What does suka mean in japanese

If you have been in a Japanese conversation before, you may have heard the word “Naruhodo” (なるほど) being used. Although this word is rarely found in textbooks, it comes up often in Japanese conversation. In this blog we will show you what “Naruhodo” means in Japanese and how you can use it in conversation.

What Does “Naruhodo” Mean?

Simply put, Naruhodo means “I understand” or “I see”. While you may have often heard that “Soudesuka” (そうですか) or “Sokka” (そっか) is how to say ‘I see’, it is slightly different from Naruhodo (なるほど).

While sokka or soudesuka certainly can be used to say ‘I see’, Naruhodo adds an extra nuance. Soudesuka/sokka is more neutral, while Naruhodo conveys a sense of agreement and a more nuanced understanding.

You can use naruhodo when you learn something new, or get information that you did not previously have.

Soudesuka and Sokka can also come across as kind of cold, whereas Naruhodo can be used as a more warm response.

How to Use “Naruhodo”

The word naruhodo can be used in many different situations. You can use naruhodo in polite context or informal context. Let’s look at some examples of how to use it.

“Naruhodo” in Conversation:

あ！そういうことか！なるほどね！
A! Souiu koto ka! Naruhodo ne!
Oh! That’s what you mean! I see!

The use of naruhodo in the above example conveys both a sense of understanding and of friendliness. It also expresses that the speaker has gained knowledge about something that they did not previously know.

Let’s take a look at another example.

A: 壊れちゃったから返品したかったものです。
B: なるほど。
A: Kowarechatta kara henpin shitakatta mono desu。
B: Naruhodo。
A: I wanted to return (this) because it broke.
B: I see.

In this exchange, person B expresses their understanding in response to person A’s statement with なるほど(naruhodo).

This situation is a more formal one, but なるほど can still be used in the same way. It is still a polite way to say “I see” in Japanese.

Now you can use “Naruhodo” (なるほど) in your next interaction! With friends, with co-workers, or your boss at work!

One of the most popular phrases in any language is probably "I love you." There are many ways to say, "I love you," in Japanese, but the expression has slightly different cultural meanings than it does in Western nations like the U.S. 

In Kansai-ben, a regional dialect spoken in south-central Japan, the phrase "suki yanen" is used for "I love you." This colloquial phrase has become so popular that it's even used as the name of an instant noodle soup.

Saying 'I Love You'

In Japanese, the word "love" is "ai," which is written like this: 愛. The verb "to love" is "aisuru" (愛する). A literal translation of the phrase "I love you" in Japanese would be "aishite imasu." Written out, it would look like this: 愛しています.

In conversation, you're more likely to use the gender-neutral word "aishiteru" (愛してる). If you wanted to express your affection for a man, you would say, "aishiteru yo" (愛してるよ). If you wanted to say the same thing to a woman, you'd say, "aishiteru wa" (愛してるわ). "Yo" and "wa" at the end of a sentence are sentence-ending particles. 

Love Versus Like

However, the Japanese don't say, "I love you," as often as people in the West do, mainly because of cultural differences. Instead, love is expressed by manners or gestures. When the Japanese do put their feelings into words, they're more likely to use the phrase "suki desu" (好きです), which literally means "to like."

The gender-neutral phrase "suki da" (好きだ), the masculine "suki dayo" (好きだよ), or feminine "suki yo" (好きよ) are more colloquial expressions. If you like somebody or something very much, the word "dai" (literally, "big") can be added as the prefix, and you can say "daisuki desu" (大好きです).

Variations on 'I Love You' in Japanese

There are many variations on this phrase, including regional dialects or hogen. If you were in the south-central part of Japan surrounding the city of Osaka, for example, you'd probably be speaking in Kansai-ben, the regional dialect. In Kansai-ben, you would use the phrase "suki yanen" (written as 好きやねん) to say, "I love you," in Japanese. This colloquial phrase has become so popular in Japan that it's even used as the name of an instant noodle soup.

Another word to describe love is "koi" (恋). The primary difference between using the word "koi" instead of "ai" is that the former is typically used to express romantic love for one person, while the latter is a more general form of love. However, the differences can be subtle, and there are many more ways to say "I love you" in Japanese if you want to be particularly eloquent. 

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Abe, Namiko. "Learn How to Say 'I Love You' in Japanese." ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/i-love-you-in-japanese-2028066 (accessed January 1, 2023).

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