Questions regarding endings or sounds which can be appended to the end of a word and change its meaning or function in some way.
34
votes
5answers
3k views
Differences among -たら、なら、-んだったら、-えば, etc.
Japanese language has a lot of patterns for "if" clauses. What are the differences among the following patterns and how do we choose to use one over the others?:
行ったら
行くなら
行けば
行くんだったら
行くのなら
行くとしたら
...
15
votes
2answers
494 views
What is the difference between ~げ and ~そう
How do these two differ, for example:
寂しそう vs 寂しげ
楽しそう vs 楽しげ
言いたそう vs 言いたげ
大人げ vs 大人っぽい（...？ Not sure if this one works.)
7
votes
1answer
351 views
Is ～がる suffix limited to specific adjectives only?
I noticed that there are some adjectives that have ～がる suffix to make them into verbs. Some examples from WWWJDIC:
ほしがる
こわがる
いたがる
くるしがる
さびしがる
うれしがる
Apparently ～たい form also can take ...
5
votes
3answers
261 views
Any rules for a suffix on english words?
(Note: I'm part of the "I know bits and pieces of Japanese from watching anime" group, so I lack an in-depth knowledge of Japanese)
As I'm hearing Japanese occasionally there will be an English word ...
17
votes
3answers
729 views
What does -komu (ー込む) at the end of a word mean?
There are loads of word in Japanese which end in 込む, like 吸い込む, 読み込む, 入り込む, 打ち込む, 売り込む, 送り込む, 押し込む. How does adding ー込む change the meaning? What is the meaning that links all these words?
5
votes
2answers
653 views
List of Japanese counter words [closed]
What are the essential Japanese counter words?
For example -dai for machines, -mai for papers and stuff like that.
What else to expect/know?
Thank you
11
votes
2answers
235 views
What is ~げに suffix actually?
Today, while looking up random words in WWWJDIC, I stumbled upon an example sentence for the word いとしい as below:
少女は人形をいとしげに抱き締めた。 The girl squeezed her doll affectionately.
The sentence uses ...
5
votes
2answers
246 views
What is 方 used for (when attached to a た-verb)?
I have the following sentence:
早く行った方が良かったでしょう。
Here, if we take it apart we shall have:
早く(Adverb) 行った(Verb, Past tense) 方(?) が(GA, Subject particle) 良かったでしょう(Verb, Past tense) 。
What is ...
