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Snappy Posted 16 years ago
Grammar
He is Japanese/a Japanese
Is it wrong to say, "He is a Japanese" or "He is a Chinese"?
A person I know told me that "Japanese" and "Chinese" are adjectives, and we should say, "He is Japanese" or "He is Chinese" (without "a").
A person I know told me that "Japanese" and "Chinese" are adjectives, and we should say, "He is Japanese" or "He is Chinese" (without "a").
Top answer
Hi, Is it wrong to say, "He is a Japanese" or "He is a Chinese"? No, it's not wrong to use the word as a noun like this. But we usually don't say it that way.
- Hi, Is it wrong to say, "He is a Japanese" or "He is a Chinese"?
- No, it's not wrong to use the word as a noun like this.
- But we usually don't say it that way.
- We commonly say 'He's Chinese' or 'He's a Chinese person'.
- Same with 'Japanese'.
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4 Answers
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Hi,
Is it wrong to say, "He is a Japanese" or "He is a Chinese"? No, it's not wrong to use the word as a noun like this. But we usually don't say it that way. We commonly say 'He's Chinese' or 'He's a Chinese person'.
Is it wrong to say, "He is a Japanese" or "He is a Chinese"? No, it's not wrong to use the word as a noun like this. But we usually don't say it that way. We commonly say 'He's Chinese' or 'He's a Chinese person'.
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CliveHi,Is it wrong to say, "He is a Japanese" or "He is a Chinese"? No, it's not wrong to use the word as a noun like this. But we usually don't say it that way. We commonly say 'He's Chinese' or 'He's a Chinese person'.Same with 'Japanese'. A person I know told me that "Japanese" and "Chinese" are adjectives, and we should say, "He is Japanese" or "He is Chinese" (witho
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Hi,
According to Longman English Grammar (G. Alexander), 2.27 Nouns with the same singular and plural forms, Some nouns do not change in form. These include:
- certain nouns describing nationalities e.g., a Chinese, a Swiss, a Vietnamese
He is a Vietnamese
This grammar book introduces an example: Nakamurasan is
According to Longman English Grammar (G. Alexander), 2.27 Nouns with the same singular and plural forms, Some nouns do not change in form. These include:
- certain nouns describing nationalities e.g., a Chinese, a Swiss, a Vietnamese
He is a Vietnamese
This grammar book introduces an example: Nakamurasan is
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You'll have to learn the preferred usage on a case by case basis. While it sounds wrong to my ears to say "he is a Japanese", it's perfectly fine to say "he is an American".
In both cases, omitting the article sounds fine:
He is Japanese.
He is American.
In both cases, omitting the article sounds fine:
He is Japanese.
He is American.
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