II DESU of Recent Article

What does "II DESU" mean?

To begin with, word "II DESU" is used in the meaning of both the affirmative and the denial.

And, it is a phrase used over many topics like permission, agreement, the proposal, the recommendation, the opinion, information, the denial, anger, and the rejection, etc.

And, the following expressions are chiefly used.

1. いいですよ。[II DESU YO]:（permission, approval, proposal, recommendation, and advice）

2. いいですね。[II DESU NE]: (agreement)

3. いいですか？[II DESU KA?]: (asking for permission(confirms))

4. ...たら いいですか？[...TARA II DESU KA?]: (asking for opinion and information)

5. いいです。/ もういいです。[II DESU/Mooo IIDESU]: (Refusal, rejection, and anger)

 

1. "II DESU YO" for permission, approval, proposal, recommendation, and advice.

This II DESU YO form is "Sure you can...".
It's an adjective which means "good," "fine," "okay," etc.
"...temo" means something like "if (someone) were to...."

Accordingly, adding "ii desu" makes it "if (someone) were to (do something) it would be okay," "it's okay if (someone does something)," etc.
And, almost all forms of this "II DESU" are "II DESU YO".

 

Permission Example:

English	Japanese
You can use my PC.	私 の パソコン を 使って いい です よ。 watashi no PC wo tsukatte ii desu yo.
You can watch TV after you've finished your homework.	宿題 を やったら テレビ を 見て いい（です）よ。 shukudai wo yattara terebi wo mite ii desu yo.
You can use my dictionary.	私 の 辞書 を 使って いい です よ。 watashi no jisho o tsukatte ii desu yo.
<Note>: "II DESU(YO)" is a polite form. If you say to your family and friend, you should use "II YO", because "II DESU(YO)" is a polite form.

Approval Example:

English	Japanese
Would you mind sending this package by mail? Okay.	この 包み を 郵便 で 送って もらえません か？ kono tsutsumi wo yuubin de okutte moraemasen ka? いい です よ。 ii desu yo.
Would you take me home? With pleasure.	家 まで 送って もらえます か？ ie(uchi) made okutte moraemasu ka? いい です よ。 ii desu yo.
Would you call a taxi for me? Certainly.	タクシー を 呼んで もらえます か？ takushii wo yonde moraemasu ka? いい です よ。 ii desu yo.
Answer if your answer is "YES" when you undertake something as "II DESU YO".

 

Proposal and recommendation: Example:

English	Japanese
Keeping regular hours is good for your health.	早寝 早起き は 健康 に いい です よ。 hayane hayaoki wa kenkou ni ii desu yo.
This sweater fits you very well.	この セーター は あなた に ちょうど いい です よ。 kono seetah wa anata ni choudo ii desu yo.
The mountain air would help you get better.	山 の 空気 は あなた の 健康 回復 に いい です よ。 yama no kuuki wa anata no kenkou kaifuku ni ii desu yo.
This "II DESU YO" means "good" or "better".

 

Advice Example:

English	Japanese
You shouldn't personal e-mail from the computers in the office.	知らない 人 から の メール は 開かない 方 が いい です よ。 shiranai hito kara no meeru wa hirakanai hou ga ii desu yo.
You should see a doctor for advice.	医者 に 相談 した 方 が いい です よ。 isha ni soudan shita hou ga ii desu yo.
Don't underestimate him.	彼 を 甘く 見ない 方 が いい です よ。 kare wo amaku minai hou ga ii desu yo.
The form "方がいいですよ[hou ga ii desu yo]" is often used for "II DESU YO" of advice. This is meaning "You shouldn't do.".

 

 

 

2. "II DESU NE, II DESU YO" for agreement.

This "II DESU NE" is an answer for agreement.

Example:

English	Japanese
I shall be pleased to go with you. Sure.	一緒 に 行きません か？ issho ni ikimasen ka? いい です ね。/いいですよ。 ii desu ne./ ii desu yo.
How about a drink before dinner? That's great!	夕食 前 に 一杯 どうです か？ yuushoku mae ni ippai doudesu ka? いい です ね。 ii desu ne.
Is this all right? Oh, Okay.	これ で いい です か？ kore de ii desu ka? ああ、いい です ね。/ああ、いい です よ。 aa, ii desu ne./ aa, ii desu yo.
Let's go for a swim in the pool tomorrow. OK./Yeah, let's.	明日 プール に 行かない？ ashita puuru ni ikanai? いい(です)ね。 ii (desu) ne.

 

3. "II DESU KA?" for permission.

These are "II DESU KA" when you ask for permission someone.
And, almost all forms of this "II DESU" are "II DESU KA ?".

Example:

English	Japanese
Can I borrow your fountain pen?	万年筆 を 借りて も いい です か？ mannenhitsu wo karite mo ii desuka?
Would you please help me?	手伝って もらって も いい です か？ tetsudatte moratte mo ii desu ka?
Would you mind if I ask you a favor?	お願いしてもいいですか？ onegai shite mo ii desu ka?
Are we allowed to take pictures here?	ここ で 写真 を 撮って も いい です か？ koko de shashin wo totte mo ii desu ka?
<Note>: If your answer is "Yes", answers to these questions are all "II DESU YO".

 

Column: Ii n desuka vs Ii desu ka

Understand the difference between "Ii desu ka?" and "Ii n desu ka?"

Normally "ii desu ka?" is the standard expression for "is it OK?" Then, understand why "n" is skipped. This little "n" thing is difficult to explain, but "n" is often used to refer to something already talked about before. So, if you are asking for permission, "ii desu ka?"(first time) Because it's the first time you are mentioning it. As a result, the person whom you had asked for permission said "Yes, of course". You are surprise at the unexpected answer, and you asks it again. "Ii ndesuka?"("Really? Is THAT ok?") "n" is used for "Ii desuka?" of second time. In a word, "Ii n desuka" is "Ii n desuka of the confirmation" to "Unexpected result and answer". By the way, using "n" isn't rude.

 

 

4. "...TARA II DESU KA?" for opinion and information.

This "II DESU KA" is asking for opinion and information.
The meaning is "Where(When, What, etc.) should I ...?" or "What should I do...?".
The form is " .... tara idesuka?"

And use this when you have to cope with difficult situation.

 

Example:

English	Japanese
Which platform should I go to to get on the Shinkansen train?	新幹線 に 乗る には 何番線 に 行ったら いいです か？ shinkansen ni noru niwa nanbansen ni ittara ii desu ka?
Where should I buy shoes ?	どこ で 靴 を 買ったら いい です か？ doko de kutsu wo kattara ii desu ka?
When should I borrow the book ?	いつ 本 を 借りたら いい です か？ itsu hon wo karitara ii desu ka?
How should I eat this?	これ は どうやって 食べたら いい です か？ kore wa douyatte tabetara ii desu ka?
If I have late, what should I do ?	もし 時間 に 間に合わなかったら どうしたら いいですか？ moshi jikan ni maniawanakattara doushitara iidesu ka?
If I have troubled what should I do?	もし 困った こと が あったら どうしたら いい です か？ moshi komatta koto ga attara doushitara ii desu ka?
Reference: I think that form "Dou shitara ii desu ka?" is useful for you. In that case, talk your difficulty before phrase "Dou shitara ii desu ka?". As for your difficulty, if you can hardly talk Japanese, use easy Japanese words. In this way, "Watashi(=I), mayotta(=I'm lost), dou shitara ii desu ka?(=What should I do?)" "Watashi(=I), kyoto(=Kyoto), iku(=go/visit), dou shitara ii desu ka?(=What should I do?)" "Watashi(=I), takushii(=taxi), noru(=take), dou shitara ii desu ka?(=What should I do?)" Probably, the Japanese is able to understand it.

 

 

 

5. "II DESU, Mooo II DESU" for refusal, rejection, and anger.

This "II DESU" means the refusal.
Almost all Japanese people not use "NO".
Because Japan has the culture that values harmony, the Japanese doesn't use word "NO".
The Japanese think that word "NO" deteriorates the atmosphere of the scene.
Therefore, the Japanese often uses the phrase that shows refusals such as "Kekkou desu" and "Ii desu".

This "II DESU" is the following meanings.

• I'm not in the mood.
• I don't want it.
• I don't want to go.
• I'm reluctant.

"II DESU" is polite and used a lot for conveying a different and negative meaning.

Example:

English	Japanese
Can I be of any help? No, I got it.	手伝い ましょう か？ tetsudai mashou ka? いえ、いい です。 ie, ii desu.
How about some coffee? I don't want to drink.	コーヒー でも どう？ kohi demo dou? いい です。 ii desu.
I'd like you to come. Sorry, but I can't.	来て もらいたい んだけど。 kite morai tain dakedo. いい です。遠慮 して おきます。 ii desu. enryo shite okimasu.

 

Column: "Mooo ii desu/Mooo iidesu kara"

What does "Mooo II DESU/ Mooo II DESU KARA" mean?
If you hear people arguing, you may hear "ii desu!" yelled out by one of the arguers, with the "ii" strongly emphasized, said much louder than "desu". Sometimes you may hear a long mou before the ii. "mou ii desu !". ( "Enough already! just forget it!") The person who is shouting "Mooo II DESU" is very angry.

 

In spite of the same phrase, "IIDESU" is used in various scenes.
Probably you will be confused by these words.

If you are troubled by such a scene, please observe "expression of the Japanese's and behavior" carefully.

If they are nodding, it will be "Consent or approval."
If they are shaking their head, it will be "Refusal."

It is better to ask them their intention once again, when you cannot understand their feeling.

 

By Hararie