When we’re first introduced to the Japanese Language, I’m sure most of us had come\u00a0across some ~tto words that left us perplexed. From words such as like Motto, Chotto, Kitto to even Yatto, they all sound almost the same. Yet, they hold vastly different meanings. Let’s not forget about the widely adored Natto too, of which is just a food sadly which we won’t be covering today.
Nevertheless, let’s get on with going through what\u00a0Motto, Chotto, Kitto and Yatto really mean!<\/p>\n
Motto\uff08\u3082\u3063\u3068\uff09<\/a> Now let’s take a look at the first word Motto. Motto is typically used to refer to more, even more, longer or further. Some typical English sentences could go like “Try putting in more<\/strong> effort”, “Be more<\/strong> brave, would you?”. Romaji: Motto ue\u00a0no hou ni oite kudasai Next comes the word “Chotto”. I’m sure most of you all would have heard of this ubiquitous Japanese phrase before: “Chotto Matte!”. But ever wondered what’s the meaning behind the word? Well, we’ve covered it in an older blog post<\/a> before but here’s a quick recap! Romaji: Nee! Chotto! Moving on, let’s now take a look at the word “Kitto”. No, it’s not the “Kitto” from “Kitto-Katto” (Japanese Pronunciation of Kit-Kat).\u00a0However, it does have its very own meaning in Japanese.\u00a0“Kitto” is typically used to indicate that you are sure or certain about something. As for the word “Zutto”, it’s an adverb that’s typically used to express something that had been going on for a very long time or had occurred way back in the past. For example, let’s take a look at the sample sentence below! Romaji: Mou, zutto wasureteta. “Yatto”, we have the last word on the list. Able to guess what it means? Well, if you haven’t already, it can be used to indicate that you have finally been able to do or accomplish something or that you’ve made it just in time. In conclusion, although the words may sound or end similarly, they may have vastly different meanings. Nevertheless, if you’re able to decipher the context and thereafter determine which words are being used during Japanese conversation, you’re on the right track! With these in mind, are there any other popular ~tto words you can think of and would like us to explain?\u00a0 If you don’t, here are 30 convenient Japanese learning apps that you can use to learn Japanese!<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n
Chotto\uff08\u3061\u3087\u3063\u3068\uff09<\/a>
Kitto\uff08\u304d\u3063\u3068\uff09<\/a>
Zutto\uff08\u305a\u3063\u3068\uff09<\/a>
Yatto\uff08\u3084\u3063\u3068\uff09<\/a><\/p>\nMotto\uff08\u3082\u3063\u3068\uff09<\/h2>\n
Some sample Japanese sentences can be found below:
1. \u3082\u3063\u3068\u9811\u5f35\u308c\uff01<\/strong>
Romaji: Motto Ganbare!
English: Come on! Put in more effort!
2. \u3082\u3063\u3068\u52c7\u6c17\u51fa\u3057\u3066\uff01<\/strong>
Romaji: Motto Yuuki dashite!
English: Just be more brave, wouldn’t you?
3. \u3082\u3063\u3068\u4e0a\u306e\u65b9\u306b\u7f6e\u3044\u3066\u304f\u3060\u3055\u3044<\/strong><\/p>\n
English:\u00a0 Please place it more towards the top.<\/p>\nChotto\uff08\u3061\u3087\u3063\u3068\uff09<\/h2>\n
Chotto is usually used as an adverb and can take on any of the following meanings:
1. Just a minute\/little.
2. Somewhat, Easily, Rather, Kind of
3. Hey!
To put into use, here are some conversational sentences in Japanese that use “Chotto”!
1. \u3061\u3087\u3063\u3068\u5f85\u3063\u3066\u3088\uff01<\/strong>
Romaji: Chotto matte\u00a0yo!
English: Can’t you wait for\u00a0a moment<\/span>!
2. \u3061\u3087\u3063\u3068\u9ad8\u3044\u306a\u3041\u2026<\/strong>
Romaji: Chotto takai naa…
English: That’s kind of expensive…
3, \u306d\u3048\uff01\u3061\u3087\u3063\u3068\uff01<\/strong><\/p>\n
English: Hey!<\/p>\nKitto\uff08\u304d\u3063\u3068\uff09<\/h2>\n
Here is a sample sentence you can take a look at:
\u3042\u306a\u305f\u306e\u9858\u3044\u306f\u304d\u3063\u3068\u53f6\u3046\u3088<\/strong>
Romaji: Anata no negai wa kitto kanau yo
English: Your wish would surely come true.<\/p>\nZutto\uff08\u305a\u3063\u3068\uff09<\/h2>\n
1. \u3042\u306a\u305f\u306e\u3053\u3068\u304c\u305a\u3063\u3068\u597d\u304d\u3060\u3063\u305f<\/strong>
Romaji: Anata no koto ga zutto suki datta
English: I’ve liked you for a very long time.
2. \u3082\u3046\u305a\u3063\u3068\u5fd8\u308c\u3066\u305f<\/strong><\/p>\n
English: Ah, I’ve already forgotten about since ages ago.<\/p>\nYatto\uff08\u3084\u3063\u3068\uff09<\/h2>\n
Here are a few sample sentences you can take a look at below:
1. \u3084\u3063\u3068\u6388\u696d\u304c\u7d42\u308f\u3063\u305f\uff01<\/strong>
Romaji: Yatto jugyou ga owatta!
English: The class is finally over!
2. \u3075\u3046\uff01\u3084\u3063\u3068\u7740\u3044\u305f\uff01<\/strong>
Romaji: Fuu! Yatto tsuita!
English: Phew, I made it just in time!<\/p>\nAre you interested in learning more about the Japanese language and culture? Start taking Japanese lessons!<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\t\t