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When is "na" used at the end of a sentence, is it like "ne" or "yo" and has no meaning really? For example:

Mata Nihon ni ikitai na.
また、日本に行きたいな。

Oskar K.
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    Be careful not to confuse this with `dictionary form verb + な`, which is a command to not do something. ここに入るな！　→　Don't come in here. – istrasci May 06 '16 at 01:51
  • @istrasci, could you elaborate on that? and how can I differentiate it from my example? – Oskar K. May 06 '16 at 02:58

1 Answers1

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な at the end of a sentence usually gives the sentence one of the following five meanings.

1. Seeking confirmation

This usage is probably the most common. The addition of な to the end of a sentence gives the sentence the tone that the speaker is seeking confirmation. The speaker does not wish to assert that he is 100% confident about what he is saying. It does not necessarily mean that he isn't confident, he just doesn't wish to convey that he is. He wants to give his audience room to disagree if they want.

An simple example to illustrate some possible translations:

この本｛ほん｝はとても面白い｛おもしろい｝、な？
This book is really interesting don't you think?
This book is really interesting, right?
This book is really interesting, isn't it?

な as used this way is essentially equivalent to the sentence final particle ね except it is harsher and more masculine sounding.

2. Rhetorical

This usage is related to the first usage (actual Japanese speakers might not consider them different) except it doesn't translate well into English. This usage essentially serves as a way for the speaker to reduce the assertiveness of a statement without actively seeking confirmation. In usage 1, the speaker is expecting the listener to say something and agree with him. In this usage, the speaker isn't necessarily expecting anything, he just wishes to introduce a topic without making an abrupt statement.

Consider the difference in tone between the following:

  • I would like to go to Japan again. (picture a person stating that as a fact with a completely expressionless face).

  • I'd reaaaaallllyyyy like to go to Japan again. (said with "really" drawn out and with changing pitch).

They essentially mean the same thing but the first is merely a statement of fact while the second is almost about introducing a topic.

This is the use in your question and the second example above is a reasonable translation (the "reaaaaalllyyy" should not be in the translation and was only included to illustrate the tone).

3. Negative imperative (Rough)

The addition of な to the dictionary form of a verb produces the negative imperative (command). This is very harsh and not used often in actual conversation I think.

食べる｛たべる｝な! - Don't eat it!
行く｛いく｝な! - Don't go!

A more acceptable negative imperative would be:

食べないでください。 - Please don't eat it.
行かないでください。 - Please don't go.

4. Positive imperative (informal and abbreviated)

The addition of な to the masu-stem (i-stem, ます形) of a verb produces the positive imperative (command). This is quite easy to mix up with usage 3. It may help to understand that the な in this case is actually an abbreviation of なさい. I'm not certain how formal this sounds to a native.

食べ｛たべ｝な! - Eat it!
行き｛いき｝な! - Go! (Get out!)

The unabbreviated versions are:

食べなさい。 - Please eat it.
行きなさい。 - Please go.

5. Expressing the concept of wonder (～かな)

Lastly, when a sentence is followed by かな it expresses the speakers sense of uncertainty about how something became the way it is. This is usually translated as "I wonder how..." or "I wonder if..." in English.

おいしいかな。 - I wonder if it's tasty. (I wonder if it's any good.)

Hope this helps. If I missed anything or am incorrect, please point it out in the comments.

G-Cam
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    +1 perfect answer :) but I think in "reaaaaalllyyy" case we lengthen it so much that usually written なあ or なー. – broccoli facemask May 06 '16 at 04:34
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    The form that's separate by comma 「…、な？」 doesn't function as a sentence ender (but interjectional particle). So, 「面白い、な？」 actually means "See? it's interesting". I admit ", don't you think so?" is still a valid translation. – user4092 May 06 '16 at 04:34
  • 1) is that the same as "ne"? are they interchangeable in that context? – Oskar K. May 06 '16 at 05:43
  • I think imperatives are more common on signs than in speech; signs tend to have とまれ and さわるな and the like.. – Angelos May 06 '16 at 10:36
  • One more thing I have to say is, when you use な or ね to seek agreement, you have no doubt about it, unlike よな？, よね？, だろう？ or じゃない？ can more or less express lack of confidence. – user4092 May 06 '16 at 11:33
  • 1) is that the same as "ne"? are they interchangeable in that context? – Oskar K. May 06 '16 at 15:51
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    @Oskar K. な is more rougher, more masculine than ね when used as such. You will find guys use it more often than girls, but girls do say it too in a way to assert their opinion. – user11589 May 06 '16 at 15:59
  • @OskarK You use な when you talk to yourself, and ね in talking to others. It's considered impolite to use な in speaking to others. – user4092 May 07 '16 at 11:35
  • @user4092, for example? it's a good whether -- is this about me or others? – Oskar K. May 07 '16 at 12:56
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    When you just express what you thought in your mind, it's な. In this regard, there's no gender difference. If you speak it to someone especially in order to seek agreement, this time you use ね. If you nevertheless use な, it sounds rough and more masculine. – user4092 May 09 '16 at 03:54
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    Won't 食べなさい mean please eat and 行きなさい mean please go ? – vadasambar Feb 20 '17 at 11:08
  • @retrazil I can't believe it took 10 months for someone to notice that. – G-Cam Feb 20 '17 at 13:19