How to Say ‘The kids don't pass much.’ in Japanese
子どもたちが、あまりパスをしません。
kodomo tachi ga amari pasu o shi mase n
[koh-doh-moh tah-chee ga ah-mah-ree pasu oh shee mah-seh n]
Phrase Breakdown
子どもたちが、
kodomo tachi ga
the children (subject)
子ども (kodomo) means 'child'. たち (tachi) makes it plural. が (ga) marks the subject. Pause briefly after it.
子どもたちが遊んでいます。
The children are playing.
Words in this phrase
子ども
kodomo
[koh-doh-moh]
child; children
Means a child, and in context can also refer to children in general.
子どもは元気です。
The child is energetic.
たち
tachi
[tah-chee]
plural marker
Added to words referring to people to make them plural, as in 私たち meaning 'we.'
子どもたちが公園で遊びます。
The children play in the park.
が
ga
[ga]
subject marker
A particle marking the subject of the sentence.
興味がある分野を教えてください。
Please tell me the field you are interested in.
あまり
amari
[ah-mah-ree]
too much; not very
With a negative form, あまり often means 'too much' in worried questions like this.
あまり無理していませんかと聞かれました。
I was asked, 'Aren't you overdoing it?'
パスをしません。
pasu o shi mase n
don't pass (the ball)
パス (pasu) is 'pass'. しません (shimasen) is the polite negative of 'do'. The 'u' in pasu is soft.
あまりパスをしません。
They don't pass much.
Words in this phrase
パス
pasu
[pasu]
pass
A path or route designed to achieve a goal, especially in career context.
彼はキャリアのパスを決めました。
He decided his career path.
を
o
[oh]
object marker
The particle を marks the direct object of a verb.
チケットを二枚ください。
Two tickets, please.
し
shi
[shee]
do
し is the stem of する, meaning to do.
予約しします。
I do the reservation.
ませ
mase
[mah-seh]
polite negative stem
Part of the polite negative form ません.
今日は無理はしません。
I will not overdo it today.
ん
n
[n]
negative ending
The final sound completing the negative polite form.
一人は魚が食べられません。
One person cannot eat fish.
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