Grammar JLPT Level N4 - Lesson 3

When 方(かた) is attached to the ます stem of a verb, it carries the nuance of the 'way of doing (A)'. This is identical to 方(かた)'s standard meaning of 'way', or 'direction'.

• 何(なに)その食(た)べ方(かた)、口(くち)を閉(と)じてよ。
  What is that way of eating? Please close your mouth.
• ネクタイの結(むす)び方(かた)を弟(おとうと)に教(おし)える。
  I will teach my brother the way to tie a necktie. (How to do it)
• 外国語(がいこくご)の勉強(べんきょう)の仕方(しかた)が分(わ)からない。
  I do not know how to study a foreign language. (The way to do it)

When used with する verbs, sometimes the construction 仕方(しかた) is seen. This has exactly the same meaning as the form without kanji, and may be thought of as meaning 'way of dealing/attending to (A)', as 仕(し)'s original meaning is 'to attend to (A)'. In these cases, the する verb is followed by の, and then 仕方(しかた).

• 先輩(せんぱい)、ファックスの仕方(しかた)を教(おし)えてください。
  Senpai, can you teach me how to fax?
• 私(わたし)は高校(こうこう)の時(とき)に母(はは)から貯金(ちょきん)の仕方(しかた)を教(おそ)わりました。
  I learned how to save money from my mother, when I was in highschool.