A set phrase used commonly in the Japanese language
3
votes
1answer
212 views
超 vs めっちゃ + explanation [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Significance of the kanji 「茶」 in the set phrase 「滅茶滅茶 / 目茶目茶」 {めちゃめちゃ}
So, in Kansai they use めっちゃ, and in Kanto 超. But what about the other parts of Japan? And from ...
2
votes
2answers
357 views
+50
How to playfully scold someone?
I haven't heard from a good friend for a while, I would like to reproach him playfully, but have no clue what the appropriate thing to say would be.
Would 恥を知れ! be appropriate if said in a funny ...
2
votes
1answer
160 views
Is いったい (ittai) a “rude” expression?
The expression いったい (ittai), as in
君はいったい何がほしいの
I translated as "What on earth do you want?" with the help of good ol' GT.
1) Is that correct?
2) Is the expression いったい which GT translated ...
2
votes
1answer
123 views
Alternate meaning of 見えない when used as an expression?
I've always learned that 見えない means "unseen" or "invisible".
However, lately I've been seeing quite a few Japanese people in online games that, upon failing to complete some (usually very difficult) ...
2
votes
1answer
199 views
“How did you know?” and “how do you know?” in Japanese
As explained in this question on the English site, there is a distinction in English between saying "How did you know?" and "How do you know?"
When someone makes an assertion, the distinction ...
2
votes
1answer
144 views
Etymology of ごちそうさまでした [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
About ご[馳走]{ちそう}: two “runs” would give you “a feast”?
ごちそうさまでした
gochisousamadeshita
【ご馳走様でした · 御馳走様でした】
expression:
That was a delicious meal (said after meals); ...
2
votes
1answer
383 views
Before enlightenment, chop wood carry water. After enlightenment, chop wood carry water
A recent post about translation reminded me of the following saying:
Before enlightenment, chop wood carry water. After enlightenment, chop wood carry water.
It is said to be coming from zen ...
2
votes
1answer
114 views
What is the nuance and feeling of the expression 愛の営みをする?
If 営み/いとなみ/itonami is a noun meaning: work; life,
then is 愛の営みをする a literary way of saying "to make love" ?
What feel does this expression have? Does it sound perfunctory or passionate?
愛の営みをする to ...
2
votes
1answer
102 views
What would be a proper definition and adequate natural translation for the term 替え歌王?
My friend wrote this sentence about these videos:
"これは日本の替え歌王だよ。"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mtjxrf2Vg7g&feature=player_embedded
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aEeELyiLDKg
I'm not ...
2
votes
1answer
265 views
What are the different ways of saying to agree or disagree with a person?
There seems to be many different ways of saying either to agree or to disagree with a person.
Which words are there, in what circumstances should they be used, and are there any relevant examples of ...
2
votes
1answer
115 views
What are the different ways of saying to agree or disagree with a person?
There seems to be many different ways of saying either to agree or to disagree with a person.
Which words are there, in what circumstances should they be used, and are there any relevant examples of ...
2
votes
1answer
75 views
Definition and use of やれやれだ
Can anyone explain the expression やれやれだ/やれやれだぜ ?
I saw it in a written journal entry to mean "Thank heavens!", and on further investigation have seen it translated as "Good god!" as well as "Sigh." ...
2
votes
1answer
151 views
それは彼の身に応えだした。 Can anyone explain this?
それは彼の身に応えだした。 [ex #4531]
It is beginning to tell on him.
can anyone explain this sentence? is it useful or archaic?
is it related to this?
骨身にこたえる
1
vote
2answers
93 views
Questions about this sentence
"当時の関係者何人かにあたって記憶を確かめてみたが、人の記憶の欠落部分というのは、捏造で補われる仕組みになっているらしく、共通の体験が、しばしば、お互いに矛盾する記憶になっていることに驚かされた。"
What does "にあたって" mean there ?
"驚かされた" is referring to what/whom exactly ?
Does "関係者何人か" mean ...
1
vote
1answer
228 views
[plain form]-んじゃない
When I was first learning Japanese, I learned that the explanatory form, -んです is always constructed by conjugating the verb in short form and adding -んです, and that the です part is never conjugated. But ...
1
vote
1answer
291 views
Difference of 「なんとかなる」 vs. 「だいじょうぶ」
are 「なんとかなる」 and 「だいじょうぶ」the same?
大丈夫か？
なんとかなるか？
大丈夫よ。
何とかなるよ。
大丈夫さ。
なんとかなるさ。
だいじょうぶだった。
なんとかなった。
大丈夫じゃない/だいじょうぶじゃなかった。
なんとかならない/なんとかならなかった。
...
thanks
sorry if ...
0
votes
1answer
144 views
Using だということ to mean “that”
I was helping to translate this passage on the website Lang-8.com:
Lang-8をやって良かった点は、どんな間違いをしても恥をかかないようになったという点と、ネイティブの人でも英語を話すときに同じような間違いをするんだということに気付いた点です。
The great point about having used ...
0
votes
1answer
210 views
“にすぎない” vs “だけ” and “にかぎらない” vs “だけじゃない”
I am having difficulties to make sense of にすぎない, which is translated by EDICT to mean "no more than that; just; only". Is it not simply equivalent to だけ? Can I use にすぎない as substitute for だけ?
Also, ...
