です
desu[de̞sɨ̥]
In Japanese, 'it is' is expressed using です (desu).
The word です acts as a copula used to identify a person or thing, or to state that something is a certain way.
Which one should you use?
While です is the standard polite form, ございます is its honorific version used to express respect. For even higher levels of politeness, such as in formal speeches or written language, でございます is used.
How does it change in a sentence?
To express 'is not' instead of 'is', you can use the negative form ではありません or the more colloquial ja arimasen.
How do you pronounce it?
desu
Did you know?
- In Japanese, you can turn a statement into a question simply by raising the pitch of your voice at the end of です without changing the word order.
- The word です is believed by some to be a contraction of であります, でございます, or even でそうろう.
- Depending on the speaker's gender and the social context, the casual version of です can change to だ or even なの.
Examples in context
- 無関係です。It is nothing to me.This sentence uses です to state that something is unrelated.Tatoeba #80938 by verbum, translation #42386 by CM
- 月曜日です。It is Monday today.This sentence uses です to identify the day of the week.Tatoeba #175603 by bunbuku, translation #242836 by CK
- 今日は雪です。It is snowing today.This sentence uses です to describe the current weather.Tatoeba #171563 by small_snow, translation #1493546 by CC
- これは新しい本です。This is a new book.
- 部屋はきれいですよ。The room is clean, you know.
- これは新しい本やん。This is a new book (in Kansai dialect).
- 222 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
A young man and woman are identifying a lost item in a park.
- 陽葵 Himariこれは陽葵さんの傘ですか？Kore wa Himari-san no kasa desu ka?Is this Himari's umbrella?
- 大翔 Hirotoいいえ、違います。Iie, chigaimasu.No, it is not.
- 陽葵 Himariじゃあ、大翔さんのですか？Jaa, Hiroto-san no desu ka?Then, is it Hiroto's?
- 大翔 Hirotoはい、僕の傘です。Hai, boku no kasa desu.Yes, it is my umbrella.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry です, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries です, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
