This article explains four practical methods to identify omitted subjects in Japanese sentences. By using these markers, you can logically determine the actor without relying on intuition or “reading between the lines.”
The four methods are:
- The Particle WA
- Giving and Receiving Verbs
- Emotional Expressions
- Keigo
The Consistency of “WA”: The Automatic Lock
In Japanese, the particle “WA” (は) acts like a system lock. Once a topic is defined with WA, that person remains the subject of all following sentences until a new WA appears.
The Rule of the Lock: Once you say “Tanaka-san WA,” the subject is locked to Tanaka. Even if the subject is omitted in the next five sentences, it is still Tanaka.
The Rule of Overwriting: This lock can only be broken by a new “WA.” When a new name appears with WA, the old lock is released, and the system switches to the new person.
Example
Sato (Subordinate): 田中さんは 休みの日に何をしますか？ (Tanaka-san, what do you do on your days off?)
Tanaka (Boss): フットサルをすることが多いよ。 ([I] often play futsal.)
Sato:どこのコートでプレーしますか？ (In which court do [you] play?)
Tanaka:渋谷かな。佐藤さんは 休日に何をするの？ (In Shibuya. Sato-san, what do you do on your days off?)
Sato: 家で映画を観ることが多いです。 ([I] often watch movies at home.)
When Sato says “Tanaka-san WA,” the subject is locked to Tanaka. All subsequent questions and answers about futsal automatically refer to Tanaka. The lock only switches when Tanaka asks, “Sato-san WA?”
Giving and Receiving Verbs: The Directional Markers
Verbs like “Ageru” (あげる) and “Kureru” (くれる) indicate the direction of an action. This direction tells you exactly who the subject is.
- Ageru (To give): Moving from Inside to Outside (Me/Us → Someone else). The subject is usually “I” or “We.”
- Kureru (To give me): Moving from Outside to Inside (Someone else → Me/Us). The subject is always someone else.
Example
Tanaka: チョコレートあげる。 ([I] will give [you] chocolate.)
Sato: ありがとうございます。なぜくれるんですか？ (Thank you. Why do [you] give [me] this?)
Tanaka: いつも一生懸命仕事しているから。 (Because [you] are always working hard.)
Because “Kureru” is used, the subject is automatically “You (Tanaka),” and the receiver is “Me (Sato).” The verbs act as directional arrows.
Emotional Expressions: The Inner Voice Rule
In Japanese linguistics, there is a concept called the “Restriction on Psychological Predicates.” You cannot state another person’s internal feelings as a definitive fact.
- The Rule: Words like Ureshii (Happy), Kanashii (Sad), Tsurai (Bitter/Hard), or ~tai (Want to) are reserved for the first person (I).
- The Distinction: To describe someone else’s feelings, you must use “Seems like (~sou)” or “Acting like (~tagaru).”
Example
仕事で成果が出なくて辛い。 ([I] feel bitter because [I] couldn’t get results at work.)
If you wanted to talk about Tanaka, you would have to say:
田中さんは仕事で成果が出ずに辛そうにしている。 (Tanaka-san seems to be suffering because he couldn’t get results at work.)
Because the word used is the pure form “Tsurai,” the subject is mathematically certain to be “I.”
Keigo: The Hierarchy Markers
Honorifics (Keigo) serve as tags that indicate the social “level” of the subject. You can identify the actor by checking if the verb is Sonkeigo (Respectful) or Kenjougo (Humble).
- Sonkeigo (Respectful): Used to raise the other person. The subject is always the other person (Boss, Client, etc.).
- Kenjougo (Humble): Used to lower oneself. The subject is always “I” or “My team.”
Example
Tanaka: 来週オフィスに伺ってもよろしいですか？ (May [I] visit your office next week?)
Matsumoto (Client): はい、お待ちしています。 (Yes, [I] will be waiting for [you].)
Tanaka: ありがとうございます。もう一つご確認なのですが、先週送付した資料はご覧になりましたか？ (Thank you. One more thing to check: did [you] see the documents I sent last week?)
Ukagau (Visit): This is Humble (Kenjougo). Therefore, the subject is “I (Tanaka).”
Goran ni naru (See/Look): This is Respectful (Sonkeigo). Therefore, the subject is “You (Matsumoto).”
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