Meaning
Contracted forms are abbreviated words commonly used in casual, informal spoken Japanese where certain sounds are dropped or the word structure changes. There are six main types of contractions: は-contractions (では→じゃ, ては→ちゃ), て/で-contractions (ている→てる, てしまう→ちゃう), conditional ば-contractions (すれば→すりゃ), quotative と-contractions (という→っていう), の-final contractions (のだ→んだ), and ない conditional contractions (なければ→なきゃ).
Formation
| Part of speech | Formation |
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Examples
-
荷物はテーブルの下に置いといてください。
Please put your luggage under the table and leave it there. -
説明しなきゃ、わからないよ。
If you don't explain it, nobody will understand. -
うちの子は風邪を引いたから、今部屋で寝てる。
My child caught a cold, so he's sleeping in his room right now.
Summary
- Contractions are informal speech patterns where pronunciations are shortened or omitted
- Six main contraction types exist: は, て/で, ば, と, の-ending, and ない patterns
- These forms are essential for understanding natural Japanese conversation and casual dialogue