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How to Say “I Am Finished” in Japanese: A Comprehensive Guide
Learning how to express that you are finished in a foreign language is an essential part of effective communication. In Japanese, there are several ways to convey this concept, both formally and informally. In this guide, we’ll explore various expressions and provide tips and examples to help you navigate this linguistic terrain.
Table of Contents
Formal Expressions
When you need to express that you are finished in a polite or formal context, the following phrases are commonly used:
1. 私は終わりました (Watashi wa owarimashita). This expression is a straightforward way to state “I am finished” in a formal manner. Note that “watashi” means “I,” “wa” is a particle used to mark the subject, and “owarimashita” is the past tense of the verb “owaru” (to finish).
2. 仕事が終わりました (Shigoto ga owarimashita). This phrase specifically means “I have finished my work” or “I am done with work.” By replacing “shigoto” (work) with any relevant noun, you can adapt this expression to various situations. For example, “宿題が終わりました” (Shukudai ga owarimashita) means “I have finished my homework.”
Informal Expressions
In casual or informal situations, you can use the following expressions to convey that you are finished:
1. 終わった (Owatta). This short and simple phrase means “finished” and can be used in informal conversations with friends, family, or close acquaintances.
2. 終了 (Shuuryou). This word carries a formal connotation but is relatively less polite compared to the formal expressions mentioned earlier. It is used to describe the completion of something and can be used in both formal and informal contexts.
Additional Tips:
1. Consider the Context: As with any language, the appropriate expression for “I am finished” in Japanese depends on the situation and relationship between the speakers. Always adapt your choice of expression to match the level of formality required.
2. Body Language: In Japanese culture, non-verbal cues and body language play a significant role in communication. Use appropriate gestures such as a bow or a nod to convey your message more effectively, regardless of the specific phrase you choose.
3. Practice Tone and Pronunciation: Pay attention to the correct intonation and pronunciation of the expressions you learn. Mimic native speakers or use language learning resources to refine your skills.
Now, let’s explore some example sentences using the expressions we’ve discussed:
- Formal Examples:
a) 会議が終わりましたので、帰ります (Kaigi ga owarimashita node, kaerimasu). – Since the meeting is over, I will go home.
b) 講義が終わりましたので、次の予定に移りましょう (Kougi ga owarimashita node, tsugi no yotei ni utsurimashou). – The lecture has finished, so let’s move on to the next agenda.
- Informal Examples:
a) 映画が終わったから、どこか食べに行こうよ (Eiga ga owatta kara, doko ka tabe ni ikou yo). – Since the movie is over, let’s go somewhere to eat.
b) テスト終了! どうだった？ (Tesuto shuuryou! Dou datta?). – Test finished! How did it go?
Remember, the key is not only to learn the phrases, but also to practice and incorporate them seamlessly into your conversations in order to become a confident speaker.
With these expressions, tips, and examples in your repertoire, you can now confidently communicate that you are finished in both formal and informal Japanese contexts. Happy learning!
Written by Maxwell Victor
Konnichiwa! I'm Maxwell, a devoted language enthusiast with arguably an unconventional fascination for the depths of the Japanese language. When I'm not writing comprehensive guides to help you navigate 'Nihongo', you'll find me whipping up a culinary storm in the kitchen - be it dumplings or a birthday cake. Embracing my inner otaku, I also have a weakness for Gacha games. I believe that learning languages can be a delightful journey of discovering signature phrases like 'beautiful eyes' or the casual 'come with me', so join me on this enlightening path and let's discover Japanese together!よろしくお願いします！
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ばかり (Bakari) vs ところ (Tokoro): Two Ways to Say You "Just" Did Something Recently, You Learned the Difference Between These Two Words
November 15, 2022 • words written by Emily Suvannasankha , Kanae Nakamine , and Sarah Bush • Art by Aya Francisco
How do you describe what you just did in Japanese? Maybe you just brushed your teeth, or you just bought a car. How can you describe those past activities that have just happened?
Well, you've got two great options: ばかり and ところ. Say you want to tell someone that you just bought a car in Japanese. To simply say you "bought a car," it's 車を買った. However, if you want to say it just happened, you can use either ばかり or ところ and say:
- 車を買ったばかり。 車を買ったところ。
- I just bought a car.
Both are translated as "I just bought a car" in this case. So do they mean the same thing? The answer is no, and that's why we're writing this article! Beyond what you see in the English translation, there are differences in nuance, and one works better than the other depending on the situation or what you're really trying to say. Which one would you use, for example, if you're keeping someone updated on your whereabouts and you want to let them know you've just finished the errand at the car dealership? How about if someone scratches your new car and you want to scream at them that it's a car you only just bought?
If you're curious, keep reading! In this article, we'll cordially introduce you to each one, explain the personality differences between ばかり and ところ, and help you decide which one to whip out depending on the situation. You just plopped yourself down to read this article anyway, so might as well keep going!
Before going deeper on the subject, we also want to clarify that this article will focus exclusively on using ばかり and ところ when they follow verbs in their past tense to talk about recent happenings, as in 〜たばかり or 〜たところ.
You may have also heard ばっか or ばっかし used instead of ばかり, or とこ instead ところ. These are just casual versions of ばかり and ところ. Examples you see in this article primarily use ばかり and ところ, but know that they're all interchangeable.
Situation #1: "I Just Bought a Car"
Situation #2: "i just got in the taxi", situation #3: "i just finished my homework", ばかり and ところ for things that actually happened a while ago, ばかり for modifying nouns, you just learned.
Prerequisites: This article assumes you already know hiragana and katakana. If you need a refresher, take a look at our Ultimate Hiragana Guide and Ultimate Katakana Guide . To get the most out of this article, make sure you're already familiar with tense in general, especially past tense forms . Bonus points if you're already a little familiar with ところ and ばかり, but don't worry if you don't know too much yet. That's what you're here for!
What Are ばかり and ところ?
First things first: what is ばかり and what is ところ? Before jumping into the differences between them, let's first get to know more about what each does, and what each means.
ばかり originates from the Japanese words for measurement or amount — 計り, 測り, and 量り, all pronounced はかり — and has a few different meanings today. One of those meanings is "just" or "only."
In case you've never seen how ばかり means "just" or "only," here's a quick example. If you want to describe that all someone does is sleep, you can say that they 寝るばかり (only sleeping) and not doing anything else. In the same manner, you can complain that your kid's doing ゲームばかり (only games) all the time. And when it gets used with past tense verbs (which this article is all about), it basically means "this thing happened, and only just a little time has passed since then."
When you think about it, "only" or "just" is subjective. You might think of a glass of water as half empty — there's only this much water — or as half full. It just depends on your point of view.
When ばかり is used to describe a past event, it expresses how something feels like it happened recently to you, the speaker, probably in order to make some kind of point. In that sense, ばかり is pretty subjective in that the actual amount of time that has passed doesn't really matter. You can even use it to describe something you did a while ago — as long as it feels recent to you in that context.
Here's an example. You got your nails done a few days ago, and someone asks you to dig a hole for their pet alligator's funeral. You might indignantly exclaim:
- でもネイルしに行ったばっかりだよ！
- But I just got my nails done!
Technically it's not something you just did if it happened a few days ago. However, you can use ばかり here because it still feels recent to you, especially considering this situation where someone's asked you to help them dig a hole in the ground. With these fresh nails? No way!
Actually, you may know what ところ means already. It's the same as 所, a Japanese word for "place" or "location." An important thing to keep in mind here is that ところ doesn't only mean a "place" in the physical sense — it can also mean a "place" in time.
When ところ is used to say what you just did, it's like you're saying, "This thing just happened, and this is where I'm at now." For example, if you just finished drinking some water, you could say this:
- I just finished drinking.
By saying ところ in this sentence, you're simply pointing to the moment shortly after gulping down water and saying, "Here's where I'm at."
You can actually use other verb tenses with ところ too. It just depends on which stage of the activity you're at, and which one you want to point to!
飲むところ is when you are about to start drinking. 飲む is in the so-called present tense, but it can be used for a future action as well. 飲んでいるところ is when you are in the process of drinking, because as you might know, 飲んでいる is the present continuous form. Then, 飲んだところ is when you have just finished drinking, as 飲んだ is past tense. Using ところ, you are simply reporting where you are in the process: "I'm about to do this," "I'm in the middle of doing this," "I just did this," etc.
Using ところ, you are simply trying to state the fact of where you are on a timeline.
Did you notice how ところ is objective compared to ばかり, which depends on the subjective feeling of recency?
Now, let's take a look at one of the most common examples of how this is used for something that just happened. If you're on your way to meet up with a friend and they ask you where you are, you might say this:
- Just left the house. ( Literally : I'm at the point where I just left the house.)
In this scenario, you're either literally standing outside your front door, you've only taken a few steps away from it, or maybe you've made it down the street, but not much farther. It's definitely only been a few short seconds/minutes since you ventured into the outside world. And unlike ばかり, it can't only be your feeling that you've just left the house. It's an indisputable fact! They've got security camera footage to prove it and everything.
Now that you get the basic gist of ところ, wanna try making a full sentence with it? Oh yeah, I know you do. So, what if someone wants to know your progress on that report you've been working on?
- 今レポートを書き終わったところです。
- I just finished writing the report. ( Literally : I am at the point where I just finished writing the report.)
That's it — nothing more to say, just that the report is done, and you done did it just now. This sentence sounds so neutral and indifferent, you could whip it out to your boss and they wouldn't bat an eyelash. If you wanted to, you could add some emotional color to this statement with extra words or phrases, or even the tone of your voice. But unlike ばかり, ところ is pretty straightforward on its own.
ばかり vs ところ: What's the Difference?
Alright, we've met the subjective ばかり and shaken hands with the more objective ところ. Now, let's review what each one is about before we move onto the nuances of each.
To reemphasize, ばかり is more subjective and can be linked to the speaker's feelings, while ところ is more objective and reports where you're at in "time."
When you want to make a statement about how recent something feels to you, you may want to use ばかり. It doesn't matter when it actually was. Its focus is rather on how little time seems to have passed since, so it adds a subjective feel.
However, when you simply want to specify a point in time to describe what you've just done, you might want to use ところ. You're reporting your status or stage of progress objectively by telling "where you are at" in time. These things have probably literally just happened or you've just done them, and there's not necessarily much feeling involved. Not too hard to grasp, huh?
But just to delve a little deeper, we'll show you examples so that you can compare the two side by side and really see the differences between them.
Comparing the Nuances Between ばかり and ところ
For comparison's sake, let's start with conjuring up some situations where it might be more natural to use one over the other.
Hey, remember the example situation of buying a car we provided at the beginning of this article? It's time to finally find out what the difference is when you use ばかり vs ところ in this scenario.
You now know that ばかり is used when you want to make a slightly stronger statement of how you feel like something "just" happened, whether or not it was particularly recent. You're probably making a point about how you feel about a certain situation. People often use ばかり to say that it's inconvenient/nonsensical for [second thing] to happen, because they feel like [first thing] just recently occurred.
For example, look at this sentence about buying a car.
By saying ばかり, you're putting emphasis on the completed action and how little time you feel has passed since then. You just bought a new car! Maybe someone's pressuring you to buy a new car, but you feel like it's way too soon for that since you just bought your current car a few months ago. Or you scratched the car you bought last year, and it's a shame because you'd hoped to keep it in good condition for much longer. Or perhaps you have to scrap your car, even though you bought it brand new three years ago. Oof!
See how the actual amount of time that's passed doesn't matter? Sort of like how people say "it feels like only yesterday!" Tossing ばかり into your sentences can have these layered implications about how you feel about the situation, so make sure you're using it intentionally.
On the other hand, you also know that ところ is used when you simply want to state the fact of where you are on a timeline. Unlike ばかり, you're not really putting emphasis on your feelings about the situation or subjectively commenting on the recentness of the event. Instead, you're pinpointing a specific moment in time.
For instance, you could objectively report this about where you are in the car-buying process:
Pretty matter-of-fact! You just bought a car, and that's where you are at. Maybe you bought a car literally just now, and your mom is wondering where you are in the progress of your errands. She texts you 「今どこ？」 ("Where are you?"), and you're reporting, "I'm at a point where I just bought a car." Do you notice how the tone and implication of the sentence varies depending on which one you use?
Here's another slight difference: Because ところ describes a specific point on a timeline, it carries a nuance that following the completed action, there will be another action. For example, saying 車を買ったところ brings up a timeline in the listener's mind – maybe going grocery shopping will be the "next thing" you do after buying the car, which you'll probably tell them in the next breath. But saying 車を買ったばかり doesn't have quite the same effect.
Now let's look at a situation where either one would be okay, but they carry different nuances. Imagine you're texting someone you're meeting up with.
- タクシーに乗ったところ。
- I just got in the taxi.
This sentence is simply reporting that you just got in a taxi. It could be a way to tell your friend that you're on your way and give an idea of when you'll arrive. ところ is perfect for keeping someone updated about your whereabouts like this.
- タクシーに乗ったばかり。
Whether you should throw out a ところ or ばかり really depends on the context and what tone you're trying to convey.
On the other hand, if you used ばかり, it sounds like someone (probably the person you're texting) is rushing you to get to the destination. Maybe they're texting you things like まだ着かないの？ ("Are you not here yet?") and you're saying you won't be able to get there as quickly as expected, because it's barely been a minute since you got in the taxi.
See? Technically both mean "I just got in the taxi," but they carry different nuances. While ところ simply reports your progress, ばかり emphasizes how little time has passed based on your feelings.
Here's our final scenario. Your friend's calling to see what you're up to and ask if you want to grab dinner together. You just finished your homework, so you're down to go out for dinner. Which one do you think works better — ところ or ばかり? Depending on your choice, you'll come off differently. Let's first take a look at an example using ところ.
- いいよ！今宿題が終わったとこ。
- Sounds good! I just finished my homework (and I'm ready to go out).
ところ works well here as it just simply reports where you're at on a timeline. "But can't you then use ところ when you can't go out for dinner too?" you might ask. Well, you're right. You could use ところ even if you can't go out for dinner — using it to explain that you've just finished your homework and that there's something coming up next in your agenda, for example:
- 今宿題が終わったところで、これから映画に行くんだ。ごめんね。
- I just finished my homework, and I'm going to a movie now. Sorry.
See how you can use ところ to lay out your timeline like this? Now, let's look into how ばかり works in this situation.
- ❓ 1 いいよ！今宿題が終わったばかり。
- Sounds good! I just finished my homework (and I need to take a breather first).
Using ばかり comes off as unnatural in this situation where you're trying to say "yes" to the invitation. ばかり makes it sound like you need a minute to chill out first or something, because the focus is on how little time you feel has passed since you finished your homework. And if you need some time to relax, you probably wouldn't say "sounds good," right?
But is it okay to use ばかり if the answer was "maybe a little later," you wonder? That's a great guess, because ばかり could actually work in that case. Since the problem with ばかり earlier was that it sounded like you needed a minute for whatever reason, it works great in a sentence like:
- 今宿題が終わったばかりだから、ちょっと後でもいい？
- I just finished my homework (and I need to take a breather first), so is it okay if we go a little later?
Up until now, we've said a lot about how ばかり and ところ are used to describe things that have just happened. You just dropped your graphing calculator in the toilet (oops). But time to unleash the whole truth: Both can be used for events that actually happened a while ago, too. Like maybe that poor calculator took the ultimate plunge in 10th grade, and now you're retelling that story. Stay with me! It'll make sense in a minute.
For ばかり, this works when the speaker subjectively feels that it hasn't been much time since the thing happened, but that amount of time is weeks, months, years, etc. And for ところ, this applies when you're telling a story about the past, and you're pointing to where you were on that timeline in the story — often using the past tense ところ だった .
Want to learn more? Alright, let's crack open our good friend ばかり first.
Think about this example situation. If a kid begged their mom to buy them a new phone, the ママ (mama) might retort:
- 半年前に買ったばっかなのに？
- Even though I just bought (you a new phone) half a year ago?
This sentence carries a strong emotional tone of "I just bought you a new phone recently, so don't push your luck, squirt!" If this sentence were an emoji, it would be the incredulous one with the raised eyebrow. 🤨
Whether something can be considered "recent" depends on the situation and people's feelings about it.
But back to the main point here — see how the thing that happened wasn't actually that recent, it just feels that way to the speaker? Mama is expressing her opinion that six months is not that long ago to have bought a new phone for the little scamp.
But even so, you probably wouldn't say something like this if the kid's asking for a new sponge, right?
- Even though I just bought (you a new sponge) half a year ago?
You see how this doesn't make much sense, right? Hopefully you're buying new sponges more often than every six months! So even though ばかり has quite a bit of leeway for subjectivity, there are still some boundaries and contexts where it's just nonsensical to consider an event recent.
But you know what offers a lot less wiggle room? ばかり's counterpart ところ, because only facts matter to ところ. Let's shuffle back to the car dealership and revisit the car-buying example, shall we? Compare these two sentences:
- 数年前に車を買ったばかりだ
- I just bought a car a few years ago.
- ❓数年前に車を買ったところだ
- I (am currently at the point where I) just bought a car a few years ago.
See how ところ doesn't really make sense in this context? Conceivably, someone could feel that a few years ago is recent, so ばかり can be used. But ところ? Sorry buddy, it just won't fly. Unless you're time traveling, you did not literally "just now" buy a car "a few years ago." That would be pointing to two different points on the timeline at the same time, which is bending the laws of spacetime in a way that the Japanese language doesn't allow!
However, there is a way you can use ところ to talk about things that happened a while ago, and it's when telling a story about the past — pointing to a past moment of where you "were" on the timeline. Try sticking a past tense だった after ところ instead of present tense だ. In this case, maybe someone invited you to join them on a trip a few years ago, but you didn't go. And now, you're explaining what you were up to back when you were invited. You might say…
- ちょうど車を買ったところ だった ので、お金がなかった。
- I had just bought a car, so I was broke. ( Literally : It was right at the point when I had just bought a car, so I was broke.)
As long as you're describing a specific point in the past and not the present, you can use ところ for things that happened a while ago. It's not recent anymore, but it was recent at some point, and that point is what you're shoving your index finger at when you use ところ this way.
Got it? Good! Let's move on to just one more grammatical difference between ばかり and ところ.
We've only talked about when we use ばかり and ところ to describe recent happenings, like "I just bought a dress." But what if you want to talk about "a dress you just bought," modifying a noun?
- ワンピースを買ったばかり。 ワンピースを買ったところ。
- I just bought a dress.
You probably recognize this grammatical pattern from previous examples. When the noun comes first like this, either ばかり or ところ is fine, depending on what vibe you're going for. But if you want to flip the sentence around and start it by saying "The dress I just bought…," ばかり tends to work better most of the time.
- 買ったばかりのワンピース ❓ 買ったところのワンピース
- a dress I just bought
Because ばかり focuses on how little time has passed since something happened, it's often used to express how new something feels. Maybe you're saying "The dress I just bought has a hole in it already!" See? It makes sense, since how recently you bought the dress is relevant to the feelings you're expressing about the situation, which is why ばかり is there.
ばかり is often used like this to describe things you've just bought, cleaned, repaired, etc.
On the other hand, ところ simply points to a moment in time. You rarely see ところ being used this way, because the intention to modify nouns is usually to draw attention to how new or fresh something is to you and make a point about that.
People also often use ばかり to describe events that just happened, or someone who just took a particular action, like so:
- 結婚したばかりのカップル ❓結婚したところのカップル
- a couple who just got married
Again, this is where ばかり shines — ところ is rarely used this way. You might be about to express feelings about this couple, or at least mention something relevant to how they just got married. Maybe how seeing newlyweds makes you feel happy, or how you're planning to buy a gift for the couple who just got married. So remember, if you're modifying nouns, you're probably going to want to use ばかり.
「ばかり」と「ところ」の違いを学んだところですね。 でも今勉強したばかりだから、まだちょっと難しい？
If you could understand (at least most of) the two sentences above and the different vibes they express, congratulations! You're smarter than you were "just" a few minutes ago.
To sum it up, you can use both ばかり and ところ to describe recent events or actions. But remember, ばかり expresses more subjectivity and feeling about how recently something happened, while ところ gives a more neutral, objective report of where you're at on a timeline. And you can use them to talk about past events too, in some cases.
Hopefully after reading this article, you've found yourself in a slightly smarter ところ in life than you were before!
❓ indicates that the example sentence is not natural-sounding in the given context. ↩
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Master the Phrase: How to Say Finish in Japanese Easily
If you’re learning Japanese, it’s important to master essential phrases that you’ll use every day. One such phrase is “finish.” Being able to express “finish” in Japanese will help you communicate clearly in a variety of situations. In this article, we’ll explore the Japanese word for “finish,” how to pronounce it correctly, and how to use it in everyday conversation. By the end, you’ll feel confident in saying “finish” in Japanese.
Learning the Japanese word for “finish” is an essential part of your language journey. It helps you express completion and get your point across in a concise manner. In the next section, we’ll dive into the different ways to express “finish” in Japanese, providing the Japanese word for “finish” and its various nuances.
So, let’s get started and learn how to say finish in Japanese !
Understanding the Japanese Word for Finish
When it comes to expressing “finish” in Japanese, there are a few different options to choose from. The most common and versatile word for “finish” in Japanese is “owaru,” which can be used in a variety of contexts.
However, depending on the situation, you may need to use a more specific word for “finish.” For example, if you are finishing a meal, you would use the word “meshiagaru.” If you are finishing a task, you would use the word “shuuryou suru.”
It’s important to note that the Japanese language often relies on context to convey meaning. Therefore, understanding the nuances of each word for “finish” is crucial to accurately communicate your message.
Using “Owaru” for Finish in Japanese Language
The word “owaru” is the most commonly used word for “finish” in Japanese. It can be used in a variety of situations, from finishing a book to completing a project.
| Japanese | Romaji | English |
|---|---|---|
| 終わる | owaru | to finish |
| 仕事が終わる | shigoto ga owaru | to finish work |
| 本を読み終わる | hon wo yomio-waru | to finish reading a book |
Using Other Words for Finish in Japanese Language
As mentioned earlier, there are specific words for “finish” that are used in certain situations. Here are a few examples:
| Japanese | Romaji | English |
|---|---|---|
| 食べ終わる | tabeowaru | to finish eating |
| 勉強が終わる | benkyou ga owaru | to finish studying |
| 映画が終わる | eiga ga owaru | to finish watching a movie |
By understanding the various words for “finish” in Japanese and their contexts, you can effectively communicate your message in any situation.
Pronouncing “Finish” in Japanese
Congratulations! You now know the Japanese word for “finish.” But do you know how to pronounce it correctly? In this section, we will guide you through the proper pronunciation of “finish” in Japanese.
Step-by-Step Guide
The Japanese word for “finish” is “owari,” which is pronounced “oh-wah-ree.” Let’s break it down further:
| Japanese | Romanization | English |
|---|---|---|
| お | o | oh |
| わ | wa | wah |
| り | ri | ree |
To pronounce “owari” correctly, start with “oh” (like saying “oh no!”) and then say “wah” (like saying “wa” in “water”). Finally, say “ree” (like saying “ree” in “tree”).
Tips for Correct Pronunciation
When pronouncing “owari,” be sure to elongate the “ree” sound at the end, as this is how it is pronounced in Japanese. Also, pay attention to the pitch accent, which is a crucial aspect of Japanese pronunciation. In “owari,” the accent falls on the first syllable, “oh.”
By following these tips and practicing the pronunciation, you will soon be able to say “finish” in Japanese confidently and accurately.
Using “Finish” in Everyday Japanese
Now that you know how to say “finish” in Japanese and understand its various nuances, it’s time to learn how to use it in everyday conversations.
One common way to use “finish” in Japanese is to express completion of an action or task. For example, if you have finished eating, you can say:
| Japanese | English Translation |
|---|---|
| 食べ終わった | I finished eating. |
You can also use “finish” to describe the end of an event or activity, such as a meeting or a movie. For instance:
| Japanese | English Translation |
|---|---|
| 会議が終わった | The meeting is over. |
| 映画が終わった | The movie is finished. |
Another way to use “finish” in Japanese is to express running out of something. For example:
| Japanese | English Translation |
|---|---|
| お金がなくなった | I’m finished (out of) money. |
| 時間がなくなった | I’m out of time. |
Lastly, “finish” can also be used to express reaching a certain point in a process, such as completing a course or a project. For example:
| Japanese | English Translation |
|---|---|
| 課程を終えた | I finished the course. |
| プロジェクトを終了した | I completed the project. |
By using “finish” in these various ways, you will be able to effectively communicate your thoughts and actions in Japanese. Practice incorporating this essential phrase into your conversations, and soon it will become second nature to you.
Recap and Conclusion
Congratulations! You have now learned how to say “finish” in Japanese. By understanding the different nuances and contexts of the word, you can now use it confidently in everyday conversations.
Remember to practice pronouncing the word correctly using the step-by-step guide provided in Section 3. Incorporate the word into your vocabulary and use it in various contexts, as demonstrated in Section 4.
Learning a new language takes time and effort, but mastering essential phrases like “finish” is crucial in achieving fluency. Keep up the hard work and continue expanding your Japanese vocabulary.
Thank you for reading this article. We hope it has been helpful in your language learning journey.
Q: What is the Japanese word for “finish”?
A: The Japanese word for “finish” is “owarimasu” (終わります).
Q: How do you pronounce “finish” in Japanese?
A: The pronunciation of “finish” in Japanese is “oh-wah-ree-mahss.”
Q: Can you provide an example of using “finish” in a sentence?
A: Sure! An example sentence using “finish” in Japanese would be: “Watashi wa shigoto o owarimashita” (私は仕事を終わりました), which means “I finished work.”
Q: Are there any other ways to express “finish” in Japanese?
A: Yes, there are other words and expressions to convey the idea of “finish” in Japanese, such as “motsu” (持つ), meaning “to have” or “to possess,” and “shūryō” (終了), meaning “completion” or “termination.”
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How to say homework in Japanese
- homework ; assignment
- pending issue; unresolved problem; open question
Example Sentences
© Based on JMdict , KANJIDIC2 , and JMnedict , property of the Electronic Dictionary Research and Development Group , used in conformance with the Group's licence . Example sentences from the Tatoeba project (CC BY 2.0). Kanji stroke order data from the KanjiVG project by Ulrich Apel (CC BY-SA 3.0). See comprehensive list of data sources for more info.
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May 28, 2022 By Masaki Mori Leave a Comment
Shukudai is the Japanese word for ‘homework’, explained
What does “shukudai” mean in japanese.
Native speakers use shukudai to mean ‘homework’ in Japanese. Perhaps, some Japanese learners know this word as it is sometimes used in Japanese textbooks. In this blog post, however, I will explain this word in detail based on its kanji expression. And also, I will explain how to use it through example sentences. My explanations would help Japanese learners understand shukudai more clearly. Then, let’s get started!
Definition and meaning of “shukudai”
How to say “homework” in japanese, another example of “shukudai”.
Let me start with the definition and meaning of shukudai .
- shukudai – 宿題 (しゅくだい) : a noun meaning ‘homework’ in Japanese.
Native speakers use this noun to refer to a task or tasks to do at home after school. So, the usage is very similar to that of the English noun, homework , I think.
The definition and meaning are simple and clear. To understand this noun more clearly, however, let me explain its kanji characters in detail, one by one.
Shukudai in kanji
The kanji expression of shukudai consists of the following two kanji characters:
- 宿 : a kanji character used to refer to a place where people stay.
- 題 : a kanji character used to mean a ‘theme’, ‘subject’, ‘question’, or ‘problem’ in Japanese.
From these two kanji characters, we can understand that shukudai literally means ‘a place where people stay and questions’ in Japanese. This literal interpretation is not completely in line with the actual meaning, but still understandable, I think. Homework is often a set of questions which people need to solve at home.
When we meet new kanji expressions, we should check their kanji characters in detail to understand their meanings clearly and deeply. In many cases, kanji characters tell us a lot about the meanings of the expressions they form. Actually, here, we could get the better understanding of shukudai through the detailed kanji check above.
So far, I’ve explained the definition and meaning of shukudai together with its kanji characters. Then, let me explain how to use it through the example sentences below.
kyou wa shukudai ga takusan aru – 今日は宿題がたくさんある (きょうはしゅくだいがたくさんある) Today, I have a lot of homework.
Below are the new words used in the example sentence.
- kyou – 今日 (きょう) : a noun meaning ‘today’ in Japanese.
- wa – は : a binding particle working as a case marker or topic marker. In the example, this works as a topic marker after kyou to put a focus on it.
- ga – が : a case particle used to make the subject word or the object word in a sentence. In the example, this is used after shukudai to make the subject in the sentence.
- takusan – たくさん : an adverb of quantity meaning ‘many’, ‘much’, or such in Japanese. In the example, this works to emphasize the amount of the homework.
- aru – ある : a verb meaning ‘to be’, ‘to exist’, ‘to present’, or such in Japanese.
This is a typical usage of shukudai . In this example, it works as a part of the commonly-used phrase, shukudai ga aru , which literally means ‘homework exists’ in Japanese. This phrase is often translated into English as ‘to have homework’, though.
boku wa shukudai wo katazuke mashi ta – 僕は宿題を片付けました (ぼくはしゅくだいをかたづけました) I finished my homework.
- boku – 僕 (ぼく) : a pronoun meaning ‘I’ in Japanese. This is used mainly by boys and young males.
- wo – を : a case particle used to make the object word in a sentence. In the example, this is used after shukudai to make the object in the sentence.
- katazuke – 片付け (かたづけ) : one conjugation of the verb, katazukeru , which means ‘to clean’, ‘to clear’, ‘to finish’, or such in Japanese. In the example, it has been conjugated for the better connection with its following word.
- mashi – まし : one conjugation of the auxiliary verb, masu , which is used after a verb to make it polite. In the example, this is used after katazuke to make it sound polite.
- ta – た : an auxiliary verb used after a verb, adjective, or auxiliary verb to make its past tense form. Probably, this is well known as a part of Japanese ta form. In the example, this is used at the end of the verb phrase to mean ‘to have finished’ in Japanese.
This is another example of shukudai . In this example, it works together with the case particle, wo , to become the object in the sentence. When we want to mean ‘homework’ in Japanese, anyway, this noun is always a very good option.
In this blog post, I’ve explained the definition and meaning of shukudai in detail based on its kanji expression. And also, I’ve explained how to use it through the example sentences. Let me summarize them as follows.
- shukudai – 宿題 (しゅくだい) : a noun meaning ‘homework’ in Japanese. Native speakers use this noun to refer to a task or tasks to do at home after school. So, the usage of this noun is very similar to that of the English one, homework . These two kanji characters literally mean ‘a place where people stay and questions’ in Japanese. This literal interpretation is not completely in line with the actual meaning, but still understandable, I think. Homework is often a set of questions which people need to solve at home.
Hope my explanations are understandable and helpful for Japanese learners.
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Translation of finished – English–Japanese dictionary
(Translation of finished from the GLOBAL English-Japanese Dictionary © 2022 K Dictionaries Ltd)
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How to say "I do my homework." in Japanese.
I do my homework., learn the word in this minigame:, more i do my homework vocabulary in japanese, example sentences, how to say "i do my homework." in 45 languages., other interesting topics in japanese, ready to learn japanese, language drops is a fun, visual language learning app. learn japanese free today..
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How do you say this in Japanese? I finished my homework with my computer. See a translation
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@Artyte : コンピューターを使(つか)って、宿題(しゅくだい)を 終(お)わらせた。
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1. 私は終わりました (Watashi wa owarimashita). This expression is a straightforward way to state "I am finished" in a formal manner. Note that "watashi" means "I," "wa" is a particle used to mark the subject, and "owarimashita" is the past tense of the verb "owaru" (to finish). 2.
24 Jun 2019. English (US) Spanish (Spain) Japanese. Korean. Question about Japanese. How do you say this in Japanese? I finished my homework.
I just finished my homework (and I need to take a breather first). Using ばかり comes off as unnatural in this situation where you're trying to say "yes" to the invitation. ばかり makes it sound like you need a minute to chill out first or something, because the focus is on how little time you feel has passed since you finished your homework.
The most commonly used phrase for "homework" in Japanese is "shukudai" (宿題), which is also the most casual and familiar. For a more formal or academic context, "kadai" (課題) can be used instead. In addition to these phrases, Japanese educators may use the term "jishu gakushu" (自主学習) when referring to self-study or ...
Example #7: how to say "if finish" in Japanese. ... If I finish my homework, I can go out. Below are the new words used in the example sentence. dekake - 出掛け (でかけ) : one conjugation of the verb, "dekakeru", which means 'to go out' in Japanese. In the example, it has been conjugated for the better connection with the ...
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You have now learned how to say "finish" in Japanese. By understanding the different nuances and contexts of the word, you can now use it confidently in everyday conversations. Remember to practice pronouncing the word correctly using the step-by-step guide provided in Section 3. Incorporate the word into your vocabulary and use it in ...
What is "Homework" in Japanese and how to say it? American English. homework. Japanese. しゅくだい. Learn the word in this minigame: Loading WebApp...
How to say homework in Japanese. JLPT N5. 宿 題 ☆【 しゅくだい shukudai 】. noun: homework; assignment. pending issue; unresolved problem; open question.
Below are the new words used in the example sentence. kyou - 今日 (きょう) : a noun meaning 'today' in Japanese.; wa - は : a binding particle working as a case marker or topic marker. In the example, this works as a topic marker after kyou to put a focus on it.; ga - が : a case particle used to make the subject word or the object word in a sentence.
4 translation found for 'i have just finished my homework.' in Japanese. Translation by n: 私は宿題を終えたところだ。. Translation by n: 私はちょうど宿題を終えたところだ。. Translation by mookeee: ちょうど宿題を終えたところだ。. Translation by n: ちょうど宿題をすませたところだ。
FINISHED translate: 完成（かんせい）した, 望（のぞ）みを断（た）たれた, 仕上（しあ）がった. Learn more in the Cambridge English-Japanese Dictionary.
Japanese. Question about Japanese. How do you say this in Japanese? I haven't finished my homework.
Japanese. You do your homework. あなたは宿題をします。. あなたは宿題をします。. He does his homework. 彼は宿題をします。. We do our homework. 私たちは宿題をします。. You all do your homework.
Do you know how to improve your language skills All you have to do is have your writing corrected by a native speaker! With HiNative, you can have your writing corrected by both native speakers and AI 📝 .
What's the Japanese word for homework? Here's a list of translations. Japanese Translation. 宿題. Shukudai. More Japanese words for homework. 宿題 noun. Shukudai homework.
since Japanese is long and complicated you have to say. " I don't have homework". homework = 宿題 /しゅくだい (kanji and hiragana) to have= あります/ません (positive/ negative) I don't have homework= 宿題がありません or しゅくだいがありません。 I hope that helped! good luck studying!
How to Say i Finished My Homework in Japanese - Free download as PDF File (.pdf), Text File (.txt) or read online for free. how to say i finished my homework in japanese
'I am done (with my work)' is a straggler from older English. In Old English, the present perfect was formed somewhat differently. Whereas Modern English uses to have in almost every construction, be it transitive or intransitive, older English used to have with transitive verbs and to be with intransitive verbs. Here are some intransitive examples:
I haven't finished my homework yet. Recently. We often use the present perfect with recently to talk about past recent actions. They 've recently bought a new car. Today, this week, this month, this year. We can use the present perfect with time expressions when the time we mention has not finished. I 've seen John today. (=Today has not ...
1 translation found for 'i haven't finished my homework yet.' in Japanese. Translation by n: まだ宿題が終わらない。. ... How to say "except that here, it's not so simple." in Japanese: 0 seconds ago. Kiel oni diras "la odoro estis horora." germanaj: 0 seconds ago.