Kon’nichiwa, everyone! Kumusta ang inyong pag-aaral ng Japanese? Today at SAMURAI Japan Business Center, we will dive into one of the most basic but essential parts of Japanese grammar: expressing that something or someone exists. This is a cornerstone of N5 and N4 levels, and mastering this will help you describe your surroundings with confidence!

Imagine pumasok ka sa isang silid. You see your friend, Tanaka-san, and you also see a delicious cake on the table. In English, we just say “is there,” but in Japanese, we use different words depending on what we are talking about. Let’s test your knowledge before we start the deep dive!

1. Understanding あります (Arimasu) – The World of Objects

Let’s start with あります (Arimasu). Ang salitang ito ay ginagamit para sa mga inanimate objects. Ito ‘yung mga bagay na walang sariling buhay o hindi nakakagalaw nang kusa. Think of your laptop, your phone, a chair, or a mountain.

But wait, there’s more! Arimasu is also used for abstract things—mga bagay na hindi mo nahahawakan pero “nandiyan” or “meron.” For example, if you have an “event” like a meeting or a party, you use Arimasu. If you have “time” (jikan) or “money” (okane), you also use Arimasu.

Common examples include:

• Tsukue ga arimasu (There is a desk).
• Shiken ga arimasu (There is an exam).
• Okane ga arimasu (I have money / There is money).

2. Understanding います (Imasu) – The World of Living Beings

Next is います (Imasu). This is for animate objects. Ito ang gagamitin mo kapag ang pinag-uusapan ay mga tao o hayop. Ang common denominator dito ay ang kakayahang gumalaw nang mag-isa (autonomous movement).

Kapag nasa SAMURAI Japan Business Center ka at hinahanap mo ang iyong instructor, sasabihin mo, “Sensei wa imasu ka?” (Is the teacher here?). Or if you are at home and you see your dog, you say “Inu ga imasu.”

Interestingly, some things that aren’t strictly “biological” but are perceived to have a “will” or movement can sometimes confuse beginners. However, for N5 level, stick to this simple rule: Tao at Hayop = Imasu.

Let’s look at these examples:

• Kodomo ga imasu (There is a child).
• Neko ga imasu (There is a cat).
• Tomodachi ga imasu (I have friends / There are friends).

3. The Sentence Structure: Ni and Ga

To use these verbs correctly, kailangan nating malaman ang tamang sentence pattern. Usually, we want to say “There is [Something] in [Location].”

[Location] に (ni) + [Subject] が (ga) + あります / います (arimasu/imasu).

Ang particle na に (ni) ay nagsisilbing marker for the location. Think of it as “at” or “in.” Ang particle na が (ga) naman ang nag-i-indicate ng subject na nage-exist.

Halimbawa, gusto mong sabihin: “May libro sa ibabaw ng mesa.”
Step 1: Location – Mesa (Tsukue) + sa ibabaw (ue) + ni = Tsukue no ue ni
Step 2: Subject – Libro (Hon) + ga = Hon ga
Step 3: Verb – Is it a person? No. So use Arimasu.
Full Sentence: Tsukue no ue ni hon ga arimasu.

4. Tricky Situations: Robots and Vehicles

Maraming students ang nagtatanong: “Sensei, paano po ang robots? O ang kotse? Gumagalaw naman sila, ah?” Napakagandang tanong niyan! Sa modern Japanese, usually, Arimasu pa rin ang ginagamit para sa mga sasakyan (cars, buses, trains) dahil ang perspective ay isa itong “gamit” o mechanical object.

However, for highly advanced robots that act like humans (humanoids), some people might use Imasu to give them a sense of personality. But for your JLPT N5 exams, always remember: Robots and Cars = Arimasu.

Isa pang “tricky” example ay ang mga multo (ghosts). Since multo are perceived as “living” spirits or entities that move, Japanese people use Imasu. “Obake ga imasu!” (There is a ghost!). Nakakatakot, ‘di ba? But at least your grammar is correct!

5. Expressing Ownership with Aru and Iru

In English, we use the word “have.” In Japanese, we use the same existence verbs to show that we “have” something. Kung ang “meron” ka ay inanimate, use Arimasu. Kung animate, use Imasu.

Example Ownership:

• Watashi wa kuruma ga arimasu. (I have a car. Lit: To me, a car exists.)
• Watashi wa imouto ga imasu. (I have a younger sister. Lit: To me, a younger sister exists.)

This is a very powerful way to introduce your family or your belongings when you are practicing your Jikoshoukai (self-introduction) here at the Business Center.

Vocabulary Checkpoint 📝

✏️ Try It Yourself!

Subukan nating i-translate ang mga sumusunod na sentences. Pay attention kung Arimasu o Imasu ang dapat gamitin!

1. May pusa sa ilalim ng upuan.
   (isu no shita ni neko ga ___)
   椅子（いす）の　下（した）に　猫（ねこ）が　います。
2. May pera sa loob ng bag.
   (kaban no naka ni okane ga ___)
   鞄（かばん）の　中（なか）に　お金（おかね）が　あります。
3. Nandito ang teacher sa classroom.
   (kyoushitsu ni sensei ga ___)
   教室（きょうしつ）に　先生（せんせい）が　います。
4. May magandang bulaklak sa garden.
   (niwa ni kirei na hana ga ___)
   庭（にわ）に　きれいな　花（はな）が　あります。
5. May meeting bukas.
   (ashita kaigi ga ___)
   明日（あした）　会議（かいぎ）が　あります。
6. May dalawa akong aso.
   (inu ga ni-hiki ___)
   犬（いぬ）が　二匹（にひき）　います。

And that’s it! Mastering the difference between Iru and Aru is like opening a new door in your Japanese fluency. It might seem small, but it’s these little details that make your Japanese sound natural and polite.

Huwag kayong matakot magkamali! Every mistake is a stepping stone to becoming better. Keep practicing, keep speaking, and most importantly, enjoy the process. Here at SAMURAI Japan Business Center, we are always here to guide you every step of the way. Kaya niyo ‘yan! Ganbatte kudasai!