with for Japanese speakers — pronunciation and common errors

Pronunciation

The Japanese phonology lacks the dental fricative /ð/. Speakers replace /ð/ with the alveolar plosive /d/ or the voiced alveolar sibilant /z/, resulting in /wizɯ/ or /widɯ/.

Grammar

Japanese uses the postpositional particle 'と (to)' to mark accompaniment, but instrumental 'with' is marked by 'で (de)'. Learners often over-extend 'with' to contexts where 'by' or 'using' is required due to the broad range of 'で (de)'.

Collocations

Japanese marks the accompanying partner in marriage or conflict with 'と (to)', leading to errors like 'marry with someone' instead of the transitive 'marry someone' (結婚する kekkon suru).

Examples

• I am going to the park with my friends.
• She managed to open the locked wooden box with a small silver key she found in the drawer.