Japanese grammar · ≈ JLPT N5 · Beginner 2
〜は〜が〜です~wa ~ga ~desu
describe someone's features
Use 「〜は〜が〜です」 to describe a person's feature, such as height or eyes.
How it works

When describing someone’s appearance, you can talk about features such as their height or eyes.

「兄は」 first introduces your older brother as the topic. Then you describe his features.

Next, focus on a part of that person and put it before 「が」. In the picture, it’s the eyes.

The words before 「が」 name the aspect you’re describing; the adjective after it tells you what that aspect is like.

In the example, 「背」 is read 「せ」. 「背が高い」 means someone is tall, not that their back is high.
Example sentences
- 兄aniはwa背seがga高いです。takaidesu
My older brother is tall.
- 友達tomodachiはwa目
In a conversation

- A田中さんはどんな人ですか。
What kind of person is Tanaka?
- B田中さんは背が高くて、目
Check yourself
Level 1 · Recognise
Which sentence is correct?
Level 1 · Recognise
Listen and choose the meaning
Level 2 · Build
Put the words in order
Tanaka has a bright personality.
Level 3 · Use
What goes in the blank?
田中さんは 目が大きいです。
Mr. Tanaka is tall and has large eyes.
More grammar in this theme
- 〜は〜が〜ですdescribe someone's features