How to Say ‘We have one child.’ in Japanese
子どもが一人います。
kodomo ga hitori i masu
[koh-DOH-moh ga hee-toh-ree i mahss]
💬 Usage Tip: For people and animals, "there is" or "we have" is います; for things it's あります "there is (for objects)". The number goes after the noun and its が, with no extra word linking them: 大人が三人います "there are three adults".
Phrase Breakdown
子どもが
kodomo ga
a child (as subject)
子ども (kodomo) means 'child'. The particle が marks it as the subject. Say it as ko-do-mo-ga.
子どもが公園で遊んでいます。
Children are playing in the park.
Words in this phrase
子ども
kodomo
[koh-DOH-moh]
child; children
A common word for a young person; used when telling a restaurant that kids are in the group.
子どもは二人です。
There are two children.
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.
一人います。
hitori i masu
there is one (person)
一人 (hitori) means 'one person'. います is used for the existence of people and animals. Say it as hi-to-ri i-ma-su.
兄が一人います。
I have one older brother.
Words in this phrase
一人
hitori
[hee-toh-ree]
one person
Refers to one person. In 一人分, it indicates a single person's portion.
スープは一人分ずつよそいます。
We serve the soup in one-person portions.
い
i
[i]
be; exist
Part of 〜ている, showing an ongoing action or continuing state.
お待ちし てい ます。
I am waiting.
ます
masu
[mahss]
polite ending
A polite ending attached to verbs in formal speech.
まだありますか。
Are there still some available?
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