Any question that does not deal specifically with grammar or pronunciation. Includes questions about prefixes, suffixes, compound words, loanwords, dialectal differences, pragmatic usage, etc. In other words, phenomena that occurs at the level of the word.
7
votes
2answers
253 views
Earnest and serious: when should each be used?
I've noticed there's a lot of overlap between the following words meaning "earnest" or "serious" when talking about a person:
まじ
真面目{まじめ}
真剣{しんけん}
本気{ほんき}
正気{しょうき}: (This word really means "sane" I ...
8
votes
2answers
274 views
“Should” in Japanese
The word "should" in English has these uses when not used as a question:
To express the expectation of the speaker (Probabilistic reasoning).
The train should arrive in 10 minutes.
To express a ...
-2
votes
1answer
438 views
What does “jukai” mean? [closed]
Does anyone know what "jukai" means? Does it exist in the Japanese language? Some said it means 'birth or emergence'. Some said it is not "jukai" but maybe "jetai" 'fertilization, conception ...
6
votes
1answer
179 views
What does 意外と mean?
I heard the expression [意]{い}[外]{がい}といい in a video. I know that 意外に expresses something you didn't expect:
意外においしいよ。
It's delicous! (and I didn't expect that)
Why did I hear 意外と instead of ...
3
votes
2answers
136 views
How does 話{はなし}が噛{か}み合{あ}わない work?
I saw this phrase discussed on esaura.cc
話が噛み合わない
'There's a gap in their conversation.'
'They can't meet on common ground.'
'They have been at odds with each other.'
'They have not been ...
19
votes
4answers
965 views
Are there words so bad that they aren't allowed on television?
Warning: We're all adults here, but just in case, this question may contain words, in both Japanese and English, that some may not like to read.
A long time ago, when I was working with a translator, ...
2
votes
1answer
111 views
のちほどスタッフは彼女の元を去りました。 Could someone explain how 元を去りました。works here?
のちほどスタッフは彼女の元を去りました。
This was written on screen at the end of a video skit about a girl at a 女子会 at a restaurant.
元を去りました means the staff left her alone?
If anyone could translate this sentence, I ...
9
votes
1answer
316 views
天気 vs. 天候, what's the real difference?
What's the real difference between 天気 and 天候? In at least one of my dictionaries, 天候 just redirects to 天気.
I've always thought (read: "felt") that 天候 is the general "concept" of weather, or even ...
10
votes
2answers
571 views
寝る vs. 眠る, what's the real difference?
What's the real, definite difference between 寝【ね】る and 眠【ねむ】る?
I know they both mean "sleep", but also that each carries some additional (sometimes, figurative) meanings.
Where do the meanings ...
5
votes
1answer
187 views
Usage of まるで with 見ているようだった.
その翼はとても滑らかに動くため、まるでコンピュータ・グラフィックスを見ているようだった。
Its wings were moving so smoothly that it almost looked like CGI.
or would a more accurate translation be:
Its wings were moving so smoothly ...
8
votes
2answers
200 views
what's the difference between 余地 and よゆう?
I have been informed that よゆう is to do with temporal or physical room, while 余地 has to do with emotional room, but I might have misunderstood the explanation.
1
vote
1answer
155 views
“一目ぼれから長持ちする関係は望めません。” この表現のニュアンスを説明して頂けませんか？
一目ぼれから長持ちする関係は望めません。
Falling in love at first sight won't bring you a lasting relationship.
I found this sentence and translation without any other context, and
have a few questions about ...
5
votes
1answer
171 views
Is 「喧嘩」 a verbal fight or a physical fight?
Taking 2 sentences from WWWJDIC as examples:
見てごらん。２人の男の子がけんかしている。
議論は最後に喧嘩になった。
I was wondering is it true that the 「喧嘩」 in the sentences above may be interpreted both ways (i.e. it may ...
2
votes
1answer
156 views
ほんの時々私の中で顔を出し、しばらくすると消えてしまうもの。Are there any other options to replace the で here?
ほんの時々私の中で顔を出し、しばらくすると消えてしまうもの。
My attempt at translation: "Every once in a while my inner feelings show themselves, only to disappear again."
The above was taken from the following dialogue:
...
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
3
votes
1answer
96 views
Different between 可決 and 許可？
I want to know the different between 可決 and 許可.
I search into dictionary and the meaning is quite the same whose meaning are approval or permission.
So, what different? and how to use it ...
4
votes
1answer
81 views
The difference between 「人文科学」 and 「社会科学」
I want to know the different between these two words.
The meaning is the same which is social science.
So, what is the difference?
Edit: Sorry for confusing question. I mean the different usage.
8
votes
1answer
102 views
Does 「鳴く」 give any nuances about the sound being made?
When we say "birds singing", there is a positive connotation.
When we say "birds crowing", there is a negative connotation.
"The birds are making some sound" seems to be objective, and thus neutral.
...
7
votes
1answer
180 views
How different is 冷やかす from 冷やす? And 散らかす from 散らす?
I've long known 冷やす as the transitive counterpart of 冷える. But thanks to one question here, I've realized that there is another version with an extra syllable in it: 冷やかす. Although 冷やかす seems to have ...
3
votes
2answers
275 views
What is the とも in this sentence? 日本人は英語を学ばずとも暮らせる環境に居ます。
日本人は英語を学ばずとも暮らせる環境に居ます。
Japanese people are in an environment where they can live without having to learn english.
Is the とも in this sentence one word or is it two words: と and も ?
I guess it is one ...
0
votes
1answer
220 views
“訳分からない” various uses of 訳
Here are a few examples of 訳 that I am having trouble with:
僕は決して農業が嫌いな訳じゃない。
Boku wa kesshite nōgyō ga kiraina wake janai.
By no means do I dislike farming. (Lit: The reason is not that I dislike ...
10
votes
1answer
151 views
Is 花見 “cherry blossom” viewing only?
Hi all I was wondering is there such a thing that 花見/お花見 must be specifically referring to "cherry blossom" viewing.
Or is it true that 花見 is "flower viewing" in general ?
6
votes
2answers
208 views
小悪魔【こあくま】: “Little devil”… or real devil?
Hearing the word 小悪魔 used here and there, I had always foolishly assumed that the addition of that '小' in front, made it a much more harmless, playful, version of the real thing. And consequently, ...
10
votes
3answers
310 views
0
votes
1answer
181 views
Do all the meanings of 掛ける and 掛かる tally?
WWWJDIC does not tally their meanings of 掛ける and 掛かる so i find it hard for a beginner like me to properly learn these 2 words..
Do all these meanings of 掛ける and 掛かる tally: (is this list correct):
...
4
votes
1answer
128 views
虚; 空; 洞 【うろ】and differences
虚; 空; 洞 【うろ】: hollow; cavity; hole
pronunciation is only one but why are there three kanji words??what are they differences??
5
votes
2answers
176 views
2
votes
1answer
82 views
Can 首 be used to refer to students who have just graduated and not yet found a job?
The example sentences in WWWJDIC all use the word "首" in the "fire" sense (e.g. 彼を首にしてやる) hence I was wondering is the term only used to refer to "firing" someone?
Or is it also used to refer to ...
2
votes
2answers
129 views
How do we use the word 短~ in a sentence?
JLPT 2 has this word 短~ (たん)
EDICT lists it as fault; defect; weak point; or minor (music), however there isn't any examples at all on the usage of the word.
Does anyone have some example usages ...
1
vote
1answer
129 views
What is the difference between ホワイトシャツ・ワイシャツ and 背広? [closed]
How do we decide whether to call a shirt a ワイシャツ or 背広 ? What's the difference in nuance between the two terms?
Side question: EDICT
claims that a ホワイトシャツ is a white business shirt but even if it's a ...
7
votes
3answers
226 views
Does うるさい have a “negative” connotation?
Is it true that when someone uses the word うるさい, it means that there is a feeling of "discontent" ?
Like for example, we will take this sentence: "It will be noisy in the factory"
"It will be ...
2
votes
1answer
226 views
What is a シドギャ? ギャ doesn't mean girl, does it?
At first I thought ギャ meant girl, but after doing some googling, that doesn't appear to be what it is. What is シドギャ?
シドギャ is related to the band シド, the most popular Visual Kei rock band in Japan for ...
8
votes
1answer
147 views
Difference between 向け and 向き
My boss just corrected one of my documents from 企業向きな開発 to 企業向けの開発.
Apart from the の/な problem that I always get wrong, is there a problem with 向き ?
I got it from my textbook that says 子供向きです
Could ...
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 ...
7
votes
1answer
157 views
When and how to use 来る 【きたる】
Of course 来る is most often read as くる. However, it can also be read as きたる. Is きたる mostly an archaic reading? Does it carry a different, or any additional meanings?? When are "appropriate" ...
7
votes
2answers
134 views
How to use 対応 correctly
I see 対応（たいおう） quite often, but I can't seem to grasp exactly what this word means or how to use it properly.
Checking a dictionary I get about 5 different definitions, all quite different from one ...
4
votes
1answer
116 views
Fun with synonyms - “evaluation/investigation/etc.”
Explain the differences in the following vocabulary. They all essentially mean some form of investigation, inspection, etc. Please don't just write the definitions; I'm lost on how they differ, when ...
4
votes
1answer
177 views
食べやすい and 食べにくい
I'm wondering what does 食べやすい mean exactly? "easily-eaten" doesn't seem to make any sense at all.. Does 食べやすい mean that something is soft and easy to swallow, or does it mean that something tastes ...
5
votes
1answer
273 views
寂しい can mean “pathetic”?
Is it true that 寂しい can be used to describe someone as "pathetic" ? (pathetic in the sense like someone is cheating in a game: pathetic. and like someone is robbing a grandma: pathetic. and like ...
3
votes
2answers
127 views
Are there names like ワンコイン for the other coins?
So ワンコイン refers to a 500円 coin, but is there other names for the other coins?
Also in conversation does ワンコイン refer to any specific currency or only to 500 yen (as in the sense of being a default).
13
votes
3answers
612 views
Historical differences between colors that are i-adjectives and those that are simply nouns
EDIT: Started a bounty with hope of getting more definitive and elaborate answers, e.g. timeline of when color names started being used in Japan.
In Japanese language, there are colors that are ...
5
votes
2answers
152 views
I've seen 達人and 名人used to indicate master or expert. What's the difference?
I'm not familiar with either word, but just looking at the characters, 達人 would seem to indicate 'accomplished' (ie an accomplished pianist). While 名人 seems more like 'renowned'. Is that a valid ...
13
votes
1answer
275 views
まち: what's the difference between 町 and 街?
My impression is that 町 tends to be used for smaller cities and 街 tends to be used for larger ones. Is this correct? If not, what is the difference?
5
votes
1answer
111 views
just by the phrase 試験を受ける, can we imply anything on the 試験?
since 受ける is the same verb associated with "sustaining damage", "incurring losses", "suffering injury", all 3 seemingly have negative nuances, I'm wondering when we use it (受ける) with 試験, does 受ける ...
8
votes
1answer
214 views
What is the exact definition of 泥棒?
In English:
a burglar is usually associated with someone who breaks into a house (victim is usually unaware during the burglary)
a robber is usually associated with that person who uses weapons and ...
8
votes
3answers
188 views
do people actually, if ever, say みょうにち ?
Hi all I've heard people using あした (the common one) and あす (rather uncommon) to refer to "tomorrow".
I was wondering does anyone actually uses the reading みょうにち ?
11
votes
4answers
422 views
What does 男前 mean when used to describe a woman?
I just encountered the phrase 「男前な女」in the book I am reading. When I looked up 男前, it was defined as "good looks in a man," much like "handsome" in English. What does it mean when used to describe a ...
8
votes
3answers
836 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 ...
10
votes
4answers
277 views
Greeting for meeting a friend by chance
How can I greet a person in a manner similar to "Nice to find you in here!" (— meaning meeting a friend by chance somewhere)?
