Tagged Questions
6
votes
1answer
128 views
What's the difference between 心, 念, and 意?
I can say that after much research on this, I'm more thoroughly confused than before I started. I'm talking mostly about when they are used as suffixes, but the concept applies when they stand alone, ...
3
votes
2answers
355 views
興味が湧く vs 興味が沸く
Which kanji should we use for the phrase 興味がわく (to mean that something has caught our interest)?
Some quick googling shows that both 興味が湧く (~11m hits) and 興味が沸く (~9m hits) are widely used. Is one of ...
1
vote
1answer
257 views
Fast Food Conversation - Any Practical Guides?
I looked up for fast food conversation but I could not find anything very practical.
While most guide always emphasize on how to order, I never found it prepares one to understand what a fast food ...
0
votes
1answer
104 views
How to say “It's not a lie if you believe in it” in Japanese [closed]
Eijiro doesn't have the definition so I thought I'd ask here
3
votes
3answers
224 views
“Opposite” of `和製英語`
Is there an "opposite" of 和製英語 (meaning Japanese words/phrases invented by English speakers)? Maybe like {英・米・欧?}製日本語? Because I always see/hear Japanese words in English and they drive me nuts!
...
5
votes
1answer
305 views
How to say “Little did I/he/she/they know”?
I found a few examples at ALC, but still not sure about the best way to say it.
7
votes
1answer
108 views
The expressions 後へ引く and 後を引く
What is the logic behind the similar sounding expressions 後へ引く and 後を引く? Are they idioms? Apple dictionary lists these examples:
後へ引く
もう後へは引けない
'It's too late to turn back now.'
'We're in ...
3
votes
2answers
185 views
根も葉も火種も — is it proverbial?
I suspect「根も葉も火種も」 is an allusion to something I do not recognize. To what does it refer?
Consider this couplet from an amusing song released in March by IOSYS called 「ステマの女」(CD and promotional ...
7
votes
2answers
155 views
Does バラの寝床 come directly from the English expression “bed of roses”?
I came across this phrase in a Haruki Murakami short story, and I was wondering if this is just a literal translation of the English phrase?
I tried googling the Japanese phrase, but I could only ...
11
votes
2answers
190 views
Rare/Obsolete verb forms
I have noticed that some verbs have this "rare" or old form that is no longer used much (if at all). Here are some examples.
おそる： おそるべき者 → One who is feared
ほむ： ほむべきお方【かた】 → Seen often in my ...
8
votes
2answers
216 views
“Grammatically-correct” particle-less phrases/sayings
I know that within an informal/familiar setting, people often leave out particles. Whether or not this is grammatically correct I'm not positive, but for the sake of this question, I'll say that it's ...
7
votes
2answers
128 views
Dismissing an expectation
What can be said when I need to dismiss an expectation?
Here are some examples of what I mean by "expectation":
I ask someone what time it is, then I remembered that I'm actually wearing a watch. ...
8
votes
1answer
195 views
What's the difference between 電光石火【でんこうせっか】 and 疾風迅雷【しっぷうじんらい】
They both seem to mean "quick as lightning". What are the nuances between them? In what sort of context would they be used? Are they interchangeable? etc.
10
votes
1answer
2k views
Getting your haircut in Japan
I have been living in Japan now for the last 3 months and my hair is starting to look like it needs a cut.
But I have never been to a Japanese barbers before so as you can imagine I am a little ...
5
votes
1answer
139 views
Regarding は数あれど (or possibly just あれど )
The following sentence is from a newspaper article
メレンゲ菓子は数あれど、これほど繊細なものは珍しい。
あれど ＝ あるけど makes sense to me in the context, and this seems to be supported by my searches so far - is it simply a ...
6
votes
2answers
164 views
Anti-causal/Non-causal relationship
How do I form a sentence of these patterns "X does not arise from Y", "X not due to Y", "X not because of Y", "There are other reasons for X". Since obviously I cannot simply slap ない onto から or ので to ...
8
votes
3answers
840 views
How do you ask for “the bill” at a restaurant?
This is probably a bit of a silly question, but what do you say in Japanese when you're asking for the bill in a restaurant? Or is it unusual to say anything at all?
When I was in Japan I could never ...
