Questions tagged [parsing]
構文解析. Questions about understanding how a phrase / sentence / utterance is put together, what its components are.
190
questions
3
votes
2answers
124 views
To what extent can a noun be used as an adverb?
彼女の細い指先を、舌がぬらりと踊ると、明かりに反射した光がうっすらと手に貼りついた。
Once her tongue slid around in a dance, she gently stuck the the "明かりに反射した光" (spit?) onto her hand using her slim fingers.
(normally there isn't ...
4
votes
3answers
225 views
Meaning of 日本をはじめ and the mystery of the missing particle
日本をはじめ世界中の登山家の間で人気が高いアルプス山脈の最高峰モンブランで、...
Where I normally put my translation attempt
I understand this bit:
世界中の登山家の間で人気が高いアルプス山脈の最高峰モンブラン
The Alps' highest peak, Mont Blanc, which has high ...
2
votes
2answers
128 views
Can two clauses joined by masu-stem form have an reason-action relationship?
新しい駅は、品川駅と田町駅の間にある車両基地の一部を縮小し建設が進められていて、山手線と京浜東北線の列車が停車する計画です。
The new station will reduce part of the rail yard between the Shinagawa and Tamachi stations and 建設が進められていて and it is planned that ...
5
votes
1answer
163 views
What does the double use of “殺せる” mean here?
Context: The speaker is talking to his friend who was surprise attacked by an enemy despite this enemy being the speaker's acquaintance from bygone days, his friend asks him for an explanation as to ...
2
votes
1answer
79 views
いかに～かどうか structure in this sentence
就職先を失敗して学んだことは、どんな仕事にしろ結局はいかに相手の立場になって物事を考えられるかどうかだと思った。
Speaker talking about a prior job that the speaker quit due to insane hours/low pay
I think that "I learned from failing at my (old) ...
1
vote
1answer
46 views
The correct parsing of 無類 In this sentence
So I'm having a friendly debate with someone over the correct parsing of this sentence:
隆之介のような無類のライトレベルを操る才覚なく
Namely the way 無類 is affecting it.
I'm of the opinion that the correct way to parse ...
3
votes
2answers
109 views
PhraseA-て + phraseB + ために + phrase C
From here:
この行事は、お盆が終わって先祖の霊を送るために行われていて、３００年以上の歴史があると言われています。
This is event is performed to dispatch the souls of the ancestors ??? and is said to have over 300 years of history.
I'm struggling ...
1
vote
2answers
140 views
0
votes
1answer
71 views
logical processing of this lyric
あなたのために綺麗になりたいと願う 好きな人の前では女の子でいたい
For your sake, I want to become a girl that hopes to become pretty in front of the person i love
Does that feel too convoluted to you, or am i parsing this wrong?...
2
votes
1answer
195 views
Which is the verb belonging to the particle を?
recently I stumbled upon a sentence in Yukio Mishima's 憂国{ゆうこく} - "Patriotism". It is BTW part Japanese/English parallel text stories, so I basically know what it intends to say but I simply can't ...
1
vote
1answer
66 views
Relative clause with both direct object and head noun as object
From here:
国土交通省によると、３つの会社は走るのに必要なガソリンの量や外に出るガスの量を調べる検査を国が決めたルールと違うやり方で行っていました。そして、ルールどおりに検査したと記録していました。
According to the land ministry, three companies were operating in a way different to the ...
3
votes
1answer
201 views
What does なくた mean in 理解されなくたっていい?
I am reading 宇宙よりも遠い場所. Right off the beginning comes a sentence: "誰にも理解されなくたっていい".
I am sure it means "It is OK that it is not understood by anybody". However, the されなくた puzzles me:
Shouldn't ない ...
2
votes
2answers
131 views
Help understanding / translating a Japanese sentence with nested clauses
This sentence is not all that complicated, but I'm having a bit of trouble understanding exactly what it means and how the grammar is working. It's a quote from Japanese author Yoshikichi Furui (古井由吉):...
1
vote
1answer
86 views
Help parsing and translating this sentence with を at the end
Context: an aggressive and violent boxer (Riku) is going to fight against an evasive opponent that is really good at dodging punches and who always tries to win on points rather than KOs. Riku's ...
3
votes
1answer
86 views
How does 自身 fit into the grammar of this sentence?
The sentence in question:
しかし、不思議なことに、そう答える親たち自身の幼い時の記憶には、自分がおんぶされていた頃の思い出が強く残っているのです。
For full context:
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/news/web_tokushu/2018_0521.html?utm_int=news_contents_tokushu_004
My ...
1
vote
1answer
110 views
Meaning of 疑問を胸に取材を進める
The sentence in question:
そんな疑問を胸に取材を進めると、改めて、おんぶの魅力を知ることになりました。
For full context:
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/news/web_tokushu/2018_0521.html?utm_int=news_contents_tokushu_004
My attempt at translation:
...
2
votes
1answer
163 views
Two に with 行かれて
Context:
Person A, has just left to look for persons B, and it would be bad if she met them. Person C comments on this saying:
まずいな。
今彼女にBたちの所に行かれては……！
There are two things that kinda confuse ...
2
votes
1answer
202 views
嘘をついているのではないかと疑った。
私は彼が嘘をついているのではないかと疑った。
The amount of particles used here confused the shit out of me and I couldn't understand anything so I need help understanding what each particle does here.
Why not just say ...
4
votes
3answers
182 views
みすぎって in the phrase 韓国たのしみすぎって話
I'm a complete beginner in Japanese. I was trying to analyze this sentence here, but I'm not sure at all about the correct translation.
韓国たのしみすぎって話！
How would you translate this? "Talk that Korea ...
2
votes
1answer
307 views
Introducing a subject and implying it in the same sentence
From this article:
映像はドローンを使って空から撮りました。
The images were taken from the sky using a drone.
Whilst the meaning is clear, I find this sentence very awkward. I can't write the sentence in a natural ...
1
vote
1answer
230 views
How to differentiate between separate meanings of て form?
Sometimes the て form has an adverbial meaning like: 重ねて or 歩いて行く and sometimes it functions as a way to connect two sentences. Is there an easy way to differentiate between what meaning is being used?...
3
votes
2answers
153 views
Help interpreting/parsing a tsukkomi retort
I am having trouble interpreting/parsing a portion of a certain extract from an action themed comic :-
Just to give you some context, two enemy factions are battling. Two people from one faction were ...
1
vote
1answer
87 views
Can the subject appear at the head of a relative clause and **in** the clause simultaneously?
宮城県と岩手県は、仮設住宅などには世話をする人がいないお年寄りなど生活に困っている人が住んでいることが多いため、１人で亡くなる人が増えていると考えています。
The Miyagi and Iwate prefectures think that the number of people who are dying alone is increasing because there are ...
4
votes
1answer
194 views
Understanding トイレの方が来たらいいのに in these song lyrics
I've been listening to a song called 布団の中から出たくない recently and tried to translate some of the lyrics, since my Japanese is still on a beginner or lower intermediate level. I stumbled over one ...
3
votes
1answer
58 views
Parsing help, (understanding 肝心の~/ ~のは基本 / target of Xを喰らう)
I'm reading up on some lore in piece of Japanese fiction, and I'm finding it rather difficult to parse the short paragraph below due to confusion on two specific points.
To add a little context, a ...
0
votes
1answer
217 views
Is こたぁねえ= ことはない? [duplicate]
Context: a group of men are walking down a secluded road, they get the feeling they're being followed and sure enough their hunch is proved right when they're suddenly attacked, a projectile is ...
0
votes
1answer
104 views
Parsing in this sentence
The following is an excerpt from a reply from my language partner: 「チームのスパイ行為」 が主語で、「暗示を上げる」という行為の間にはさまれた条件文を、受身形にした場合と、能動形（普通の文）にした場合で比較しているので、わかりにくくなっています。
For context: I tried out a rather ...
0
votes
0answers
153 views
A question about parsing this complex passage
The passage in question is an excerpt from a novel.
Background info: B is an inventor who works for the government in the story's universe and has created his own mechanism in secret that is capable ...
5
votes
3answers
244 views
2
votes
1answer
132 views
Both ので and から in one sentence
From a short article on tax:
もし税金が加わらなければもっと安いのになあ、と残念な気がします。また、会社から給料をもらったときも同じような気持ちになります。全体の給料から税金が引かれるので、実際に受け取れる金額が少なくなるからです。
I'm unsure about the final sentence - why is から used at the end? ...
3
votes
1answer
107 views
Meaning of なし得ないことをなし得えられない
だからね、このプロレスの世界で一番大事なのって何だかわかります？
――なんですか？
フフフ。それは“タイミング”なんですよ。その場所、その時間にいなきゃ、なし得ないことをなし得えられない。それがタイミングじゃないですか。ジェリコはいままでプロレスラーとしての栄光。その“全部”をなし得てるんですよ。
In this interview that I'm reading there's ...
3
votes
1answer
132 views
Help parsing a short passage
Here's an extract from my fictional book;
差し上げますけど、味見は自分でしない方がいいですよ？中村さんあたりならどんな凄い味でも文句言いながら解説してくれると思いますからオススメですね。
(Contextual summary - speaker has presented the person he's addressing with a top ...
0
votes
2answers
112 views
Parsing help: “身である為”
I believe I understand what this piece of description is saying with regards to the subject but I'm confused by the last part and therefore not sure how to correctly parse it:
数年前の経歴も局長の立場から調べてあるが、...
2
votes
2answers
101 views
Topic seems unrelated to the rest of the sentence
From this article:
学校を経営している会社は、教育と関係がある会社のほかに、不動産や介護、建設などの会社も増えています。
[companies that run schools] Besides companies related to education, companies involved in real-estate, nursing and ...
2
votes
1answer
99 views
と after listing things with たり
根本的なところから変えようとしっかり睡眠をとったり、食生活を見直したりといろいろ取り組んでいます
Should I interpret といろいろ取り組んでいます as "doing various activities like a and b" or "doing things like a, b, and working on various activities".
I'm not ...
5
votes
2answers
173 views
Meaning of おいて in 自分がすごく年おいて感じます
Such a simple sentence. So much confusion:
自分がすごく年おいて感じます。
I feel so old!
"I feel so old" is not my own translation. I have two problems (at least) with this sentence:
What is おいて? I assume it ...
0
votes
2answers
108 views
How do I parse this sentence? （年中行事について）
The sentence in question:
年中行事の生ずるのは季節のうつりゆきが農業などの上にすぐ影響するし、それが国民生活の上に現れて種々の行事が生ずるのである。
My attempt at a semi-literal translation:
As for the arising of annual observances, changes in the ...
1
vote
1answer
178 views
Three different meanings of “と” in one sentence?
I don't understand the meaning of this sentence from Kawabata's "Snow Country Miniature":
君{きみ}とそう見劣{みおと}りしない女{おんな}でないと後{あと}で君{きみ}と会った{あった}時{とき}、心外{しんがい}じゃないか。
This is what Shimamura says to the ...
2
votes
1answer
114 views
Could someone help me with this word (や)やかん please?
The full text can be viewed here: じゃあるまいし
https://www.docdroid.net/XIK9pCk/img-20171020-0001-new.pdf
The sentence in question is from line 8:
おかしなことですが、実は、日本へきて受けたカルチャーショックの一つは、...
3
votes
3answers
486 views
Understanding ～かどうかだ
生きるか死ぬかの問題だった。
It was a question of life or death.
飲み水が、一週間分あるかどうかだった。
It was a question of whether or not there was a week's worth of water.
The only way I can make sense of this structure is ...
3
votes
1answer
135 views
Meaning/parsing of 結果的な事実
In Akutagawa Ryuunosuke's "鼻" there is one sentence which I don't understand:
内供の自尊心は，妻帯というような結果的な事実に左右されるためには、余りにデリケイトに出来ていたのである。
Actually it is only the inner sentence I can't translate ...
3
votes
2answers
135 views
Help with understanding quoting in this passage, and past events or future?
I'm reading a story in Japanese (a short novel in digital format) and here's two lines from the end of the chapter I'm reading:
後に、争乱の全てを知ったガーディアンの一人が口にした。
そんな彼だからこそ、健二郎というガーディアンだからこそ、...
6
votes
3answers
478 views
Understanding the use of “を貫き通せる”
I have a very brief question, how is を貫き通せる meant to be interpreted in the following line?
[…]我が道を貫き通せるほど拳が硬いわけでもない。
Dictionary definitions of "貫き通す" includes the following:
to go through; ...
4
votes
2answers
117 views
Is “悪い所を煮詰めたような” an idiom? If so what does it mean?
I'm reading a passage from a book, here one of the characters is making a few observations about the personality of another character (慶介 - Keisuke) who has moved up in status and is a new member ...
2
votes
2answers
90 views
Parsing “置かれている” in this sentence?
I have a quick question about how one would parse the following:
だが、別段そこに『キングダム』の要となる物が置かれているというわけではない。
I'm a little confused by what "置かれている" is supposed to mean here and how one would parse it ...
2
votes
3answers
373 views
Meaning of いやな思い?
So, I was talking to this girl about how I like japan and she asked me that:
日本にきていやな思いとか一いつもしなかった？
There are somethings I don't get, first the parsing...
日本にきて
いやな思いとか
一いつもしなかった？
Is ...
2
votes
2answers
70 views
Unusual meaning of 終わる or just a parsing failure?
Regarding young people who don't know the date of the end of the pacific war:
中学校や高校の歴史の授業は、太平洋戦争を教える前に終わってしまうことが多いため、知らない人が増えているのだと思います。
I think the number of people who don't know (the date) is ...
1
vote
1answer
124 views
How can I parse も in this sentence?
I'm really confused by the role of も in this sentence:
KONAMIから許諾を得ないといかなる場合もBrain Powerを使用する事ができない状態なのです。
I think that what makes it difficult to understand is that there are two situations (...
3
votes
2answers
93 views
How to connect the elements of this sentence
世界80か国で行われた国際調査の結果が発表された。
I really have problems with some semantics, grammar and parsing here.
First: 行われた. Something didn't "do" or "perform". In the overall sentence, I dont know how to ...
4
votes
3answers
214 views
How would one parse “金ってのは金のある[…]”
Context - two friends are travelling down a street packed with high end shops and buildings. One of the two friends talks about an acquaintance of theirs who's rich and brings up the fact that he's ...
