1. "AはBがC" is one of the basic constructions in Japanese. In this construction, C usually expresses something about B and "BがC" expresses something about A, as illustrated in (1).
(1) | [A] | は | [B] | が | [C] |
| ↑ | | ↑_ | ___ | _↑ |
| ⎪_ | ______ | ___ | _T | |
2. Sentences utilizing this construction may be categorized into three classes:
(A) - A is human, and "BがC" expresses A's physical and/or mental state, for example, ability or desire, as in Key Sentence (1), Examples (a), (b) and (c).
(B) - B is part of A, and C expresses something about B, which, in turn, expresses something about A, as in Key Sentence (2), Examples (d), (e), (f) and (g).
(C) - B is a member of A, and C expresses something about B, as in Key Sentence (3), Examples (h) and (i).
3. Listed below are the verbs and adjectives which usually require the "AはBがC" construction. (Sentences with these verbs and adjectives belong to Class (A) in Note 2.)
(2) Ability: - 分かる be understandable; understand
- 出来る can be done; can do
- られる2 can 見える be visisble 聞こえる be audible
- 上手だ good at 下手だ poor at
- 得意だ proudly good at 苦手だ ashamedly poor at
(⇨ 聞こえる; 見える; られる2)
(3) Desire/Need: - 欲しい desireable; want たい want to
- 要る be necessary; need 必要だ necessary
(⇨ 欲しい1; 要る3; たい)
(4) Fondness: - 好きだ be liked; like 嫌いだ be disliked; dislike
(⇨ 嫌いだ; 好きだ)
(5) Emotion: - 恥ずかしい embarrassing 懐かしい nostalgic
- 憎らしい hateful 恐ろしい dreadful
- 怖い fearful 羨ましい enviable
- 悔しい vexing
