Japanese です (Desu) Explained — The Polite Copula
Understand です (desu) in Japanese. Learn when and how to use this essential polite ending with examples and sentence patterns for JLPT N5.
です (desu) is the polite copula in Japanese, roughly meaning 'is/am/are'. It comes at the end of sentences and is essential for polite speech. Every JLPT N5 student must master its four forms: です (present positive), ではありません (present negative), でした (past positive), and ではありませんでした (past negative).
Key Vocabulary
| Japanese | Romaji | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| です | desu | is / am / are (polite) |
| ではありません | dewa arimasen | is not (polite) |
| でした | deshita | was (polite) |
| ではありませんでした | dewa arimasen deshita | was not (polite) |
Example Sentences
- わたし は がくせい ですwatashi wa gakusei desuI am a student
- これ は ほん ですkore wa hon desuThis is a book
- にほんじん ではありませんnihonjin dewa arimasenI am not Japanese
- きのう は あめ でしたkinou wa ame deshitaYesterday was rainy
Study Tips
- 1です makes any sentence polite — always use it with strangers
- 2The negative is ではありません or じゃありません (casual)
- 3Past tense: でした (was). Past negative: ではありませんでした
- 4です is used with nouns and な-adjectives, NOT with verbs
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Japanese Particles は が を に で — Complete JLPT N5 GuidePractice What You Learned
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