Questions tagged [nuances]
ニュアンス. Subtle differences between two seemingly interchangeable expressions.
30
questions with no upvoted or accepted answers
5
votes
0answers
123 views
Difference between 「～てからでないと」and 「～ないことには」
Both of these grammar can be translated to English as
A～てからでないと/～ないことにはB = Unless A is done, cannot do B
From what I can find,
～てからでないと stresses the order or sequence of actions, that until A is ...
4
votes
0answers
203 views
来た2日後に vs 来て2日後に vs 来てから2日後に
日本に来た2日後にこの本を買った。
日本に来て2日後にこの本を買った。
日本に来てから2日後にこの本を買った。
I created these sentences from similar-looking examples I found on Google. Are they all grammatical? These all mean "I bought this book two ...
4
votes
1answer
144 views
What is the nuance between 内に and 間に in these sentences?
This will be a long question.
I referred to the other questions that were already answered,
Difference between 前に and うちに
When describing time span, are 間 {あいだ} and 内 {うち} interchangeable?
What'...
4
votes
1answer
154 views
ものだ expressing ambiguous emotions/concern?
This article lists many examples of using ものだ to articulate "deep concern." The author of this article explains that when you connect words which indicate desire like …たい and 欲しい with ものだ, your speech ...
4
votes
1answer
1k views
How to say “Should I [do something]?”
There was a similar question here, but it was more along the lines of "Should we do something together?", and I'm not sure it fits my case. For example, how do you say "Should I bring something to the ...
3
votes
0answers
92 views
Expressing “huh” tag?
How would you express this type of tag?
For example:
Lovers, huh? That’s what you think they are?
Would って work?
恋人って？そうと思う？
3
votes
0answers
70 views
What is the difference between 端, 縁 and 先っちょ?
I struggle to visualise the differences between 端, 縁 and 先っちょ after
reading many examples and definitions online:
The approximate english translations are very similar:
端: end, tip, point margin (...
3
votes
0answers
82 views
Differences between “even if”/“no matter (how much)” structures: としても, ところで, ~ようが/と
I've encountered several forms that mean both "even if" (might be used for example with たとえ), and "no matter (how much)" (used with どんなに, いくら, etc).
~ても
~としても
~ところで
~ようが/と
The only difference ...
3
votes
0answers
103 views
Usage of ところ to represent time with に and で
I am trying to understand the grammar of using ところ with に and で when using ところ to represent the time that actions have happened.
These are (ungrammatical) sentences I made up:
1) ...
3
votes
0answers
108 views
Nuance differences between the kanji for ぐあい, 具合 and 工合
Usually I read ぐあい as 具合 but recently I was reading a some Japanese literature and the 工合 version of the kanji was used.
For reference the literature:
脳味噌の中心にヒリヒリと焦げ付く位である。それでいて、あとから考えるとその興味の焦点と、...
3
votes
1answer
152 views
食べる時間＿＿ない: Is さえ/も/ででも possible in this context? (Please read further)
*Please be advised that the following is from a practice book, with minimal altering. I sincerely hope this sort of question does not disagree with anyone here.
The question in the book:
...
3
votes
1answer
116 views
引き起こすｖｓ起こす? Meaning difference?
For the meaning of "to cause" what are the differences if any? Or are they interchangeable?
3
votes
1answer
251 views
について vs に関して - the internet tells me they only change in formality, but Imabi disagrees?
について vs に関して
1a. 今から韓国に関して話してください。X
1b. 今から韓国について話してください。〇
Why is Imabi saying that 1a is wrong? Source
All sources are saying that について and に関して have the same function, with the latter being more ...
2
votes
0answers
94 views
Usage of 上で in this sentence
There is a question in the Kanzen Master N2 Textbook:
この薬は、_____上でお飲みください
a. 食事が終わった
b. 医師が説明した
c. 説明書をよく読んだ
According to the answer sheet, the answer is c.
But I don't understand ...
2
votes
0answers
56 views
What is the difference between ある日 and ある日のこと?
For example:
ある日のこと、たろうは、また海へ出て。
As I understand ある日 means "one day". What does the のこと do to it?
Possibly related? What is the こと in sentences such as あなたのことが好きだ? and What is “koto” used for?
2
votes
0answers
117 views
Clarification of objects using questions
When I want to ask whether or not something I have is what I think it is, I can't figure out exactly what to say.
これは梅じゃないの? (Rising intonation)
Is this not a plum?
これは梅じゃないね。(Falling ...
2
votes
1answer
197 views
Examples of when to use ではありません、ではない、じゃありません、 じゃない
I'm looking for example situations of when to use each level of politeness. I know they all are the same but when situational wise to use each one is where I am having confusion. Thank you.
2
votes
1answer
307 views
difference between らしい んだって とか ということだ。
What is the difference between various ways of saying ”I have heard that”.
らしい んだって とか（言っていた） ということだ。
A: 田中さん、今日は休み？ B: さっき電話があって、熱があるとか。大丈夫でしょうか？
義理の兄と情を通じていたということだ。 I have heard that/It's said ...
2
votes
1answer
457 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 ...
1
vote
0answers
77 views
Multiple words with same definition
I am seeing pairs of words with similar meanings (where one of the words has a single kanji and the other has two kanji).
Examples include:
豊か、豊富
保つ、保存する
防ぐ、予防する
Do these pair of words share the ...
1
vote
0answers
111 views
なんてね interpretation
So we have the following situation. There is persons A, B and C. Long ago A and B were friends when according to A B suddenly betrayed her. Now A has been using C for a long while pretending to be a ...
1
vote
0answers
61 views
Difference between 防衛相, 防衛大臣 and 国防相
Reading a NHK NEWS article, I stumbled over three different expressions for minister of defence. Is there a difference between 防衛相, 防衛大臣 and 国防相?
1
vote
0answers
67 views
Describing an imminent event
I have been trying to determine the differences between :
迫る
迫り来る
差し迫る
From what I gather it is based on the context, but I have been unsuccessful in seeing the different nuances in usage.
1
vote
0answers
75 views
Can “という” be considered as an optional speech choice in some situations?
I've noticed that some people can use という very liberally and in TV programs, they cut out most of the という in their Japanese subtitling (in offical TV progs, not fan subs), so I assume the only という ...
0
votes
0answers
62 views
What is the difference in connotation between できれば and できたら?
Is できれば more polite? Is one more often used when describing favors?
Also could you please provide some examples?
0
votes
0answers
40 views
〜たことある/ない vs 〜たことあった/なかった
I see these as example sentences on sites, and I cant figure out the nuances between both. When would you use the past form of this phrase?
0
votes
0answers
64 views
How should I read constructions like “NPのそのNP”?
I encounter these sometimes, but I have a hard time understanding what they're trying to say. Just wandering if someone could explain what it means when you have a possessive noun construction behind ...
0
votes
0answers
99 views
Do I need to reply in this situation?
(In a game) I am a newbie(Lv29), and I saw B(lv100+) having filled his room's wall with numerous super-super-rare(SSR) posters, which can be only be earned with enormous effort. (I don't have any)
I ...
0
votes
0answers
73 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
...
0
votes
1answer
99 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。」
