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How to Say ‘(polite sentence ending: is/it is)’ in Japanese

です

desu

[dess]

💬 Usage Tip: [です] adds politeness. It doesn’t always translate directly, but it makes the sentence sound courteous.

🇯🇵 In Japan: Even a small [です] can change the vibe from blunt to polite—useful when speaking to landlords/management.

Phrase Breakdown

です

desu

[dess]

to be (polite); it is

Polite copula used to end a sentence politely. Common in answers like 〜からです (“It’s since…”).

Example

きのうの夜からです。

Since last night.

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