Language Learning Forum: "ha" and "wa" Japanese

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"ha" and "wa" Japanese

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Forum Name: Questions About Your Target Languages
Forum Discription: Where you can ask practical self-study questions about a specific problem in your target language.
URL: http://how-to-learn-any-language.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=15077
Printed Date: 2021 13 May at 2:53am

Posted By: EagerLearner
Subject: "ha" and "wa" Japanese
Date Posted: 2009 12 May at 8:12pm

Hello,
I'm wondering if someone who is fluent in Japanese could explain a bit about "ha" and "wa". (the Hiragana ha and wa). I've seen people using は while the Romaji translation says "wa". I'm wondering why they mix the two up instead of just using は for ha and わ for wa. I'd really appreciate it if someone could explain the details to me !!

Replies:

Short version: they're not mixing it up. は is pronounced 'wa' when used as a particle (my Japanese is too rusty to say if this is sometimes or always - sorry).

The good news: Japanese has very, very few quirks like this. The hiragana are generally pronounced as they're written.

Volte on 2009 12 May

The particle は　is pronounced 'wa', so it's written that way in romaji.
The particle へ　is pronounced 'e'.
The particle を is pronounced 'o'.

Those are the only ones I can think of. They are extremely common, you'll catch on quickly.

By the way, れ is 're'. 'Wa' is わ.
Yukamina on 2009 12 May

Oh sorry the site I was on had "re" written instead of "wa"
Anyways thanks a lot ^^
EagerLearner on 2009 12 May

From Japanese wordplay:

ははははははははのはははははははとわらう。
Two of "は"s are particles, so pronounced "wa".

母は「ハハハ」、母の母は「ハハハハ」と笑う。
haha wa "hahaha", haha no haha wa "hahahaha" to warau.
(Usually we say "obaasan" or "sobo" in stead of "haha no haha", but this is a wordplay)

uraniwaniwaniwaniwaniwaniwaniwatorigairu.
The sound "niwa" can have a lot of meenings.

ura-niwa niwa niwa, niwa niwa niwa niwatori ga iru.
裏庭には２羽、庭には２羽ニワトリがいる。
Amaki on 2009 13 May

Quote:

ははははははははのはははははははとわらう。
Two of "は"s are particles, so pronounced "wa".

母は「ハハハ」、母の母は「ハハハハ」と笑う。
haha wa "hahaha", haha no haha wa "hahahaha" to warau.
(Usually we say "obaasan" or "sobo" in stead of "haha no haha", but this is a wordplay)

Wow that's tricky lol
Thanks for letting me know.

By the way, would this sentence be correct ??

あなたはやさしい
Assuming that "ha" replaces wa as the particle.
I'm a noob so I write with spaces and 95% in Kana xD
EagerLearner on 2009 13 May

あなたはやさしい。(anata wa yasashii.)
Yes. This is 100% grammatical (correct).
And in this example it is impossible to use "ga" instead of "wa".

The following constructions would sound more naturally:
あなたはやさしいんですね。(anata wa yasashiin desune.)
あなたはやさしい人ですね。(anata wa yasashii hito desune.)

Amaki on 2009 14 May

Awesome thanks a lot ^^

EagerLearner on 2009 14 May

Trying to translate them to practice:

Amaki wrote:

Mother laughs "hahaha", mother's mother laughs "hahahaha".

Amaki wrote:

uraniwaniwaniwaniwaniwaniwaniwatorigairu.
The sound "niwa" can have a lot of meenings.

ura-niwa niwa niwa, niwa niwa niwa niwatori ga iru.
裏庭には２羽、庭には２羽ニワトリがいる。

In the backyard there are two chickens (?)
Monox D. I-Fly on 2017 24 September