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Koji from Japan Posted 10 years ago
Grammar

‘the Japanese (people)’ or ‘Japanese (people)’?

If the four sentences below are all OK, how different are they? When should I use which? (When I'm not talking about specific Japanese people, but about the tendency (the?) Japanese people have.)

(a) The Japanese people like cherry blossoms very much.
(b) The Japanese like cherry blossoms very much.
(c) Japanese people like cherry blossoms very much.
(d) Japanese like cherry blossoms very much.
  

Top answer

All 4 are correct, but only B and C sound very natural to me. B sounds a bit formal. C is more common.

— Clive

  • All 4 are correct, but only B and C sound very natural to me.
  • B sounds a bit formal.
  • C is more common.
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4 Answers
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All 4 are correct, but only B and C sound very natural to me.
B sounds a bit formal.
C is more common.
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Thank you very much, Clive.
Then, am I right in thinking that it’s a matter of formality or something and they aren’t different in meaning?
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B clearly refers to all Japanese people.
C implies all Japanese people.
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Thank you very much again, Clive.
That’s very useful information to me.
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