Lesson 21 introduces common ways to express thoughts, report what someone says, and make polite predictions. The main patterns are: ใใจใใใใพใ (I think / I guess), ใใจใใใพใ๏ผใใจใใใพใใ (someone says / said), and ใใงใใใ๏ผ (isnโt it? / probably). These patterns use the futsuu-kei (plain form) of verbs, adjectives, and nouns when they are quoted.
1) ใใใจใใใใพใใ โ โI think / I guessโ
Use [futsuu-kei] + ใจใใใใพใ to state your opinion or express a guess. When you are stating an opinion, the sentence before ใจใใใใพใ usually expresses a judgment; when making a prediction, the same pattern works with words like ใใถใ (probably).
Examples (hiragana):
ใใใใใใใใใตใใจใใใใใพใใใ โ I think it will rain tomorrow.
ใใใฎใปใใฏใใใใใใใจใใใใใพใใใ โ I think that book is interesting.
ใใใใใใใถใใใใใชใใจใใใใใพใใใ โ No, I think (he) probably does not know.
Notes:
Use the plain form before ใจใใใใพใ (e.g., ใใ, ใในใ, ใใชใ).
For negative judgments, use the negative plain form before ใจใใใใพใ (e.g., ใใใชใใจใใใใพใ) to indicate that you think something is not the case.
2) ใใใจใใใพใ๏ผใใจใใใพใใใ โ โ(Someone) says / said ~โ
Use [futsuu-kei] + ใจใใใพใ to report what someone says (direct or indirect quotation). For past reporting, use ใใจใใใพใใ. This pattern reports words or statements and is commonly used in news, conversation reports, or quoting others.
Examples (hiragana):
ใใใใฏใใใใใใใใจใใใใพใใใ โ He says, โI will go tomorrow.โ
ใใใใใใฏใใใ ใใ ใใใ ใใชใใใใจใใใใพใใใใ โ The teacher said, โHand in the homework.โ
ใใฟใใชใฏใใใฎใใใฃใใใจใใใใพใใใใ โ Everyone said, โIt was fun.โ
Notes:
Quoted content uses the plain form inside the quote. You can use quotation marks or simply place ใจ after the plain clause.
To summarize what someone said without exact quoting, you can also use the plain clause + ใจ + ใใ expressions.
3) ใใใงใใใ๏ผใ โ โprobably / isnโt it?โ
ใใงใใใ is used to express probability or to ask for confirmation. It is softer than a direct statement and can turn a sentence into a polite guess or expectation. When you expect agreement, you can add a rising intonation (โฆใงใใใ๏ผ).
Examples (hiragana):
ใใใใใฏใใใใใใใงใใใใใ โ It will probably be warm tomorrow.
ใใใใงใใ ใใใใใถใงใใใ๏ผใ โ This will be okay, right?
ใใใใฏใใใใใใใงใใใใใ โ He is probably busy.
Notes:
Use the plain or polite form before ใงใใใ depending on register, but the meaning (probability/confirmation) remains.
ใงใใใ is softer than a direct assertion and useful in polite conversation when you are not certain.