What does “tsunagu” mean in Japanese?
Native speakers say “tsunagu” often to mean ‘to connect’ in Japanese. Perhaps, some Japanese learners know this verb as it is sometimes used in Japanese conversations. In this blog post, however, I will explain it together with its major conjugations. And also, I will explain how to use them through example sentences. My explanations would help Japanese learners use “tsunagu” more properly. Then, let’s get started!
Contents
- Definition and meanings of “tsunagu”
- Tsunaganai: the nai form of “tsunagu”
- Tsunagou: the volitional form of “tsunagu”
- Tsunagimasu: the masu form of “tsunagu”
- Tsunaida: the past tense form of “tsunagu”
- Tsunaide: the te form of “tsunagu”
- Tsunageba: the ba form of “tsunagu”
- Summary
Definition and meanings of “tsunagu”
Let me start with the definition and meanings of “tsunagu”.
- tsunagu – 繋ぐ (つなぐ) : a verb meaning ‘to connect’ in Japanese. Depending on the context and situation, this can also mean ‘to tie’, ‘to hold’, or such.
The definition and meanings are not that difficult. The meanings seem to be based on the same concept. Then, let me explain how to use this verb through the example sentence below.
Example #1: how to say “hold” in Japanese
boku wa itsumo kanojo to te wo tsunagu – 僕はいつも彼女と手を繋ぐ (ぼくはいつもかのじょとてをつなぐ)
I always hold hands with her.
Below are the new words used in the example sentence.
- boku – 僕 (ぼく) : a pronoun meaning ‘I’ in Japanese. This is used mainly by boys and young males.
- wa – は : a binding particle working as a case marker or topic marker. In the example, this works after “boku” to make the subject in the sentence.
- itsumo – いつも : an adverb of frequency meaning ‘always’ in Japanese.
- kanojo – 彼女 (かのじょ) : a pronoun meaning ‘she’ in Japanese.
- to – と : a case particle used to say with whom someone does something. In the example, this is used after “kanojo” to say with whom the speaker always holds hands.
- te – 手 (て) : a noun meaning ‘hand’ in Japanese. This can also work as plural. Learn more about Japanese plural.
- wo – を : a case particle used to make the object word in a sentence. In the example, this is used after “te” to make the object in the sentence.
This is a typical usage of “tsunagu”. In the example, it works as a part of the commonly-used phrase, “te wo tsunagu”, which means ‘to hold hands’ in Japanese.
So far, I’ve explained the definition and meanings of “tsunagu” and how to use it through the example sentence. In the rest part of this blog post, I will explain its major conjugations. The first one is “tsunaganai”.
Tsunaganai: the nai form of “tsunagu”
Below are the definition and meanings of “tsunaganai”.
- tsunaganai – 繋がない (つながない) : the nai form of “tsunagu”, which means ‘not to connect’, ‘not to tie’, ‘not to hold’, or such in Japanese.
Grammatically, “tsunaganai” consists of the following two parts:
- tsunaga – 繋が (つなが) : one conjugation of “tsunagu”. This can have a smooth connection with “nai”.
- nai – ない : an auxiliary verb used after a verb, adjective, or auxiliary verb to deny its meaning. Word orders in Japanese and English are different, but the role of this auxiliary verb is very similar to that of “not”.
From these two parts, we can understand that “tsunaganai” is literally the nai form of “tsunagu” and means ‘not to connect’, ‘not to tie’, ‘not to hold’, or such in Japanese. Then, let me explain how to use this form through the example sentence below.
Example #2: how to say “don’t hold” in Japanese
watashi wa kodomo to te wo tsunaganai – 私は子供と手を繋がない (わたしはこどもとてをつながない)
I don’t hold hands with my children.
Below are the new words used in the example sentence.
- watashi – 私 (わたし) : a pronoun meaning ‘I’ in Japanese.
- kodomo – 子供 (こども) : a noun meaning ‘child’ or ‘kid’ in Japanese. This can also work as plural.
This is a typical usage of “tsunaganai”. When we want to mean ‘not to hold’ in Japanese, this nai form is a good option.
Tsunagou: the volitional form of “tsunagu”
Below are the definition and meanings of “tsunagou”.
- tsunagou – 繋ごう (つなごう) : the volitional form of “tsunagu”, which expresses volition to connect, tie, hold, or such in Japanese.
Grammatically, “tsunagou” consists of the following two parts:
- tsunago – 繋ご (つなご) : one conjugation of “tsunagu”. This can have a smooth connection with “u”.
- u – う : an auxiliary verb used after a verb to make its volitional form.
From these two parts, we can understand that “tsunagou” is literally the volitional form of “tsunagu” and expresses volition to connect, tie, hold, or such in Japanese. Then, let me explain how to use this form through the example sentence below.
Example #3: how to say “let’s connect” in Japanese
watashi tachi no kokoro wo tsunagou – 私達の心を繋ごう (わたしたちのこころをつなごう)
Let’s connect our hearts!
Below are the new words used in the example sentence.
- tachi – 達 (たち) : a suffix used after a noun or pronoun to make its plural form. In the example, this is used after “watashi” to make its plural form, “watashi tachi”, which means ‘we’ in Japanese.
- no – の : a case particle used after a noun or pronoun to make its possessive case. In the example, this is used after “watashi tachi” to make its possessive case, “watashi tachi no”, which means ‘our’ in Japanese.
- kokoro – 心 (こころ) : a noun meaning ‘heart’ in Japanese. This can also work as plural.
This is a typical usage of “tsunagou”. In this example, it works to make the suggestion. When we want to say “let’s connect” in Japanese, this volitional form is a good option.
Tsunagimasu: the masu form of “tsunagu”
Below are the definition and meanings of “tsunagimasu”.
- tsunagimasu – 繋ぎます (つなぎます) : the masu form of “tsunagu”, which means ‘to connect’, ‘to tie’, ‘to hold’, or such politely in Japanese.
Grammatically, “tsunagimasu” consists of the following two parts:
- tsunagi – 繋ぎ (つなぎ) : one conjugation of “tsunagu”. This can have a smooth connection with “masu”.
- masu – ます : an auxiliary verb used after a verb to make it polite. Probably, this is well known as a part of Japanese masu form.
From these two parts, we can understand that “tsunagimasu” is literally the masu form of “tsunagu” and means ‘to connect’, ‘to tie’, ‘to hold’, or such politely in Japanese. Then, let me explain how to use this form through the example sentence below.
Example #4: how to say “connect” politely in Japanese
kanojo wa hitobito no kokoro wo tsunagimasu – 彼女は人々の心を繋ぎます (かのじょはひとびとのこころをつなぎます)
She connects the hearts of people.
Below are the new words used in the example sentence.
- hitobito – 人々 (ひとびと) : a noun meaning ‘people’ in Japanese.
- no – の : a case particle joining two nouns or noun equivalent words. Normally, the first one can work as a modifier to describe the second. In the example, this works to join “hitobito” and “kokoro”. The formed phrase literally means ‘the hearts of people’ in Japanese. Word orders in Japanese and English are different, but the role of this case particle is similar to that of the English preposition, “of”.
This is a typical usage of “tsunagimasu”. Its politeness has not been reflected in the English sentence, but the Japanese sentence sounds polite thanks to the masu form. When we want to say “connect” politely in Japanese, this form is a very good option.
Tsunaida: the past tense form of “tsunagu”
Below are the definition and meanings of “tsunaida”.
- tsunaida – 繋いだ (つないだ) : the past tense form of “tsunagu”, which means ‘connected’, ‘tied’, ‘held’, or such in Japanese.
Grammatically, “tsunaida” consists of the following two parts:
- tsunai – 繋い (つない) : one conjugation of “tsunagu”. This can have a smooth connection with “da”.
- da – だ : the voiced version of “ta” which is an auxiliary verb used after a verb, adjective, or auxiliary verb to make its past tense form.
From these two parts, we can understand that “tsunaida” is literally the past tense form of “tsunagu” and means ‘connected’, ‘tied’, ‘held’, or such in Japanese. Let me explain how to use this form through the example sentence below.
Example #5: how to say “connected” in Japanese
kanojo wa nippon no hitobito no kokoro wo tsunaida – 彼女は日本の人々の心を繋いだ (かのじょはにっぽんのひとびとのこころをつないだ)
She connected the hearts of people in Japan.
Below is the new word used in the example sentence.
- nippon – 日本 (にっぽん) : a noun meaning ‘Japan’ in Japanese.
This is a typical usage of “tsunaida”. When we want to use the past tense form of “tsunagu”, this form is the best option.
Tsunaide: the te form of “tsunagu”
Below are the definition and meanings of “tsunaide”.
- tsunaide – 繋いで (つないで) : the te form of “tsunagu”, which means ‘to connect’, ‘to tie’, ‘to hold’, or such in Japanese.
Grammatically, “tsunaide” consists of the following two parts:
- tsunai – 繋い (つない) : one conjugation of “tsunagu”. This can have a smooth connection with “de”.
- de – で : the voiced version of “te” which is a conjunctive particle used after a verb, adjective, or auxiliary verb to make its te form.
From these two parts, we can understand that “tsunaide” is literally the te form of “tsunagu”. In Japanese, te-formed words have some important roles. One of them is make smooth connections of words. So, “tsunaide” is very useful when we want to use “tsunagu” in front of another verb, an adjective, or an auxiliary verb. Let me explain this usage through the example sentence below.
Example #6: how to say “please hold” in Japanese
kodomo tachi to te wo tsunaide kudasai – 子供達と手を繋いでください (こどもたちとてをつないでください)
Please hold hands with your children.
Below is the new word used in the example sentence.
- kudasai – ください : one conjugation of the verb, “kudasaru”, which means ‘to give’ or such in Japanese. When this follows a verb, however, this can work like an auxiliary verb to add the meaning of ‘please’ in Japanese. In this example, this works like an auxiliary verb after “tsunaide” to add the meaning of ‘please’.
This is a typical usage of “tsunaide”. In the example, it has the smooth connection with “kudasai”. When we want to use “tsunagu” in front of another verb like this, its te form is very useful to make a smooth connection.
Tsunageba: the ba form of “tsunagu”
Lastly, let me explain the definition and meanings of “tsunageba”.
- tsunageba – 繋げば (つなげば) : the ba form of “tsunagu”, which makes a conditional clause in a sentence with meaning ‘to connect’, ‘to tie’, ‘to hold’, or such in Japanese.
Grammatically, “tsunageba” consists of the following two parts:
- tsunage – 繋げ (つなげ) : one conjugation of “tsunagu”. This can have a smooth connection with “ba”.
- ba – ば : a conjunctive particle used after a verb, adjective, or auxiliary verb to make its ba form.
From these two parts, we can understand that “tsunageba” is literally the ba form of “tsunagu”. In Japanese, the ba forms of words can work as their conditional forms. So, we can use “tsunageba” to make a conditional clause in a sentence with adding the meaning of ‘to connect’, ‘to tie’, ‘to hold’, or such in Japanese. Let me explain this usage through the example sentence below.
Example #7: how to say “if hold” in Japanese
koibito to te wo tsunageba, ai wo kanji rareru – 恋人と手を繋げば、愛を感じられる (こいびととてをつなげば、あいをかんじられる)
If you hold hands with your partner, you can feel love.
Below are the new words used in the example sentence.
- koibito – 恋人 (こいびと) : a noun meaning ‘partner’ in Japanese.
- ai – 愛 (あい) : a noun meaning ‘love’ in Japanese.
- kanji – 感じ (かんじ) : one conjugation of the verb, “kanjiru“, which means ‘to feel’ in Japanese. In the example, it has been conjugated for the better connection with its following word.
- rareru – られる : an auxiliary verb used after a verb to make its potential form. In the example, this is used after “kanji” to make its potential form, “kanji rareru”, which means ‘can feel’ in Japanese.
This is a typical usage of “tsunageba”. In this example, it works as a part of the conditional clause, “koibito to te wo tsunageba”, which means ‘if you hold hands with your partner’ in Japanese. When we want to make a conditional clause in a sentence with adding the meaning of ‘to hold’ or such in Japanese, this ba form is a good option.
Summary
In this blog post, I’ve explained the definition and meanings of “tsunagu” together with its major conjugations. And also, I’ve explained how to use them through the example sentences. Let me summarize them as follows.
- tsunagu – 繋ぐ (つなぐ) : a verb meaning ‘to connect’ in Japanese. Depending on the context and situation, this can also mean ‘to tie’, ‘to hold’, or such.
- tsunaganai – 繋がない (つながない) : the nai form of “tsunagu”, which means ‘not to connect’, ‘not to tie’, ‘not to hold’, or such in Japanese.
- tsunagou – 繋ごう (つなごう) : the volitional form of “tsunagu”, which expresses volition to connect, tie, hold, or such in Japanese.
- tsunagimasu – 繋ぎます (つなぎます) : the masu form of “tsunagu”, which means ‘to connect’, ‘to tie’, ‘to hold’, or such politely in Japanese.
- tsunaida – 繋いだ (つないだ) : the past tense form of “tsunagu”, which means ‘connected’, ‘tied’, ‘held’, or such in Japanese.
- tsunaide – 繋いで (つないで) : the te form of “tsunagu”, which means ‘to connect’, ‘to tie’, ‘to hold’, or such in Japanese. When we want to use “tsunagu” in front of another verb, this te form is very useful to make a smooth connection.
- tsunageba – 繋げば (つなげば) : the ba form of “tsunagu”, which makes a conditional clause in a sentence with meaning ‘to connect’, ‘to tie’, ‘to hold’, or such in Japanese.
Hope my explanations are understandable and helpful Japanese learners.
