JLPT N5 Grammar: Sentence Enders in Japanese: わ wa

わ

 ABOUT: 

■ This sentence ender often indicates emotion, admiration, or just a feminine touch. If used as an assertive ender, it is weaker than others such as よ. In standard Japanese, it is used by women.

Examples:

今日(きょう)は、楽(たの)しかったわ。
Today was a lot of fun.

あの洋服(ようふく)は、きれいだわ。
Those clothes are so beautiful.

[洋服(ようふく) are Western-style clothes. Meaning, most any kind of clothing other than traditional Japanese clothing like a kimono.]

MAIN POINTS:

■ Used by women, implying a feminine friendliness.

■ More to show emotion or admiration than assertiveness.

■ Used only with declarative sentences; it is not used with questions or the volitional forms (the ～ましょう let's… form).

■ It can be followed with another sentence ender such as ね (to ask confirmation) or よ (to show more assertiveness).