A pronoun is a word that substitutes for a noun or noun phrase.
2
votes
3answers
210 views
Is “anyone” 人はいます or 誰でも?
So I ran across this example sentence: 食べている人はいますか？ And the translation was "Is anyone eating?" However I thought the sentence would be: 誰でもが食べていますか？ Is this correct?
Also is Xはいます = is any X? ...
3
votes
1answer
138 views
When is it appropriate to use お宅 to refer to the second-person?
An answer to "What is the most natural way to refer to someone when you don't know their name and don't have a close relationship with them?" suggests that お宅 may be used to refer to the second ...
5
votes
2answers
137 views
What rules should be followed when saying “we”?
I know that, in Japanese, you can say X達【たち】 or Xら (where X is a first person pronoun) to say we.
However, what rules should be followed for choosing that "X". Can I use whatever I would use to refer ...
1
vote
2answers
185 views
What does 御用の向きとは mean + usage of うぬ in the meaning of “you”
I have two questions:
What's the meaning of a phrase: 御用の向きとは? Is it a set expression? I found a few examples where it was ended with a question mark, in some cases preceded by addressing an ...
3
votes
1answer
277 views
Why is 自分 used instead of 私?
For example:
自分の名前が呼ばれたとき、私は自分の耳を疑った。I couldn't believe my ears when I heard my name called.
Would it be appropriate if I said 私? When is it appropriate to use 自分? What is the difference?
4
votes
1answer
116 views
Can the volitional form be used to nominate yourself for something?
I did a quick search on this site to see if I could find any answer to this and found this question: Does the volitional form of a verb mean both "lets" and "I want to"?
But ...
4
votes
1answer
171 views
Can 彼 be used as an indefinite pronoun like やつ or 男?
気取らない彼が好きです。 I like him, who doesn't put on airs.
My first reading of this sentence was to assume that 彼 was referring to the boyfriend meaning of 彼, and thus my interpretation was "I like an ...
4
votes
1answer
360 views
Difference between 自分 and 自分自身 and how to reflect their difference in English
Consider:
自分について書きたいことがあります。 = There are times that I want to write about myself (lit: things concerning me)
自分自身について書きたいことがあります。
What is their difference?
I think the second sentence ...
6
votes
3answers
785 views
How is it possible that kisama is more refined than temee?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gender_differences_in_spoken_Japanese claims that kisama is "more refined than temee".
However I've always thought that kisama is so-called the "worst" level (in other ...
10
votes
3answers
375 views
is it offensive to say あなた?
My teacher says that we should avoid あなた, like わたし, which could be taken off. Following this, I try to refer to the second person by the name: 加藤さんの趣味は何ですか. But there are situations where we forget ...
5
votes
2answers
928 views
Speaking in the third person
Many things that seem normal in English look arrogant in Japanese. I think I found a special case where the reverse is true. In Japanese is it normal to speak in the third person when referring to ...
6
votes
4answers
259 views
Giving something to oneself
what is the theory that 僕は自分にプレゼントをあげる is right but not 僕は自分にプレゼントをくれる ?
Btw I'm also curious if these sentences are equally valid:
A) 僕は自身にプレゼントをあげる
B) 僕は自分自身にプレゼントをある
C) ボブはボブにプレゼントを[あげる/くれる?]
...
11
votes
3answers
259 views
When is it appropriate to refer to yourself by これ?
I have occasionally heard and read instances, where a person has referred to themselves as これ. My Japanese dictionary also lists "Me, I." as a definition of これ.
Now, this obviously isn't used as ...
6
votes
2answers
349 views
Are first, second, and third person in Japanese all the same as in English?
Are first, second, and third person nominals in Japanese used in the same way as in English? What should English speakers keep in mind when considering the three persons in Japanese?
Particularly for ...
