How to Use んです in Japanese
By Kai Yoshizaki | June 30th, 2023
Japanese is a language filled with subtleties and nuances that can often be challenging for language learners to understand at first. One example is the language particle んです, or n desu, which serves multiple functions and is a crucial component of conversational Japanese. In this article, we will expand on the concept of んです, explain its proper usage, demonstrate it in real-life conversation scenarios, and clear up some common misconceptions. It is also important to note that there are multiple forms of んです, with んです being the casual form. Other forms include なんです (nan desu) and のです(no desu), which are the neutral and polite forms respectively.
This article is a part of our extensive series on Learning Japanese through Online Japanese Lessons at Japan Switch.
What does んです in Japanese mean?
んです (n desu), なんです (nan desu), or のです (no desu) are not exactly words in themself, rather they are Japanese explanatory phrases that can be used to give or ask for explanations or reasoning. It adds a level of emphasis and is frequently used in daily conversations. While there isn't a direct translation in English, it's often interpreted as "it is that...", "the thing is...", or "the reason is...".
How to use んです in Japanese
When used in a statement, んです provides an explanation or reason, often with the expectation that the listener is seeking that information.
Friend A:
ごめん、遅れたんです。電車が何かの理由で止まっちゃったんです。
Gomen, okuretan desu. Densha ga nanka no riyuu de tomacchattan desu.
Sorry, I’m late. The train stopped for some reason.
Friend B:
気にしないで。
Ki ni shinaide.
Don’t worry about it.
Here, Friend A uses んです to explain why they're late, providing a context to their action.
Friend A:
それ、新しいバッグなんですか？
Sore, atarashii baggu nan desu ka?
Is that a new bag?
Friend B:
うん、そうなんです。昨日、買ったんだ。
Un, sou nan desu. Kinou, kattan da.
Yes, it is. I bought it yesterday.
In this scenario, Friend A uses んですか in their question, indicating that they have noticed something new (the bag) and are seeking an explanation about it. んです can add depth to your conversations in Japanese, making them feel more natural and engaging.
When used in a question, it's a softer way to ask for an explanation, often implying that the speaker has noticed something and is curious about it.
Common Ways to Say "N Desu" in Japanese
There are many iterations of using the phrase んです in Japanese. We will look at some of the more common ways it is said and its common uses.
Casual
-んです
n desu
Neutral
-なんです
nan desu
Formal
-のです
no desu
Using んです in Japanese Casual conversations
In a conversation between friends:
|
Friend |
今日、何か元気ないね。何かあった？ |
Kyou, nanka genki nai ne. Nani ka atta? |
You seem down today. Is something wrong? |
|
You |
あ、うん。試験がちょっと難しかったんだ。 |
Ah, un. Shiken ga chotto muzukashikatta n da. |
Ah, yeah. The test was a bit hard. |
Here, んだ (n da) is used to explain why the speaker seemed down.
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Using んです to inquire
In a conversation between colleagues:
|
Colleague |
山田さん、最近遅くまで働いていますね。何か大変な仕事があるんですか？ |
Yamada-san, saikin osoku made hataraite imasu ne. Nani ka taihen na shigoto ga aru n desu ka? |
Yamada-san, you've been working late recently. Is there a challenging task you're dealing with? |
|
Yamada-san |
そうなんです。プロジェクトが少し厳しいんです。 |
Sou nan desu. Project ga sukoshi kibishii n desu. |
That's right. The project is a bit demanding. |
Here, んですか (n desu ka) is used to inquire about the reason for the observed behavior (working late), and んです (n desu) is used to provide the explanation.
Using んです in Japanese Casual Conversations
In a conversation between friends:
|
Friend |
今日、何か元気ないね。何かあった？ |
Kyou, nanka genki nai ne. Nani ka atta? |
You seem down today. Is something wrong? |
|
You |
あ、うん。試験がちょっと難しかったんだ。 |
Ah, un. Shiken ga chotto muzukashikatta n da. |
Ah, yeah. The test was a bit hard. |
Here, んだ (n da) is used to explain why the speaker seemed down.
Using んです to inquire
In a conversation between colleagues:
|
Colleague |
山田さん、最近遅くまで働いていますね。何か大変な仕事があるんですか？ |
Yamada-san, saikin osoku made hataraite imasu ne. Nani ka taihen na shigoto ga aru n desu ka? |
Yamada-san, you've been working late recently. Is there a challenging task you're dealing with? |
|
Yamada-san |
そうなんです。プロジェクトが少し厳しいんです。 |
Sou nan desu. Project ga sukoshi kibishii n desu. |
That's right. The project is a bit demanding. |
Here, んですか (n desu ka) is used to inquire about the reason for the observed behavior (working late), and んです (n desu) is used to provide the explanation.
Using なんです in Japanese Neutral Conversation
なんです is a form of んです that is often used in a neutral tone to provide explanations or ask questions. It's a common variant of のです (no desu) that is used in everyday conversation.
Explaining a situation using なんです
|
Coworker A |
このレポートは何のためなんですか？ |
Kono report wa nan no tame nan desu ka? |
What is this report for? |
|
Coworker B |
それは新しいプロジェクトの提案なんです。 |
Sore wa atarashii project no teian nan desu. |
It's for the proposal of a new project. |
Here, Coworker B uses なんです to provide an explanation for the purpose of the report.
Side note: It is important not to mix up なに and なんです, as they have different uses grammatically. In addition, なに is used to ask questions, while なんです follows the form of the explanatory んです form, and is used in situations where you would typically request or give explanations in conversations.
Asking a question using なんです
|
Friend A |
あなたの車はどこにあるんですか？ |
Anata no kuruma wa doko ni arun desu ka? |
Where is your car? |
|
Friend B |
ああ、それは修理に出したんです。 |
Aa, sore wa shuuri ni dashitan desu. |
Ah, it's out for repair. |
In this instance, Friend A uses なんですか to ask a question, showing curiosity about the location of Friend B's car. Friend B then uses んです to provide the explanation that the car is out for repair.
Using のです in Japanese Polite Conversations
When it comes to formal conversations or where you want to be respectful, のです (no desu) is more appropriate. This phrase has the same function as んです and なんです but in a more courteous manner.
Providing explanations using のです
|
Student |
すみません、先生。授業に遅れました。電車が遅延したのです。 |
Sumimasen, sensei. Jugyou ni okuremashita. Densha ga chien shita no desu. |
Sorry, teacher. I was late for class. The train was delayed. |
|
Teacher |
わかりました、気をつけてください。 |
Wakarimashita, ki o tsukete kudasai. |
Understood, please be careful next time. |
In this dialogue, the student uses のです to provide a formal explanation for their lateness.
Asking for clarification using のです
|
Customer |
この商品の使用方法は何なのですか？ |
Kono shouhin no shiyou houhou wa nani no desu ka? |
What is the method of using this product? |
|
Store Clerk |
このボタンを押すのです。そうすると、製品が起動します。 |
Kono button o osu no desu. Sou suru to, seihin ga kidou shimasu. |
You press this button. Then, the product will start. |
Here, the customer uses のですか to ask for a polite clarification about how to use a product, to which the store clerk responds with a clear, polite explanation.
Using のです in a Formal Setting
|
Employee |
田中さん、この報告書は来週までに提出が必要なのですか？ |
Tanaka-san, kono houkokusho wa raishuu made ni teishutsu ga hitsuyou na no desu ka? |
Tanaka-san, does this report need to be submitted by next week? |
|
Manager |
はい、そうなのです。できるだけ早く終わらせてください。 |
Hai, sou na no desu. Dekiru dake hayaku owarasete kudasai. |
Yes, that's right. Please finish it as soon as possible. |
In the conversation above, のですか (no desu ka) is used to ask for an explanation, and のです (no desu) is used to confirm that explanation.
How NOT to use んです
While んです can be a useful linguistic tool, it's important not to overuse it, as it can sound overly inquisitive or explanatory when not necessary.
Overuse
|
You |
最近、毎日ジムに行ってるんだ。 |
Saikin, mainichi gym ni itteru n da. |
I've been going to the gym every day recently. |
|
Friend |
え、そうなんだ。健康的だね。 |
E, sou nan da. Kenkouteki da ne. |
Oh, is that so? That's healthy. |
In this scenario, there was no need for the explanation provided by んだ (n da). The friend was not seeking an explanation or showing any curiosity about the speaker's actions.
Advice from a Native Speaker
The usage of んです or のです can be a great way to level up your conversational Japanese, as it allows for the exchange of more detailed information and the expression of empathy or understanding. However, remember not to overuse it, as it may unintentionally come across as prying or overly explanatory. As with any aspect of language learning, practice is key. With regular usage and experience, you'll get the hang of when to appropriately use んです or のです.
Japanese takes time to learn. Check out our article on How Long does it Take to Learn Japanese to break down the learning process!
TL;DR using んです in Japanese
To wrap up in a quick and digestible way, here are some of the main points you should remember when using んです in your daily conversations!
- んです (n desu), なんです (nan desu), or のです (no desu) are explanatory phrases in Japanese that provide explanations or reasons. They're often interpreted as "it is that...", "the thing is...", or "the reason is...".
- んです is used to give an explanation or reason in statements, with the expectation that the listener is seeking that information.
- んです can also be used to ask for explanations in a softer, more indirect way, implying the speaker has noticed something and is curious.
- んです comes in different forms, such as のです (no desu), which is more polite and formal, and なんです (nan desu), which is neutral.
- When using んです, be mindful of overuse. It can sound overly inquisitive or explanatory when not necessary.
- It's crucial to use the appropriate form of んです based on the context and level of formality of the conversation.
The usage of んです or のです can be a great way to level up your conversational Japanese, as it allows for the exchange of more detailed information and the expression of empathy or understanding. However, remember not to overuse it, as it may unintentionally come across as prying or overly explanatory. As with any aspect of language learning, practice is key. With regular usage and experience, you'll get the hang of when to appropriately use んです or のです.
Related Phrases & Guides
If you're looking to expand your knowledge of Japanese particles or linguistic nuances, check out our other articles on topics such as How to Say Please in Japanese or check out more about our guides to navigating Japanese:
