では

Hello, you have come here looking for the meaning of the word では. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word では, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say では in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word では you have here. The definition of the word では will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition ofでは, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.

Japanese

Etymology 1

Compound of particle (de, at, in, on, locative particle) and (wa, topic particle; no English equivalent). In this case, the (wa) is used in its contrastive function, emphasizing that the statement is about the portion preceding the (de) in contrast to other possibilities.

Particle

では (de wa

  1. at, in a place (as the topic of a statement)
    (かれ)(いえ)ではおとなしい
    Kare wa ie de wa otonashii.
    In the house, he is quiet. (Otherwise, he may not be quiet.)
    ここでは(ちゅう)(しゃ)()()ない。
    Koko de wa chūsha ga dekinai.
    No parking in this place. (Maybe you can park somewhere else.)
  2. indicates means of action
    (えい)()ではなんて()だったっけ
    Eigo de wa nante iu n datta kke.
    How do you say it in English again?
Derived terms

Etymology 2

Of (de, conjunctive adverb) and (wa, topic particle).

Pronunciation

Conjunction

では (de wa

  1. well, so, well then (used at the start of a sentence as an interjection or conjunction, leading in from the previous statement)

Interjection

では (de wa

  1. used to signal the end of a conversation or message as a whole: that's all for now
    • 2015, Sandra Haefelin, Rinko Nagami, ‘Kogao’ tte Nihon de wa home kotoba nanda: Doitsujin ga odoroku Nihon no ‘nichijo’ [‘Small-face’ is a compliment in Japan? German flummoxed by Japan’s ‘everyday’], page 124:
      ではでは(どく)(しゃ)(みな)さままた(ちか)うちにお()しましょう
      De wa de wa dokusha no minasama, mata ochikai uchi ni oai shimashō
      Well then dear readers, until we meet again soon!
    • 2020, Ikuzaki Kazuki, Chikyusan wa reberu appu shimashita, page 295:
      「それでは(めい)()さん、またあとで」「うん、ささら、またあとでね」
      “Sore de wa Meiko-san, mata ato de” “Un, sasara, mata ato de ne”
      Well, Meiko, later” “Yeah, after a while”
Usage notes
  • Can be reduplicated as ではでは (de wa de wa).
Synonyms

References

  1. ^ Kindaichi, Kyōsuke et al., editors (1997), 新明解国語辞典 [Shin Meikai Kokugo Jiten] (in Japanese), Fifth edition, Tokyo: Sanseidō, →ISBN
  2. ^ Matsumura, Akira, editor (2006), 大辞林 [Daijirin] (in Japanese), Third edition, Tokyo: Sanseidō, →ISBN
  3. ^ NHK Broadcasting Culture Research Institute, editor (1998), NHK日本語発音アクセント辞典 [NHK Japanese Pronunciation Accent Dictionary] (in Japanese), Tokyo: NHK Publishing, Inc., →ISBN