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の . んだ . んですか Explanatory Particle Cheat Sheet (DRAFT) by

の . んだ . んですか の . んだ . んですか

This is a draft cheat sheet. It is a work in progress and is not finished yet.

の . んだ . んです Explan­atory particle

 
Verb (Plain) + の / んだ / んですか
Noun + なん

-To explain a situation / urging someone to explain a situation and clarify things
-Surprise reaction
-Assum­ption. When you see something and you make your own conclusion
-Disco­vering (Oh, I see…)

の . んです . んですか . んだ

TO EXPLAIN A SITUATION (THAT'S WHY)
URGING SOMEONE TO EXPLAIN (TELL ME, I'M CURIOUS)
INTRODUCE A TOPIC (BY THE WAY, THIS HAPPENED)
When you want to talk about it; you want to make a conver­sation out of that topic.
A. どうしておく­れた(­遅れた­)の/んだ？ Why are you late?
A. 猫本当に可愛いな。 Cats are really cute.
When you suddenly change the topic or you want to talk about something new, it’s best to use this grammar if you want to talk more about it.
B. じゅうたい【­渋滞】­にまき­こまり­た【巻­き込ま­れた】んだ。 I got caught in traffic. (That’s why)
B. なんで猫かわ­ない【­飼わない】の? Why don’t you get a cat? (Tell me, I’m curious.)
そういえば、­日本語­のうり­ょく【­能力】­しけん­【試験­】にう­かった­んだ【­試験に­受かったんだ】 / ごうかくした­んです­【合格­したんです】。 By the way / Speaking of which, I passed the JLPT Exam. (Guess what? Ask me about it!)
❗️❗️Note: This is an explan­atory particle because it is used when you explain your situation or when you want explan­ation from someone. Usually used when you have a conver­sation with a specific person. Not for SNS.
V (plain)　＋ んです
Noun + なんです

Verb (Plain) + の / んですか

 
Verb (Plain) + の / んだ / んですか
Noun + なん

-Disco­­vering
(And asking the listener to clarify and explain it)
-Expre­ssing Surprise “Really?”
(And asking someone to explain further)
**

の . んです . んですか . んだ

ASSUMPTION
DISCOV­ERING
DOUBTING
SURPRISE
桜ちゃんは目­がはれ­ている­【晴れ­ている­】。。­。泣い­てたんだ。 Sakura’s eyes are puffy. (I see) She was crying.
みさはピンク­が好きなんだ。 (I see…) Misa likes pink. (Making an assump­tion)
１５さい【歳】なの？ / １５さい【歳­】なんですか。 (What?!) You’re 15?
友達いたんだ？ (Oh, I’m surprised) You have a friend?

の . んですか . んだ？

EXPRESSING SURPRISE
DISCOV­ERING
友達いたんだ？
１５さい【歳】なの？ / １５さい【歳­】なんですか。
(Oh, I’m surprised) You have a friend?
(What?!) You’re 15?
Common Mistakes: When using の (expla­natory particle)

❌新しいアニ­メを見たの？ / 見たんですか。
Did you really watch it? (I'm surprised, can you explain further?)

-I thought you weren't gonna watch it but you did. I'm surprised you watched it, did you really watch it? Rather than just "Did you watch it? ⭕️新しいア­ニメを見た？ / 見ましたか？

んですけど Introd­uctory remark

 
Verb (Plain) + んですけど . んだけど
Noun + なん

-Setting the stage for the second clause
-To ask for direction / request
-Stating where you're going and stopping before actually saying your question
-To make a phone call and introduce yourself (ONLY to someone you know)

んですけど . んだけど

INTROD­UCTORY REMARK (KANANG KANANG)
INTROD­UCTORY REMARK (ASK IF IT'S OK / ASK FOR DIRECT­IONS)
INTROD­UCTORY REMARK (REQUE­ST/­INVITE SOMEONE)
MAKING A PHONE CALL (SI KUAN DIAY NI)
When you want to raise a topic
Stating where you're going and stopping before actually saying your question
  
When introd­ucing your name ONLY to someone who recognize you.
もしもし、【­謝らな­きゃ】­あやま­らなき­ゃいけ­ないん­だけど­、今時­間大丈夫？ Hello, I need to apologize to you for something, do you have time now?
トイレに行き­たいん­ですけど。。。 "I want to go to the toilet... (Can you tell me where is it?)"
すいません さっき 注文したビール まだ来てない­んですけど。 Excuse me, we still haven’t got got the beer we ordered earlier. Please bring it quickly.
A. もしもし、か­なめだ­けど。今日暇？ Hello, it’s Kaname. Are you free today?
ちょっと聞いて。 先週 東京に旅行行­ってた­んだけ­ど、その時、 財布 盗まれたさー。 Hear me out. I went to Tokyo last week. That time, my wallet got stolen. 【盗む】ぬすむ：to steal
8時【頃】ご­ろ【出­発】し­ゅっぱ­つする­予定な­んです­けど大­丈夫ですか？I plan to leave around 8 o'clock. Is that okay?
チケットが２­枚ある­んだけ­ど、一­緒に行かない？ I have two tickets and… do you wanna come with me?
B. はい、今日は­特に用­事ない­ですけ­ど、ど­うしま­したか­。Yeah, I don’t have anything to do in partic­ular. What is it?
❗️❗️Note: When requesting someone to do something or asking someone direct­ions, Japanese normally explain where they are going and stopping before getting to the actual NEED/R­EQUEST as it is already obvious what you want to ask or request to avoid being too invasive and regarded as impolite.