0
Fujiyama Posted 11 years ago
Vocabulary

Today's lunch is a beef bowl or we have a beef bowl at lunch today.

One of Japanese core verbs is "wa" which is similar to "be" in English. Japanese people normally say "Today's lunch is a beef bowl, curry and rice, pasta, etc. but does this sound strange to native English speakers? I thought maybe "We have a beef bowl for lunch today." sounded more natural?
  

Top answer

Hello, Fujiyma—and welcome to English Forums. Fujiyama One of Japanese core verbs is "wa" which is similar to "be" in English Perhaps you are not Japanese? 'Wa' is a particle, not a verb.

— Mister Micawber

  • Hello, Fujiyma—and welcome to English Forums.
  • Fujiyama One of Japanese core verbs is "wa" which is similar to "be" in English Perhaps you are not Japanese?
  • 'Wa' is a particle, not a verb.
  • It is a topic marker and is usually translated literally as 'as for' Watashi wa, kyoushi desu = 'As for' me, I am a teacher = I am a teacher Fujiyama "Today's lunch is a beef bowl, curry and rice, pasta, etc.
  • but does this sound strange to native English speakers?
Free · every Monday

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.

3 Answers
0
Hello, Fujiyma—and welcome to English Forums.
FujiyamaOne of Japanese core verbs is "wa" which is similar to "be" in English
Perhaps you are not Japanese? 'Wa' is a particle, not a verb. It is a topic marker and is usually translated literally as 'as for'

Watashi wa, kyoushi desu = 'As for' me, I am a teacher = I am a teacher
F
0
0
FujiyamaOne of Japanese core verbs is "wa" which is similar to "be" in English. Japanese people normally say "Today's lunch is a beef bowl, curry and rice, pasta, etc. but does this sound strange to native English speakers? I thought maybe "We have a beef bowl for lunch today." sounded more natural?
It is strange. It would be better as "We have a bowl of beef
0
0
AnonymousIt would be better as "We have a bowl of beef for lunch today."
'A bowl of beef' is not the same thing as Gyudon (???), which is normally translated into English as 'beef bowl'.
0

Related Questions