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What is the difference between あれ and あの？
Both terms mean over there but I am wondering if there are specific preferences of use. Thank you.
|
(The interjection) means like huh?! as in
(huh!? I thought I locked the door
is used as a stutter device in sentences like "um" in English.
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stackexchange-japanese
|
{
"answer_score": 3,
"question_score": 3,
"tags": "word choice"
}
|
愛は傷つきやすく translated as "Love is Free"?
A friend of mine has a Japan pop-music CD and on the title there's the following:
(Hide & Rosanna) - (Love is Free)
However, I believe rather means "Love is Fragile" and not "Love is Free". Is this my thinking correct?
|
I think you're right.
**** can be translated as ” **love is easy to be hurt** " in a literal translation.
But it was translated as “ **Love is Free** ”. I guess that's may because of its contents of lyrics. You know, some titles or lyrics of the songs weren't translated with a literal translation in order to be easily understood by listeners.
|
stackexchange-japanese
|
{
"answer_score": 2,
"question_score": 1,
"tags": "translation, words"
}
|
Can ふんいき and かんじ mean the same thing?
I am using online chats to study, and I wanted to convey a good feeling about the chat. Thank you.
|
{} is a noun meaning atmosphere and {} is the verb to feel. then means feeling (with {} meaning good feeling).
|
stackexchange-japanese
|
{
"answer_score": 2,
"question_score": 0,
"tags": "word choice"
}
|
What are the sandals worn with a kimono called?
What is the term for sandals that are only worn with a kimono on special occasions?
|
The shoes are called Geta.. They are worn with the tabi socks , never bare footed. The shoes resemble plat form zori's but are not rubber. Some are very fancy other's rather plain , I'm sure as to not clash with the kimono. Fancy ones can be made out of the same material of the kimono. Childrens Geta's sometimes have bell's that dangle in the plat form of the shoe.
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stackexchange-japanese
|
{
"answer_score": 1,
"question_score": -5,
"tags": "word requests"
}
|
What does 数値化 mean?
It was part of , and I have no idea what it means. The context deals with businesses, and I thought it's something like statistics, but the -shimasu threw me off, so I don't know anymore.
|
value, numeric change So by adding you create the verb "change to number" or "quantify"
is commonly used in this way when you want to state that something is changing to a certain shape or form. The generic word for change is {}. for example means "petrification" or "fossilization", directly translated to "turning to stone"
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stackexchange-japanese
|
{
"answer_score": 3,
"question_score": 0,
"tags": "kanji"
}
|
What does つっこむ べき mean?
I know that means should, so what's ? And what's its infinitive?
|
is a simple verb which has several meanings including "to plunge", "to retort", "to cram". So means "[You] should cram", "[I] should plunge", or whatever that corresponds to the dictionary definition.
That said, when people suddenly say in a conversation, it's likely to mean "[I/You/etc should] retort / react / butt in / point out someone's error" usually with some comedic nuance. is recognized as a role of comedians. See: What does “tsukkomi” mean?
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stackexchange-japanese
|
{
"answer_score": 1,
"question_score": 0,
"tags": "verbs"
}
|
この世界にあとから入った者は先輩の世話をさせられる
> ****
1. Does modify or is a local adverb, saying: "In this world,...
2. I'm having problems with . So far, my textbook only taught me about as a suffix, basically meaning "after". However, I've never seen attached to to a particle, so I'd rather see it connected to as a prefix, making "", which would somehow indicate a timespan starting **after** a certain point in time.
3. . I guess the subject of this causative passive are the who are coerced to help their sempais?
|
= "from afterwards", i.e. "at a later date", "later than", "subsequently" or simply "after" So = "Those who have entered this world later" This is the topic of the sentence, marked as usual with . = "are made to perform services for their seniors" (i.e those who entered the this world before them) So a literalish version would be "Those who enter this world later are made to perform services for their seniors" I'd go for something like "Those who join the sumo world later find themselves at the beck and call of those who preceded them - their senpai"
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stackexchange-japanese
|
{
"answer_score": 3,
"question_score": 1,
"tags": "grammar, parsing"
}
|
Adjective + とする
From
> ****
My dictionary defines as:
>
Does this definition apply to the sentence that I've found? Is the nuance in this context something along the lines of, "You think you're bad at it, but you don't have to be"?
|
No, this simply means "to regard". It's the second definition in this entry:
> …
> ……
So means "the pronunciation which Japanese people regard as difficult."
But I feel this phrase is slightly clumsy. (using a na-adjective) or (using a relative clause with a subject and a verb) would be better.
|
stackexchange-japanese
|
{
"answer_score": 5,
"question_score": 2,
"tags": "adjectives"
}
|
What's the meaning of "懐けばとことん懐きます"
The entire sentence is ****
It was written on the profile of my friend who's from Osaka. And I think there maybe some slang in this sentence.
|
is Osaka/Kyoto dialect and means {}, thoroughly/completely.
I'd translate the sentence as:
Sometimes I'm shy, but then I can suddenly become social; (then) if I become attached to someone I become completely attached.
EDIT: The dictionary I looked up in flagged it as dialectal with this usage, but looking in other sources shows it as Standard Japanese.
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stackexchange-japanese
|
{
"answer_score": 1,
"question_score": 0,
"tags": "meaning"
}
|
What is the term for a wishy washy person?
I used jisho.org and could not find the term. A person unable to make a decision. Thank you.
|
It depends on the context what term I would use. Here are a few examples from ALC
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stackexchange-japanese
|
{
"answer_score": 1,
"question_score": 0,
"tags": "translation, meaning, word requests"
}
|
Does と mark reported speech here?
**** While discussing _what to do_...
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The sentence is a bit convoluted but yes the reports that the speaker (?) was asking about what to do when the message (?) arrived.
|
stackexchange-japanese
|
{
"answer_score": 1,
"question_score": 0,
"tags": "grammar"
}
|
Abbreviation for jinmeiyō?
Is there an abbreviation for , i.e. character set for names?
I'm looking for anything shorter, really; It can be English or Japanese, as long as it's widely recognised. For example like `Tel` for `telephone number` or like `` for ``
|
The uses the following shorthand:
* _jinmeiyō kanji_
* _jōyō kanji_ , grade 4
Depending on the context, or could work as "abbreviation" for indicating that a particular _kanji_ belongs to the set of _jinmeiyō kanji_.
|
stackexchange-japanese
|
{
"answer_score": 1,
"question_score": 3,
"tags": "kanji, names, terminology, abbreviations"
}
|
Can the honorific お be used with a person's name?
I have seen the honorific used in front of nouns and was wondering if it can be used in front of a person's name. Thank you.
|
Yes, it can certainly be. Don't just take my word for it; Look it up in a dictionary, preferably a monolingual one, yourself. For instance, gives the definition:
> {}{}{}{}{}{}{}
My translation of that would be:
> "Attached to feminine names, it expresses respect and/or intimacy"
, the TV drama became popular around the world so it needs no introduction. The heroine's name is , so that is the honorific.
Next, let me introduce my neighbor {}, whose real given name is {}.
Finally, here is the well-known song called .
<
|
stackexchange-japanese
|
{
"answer_score": 4,
"question_score": 1,
"tags": "honorifics"
}
|
What is the term for "grounded" in the sense of a punishment?
Children are often punished by their parents by not allowing them to go out.
In English, we call this action _grounding_ and the child is _grounded_.
Is this a similar punishment in Japan? And what is it called?
|
> What is the term for “grounded” in the sense of a punishment?
In Japanese, we call that []{}.
> Is this a similar punishment in Japan?
No. In Japan parents often punish their (usually young) children by locking them out of the house.
|
stackexchange-japanese
|
{
"answer_score": 2,
"question_score": 2,
"tags": "word requests"
}
|
Is the term moai used in Japanese?
It is a group of people who get together monthly, to contribute and receive emotional assistance, advice, and financial support on a rotating basis. The term is called moai in Okinawa, but it may be a local language term. I want to find the Japanese equivalent. Thank you.
|
A moai is an informal group created by people who commit to offer emotional, social or even financial assistance to one another. The concept originated when farmers would meet on a regular basis to discuss the best ways to plant crops and how to support one another should their crops fail. Today, members of these social cooperatives meet one another’s practical needs—problem-solving, planning, pooling resources and collaborating. They also serve as extended family where social and emotional needs are met—managing a crisis, reducing stress, connecting emotionally and, at times, assuaging grief. Essentially, a moai is a group of people who “have your back” and commit to all aspects of well-being.
< <
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stackexchange-japanese
|
{
"answer_score": 0,
"question_score": 0,
"tags": "translation, colloquial language, word requests"
}
|
What is the prefecture, city and town emblem called?
Prefectures, cities and towns have a seal/emblem associated with them. I have found the terms on JA Wikipedia to describe the flags, but not the term to describe the emblems. Thank you.
|
'' is the kanji for such emblems, like for prefectures, for cities, and so on. is used to refer to national coat of arms. To give a specific example, we have for the city of Kyoto, as mentioned by .
_Emblems_ or _coat of arms_ in general is in Japanese (As far as I know, we don't have specific words to distinguish emblems and coat of arms). So _the emblem of Kyoto city_ is another (more descriptive) expression, and is actually used by the city of Kyoto. As a side note, Heraldry is .
|
stackexchange-japanese
|
{
"answer_score": 3,
"question_score": -1,
"tags": "word requests"
}
|
Many people squat/sit with their buttocks almost to the ground, whats it called?
I notice Japanese people squatting in this position for long periods of time without using a chair/stool. Thank you.
|
The most fitting verb for this that I can think of is , rarely written with kanji as . Similar terms include and ; however, these don't have the same sense of "squatting _for long periods of time_ ", and might better be translated as "to crouch [such as to pick something up, for ; or to hide, for ]".
|
stackexchange-japanese
|
{
"answer_score": 8,
"question_score": 3,
"tags": "translation, word choice, word requests"
}
|
What is the difference between 役に立てば and 役に立てれば?
What is the difference between and ?
Isn't a first group verb which means it should be ? why in most cases do I find it written like in this example: .
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The key difference is the verb itself.
* is from . = _"it's useful"_ , **** = _" **if** it's useful"_.
* is from , the potential form of . **** = _"it **can be** useful"_; **** = _" **if** it **can be** useful"_.
The additional conjugation of the verb adds another layer of indirection to the utterance, making it less blunt and thus potentially more polite. This same kind of indirection happens in English, too. Consider the differences in phrasing of _"if it's useful"_ versus _"if you happen to find it useful"_ , etc.
|
stackexchange-japanese
|
{
"answer_score": 3,
"question_score": 1,
"tags": "grammar"
}
|
Expansion and politeness of 飲んじゃいなよ
Dad says he'll take his daughter out in an hour, after having a beer. The daughter says:
> ****
> After one like that it won't take even an hour will it? Gulp it down in one go.
I'm assuming the implication is that the beer is small (it doesn't say).
I'd like to confirm that I've interpreted correctly. I think this is a contraction of . Is this correct
I'm a little dubious because I didn't think was an appropriate way for a child to speak to a parent.
|
As you stated,
> {} or
The first one uses a colloquial contraction, but all three mean:
> "Just drink it up!"
It is perfectly natural for a child to say this to his/her father as it is a friendly kind of imperative and **not** a strict order. In nuance, it is actually close to being a friendly request rather than an "order".
Finally, the line says nothing about the size of the beer even though it is clear that there is not a whole case sitting in front of Daddy.
|
stackexchange-japanese
|
{
"answer_score": 3,
"question_score": 2,
"tags": "grammar, politeness, contractions"
}
|
What does 目立ち mean?
is eye, and is something like stand? I was thinking it meant something out of the norm when you see it, but that's just a guess. The full thing was , if that helps.
|
Your inclination is right. {} means to stand out.
would mean having something want to stand out.
|
stackexchange-japanese
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{
"answer_score": 2,
"question_score": 0,
"tags": "kanji, definitions"
}
|
Why does this sentence ご飯を食べてから部屋を掃除してください。 has から?
Why does this sentence
>
has
>
Considering that the translation given is
> After eating, please clean your room.
I thought with the given sentence it should be translated along the lines of "Since you have eaten - clean your room". With that "since" being derived from .
Can someone please explain this nuance in both cases?
|
te-form + ( + + ) means "After doing~~".
**** → after eating
end form/ + (dictionary form + + + etc.) means "Since/Because (someone) do/did~~".
**** → since/because (you) eat
**** → since/because (you) ate
|
stackexchange-japanese
|
{
"answer_score": 3,
"question_score": 0,
"tags": "て form, particle から"
}
|
Is the inkan(印鑑) the device that is used to make the hanko(判子)?
I researched the terms on jisho.org and found two words, and , used to mean 'seal'. I want to clarify my understanding because I am assuming that an is used to make the . What is the name of the device used to imprint the seal and what is the impression called?
|
Both and almost always refer to **devices** to make an impression. They are typically made of wood, ivory, metal, etc. English _seal_ refers to both such seal-making devices and the impressions made by such devices. In Japanese, the most common word to refer to the impression made by such a device is .
Strictly speaking, however, can refer to (impression) especially in the legal language. The original meaning of the kanji is something like "evidence" or "identity". So at least technically speaking, one might say a can make a . But an never makes a .
and are usually interchangeable, but only refers to ones used to seriously authenticate yourself. is a more casual term and it can also refer to rubber stamps or stamps like these.
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stackexchange-japanese
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{
"answer_score": 4,
"question_score": 2,
"tags": "translation, word choice, meaning"
}
|
Why does 冬休みは家族でイタリアやイギリスへ行きました。 have で instead of と?
Why does this sentence:
>
have `` there instead of ``?
Wouldn't "with family" be ``?
|
should be taken as "as a family" rather than "with family"
(Both and could be used, though IMHO, implies that all family members were present whereas implies you only went with some/maybe all family members.)
|
stackexchange-japanese
|
{
"answer_score": 7,
"question_score": 5,
"tags": "particle と, particle で"
}
|
Can ただ今be used if I visit a relatives home on a daily basis?
I go to the homes of relatives on a daily basis, can I use the term at their home? Thank you.
|
is typically used when returning home (though can be used casually say when returning to my desk at the office).
If you go to the relatives often enough and it feels like a "home" then I don't see any reason you can't use it.
(Rather than asking us, why not just try saying when you get there next time and see if you get an back?)
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stackexchange-japanese
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{
"answer_score": 1,
"question_score": 0,
"tags": "meaning"
}
|
神 compared to 神様
When the Abrahamic God is referred to in Japanese, is very common, but on occasion I simply see on its own. This even applies when they are clearly speaking reverentially, using words such as {}. The one thing I've noticed is that often appears in more 'serious' contexts, so would I be correct in assuming that is more colloquial?
|
Yes I thinks so. is fine when ordinary people call their god(s) with respect, but it's difficult for me to imagine a professional Christian priest use in their public lectures at church. (I may be stereotyped since I rarely go to church.)
The same goes for and -- the former sounds more "friendly" to me, while the latter sounds more dignified and formal.
is certainly the most respectful suffix in our daily life. But there are even more stronger and proper suffixes for really high people, such as , , . Calling such people like , , , or sounds to me rather "friendly" or "colloquial" than proper.
This may be obvious, but is virtually never used in academic fields.
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stackexchange-japanese
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{
"answer_score": 2,
"question_score": 1,
"tags": "word choice, words, honorifics"
}
|
How do these negations differ? (Plain negative vs. potential negative)
- Hibiki (name of a character)
So the storie goes like Hibiki goes in search of her friends who haven't come back in 2 weeks. When she founds them she asks them "why havent you come back" And they respond with the above asked
So how do they differ ?
|
[]{} is the potential form of . So this means "It's true, Hibiki. It's not that we just didn't come [or go] back, it's that we couldn't come back". Presumably the speaker is explaining to Hibiki that they and their companion[s] were prevented from coming home by force majeure - they didn't just decide not to of their own volition. The general rule for making the potential form of verbs like is: replace the final syllable of the dictionary form with the syllable from the same column of the kana chart that has the vowel e and then add ru. Thus: ////// and so on. This form then inflects like .
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stackexchange-japanese
|
{
"answer_score": 6,
"question_score": 3,
"tags": "meaning, conjugations, negation, potential form"
}
|
Grammar of verb + noun + から
I just read this question but was confused by a different aspect of the example sentence:
> ****
The question's answer is perfectly clear about the meaning, but I don't understand how the grammar of the part in bold works. When I see I think of either 'from', 'because' or (if it's -form) 'after'. None of these seem to work.
On it's own, the first clause (to me) reads
> from the person who has finished drinking milk
but such a translation clearly doesn't fit with the rest of the sentence.
Is it a geneal rule that
> verb-past + noun + = as noun does verb
What about the tense/aspect of the verb? Some more examples would also be appreciated.
|
According to :
>
>
> **** ****
And :
> 1⃣
> ****
I think the indicates the starting point of order, meaning , "starting from~~, in order from~~".
≂ __
"Starting from the person who has finished drinking milk, do ~~ in turn", hence the translation "As you finish drinking the milk, take turns in..."
I hope this makes sense.
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stackexchange-japanese
|
{
"answer_score": 5,
"question_score": 3,
"tags": "grammar"
}
|
'Prefer' and 'Recommend' in Japanese
what is prefer in Japanese ? an example of the context is:
> I'd rather not to drink inside the bus.
is recommend in Japanese. how would you use in this context?
> it is recommended not to buy that bag.
|
> what is prefer in Japanese ? an example of the context is:
>
> "I'd rather prefer not to drink inside the bus."
You could use:
Verb + nominalizer + + {} / {} to form:
> {}{}
Or a little more naturally,
>
Next..
> is recommend in Japanese. how would you use in this context?
>
> "it is recommended not to buy that bag."
You could say:
> {} ****
>
> ****
Without using the verb , you could also say:
> ****
>
> ****
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stackexchange-japanese
|
{
"answer_score": 6,
"question_score": 3,
"tags": "translation, meaning"
}
|
What are the large free standing imitation circular "flower" arrangements in front of pachinko parlors called?
I see large brightly colored circular imitation flower arrangements that are placed at the entrances of pachinko parlors and want to know what they are called. Thank you.
|
Traditional, round ones like this are called /.
A similar term is /, which is used for similar purposes but tends to refer to real flower arrangement.
|
stackexchange-japanese
|
{
"answer_score": 2,
"question_score": 1,
"tags": "translation, word requests"
}
|
Can だけど and しかし be used in the same way, or is one considered more formal?
I see used frequently in conversations, whereas is predominantly used on TV programs. Thank you.
|
is more formal. It`s often used at the beginning of a sentence, is like "however." is like "but."
"However," is definitely more formal than "but." Think of Shikashi and Dakedo in the same way :-)
My wife is Japanese, and she told me this.
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stackexchange-japanese
|
{
"answer_score": 1,
"question_score": -1,
"tags": "word choice, meaning, word usage"
}
|
Ｗhat is the difference between くつろぐ and のんびり?
These words were used in a chat, according to jisho.org both terms mean being relaxed or taking it easy. How do you use them?
|
They belong to different word classes. is an adverb and suru-verb, and is a verb on its own. That means (without ) and are never interchangeable.
. tends to refer to mentally feeling relaxed, not being pressed for time. You can say even when mild physical activities are involved (e.g., ).
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stackexchange-japanese
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{
"answer_score": 7,
"question_score": 4,
"tags": "word choice, meaning"
}
|
I can't identify this form (だって)
> X ****
Is this the -te form of the copula? Haven't encountered it so far.
|
is used as a quotative particle in casual speech. See: Quoting Particle Usage
A sentence can sometimes end with /, and it usually means "I heard " or "They say ". So you can think that or is omitted after it.
The sentence means "I heard X learned Japanese at this school."
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stackexchange-japanese
|
{
"answer_score": 4,
"question_score": 1,
"tags": "grammar"
}
|
Meaning of 世界圏内 in the following sentence
Context: a speaker is talking about a boxer after a boxing match has just finished.
>
What is the meaning of the second sentence? `"He can now aim at the world title"` or `"He is now a world-famous boxer"`? (OPBF is Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation) Thank you for your help!
|
It means the former, "He can now aim at the world title".
is "within 's range". For example, means having a good chance of passing an exam. You have correctly guessed that this refers to the world title.
|
stackexchange-japanese
|
{
"answer_score": 2,
"question_score": 1,
"tags": "translation, meaning, words"
}
|
What is the meaning of 会社 in yakuza language?
Context: two yakuza men found out that Azami, a man that owed them money, committed suicide. Then, one says to the other:
>
Does have a particular meaning here? Or do they simply consider their gang as a company? How could it be translated? Thank you for your help!
|
Modern yakuza organizations tend to camouflage themselves using common terms used by normal companies and NPOs. The name of such an organization itself can be camouflage. is the traditional naming convention which is strongly associated with yakuza (and construction companies), but some use confusing names like . From Wikipedia:
>
The heads of yakuza organizations used to be called or , but in some organizations it's now , or even . (≒"chairman") is the word used by most large Japanese companies including Toyota and Sony. So I won't be surprised if a yakuza member calls his organization , although I don't know how common it is. Anyway, this does not mean he believes his organization is a proper company.
In addition, some (most?) yakuza organizations run real companies to make money, legally or illegally. So he may be referring to such a real company.
|
stackexchange-japanese
|
{
"answer_score": 2,
"question_score": 2,
"tags": "translation, meaning, words, jargon"
}
|
How can I understand the meaning of cut phrase, like this "きみとずっと、はじめを...", in advertisements or movie trailers
I often hear cut phrases in movie trailers or I read it in advertisement posters of manga and I can't completely understand their meaning.
For example this phrase; . Does this mean "Forever with you, beginning..."? It doesn't make sense to me. Or does this really not necessarily have to make sense because it's just a trailer?
|
Assuming you have not misheard it, grammatically, some verb is omitted after because is the object marker. So it says "I _____ the beginning with you, forever."
Without a bit more context, this catchphrase does not make much sense. But this will make perfect sense as the catchphrase of _One Week Friends_, for example, where the memory of the main character lasts only for a week and she has to experience the beginning (of a romantic relationship) again and again. In this case, the missing verb would be something like or . Actually when I saw I instantly recalled this title because its live-action film version was released last month. Well, its actual catchphrase was , though.
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stackexchange-japanese
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{
"answer_score": 3,
"question_score": 0,
"tags": "phrases"
}
|
ご近所様に配達 - Where exactly this will be delievered?
One of the options on Japan Post re-delivery form is ****.
> {} neighborhood
>
> {} delivery
Delivering to customer's neighborhood is a little bit obscure. Could someone explain where exactly my mail will be delivered if I select this option?
|
You are reading it incorrectly.
> {}[]{} means a "(specific) neighbor", **not** "neighborhood".
You do not attach the honorific to "neighborhood". You can only attach it to a person's name or a word denoting a person.
Japan Post, upon request, will re-deliver your mail to a neighbor of your choice (among other options).
|
stackexchange-japanese
|
{
"answer_score": 5,
"question_score": 2,
"tags": "pragmatics, semantics"
}
|
How can I parse this long atributive sentence:
I have this paragraph:
> “”
I know that "" is modifying but I'm not sure how to parse it since I don't know how fits here. The only thing I know is that was the recipient of the but he didn't attend the awards because of depression
|
You can use the following parsing:
> [[[][ **** **** ]][]][][“”]
I emphasized what has been omitted. You could translate literally the whole as
> Kenny Omega (33 y.o.) who shone at the pro-race great prize, which was established by the Tokyo Sports Newspaper Agency, revealed on the eighth of this month that he has been really depressed, and expressed his troubles.
The translation is very far from perfect but it should be enough to give you an idea.
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stackexchange-japanese
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{
"answer_score": 3,
"question_score": 3,
"tags": "meaning, parsing"
}
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Why does this unvoiced ほ sound become a voiced ぼ sound?
I've seen a couple videos of a Japanese translation of the song Twinkle Twinkle Little Star. This Japanese version is titled . However, star is .
Why is the sound voiced in the title?
Example of this: <
|
From <
> Rendaku (?, lit. "sequential voicing") is a phenomenon in Japanese morphophonology that governs the voicing of the initial consonant of the non-initial portion of a compound or prefixed word. In modern Japanese, rendaku is common but at times unpredictable, with certain words unaffected by it.
_Rendaku_ is the changing of voicing that, in practice, is usually the addition of a _dakuten/tenten_ to the first syllable of a word contained within a compound or phrase.
As mentioned above; rendaku occurs commonly but is unpredictable, in that there isn't any fit-all rule that determines when it applies. However, rendaku commonly appears in words involving the _noma_ iteration mark () indicating repetition of the prior character, such as in _hitobito [/, not hitohito]_ and _samazama [/, not samasama]_
In your example, __ is considered a single phrase in that __ is a modifier describing __.
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stackexchange-japanese
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{
"answer_score": 6,
"question_score": 4,
"tags": "pronunciation, rendaku"
}
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Help in this sentence
…
I would translate it as: a love affair, a broken heart (like unrequited love) and a song of growth. I'm particularly interested in the first 2 parts of the sentence.
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"…" all modifies the . Translate it like "(It's) the song of A, B ...and C".
**EDIT:** means falling in love with someone who is already in a romantic relationship with someone else. is heartbreak. So this song starts from a , and then heartbreaking follows, and it ends with overcoming the heartbreak and growing up.
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stackexchange-japanese
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{
"answer_score": 4,
"question_score": -2,
"tags": "translation"
}
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Does 横恋慕 mean illicit love?
means falling in love with someone who is already in a romantic relationship with someone else.
However, according to the dictionary the translation would be illicit love. Can someone explain it to me? Why would it be illicit?
|
According to :
> ****
means "falling in love with someone who is already married or in a relationship". So is _not always_ illicit; if you fell in love with someone who is already married, it would be considered an illicit love.
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stackexchange-japanese
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{
"answer_score": 3,
"question_score": 1,
"tags": "words"
}
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What is the meaning of あっています
I came across in many places mostly in e-mail communication, but not able to get the exact meaning. I searched in jisho.org and found is same as but not giving correct meaning for below example?
What is the correct meaning for below sentence?
> {}
|
{} means "correct".
> "Your/Someone's understanding that someone is a manager is correct."
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stackexchange-japanese
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{
"answer_score": 4,
"question_score": 1,
"tags": "meaning"
}
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What is the correct grammar particle for 'for'?
If I want to say, for example,
_I'm waiting **for** Jason_
or
_I'm not in this **for** the money_
What would be the particle? Ni?
|
There is no direct equivalent. When it comes to particles and prepositions, you can never expect a one-to-one correspondence. At least does not work for your examples. Weblio (English-Japanese dictionary for Japanese people learning English) lists over 20 definitions and over 50 possible translations of _for_. The correct particle would be , , , or depending on the sentence.
> I'm waiting for Jason.
> ****
>
> I'm not in this for the money.
> ****
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stackexchange-japanese
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{
"answer_score": 5,
"question_score": 1,
"tags": "grammar"
}
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How do I decipher each word in a sentence, if all is written in hiragana?
I don't know what this sentence means. "". I tried using google translate but it produces way too different meanings, when I try to translate the sentence bit per bit.
ex. = As usual I can not stop talking to you.
= It's awfully cool
= Wait a minute.
Does this mean that the original sentence means "As usual she's awfully cool."? Is the word for word of the sentence like this; ? or is it ?
But the words: and do not make sense to me.
|
> {}
≒
>
≒
> {}{}
is an idiomatic expression describing **what great communication two persons have with each other**. You just have to memorize it.
I honestly do not know how you could get "cannot stop talking to you", "awfully cool" or "wait a minute" **even if** were not an idiomatic expression.
> "As usual, (the two persons) have great communication with each other, don't they?"
Finally, regarding where / and / come from, they are both sentence-ending particles. The latter has remained till today but the former has changed to .
: Used as an exclamation when talking to oneself as in 1,000{} ****
: Used as a quotative or expressing hearsay as in {}{}{} ****
It is probably faster if you memorized the idiomatic expression as is without analyzing its components.
This expression is far more common among native speakers than you might think. There used to even exist a large cellphone company named . A nice name for a cellphone, isn't it?
![](
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stackexchange-japanese
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{
"answer_score": 7,
"question_score": 2,
"tags": "set phrases, hiragana"
}
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Adjective for beautiful hand-writing? (きれい, 美しい{うつくしい} ?)
Yesterday I wanted to tell a Japanese friend that his hand writing was really pretty (he was writing Kanji to show me in a very neat way).
So I said "{}" (instead of the simpler ""). Since he didn't correct me I didn't think anything special on the moment, but now I'm still thinking it might be a weird way to put it. Is it?
I read this page on the difference between and : And I get the feeling that might have been too majestic and formal for this, am I correct?
Then I thought maybe actually a better way to put this would not be with "beautiful" adjectives at all! Any thought?
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If we want to say that someone's writing is pretty(good), we usually say {}.
I feel is a bit majestic as you said. And I feel means things like this < rather than letters itself.
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stackexchange-japanese
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{
"answer_score": 3,
"question_score": 3,
"tags": "word choice"
}
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Is this sentence wrong? Must an action verb like 買いました always use を？
****
Is this sentence wrong due to the ? Must an action verb like always use
I don't remember where I read it, but it said that in many cases, using will not be wrong since it marks a statement. While if the verb require (such as or it will be wrong to use .
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Yes, it is. in your example sentence is a object, so you must use because is usually used for a object.
As for and , you are right.
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stackexchange-japanese
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{
"answer_score": 1,
"question_score": 0,
"tags": "grammar"
}
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What is the meaning of "おいらの中では" in this tweet?
I just saw this tweet:
> **** ISISISISBBCISISCNNCNNIslamic State{}
I would translate:
> With regard to changing the name of ISIS to IS a few years ago, I had the impression that the BBC immediately started saying IS while CNN continued to say ISIS. Therefore, I am surprised to see that CNN is now calling them "Islamic State".
ok. I just learned that "" is slang for a first-person pronoun.
* I am reading "" to just mean "" because of this definition. But, surely it means something more than that.
* In the Twittersphere, brevity trumps all else. With the ending verb being "", that this is written from a first-person point of view is obvious. Why cannot "" just be implied? There must be significant meaning in that phrase?
and here is the link to the tweet:
actual tweet
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This `person + ` is a common (but more or less slangy) way to say "in one's understanding" or "from what one understands". Here, it's used to imply the following part (ISBBCISISCNN) is not something confirmed but only his understanding. implies the same thing, so you can drop this without significantly changing the meaning of the sentence. But, as you know, 140 Japanese characters is much "longer" than 140 English characters. Your translation seems fine to me.
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stackexchange-japanese
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{
"answer_score": 5,
"question_score": 1,
"tags": "phrases"
}
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Is it appropriate to use irasshaimase when welcoming someone to a private office?
I want to say welcome to people when they enter my private office. I am not in a store or selling anything. I have only heard this term used in large common public areas. There may be a more appropriate term. Thank you.
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No, is rarely heard if you're not in a store or a restaurant.
Instead, you can use:
*
* (politer)
* (i.e., without ; casual and relatively uncommon)
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stackexchange-japanese
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{
"answer_score": 3,
"question_score": 6,
"tags": "meaning, words"
}
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What does ままにした mean?
What does it mean in the sentence below?
> ****
|
> {}{}{}{} ****
means "to leave", "to keep", etc.
> "He left me waiting all morning."
For those keen on pronunciation, and are pronounced differently.
[]{LH}
[]{HL}
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stackexchange-japanese
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{
"answer_score": 4,
"question_score": 1,
"tags": "syntax"
}
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Trouble with this sentence
My translation would be something like this: Because I believe the best thing is for the person you like best to be liked the best.
I'm having trouble to understand this sentence because the word best keeps being repeated.
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> {}{}{}
First, let us look at the over-all sentence structure. It is saying that a certain kind of relationship () is the best. Now, what kind is that?
It is one in which can maintain a type of situation. Are you following?
means " ** _two_** people who truly love each other (the best)"
means "could keep loving each other the best"
Put it altogether and you will have:
> "I believe that it would be the best (kind of) relationship if two people loving each other the best could maintain that relationship."
More literally,
> "I believe that a relationship in which two people who love each other the best could keep loving each other the best would be the best (kind of) relationship."
Wordy, I know, but that is how the original is.
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stackexchange-japanese
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{
"answer_score": 3,
"question_score": 0,
"tags": "translation"
}
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Looking for ateji for Colombia
My mother's name is Colombia (like the country) and I'm trying to give her a gift because she loves the Japanese landscapes (like trees or combinations of red, black and white). I want to write her name in a correct way and explain to her in a simple words. On the Internet I found . (< But reading books and trying to understand the correct way is hard and maybe this web page could help me.
I ask a person in a congress and she wrote this on paper and its very different. I tried to search for information but maybe I don't have the correct path or sites for this information.
.
* What’s your country’s name in traditional Japanese ateji?
* The logic behind kanji choice for country name ateji
By nature, there are theoretically thousands of possible ways to write Columbia using ateji. The image you pasted reads written vertically. That's another possible way to write Columbia using ateji, but I don't think it's an orthodox one. I got nothing related to Columbia by googling with . (Artistically speaking, it's well written, though.)
If your mother loves kanji and you really need to use kanji for Columbia, perhaps would be the normal choice.
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stackexchange-japanese
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{
"answer_score": 3,
"question_score": 0,
"tags": "meaning, kanji, names, ateji"
}
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Are the province names of Japan translatable into English?
When I travelled, I found I could translate the regions or cities into names in English,
* like in German _Burg_ is "castle" so Hamburg might be "Castle of Ham",
* Novi Sad in Serbia is "New Farmland",
* Shanghai translates as "Upon-the-Sea".
Do the regions of Japan translate similar? Are there any references to their English names, for example "region of blossoms" or such?
By provinces I mean provinces like _Hōki, Inaba, Harima, Bizen, Mimasaka, Bitchū_ , etc.?
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Most Chinese and Japanese place names are made of kanji, which is perhaps the most famous sets of logographic characters currently in use. Therefore most Japanese place names can be translated literally, just as Shanghai () translates to "upon-the-sea" ( = up, = sea). For example, this page has a list of the literal "translations" of the 47 Japanese prefectures.
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stackexchange-japanese
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{
"answer_score": 2,
"question_score": 1,
"tags": "translation, names, old japanese"
}
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Can I use もしもしif I want to get someone/group to pay attention?
I want to ensure that people are listening to what I am saying, when they may occasionally get side tracked. I hear the term used on the phone regularly, but wonder if the term can be used with groups of people. Thanks.
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With a large group of people, you **_could_** use in order to draw their attention. You would, however, need to know that that would be a rather humorous (and a bit unusual) way of using the phrase. I would at least not use it repeatedly with the same group.
With a single stranger or a small group of strangers, it is O.K. to use to mean " ** _Excuse me!_** " You just need to know that this usage, though once just normal, has rapidly been becoming less and less common. It would often be a very old person using that way.
For the majority of present-day native speakers, the only place they say is on the phone.
In fact, the only one time someone has said to me on the street in the last several years has been by a foreigner who thought it just meant "hello".
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stackexchange-japanese
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{
"answer_score": 7,
"question_score": 2,
"tags": "meaning, words"
}
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Meaning of 保護される in the following sentence
Context: A journalist is talking about a murder. A boy and his mother were in the room where a man was killed (actually the boy killed the man, but it is not known yet). The police arrests the mother suspecting she is the killer.
> ****
What is the meaning of ? Does it refer to the child being now under protection? Or does it mean he is being held as a prisoner (into custody) by the police?
It's not the first time I encounter the term and don't understand if it refers to protect someone or take someone into custody because he did something bad, so I would like a specific explanation for this sentence and a general explanation of the term . Thank you for your help!
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only means to protect someone/something, and this sentence means the boy came under protection of the police. That is, the police is not seriously suspecting the boy at this point.
Taking someone into custody is (Meaning and use of ), , , etc.
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stackexchange-japanese
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{
"answer_score": 1,
"question_score": 0,
"tags": "meaning, words"
}
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Can もう be used to express frustration?
Can be used in instances where a person may be frustrated? I heard the term uttered by itself only, but it seemed like the person may have been a little upset. I'm not sure of a specific meaning. Thank you.
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Yes, it can. It is in fact a fairly common way of expressing anger, frustration, disappointment, etc. Female speakers would probably use it slightly more often than male speakers.
You will hear just , etc. all by themselves, or with a word or phrase attached to one of those as in {}, etc.
Note: For those who thought might have a positive meaning because of the word , it does not. It means "Enough is enough!"
Read this Q&A for the negative meaning of .
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stackexchange-japanese
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{
"answer_score": 12,
"question_score": 4,
"tags": "meaning, expressions, interjections"
}
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Is there a term for "English that doesn't make sense"?
There are a lot of crazy combinations of English words and translations that don't make sense. Is there a specific term that identifies this?
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There is _wasei eigo_ "Japanese English" for pseudo-English Made in Japan, e.g. _ice candy_ "popsicle", etc.
Some relevant links
* wasei-eigo on Japanese.SE
* on Japanese Wikipedia
* Wasei-eigo on English Wikipedia
* List of wasei-eigo on English Wikipedia
There are also loanwords of Japanese origin (often hybrids from different languages):
*
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stackexchange-japanese
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{
"answer_score": 2,
"question_score": 0,
"tags": "word choice, meaning, wasei eigo"
}
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Is there a difference between 出来る and 作る。
I was in a discussion with someone online, and wanted to know if both terms can be used similarly. Thank you.
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Frankly, I don't see how they can be similar.
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stackexchange-japanese
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{
"answer_score": 2,
"question_score": -1,
"tags": "word choice, meaning"
}
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Translating a couple of sentences
I'm currently studing from Genki-1 and I would like to know if I understand these sentences correctly, thank you :)
- Do you have a Japanese restaurant in your town?
- what do you have in your school?
- Who is in that classroom ?
- What is in your country?
- What happens at Sunday?
|
Looks good but i'd make this one change.
- Who is in **_this_** classroom ?
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stackexchange-japanese
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{
"answer_score": 1,
"question_score": 0,
"tags": "translation"
}
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What is the English equivalent of "~っぺ"?
According to romanjidesu.com, "" is a familiar suffix used after a personal name. What level of relationship is necessary to use this? Is this similar with adding -y in the name of the person? Example: Mike -> Mikey?
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I would be shocked if there were an English equivalent of .
The closest (which is not even so close) that I could think of would be "-ie", "-y", etc. with which you just add an extra **_vowel_** to a name or nickname.
What is strikingly different in Japanese name suffixes is the fact that they add whole new **_consonants_** as well as vowels -- , etc.
I would imagine that an English speaker would feel more than strange if someone called him with an whole new extra syllable attached to his name instead of just "-ie" or "-y". I would not even know how you would decide on what new consonants to use.
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stackexchange-japanese
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{
"answer_score": 4,
"question_score": 2,
"tags": "suffixes"
}
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What dialect is ！〜べ?
What dialect is ?
It seems I hear it a lot from people from Chiba. Is it from a specific part of Chiba or even a wider area?
|
It's widely used in Kanto and Tohoku regions to a varying degree. Stereotyped Tohoku dialect uses instead of (), though.
> ###
>
>
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stackexchange-japanese
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{
"answer_score": 12,
"question_score": 12,
"tags": "dialects, auxiliaries, modality"
}
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Is there a term for two words that mean the same thing, but a preference for one?
I came across the terms and and wanted to determine if there is a word used to describe two words that have the same meaning, but a preference for one. Thank you.
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{} or {} will do.
These, however, are not necessarily everyone's everyday, household words. Those who are not too keen on Language in general might not recognize them unless they are written out. In that case, you could use:
{}{}{}
Switch to {} and it will sound more technical/academic.
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stackexchange-japanese
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{
"answer_score": 3,
"question_score": -1,
"tags": "word requests"
}
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Alternate ways to say 結構です?
For this question, I mean in the sense of 'no thanks.'
So if I were to say informally, it would be . And if I wanted to sound more strong about it, I would add in front of so it'd be ? But is there other ways to say this, maybe more gentler? Perhaps like: or ?
And for , is there any restrictions on how I use it? Like I can use it to refuse food or drinks, but is there anything that I can't use it to refuse?
Thanks so much in advance, and if I need to further clarify anything, please let me know.
|
The general trend here in Japan is that we have been using {} less often every decade. People, unless they are very old, tend to use {} to mean "No thanks!" nowadays. Saying is still legal, though.
If you said just without informally or formally, you **_could_** sound pretty rude if you want to know the truth. I cannot recommend it at all **unless you are an old master of some sort talking to your young disciple**. If you said that in a restaurant or shop, the whole place would fall into a silence for a few seconds.
You will often hear us say:
/,
/, etc.
in restaurants when the server asks you, for instance, if you want more coffee.
Finally, it is neither grammatical nor natural to say:
**** even if you added . We just do not say **** in any situation. Instead, you can say:
****
( **** is just fine.)
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stackexchange-japanese
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{
"answer_score": 7,
"question_score": 6,
"tags": "grammar, word choice, politeness"
}
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What does 具志川mean?
Does it mean a sandy marshy area by a river? Thank you.
|
It's a name of place,
is a famous okinawan name, it means "Back side shape of building/architecture" in okinawan.
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stackexchange-japanese
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{
"answer_score": 2,
"question_score": -3,
"tags": "translation, meaning, words"
}
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Usage of potential form of かける
In the sentence
>
>
I interpret this to mean "I yelled at the man so loud as if I wanted it to reach all the way to the station"
Is my translation correct? Why is the potential form of used?
|
It's not the potential form, it's the passive form (which takes the same structure).
> I/he was suddenly approached by a man (called at) ....
On a different point, as the first half the sentence the second half should be too. (The sentence is still otherwise somewhat unnatural though)
> ****
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stackexchange-japanese
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{
"answer_score": 5,
"question_score": 5,
"tags": "grammar, verbs, conjugations"
}
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Which Kanji for お手数をかける
What is the correct Kanji for in or ?
|
both /
This Kakeru means "put something onto" So the whole thing can be translated, put the bother/trouble on you.
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stackexchange-japanese
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{
"answer_score": 2,
"question_score": 0,
"tags": "kanji"
}
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What is the difference between 迷惑をかけた and お騒がせしました?
What is the difference between {} and {}?
They both seem to mean that one has caused inconvenience.
|
or sounds really you are apologizing. "I am sorry for bothering (the trouble upon) you."
has a soft way of begging pardon, "Sorry about the mess/noise."
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stackexchange-japanese
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{
"answer_score": 2,
"question_score": 1,
"tags": "word choice, expressions"
}
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で or に: how does the meaning of a sentence change?
Supposing I wanted to say "I see the fireworks at the summer festival". Would this be:
> {}{} **** {}{}{}
or
> ****
If both are correct, how does the meaning differ between each?
|
Yes, both are correct.
The differences are:
1. This is a regular phrase for "I'll watch the fireworks at the summer festival."
2. This would stress **at**. It has a nuance that "I have many chances to watch the fireworks but I will watch them at the summer festival."
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stackexchange-japanese
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{
"answer_score": 1,
"question_score": 5,
"tags": "grammar, meaning, particle に, particle で, sentence"
}
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Why is ダメ written most commonly in katakana?
I usually see the word written in katakana, although a kanji term is available, and wanted to know the reason.
|
in the sense of "no good", "not allowed", etc. derives from , which is a term from _igo_ "Go" (the game).
This derivative meaning may also be written as (both characters are _jōyō kanji_ ). However, it appears more frequent in _kana_. The frequencies are given as follows:
5279 44%
4247 35%
2565 21%
_Katakana_ are often used for emphasis, or simply for using a different script in order to make the word visually distinct from the rest of the sentence (which might be in _hiragana_ as in ).
In any case, _kana_ are far more common. One reason might be that are used for the derivative meaning of "no good" or "not allowed" to distinguish it from the literal (game of Go) meaning, which would primarily be written .
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stackexchange-japanese
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{
"answer_score": 4,
"question_score": -1,
"tags": "meaning, words, katakana, orthography"
}
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Does "軽い勉強" mean "studies that are not important" or "studies that are easy"?
Which of these expresses the meaning ""?
1. "" is really **not** a natural word pairing. "" just sounds weird?
2. ""
(Because people these days use electronic dictionaries to look-up kanji, studying radicals is _not important_.)
3. ""
(If you use that new application, the study of radicals _becomes much easier_ to do.)
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is not an unnatural expression and it usually means something that's not necessarily supposed to be a study but virtually functions as a kind of study, or a handy and partial learning exercise, which are synonymous to .
is OK, though it's better to say instead because could mean that the study would be shallow or not enough.
~~~~ (or ) ~~~~ can only be interpreted as "studying radicals is not enough because people look them up in electronic dictionaries". (If you really understand what after mean, ignore my correction.)
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stackexchange-japanese
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{
"answer_score": 1,
"question_score": 0,
"tags": "word choice"
}
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「まじ」as "will not"
In Shiina Ringo's song (Nagaku Mijikai Matsuri), she sing the following line :
>
I already knew the word as in "seriously", but I found two different translations of the sentence on the internet, more or less professional, that translate it as :
> Our summer won't be forgotten
and
> We're seriously losing our summer
I did not know that it could be used as "will not" or "must not" and would like to know if it was the right translation in this context.
Here is the link for the song : <
|
Auxiliary stands for either negative conjecture ("must not") or negative volition ("will not"). So, means either "we won't forget our summer" or "we mustn't forget our summer", but never "we're seriously losing our summer".
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stackexchange-japanese
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{
"answer_score": 5,
"question_score": 3,
"tags": "grammar, translation, song lyrics"
}
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How to say "Are you nuts?"
Can the following expression be used to express shock of person's actions or statements:
>
What are the equivalents to "Are you nuts?"
|
{}{} makes sense and it is not bad at all, but that plain -ending makes it sound a little stiff.
You could say:
{}{}
{}
{}
{}
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stackexchange-japanese
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{
"answer_score": 3,
"question_score": 2,
"tags": "slang, colloquial language"
}
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What is the difference between 気が向く and 気がする?
Is there any difference in usage between **{}{}** and ****?
|
Both can be translated as "feel like", but they are totally different.
`` is "to feel like doing it", describing someone's volition or intention.
> * Please read it if you like to.
> * Hmm, somehow I don't feel like doing it.
>
`Verb/adjective + ` is "to feel ", describing someone's sense or intuition.
> * I feel it's a difficult book.
> * I feel like something is lacking.
>
**EDIT:** can also mean "feel like doing", especially in negative sentences.
> * I don't feel like eating it.
>
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stackexchange-japanese
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{
"answer_score": 4,
"question_score": 1,
"tags": "meaning, usage, pragmatics"
}
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店番 vs. 店員 - are these synonymous?
Does {} have the same meaning as {}? Can these words be used interchangeably?
|
is a primary term for clerks of stores of any size. Workers at convenience stores and supermarkets are typical .
is someone who looks after a small shop alone while the owner is away. is a kanji that means _watch_ , _keeper_ or _lookout_. usually sell items like regular clerks, but they don't necessarily do so. Even a child or a dog can be a (of course this is not common). At least in modern Japanese, doesn't refer to store clerks in general.
|
stackexchange-japanese
|
{
"answer_score": 3,
"question_score": 3,
"tags": "word usage"
}
|
Proper way to say "it looks good"
Let's say you're at the barber shop and he's using his mirror to show you how your hair looks like after he's done cutting it, what would be the appropriate and natural way to say "It looks good (thank you)"?
|
My observation from having been to the barber a few hundred times in Japan since birth, People would rarely, if not never, say anything so unique or lengthy in that situation. Most would just say:
{}
|
stackexchange-japanese
|
{
"answer_score": 5,
"question_score": 4,
"tags": "expressions, spoken language"
}
|
What's a formal way of saying "seems like"?
I'm writing a formal essay and I need to use what's equivalent of for "seems like"
Please help Thanks!
|
You could use:
{}
/{}/
/{}
|
stackexchange-japanese
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{
"answer_score": 5,
"question_score": 1,
"tags": "grammar"
}
|
what does it say on this karate belt?
![enter image description here](
I know it says "karate do" in the middle. what about first two and the last
I get "karate do" from this reference <
Please! anyone?
|
> I know it says "karate do" in the middle.
No, it does not.
It says:
> []{}[]{}[]{}
"Do" is. This one is .
|
stackexchange-japanese
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{
"answer_score": 2,
"question_score": 0,
"tags": "translation"
}
|
Why 東南西北 is read トンナンシャーペー in this lyrics?
I expected to read this word as but the furigana indicates another reading. I did some search but I only found information about this band: The
!
|
are unique readings of , respectively, used only by Japanese Mahjong players. I personally don't play Mahjong, but these unique readings are known to Japanese populations. Compared to , they are closer (although not exactly the same) to the current Chinese readings. ) soon after this line is another reference to Mahjong terms.
I think these words are there to add an "oriental" feeling to the lyrics.
|
stackexchange-japanese
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{
"answer_score": 10,
"question_score": 8,
"tags": "readings, onyomi"
}
|
Is お帰り only used in the home environment?
I use the term at home, but can it be used in other situations outside of the home? Thank you.
|
Well, it depends on what the context for 'home' is.
If the context for 'home' is literally 'your home', the answer is that the verb and the phrase or a variant of it can be used in other situations. Consider the following:
In a situation where you've gone traveling, for example, for an extended period of time. Say you've flown back, and a friend is waiting for you at the airport. Your friend may greet you with an , even though you're not physically at your home.
Or, similar situation, you've gone traveling, and now you've become homesick of, say, Kyoto, your hometown. To tell a friend where you are, for example, that you'd like to go back to Kyoto, the phrase is valid to convey the feeling that you miss home and want to go back.
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stackexchange-japanese
|
{
"answer_score": 2,
"question_score": 2,
"tags": "words, usage, word usage"
}
|
What term refers to the written characters used before kanji?
The kanji characters were borrowed from China, so what were the written language characters called before kanji was introduced?
|
The generally accepted view is that there was no pre-kanji written script in Japan.
There are occasional claims of the existance of pre-kanji scripts called []{}. As the wikipedia page mentions:
> Some have claimed since the mid-Edo period that such ancient characters, for example such as Chikushi characters and Hokkaido characters, have been found in archeological remains, in Kofun and on mountains, but **all jindai moji are generally considered to be forgeries**.
|
stackexchange-japanese
|
{
"answer_score": 6,
"question_score": -1,
"tags": "meaning, words"
}
|
What are the bars placed outside of windows called?
Apartments and buildings have bars placed on them outside of the windows and I wanted to know what they are called. Thank you.
|
If you mean something like this, it's called or specifically (for preventing an accidental fall):
:
![enter image description here](
|
stackexchange-japanese
|
{
"answer_score": 2,
"question_score": 0,
"tags": "meaning, words"
}
|
Is there a term for "manga language"?
The language used in manga often does not follow standard patterns. Is there a term for this? Thank you.
|
My answer would probably disappoint you if you were expecting a short concrete term as an answer such as []{} or []{}. Frankly, I doubt that such a (short) term exists that would be universally understood.
The kind of language spoken by manga characters vastly differ from one manga title to the next. Characters speak just like "regular" native speakers from real life in some manga titles, and characters speak nowhere near like real people in others. The point is that **among the latter group, a countless number of speech patterns can be found**.
Thus, I could only come up with "explanatory phrases" rather than common terms as;
{} / {} / []{} / {}
{} / / / /
Any of those word combinations will be understood by native speakers with no problems.
|
stackexchange-japanese
|
{
"answer_score": 7,
"question_score": 0,
"tags": "meaning, words"
}
|
What's a good grammatical antonym for the auxiliary verb 始める?
What's a good grammatical opposite for the auxiliary usage of the verb , meaning that you're describing the beginning of a verb?
|
The antonym of _to begin_ is _to end_. As a matter of fact the antonym of is {}. It does work the same way as .
Example:
> (start reading a book) -- (finish reading a book)
Note: You can also use {} in place of .
|
stackexchange-japanese
|
{
"answer_score": 3,
"question_score": 1,
"tags": "auxiliaries, antonyms"
}
|
What's the difference between 洗面器 and タライ?
They both look similar, and aren't they both washbowls? What's the difference between them, or are they just synonyms?
|
My understanding is that a only refers to small, shallow and plastic (or sometimes clay) ones, large enough to wash your face. You can buy this everywhere.
. Perhaps the only requirement is that it has to be relatively shallow. I think it safely includes , and I can imagine someone who never uses in favor of . Especially metallic or wooden ones are almost always called .
![enter image description here](
Deep one with a handle is called or .
|
stackexchange-japanese
|
{
"answer_score": 4,
"question_score": 6,
"tags": "kanji"
}
|
How do I find the right meaning of homonyms 同音異義語 via audio?
Japanese has a lot of homonyms and sometimes one has more than 10 meanings.
When I heard the following sentences on the phone or a radio. How do I deal with it?
1.
2.
3.
4.
|
1. **By accent.** See: Is there any difference when pronouncing and ?
HLLHHLLH
2. **By context.**
* →
* →
* →
* →
3. **By actually changing the reading for known confusing pairs.** See: How to Pronounce "Chemistry"?
If everything above fails, you have to rephrase or explain it (This rarely happens in practice).
>
>
> * →
> * →
> * →
>
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stackexchange-japanese
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{
"answer_score": 7,
"question_score": 5,
"tags": "pitch accent, kanji choice, listening, homonyms"
}
|
の or を？ What is the correct answer and why is it correct?
This is a question that I have found in a JLPT-N5 mock test paper.
>
And the answer for that is , but I selected . Could someone possibly clarify this please? Why and why not ? What is wrong if one puts there?
|
You cannot have two in a single clause. The structure [Noun][Verb] can be realised as:
1. ****
2. ****
Where in is the verb in 1, and is the verb in 2
Also note that in 2, is syntactically a noun and is syntactically a noun, as opposed to which is a verb in 1.
See also these:
* Related Answer: snailplane explaning that you cannot have two in a single clause
* Related Question: Can we optionally include (or exclude) an particle in between the noun of the -verb and the itself?
* Related Question: How do I add an object to noun verbs?
* Related Question: [Difference between [Noun] vs [Noun] vs [Noun]](
|
stackexchange-japanese
|
{
"answer_score": 9,
"question_score": 8,
"tags": "grammar, particles"
}
|
Can I use 近くif I am close to a person with my feelings?
I know that chikaku means close, but does it only apply to distance between things or emotions as well. Thank you.
|
Of course, you can. In fact, that is an important meaning of {}. Any good monolingual dictionary would give{} (" ** _intimate_** ") as one of the definitions of the word.
Read definition #3 in .
can express closeness in all of the following:
physical space = "near a convenience store"
time {} = "Spring is near/approaching."
**interpersonal and/or emotional relationship** **{} = "I want to have an (emotionally) closer relationship with you!"**
blood/biological relationship {}{} = "close & remote relatives"
similarity in general / almost same {} = "almost pefect"
, etc.
|
stackexchange-japanese
|
{
"answer_score": 9,
"question_score": 7,
"tags": "meaning, words"
}
|
Why is 街に歩く not grammatical?
I have read this, this and this, but I still do not understand why {}{} is not grammatical.
The person who wrote this wanted to say "I will walk to town".
|
According to a classic explanation, "pure motion verbs" such as , , , and can take both and , but "motion manner verbs" such as , , and tend not to take . Verbs in the latter group do not even need a destination (e.g., , , ).
That said, there are many cases where is used with //. This is extensively discussed in this article. The author says that when the manner of a motion or a situation is more focused than the motion itself, tends to be more tolerated. / tends to be tolerated when the cause of the action is unexpected and urgent.
> *
> *
> *
>
|
stackexchange-japanese
|
{
"answer_score": 8,
"question_score": 6,
"tags": "particles, syntax"
}
|
てくれる vs てもらう when the topic or subject is implied
From my understanding and "mean the same" from the "receiver" point of view, but the way the topic and subject are placed is a bit different, for instance:
> and (I was taught by my friend how to play the game / My friend taught me how to play the game )
Now, my question is, When the topic is implied and therefore hidden, is it ok to use any of these?
> (Talking to my friend) and
I got this question because latelly i've been hearing a lot of things like these
>
So is it ok to use both does the meaning change?), or should I stick to one? Or should I stick to the most common to set phrase in question?
Thanks in advance, and i'm sorry for any mistakes.
Edit: removed from the sentence to avoid confusion and misleading from the main point of the question.
|
Personally, the difference is “Who made your friend teach how to play the game?” You? or your friend on his own initiative?
* sounds a bit funny, so I’ll modify it using .
>
When I read this sentence, I had a picture in my mind that you had asked your friend to teach you how to play the game, and then he decided to do so.
>
sounds like your friend took in the situation where you needed his help and decided to teach you how to play the game. Whether or not you had asked him is not known.
The difference between and is the perspective you should see them from... the receiver and the giver.
> (A)
> (B)
Which sentence do you think you should use if it is followed by
The answer is (B), because it implies that she took the initiative in buying the present for you. (A) is saying that you made the first move to get her to buy you a present.
*
Hope this helps.
|
stackexchange-japanese
|
{
"answer_score": 12,
"question_score": 6,
"tags": "grammar, giving and receiving"
}
|
Is the volitional form of i-adjectives often used?
According to this question the volitional form of i-adjectives is used _quite often_ \-- on a daily basis. But I almost never hear it. I almost see it exclusively in books (or written documents). And if it would be used in a dialogue it would almost always be used by a man.
On the other hand, I hear quite often adj-i+.
So my question is the form that much used?
|
This form is classified as modern (as opposed to ), but it sounds old-fashioned nevertheless. It's not something we hear every day. We mostly see this form in fictional old person's speech (like in the original question) or in a few fixed expressions like . is often used by a pompous, old and/or noble person in fiction. If someone around you used in reality, it's likely to be a joke.
By the way, is that form really called the "volitional" form while the meaning is ? It appears similar to //, but the meaning is totally different.
|
stackexchange-japanese
|
{
"answer_score": 6,
"question_score": 6,
"tags": "i adjectives, volitional form"
}
|
とは言え conjunction
I often hear used as a conjunction between sentences. What does it mean?
ALC didn't offer much help.
|
It's on ALC. It's listed in hiragana because it's a fossilized conjunction.
* : nevertheless; that being said; be it as it may
Etymologically, this is 'quotative-' + 'thematic-' + ' of '. Hence literally "that being said."
|
stackexchange-japanese
|
{
"answer_score": 4,
"question_score": 0,
"tags": "grammar, conjunctions"
}
|
四つ仮名 yotugana - pronunciation difference
Many of you probably know about the so called , , and that in standard Japanese only two different pronunciations for them exist, that is ==/==. However, they used to represent four distinct sounds, something that has been preserved in some regions, especially on Kyushu. See this map: <
Now to my question, my own Japanese is from a region so I never had the opportunity of actually learning the other sounds. Therefore I was wondering if any of you know of any recordings, preferably videos, that clearly highlights the different pronunciations.
|
A dialect that has difference between and . That between and seems lost, though.
|
stackexchange-japanese
|
{
"answer_score": 1,
"question_score": 8,
"tags": "pronunciation, dialects"
}
|
Is おっすused by both men and women?
I know the term means hi or hello, but is it used by both genders? My research indicates a male usage, particularly in chats. Thank you.
|
It's not common for women to use it, but it's not unheard of. It's not considered proper for a lady to use, so it sounds a bit more tomboyish and casual. Most likely the woman is also relatively close to the person(s) she is greeting on the friendship scale; or maybe just lazy.
Of course, if she was a karate student and was greeting a sensei or senpai, she would use {}.
|
stackexchange-japanese
|
{
"answer_score": 5,
"question_score": 1,
"tags": "words, slang, gender"
}
|
Does ぴゃhave a meaning?
A person sent an email on a phone, and exclaimed "pya" after sending it. Thank you.
|
/////etc is an onomatopoeia that describes something moving very quickly. // is similar. This page says it's an Osaka dialect word.
> *
> *
>
So the you saw describes how the email has been sent to you (quickly).
|
stackexchange-japanese
|
{
"answer_score": 3,
"question_score": 1,
"tags": "meaning, words, usage"
}
|
I heard a word that sounded like psycho in English, what does it mean?
The person that said it was very animated and happy, but it sounded exactly like the word psycho. Thank you.
|
[]{} means "the highest/maximum/best/greatest".
|
stackexchange-japanese
|
{
"answer_score": 33,
"question_score": 7,
"tags": "translation, meaning"
}
|
Why is "My Apps" translated to マイApp instead of something like 自分のApp?
In iTunesConnect (for those who don't know, iTunesConnect is a website where developers and iBook authors can manage their apps/books), there is this "My Apps" button:
![enter image description here](
When I change my OS's language to Japanese, it turns into this:
![enter image description here](
This is quite weird to me because I have never seen "my" translated to just "" before. Is there a reason why they did not use "" or ""?
|
in katakana is very common in this context because we have been familiar with and on the Windows desktop since the Windows 95 era. Using instead doesn't sound cool to me.
On the other hand in katakana is not a good choice because usually means _up_ in Japanese. In katakanized English, _up_ and _app_ are read identically. is a common abbreviation for , but somehow Apple doesn't seem to like it :)
|
stackexchange-japanese
|
{
"answer_score": 6,
"question_score": 7,
"tags": "translation, pronouns"
}
|
What is the difference between 搾る and 絞る?
According to JMDict both and mean **squeeze**. Is there a difference in their usage? I noticed that is used to describe the process of beer making, can be used alternatively in this case?
|
* = milking, squeeze,
* = wring something dry out, narrow down, (voice/volume of audio) turn down, squeeze
When you squeeze a lemon and are both right.
When you say, Turn the radio down ****
When you say, To get milk from cow ****
|
stackexchange-japanese
|
{
"answer_score": 3,
"question_score": 4,
"tags": "pragmatics"
}
|
What does では mean in this sentence?
I've recently started learning Japanese through self teaching (a few different mobile apps and books, this question is spawned from using one called Memrise)
But I'm learning to say "I don't like " which is pretty straight forward, but I'm confused on the particle used (if it is a particle, I still haven't fully grasped them yet).
I'll use "I don't Like Apples" as an example, part of confusion bolded:
> ****
|
Practically you may just memorize as a negative form of , and as a negative form of , as shown in this chart. To break down, this is made of two components, one being a particle and the other being an (auxiliary) verb.
* **** is the te-form (aka continuative form) of the copula (aka linking verb) . conjugates similarly to na-adjectives.
* **** is the topic marker , which is optional but usually placed here. See: Why is the topic marker often used in negative statements (, )?
So you know how to say "I like apples".
> (plain form)
You can construct its negative version in several ways:
> * (sounds "plain"; see the link above)
> * ( may be dropped, especially when this appears as a clause of a long sentence)
> * (polite form)
> * ( becomes in casual speech)
>
|
stackexchange-japanese
|
{
"answer_score": 3,
"question_score": 1,
"tags": "particles, copula"
}
|
What exactly does リクルート mean?
I know it is katakana for "recruit" but most of the search results seem to be about a company called "Recruit Holdings" which does seem to do a lot of different things with job boards, staffing, and recruiting. I also feel like I've seen it on various Japanese company websites where English sites might have a "jobs" or "careers" page.
So, I guess what I'm wondering is (1) what do Japanese people most commonly think when they hear the word , (2) does have the same usage scenarios as in English "recruit" meaning it can be used as both a verb "to recruit someone" and a noun "here are the new recruits," and (3) is it the most common way to refer recruiting or is there a native Japanese way that is more common?
|
Besides Recruit Holdings (company), it's primarily recognized as a noun that refers to the act of recruiting someone. Synonyms are , and (). See this question, too.
> (= )
It's also used as an transitive suru-verb that means to recruit (someone). The closest Japanese synonym is , but this has a broader meaning, "to solicit (ideas, donations, etc)." is safe in most business settings, but () is probably the safer word in everyday life.
>
We don't usually use as a noun that means "new member." The noun for that is (or , , , etc., depending on the type of the group). One exception is , which refers to a suit worn by job hunters, not by those who recruit them.
|
stackexchange-japanese
|
{
"answer_score": 6,
"question_score": 4,
"tags": "meaning, usage"
}
|
What is the meaning of "超か" in this news headline?
I saw this in a news article saying that Toshiba had losses of \1T:
>
<
What is the purpose of adding at the end?
|
is "over/above ", the antonym for .
> * 2m
> * 100kg
>
This is a question marker. after a noun/suru-verb is a typical "headlinese" expression meaning "there is a possibility that / suspicion of ". It corresponds to a question mark in English headlines.
> * ****
> More Wage Cuts?
> * EU ****
> UK to Exit EU? / UK Exits EU?
> (referring to something that seems to have happened but is unconfirmed, or something that is likely to happen in the near future)
>
Similar expressions:
> * EU ****
> UK May Exit EU
> (referring to something not very likely but not impossible; )
> * EU ****
> UK To Exit EU
> (referring to something that is going to happen)
>
|
stackexchange-japanese
|
{
"answer_score": 10,
"question_score": 6,
"tags": "words, particle か"
}
|
How would one refer to someone else's lover in 尊敬語?
I've searched the internet, but can't really find anything. My first thoughts were and , but the first doesn't seem very common, and the latter seems to have a different meaning.
|
You cannot say {}; That sounds very weird. {}{}{} is okay.
Other natural-sounding expressions would include:
{}{}
{}
{}/{}
{}{}
{}/{}
|
stackexchange-japanese
|
{
"answer_score": 7,
"question_score": 4,
"tags": "word choice, words, politeness, honorifics, sonkeigo"
}
|
What is the etymology of this child's melody about stepping on kittens?
I came across an insane child's melody about stepping kittens. What is the etymology of this melody?
And, what does "" mean?
|
It's not but + . is (known in Japan as cats' favorite food), and is "to give". "" = "Cat, I'll give you katsuobushi, so come closer."
* * *
The melody itself is Flea Waltz, and is known all over the world under various names. The composer is unknown.
The best-known Japanese lyrics, which you linked, were written by Hiroo Sakata in the 1960's. There is another version by Toshio Oka. The English lyrics you posted look somewhat similar to Sakata's version, but looks much more cruel and weird. Where did you find it?
There are a few people who study this song (like Rumiko Miyamoto), but apparently no one knows why the lyricist came up with these lines. But are they that insane? I mean, as compared to Mother Goose, for example?
|
stackexchange-japanese
|
{
"answer_score": 0,
"question_score": 2,
"tags": "etymology, song lyrics"
}
|
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