📚😤💪

How to Say ‘But my lessons are tough, you know.’ in Japanese

でも、私の授業は厳しいですよ。

de mo watashi no jugyou wa kibishii desu yo

[deh moh watashi no joo-GYOH wah kee-BEE-shee dess yo]

💬 Usage Tip: は here marks the topic and is said (wa), not (ha).

Phrase Breakdown

でも、私の授業は

de mo watashi no jugyou wa

but my class

でも (demo) means 'but'. 私の授業は (watashi no jugyou wa) sets 'my class' as the topic, with は read as 'wa'.

Example

でも、私の授業は楽しいです。

But my class is fun.

Words in this phrase

で

[deh]

but (part of でも)

First half of でも, a conjunction meaning 'but' or 'however' at the start of a sentence.

Example

でも、楽しいです。

But it's fun.

も

[moh]

but (part of でも)

Second half of でも, completing the conjunction 'but'.

Example

でも、今日は忙しいです。

But I'm busy today.

私

watashi

[watashi]

I; me

The first-person pronoun 'I.' Before の, it shows possession: 'my.'

Example

私の経験を説明します。

I will explain my experience.

の

[no]

of; 's

A particle linking a noun to what belongs to it or describes it.

Example

あなたの強みは責任感です。

Your strength is a sense of responsibility.

授業

jugyou

[joo-GYOH]

class; lesson

A lesson or class session, as taught by a teacher.

Example

明日、英語の授業があります。

I have English class tomorrow.

は

[wah]

topic marker

は marks the topic of the sentence.

Example

空席はありますか。

Are there any seats available?

厳しいですよ。

kibishii desu yo

is strict, you know

厳しい (kibishii) means strict, and よ adds a friendly warning.

Example

父は厳しいですよ。

My father is strict, you know.

Words in this phrase

厳しい

kibishii

[kee-BEE-shee]

strict; tough

Adjective describing strictness or severity, often of people or rules.

Example

父は厳しい人です。

My father is a strict person.

です

desu

[dess]

is; polite copula

A polite sentence ending used in formal conversation.

Example

少し伺いたいです。

I would like to ask a little.

よ

[yo]

you know; emphasis

A sentence-ending particle that adds emphasis or gives new information.

Example

これはおいしいよ。

This is delicious, you know.

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