Translation guide
The English auxiliary verb 'do' has no direct equivalent in Japanese. This guide covers how to express questions, negation, emphasis, and other functions that 'do' performs in English, using Japanese grammar patterns and strategies.
The learner wants to turn a statement into a yes/no question, similar to English 'do you...?' or 'does he...?'
Add か to the end of a plain form sentence to make a question. This is the most basic way to form a yes/no question in Japanese. No word order change is needed.
Do you speak Japanese?
Does he come?
In casual speech, の (with rising intonation) replaces か for yes/no questions. Often used by women and children, but also by men in informal settings.
Do you speak Japanese?
In very casual speech, simply saying a statement with rising intonation can turn it into a question. No particle is added.
Do you speak Japanese?
The learner wants to negate a verb, similar to English 'do not' or 'does not'.
Conjugate the verb into its negative form. For ru-verbs, drop る and add ない; for u-verbs, change the last kana to its あ-row equivalent and add ない. This is the standard negation.
The learner wants to emphasize the action of a verb, like 'I DO like it' or 'He DID go'.
Use the structure 'verb + のは + adjective/verb + だ' to emphasize the truth of a statement. This is a cleft sentence that highlights the action.
The learner wants to avoid repeating a verb phrase, like 'I like it, and so does he' or 'I didn't go, but she did'.
Japanese often repeats the verb or uses そう (so) to refer back to a previous action. There is no direct equivalent of 'do' as a pro-verb.
The learner wants to add a tag question like 'don't you?' or 'doesn't he?'
Add ね with rising intonation to the end of a statement to seek confirmation, similar to '..., right?' or '..., don't you?'.
The learner wants to tell someone not to do something, like 'Don't touch!'
There is no Japanese word for the auxiliary verb 'do'. Attempting to translate it directly will result in unnatural Japanese. Instead, use the appropriate grammar pattern for the function you need (question, negation, emphasis, etc.).
か is the standard question marker and can be used in both polite and plain speech. の is a casual question marker often used in informal conversation, especially by women and children. Using か in casual speech can sound blunt or masculine.
What are you doing? (casual)
I do not eat meat.
He does not come.
The polite negative form. Add ません to the verb stem (masu-stem). Used in formal situations.
I do not eat meat.
He did come (it is certain that he came).
Particles like よ (assertive) or ね (seeking agreement) can add emphasis to a statement, similar to the emphatic 'do'.
I DO go (I assure you).
The explanatory のだ/んだ can be used to emphasize or explain a situation, often translated with 'do' in English for emphasis.
He DOES come (I'm telling you).
I didn't go, but she did.
He speaks Japanese. So do I.
You speak Japanese, don't you?
Add だろう (casual) or でしょう (polite) with rising intonation for a tag question, often used when the speaker assumes agreement.
He'll come, won't he?
Polite negative request. Add ないでください to the verb stem.
Please don't touch.
何してるか？
What are you doing? (blunt/masculine)
I do want to go.
Emphatic using んです