4.6 The Sentence-Ending Particles ね (ne) and よ (yo)
In this module, we will explore the nuances of the Japanese particles ね (ne) and よ (yo), adding a touch of friendliness or assertiveness to your conversations.
Introduction to ね and よ
The particles ね (ne) and よ (yo) are commonly used at the end of a sentence to convey certain nuances in conversations.
While both are used as sentence-ending particles in Japanese, they serve different purposes:
- ね is used to seek agreement or confirmation, adding a friendly and engaging tone to the conversation, especially when shared knowledge or understanding is implied.
- よ is employed to introduce new information, emphasising what the speaker wants to convey as potentially unknown to the listener.
Now, let’s take a closer look at how these sentence-ending particles are used in sentences via this short video created by Learn Japanese with Puni Puni Japan:
Usage in sentences
So to recap, ね is used to seek agreement or confirmation, or to invite the listener’s attention. It is often used to soften a statement or to make it sound more friendly and inclusive.
Examples:
カフェ（かふぇ）のケーキ（けえき）はおいしいですね。
Kafe no keeki wa oishii desu ne.
The cake at the café is delicious, isn’t it?
(Seeks confirmation that the cake at the café is tasty.)
あんこはあまいですね。
Anko wa amai desu ne.
Red bean paste is sweet, isn’t it?
(Uses ね to seek agreement, as if sharing a mutual understanding about the sweetness of anko.)
In contrast, よ is used to emphasise or assert information, or to provide new information. It adds a sense of confidence and assertiveness to a statement.
When pronounced with emphasis, it can give a strong command or suggestion, depending on the intonation, like an exclamation mark. So, using a soft intonation with a slight smile is the key to maintaining a friendly and approachable tone.
Examples:
専攻（せんこう）は日本語（にほんご）ですよ。
Senkoo wa nihongo desu yo.
My major is Japanese!
(Uses よ to introduce this as new or emphasised information, possibly in response to someone’s curiosity)
Exercise 1
References
Learn Japanese with Puni Puni Japan. “Japanese Grammar—Japanese Particles yo (よ) and ne (ね).” YouTube video, 2:33. January 10, 2013. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mxLBNw0AILI.
