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~な/~なあ

~な/~なあ

Today’s Grammar Point: ~な/~なあ

~な/~なあ is a sentence ending particle and used for:

  • softening a statement about the speaker’s feeling (including what they want or want to do).
  • an exclamation
  • stating a wish

For softening an emotional statement

なあ also softens the statement about the speaker’s feelings. For this usage, read this post.

あのくつしいなあ。
I’d love that pair of shoes.

おいしいコーヒーがみたいなあ。
I’d love to have good coffee!

そんなことわれてもうれしくないなあ。
I’m not happy to hear that!

For an exclamation

  • [plain form verb (past\non-past, affirmative negative)] な(あ)
  • [いadj stem] い/かった な(あ)
  • [なadj]だ/だった な(あ)
  • [noun] だ/だった な(あ)

Examples

おとこはよくべるなあ。
Boys can eat a lot!

ダイエットしているんだけど、せないなあ。
I’m on a diet, but I can’t lose weight!

よくたなあ。
Oh, you came all the way! (welcome!)

おいしいなあ。
It’s delicious!

あの映画えいがはよかったなあ。
That movie was so good!

きれいだなあ。
How beautiful!

あのテストは簡単かんたんだったなあ。
That test was so easy!

きれいな夕日ゆうひだなあ。(Today’s Caption)
What a beautiful sunset!

やさしいおかあさんだったなあ。
She was such a kind mother!

For stating a wish

We use “subjunctive past” after “I wish” in English. For example, I wish you were here. It seems the same applies in Japanese also. We usually use past tense with ら before なあ.

  • [plain past verb] ら + なあ
  • [いadj stem] かった + ら + なあ
  • [なadj] だった + ら + なあ
  • [noun] だった + ら + なあ

Examples

ははきていたらなあ。
I wish my mum were alive!

このほんがもっとやすかったらなあ。
I wish this book were cheaper!

ちち元気げんきだったらなあ。
I wish my dad were healthy!

明日あしたやすみだったらなあ。
I wish I could have a day off tomorrow!

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One thought on “~な/~なあ

  1. Reply
    ~ないかなあ/~てくれないかな/~てもらえないかな/~ないかしら | EasyJapaneseE
    10 December 2021 at 8:01 am

    […] talked about ~なあ being used to express one’s wish in this post but some wishes are expressed in the negative form of ~ないかなあ even though you are wishing […]

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