Title: Minihongo (EN) / 02 Grammar / 03 Polite Form
Tags: Polite_Form

GrammarName: Polite Form
Example: 水(みず)を飲(の)みます。
ExampleTranslation: I drink water. (polite)
Explanation: The politeness filter. Verb stem + ます. だ → です. Always regular: ます / ました / ません / ませんでした. Simpler than plain form - zero sound changes, zero exceptions.

GrammarName: Polite Form
Example: 山(やま)に行(い)きました。
ExampleTranslation: I went to the mountain. (polite past)
Explanation: The politeness filter. Verb stem + ます. だ → です. Always regular: ます / ました / ません / ませんでした. Simpler than plain form - zero sound changes, zero exceptions.

GrammarName: Polite Form
Example: 魚(さかな)を食(た)べません。
ExampleTranslation: I don't eat fish. (polite negative)
Explanation: The politeness filter. Verb stem + ます. だ → です. Always regular: ます / ました / ません / ませんでした. Simpler than plain form - zero sound changes, zero exceptions.

GrammarName: Polite Form
Example: この本(ほん)は良(よ)いです。
ExampleTranslation: This book is good. (polite copula)
Explanation: The politeness filter. Verb stem + ます. だ → です. Always regular: ます / ました / ません / ませんでした. Simpler than plain form - zero sound changes, zero exceptions.

GrammarName: When to Use Polite Form
Example: 買(か)う所(ところ)で: これをください。いくらですか。
ExampleTranslation: At a shop: This please. How much is it? (polite)
Explanation: Use ます/です with anyone you don't know well: strangers, shopkeepers, doctors, teachers, coworkers. Use plain form with close friends and family. Not using ます with strangers sounds childish or rude. です also follows い-adjectives: 寒い → 寒いです. だ → です for nouns and な-adjectives.
Other fields (not shown on cards):
Category: Polite Form

GrammarName: When to Use Polite Form
Example: 好(す)きな人(ひと)に: これ、いくら？
ExampleTranslation: To a friend: This, how much? (plain)
Explanation: Use ます/です with anyone you don't know well: strangers, shopkeepers, doctors, teachers, coworkers. Use plain form with close friends and family. Not using ます with strangers sounds childish or rude. です also follows い-adjectives: 寒い → 寒いです. だ → です for nouns and な-adjectives.
Other fields (not shown on cards):
Category: Polite Form

GrammarName: When to Use Polite Form
Example: 寒(さむ)いです。
ExampleTranslation: It's cold. (polite - です follows い-adjective)
Explanation: Use ます/です with anyone you don't know well: strangers, shopkeepers, doctors, teachers, coworkers. Use plain form with close friends and family. Not using ます with strangers sounds childish or rude. です also follows い-adjectives: 寒い → 寒いです. だ → です for nouns and な-adjectives.
Other fields (not shown on cards):
Category: Polite Form