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Why does Siri say 座布団１枚お願いします when I told him he is an interesting person?
I use Siri to practice my Japanese. I basically say random things to him and see how he responds. (I know this is not even close to effective, don't judge me...)
Today I said to Siri that he is an interesting person:
> Siri
And he responds with this really weird sentence:
> []{}
I guessed that refers those cushions that people sit on (and Google Translate proved me right). So the sentence would mean something like:
> a cushion, please!
It makes no sense! What is Siri saying? Is this like a meme or something?
I searched the phrase on the web but all the results are all in Japanese which I can't fully understand...
|
It comes from a show called where whenever someone says something interesting, they're given a or mat to sit on.
Reference
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stackexchange-japanese
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{
"answer_score": 8,
"question_score": 5,
"tags": "expressions, set phrases"
}
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Why does some manga have dots above some of the words?
Potential spoilers for readers of Jojo, but in the top-left-hand corner of this picture there are dots above the word .
, {} ("off-to-the-side mark"), or {} ("on-the-side mark"). The JA wikipedia has a good article about this.
Veteran user snailplane commented with this meta link, which shows how to use Japanese emphasis, like this: []{}.
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stackexchange-japanese
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{
"answer_score": 7,
"question_score": 3,
"tags": "orthography, manga, punctuation"
}
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Meaning of 青じろい in 風の又三郎
In one of 's stories, the following sentence appears:
My question is as to what the meaning of () is here.
The technical definition of this word seems to be "bluish white" or "pale", however in context I don't understand why the trees "paled strangely".
Are the trees "paling" because their leaves are turning over due to the wind? Or for some other reason?
Or would "darken" be a closer English word to express this usage?
|
It seems to me like a rhetorical figure more than anything. I can't say anything for a certainty, but calls to my mind such ideas as "ghastly", "spooky", "eerie", so it could be alluding to the (suspected) true identity of the new transfer kid, which is, as Wikipedia puts it,
(I haven't read the novel, by the way. So the entirety of my knowledge of the story consists almost wholly of the quote and what's written on the Wikipedia article. Yay!)
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stackexchange-japanese
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{
"answer_score": 5,
"question_score": 3,
"tags": "definitions"
}
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What does 睨んでの指示 mean in this sentence?
Context: some students have been ordered by the student council to go to a meeting to talk about a competition with another school, but one of them refuses to go. Then the teacher replies.
> Student:
>
> Teacher: ****
My attempt: "Come on, don't say that. This year's victory depends on you, so I think they ordered you to go just to keep an eye on you".
I think that the sense is that the student council doesnt'have bad intentions, they just want to be sure they will win the competition. Is this the correct meaning? Thanks for your help!
|
The []{} means:
>
>
> ()
I think it means "to guess", "to foresee", "to estimate", "to judge", or "to suspect" depending on context.
>
"I think they ordered you to go, foreseeing/judging that this year's victory depends on you."
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stackexchange-japanese
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{
"answer_score": 4,
"question_score": 3,
"tags": "grammar, translation, meaning, words"
}
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What are the original names of the months in Japanese?
Currently, ichigatsu, nigatsu, sangatsu.....however the original names of the months were different than what is spoken today. I want to learn the original names of the months.
|
From <
> 1.
> 2.
> 3.
> 4.
> 5.
> 6.
> 7. (or)
> 8.
> 9.
> 10. (or)
> 11.
> 12. or
>
There are a couple variants to some of them that you can see on the Wikipedia link. Also note that
> The old Japanese calendar was an adjusted lunar calendar based on the Chinese calendar, and the year—and with it the months—started anywhere from about 3 to 7 weeks later than the modern year, so in historical contexts it is not entirely accurate to equate the first month with January.
So you can't really just use these names willy-nilly to replace the current month convention.
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stackexchange-japanese
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{
"answer_score": 5,
"question_score": 4,
"tags": "history"
}
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Is okurigana always dropped when combining kanji?
Taking the following example, where the okurigana in is dropped when combined with () to form the word (), can we generalize this rule?
For instance, if N consecutive kanji appear, can we say that the okurigana of the first N-1 kanji characters' pronunciation is dropped, except for the okurigana of the last kanji character (taking N = 2 as an example)?
If so, then how large can N be (i.e., is there a sequence longer than three kanji characters that can be used in Japanese, perhaps followed by some following written okurigana)?
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No, okurigana are not always dropped. It depends mostly on whether the okurigana make up part of the changeable bit on the end (the part that shifts in different conjugations), and whether that only changes vowels, or disappears entirely. For instance, in the verb {} "to wear", the on the end in the plain form _kiru_ just disappears when conjugating to the polite form _kimasu_ , so the verb stem (the part before the _-masu_ ending) is just _ki_ , which is entirely covered by the kanji spelling . In the verb {} "to cut", the on the end in the plain form _kiru_ changes just the vowel to become _kirimasu_ in the polite form. Since the forms part of the verb stem, and that is **not** covered just by the kanji spelling , that is usually written out as okurigana when writing kun'yomi compounds with this verb, such as {}{} or {}{}.
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stackexchange-japanese
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{
"answer_score": 3,
"question_score": 1,
"tags": "kanji, dictionary, okurigana"
}
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Difference between します and できます？
I would like to know the difference between / and /.
Is the difference between the two that the first one indicates action whereas the second one indicates ability (or perhaps possibility) of action?
Thanks.
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is the polite version of the verb which means "to do".
is the polite version of the verb (or sometimes ) which has multiple meanings.
* It can be the potential form of the verb . The potential form of a verb is a conjugation that expresses that the action signified by the verb _can be done_. For the verb this conjugations happens to be irregular which is why looks completely different from . Since simply means "to do", the potential form means "to be able to do" or "can do", just as you assumed.
* Besides this meaning, can also take on a variety of other meanings including "to be ready / complete" and "to be made of". For more information on this usage of see, for example, this answer.
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stackexchange-japanese
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{
"answer_score": 3,
"question_score": -1,
"tags": "word choice, words, word requests, word usage"
}
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To think kanji: 思う (おもう): シ (shi) versus (shitau)
Regarding the on'yomi shi (), of the character from the word , why does Google Translate list the pronunciation of this word/kanji as _shitau_ instead of _shi_ (with _shitau_ missing from the dictionary entry as displayed below in Takoboto):
![]( ![](
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To answer your specific question, of _" why does Google Translate..."_ \-- it is a machine program, and thus it is only as good as the data fed into it, combined with the cleverness of its algorithms. Clearly, the programmers have not finished programming Google Translate to correctly handle Japanese.
In short: **Never trust Google Translate.** Especially when it comes to single words. The reading _shitau_ is for the spelling , and it means "to yearn for, to long for". on its own is read (generally) as _shi_ and is only used this way in compounds with other kanji.
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stackexchange-japanese
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{
"answer_score": 4,
"question_score": 0,
"tags": "kanji, dictionary, onyomi"
}
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Can't find adjective in dictionary
I am looking for the adjective jōzu / boozy in my Takoboto dictionary, to learn further information, or its kanji, but cannot find it.
Can someone help me develop a strategy for looking up and finding adjectives in a dictionary?
![dictionary entries for joozu]( ![textbook entry](
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Learn Hepburn romanization if you want to use romaji. Your textbook uses a non-standard type of romanization. Better yet, just learn the kana. The word is .
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stackexchange-japanese
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{
"answer_score": 0,
"question_score": -1,
"tags": "dictionary"
}
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Are there future tenses for Japanese verbs?
I am unable to find an example of a future tense Japanese verb.
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That's because there isn't a future tense in Japanese. The dictionary form of the verb acts as both present and future. The difference is inferred from context and the surrounding words.
A simple example:
>
> I often eat cake
>
> I will eat cake tomorrow
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stackexchange-japanese
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{
"answer_score": 3,
"question_score": 5,
"tags": "verbs"
}
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What's the difference between bejitarian and Saishokushugi?
I have seen vegetarian translated as both `bejitarian` and `Saishokushugi`.
`bejitarian` is obviously an adaptation of vegetarian.
`Saishokushugi` can be loosely translated as faith to vegetables.
But what's the difference between the two terms and when would you use one over the other?
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( _saishoku-shugi_ ) is vegetarianism, and ( _saishoku-shugi-sha_ ) is a vegetarian, a person who practice vegetarianism. To break down:
* _sai_ : vegetable
* _shoku_ : eat
* _shugi_ : belief, ism
* _sha_ : person
To me, and **** are almost identical as far as meaning goes. I believe you can safely use whichever you prefer in most cases. In casual settings, I feel many people prefer , presumably because it sounds less stiff and is a lot easier to pronounce.
The number of vegetarians in Japan is probably small, and I feel few people in Japan practice vegetarianism for religious or ethical reasons. Most vegetarians in Japan refuse to eat meat for health-related reasons, so and usually refer to such people. I'm vaguely aware that there are many sub-types of vegetarianism in western countries (including veganism), but they are scarcely recognized here in Japan.
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stackexchange-japanese
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{
"answer_score": 6,
"question_score": 2,
"tags": "words"
}
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What is the difference between ohanashi and oshiete
In my Japanese book it gives the following examples:
> * Nihongo o hanashite mo iidesuka? Renshuu o shitai desu. = Do you mind if we speak Japanese, I would like to practice it.
> * ohanashi suru = have a talk
> * Ohanashi dekite yokatta desu. = It was nice talking with you.
> * Motto oshiete kudasai! = tell me more
> * Anata no kazoku ni tsuite oshiete kudasai. = Tell me about your family
>
What's the difference between `ohanashi` and `oshiete`? They both seem to relate to talking/speaking, but I can't tell the difference.
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(from ) means "to teach". So you can think of these examples as passing on information about the topic.
> * Tell me about your family → "Teach me information about your family" (even though we wouldn't say it that way in English)
> * "Tell me more (information about whatever we're talking about)"
>
Note that there is even a difference between and (). The former simply means "to talk" (the act of talking), while the latter means "to have a talk" (2 or more people actively engaged).
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stackexchange-japanese
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{
"answer_score": 4,
"question_score": 2,
"tags": "grammar, words"
}
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Is fumufumu the same as soudesu?
I am unable to find an explanation of the 2 distinct terms.
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These "words" are not synonyms although they both can be used as aizuchi.
`` is onomatopoeia for the sound of agreement (similar to English _Uh-huh_ ).
`` literally means "It is so" and can be used both for agreeing with the other party and as an analog of "I see" (invitation to continue the conversation but without a specific expression of agreement with what's being said).
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stackexchange-japanese
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{
"answer_score": 2,
"question_score": 1,
"tags": "colloquial language"
}
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What is the difference in meaning between 先生 and 教師？
Apparently, the terms mean the same thing. They both refer to a teacher.
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means "a teacher".
means "a teacher", too. But can be used for the title of teacher, doctor, writer, politician, artist, and so on.
For example, when a student greets to the teacher in the morning, he can't say "". In this situation, he should say "".
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stackexchange-japanese
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{
"answer_score": 9,
"question_score": 7,
"tags": "word choice, kanji, nouns"
}
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Do Japanese people introduce themselves with the last name used first?
I need to obtain some additional information on Japanese introductions.
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Do you mean the order of the first name and last name in Japanese names?
If that's what you mean then Yes, last names come before first names in Japanese, which is similar to many other Asian names. So we have, for example: - Takahashi Naoki Where Takahashi is the last name, and Naoki is the first name.
However, when Japanese introduce themselves to foreigners, it will be likely that they introduce their name in Western style (by putting their last name behind, making it Naoki Takahashi).
Therefore, I think you should not assume that the name coming first is always the last name. It is better if you learn and know common/popular Japanese last names so you won't be confused when they introduce themselves in either way.
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stackexchange-japanese
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{
"answer_score": 4,
"question_score": 1,
"tags": "colloquial language"
}
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Trouble with a sentence
I'm having trouble with the following line from Death note (anime):
> Light:
(context is that 2 characters are playing tennis to try to psychologically out do the other)
The translation I have, reads:
> This is just a ritual to acknowledge that we've become friends.
I don't understand where the "just" comes from.
I had it more literally like this: "As for this, it is a mutual acknowledgement ritual of our meeting to deepen our friendship". I don't understand what the first part is doing in relation to the last part and why we have and both indicating the reason for something. How the fights in is also puzzling.
If someone could dissect and explain the grammar operation here that would help.
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> * This is a ritual!
> * [V] This is a ritual to [verb]!
> * [S][V] This is a ritual for [S] to [verb]!
> * [][]
> This is a ritual for [both of us] to [mutually acknowledge that (our relationship) has been deepened]!
>
A simpler example would be "This is a book for children to read."
I would say the official translation is more literal, except for "just" which came from nowhere. This "just" has been added by the translator to make the sentence clearer.
here is a noun that roughly means "both of us", which is naturally marked with and works as the subject of the verb .
For the difference between and , see: Usage of with verb stems
Lastly, Japanese commas play a smaller role on grammatical interpretation (see this question for example). Don't try to split this sentence into two by that comma.
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stackexchange-japanese
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{
"answer_score": 6,
"question_score": 3,
"tags": "grammar, words, syntax, anime"
}
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usage cases for 失礼します?
I was listening a conversation where a guy said
I also heard inflections like
> Google translate : == Excuse me.
> is it correct ?
What is the proper meaning and usage cases for ?
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is used in many situations.
It can be used as an apology, which is the original meaning of the word. But it can also be used as a greeting when entering or leaving a room or a place.
It is very common for workers to leave the workplace by greeting the other co-coworkers with
(o-saki ni shitsurei shimasu)
It can also be used as a greeting when finishing a phone conversation.
It can be used just like in English to start a conversation:
... (excuse me...)
<
<
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stackexchange-japanese
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{
"answer_score": 2,
"question_score": 2,
"tags": "meaning, usage"
}
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Meaning of 「X 一緒なら Y 一緒」
>
More context:
Is X Y a common structure? What is its meaning?
My attempt: "Relations with that high school have always been bad. From scholastic ability to reputation and popularity."
Thanks for your help!
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`A + + B + / + X + + Y + ` is a pattern used to present two similar facts in parallel. Here are relevant articles:
* JGram:
* jtest4you: Learn JLPT N2 Grammar: (mo~ba~mo)
In your example sentence, the "B" and "Y" parts happen to be the same na-adjective, ``. The speaker is saying two facts in parallel, "academic abilities (of the two schools) are the same" and "reputation and popularity (of the two schools) are the same".
is not always translated as "if". It can work as something like an emphatic topic marker, similar to English "speaking of " or "regarding ". Here's the dictionary entry which is (probably) relevant:
>
>
> * …―
> * ……→
>
Typical idiomatic usage of this kind of is found in this question: Meaning of pattern XXYY
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stackexchange-japanese
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{
"answer_score": 4,
"question_score": 4,
"tags": "grammar, meaning, syntax"
}
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How can I ask about a person's specialty?
I'm learning Japanese from a book, and it says that "specialty" is []{}, but Japanese speakers can't seem to understand me if I use this word.
How can I correctly write ("What's your specialty?") in Japanese?
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is a perfectly natural way of saying "What's your specialty?", but this question would make sense only to professional scholars, physicians and such. You would expect answers like "algebraic topology", "plasma cosmology", "pediatric hematology", etc.
To ask one's major to college students, works, but it's better to ask , because usually refers to true experts. To ask about someone's job in general, see the answer of @IgorSkochinsky.
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stackexchange-japanese
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{
"answer_score": 6,
"question_score": 3,
"tags": "word choice, word requests"
}
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Is it possible to use more than one を in a sentence?
I wasn't sure since as far as I know, we cannot repeat or (or am I wrong about this?). I'm quite certain though that we can repeat and . But how about as in this sentence below?
**** **** ?
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Yes, can be repeated in a sentence.
And your sentence is perfectly correct:
I forgot to put a stamp on the envelope.
In this case the sentence is unambiguous because the corresponding verb immediately follows .
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stackexchange-japanese
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{
"answer_score": 2,
"question_score": 2,
"tags": "particle を"
}
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Can ここ be used to present a list? Or is it only used for locations?
If you wanted to present a word or a list of words, can you introduce it/them with
For example, "Here is what happened yesterday..."
Or is it used just in the literal sense of a location?
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In general, no, you cannot use to translate English phrases like "Here you go" and "Here are the details ...". You may use (lit. "this"), (politer version of ), (lit. "the following"), etc., depending on what you want to say.
But can refer to some point within a discussion. safely means "At this point, (let's review ...)" or "Here, (X means ...)".
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stackexchange-japanese
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{
"answer_score": 5,
"question_score": 3,
"tags": "words"
}
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What's the difference between shokuji, ryouri and tabemono?
In my Japanese book it lists the following:
> Hutsuu, bejitarian muke no oishii shokuji o mitsukeru no wa muzukashii desu. = It is normally hard to find good vegetarian food
>
> Supein ryouri wa donna kanji desuka? = What is Spanish food like?
>
> Sono tabemono wa oishikatta desu. = That food was delicious
What's the difference between `shokuji`, `ryouri` and `tabemono`? They all refer to food, but is there any difference between them or rules as to when to use one over the other?
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(shokuji) means "meal" like breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
(ryouri) means "cuisine", "foods cooked by someone". For example, (I want to eat her home cooking).
(tabemono) means "food", "eating" like vegetable, meat, cereal and so on.
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stackexchange-japanese
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{
"answer_score": 8,
"question_score": 2,
"tags": "grammar"
}
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出来る{できる}: kun'yomi from Takoboto dictionary do not correspond
Can someone please help me determine why the kanji section of the Tokoboto dictionary entry for dekiru () does not list a entry by itself (with no trailing dot / nothing after the dot, and lists . instead) for , and why there is only a . dictionary entry for but no . entry.
As it stands, I am unable to build the sound from the kanji entries for in the dictionary.
Can someone please help me?
(Sorry for posting the following screenshot. Not sure how else to ask this question.)
UPDATE: I can roughly see how it is possible that the suffix of the first kanji is dropped, but cannot figure out how the suffix in the second kanji changes to plain .
Thanks.
![dictionary entry](
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The exact pronunciation of a kanji depends on the word.
Different words that use the same kanji can have different pronunciations for that same kanji.
can be pronounced as or or or or , or even maybe some other pronunciation that is not included in the list.
What comes after the dot, as in . is just an example. It just means that should be pronounced as , but it is just an example.
So is pronounced , with as and as .
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stackexchange-japanese
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{
"answer_score": 2,
"question_score": 0,
"tags": "kanji, word requests, dictionary"
}
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What is the word for afternoon?
I found the terms gogo and hirusugi listed. Is gogo based on the entire afternoon period and hirusugi based on midday?
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We mostly use ""gogoin any situation.
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stackexchange-japanese
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{
"answer_score": 3,
"question_score": -6,
"tags": "colloquial language"
}
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When using ka, is it acceptable to eliminate the question mark when ending a sentence?
I am unable to find content addressing this question.
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For writing in Japanese, question marks after appear to be less common than simple periods in plain-text formats like novels. For manga, question marks seem to be more common. For writing in romaji, question marks appear to be standard.
Note that this is all from my own subjective perspective.
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stackexchange-japanese
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{
"answer_score": 2,
"question_score": 0,
"tags": "colloquial language"
}
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Why are Japanese personal names pronounced the same but written differently?
For example, Michiko can be written several different ways. Last names can also be spelled differently.
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Because kanji has the different meaning even if they are pronounced the same. For example, the kanji characters of are , etc. Them of are etc. Them of are , , etc. The kanji character of which placed the end of woman's first name is usually .
So we can choose these kanji for a name like , , and .
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stackexchange-japanese
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{
"answer_score": 4,
"question_score": 2,
"tags": "kanji, orthography, names"
}
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How do I read 間 in 食べている間に読みます?
> ****
How do I read it?
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You read it as in this case.
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stackexchange-japanese
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{
"answer_score": 3,
"question_score": 0,
"tags": "words, kanji, readings"
}
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What final sentence particle can replace の and is used more commonly by men?
has a female connotation and I wanted to obtain some alternative final sentence particles.
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Colloquial language in females is sometimes characterized by dropping the sentence-final altogether to sound less forceful/direct. So the equivalent sentence-end for colloquial male language would be , which regularly (almost always) contracts to in casual contexts.
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stackexchange-japanese
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{
"answer_score": 2,
"question_score": 0,
"tags": "colloquial language, sentence final particles, gender"
}
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How to express two of the same object, but different colors?
For example, I would like to say, "Please wash the white and blue plates." Meaning that there are white plates and blue plates to be washed. (Not plates that contain both the colors blue and white)
I know you could say , but is there a way to express the same idea without having to repeat the noun (in this case ) and not sound unnatural?
I wasn't sure if could be expressed to something like (Which doesn't look right to me)
My attempt:(This still sounds kinda strange to me)
And to my understanding,
Plates that are colored both white and blue
Same as above? Plates that are colored both white and blue? (I'm not sure if the gives a different meaning. I looked at this, but I'm still a little unsure.
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is ungrammatical.
You can use to join two i-adjectives, and means something like "a white blue plates", which is perhaps grammatical but a bit confusing. Anyway, it never means "blue plates and white plates" if you joined two i-adjectives like this.
is ungrammatical, but it's likely to be taken as the same as ("plates which are either blue or white").
I would suggest you say **** using the nouns to refer to colors. This is still ambiguous between "white-and-blue plates" and "white plates and blue plates", but at least can safely refer to the latter.
>
> Wash white and blue plates. Forget red ones.
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stackexchange-japanese
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{
"answer_score": 3,
"question_score": 3,
"tags": "grammar"
}
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When a word is both a な and の adjective?
I've recently encountered words like which apparently counts as both a and a adjective.
Just curious if there's some difference in meaning when one is used instead of the other.
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According to the dictionary () can be used as a noun (), as a na-adjective (), and even as an adverb (). But the meaning is basically the same.
<
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stackexchange-japanese
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{
"answer_score": 1,
"question_score": 4,
"tags": "meaning, particle の, na adjectives"
}
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Is the たん in this phrase the same as たく or たい?
. ?
So is a name (Chiharu) and the one who says this phrase is herself. What does the mean here ?
From what I can translate it means
You’re saying stuff like that but you actually want me to embrace you like always right ?
Is the same as or (which meanig “to want” to do something)
In anime you often hear the phrase
(I don’t want to die)
Or
(I want to know)
So is some kind of slang thing ?
Also can the , , only be used after the MASU stem of a verb ?
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is a contraction of .
?
?
This is related to .
According to "A Dictionary of Basic Japanese Grammar", page 325:
: a sentence ending which indicates that the speaker is explaining or asking for an explanation about some information shared with the hearer, or is talking about something emotively, as if it were of common interest to the speaker and the hearer.
Also can the , , only be used after the MASU stem of a verb?
no, but and , yes.
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stackexchange-japanese
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{
"answer_score": 2,
"question_score": 0,
"tags": "meaning"
}
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Question About Kanji , 發, and 発
I have a question regarding this kanji: . Is it the same kanji with this or ?
> The kanji of the Green dragon tiles in Japan is usually which is slightly different from since it includes the kanji instead of ." (Wikipedia - Japanese Mahjong).
On last summer Japan trip, I was looking for some calligraphy stuffs near Asakusa, then I asked the Obasan to make me word. She asked me whether that is "Hatsu" because she said she doesn't know that word () exists in Japanese. But she did not tell me this kanji: .
I know word from Chinese and HK Mahjong.
I hope native/Japanese expert could explain this to me.
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is a old character form. is a new character form. Japanese don't use in a normal life. I didn't know what the word ether. But, Japanese Mahjong players should know .
<
I still can't write English well. I would be glad if I could help you even just a little.
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stackexchange-japanese
|
{
"answer_score": 1,
"question_score": 1,
"tags": "kanji, questions, word requests, chinese"
}
|
シャンクス見参! why there is no が in that sentence?
I was watching one piece and came across with the title `!` without ``. I want to google it by myself the answer but I am not sure the proper keyword so I ask about it here. would you tell me why there is no `` in the title? if you have link reference about, I'd love to read it.
And what's the meaning of it? the subtitle translate it as `shanks appears`. is that correct? but I tried google translate and it gave me worse translation `Shanks kenzan`.
|
Japanese often omits "" (particles) from sentences.
For example:
> →
>
> →
In your case:
> →
>
> /
> sya n ku su (4 morae) / ke n za n (4 morae)
This tempo sounds good, natural and impressive, the first and second half having the same number of morae/syllables.
My English is not good. Please edit somebody! Bye!
|
stackexchange-japanese
|
{
"answer_score": 6,
"question_score": 3,
"tags": "particle が"
}
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Any hints on how to translate the 'Nanny' in Totoro?
I'm working through translating and I was doing ok until the Nanny starts talking. Going through her sentences and translating them piece by piece is an exercise in extreme patience. I find her lines very confusing.
Is she speaking in a particular dialect that I can reference?
Here's an example sentence that confuses me:
>
Which I've translated literally to say:
> If smile wet, as for the bad things they will die and leave completely before you notice, you see.
So, "If you keep smiling the bad things will go away."
But the details escape me. What's up with the wet smile for instance?
(It's about 15 minutes in, if you have the video...)
|
>
This is the same as the following sentence written in the standard Japanese.
> **** **** **** ****
> If you keep smiling, they won't do bad things, and they go away before you notice.
The original sentence is not in a particular "dialect", but a typical role language of an old man/lady (aka ).
* is short for , and is the same as in this context:
* what does in this sentence mean?
* in honorific contexts
* → , → :
* Changing of diphthongs at the end of words to in exclamations
* What does the word mean?
* → :
* <
is a set phrase meaning "to do bad things", "to cause mischief". The verb is not used here.
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stackexchange-japanese
|
{
"answer_score": 9,
"question_score": 4,
"tags": "translation, contractions, anime, role language"
}
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How to say each other on this sentence
could you help me with this? I'm trying to say "If we call each other, will we be able to understand each other at all?"
so far I have come with this [?] What you guys think?
I'm not really sure if that's the proper way to say it, and also not sure about how to say "at all".
|
> ?
* is not necessary because it's safely inferred from the context.
* Unlike _call_ , is not transitive. The particle you need here is . Or you can just use without any particle because it also works as an adverb.
* is a very pompous way of asking a question. I hear this only in fiction, typically from noble people and stereotyped elderly gentlemen.
* Neutrally saying is not a good way to ask a question like this anyway, because you are expecting a positive response. (i.e., You want to say "we do ... don't we?" or "Don't we ...", not simply "Do we ...")
* is rarely used transitively. Use isntead.
* Try using here. If you can use this the second is redundant.
* "At all" in a positive sentence can be translated as , , , etc.
Fixed version:
> * (still a bit clumsy)
> *
> *
> * (casual)
>
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stackexchange-japanese
|
{
"answer_score": 4,
"question_score": 2,
"tags": "grammar"
}
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What's the difference between 勝つ可能性 and 勝てる可能性？
In English I think there is a subtle difference between "there's a possibility we'll win" and "there's a possibility we can win". I think the former implies "if things keep going as they are now, we might win" while the latter implies "if we start trying extra extra hard (or do something else differently) we might be able to win".
Is there a similar difference in Japanese?
|
Using potential form is not preferred when you have to be objective, for example:
> AB We employed machine learning technique and statistically analyzed the possibility that Team A and Team B win.
naturally carries a "we wanna win" overtone, so excited players would probably use a lot more often during a game. In a briefing before a game, is usually preferred, too, but may be fine.
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stackexchange-japanese
|
{
"answer_score": 1,
"question_score": 3,
"tags": "grammar, potential form"
}
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Understanding ～の方を回っていく
The speaker has just decided what route to drive:
> ****
> Right! When I cross the next junction I'll turn right and ???
I don't understand the part in bold. Literally, I have something like:
> I will keep turning through the direction of the lane. or,
> I will turn through the direction of the lane and go.
I can't understand what 'turn through a direction' means. I'm also not sure what the function of is here. Hence my two alternatives.
|
I don't feel the previous answers are correct. is used to generally refer to an act of deliberately avoiding the shortest path, usually to arrive faster etc (e.g. there is a traffic jam on the shortest path so you go through the ally). It doesn't refer to any actual, physical change in bearing. For example in the sentence you've given, you arrive immediately into the by doing . You don't make any additional turns.
You can see this in expressions like . It just generally refers to the act of "going around" rather than literary turning to any direction.
So I would translate it as:
> Right, once we cross the next junction, let's turn right and go through the alley (rather than the main road)
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stackexchange-japanese
|
{
"answer_score": 4,
"question_score": 3,
"tags": "grammar"
}
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と quotation particle: Omission and the で particle
I have two questions about the quotation particle. One about it's omission together with connected verbs and the other about how it operates with the particle. I believe the bellow sentence contains an omission of :
> Original: L.
>
> My extension: L
The translation I have reads
> "People think [society thinks] L and the police are incompetent".
I don't see how I could've gotten that from the original. The only thing I can think of is that is being omitted, because I don't see how the sentence makes sense otherwise.
In addition, I'd like to know how exactly the particle operate with the particle here, because I don't quite understand it.
If someone could clear this up that would be great :). Thanks!
> [The context is that these are police officers and the superior is talking about how "L" who is a character and the police are incompetent. The example is from episode 10 of Death Note.]
|
The omitted verb is a bit different from what you have in mind:
> L ****
> In the society, it is thought that both the police and L are incompetent.
Note that I used the passive form here. The sentence is not saying "society thinks " with the society as the subject. here is a simple location marker, " _in_ the society" (or "in the public mind").
If it were not for , would work as the subject, so (non-passive) would be the right omitted verb:
> L ****
> The society thinks that both the police and L are incompetent.
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stackexchange-japanese
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{
"answer_score": 5,
"question_score": 2,
"tags": "particles, particle と, particle で, anime, quotes"
}
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Referring to a group of young people
What is the best way to address a group of people younger than yourself, that is more emphatic about the age difference than When I say address, I mean personally, not like "I wish those young people would stay off my lawn," but "Young people, welcome to the conference!"
Is an okay choice? Does your social closeness to the group affect which noun you would choose?
|
"!" is not used to publicly address young people. It's possible to add the vocative particle and say "!" to address them, but this would sound very stiff, old-fashioned and grandiose, like war propaganda in the 1940's. You would probably end up making them laugh.
is a good phrase to refer to young people in front of you in a speech. It sounds polite and friendly at the same time. Still, using this to address them would not sound very natural unless you have a good reason to do so. The most common and safest choice is to say just .
> * : OK
> * : OK if "young" is important in the context
> * : A bit funny when is used suddenly
> * : Always safe
>
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stackexchange-japanese
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{
"answer_score": 2,
"question_score": 2,
"tags": "translation"
}
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What does 彼女は私ほど自分のことを好きじゃない mean?
Consider the following
>
My attempt is as follows
* A: She does not love herself as much as I love myself.
* B: She does not love herself as much as she loves me.
* C: She does not love herself as much as I love her.
* D: She does not love me as much as I love myself.
* E: She does not love me as much as I love her.
Which is the correct translation?
|
Sentences A-D are all possible interpretations, but practically it's either A or C. Without any context, I personally feel the likelihood is as follows: `A > C >> B ≒ D >> E ≒ 0`
I feel E is nearly impossible because is referring to different two people which are not "herself" nor "myself".
|
stackexchange-japanese
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{
"answer_score": 7,
"question_score": 10,
"tags": "grammar, meaning"
}
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Describing a shrine, just not a Shinto shrine?
Been trying to translate bits and pieces of one of my short stories into Japanese. Having decided that it would be fun to translate one of my more Japanese themed ones.
One problem I've encountered is this, my story is a fantasy tale in which a Greek-like pantheon of gods are worshipped at shrines, however I've been having trouble in picking a word to describe said shrines with, as Japanese has a lot, and a lot of them exclusively refer to Shinto.
Just wondering what a good word to use would be.
|
This might be your best bet. But it hold the meaning of temple a little bit more than shrine.
>
<
If not good enough, then maybe you could go with.
>
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stackexchange-japanese
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{
"answer_score": 3,
"question_score": 4,
"tags": "word choice, words"
}
|
Can someone help explain the difference between Hajimeru and Hajimaru?
What is the difference between {} (hajimeru) and {} (hajimaru)?
Would appreciate some advice on this.
Thanks
|
In a nutshell, both _hajimeru_ and _hajimaru_ mean "to start".
More specifically, _hajim **e** ru_ is transitive -- "to start _something_ ". Meanwhile, _hajim **a** ru_ is intransitive -- it cannot take an object, so " _something_ starts (on its own)".
There are several verb pairs like this, all with _-m **e** ru_ / _-m **a** ru_ endings: _hirom **e** ru_ "to widen something" vs. _hirom **a** ru_ "something widens (on its own)"; _katam **e** ru_ "to harden something" vs. _katam **a** ru_ "something hardens on its own"; _osam **e** ru_ "to quell something, to put something under control" vs. _osam **a** ru_ "something quells, something becomes under control", etc. etc.
|
stackexchange-japanese
|
{
"answer_score": 16,
"question_score": 6,
"tags": "words, transitivity"
}
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What is the meaning of Sankyo in Japanese companies names
What is the meaning of Sankyō in some Japanese companies names?
* Sankyo Denki (now named Sanden)
* Daiichi Sankyo
* Sankyo flutes ...
|
Many companies have in their names. Of course the most famous one is (Daiichi Sankyo Co., Ltd), and this can be the only company name with which is recognized nationwide. But other large and small companies called exist; for example, this is apparently irrelevant to , and there seems to be dozens of small in Japan.
Generally speaking, proper nouns are proper nouns, and have no known "meanings". However happens to have a known meaning. The kanji means _three_ , and means _cooperation_. Put together, has the meaning similar to _trinity_ or _triad_. The name of was used when a company was started by three capital providers. In Daiichi Sankyo's case, the three founders were Matasaku Shiobara, Shōtaro Nishimura, and Genjirō Fukui. Apparently this was a common naming convention around 100 years ago. It may be somewhat similar to English "... and Bros." or "... and Associates".
|
stackexchange-japanese
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{
"answer_score": 6,
"question_score": 4,
"tags": "names, business japanese"
}
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What is the definition of a 街開き?
What is a ? I know that can mean "town" and means "opening", so it means something like "town opening", but what is it exactly?
Neither jisho.org nor weblio had an entry.
|
is not very common, but it's actually _town opening_. It's used when a newly developed town (or district, or large apartment building) is made available to the public use. It also refers to an opening ceremony.
See:
*
*
*
* * *
**EDIT** While is not common, it's instantly understandable to native speakers because we have similar words:
*
*
*
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stackexchange-japanese
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{
"answer_score": 7,
"question_score": 3,
"tags": "translation, words"
}
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What does よく mean in よく長時間働かせる?
Today I saw this sentence from this page:
>
After chopping the sentence up, I found out that it means something around the lines of:
> That manager makes people work for very long periods of time.
But I could not understand why is there. So I scrolled down to look at the English translation, but that said nothing about why is here.
From my knowledge, is the adverb form of (), which means "good".
But it does not make sense to use "well" or anything like that to describe the action of making people work for a long time! Who wants to work for long hours! How is it "good"?
Why exactly is used here? Is it something related to the causative form?
|
You should note that the adverb __ has many meanings that include
> often, frequently.
It doesn't always mean
> nicely, well, skillfully, etc.
It all depends on context.
|
stackexchange-japanese
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{
"answer_score": 6,
"question_score": 2,
"tags": "adverbs, causation"
}
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Can なし be used in response to a binary question?
I'm trying to have a program I'm working on translate a report with "Yes" and "No" as possible answers to various yes/no questions (of forms like "Is X equal to Y," "Does A exist for B," etc). While the existing phrase bank properly renders "Yes" as , it has "No" stored as rather than the I would have expected. I know that a common way to answer a question in the negative is to just say the negative form of the question's verb, but is that what's going on here?
Is the only appropriate (and sufficiently generic) answer available, or is also appropriate?
|
**The pair / is highly strange to me**. / is better.
The possible way to use as an answer is where the question is of ("do you have ...") form. In this case, / is also fine.
For example, one may see a question and answer options like below on a health check sheet:
>
>
> 3 / 1 / /
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stackexchange-japanese
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{
"answer_score": 9,
"question_score": 3,
"tags": "questions"
}
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Indirect questions nested inside phrases
Trying to use interrogative words in nested (indirect ?) questions has been troublesome for me.
First came things like:
>
Which I guess means "I don´t know what the teacher said". So far, so good.
However, I have been looking into using for quotations, or for reporting to a whole phrase.
For example:
>
Which I think means "What did he say this is ?"
But what if I just wanted to know if he said this is something or not, like: "Did he say this is something, or didn´t he say it ?"
Would it be something like this ? (below)
> ?
Lastly, if I wanted to say "Do you remember what he said this is ?", would it be:
> ?
If there is anything wrong with my guessed meanings, please let me know...
|
is not a complete sentence but a clause that's embedded in a sentence like "He didn't remember what he said it was".
"Did he say this is something, or didn´t he say it ?" is expressed as (/) or … or so. Using instead of is another point. (This is difficult to explain, though)
is not a complete sentence either, but a clause as in "He didn't remember **if** he said "what's this" **or not** ".
? more likely means "Does he remember what I/you/he said this is?" than "Do you remember what he said this is?". If you want to make it clear, the latter should be **** (/) .
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stackexchange-japanese
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{
"answer_score": 1,
"question_score": 2,
"tags": "questions, particle か, interrogatives"
}
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Usage of 「と」 in these 2 sentences, conditional or quotation? And how to differentiate
I came across these two sentences, and I'm having trouble deciding whether these s are conditional, or quotation particles, or otherwise. If they are quotation, I do not understand which verb follows them to make it obvious that they are quotation, and if they are conditional I'm not sure where they go in the English translation, or how they make sense in the original Japanese.
> 1. I tolerated it all this time but in this situation, I can't not go to the dentist.
>
> 2. Hearing the story from the boss, it seems like I can't not go on a business trip overseas no matter what.
>
>
Is there an easy way to differentiate between conditional and quotation , other than quotation being followed by obvious verbs such as , , , etc.?
|
You can think of it like this:
The basic idea of particle is "A then B". As quotation is a kind of exception, **it is rare that quotation doesn't come with such verbs as etc** , though some fixed phrases might not.
As for your sentences, both follows the idea of "A then B".
1: Conditional -- but it might be the same as 2.
2: See 2-5 of this dictionary entry:
> ―
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stackexchange-japanese
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{
"answer_score": 4,
"question_score": 3,
"tags": "particle と"
}
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Why is くれる used here and not あげる
The lines are taken from a visual novel and the translation as well
Example 1
> ?
> ?
> What are you running away?
> Run? No. I'm simply giving you time to enjoy until the end of the world
Example 2
>
> It might be good that we left them with such a bad taste in their mouth
Example 3
>
> .
> I'll never forgive you
> Prepare yourself
> I will defeat you today
So is supposed to be used when someone is doing something for the speaker. When you're doing something for someone else you're supposed to use . So why is is that here is used? Does it have to do with the perspective?
|
You need to note that the verb __ is not always used when someone else does something to the speaker. It is rare though but it could be used when the speaker does something to someone else, especially when it is combined with (to do, to undertake). For example:
> []{}[]{}. (Literally and imperative) Give such a thing (to someone else)
>
> []{}[]{}[]{}. (Literally) (I) give a small money (coin) to a beggar.
When you use __ with , it sounds a little belittling and pejorative.
Also, you should note that __ is a non-honorific form of [[]{}](
When to use in place of is not very easy to understand. But you should note that it is not common and it has a belittling and pejorative connotation.
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stackexchange-japanese
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{
"answer_score": 5,
"question_score": 6,
"tags": "meaning, usage, subsidiary verbs"
}
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Parsing and meaning of 口を開かずにはいられなかった
Teacher has just calmed down the class:
> ... ****
> but immediately, again everyone _couldn't enter_ without opening their mouth.
I can't understand the phrase in bold. I'm not even sure whether it's
> 1) ()()() or
> 2) ()()
I'm guessing that it's the first parsing and it's something like "Couldn't keep their mouths shut"/"Couldn't help but talk" etc. But if this is the case I can't understand how the grammar works. Could someone please break down the grammar and possibly give some other examples?
|
You are right, this means:
> But, suddenly they could not help but open their mouths.
"open their mouths" might be translated as "talk" but since it is context dependent I prefer to stick to the literal meaning.
* * *
The grammar pattern at hand is: and as you surmised it means "cannot help ~". It is used only when you can't help something because of your emotions or your passion for something. Basically it describes something that you end up doing out of your control. Thus, you can almost safely understand it as .
>
> It is so weird that I could not refrain but to laugh.
>
> As we could expect from a big fan of Japanese candies, whenever she passes past a Japanese candies store, she can't resist her temptation to buy one.
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stackexchange-japanese
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{
"answer_score": 3,
"question_score": 1,
"tags": "grammar"
}
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What is the difference between 混ぜる and かき混ぜる?
According to my dictionary, both and mean "to mix" or "to stir". But what is the difference between the two? Unfortunately, the dictionary does not provide any additional information and I couldn't make out any difference in the example sentences I looked at.
|
= to stir
= to mix
* * *
According to HiNative:
refers to sticking something hard and stick-like into something else and spinning it around (e.g. using a spoon to mix dough) whereas can be used in a more broad sense which encompasses mixing by other methods as well (e.g. shaking).
can be used in all places is used but not the other way around. Also note that can also have the meaning of "invite me" or "include me" to an outing/event.
>
>
> You're going to a party tomorrow? Can I come!!!
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stackexchange-japanese
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{
"answer_score": 6,
"question_score": 2,
"tags": "word choice, meaning"
}
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Is it いる or ある with 物の怪? (Are ghosts animate or inanimate?)
Shall we treat []{} (a kind of ghost) as animate or inanimate? Does it vary for the different ghosts?
|
We can say "", we don't use at all with , , , , and so on. So I guess we treat them as animate.
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stackexchange-japanese
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{
"answer_score": 6,
"question_score": 4,
"tags": "animacy"
}
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What is the correct way to say "Please select the best one from the available options"?
When I read some examination papers, I often found the following instruction.
>
My question is
1. Can I rephrase the instruction above as follows?
>
2. Which is the correct format in Japanese for a list of number 1, 2, 3, 4?
> A:
or
> B:
|
1. is inappropriate. It would mean "one of the best", and implies there are more than one choice that can fit the blank. One has to "select the best one", not "select one of the best".
2. Whichever is fine as long as you use punctuation marks consistently throughout your manuscript.
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stackexchange-japanese
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{
"answer_score": 4,
"question_score": 1,
"tags": "grammar"
}
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How to denote the object and the subject of potential form verbs clearly?
The source in where I studied told me that you mark the object of potential form with particle instead of particle because potential form is just a state, no actual action is taken. It specifically told me that can be used but is better. I know how to make sentences where I'm the subject. : I can't climb the mountain. : I can't hear what he is saying. But what if I want to say "He can't eat apples" or "Alice can't go to school" or even "Bob can't kill Tanaka". With I could be mistaken in saying "Tanaka can't kill Bob" instead of "Bob can't kill Tanaka". Can also denote the subject or only the object?
|
The particle you are looking for is .
* Use of in
* Why say "" instead of " " in this context?
> He can't eat apples.
> ≒
> ≒
>
> Bob can't kill Tanaka.
> ≒
> ≒
>
> He can't climb this mountain.
> ≒
> ≒
>
> the reason why he can't climb this mountain
> ≒
> ≒
>
> He can't hear what I am saying.
> ≒
> ≒ (ga-no conversion)
>
> Alice can't go to school.
>
> (You cannot say . Probably because there is already ?)
(Different words are topicalized using , but I don't know which is "better"...)
_EDIT: changed the fifth example above for consistency._
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stackexchange-japanese
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{
"answer_score": 2,
"question_score": 1,
"tags": "grammar, potential form"
}
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Meaning of 何とやら in this sentence
>
According to Kenkyusha dictionary, means `etc.` or `and so on`. Could it mean `same` here? My attempt:
> I can hardly sleep the day before a competition. The same goes for excursions. It's that I am fainthearted.
|
is a placeholder (like "you-know-what(/who)", or "what's-his(/her/its)-name"), used in place of names you can't remember, or words and phrases you don't want to mention explicitly.
Notably it has a distinct use as a replacement for a part (often the latter part) of established expressions, like proverbs and idioms. Examples: (for ), (for ), (for ). I think the reason for its employment, most of the time, is the psychology "The less said of a cliche, the better," rather than economy, forgetfulness, or polite euphemism.)
In this case the idiom (of sorts) they had in mind was probably "", a variation of the more accurate "" - "a grade school kid on the eve of a field trip" - used for when you are too excited about the next day's event to go to sleep. (Or less likely "()", which refers to the same thing.)
My translation effort:
> "I can rarely sleep the day before a competition - the proverbial kid on the eve of a field trip. I'm weak-nerved."
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stackexchange-japanese
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{
"answer_score": 1,
"question_score": 2,
"tags": "grammar, meaning"
}
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Meaning of 「全て込めて解き放て」 in this song ("Brand New World" by Shiena Nishizawa)
In the song Brand New World by Shiena Nishizawa, this part
>
>
> Brand-new World
Was translated as
> Even the incarnation of weakness, showing its face with a scream – I'll release everything right here and now: A Brand-new World!
1. What is doing here?
2. Where does "right here and now" come from?
I checked and on Jisho.org and didn't find anything that would explain this usage.
|
1. The first (or second) definition on jisho.org applies. here is to charge, or to put energy into some container. Imagine something like a , to which you can put negative emotions until it bursts.
2. It's a free translation, and "right here and now" comes from nowhere. Literally, the sentence is only saying "Charge everything (that I mentioned in the previous line) and release it".
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stackexchange-japanese
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{
"answer_score": 2,
"question_score": 1,
"tags": "translation, meaning, song lyrics"
}
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Must I use past tense before 後?
From this page, I see this sentence:
> **Note** : Be careful of the tense of the verb that comes before and . is non-past while is always past tense.
I am confused because it is quite weird to disallow the usage of non-past tense before . What if I'm talking about the things that I will do tomorrow? For example, which should I use if I want to say "I will go to school after I have breakfast tomorrow"?
> ****
>
> ****
|
This doesn't mean "past" but "completion". It isn't unnatural that which means "completion" is used in things in the future.
So is correct.
|
stackexchange-japanese
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{
"answer_score": 10,
"question_score": 4,
"tags": "grammar, tense, aspect"
}
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The wind sound "どう" in 風の又三郎
In the famous story , the sound is used to describe the wind in several places, including the song in the intro.
One such place is:
>
I did some research, and it seems that is not a normal way to express the sound of wind in Japanese. I have heard that Mr. Miyazawa is "a master of onomatopoeia" so I guess he made this expression up himself.
However, no matter how I think about it I cannot seem to match any sound of wind I have heard before with "doh".
How to Japanese people interpret this? Is this supposed to be the sound of something slapping against something else due to the strong wind?
If it was "dooooooh" I might understand it as a blowing sound, but it is always short, especially in the introduction song, which I have heard read very quickly in readings. So it seems more percussive than blowing.
|
Like , which is also sometimes used for strong winds, I think may represent the lower frequency sounds caused by strong winds.
The higher frequency sounds would be or etc.
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stackexchange-japanese
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{
"answer_score": 3,
"question_score": 3,
"tags": "onomatopoeia, literature"
}
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What is the difference between 〜ている and 〜中?
When we want to expresss that something is in progress, we can use the progressive form:
>
>
> studying
But another way of expressing a progressing action is by adding to the noun:
>
>
> working
I want to know the difference between these two. Can I say or to achieve the same meaning? If I can't, is there a pattern to this? I mean like what kind of nouns can I add to?
I know that is a verb while is an adverb but I don't care about the part of speech. I'm only considering it as a standalone word right now.
|
To me, there is no big difference between and . It is just personal preference. []{} can create idioms when combined with other nouns such as []{} which means _under construction / repair_ and you should note that it is a noun, not an adverb.
[]{} means _middle_. If you are in the middle of something, you are doing something. Therefore, is translated to
> I am in the middle of studying. / I am studying.
If you use []{}, you can make the sentence more concise, but you have to note that it can't be used with all Japanese nouns.
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stackexchange-japanese
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{
"answer_score": 6,
"question_score": 6,
"tags": "grammar, tense"
}
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When to refer or address someone with their name
In Japanese you sometimes refer to people by name, even when talking directly to them.
Just curious if someone could give me a few examples of what this looks like when used in a conversation, as I've struggled to find any good examples.
|
You can think of using a person's name to address them as the standard usage in Japanese.
**Example**
>
>
>
> _Rōmaji_
> Hahaoya: "Ima kara kaimono ni dekakeru kedo, Tarō mo kuru?"
> Musuko (Tarō): "Un, iku."
>
>
> _English translation_
> Mom: "I'm going shopping. Would you like to come too?"
> Son (Taro): "Sure. I'd like to go."
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stackexchange-japanese
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{
"answer_score": 2,
"question_score": 0,
"tags": "grammar, names"
}
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Is it rude to always attach furigana to every Kanji used in letters directed to superiors?
I am not sure whether or not attaching furigana changes the nuance of politeness. My question:
> Is it rude to **always** attach furigana to every Kanji used in letters directed to superiors?
Note: the superiors are Japanese native speakers.
|
If I did so, yes, it would be very rude, because I am a native Japanese speaker who is supposed to be able to use fluent business Japanese. They might think I did so because I wanted to treat them as a small kid.
If you did so, and if the receiver knows you are not a native Japanese speaker, they probably wouldn't feel offended. But it would look very weird anyway. After all, no one has ever received such a letter.
A letter full of furigana is not just unnecessary; its complicated appearance can even prevent us from reading smoothly. If you know some of your kanji usages are very difficult, only use furigana for those words. If you feel some of your kanji usages may cause confusion and don't have time to ask here, just replace those words with hiragana. If you are worried about the fact that some words have two or more readings (eg and ), don't worry, Japanese native readers are good enough to handle such situations almost unconsciously.
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stackexchange-japanese
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{
"answer_score": 6,
"question_score": 1,
"tags": "politeness, furigana"
}
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What does みてえじゃ in this sentence mean?
What does in this sentence mean ?
>
|
It's just another example of the `ai`-to-`ee` sound change found mainly in dialectal or male speech, which is described here and here.
is the same as .
In case you don't know , see this.
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stackexchange-japanese
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{
"answer_score": 5,
"question_score": 2,
"tags": "slang"
}
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Meaning of 無難に行く
Context: the author is telling she cut her hair in a way she didn't like before an important event. Then she says this:
> ...
I know means `safely`/`without fault`/`innocuously`, but does it have a particular meaning when used with ?
My (bad) attempt: "Since I take a lot of unforgettable pictures, if that is true I want to go safely (?)... Why did this happen?!"
Source: (the letter on the left, near the end)
|
and are set phrases that mean "to play it safe", "to take the safe path" etc. Let's memorize them as is. In this case, it just says she wanted an ordinary hair style. (I don't know why she hates that strongly, though)
BTW this means / ("under normal circumstances", "usually").
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stackexchange-japanese
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{
"answer_score": 3,
"question_score": 2,
"tags": "translation, meaning, adverbs"
}
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How do you translate: 一番頭がいい
The full sentence is:
The part I'm not understanding is:
|
(The comment section has sorted this out, but just to summarize the whole thing,)
is an idiom () that means bright/intelligent. is literally number one, and from there it means best/top/most/first. is strictly speaking a noun, so from that perspective this should be by inserting a particle, but this particle often gets dropped, and can work like an adjective, just like "best."
So the whole sentence translates to "He wrongly thinks he is the brightest in this class."
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stackexchange-japanese
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{
"answer_score": 3,
"question_score": 1,
"tags": "meaning"
}
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汁, ジュース and スープ
I know means both juice and soup. But I would like to know if there's a difference among them( and )( and ). Are all of them the same?
|
* is most often used for a juice soft drink. Some people will use it liberally to refer to ANY soft drink. e.g.
* is most often used in compound loan words, as in a specific kind of foreign soup. e.g.
* can be a Japanese broth, soup, or the raw juice of a fruit, or other liquids. e.g. , ,
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stackexchange-japanese
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{
"answer_score": 4,
"question_score": 1,
"tags": "words"
}
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Do transitive verbs require a subject when translated? How to deal with inferred subjects?
One line examples rarely have enough context to infer. What about this sentence that needs an inferred subject?
>
"" is transitive, so how would a proper translation deal with the lack of an explicit subject in the main clause?
1. Just as Tanaka entered the room, **Tanaka** opened all the windows. `(given what ~ ... means this does not sound correct.)`
2. Just as Tanaka entered the room, **someone** `(who we've already talked about)` opened all the windows.
3. Just as Tanaka entered the room, **all** the windows opened. (`a paraphrase using "to open" intransitively`)
For a _translation_ , **#2** makes sense to me but I don't like that empty inference of `someone`. For a _paraphrase_ , **#3** is better because then nothing is inferred; the missing subject is hidden. What do you think?
|
You should parse the sentence this way:
>
> (≂ )
The subject of the main clause (= ) is because it's marked with .
is a subordinate clause, and the subject of a subordinate clause should be marked with , as in **** . To mean "Just as Tanaka entered the room, someone opened all the windows", you'd say **** (not **** )XX or XX **** .
As you might know, means or , "as soon as ~~" "right after doing ~~"
So your sentence means #1 "Just as Tanaka entered the room (or, On entering the room / Right after he entered the room), Tanaka opened all the windows."
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stackexchange-japanese
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{
"answer_score": 5,
"question_score": 2,
"tags": "translation, subjects"
}
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Can you form verbs from 擬態語 or 擬音語 by adding -る?
I know that you can form a verb from or by adding after them, but in this sentence it appears the writer used - instead.
> ****
Is it something common? Or just something weird that the writer did here? Thank you for your help!
|
Yes it's definitely slangy but somewhat common. Other examples include:
* from , to be stunned (by a strong attack)
* from , to mumble, not to know what to say, etc.
* from , to beat (someone)
This type of verb formation is relatively common with foreign words, but it's not limited to them. You may sometimes see verbs formed even from a person name, for example .
Perhaps this kind of new verbs are playfully coined by native speakers almost every day, but few will come into general use. AFAIK is not common.
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stackexchange-japanese
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{
"answer_score": 9,
"question_score": 7,
"tags": "grammar, verbs, onomatopoeia"
}
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Help to confirm word I heard on television show "Sekkai!"
I heard this word often and I'm pretty sure it means "correct! / right! / great!" but I cannot seem to find the word in dictionary and I don't even know how it is written. I try to find but have no match.
Could you help to confirm what word am I hearing?
|
You might be thinking of seikai, {}{}
I hear it often used in game-shows indicating the contestant got the correct answer. It's hard to know for sure since you aren't providing a whole lot of context, but this would be my best guess.
Definition (according to jisho.org)
* {}{}: correct; right; correct interpretation (answer, solution)
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stackexchange-japanese
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{
"answer_score": 11,
"question_score": 2,
"tags": "words"
}
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What is 背が高い and how is it different from 高い
I can't understand the meaning of . From what I've heard you can't just say on a non living object, so what is the meaning of exactly?
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has very wide meanings including high, tall, expensive, hot, and so on. but usually you have to add referring tall. means tallness of human beings. translates in verbatim "a person who is high in tallness".
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stackexchange-japanese
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{
"answer_score": 3,
"question_score": 6,
"tags": "meaning, adjectives"
}
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What meaning does the にあって have in this phrase?
>
As far as I can understand
Noun + has the meaning of
> In (time / location indicator)
>
> At (time / location indicator)
>
> On (time / location indicator)
>
> Due to / because
However in this case it's neither time or location nor a reason
I would roughly translate it to
> As for the ghost even if it has a mysterious power that allows him to intervene in the present world I don't think that's strange
What do you think ?
|
a verbatim translation is "a mysterious power exist in the sprite and he excuses the power..." sounds literary.
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stackexchange-japanese
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{
"answer_score": -1,
"question_score": 2,
"tags": "meaning, usage"
}
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Does トイレ refer to the British "toilet" or the American "toilet"?
I learned that is loaned from the English word "toilet".
However, in the US, toilet usually refers to the thing that you sit on when you poop. And in the UK, toilet usually refers to the whole place where you wash your hands _and_ poop.
Hopefully you know what I mean...
So which of the above does refer to?
|
When a word is loaned by another language, it is not always true that a loan word has the exact same meaning as the original word. You have to know how it is used in Japanese to know what it means in Japanese.
has both meanings. For example:
> 1. []{}? (Literally) Is it OK to go to the bathroom (restroom)?
>
> 2. []{}. The toilet doesn't flush.
>
>
It doesn't matter what the word _toilet_ means in English. What matters more is what means in Japanese as it is a Japanese word.
As @DavidRicherby commented, the word _toilet_ generally means
In British English: both the room and the sanitary fixture.
In American English: Only the sanitary fixture and not the room.
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stackexchange-japanese
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{
"answer_score": 21,
"question_score": 9,
"tags": "loanwords"
}
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Confused by use of自分 here
has just woken up after surgery:
> ****
I'm sure I'm being dumb, but this reads to me like
> Sekiguchi remembered doing the appendix operation himself.
I assume it's supposed to mean "Sekiguchi remembered having an appendix operation". What am I failing to understand here?
|
Your assumption is true. There are 2 points:
1. can mean **** , that is, to have an operation.
2. appears as the subject of the relative noun clause `` (the fact that he had an appendix operation). It can be translated to be, simply, "he" here.
You can think of this as "I". From 's view, the fact is " **I** underwent the operation." () Making it a relative noun phrase, it becomes and now means "he" (= ).
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stackexchange-japanese
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{
"answer_score": 4,
"question_score": 3,
"tags": "grammar"
}
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How does the にして work here?
> **** x
I read that
> adj + + adj
or
> noun + + noun
That in this case the has the meaning of "and / also"
In that case does this mean
> It was this morning that I received a mail that called me out from X who is the advisor of the committee and the clergy of the school
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can be used to combine two nouns and it means "and". Unlike "also", it puts the equal weight on both sides. It doesn't work with adjectives, ant it has a pinch of formality in it. It's usually not used in speaking Japanese.
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stackexchange-japanese
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{
"answer_score": 4,
"question_score": 2,
"tags": "meaning, usage"
}
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Difference in ambiguity between written and spoken Japanese?
Beginner here. I understand that Japanese has a large number of homophones, and that kanji help readers distinguish between them. Of course, kanji are not available in spoken Japanese. On the other hand, spoken Japanese has pitch accent. So, is there a significant difference in ambiguity between written and spoken Japanese? That is to say, are misunderstandings more common in one form or the other? And how do both compare with English?
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You are right in that misunderstanding is common in spoken Japanese. but usually people who use Japanese know which word has ambiguity and escape the word or confirm the kanji of the word (like checking a spell).
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stackexchange-japanese
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{
"answer_score": 3,
"question_score": 2,
"tags": "kanji, spoken language, written language"
}
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Doubt about syntax
I'm not sure about the meaning of this sentence. Would it be something like "If you don't wear a coat, you're not going"?
|
means "must do".
So the translation becomes:
You have to wear a coat.
is one of the variants of
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stackexchange-japanese
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{
"answer_score": 2,
"question_score": 0,
"tags": "syntax"
}
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Understanding もういいかげん、このままならずに済む
The family is talking about getting appendicitis. Grandad says:
>
> I also couldn't help getting it this year. ?????
I'm a bit stuck on the rest. I think verb- or verb- means "don't have to verb". Is that right?
I know and are along the lines of "that's enough!", "quit it!".
But I can't make any sense of it when I try to put it all together:
> That's enough. You don't have to get it as it is
|
* The "" refers to his (old) age, not the current year. "" → "even though I've reached this age"
* The "" means "[(appendicitis)(?)]" ("never got appendicitis").
* here means something like "at this rate".
* indicates continuation of the status quo.
* For "verb-", "be spared from verb-ing" or "go with out verbing/having to verb" may be better.
> Even at my old age, I've never got appendicitis. At this rate, I should be able to continue to go without getting it.
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stackexchange-japanese
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{
"answer_score": 3,
"question_score": 0,
"tags": "reading comprehension"
}
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Difference between 委嘱状・任命状・任命証
If the talk is about appointing the representative of Internal Management System (IMS) (in some company), which one will be suitable in this situation? :
Letter of appointment (to a position):
|
A is an appointment notice issued typically by a president to his/her employee. It typically looks like this. For some reason it's usually very short, blunt, and not polite at all :)
is a respectful word used when someone asks someone to do a job that requies sophisticated expertise. I feel external consultants/advisors are often invited using the term . is similar in meaning but sounds more "authoritative" (both in positive and negative senses). Which to use or would depend on the relation between the two.
As for the difference between and , the former literally means "certificate for " and the latter literally means "notice/letter for ". I think I see far more often, but there should be no big difference in this case.
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stackexchange-japanese
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{
"answer_score": 3,
"question_score": 2,
"tags": "translation, word choice"
}
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Origin of ません (-masen)?
I understand that polite forms like yomimasu are actually (or originated as) infinitive yomi + auxiliary verb masu in its plain non-past form. Then past form yomimashita is just infinitive yomi + plain past mashita.
So I wonder what is the origin of the negative form, such as yomimasen. Given the above, one might naively expect a plain non-past negative form of masu, which would give yomimasanai. Is -masen "explainable" in terms of other forms? Is it a contraction from an originally longer form?
|
According to Shogakukan's big {}{}{}{}{}, the verb ending _-masu_ ultimately derived from a combination of humble polite auxiliary verb {} plus the verb , as a shift from either _‑ mairasuru_ or possibly _‑ maisuru_. The final _‑ su_ in modern _‑ masu_ conjugates identically to classical _su_ / _suru_. The {} ("incomplete form") that is used to form negatives ends in _‑ a_ in most classical {} verbs (which became modern {} or "type 1" verbs), such as _kaka ‑_ as the _mizenkei_ for {}, or _ika ‑_ as the _mizenkei_ for {}, etc. However, classical _su_ / _suru_ is irregular, and its _mizenkei_ is _se ‑_ instead. (This is still the _mizenkei_ for _suru_ in some modern dialects, such as Kansai-ben.) So the negative of _‑ masu_ was formed as the _mizenkei_ of _‑ mase‑_ plus the negative ending _-nu_ , as _‑ masenu_. Final _‑ nu_ contracts to just _‑ n_, giving us modern _‑ masen_.
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stackexchange-japanese
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{
"answer_score": 9,
"question_score": 6,
"tags": "etymology, politeness, history, negation, auxiliaries"
}
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Is the English word "ikebana" a suitable translation for "華道"?
A native speaker of Japanese wrote in English about a place offering "Kadou", and referred to it in Japanese as . I wanted to suggest using the word "ikebana" instead, as that's more likely to be understood by the intended audience. (Google NGrams suggests "ikebana" and "[Japanese] flower arrangement" are approximately equally common in English, for those curious)
However, I've never done ikebana, and I'm not sure whether the English word "ikebana" would be a suitable translation for . The word is pronounced , whereas the word pronounced in Japanese is . Is it generally ok to translate , along with , into English as "ikebana"? Is there any significant difference between and that'd mean such a translation is confusing?
Looking at the first paragraph of the Wikipedia article and the first sentence of the English Wikipedia article Ikebana suggests not.
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I feel there is some difference between and in terms of their image even if they imply similar activities. A dictionary says means
> (Arts or crafts which established a school (branch) of art or craft through researching the subject). For example, , , and , etc.
I feel is to enjoy flower arrangement with a light heart and has a high threshold than .
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stackexchange-japanese
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{
"answer_score": 3,
"question_score": 4,
"tags": "translation"
}
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how could I interpret 後に in this sentence?
So I've been reading the script from a videogame and I have a problem with this sentence:
> … ****
I don't quite get it what means in this sentences, I don't think it means "after" or "later" as I thought at first because in the next sentence it mentions what happens after after the war ends:
>
According to the translation I've been reading, the part has is saying something like: "After all it was me who started the war called...".
So, what is the meaning of ?
|
>
The []{} modifies . is a relative clause modifying .
"A conflict [later called ]"
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{
"answer_score": 7,
"question_score": 5,
"tags": "meaning"
}
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Meaning of コミックス派
Context: a letter from a mangaka to her readers (whole letter here).
>
What is the meaning of `` in this sentence (and the general meaning of the whole sentence)? I think it could mean "`manga/comics enthusiasts`". Is my guess correct? Also, why are they opposed to people that she meets in shops or on the internet? My attempt:
> Those who write me fan letters are mainly manga enthusiasts, but I meet many in shops and on the internet.
|
refers specifically to . See this definition from
> 1
So refers to the fans who purchase the as opposed to the fans who purchase the magazine (a.k.a. ).
As in the answer @chocolate linked, can be used to set the context for a further statement.
means "ways of meeting", and refers to her fans "meeting" her work.
Overall, the mangaka is remarking on the many different ways her fans had discovered her manga.
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stackexchange-japanese
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{
"answer_score": 4,
"question_score": 4,
"tags": "translation, meaning, words, manga"
}
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How can I ask for "two of each" (cream and sugar) at a cafe?
I've had some trouble communicating I want '2 of each' or '2 more of each' at cafes. It happens when I order a coffee and receive one stick of sugar and one creamer and I try to ask for 2 more by saying but then I just receive 1 more of each. Any suggestions?
|
You can use .
> 2
Note that must be placed _before_ the number, and must be placed _after_ the counter.
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stackexchange-japanese
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{
"answer_score": 5,
"question_score": 5,
"tags": "translation, word choice"
}
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Meaning of adj-なるときゃなる
> ****
> For things like appendicitis, regardless of age, when it gets painful ???
I don't understand what the second is referring to in this sentence. Is it just an abbreviation of , reinforcing that pain is not related to age? I can't think what else it could be.
|
You're perfectly correct, it's . The expression implies you cannot predict or control when it hurts, similarly to the English saying "what will happen will happen".
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stackexchange-japanese
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{
"answer_score": 1,
"question_score": 1,
"tags": "grammar"
}
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Connecting Sino-Japanese verbs
As a rule the Japanese verbs are connected by ~ pattern.
For example:
> **** ****
But is it grammatically correct, when I connect these two verbs by ?
For example:
> ****
|
makes perfect sense, but I think **** (using ) is the safer choice when making a written sentence. It's because so-called suru-verbs work basically as _verbs_ , whereas is to connect two _nouns_. Likewise, is not good in written Japanese, and you usually have to write **** . In spoken Japanese, particles are omitted more often, so tend to be tolerated.
The usage is a bit different between X and X. See: Difference Between and
In this case, you can also simply write (e.g. , ).
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stackexchange-japanese
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{
"answer_score": 6,
"question_score": 3,
"tags": "grammar, verbs, syntax"
}
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Double negative not making sense
From NHK Easy Japanese News:
>
If I translate literally:
> "About democracy, if stop exercising once, becomes frail like unused muscle therefore, if don't continue exercising don't become," she said.
The last part, logically, seems to be backwards. I would expect either of
>
>
>
Is the original sentence correct and so what is its meaning and why?
I am familiar with "must do" expressions using two potential negative forms like:
>
But here the ending verb is simply , not a potential form. Would this also express "must do"?
|
Yes, also means the same as . These two can be regarded as fixed phrases.
Therefore means "they must continue the campaign."
It's enough if you understand this as a fixed phrase, but this can also be explained in a literal way:
The verb can mean "to succeed" or "to complete" as described in jisho.org and means "if one doesn't ".
So can be interpreted as "if one doesn't , it's not ok".
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stackexchange-japanese
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{
"answer_score": 6,
"question_score": 3,
"tags": "grammar, conditionals"
}
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Usage of である in this sentence
In this sentence:
> ****
I'm not sure if is being used as the copula or the part is used to mean "by the hands of this people" as in means of action
|
: by
: one(or some)
is just modifying , like "(one day)". If splitting the sentence by a space, it becomes:
or changing its order:
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stackexchange-japanese
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{
"answer_score": 2,
"question_score": 0,
"tags": "translation, meaning, usage"
}
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Can 牛 be an insult?
In a manga, while a guy was sleeping, someone used a marker to write on him. He wrote `` on his forehead and `` on his chest. Considering it was a joke, can `` be offensive or funny in some way? I think that `` could mean something like `loser`, but I don't understand why he wrote ``. It is neither a reference to the personality of the character nor to the plot of the manga.
I know `cow` can be an insult in English, but what about Japanese?
You can see the page in question here.
|
I think it depends on the context. But maybe...
In (kin-niku-man), an old famous manga, many heroes have a kanji on their forehead. Be affected by this manga, writing a kanji on the sleeper's forehead became a common prank in Japan. Typically, the kanji is []{}(meats), because this kanji is on the main hero's forehead.
Next, there is a proverb []{}[]{}[]{}(If you go to bed as soon as eating, you'll become a cow.) in Japan.
So I guess:
Why a kanji is written on the sleeper's forehead? --> Because it's a common prank with the sleeper in Japan, as drawing eyes on the eyelids.
Why the kanji is ? --> Because he is sleeping (if he went to bed just after eating).
Of course, if a cow has a special meaning in the manga, the kanji may also has a different meaning from my estimate.
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stackexchange-japanese
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{
"answer_score": 3,
"question_score": 2,
"tags": "meaning, words, puns, offensive words, jokes"
}
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Dropping particles in casual speech/songs
Hey i was listening to this song And it felt weird for me when one of these lines seemed to lack a particle, I am wondering if it is lacking one and it is ok to do so since it is a song, or if there was no need to a particle in there...
[]
Why can I say without a particle, would it be ok to say
Is it perhaps like the difference between "I began to look for" vs "I began looking for" ?
When it's ok to drop a particle in casual speech? I know that if my sentence contains only one "" particle it'd not be ok to drop it, but what about sentences with more particles?
Thanks in advance
|
No particle has been omitted in your example sentence. You can not say `masu-stem + ` in the first place (unless the "verb" is actually a lexicalized noun derived from some verb (eg = payment, = battle)).
Regardless of whether it's in speech or not, `masu-stem + ` is the right way of saying "start to [verb]", and there must _not_ be any particle in between.
* start to walk
* start to watch
* start to eat
Don't ask me why. Japanese language has tons of (compound verbs) which just look like this; , , , , and so on.
Not to be confused with subsidiary verbs, which are small in number, and always follow the te-form of another verb.
|
stackexchange-japanese
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{
"answer_score": 7,
"question_score": 1,
"tags": "particle が, particle を"
}
|
恥をかく versus 恥をかかされる
Consider the following 2 sentences:
> A: He disgraces himself.
>
> B: He is disgraced.
# Questions
1. Is `` rather than `` the passive form of `` in this case?
2. Why does `` mean `He disgraced himself` while the sentence does not mention to whom the effect of `` applies?
3. Is it possible to say `` to mean `He disgraces her`?
4. How can the active `` have the same effect as the passive ``?
|
1. No, is the passive form of **** , which is the old causative form of . We have a small set of verbs which derived from the old causative forms and are inherently causative (eg. , ). Using only modern grammar, would be .
2. is in kanji, and according to a dictionary, can mean something like "to expose/show something unfavorable from one's body".
>
> ―
> ――
> ―
So etymologically speaking, is "to show one's shame/humiliation to someone", hence it means "to disgrace oneself".
3. No, you can't say that. Seeing the examples above, you can see is only for showing the doer's own unfavorable things. Instead, you have to use the causative form and say either or .
4. So means "He shows his shame" and means "He is made to show his shame" (causative + passive). They mean roughly the same thing, but the latter implies someone else has disgraced him. The former can be used when he did something embarrassing all by himself.
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stackexchange-japanese
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{
"answer_score": 2,
"question_score": 2,
"tags": "grammar, passive voice"
}
|
Difference between 取り替える and 入れ替える
I don't understand the difference between and Could anyone explain to me the difference
|
****
1. To exchange similar things each other
>
> I exchanged watches with a friend.
2. To replace something old for a new one
>
> I replaced a burnt-out light bulb for a new one.
****
1. To replace/change something contained
>
> The baseball team changed the starting line-up.
>
>
> I will turn over a new leaf.
In some cases, and are interchangeable ( but not ).
> /
> I replaced the dead battery of my clock for a new one.
In this example, either and can be used since the battery is old and containd in a clock .
As far as I think, both the words and themselves don't have the nuance related to the quality although the purpose of or may be to upgrade or to maintain the quality.
|
stackexchange-japanese
|
{
"answer_score": 3,
"question_score": 5,
"tags": "word choice"
}
|
What does ああまでされて mean in this sentence?
Thanks in advance for your help. I'm reading a manga (full of slang, which makes it so hard!) and I ran across this sentence:
(panel 1)
*
*
(panel 2)
To get you the context of the whole sentence, this occurs in the middle of two people's conversation about a third person, who's working hard because the third individual knows everyone will stand for him. The character who thinks this line had never realized the third guy felt pressed by their support, and in fact was feeling envious that the other guy was doing better than him despite being a novice.
My best guess is that the exchange goes something like this: "Had it been me, would I be pleased with it? / Had I been put under such pressure?" I have absolutely no clue of what means here. Is it or even ?
Thanks again for any insight!!
|
Yes, is interchangeable with , or in this case. here refers to something cruel which was done to them in the story.
literally means "even things like that is done, (and/but/so ...)". You can perhaps translate this as "Even after (someone) did such a thing to you/me/us..."
|
stackexchange-japanese
|
{
"answer_score": 2,
"question_score": 0,
"tags": "slang, idioms"
}
|
Is there a poetic or metaphorical meaning to ゆびさき が かたくなる?
I'm curious about the final line of the musician Kishi Bashi's song "Atticus, in the Desert":
>
I understand the _direct_ translation of this ("head dizzy fingertips get hard") but it seems as if there must be a figurative or poetic meaning to . Otherwise it just sounds like disconnected nonsense.
|
is not a well-known idiomatic phrase. Judging from the rest of the lyrics, the person(?) in the song is about to be swallowed by sand. So I feel this line suggests his finger is so dried that he cannot move his finger anymore.
|
stackexchange-japanese
|
{
"answer_score": 2,
"question_score": 3,
"tags": "metaphor"
}
|
"negative te form" vs "te form of the negative"
In "Japanese in MangaLand" Lesson 35, the "negative te form" and "the te form of the negative" were both introduced. And a table was showing the following:
simple | neg. -te | -te f. of the neg.
| |
...
| |
But I was confused, could anyone please tell when I should use which please? Thank you!
|
OK, after further reading I kind of get at least some difference between the two.
is "don't do something", while can be used with and that means "not need to do something" or "even not do something, it is still OK".
But don't underestimate me (it is not OK to under-estimate me).
Please don't forget to send the mail.
You don't need to remember anything (it is still OK).
|
stackexchange-japanese
|
{
"answer_score": 1,
"question_score": 6,
"tags": "verbs, て form"
}
|
How to use だんだん properly?
If I wanted to say, "Ken's getting better and better at Japanese", then would this be correct?
>
|
Your usage of is just fine. It's a standalone adverb which can be used without any other particle. An adverb is usually placed just before what it modifies (in this case, ).
* * *
You have to use the progressive form of ; otherwise the sentence would mean "Ken gets (or will get) better and better at Japanese".
>
To make this a bit more natural, you can add a subsidiary verb and say:
>
|
stackexchange-japanese
|
{
"answer_score": 2,
"question_score": 0,
"tags": "grammar, expressions, adverbs"
}
|
why they used -ていれば instead of -ば?
Why they used - instead of - in this context ? 
>
> I have (already) defeated Hiten. (at some point in the past)
The speaker is not thinking about whether or not he will defeat Hiten in front of him now. He is regretting that he did not defeat Hiten somewhere in the past, so is necessary here.
|
stackexchange-japanese
|
{
"answer_score": 9,
"question_score": 3,
"tags": "grammar, aspect"
}
|
Is お父さん appropriate for formal writing?
As I understand it is the usual way to refer to someone else's father in everyday speech.
What about when you are writing a formal discussion (for an academic audience) of an interview you had with someone? Is or better for this?
|
I would suggest the exact opposite, when writing especially for an academic audience you should minimize the amount of as there specific styling for just that use case (/ vs. )
according to a tertiary search on Google, it seems just using and is best.
<
|
stackexchange-japanese
|
{
"answer_score": 1,
"question_score": 4,
"tags": "word choice, politeness, synonyms"
}
|
Why does い become く?
I noticed many i-adjectives ending with . I need to know why that happens.
****
|
Simply because that is how you use i-adjective.
i-adjectives
> **** -> tall
> **** -> not tall
> **** -> become tall
na-adjectives
> -> lovely
> **** -> not lovely
> **** -> become lovely
|
stackexchange-japanese
|
{
"answer_score": 1,
"question_score": 0,
"tags": "adjectives"
}
|
Fixing my grammar on a line in my essay
I'm revising an essay that I wrote and one of my lines is a little beyond my current grammar abilities. My original line is:
>
What I'm trying to say is:
> My friend still has not discovered that we went there.
Since I'm not sure how to rework the multiple experiences to make sense, my first thought is to change it to something like:
> (?)
To potentially be read more like "My friend does not yet know that we went there". Though I'm not sure on the proper particle to use there or if that version makes any more sense than the previous.
Any suggestions for how I can best phrase this?
|
Your last attempt is close.
* is "to understand" rather than "to notice". Try using instead. And the particle you need before is `` (although `` is sometimes acceptable).
* should be replaced with in subordinate clauses. This is because subordinate clauses does not work as the topic of the whole sentence.
Now you'll get this:
>
As for why I used instead of , see: When is V the continuation of action and when is it the continuation of state?
can be omitted if it's inferred from the context. But you have to use instead of here, because the topic of the whole sentence is not but .
**EDIT:** is closer to "there are times when ". Saying "" would sound like you go to the place on a regular basis but your friend has never noticed that even once.
|
stackexchange-japanese
|
{
"answer_score": 5,
"question_score": 1,
"tags": "grammar"
}
|
What does 五月雨式 means in this sentence?
> raj-san
I understood that a guy is asking for some explanation of coding, but I couldn't understand what does **** mean here?
|
[]{} (or more infrequently ) is a fixed expression. Indeed, you can have as in your email to make it more polite.
You can understand, as "sorry to bother you again". He might have sent you a lot of e-mails recently and he is apologizing for "spamming" you.
means "like the ceaseless pourings of May".
All in all, your sentence means:
> Sorry to bother you again but, I am thinking about contacting to ask for some explanations about the implementation. Sorry for the brevity but you know what I will do.
I had a long hesitation whether []{} binds to or I assumed it was .
|
stackexchange-japanese
|
{
"answer_score": 6,
"question_score": 2,
"tags": "words, business japanese"
}
|
What does 何でしょうか mean?
What does that mean in the dialogue below.
>
>
> ****
|
It's a polite way of saying
can have other meanings, but in this case it just means
|
stackexchange-japanese
|
{
"answer_score": 3,
"question_score": 0,
"tags": "words"
}
|
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