verb + ん(1) + だ
[い]Adjective + ん(1) + だ
[な]Adjective + な + ん(1) + だ
Noun + な + ん(1) + だ
(1) の
Details
Part of Speech
Expression
Word Type
Auxiliary Verb
Register
Standard
品詞
表現
単語の種類
助動詞
使用域
一般
About ~んです・のです
のです is a construction with several different forms, each meaning roughly the same thing. This expression behaves similarly to だ and です by themselves (asserting that something is true). However, the addition of の strengthens the relationship being highlighted. Due to this, it will come across a bit like 'it is a fact that (A)' in English.
In these sentences, we can think of the ん, or の as simply adding emphasis to the statement. Due to の adding emphasis, this expression will be heard very frequently in explanations.
Caution
There is no real difference between ん and の. Only の is considered 'correct Japanese', but ん evolved to make things easier to say. ん is the most common form in spoken Japanese, and the use of の could be considered a bit formal, or 'stiff'.
While both the だ and です forms are equally as natural, only the です form will be used if adding か to the end ~んですか. This construction shows that the speaker is looking for an explanation about something.
Synonyms
Examples
いいんですか。
Is it good?
赤がいいんですか。
Is red good?
いいのですか。
Is it good?
これがいいのですか。
Is this good?
川があるんです。
There is a river.
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When and how to use ん
Maggie Sensei
~んです/~のです- Japanese Grammar
Japanization
Explanatory のだ (んだ)
Wasabi
Explanations and expectations
Tae Kim's Guide to Learning Japanese
Offline
Genki I
Page 230
Genki I 2nd Edition
Page 270
[DBJG] A Dictionary of Basic Japanese Grammar
Page 325
みんなの日本語 II
Page 12 [CH 26]
Marugoto Elementary 1 (A2) Rikai
Page 154
[DBJG] A Dictionary of Basic Japanese Grammar
Page 322
Tae Kim's Japanese Grammar Guide
Page 73
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~んです・のです – Grammar Discussion
Most Recent Replies (34 in total)
mrnoone
@chrischriskurisu
Hey and long time no see!Particle よ is a particle expressing strong assertion.
That is, when you have an information and you believe that the interlocutor (person you are talking with) doesn’t know it, then you add よ to emphasize that.Another use, basically extension of the above is when you try to change the way someone thinks about something. Make them adopt your line of thought. Because of that it might not be the best particle to use towards your boss!
On the other hand, のだ・んだ expresses additional explanation, for example reason (You can think in some cases for んだ to mean “it is because” or “it is that”), describe something (summarize it), express determination. It kinds of adds “background” to what interlocutor knows.
So to sum up:
Both are ok, but a slightly different nuances.よ - assertion, imposing your views ...
Jackalopalen
Dropping in with a bit of local dialect trivia!
「んだ」 is one of the most prominent and well-known aspects of the Yamagata Prefecture dialect (山形弁). It’s used on is own as an affirmative response (replacing はい, そうです, etc.)
It’s further embellished with one (or more) final particle depending on the region within the prefecture:
- 村山弁「んだず」「んだべした」「んだずにゃー」
- 新庄弁「んだじゅー」「んだにゃー」
- 置賜弁「んだっそ」「んだごで」
- 庄内弁「んだのー」
Nadarina
Hey, so in many reading practices i noticed “なのです” instead of just “のです” is being used. Can someone please explain this to me?
Thanks in advance!
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