ニュアンス. Subtle differences between two seemingly interchangeable expressions.
4
votes
1answer
69 views
Difference between 出産 and お産
Based on the dictionary definitions listed on WWWJDIC (which I cannot link due to the design of the website), the two terms have similar definitions.
I am wondering if there is any difference between ...
2
votes
2answers
136 views
Does 同棲 always have a romantic connotation?
Take for instance the noun,
同棲組 which roughly means a group living together.
Does 同棲 always have a romantic connotation, or is it possible to use it in a non-romantic sense. For example, to ...
8
votes
3answers
179 views
番組のタイトルに「踊る」、どういう意味を表していますか？
踊る大捜査線
踊る！さんま御殿
この２つのテレビ番組だけかもしれませんが、タイトルの最初の言葉として、また、意味的に一見つながっていないようにも思ってしまうこの「踊る」は何を表していますか？そのまま踊ることではないことは間違いなさそうです。
私の推測としては、さんまの番組の場合、賑やかさを意味していると思います。しかし、踊る大捜査線の場合は違う気がします。...
2
votes
1answer
157 views
て form at end of phrase but not being used for requests
Sometimes I come upon phrases like this:
俺旅芸人の一座にいたんだけどそれがあの盗賊どもに襲われちゃってさー
Where the て form is used at the end but not for a request. It doesn't seem to be one of those cases where the order of ...
7
votes
1answer
274 views
Difference between 仮、一時的、臨時 when expressing “temporary”
All of these words express "temporary" but I can't understand the difference and in which contexts each are used.
For example:
仮の包帯 A temporary bandage
一時的な住宅 A temporary residence
臨時列車 ...
0
votes
0answers
44 views
Use of の in colored objects [duplicate]
It seems to me that some colors need の when describing an item, yet others don't.
For example:
黄色のくつ (Yellow shoes; has の)
赤いくつ (Red shoes; no の)
オレンジ色のくつ (Orange shoes; has の)
青いくつ (Blue shoes; no ...
0
votes
1answer
105 views
Can anyone help identify this character 僮?
I found this character on a website and the only associated meaning was "child, servant." Can anyone elaborate on when it may be used and why?
6
votes
2answers
538 views
Issues translating “get an ultrasound.”
Talking about pregnancy with my Japanese friends has been a challenge because I have struggled to translate some English concepts.
Ultrasound is one of those words.
超音波｛ちょうおんぱ｝ is the word I find ...
8
votes
2answers
180 views
Difference between 自己 and 自分
I am wondering if there are any differences in the usage of 自己 and 自分, or are they simply synonyms?
It seems that the two are interchangeable with nouns stemming from them.
I.e, 非自己 and 非自分 also ...
2
votes
2answers
77 views
「希望」の使い方・意味、類似表現
can anyone explain how do i use kibou in a sentence.
I wrote this sentence in my assignment.
私は卒業したあと、やりたいと思う仕事を見つける事を希望しています。
My teacher corrected this sentence as
私は卒業したあと、やりたいと思う仕事を見つけたい。
I ...
1
vote
2answers
87 views
Meaning of お世話になる vis a vis place of work or place where someone is being trained
I am aware of the usual meanings of the お世話 in reference to someone helping, taking care of someone. But recently I ran into sentences where it was used to describe a place where someone is being ...
1
vote
1answer
51 views
What is the difference between 織機(しょっき) and 機 (はた)?
Does 織機 mean the device, while 機 means the concept?
Or maybe one of them is more formal than the other?
5
votes
1answer
83 views
被害 vs 害; 被害者 vs 害者
I was reading NHK NEWS WEB EASY and came across the word "被害". When I encounter a new word, I try to break it down and understand each part.
And then it looked to me like 被害 and 害 have the same ...
4
votes
2answers
114 views
Difference between 今晩 and 今夜
夜 - night
晩 - counter for nights
Is there a difference in time reference, i.e., is 今晩 earlier/later than 今夜?
Is there a difference in style, i.e., is one more reserved than the other?
If so, which ...
0
votes
1answer
68 views
Is there a contradiction in these sentences?
Context: after being defensive for the whole match, a boxer finally decides to fight with all his power out of respect for his opponent. These are his thoughts:
選手生命を捧げているキミにとってボクシングの存在 ...
3
votes
1answer
71 views
use of しゃれ vs 冗談
I'm studding for the JLPT and found a phrase よくしゃれを言う人。After I looked up the definition of しゃれ I assumed the phrase meant "jokester". But what is the difference between しゃれ and 冗談？
I kind of got the ...
2
votes
1answer
72 views
Kanzen Master N1 Question Help - ほどのことではない vs ほどには当たらない
So I'm working my way through the Kanzen Master N1 book, having used it for all the other levels and, generally, it's a great textbook. It's one flaw is that it never has any explanations for the test ...
3
votes
1answer
132 views
What does だからここでもただ先生と書くだけで本名は打ち明けない mean exactly?
だからここでもただ先生と書くだけで本名は打ち明けない。
From my own comprehension, it literally means ...
That's why, even here, I only write sensei. His real name is not revealed/confided.
Have I interpreted it correctly?
2
votes
1answer
48 views
“あの星があなたで” and “あの星はあなただ”, between those two, what's the difference?
Both have the same meaning: "That star is you."
But what makes them different? If it's the nuance, what exactly is it?
Context:
It's from a song's lyrics, the first one get sang first, whilst the ...
4
votes
1answer
124 views
それで, それと, それから, あと(は), and そのほかに: The difference
I'm doing a practice book that tends to oversimplify things for the sake of... simplicity. In one of the questions, the following sentence is given:
柿をください。それと、イチゴも。＿＿、ドリアンも。
The provided two ...
8
votes
1answer
203 views
What does よ bring in 「〜ないでよね」？
I sometimes hear or read sentences such as:
行かないでよね！
聞かないでよね！
I get 「行かないでね！」and 「行かないでよ！」 but I wonder what nuance is added when both of them are used like in these examples.
I have the feeling ...
2
votes
1answer
73 views
The Japanese term for “synonym discussion”?
In English, when I want to know the subtle differences in meaning between similar words I consult a thesaurus's synonym discussion. To give an example of this, see halfway down Merriam-Webster's ...
4
votes
1answer
117 views
What is the difference between するはずだった andしたはずだった
I have confusion with the past tense of verb combined with the past tense of はず したはずだった
From what I understand:
するはず - Supposed to do verb at some point in the future (don't know
outcome yet)
したはず -...
6
votes
1answer
102 views
What is the difference between きつい and 辛い（つらい）?
They both have the same meaning of "hard, difficult, tough"
Can someone please explain the difference and give examples of when both are interchangeable and when it is not?
For example:
きつい仕事 or ...
2
votes
1answer
112 views
Difference between からして and からすれば
今のロンドンの成長率 _______ 、この先の二十年で彼の資産価値は十倍以上にふくらむだろう。
a) からこそ
b) からには
c) からして
d) からすれば
からすれば is the proper answer. According to a post I have found it seems to be used when judgment is based on ...
2
votes
1answer
55 views
About って in the following sentences
って has many meanings in spoken Japanese. Although I have looked it up in the dictionary, I am still confused about it. Please tell me the following usage.
①いいかげんに早く寝なさいだって(please tell me the ...
2
votes
1answer
112 views
Which is the most common way to say “awkward”; 違和感, 気詰まり, or 気まずい?
Which is the most common way to say "awkward"; [違和感]{いわかん}, [気詰]{きづ}まり, or [気]{き}まずい?
Or if neither of the three, what word can I use?
For example, being the only one eating in the office is awkward ...
3
votes
1answer
103 views
Meaning of いざ出陣?
I'm reading a book titled ダンジョンに出会いを求めるのは間違っているだろうか, and I came across this sentence:
ギルドに名前を登録していざ出陣。
on the first page. I'm having trouble understanding the いざ出陣. I have a feeling that it's ...
1
vote
1answer
84 views
What do you treat as an animate and inanimate object when counting?
In Japanese animate and inanimate objects are treated differently.
For people:
the verb exist いる is used
the generic counter (一{ひと}つ, 二{ふた}つ, 三{みっ}つ, ...) cannot be used
the specific counter (一{ひと}人{...
2
votes
3answers
149 views
What is the difference between 「もらいませんか」 and 「もらいましょうか」? [duplicate]
I came across this fill-in-the-blanks question in a reviewer:
にもつ、＿＿＿＿＿ か。
The choices are もらいません or もらいましょう.
My current understanding is that もらいませんか is of the form V-ませんか which translates to "...
1
vote
1answer
80 views
「ヘト」という意味はなんですか。 [duplicate]
I tried looking up へと in the sentence スカイテラスへと続く廊下。but that didn’t yield much results towards my comprehension on the matter.
I know the sentence means something like “The corridor lead to the sky ...
4
votes
2answers
116 views
「素早い」と「早い」ってどう違いますか？
ビジュアルノベルを読んでいたら、次の文が出てきました。
少女は素早く辺りを見回し、護りの構えをとる。
The girl quickly takes a look around and assumes a defensive stance.
質問: どうしてこの場合「素早い」が選ばれているのですか。「早い」でもいいのでしょうか。
＊このポストは僕が初めて日本語だけで書いたものですので、...
1
vote
1answer
89 views
What is the difference between「働かせる」and 「使う」?
What is the difference between the two sentences?
「その特のなぞを解くに、自分の頭を働かせた。」
「その特のなぞを解くに、自分の頭を使った。」
6
votes
2answers
105 views
Nが好き vs Vのが好き what form should be used?
Some nouns can be converted to verbs with する
I'm wondering which form should be used in cases like that?
Or is it same as in English and can be easily swapped?
旅行するのが好きです
旅行が好きです
Also is ...
3
votes
1answer
82 views
「〜すぎる」と「〜まくる」はどう違いますか。
question: Is there a difference in feeling for the words? Like すぎる feels more negative with an emphasis on disagreement with the action taken, while まくる is more about the amount?
Examples I came ...
3
votes
1answer
51 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 ...
7
votes
1answer
187 views
Why isn't 笑う usually used with に particle?
From what I understand, there are two types of intransitive verbs (might be wrong)
The intransitive verb can act with a direct object or direction with the particle に
私は学校に行きます。
私は友達に会います。
...
1
vote
1answer
78 views
What is the use case difference between 去る and 残す?
In the process of learning certain kanji, I found that 去る and 残す both translate to the English word "leave."
I know that 出る is used for the common "leave a place"/"exit" usage, like, 「五分前家を出ていました」. I ...
1
vote
1answer
109 views
不自然な文章を直してくれませんか？
次の文は間違っていないが、不自然な文である。なぜ不自然かを説明してください。後は、文が自然になりうるコンテキストを考えてくれませんか？
先生がインフルエンザをうつしてくれたので、学校を休まなければならなかった。
2
votes
1answer
63 views
闘わずして勝つ vs. 闘わずに勝つ
The following is said immediately after the protagonist wins without having to fight, as he previously stated he would:
闘わずして勝つってな
I said I'll win without fighting.
I would have expected the ...
2
votes
0answers
48 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 ...
0
votes
0answers
47 views
「僅か」と「短い」は違いがありますか。
I was wondering if there is a difference in usage between 僅か and 短い?
I don’t mean the obvious difference of 僅か being a 名詞 and 短い being an イ形容詞, but more usage-wise in situations like:
短い時間
and
...
2
votes
2answers
100 views
To express that I ordered food for take-out, do I use 「持ち帰り食べ物」 or just 「持ち帰り」?
The sentence I formed is 「持ち帰り食べ物用を買うしました。」
My intended meaning is, "I ordered food for take-out".
I'm not sure whether the construction is grammatically correct or if it's redundant.
I'd like to ...
1
vote
2answers
126 views
1
vote
1answer
50 views
Difference between 木の皮 and 樹皮?
I think this may simply be a difference between written and spoken Japanese. But I've noticed that 木の皮 kinokawa is used regularly to mean "tree bark," while 樹皮 jyuhi appears to be more accurate but ...
6
votes
3answers
261 views
When to use ええ and はい?
I am a beginner to the Japanese language, and I understand that ええ and はい mean the same thing, yes. What I want to know is when to specifically use ええ and はい.
1
vote
1answer
89 views
ズボン pronunciation variation & explanation for
I've heard it pronounced both low_high and high_low. Can anyone explain the meaning/reason behind the variation? (ie. difference in nuance, formal/casual, regional dialect, etc.) Ideally, I'd like to ...
2
votes
2answers
123 views
How does one say “toy airplane” in Japanese?
「飛行機のおもちゃ」と「おもちゃの飛行機」のどっちが正しい日本語？どっちも正しいんであれば、それぞれの使い方を説明してください。
伝えたいのはプラや木で出来ているおもちゃのことです。よろしくお願いします。
1
vote
2answers
81 views
3
votes
2answers
90 views
What's the difference between 工事 and 建設?
What's the difference between 工事 and 建設, especially in the context of 工事中 and 建設中?
