Copula Verb Variants
Having already learned various forms of the copula such as だ and です, it is now time to look at the copula from a different specific, which is the variety of regional and formality-specific variants.
A Closer Look at である, だ, & です
である
である is quite ceremonious and normally used only in writing, but when it is used in the spoken language, it becomes an objective-sounding means of presenting something as fact. A comical example of this is the title of a famous book written by the renowned author 夏目漱石.
1. 我輩は猫である。
I am a cat.
Word Note: わがはい is a very pompous, old-fashioned pronoun, and it is well-known from this title in and outside of Japan. Aside from this title, this pronoun is hardly ever used. It is certainly not used in everyday conversation, and even if it were, it would be for comedic relief.
2. 「あの君島という人は、そっちの会社の人なわけですね」
So, that Kimishima guy is someone from that company, no?
From 顔に降りかかる雨 by 桐野夏生.
Grammar Note: The reason why this example is cited is because of a peculiar avoidance of である due to the lack of a need to be formal. Typically, having a whole phrase be a participial for another noun simply involves な. At times, である can be used instead but usually in writing. In a way, it can be viewed as the non-contracted form of this grammar.
However, it is important to note that when you wish to use something like んだ・のだ, which is for explicit emphasis, to “nominalize” an entire phrase, な is obligatory after a noun if it is the final word. If you have それは魚 and want to add んだ, you say それは魚なんだ. These two grammatical situations demonstrate how である and な perform the same function but are not 100% interchangeable.
だ & です
As far as usage is concerned, both だ and です make a declarative sentence. Also, both can act as a final particle to strengthen an appeal to the listener.
3. 日本語は簡単です。
Japanese is easy.
4. 明日は休みだ。
Tomorrow is a break.
5. ぼくはアイスティー。
Note: This sentence can be interpreted differently depending on context. It could show that you want to drink iced tea, brought iced tea, etc.
6. げんき。
I’m fine.
Grammar Note: The omission of the copula is allowed, but the statement loses some of its assertiveness, which could be helpful to not sound rude or blunt in the case of だ.
7. まあ、宿題だ。
Well, it’s homework (time).
8. さあ、出発です。
Well, it’s (time to) depart.
9. そこで（だ）、君は（だ）ね
So, (as for) you…
Grammar Note: The copula may be used as a filler word like in Ex. 9.
10. あっかんべーだ。
Sticking out your tongue.
Culture Note: あっかんべー is where you stick out your tongue while pulling down your eyelid.
11. 明日はですね。
So, tomorrow.
です can make some conjugations polite whereas だ doesn’t! だ is plain and the basic form of adjectives and verbs are already plain.
12a. 簡単ではないだ X
12b. 簡単ではないです。 〇
It’s not easy.
Variants of the Copula
The copula can look quite different depending on where you are and what speech style you are using. Aside from である, だ, and です, the following variants are important to keep in mind, but the only extra two that you will be immediately responsible for are や and じゃ. The honorific variants will be touched on at a later time.
| Kansai Region | や | Southern Japan | や、じゃ、ちゃ |
| Western Japan | や、じゃ | Colloquial | っす |
| Older generations | じゃ | Classical | にあり・なり |
| Plain Speech | だ | Polite Speech | です |
| Respectful | でいらっしゃいます | Humble | でございます |
13. うそや。(Kansai)
That’s a lie.
14. 私は田中良治でございます。(Humble)
I am Ryoji Tanaka.
15. 黒木社長でいらっしゃいます。(Honorific)
(He) is President Kurogi.
16. 本当だ。(Plain)
It’s real.
17. 簡単っす。 (Colloquial)
It’s easy.