Japanese for English speakers School · Lesson 6

I can do this

Express ability in Japanese with 〜ができます (... ga dekimasu, can do) and 上手 (jōzu, good at). Note the particle が, not を, with these patterns.

Conversation

  1. Cassian Cassian

    ピシ君は絵ができますね

    pishi kun wa e ga dekimasu ne

    Wow, you can draw, can't you Pishi

    Tip: <e> = picture, drawing <[noun] + ga + dekimasu> = to be able to do ...

  2. Pishi Pishi

    うん、できますよ

    un, dekimasu yo

    Yep, I can

  3. Cassian Cassian

    カッシャンさんも絵が上手ですね

    kasshan san mo e ga jōzu desu ne

    And you are good too at drawing, Cassian

    Tip: <jōzu> = good, capable, proficient ("na" adjective) <noun + ga + jōzu> = to be good at ...

  4. Pishi Pishi

    そうですか？ありがとう、ピシ君

    sō desu ka? arigatō, pishi kun

    Am I? Thanks Pishi

Common questions

Quick answers about this lesson's grammar and vocabulary.

How do you say 'I can ...' in Japanese?

Noun + ができます: 日本語ができます = 'I can speak Japanese'. For verbs, use the potential form (e.g. 食べられる).

What's the difference between できる and 上手?

できる = can do (ability/possibility). 上手 = skilled (proficiency). 'Pishi can draw' vs 'Pishi is good at drawing'.

Why is が used with these forms?

Because できる and 上手 mark the thing as the subject of the ability, not the object. Treat it like 'I'm good at X' where X takes が.

Test yourself

Pick the English translation for each line from this lesson. Wrong answers are pulled from other Japanese lessons.

4 quick questions on what you just heard.