である

Etymology
From.
 * →, contraction

Verb

 * 1)  To be: the copula, with the same function as  and its polite form.

Usage notes

 * Binding particles ( kakarijoshi, namely wa,  mo,  shika,  sae, etc.) can be inserted between で (de) and ある (aru). The negative form is でない (de nai) (mostly restricted to attributive sense) or ではない (de wa nai) (all senses),  similarly to how the negative form of  is . The negative form also allows insertion of some adverbs emphasizing the negation, such as, , and.