Phrases with fixed words used as a single unit, many of which are idioms.
8
votes
3answers
307 views
Why is it お[腹]{なか}が[空]{す}いた but [腹]{はら}[減]{へ}った?
Is there any particular reason why the noun おなか goes with verb すく while the noun はら goes with the verb へる? Would it be weird if I use おなかへった or はらすいた?
While on the same topic, does the 'starving' ...
5
votes
1answer
115 views
ご無沙汰いたしました — OK for electronic communications?
In a recent comment exchange on ELU.SE, a Japanese man (my senior in years, and a "guest" in the forum whose questions I had answered regularly for some time, but not much lately as I have been ...
11
votes
1answer
239 views
Why “社会の窓” (shakai no mado)?
A few years ago I was told by a Japanese friend "社会の窓" (shakai no mado).
It was explained after some giggling that this is what is said to a man who has inadvertently left his fly open, and that it ...
5
votes
1answer
365 views
What is な-particle doing in `ってなわけで`?
I noticed that ってなわけで is commonly used as a substitute for というわけで in colloquial speeches, but what exactly is the purpose of the な-particle in that phrase? Does it make the context that the phrase ...
11
votes
3answers
775 views
What does よろしくおねがいします mean when departing?
When on business in Japan last year, a Japanese colleague said よろしくおねがいします to me as the group were leaving after dinner.
I'm aware of its usage in initial greetings, as is usually taught in ...
4
votes
2answers
137 views
Emphasis instead of negation in 「そんなバカなことはありません」
In this quote by Akihiro Miwa, 「そんな～ことはありません」 isn't used the way I'd expect it to be:
努力{どりょく}をしない人も[平等]{びょうどう}になどと、そんなバカなことはありません。
It's (extremely?) foolish to treat people who don't make an ...
7
votes
1answer
118 views
Usage and nuance of あまりに vs あまりにも
WWWJDIC lists both あまりに and あまりにも to mean "too much; excessively; too" but are they exactly the same in term of usage and nuance?
あまりに 《余りに》 (adv) (uk) too much; excessively; too
Ex: ...
7
votes
2answers
229 views
The role of と particle in 「二度としない」
What is the role of と particle in 「二度としない」? Is it quotative, adverbialisation, change of state or supposition?
Also, what extra nuances does it contribute to the expression compared to if も is used ...
5
votes
2answers
120 views
Why is there 丼 {どんぶり} in 丼勘定 {どんぶりかんじょう}?
How does 丼勘定 {どんぶりかんじょう} (sloppy accounting) related to 丼 {どんぶり} (bowl of rice with toppings)? I mean, why どんぶり of all foods and things? Was there special history for the origin of this set phrase?
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 ...
8
votes
1answer
290 views
「かしこまる」と言う自動詞について / About the verb “kashikomaru”
皆さんこんにちは、
日本語で質問がお聞きしてみたいのですが、言葉や文法を間違えたらお許しください。
では、「かしこまりました」とは誰かに命令や注文を頼まれた場合などの返事とすることもよくありますが、「かしこまる」と言う自動詞がこの表現以外で使われる場合はありますか？
"kashikomarimashita" is usually used as a response to somebody's ...
16
votes
1answer
848 views
Must do : ～なければならない vs ～なくてはいけない
What are the differences when using ～なければならない and ～なくてはいけない, or their colloquial contracted forms ～なきゃ and ～なくちゃ when saying "must do"?
For example, what is the difference in the nuance and usage of ...
3
votes
1answer
261 views
6
votes
1answer
153 views
Does もあれば have set phrases?
I came across a sentence using もあれば where there wasn't a conditional. あれば got translated as sometimes:
名詞から動詞が派生していることもあれば、その逆のこともある。
Sometimes a verb is derived from a noun and sometimes it is ...
10
votes
1answer
194 views
Contraction of particle の to ん before nouns in colloquial Japanese
I am familiar with contraction of の to ん before です (and variants で, だ, でした etc) but I noticed that の is also contracted before 家 in spoken set-phrases like あたしんち and おれんち.
Are there any other ...
9
votes
3answers
376 views
Is there a polite saying like “May I?”
Looking for a phrase that has the same meaning as "May I?" in English. One that would work in situations that would indicate I would like to try to solve a problem at hand, or receive control over ...
6
votes
2answers
153 views
What's the meaning of すます in 耳をすませば?
What's the meaning of すます in 耳をすませば?
How would you translate this?
12
votes
4answers
366 views
The significance of 前 {まえ} in Japanese language and culture
I noticed that the 前 is a handy kanji character in Japanese language. It is used in many words including but not limited to:
名前 {なまえ} : Given name
手前, お前 : You
当たり前 {あたりまえ} : Natural, ...
6
votes
1answer
145 views
Where's the missing い in ありがた迷惑【ありがた めいわく】?
One of the most useful turns of phrase in Japanese is ありがた迷惑【ありがた めいわく】, which is that of being helpful in a way that is not helpful. It can cover situations where one is being helpful 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 ...
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 ...
13
votes
4answers
649 views
How would one convey “get over it” in Japanese?
As a foreigner in Japan, one has to get used to the fact that some Japanese will compliment you on things that are too mundane to really deserve mention. Like the fact that you can use chopsticks, eat ...
12
votes
2answers
241 views
Usage of 「ごめんください」
In all the anime and j-drama I have watched all these years, as far as I can remember, the only scenario where the greeting 「ごめんください」 is used is when the characters are in front of an ajar or open ...
11
votes
1answer
264 views
What is that thing yelled in Japanese when starting something?
When starting some activity, I've heard something like 'Se..inou... ' (I'm not sure what are the specific words for this). The context for this word I'd think is pretty much the same as when saying ...
2
votes
2answers
267 views
Share your list of stock phrases / phrase templates
Do you keep a list of set phrases that you use often, or phrases that you'd use someday? I do. Here's mine, a list of phrases I've collected from work emails since three years ago.
Such a list, while ...
5
votes
3answers
286 views
Significance of ところ in set phrases ところで and ところが
In two conjunctions 「ところで」 and 「ところが」 that mean "by the way / incidentally" and "however / nevertheless" respectively, what is the significance of the word 「ところ」?
How does ところ + で give the nuance of ...
9
votes
2answers
5k views
When is it appropriate to use お疲れ様 (otsukaresama)?
I know the general meaning of using お疲れ様です／でした to express gratitude for some work, but I'm a bit fuzzy about appropriate times to use it.
I know it is a common saying when leaving for the day, and ...
11
votes
1answer
324 views
At work, when is it not ok to finish an email with どうぞよろしくお願いします?
Whenever I communicate with my Japanese coworkers, I always finish my emails with どうぞよろしくお願いします。I guess in the context of an email in English it could be akin to saying "Cheers" "Regards", so I unless ...
8
votes
3answers
314 views
What is the difference between {出来る限り} and {出来るだけ}?
EDICT gives almost similar translation for these two expressions:
出来る限り; できる限り 【できるかぎり】 (n) as ... as one can
できるだけ 《出来るだけ》 (exp) (uk) as much as one can; as much as possible; if at all ...
13
votes
3answers
2k views
What to say after someone dies
What is the proper response when someone tells you, for example, that their mother has died? Relatedly, what should you do to express your sympathy? Do you send a card? flowers? bake a casserole?
7
votes
2answers
195 views
What is the difference between 「はじめてのX」 {hajimete no X} and 「はじめのX」 {hajime no X}?
There is a song with title {hajimete no asa} and another song with title {hajime no hi}. There is also a manga title {hajimete no aku}, and not to forget the popular boxing manga {hajime no ippo}.
So ...
