Learn Japanese with Fuyumi Sakamoto: What Does “Noun + de Gozaimasu” Mean? – Enka Singer Izakaya Visit (N2)

Enka singer Fuyumi Sakamoto visits Nonbei Hatagaya, an izakaya with a 40-year history in Hatagaya, after the end of the COVID-19 pandemic.

1. 店長: こちらは生ビールですね。

• Demonstrative Pronoun: こちら (kochira) is a polite demonstrative pronoun referring to something near the speaker or being presented to the listener (“here / this direction”).
• Particles: The topic marker particle は (wa) marks こちら as the subject/topic being served.
• Compound Noun: 生ビール (namabīru) is a compound noun formed by 生 (nama – draft/fresh) and ビール (bīru – beer).
• Copula & Particle: ですね (desu ne) attaches the polite copula です (desu) to the agreement-seeking particle ね (ne), confirming the order gently.

2. 坂本冬美: はい、私もビールです。

• Interjection: はい (hai) is a polite affirmative interjection (“yes”).
• Particles: 私 (watashi – I/me) is followed by the additive particle も (mo – also/too), meaning “me as well”. Here, も is used because another customer whom Fuyumi Sakamoto spoke to earlier is already drinking beer, indicating that she is having beer as well.
• Copula: ビールです (bīru desu) couples the noun ビール (bīru) with the polite copula です (desu).

3. 店長: はい、で、こちらが当店の人気メニュー、生マグロ、本マグロのぶつでございます。

• Conjunction: で (de) is a conversational conjunction used to transition topics (“and / so”).
• Particles: こちらが (kochira ga) uses the subject marker particle が (ga) to highlight こちら (this item) as the specific focus among the menu options.
• Noun Modification: 当店の人気メニュー (tōten no ninki menyū) connects 当店 (tōten – our shop/restaurant) with the noun modifying particle の (no) to 人気メニュー (ninki menyū – popular menu item).
• List of Nouns: 生マグロ、本マグロのぶつ (nama-maguro, hon-maguro nobutsu) lists 生マグロ (nama-maguro – fresh tuna) and 本マグロのぶつ (hon-maguro nobutsu – chunks of bluefin tuna).
• Keigo Pattern: Structure of Noun + でございます (de gozaimasu): This pattern connects directly to a Noun. It is the polite keigo (specifically teineigo/sonkeigo in customer service) equivalent of です (desu) or であります (de arimasu), used by restaurant staff to present items respectfully.
• Modality: In terms of modality, using 〜でございます (~de gozaimasu) expresses maximum politeness and professional hospitality toward guests or customers.

4. 坂本冬美: 生マグロ！はい！本マグロ？うわぁ。

• Interjection: うわぁ (uwā) is an interjection expressing delightful surprise or amazement (“Wow!”).

5. 店長: 本マグロ、いまこちらに飾ってあるんですけど。

• Adverb: いま (ima – now) acts as a temporal adverb.
• Particles: こちらに (kochira ni) uses the location particle に (ni) to mark where something is placed/located.
• Verb Pattern & Modality: 飾ってあるんです (kazatte aru n desu) combines the Te-form of 飾る (kazaru – to display), the auxiliary verb ある (aru) indicating a state resulting from a prior action (“is displayed”), and the explanatory tone 〜んです (~n desu).
• Sentence Ending: けど (kedo) is a sentence-ending particle that gently softens the statement (“though / actually”).

6. 坂本冬美: いや～。これは、勝浦産ですか、和歌山の勝浦産ですか。

• Interjection: いや〜 (iyā) is an interjection expressing admiration or light disbelief (“Oh my!”).
• Cultural & Geographical Context: The speaker first asks if the tuna is from Katsuura in Chiba Prefecture, then clarifies if it is from Katsuura in Wakayama Prefecture.
• Noun & Suffix: 勝浦産 (Katsuura-san) combines the place name 勝浦 (Katsuura) with the suffix 産 (-san – product of/produced in).
• Particles: 和歌山の (Wakayama no) attaches the location modifying particle の (no) to 勝浦産. The question particle か (ka) is used twice to offer alternative inquiries (“Is it… or is it…?”).

7. 店長: えへへ、ちがいます。大間の？ちがいます。まぁ。

• Interjection: えへへ (ehehe) is an interjection representing light, gentle laughter. まぁ (mā) is an interjection expressing polite mild shock or surprise (“My goodness!”).
• Verb Tense: ちがいます (chigaimasu) is the polite form of the verb ちがう (chigau – to be different/wrong).
• Noun Modification: 大間の (Ōma no) attaches の (no) to 大間 (Ōma), a famous fishing town located in Aomori Prefecture.
• Cultural Context: Note on Japanese Tuna Culture: Katsuura in Chiba, Katsuura in Wakayama, and Ōma in Aomori are all famous across Japan as top-tier brand locations renowned for high-quality tuna.

8. 店長: 地中海のマグロです。

• Particles: 地中海 (Chichūkai – Mediterranean Sea) modifies マグロ (maguro – tuna) with the particle の (no).

9. 坂本冬美: 地中海！おおぉ。海を渡って来たんですね。そうです。ああ、そうですか。いただきます。

• Interjection: おおぉ (ōō) is an interjection expressing grand wonder.
• Verb Pattern & Particles: 海を渡って来たんですね (umi o watatte kita n desu ne) uses the direct object particle を (o) with the Te-form of 渡る (wataru – to cross), combined with the directional verb 来た (kita – came), creating the auxiliary verb pattern 〜てくる (~te kuru – to come to do/be brought over). The sentence ends with explanatory 〜んですね (~n desu ne).
• Set Phrase: いただきます (itadakimasu) is a standard Japanese set phrase said before eating, expressing gratitude for the food.

10. 店長: はあい。で、こちらが当店の看板メニュー、煮込みでございます。

• Interjection: はあい (hāi) is a cheerful, relaxed conversational response (“Yesss”).
• Compound Noun: 看板メニュー (kanban menyū) is a compound noun meaning “signature dish / flagship item”.
• Keigo Pattern: 煮込みでございます (nikomi de gozaimasu) attaches でございます (de gozaimasu) to the noun 煮込み (nikomi – stew/simmered dish).

11. 坂本冬美: おいしそう…モツ？モツの煮込みです。あぁ、大好き。

• Adjective Suffix: おいしそう (oishisō) attaches the conjectural/visual appearance suffix 〜そう (~sō – looks like) to the stem of the I-adjective おいしい (oishii – delicious).
• Noun: モツ (motsu) refers to offal/tripe.
• Interjection: あぁ (ā) is an interjection expressing emotional resonance (“Ah!”).
• Na-Adjective: 大好き (daisuki) is a Na-adjective meaning “very fond of / love”.

12. 店長: じっこり…じっくり煮込んでおります。

• Adverb: The speaker stumbles (“じっこり jikkori”) and corrects to じっくり (jikkuri), an onomatopoeic adverb meaning “thoroughly / slowly / patiently”.
• Verb Pattern & Keigo Modality: 煮込んでおります (nikonde orimasu) combines the Te-form of 煮込む (nikomu – to simmer/stew) with おります (orimasu), the humble form (kenjōgo) of います (imasu). This humble continuous modality lowers the speaker’s kitchen actions to convey respectful dedication to the customer.

13. 坂本冬美: じっくり煮込んだモツ。はいっ。

• Verb Tense & Adjectival Clause: 煮込んだ (nikonda) is the past plain form of 煮込む, acting as an adjectival clause modifying モツ (motsu).

14. 坂本冬美: ありがとうございます！ではお客様とすいません、乾杯しましょう。

• Conjunction: では (dewa) is a transition conjunction meaning “well then”.
• Prefix, Suffix & Particle: お客様と (okyaku-sama to) uses the honorific prefix お (o-) and suffix 様 (-sama) with the associative particle と (to – with).
• Interjection: すいません (suimasen) is a spoken variant of すみません (sumimasen), used here as a light conversational apology/interjection (“excuse me / sorry”).
• Verb Form: 乾杯しましょう (kanpai shimashō) converts 乾杯する (kanpai suru – to toast) into its polite volitional form 〜しましょう (~shimashō – let’s do), expressing a friendly invitation to toast together.

15. 客: うわぁい。あ、あちらのお客様もすいません、ほったらかしにしちゃって。はい。では、かんぱ～い。かんぱ～い。

• Interjection: うわぁい (uwāi) is a cheerful interjection expressing joyful celebration (“Yay!”). かんぱ〜い (kanpāi) is the celebratory call for “Cheers!”.
• Demonstrative Pronoun: あちらの (achira no) uses the polite demonstrative pronoun あちら (achira – over there) to refer to other guests.
• Verb Pattern & Particles: ほったらかしにしちゃって (hottarakashi ni shichatte) turns ほったらかし (hottarakashi – neglect/leaving alone) into an adverb with に (ni), attached to しちゃって (shichatte), the casual Te-form of してしまう (~te shimau – to end up doing accidentally).

16. 坂本冬美: お店の益々繁盛しますように。ありがとうございます！飲んで、働いて～。

• Grammar Pattern & Modality: お店の益々繁盛しますように (omise no masumasu hanjō shimasu yō ni) expresses a polite wish or prayer. The pattern 〜ように (yō ni) placed at the end of a sentence functions as a wish (“May… / I pray that…”).
• Adverb: 益々 (masumasu) is an adverb meaning “more and more”.
• Verb Tense: 繁盛します (hanjō shimasu) is the polite form of 繁盛する (hanjō suru – to thrive/flourish).
• Verb Form: 飲んで、働いて〜 (nonde, hataraite~), lists the Te-forms of 飲む (nomu – to drink) and 働く (hataraku – to work), implying an ongoing casual rhythm of life (“drinking, working~”).

Fill in the blanks ( ) to complete the natural conversation.

A: お待たせいたしました。こちら、本日のおすすめ（ ）。
B: ありがとうございます！わぁ、おいしそうですね！

1: にございます

2: でございます

3: だと思います