At the Post Office(2)

Cultural Notes

Japanese mailboxes are red and generally have two slots: the one on the right, labeled "kennai" or "tonai" (within the prefecture) is for ordinary mail. The slot on the left, labeled "tafuken" (other areas) is for out of prefecture mail, airmail and special delivery.

The busiest time for the post office is around the New Year. Toward the end of the year, the post office sells official nengajou (New Year cards). If you take them to the post office by a certain date in December (announced by the post office), they will hold your cards until January 1st, and then deliver them immediately. That way your New Year's greeting will arrive at exactly the right time.

Grammar

Particles

A particle is a word that shows the relationship of a word, a phrase or a clause to the rest of the sentence. Particles are an important part of Japanese sentence structure. They resemble English prepositions in the way they connect words, but unlike English prepositions, which come before nouns, Japanese particles always come after nouns. Some particles cannot be translated.

(a) De --- means or method, totalizing
The particle "de" is used to signify the means of an action. It is translated into "by," "by means of," or "with."

It is also used after a quantity noun to express "total."

(b) To --- and
The particle "to" connects nouns. The English equivalent is "and," though unlike English "to" can be used only to connect nouns.

Hagaki to kitte o kudasai. はがきと切手をください。	Please give me a postcard and a stamp.
Yoshio to Mari wa eiga ni ikimashita. 義男と真理は映画に行きました。	Yoshio and Mari went to a movie.