Particles よ and ね
In this lesson, you will learn the final particles よ and ね. These particles are special in Japanese, because they give something more to the sentences.
At the end of this lesson, you will know the difference between them and how to use them properly in sentences.
The sentence final particles よ and ね are different from other particles. Instead of giving meaning to sentences, they will bring feeling to the sentences.
よ will bring some enthusiasm to the sentence. There is no rule to this particle, except that it will always be at the end of a sentence. We can use it in the keigo form and the familiar form.
いいてんきですよ！
Ii tenki desu yo!
It is a good day today!
らいねんにほんへいきますよ！
Rainen nihon e ikimasu yo!
Next year, I am going to Japan!
ね roughly translates to 'isn't it?' and will bring a certain affirmation to the sentence.
いいてんきですね？
Ii tenki desu ne?
It is a good day, isn't it?
そうですね！
Sou desu ne!
It is, right?
いいですね？
Ii desu ne?
It is good, right?
We can actually use these two particles together. You will see よ before ね.
いいてんきですよね？
Ii tenki desu yo ne?
It is a good day, is it?
そうですよね！
Sou desu yo ne!
It is, right?
おまつりへいくこと
Going to the festivals
Festivals are really popular in Japan. The best time to attend matsuri (festivals) is during summertime. There are a lot of festivals taking place during summer all throughout Japan. Festivals are usually sponsored by shrines and temples and many people attend dressed in kimono, or yuukata if the weather is really warm. There are many activities during these festivals and many food stands where you can purchase and eat all kind of delicious snacks.
The most famous and the biggest festival is without doubt the Gion festival held in Kyoto in July. The Gion Matsuri takes place in central Kyoto and at the Yasaka shrine. There, you can have the chance to taste yakitori (grilled chicken on a stick), taiyaki (Japanese fish-shaped cake), takoyaki (octopus balls), okonokiyaki, traditional Japanese sweets and other cultural delights.
Coming of age
The Shichi-go-san is a rite of passage celebrated in Japan for children aged 7, 5 and 3, held in November of every year. During this rite of passage, children are dressed in a kimono and go to the shrine with their parents. This is to celebrate the well-being and the growth of children. This practice is thought to have originated from the Muromachi period (1336 to 1573), due to the high infant mortality rate during the era.
Another rite of passage is celebrated in Japan each year. The Seijin no Hi (Comming of Age Day) is an annual rite held in January to congratulate and encourage all of those who have reached adulthood (the typical age of maturity in Japan is 20 years old). Although the age when youth can marry and can be released from parental authority is 18 years of age, drinking age and smoking age in Japan is 20 years old, and the age when someone can vote and acquire a driver's license is 18 years of age (16 for motorcycle).
An unusual festival...
Did you know that in April Japanese people have a festival called... the penis festival? Yes, held every first Monday in April in Kawasaki, the Kanamara Matsuri is celebrated in the Kanayama shrine where the God Kanayama-hiko and the Goddess Kanayama-hime are venerated. They are prayed to for easy childbirth, marital harmony and protection from sexually transmitted diseases.
During this festival, a phallus is paraded and you can also find snacks and sweets shaped like a phallus at several food stalls. It is definitely a festival you don't want to miss! In 2024, it will be held on April 7 and in 2025, it will be held on April 6.
