Complete Beginner - Confused about those particles (sorry!)

[FantasticMrFox]

Hajimemashite. Watashi wa Pearson Andrew desu. Yoroshiku onegaishimasu!

Im very happy with myself, I almost spelt that right without checking Anyways Im new to this site and the Japanese language. Im currently working my way through the beginner lessons and my question is this. When talking about a person by using their name to a third party, what particle do you use?

For example if I wanted to say "I hate John Smith" would the correct way be "Watashi Smith John wa kirai desu"

Im looking at http://www.timwerx.net/language/particles.htm#o but its all a bit bewildering right now.

[Psy]

Phrases like that don't translate directly into Japanese. Literally you say "[someone/something] is hated" with the implied topic "by me." The correct particle for John Smith would be ga, while watashi would be written with wa or omitted completely. "To hate" is not an attractive word in Japanese, so know your company if you're wanting to say it in such a context. Also, western names aren't normally reversed, so you would actually confuse natives by introducing them that way.

Hope that helped!

[FantasticMrFox]

Yes It does help, thank you! I actually used "ga" origionally but second guessed myself and edited the post.

So I could say "John Smith ga kirai desu" or "John Smith ga suki desu"?

"To hate" is not an attractive word in Japanese, so know your company if you're wanting to say it in such a context.

Im aware of this, from what I have learned so far I see there is a huge emphasis on politeness in Japanese culture.

[Psy]

Be careful with that one. John Smith ga suki desu is "I love John Smith." John Smith no koto ga suki desu is "I like John Smith." Without the no koto, suki has a strong romantic meaning.

Regarding Japanese culture and politeness, it's more that you need to show a polite face to people than anything else, even if in truth it's completely false. It's a complicated issue, but you'll come to understand more almost automatically as you progress with the language.