Learn How to Use “Wa” + “Desu” in Japanese: Basic Sentence Structure

Want to speak Japanese from Day 1? Start with one of the most essential sentence patterns: “~wa … desu.”
This easy Japanese grammar guide will help English speakers understand how to introduce themselves, describe objects, and talk about others—all in just 10 minutes a day. Perfect for beginners!

What Does “Wa” + “Desu” Mean in Japanese?

In Japanese, the phrase “AはBです” (A wa B desu) is used to make simple statements. It can be translated as:

“As for A, it is B.”

This structure helps you talk about people, objects, places, and roles using clear, polite Japanese. It’s one of the first sentence types Japanese learners should master.

How to Form Sentences with “Wa” and “Desu”

Understanding the Topic Marker “Wa”

• A は(A wa) = Topic (what the sentence is about)
• B = What you say about A
• です (desu) = Polite ending (like “is” in English)

“～wa…desu” is useful for:

• Self-introductions
• Describing items
• Saying what or who someone is

Examples of Affirmative Sentences “Wa … Desu” in Everyday Japanese

I am Emily.

私はエミリーです。
わたしはえみりーです。
Watashi wa Emiri desu.
As for me, I am Emily.

This is a book.

これは本です。
これはほんです。
Kore wa hon desu.
As for this, it is a book.

あれは学校です。
あれはがっこうです。
Are wa gakkou desu.
As for that (over there), it is a school.

Mr. John is a teacher.

ジョンさんは先生です。
じょんさんはせんせいです。
Jon-san wa sensei desu.
As for Mr. John, he is a teacher.

Scene：Meeting a new friend in class

You want to introduce yourself politely.

Student

私はアレックスです。

わたしはアレックスです。
Watashi wa Arekkusu desu.
As for me, I’m Alex.

This use of “wa” + “desu” shows politeness and helps build introductions clearly.

Vocabulary from This Lesson

Here are the key Japanese words used in this lesson:

• 私：わたし (watashi)：I / me
• エミリー：えみりー (emirii)：Emily
• これ：これ (kore)：this
• あれ：あれ (are)：that (over there)
• 本：ほん (hon)：book
• 学校：がっこう (gakkou)：school
• さん：さん (san)：Mr. / Ms. (polite title)
• 先生：せんせい (sensei)：teacher

📝 Why This Grammar Point Matters for Beginners

Learning “~は…です” is the foundation of Japanese grammar. It builds confidence and lets you communicate right away, even with just a few vocabulary words. If you’re serious about speaking Japanese, this is your first step toward fluency.