Master Classical Japanese Grammar and Embark on an Adventure into the World of Kobun!
Hello everyone! When you start studying Kobun (Classical Japanese), have you ever felt like you're trying to decode a secret message or that there’s just too much to memorize? Especially in "Classical Explorations" (Koten Tankyu) classes, you need the skills to read and interpret texts more deeply.
But don’t worry! Classical grammar is simply a set of "rules" to help you decode this "old version" of Japanese. Once you understand these rules, diaries and tales written over a thousand years ago will become surprisingly easy to read. Let’s break down the most important points of these rules in an easy-to-understand way!
1. The Basics of Grammar: What is "Conjugation"?
The main reason Kobun feels difficult is "conjugation" (katsuyou). Conjugation means that the ending of a word changes depending on the word that follows it.
【A Familiar Example】
In modern Japanese, the word "kaku" (to write) changes its form depending on what comes after it, right?
・Kaka-(nai)
・Kaki-(masu)
・Kaku-(toki)
・Kake-(ba)
The exact same thing happens in Kobun. In Kobun, we organize these changes into six forms: "Mizen, Renyou, Shuushi, Rentaikei, Izen, and Meirei."
【Pro Tip!】
Memorize them like a rhythmic spell: "Mi-Ren-Shuu-Rentai-I-Mei." Even if you don't understand the meanings at first, getting them to roll off your tongue is a shortcut to mastery!
2. Conquering the 9 Verb Groups!
Verbs in Kobun are divided into 9 groups based on their conjugation patterns. It’s too much to memorize all at once, so let's start by tackling the "special forms" first.
① Special Conjugations (Memorize just these!)
The following four groups have a limited number of words. These are "super important" words that frequently appear on tests.
- Ka-line Irregular (Ka-hen): Only the word "Ku" (to come).
- Sa-line Irregular (Sa-hen): Two words: "Su" and "Ohasu".
- Na-line Irregular (Na-hen): Two words: "Shinu" and "Inu".
- Ra-line Irregular (Ra-hen): Four words: "Ari," "Ori," "Habeli," and "Imasokari."
【Trivia: How to remember Ra-hen】
Try reciting them rhythmically four times: "Ari, Ori, Habeli, Imasokari." Ra-hen is a very rare group where the dictionary form (Shuushikei) ends in "ri."
② Standard Conjugations (Yodan, Kami-nidan, Shimo-nidan, etc.)
For the remaining verbs, the easiest way to classify them is to add "zu" (not) to the verb!
・Kaku + zu = Kaka-(a)zu → Yodan Conjugation (a, i, u, u, e, e)
・Otsu + zu = Ochi-(i)zu → Kami-nidan Conjugation (i, i, u, uru, ure, iyo)
・Uku + zu = Uke-(e)zu → Shimo-nidan Conjugation (e, e, u, uru, ure, eyo)
【Common Mistake】
Using your modern Japanese intuition, you might think "Otsu" is like "Ochiru" and mistake it for "Kami-ichidan." Always make it a habit to judge by the "Kobun form + zu" rule.
3. Auxiliary Verbs: The Magic Words That "Season" a Sentence
The most important part of Kobun is the auxiliary verb. They attach to the end of verbs to add meanings like "is," "did," or "probably." If you master auxiliary verbs, you’ve basically understood 80% of Kobun!
Rules of Connection (How they attach)
Auxiliary verbs have fixed rules about which form of the preceding word they attach to. This is called "connection" (setsuzoku).
- Mizen-kei Connection: "ru, raru, su, sasu, shimu, zu, ji, mu, muzu, mashi, maboshi"
(e.g., Iwa-zu, Kaka-mu) - Renyou-kei Connection: "ki, keri, tsu, nu, tari, kemu, tashi"
(e.g., Kaki-keri, Mi-tari)
【Level-Up Lesson: The difference between 'tsu' and 'nu'】
Both mean "completed/did," but they have different nuances:
・"Tsu": Something done by your own will (emphatic).
・"Nu": Something that happened naturally (natural).
"I ate it! (intentionally)" vs. "I ate it... (oops, I was hungry)." The tone is completely different, isn't it? Isn't that fascinating?
【Important Point】
When memorizing auxiliary verbs, the ironclad rule is to learn the trio: ① Meaning, ② Connection, and ③ Conjugation!
4. Kakari-musubi: The Strange Rule of Changing Sentence Endings
A unique rule in Kobun is "Kakari-musubi" (suspended linkage). When a specific word (a kakari-joshi) appears in the middle of a sentence, the form of the final word in the sentence changes.
Main Rules
1. If "zo, namu, ya, ka" appears → The sentence must end in the Rentaikei (attributive form)!
2. If "koso" appears → The sentence must end in the Izenkei (realis form)!
【Study Tip: "Zo, Namu, Ya, Ka – Rentaikei!"】
"Zo" and "namu" add emphasis; "ya" and "ka" express questions or rhetorical questions. "Koso" adds even stronger emphasis.
Example: Hana saku. (Normal)
Example: Hana zo saki-keru. (Because of "zo," "keri" becomes the Rentaikei "keru!")
【Common Mistake】
People often forget that the ending after "koso" must be the Izenkei. Learn it as a set: "koso" + Izenkei (often ending in an "e" sound)!
5. Conclusion: To Enjoy Reading Kobun
Classical grammar might feel overwhelming with so much to memorize at first. But as you put the puzzle pieces together, there will come a moment when the fog clears and the meaning of the text suddenly clicks.
【Summary for Today】
・There are 6 conjugation forms: "Mi-Ren-Shuu-Rentai-I-Mei"!
・Determine verb groups by adding "~zu"!
・Learn auxiliary verbs in a set: "Meaning, Connection, Conjugation"!
・For Kakari-musubi, pay attention to the form of the final word!
It's okay to make mistakes at first. Take it one step at a time, and enjoy the thrill of identifying grammar patterns in your textbook or workbooks. The world of Kobun is even richer and fuller of interesting stories than you can imagine!