to explain something; show emphasis (んです) – Japanese Grammar んです (ndesu)

Q: What JLPT level is んです?

JLPT N5 — Beginner · Basic sentence structures

Q: How do you use んです in a sentence?

Attach んです to the appropriate verb or noun form. To explain something; show emphasis

Q: Is んです formal or casual Japanese?

んです can be used in both casual conversation and polite speech depending on context.

んです

N5 GRAMMAR ⏱ 0s study 📖 0 today

ndesu

to explain something; show emphasis

どうして doushite 一番 ichiban だ・です da / desu を o / wo だけ dake じゃない・ではない janai / dewa nai とき toki てから te kara は wa - topic marker ほうがいい hou ga ii はどうですか wa dou desu ka に ni だろう darou つもり tsumori の no もう mou をください o kudasai がいます ga imasu でしょう deshou よ yo どうして doushite 一番 ichiban だ・です da / desu を o / wo だけ dake じゃない・ではない janai / dewa nai とき toki てから te kara は wa - topic marker ほうがいい hou ga ii はどうですか wa dou desu ka に ni だろう darou つもり tsumori の no もう mou をください o kudasai がいます ga imasu でしょう deshou よ yo

🃏 Flashcard

んです

ndesu

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to explain something; show emphasis

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📊 Pattern Stats

JLPT Level N5

Beginner · Basic sentence structures

Reading ndesu

Post ID 50646

Patterns today 0

0 / 10 daily goal

📝 Usage Notes

to explain something; show emphasis

📖 How to use it

Adds explanatory or emphatic tone when giving reasons or asking for explanations.

Attaches to Attach to the plain form of verbs and adjectives, or to noun/な-adjective + な. For だ/です, it becomes なんです; for な-adjectives and nouns, use な before んです.

んです is used when you want to explain a situation, give a reason, or show that you are seeking an explanation. It adds a nuance of 'the thing is...' or 'it's because...' in English. In questions, it often implies you expect the listener to have an explanation, making it sound more natural in conversational Japanese.

In casual speech, you can use んだ instead of んです. For example, 行くんだ is casual for 行くんです. When using with nouns or な-adjectives, you need な before んです: 学生なんです, 静かなんです. For verbs and い-adjectives, just attach directly: 行くんです, 高いんです.

In questions, rising intonation is common: どうしたんですか？ This is a natural way to ask 'What happened?' with a sense of concern or interest.

頭が痛いんです。

Atama ga itai ndesu.

My head hurts. (that's why I'm saying this)

どうして遅れたんですか。

Doushite okureta ndesu ka.

Why were you late? (I want to know the reason)

明日はテストなんです。

Ashita wa tesuto na ndesu.

Tomorrow is the exam. (so I need to study)

Not のです (formal written counterpart) んです is the spoken form; のです is more formal and often used in writing. In conversation, stick to んです.

🎯 Quick Quiz

What does this grammar pattern mean or do?

んです

📚 How to Master This Pattern

🔊

Say It Aloud

Press Hear it and repeat んです three times. Feel the rhythm — grammar patterns have a natural flow.

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Flip Before Reading

Always try to recall the usage before flipping the card. Struggle = learning. Every failed recall makes the next one stick harder.

✍️

Write Two Sentences

Compose two original sentences using んです. One about yourself, one about something you see right now.

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Spaced Review

Save this pattern and revisit at 10 min, 1 day, 3 days. Production (writing) beats recognition for grammar.

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❓ Frequently Asked Questions

What does the grammar pattern んです mean? ▼

To explain something; show emphasis

What JLPT level is んです? ▼

Nihoner currently groups this pattern under JLPT N5 — Beginner · Basic sentence structures. Use the level label as study guidance rather than a prediction of what will appear on an exam.

How do you use んです in a sentence? ▼

Attach んです (ndesu) to the appropriate verb or noun form as described in the usage notes. Then try writing two original sentences — one about yourself and one about something around you.

Is んです formal or casual Japanese? ▼

んです is used in both casual and polite contexts. It appears frequently in everyday conversation, textbooks, and simple written materials.

How can I remember んです long-term? ▼

Use the flashcard on this page for active recall — see the pattern, reconstruct the usage from memory, then flip. Follow with the 4-choice quiz to distinguish it from similar patterns. Review later the same day and again over the following days. Writing original sentences can help you practise using the pattern in context.