表現. A set phrase used commonly in the Japanese language.
9
votes
1answer
145 views
書類や資料などの内容の引用について
My English isn't good, so I have always asked in Japanese, but Japanese isn't my mother tongue either. Sometimes, when I'm asking a question in Japanese, the question and the example are related to a ...
3
votes
0answers
54 views
Origin of expression ~てならない?
I cannot help but think about the verb なる when I hear or read the expression ~てならない.
Are the verb and the expression even related?
It feels to me as if it could be the modern shortened version ...
3
votes
1answer
118 views
What does 運を消費していく mean?
i'm asking myself what 運を消費していく means?
Context: My penpal won concert tickets and i congragulated him with おめでとうございます！ and he responded with ありがとうございます!!運を消費していく. Unfortunately i had not the time to ...
1
vote
1answer
90 views
How to answer to 精一杯頑張ってきます?
I was talking with my japanese penpal and he wrote to me 精一杯頑張ってきますよ! after I wrote him おはようございます！お仕事頑張ってきてね！ because he told me he was going to work. I don't know if there's an answer or not. In ...
1
vote
1answer
90 views
Is there any slang for 絞首刑?
In English it is quite common to use the expression "to get the chair" to refer to the death penalty. For example:
He committed such a terrible crime, I hope he gets the chair. *
The word 絞首刑, "...
5
votes
1answer
107 views
Does a bear sh*t in the woods? Rhetorical affirmations in Japanese. Is there any?
I could not find anything on this website nor with a (quick I admit) search on Google.
Does Japanese have any "yes phrase" (or more technically rhetorical affirmation) used to answer questions whose ...
3
votes
1answer
158 views
How to express “help someone with X”
I helped someone fix something, and I'd like to try and express that it was mostly the other person doing the work and I just provided assistance.
The best I can come up with is 「問題の解決に田中さんを手伝いました」...
0
votes
0answers
73 views
3
votes
1answer
150 views
Equivalent of “Yes sir/ma'am” for children
I have taught my kids to answer adults with "Yes sir/ma'am" as both a sign of respect, and as confirmation that they were actually listening.
I'm wondering if there's an equivalent in Japanese. My ...
1
vote
1answer
83 views
How would you express “A demands B” in japanese
How would you express "A demands B" in japanese.
In the sense that 'demands' is being used as a synonym of "absolutely requires". But using this expression instead of "requires" has a nuance. To me ...
7
votes
1answer
559 views
How do I respond to よろしくお願いします after being assigned a task at work?
My supervisor at work tells me よろしくお願いします after she gives me a task to do in the office. What is the appropriate way to respond? I've looked around on the internet but have been unsuccessful in ...
2
votes
2answers
150 views
Meaning of 芯を通す and 芯の通る
In this manga about boxing I found the following unrelated sentences:
1) もっと探れ… 伏黒【ふくろ】さんの拳。小さくても攻撃を未然に防ぐため… 芯を通してくる。
2) 芯の通ったパンチを打ってこなくなって… 後退を優先してる。
In the first the protagonist is thinking ...
2
votes
1answer
115 views
What is the difference between dono hito and donata?
I got to know that dono hito specifically asks about a person while donata is for who in general, so does taht imply to all living beings?
Are both used in formal conversations?(If yes, which is ...
3
votes
2answers
139 views
Is 「今朝」 or 「今日の朝」 more natural?
I've come across several forums online detailing that 「今朝」 sounds either very formal or old-fashioned in that it is not used too often nowadays. However, it is also the one I see most commonly used in ...
2
votes
2answers
145 views
How is「言わんとする」normally used?
What is the level of formality of this expression? Is this a set expression or does it follow after a more generic grammatical pattern? Example sentences would be appreciated.
0
votes
1answer
253 views
What's the difference between そうですね, そうですか, そうです
How are the following different:
そうです (thats right)
そうですか (i see; is that so)
そうですね (thats right)
also what's the difference between いいです and いいですね?
reference or sentence in context much ...
2
votes
2answers
74 views
Showing gratitude for omiyage yet to be completely finished (ごちそうさまです？）
Can I say ～をごちそうさまです if I want to show gratitude for edible omiyage I’ve received but have yet to finish?
For example, I received a box of cookies recently and want to say thank you as soon as ...
3
votes
1answer
54 views
Can 影響がある・する be used to express all the concepts of 'influencing', 'inspiring' and 'affecting'?
See these example sentences:
Xsan's beautiful pictures inspired me to start traveling.
Who influenced your painting technique the most?
What factors affected your decision to become an ...
3
votes
1answer
126 views
“続けた結果誕生した” Meaning
I can't understand very well this "続けた結果" found in the following description, from a Pokémon videogame.
1人の 科学者が 何年も 恐ろしい 遺伝子 研究を 続けた 結果 誕生した。
It is talking about a Pocket Monster, and its general ...
0
votes
1answer
89 views
Japanese phrase about risk
I heard in anime a phrase related to risk, like "all or nothing". It sounded like "icka backa" but I can't find the exact phrase.
2
votes
1answer
114 views
What is the logic of the expression “冗談じゃない”?
Literally, 冗談じゃない means "it is not a joke" but actually it seems that the meaning of this is "something unthinkable even for a joke"( japanese definition:冗談にもそんなことを言ったりするな。).
「道楽に働いているんだろうだって? 冗談じゃない....
9
votes
2answers
217 views
Discrepancy between Tae Kim's Guide and Tobira in regards to 思われる。
I'm just wondering if someone could help me with what seems to be a difference between Tae Kim's Guide and what I've read in Tobira. In grammar point 2 from chapter 4 in Tobira, it says that "考えられている ...
2
votes
0answers
50 views
Thank you speech for schools and city officials [closed]
I have to give speeches for a group of 5th grade students and their parents that thanks the schools and cities for hosting us and showing us around. since i am the only parent that somewhat knows ...
1
vote
1answer
120 views
1
vote
1answer
111 views
How to express “play on guitar”?
I wanted to say the following:
"I am trying to learn to play Mexican songs on the guitar."
I know how to express try to, but I am not sure about the rest. Perhaps
メキシカンな歌{うた}...
1
vote
1answer
98 views
Why is 「～といわず」 the correct expression in this sentence?
The following question is taken from a JLPT N1 grammar/expressions prep book:
彼女はよほど花が好きらしい。家の（ ）花でいっぱいだ。
１ 中といわず外といわず ２ 中といっても外といっても
３ 中はともかく外も ４ 中外もかまわず
In the book, no. 1 is ...
2
votes
1answer
78 views
Exact definition of 針千本 in the 指切り idiom
I'm trying to learn more about idioms and expressions, and I came across this (which is apparently said when making a [pinky] promise):
指切拳万{ゆびきりげんまん}、嘘ついたら針千本{はりせんぼん}呑ます
Casting the first part ...
0
votes
1answer
86 views
Indicating a subject and objective thoughts of inevitability
How do the Japanese show the nuance between the inevitable outcomes of actions based on their thoughts versus their findings?
After the Tsunami of 2011, Japanese Volcanologists predict an inevitable ...
0
votes
0answers
118 views
なんだけど Meaning and grammar patterns [duplicate]
I would like to know what (なんだけど / なんですが) means? I think these two forms are the same, but when I asked in class their meaning, I was told that they mean nothing, so I'm kinda confused.
For example, ...
3
votes
2answers
157 views
Why から is used instead of は/が?
I found several から quite confusing for me.
The context is about a boy and a girl, and she's trying to ask him out, but she eventually can't do so, and asks him to meet the next day:
Girl: あ…...
1
vote
1answer
127 views
Is 二人の顔はそっくりだ a possible way to say “Both of their faces look the same”?
This is my attempt at translating the sentence "Both of their faces look the same":
二人の顔はそっくりだ
Does it make sense or is it completely wrong?
6
votes
2answers
263 views
How to respond to ポイントカードが宜しいですか。
When I am paying for my goods at a supermarket or konbini, the cashier always asks me that question. On dictionaries, the meaning of 宜しい is "fine / good" and it made me confused, "What is good about ...
2
votes
0answers
133 views
What does 気が気ではなかった mean? [closed]
From:
その後も、その日一日、お嬢様に奇行が目立った。ずっと独り言を言っているし、突然叫び出す。私たちは気が気では無かったが、呼ばれた時にいつでも応えられるようにするだけで精一杯だ。
2
votes
2answers
116 views
腰の入ったすけべ連中が多いから
I have these lines from an old game, and wish to know what 腰の入った means. It is clear to me that it is some kind of fixed expression, because the parts do not make sense by themselves.
...
2
votes
2answers
117 views
How many is 数多の数?
Example from a 2017 website:
数多の数ある猫種、是非お気に入りの猫ちゃんを見つけて下さい。
Question: In what order of magnitude would you expect the number to be?
Or, since it probably depends on the context, what would the ...
0
votes
1answer
95 views
その通りで versus (X)その道理で: Does the latter ever make sense?
Context: I don't exactly remember how, but when I traveled in Japan three years ago, I somehow picked up this phrase: その通りです. I didn't speak Japanese then and I really still can't now, but the word 通り ...
2
votes
1answer
114 views
Question about the implications behind “私でよければ“
Does is contain any romantic implications? I’ve heard it can be used as a love confession or marriage proposal of some sort, but is that true? And is that a common phrase?
Thanks!
0
votes
1answer
92 views
…に間違い言わない - Meaning and grammar [closed]
I can't understand very well the meaning and the grammar in this sentence:
田中さんの言葉に間違い言わない！
Is possibile that the its meaning is something like "Tanaka-san is always right?"
2
votes
3answers
188 views
まったりとしてそれでいてしつこさがなく Pop culture phrase
I'm seeking help translating a phrase that appears in a video game, which seems to be a pop culture reference. My research on this implies it may originate from Oishinbo, but I was unable to confirm ...
2
votes
1answer
102 views
送ってくれた : Why is both “sending” and “giving” being used together here?
I encountered the sentence:
両親が私にはがきを送ってくれた。
I understand that:
送って translates to a verb meaning "to send", or I assume in this case "sending" due to the "te-form" being used.
I also understand ...
0
votes
1answer
306 views
What are different ways to express “around”?
I understand there are various ways to express the word "around" in Japanese under different contexts.
I'm not sure of all the words used in each context and I see many variations used, both casual/...
3
votes
1answer
185 views
What does 望むところだ mean?
I've seen the expression 望むところだ twice in manga (both times spoken by a very rough speaking male character). The context of the situations (the character who spoke was just threatened or warned in both ...
1
vote
2answers
133 views
Examples of words which cannot be directly translated into English and have potentially philosophical meanings [closed]
I was watching an interview by "That Japanese Guy Yuta" (a Japanese YouTuber) where the question was "What if everyone in Japan could speak English. What would be the impact?".
Most suggested they ...
2
votes
1answer
738 views
Is 「インターネットはカタツムリのように速い。」a strange expression?
If I complain to the Internet Service Provider and say a sarcasm as follows
インターネットはカタツムリのように速い。
Is it a strange expression? Must it be rephrased directly as follows?
インターネットはカタツムリのように遅い。
Is ...
2
votes
1answer
72 views
Help with strange sentence (華をふりまく, ～ような stacking)
Ran across a very, let's say "interesting" sentence in a translation I'm working on that I'm having trouble wrapping my mind around. Context is basically this: little sister is the most beautiful ...
2
votes
2answers
623 views
～ましょうか vs ～ませんか
I have been working on these types of sentences, but I am having trouble figuring out the difference between:
In this context it is an invitation to go eat.
[食]{た}べましょうか。
and
[食]{た}べませんか。
...
3
votes
1answer
185 views
Is「球が速い」a common expression?
I'm reading this interview with a voice actress, and this phrase came up pretty much out of context from the interviewer (in the sense that they weren't talking about baseball or a literal ball).
-...
3
votes
2answers
205 views
How can I say “I apologize if I sound presumptuous”?
Recently I've been talking on Twitter with a few people and at some point I wanted to say phrase that I have written in the title. I probably didn't express myself very well because the only think I ...
2
votes
1answer
72 views
もう meaning in “もう腹ペコだ”
I can not understand very well the meaning of もう in "もう腹ペコだ".
Looking online, the majority of the traslations say that "もう腹ペコだ" simply means "I'm starving/I'm very hungry".
So, my first ...
2
votes
1answer
243 views
Difference between「行ってきます」and 「行って帰ってくる」
On this page about Imabari dialect, it says the following:
笑い話によく登場する話としては「行ってこうわい」。今治では「行ってきます」という意味ですが、他の地域では「行って帰ってくる」という意味に取られます。「行ってこうわい」というからずっと待ってたのに来なかった、というのがオチです。
I am not too concerned ...
