〈20〉3-4 The peculiarity of the verb "aru (exsit)"

                 〈20〉　　◆　chap 3  " The Japanese expressions & their secrets ! "   

       　　　         part 4 . The peculiarity of the verb "aru (exist)"

We must now talk about the verbs which are so fundamental to the Japanese language. We've already discussed the basic functions and variants of the verbs, but there are two more that need to be clarified: "aru (exist)" and "nai (do not exist)".

 

The word "aru" is very important in all languages, but especially in Japanese, where Buddhist philosophy is strong, the verb "aru" and even more so in its negative form "nai" seems to have a very special meaning that is more noteworthy than any other verb.   　　

　　　　　　　　　　　

" to be "  not  " to possess "

For instance, "watashi wa netsu ga aru (literal translation: I am a fever exists)" in Japanese is "I have a fever" in English or "Tengo fiebre" in Spanish. In other words, it is expressed as "I own (have) a fever".

 

In Japanese, however, we only use "motteiru (have)" when the person is basically the true owner of the thing. Of course, in this case, I'm not the owner of the heat, so we say "aru" instead of "motteiru", that is, "the heat is present".

 

Therefore, you can say "anata wa ookina kuruma wo motteiru (You have a big car)", but you don't use the verb "have" in sentences like "I have a headache" or "I have two sons". Well, some people mistakenly think they are the owner of their kids (lol).

 

Perhaps there is a difference in the basic way of looking at things between the West and the East. Because in the West, with its man-centered worldview, people thought that "human beings own all things", while in the East, with its nature-centered worldview, people thought that "all things just exist".

 

                                   To learn a language is to know its culture.　

                                         

                               

Now, let's review some variations of the verb "aru". As we said before, this is a regular conjugated verb in the "-ru" type of verb, so it's very easy to learn.

       ーーーーーーーーーー〈positive〉ーーーー〈negative〉ーーーーーーーー

 　　 〈informal〉

 

　　　　　  　present　　　ARU            　     ARANAI ??

                               　  　　　　　

　　　　　  　past　　　     ATTA　　　　　    ARANAKATTA ?? 

                                                                                        

 　　  〈formal〉

 

　　　　　　  present　　  ARIMASU　　　　　　    ???

                               

　　　　　  　past　　   　 ARIMASHITA　　　　      ???

                               

 　　　ーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーー

 

Yes, in the informal, "aru" is the present tense and "atta" is the past tense. And for formal, the present tense is "arimasu" and the past tense is "arimashita".

 

   

                                     Now let's look at those negative forms!　

 

Oops, something is a bit weird !!  The negative form of "aru" is "aranai"?  The negative form of "atta" is "aranakattat"?   Essentially, a regular conjugated verb should do that, but I've never heard of such a word. So, what does that mean ?

 

If you're a perceptive person, you may have already noticed that the verb "aru" does not have a negative form, only an affirmative form. So when we want to deny, we use a completely different verb. Yes, that's "nai". And conversely, the negative form of the verb "nai" is the verb "aru".

 

So the two different verbs are in a relationship where they are in the negative form of each other.

 

                                          So let's try to get it right again!

              The verb  "ARU"  ← (negative) →  The verb  "NAI"

 

         ーーーーーーー〈positive〉ーーーーーー〈positive〉ーーーーーーー

 　　  〈informal〉                                 〈informal〉

 

　　　　　 present　　　ARU            　             NAI

                               　  　　　　　

　　　　　  past　　　   ATTA　　　　　　　        NAKATTA 

                                                          

　　    〈formal〉                                    〈formal〉

 

　　　　　 present　　  ARIMASU　　　　　　     ARIMASEN

                               

　　　　　  past　　   　ARIMASHITA　　　　     ARIMASENDESHITA

                              

 　　　ーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーー

 

                           Come ahead, take a good look and try to deduce !

                                                   

                                

I am sure there are many wonders hidden in this table. I'll leave that to you to find out. What mysteries are hidden here?

　　　　　　　　　　ーーー  The next post will be                         

　　　　　　　　　　　　

                            <21> chap 3 "The Japanese expressions & their secrets!"

　                                                     part 5. "Worldview and role of the verb "nai (do not exist)"

                                          This is published  ⇩

               

https://vivasouy.whatisjapanese.com/2020/12/213-5-worldview-and-role-of-nai-not.html

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　See you, soon !!

 

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