助詞. Non-inflecting function words which follow words, phrases, or entire sentences.
2
votes
1answer
97 views
Particles equivalent to english 'about'
I am trying to learn how to say 'to talk/write/read about smth' in Japanese, since corrections natives make to my sentences seems not to be very consistent.
For example, let us consider a phrase 'I ...
2
votes
1answer
82 views
Ending sentences with “、と。”
I've seen sentences ending with "、と。" many times in some particular texts. Here are some examples:
Example 1 (source: 嫌われる勇気 by 岸見一郎)
青年 先生は「すべての悩みは対人関係の悩みである」とおっしゃる。裏を返せば、われわれの幸福もまた、...
6
votes
1answer
106 views
といったら vs. とは - subtle differences?
Question from my JLPT N1 text book:
佐藤さんのセンスの良さ＿＿＿＿＿＿...。本当に感心します。(fill in the blank)
I have a choice of というと、とは、and といったら。
といったら is correct but I can't fathom how とは is not an option as the text says ...
5
votes
1answer
86 views
'mo' and 'demo' pronounciation research
I am looking for a native speaker who could answer the following question:
Is there any difference in pronunciation of the morpheme 'mo' in the following words (are there any differences in tone):
...
0
votes
1answer
121 views
What does どうなちきつたんだよオ mean?
I am trying to learn a lot by reading, but I am having a lot of trouble with this phrase/sentence:
どうなちきつたんだよオ
Now, this is from a manga (Akira, specifically) so I'm guessing it's some kind of ...
3
votes
2answers
120 views
Particles and noun-modifiers
This morning I read a sentence translated as follows:
私は 部屋{へや} に かざる物{もの} を あげました。
I offered her things to decorate her room.
It made me think about the following different English sentence, ...
9
votes
1answer
544 views
Using two を particles in one sentence
When you left-click an image on the internet using chrome you are presented with, amongst others, this option:
名前を付けて画像を保存...
which I imagine is, in its full form
名前を付けて画像を保存する.
In this ...
1
vote
1answer
50 views
Using the を particle correctly
Im reading up again on how particles should be used properly in Japanese.
Writing this sentence: 「私の車を壊れてです。」I am trying to say, "my car is broken."
Now, using the guide in the link given here it ...
1
vote
2answers
124 views
What does かは mean?
I wrote a sentence that I was trying to mean "But, I don't know if it's correct", and the Japanese person corrected it so this is the result:
でも、これが正しい翻訳かはわからない
My best guess is that the particle ...
3
votes
1answer
85 views
What's the difference between particles と and も？
From what I understand, they both can mean "and" and "also" or something, but I don't entirely get the difference. Please try to explain in as simple of terms as possible!
4
votes
1answer
62 views
Use of も in 一緒に写真を撮ってもいいですか？
I understand the sentence "Can I take a picture with you?" in Japanese overall, but I am a bit confused as for why one can use the particle も in the sentence? What does it do?
Thanks for the help!
C
4
votes
1answer
349 views
Prolonged sounds in place of an を
I have noticed them in speech in several expressions:
ざまあみろ
手エ、出して
気イ抜くなよ
They are clearly an informal (if i have got it right) variant of を. But how common is this phenomenon? What ...
2
votes
1answer
99 views
using wa or ga. about particles [duplicate]
I started to learn Japanese grammar yesterday,so I am kinda of new to this. My question is this: in an example in my textbook it says :
すしは食べた。
Sushi wa tabeta.
I ate sushi. (Literally: As for ...
6
votes
2answers
312 views
What does 弟は友だちの大きいくるまで学校に行きます properly translate to?
I was asked to translate the following sentence:
弟は友だちの大きいくるまで学校に行きます。
I first split it up (in my head) so it looks easier to read, whilst recognising the particles.
弟は 友だちの 大きい くるまで ...
2
votes
0answers
53 views
Contradictory Usage of だろう・でしょう [duplicate]
I continue seeing sentences that (based on my knowledge) seem to contain conflicting usages of だろう・でしょう.
「妻はルイヴィトンのバッグを欲しがっているんだけど、そんなもん、買えるわけないでしょう！ 」
To my understanding わけがない is an expression ...
1
vote
2answers
71 views
Direct objects of motion verbs and help with the difference between を and に
まちをぶらぶらあるく。
English translation: Walk aimlessly through town.
I understand that aimlessly walk takes the object town and that’s why we use を, but wouldn’t it make more sense to use に as the town is ...
5
votes
1answer
106 views
2
votes
0answers
63 views
What is the function of を in this sentence? [duplicate]
彼は高齢を理由に社長を辞めたよ。
I found this example sentence in some core flashcards, and the translation says He gave up the company presidency due to age. Which makes sense to me, but I don't understand the ...
2
votes
1answer
172 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
122 views
What does “とは” mean in these sentences? [duplicate]
I can't understand why "とは" is being used in the following sentences:
1)...質問があります。その質問とは、「なぜ、皆マスクをしているの？」...
2) 花粉症とは、植物の花粉によって起こるアレルギーです。
3
votes
1answer
105 views
What's the difference between particle へ and を?
Whats the difference between these particles and these two sentences?
国へ帰ります
国を帰ります
Don't they both mean "I return to the country"?
or
A. おかあさんはみせへいく。
B. おかあさんはみせをいく。
Are those both correct ways ...
0
votes
0answers
48 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 ...
1
vote
1answer
113 views
Why な instead of の is used in the anime title “はるかなレシーブ”?
There is an anime named "はるかなレシーブ" this season. While the official English name is just using the Romaji (i.e. Harukana Receive) instead of translating the meaning, from the Chinese official ...
0
votes
0answers
158 views
が particles and their usages
A follow-up to Why is が added at the end of この小娘が in this clip?
I'm currently aware of the following が particles / usages:
1) Subject marker (exhaustive listing). I think it can appear at the end if ...
9
votes
2answers
190 views
Why is が added at the end of この小娘が in this clip?
Audio Clip
Is something being omitted here? Is it just a figure of speech?
0
votes
0answers
84 views
How many of Japanese text can be written using only kanji?
With many frequent words normally written in kana having their rare kanji (looking at ‘ya, 一寸待{ちょっとま}って!), one starts to wonder of an exercise: is it even possible to rewrite any complete text using ...
2
votes
1answer
67 views
"と使います”, Why と is used instead of を？
I am preparing for my exam and have a question about the purpose of using と in a sentence. Does anyone know why と is used but not を before the verb 使います in the sentence below? Thanks so much!
...
3
votes
2answers
93 views
Why is there a 'な' before ’ので’ in this sentence? [duplicate]
このバックパックはよさそうなので、買うつもりです。
'Because this backpack looks good, I intend to buy it.'
Following ~sou there is a 'na' placed before the 'node'. Why is this the case? Is it because of the ~sou implemented ...
4
votes
3answers
186 views
「が」 meaning “or”
I found this sentence in a game manual:
16回に１度、グリーンがブルーのかわりに出現。
Unfortunately I don’t understand why there is 「が」 used between the two color names. The sentence clearly means that this red candy ...
1
vote
1answer
75 views
What is the exact meaning of “Xのは”? [duplicate]
I just came across this sentence:
日本語を上手に話すのは難しい。
While I do understand the meaning overall, I am confused as for why it's 話すのは instead of 話すは.
If anybody could explain what のは means, that'd be ...
3
votes
0answers
24 views
Which is preferred, 気が遠くなるほど or 気の遠くなるほど? [duplicate]
Considering the expression 気が遠くなるほど to describe something of a large scale or hard to conceive, is the variant 気の遠くなるほど also correct and is there any difference in meaning or nuance? Is there any sort ...
1
vote
1answer
74 views
I do not understand why と is incorrect when trying to say “both” [duplicate]
Before I begin, this post is unrelated, despite the similar title.
Here was the question:
My father and mother both are English teachers.
父と母は英語の先生です。
父も母も英語の先生です。
父も母も英語先生です。
...
1
vote
0answers
26 views
0
votes
1answer
77 views
Why is だ being used at the end of the following sentence?
This is the full sentence:
おかしいけど、中国人を理解するのは難しい。私は日本人を理解する方が簡単だ。
I think I was expecting something like です or よ.
I'm really confused about this だ.
9
votes
2answers
1k views
Missing particle after など in article about new technologies to monitor employees
I'm reading this article about new technologies that are getting introduced to monitor employees.
I am unsure about the following sentence. I do not understand why there isn't a particle or something ...
1
vote
1answer
53 views
The usage of 比べて — without saying the thing being compared to?
I want to express: 'He is good at basketball. In comparison, she is less skilled.'
My sentence is: 彼はバスケットボールで上手です。彼女は、比べて、下手です。
Is this correct? Please correct me for any errors I've made
...
0
votes
1answer
111 views
Confused on use of ため in article about Honda's robot Ashimo [duplicate]
I'm reading this article about Ashimo the robot made by Honda and I don't understand the use of ため in this sentence. I have usually seen ため followed by the particle の or に, but in this case no ...
2
votes
1answer
91 views
What's the meaning of こと in this sentence?
聞いたことない！
I'm still confused about the meaning of こと. But I think it means "this," "that," "about," and maybe "it."
So, this sentence could be translated as: "I've never heard of this/that/it!"
But ...
0
votes
1answer
83 views
What particle to use in this sentence? [closed]
I want to say “I like spending lunchtimes with Sarah.”
(Sarah is a fill-in name)
I am absolutely clueless, because I’ve only done Japanese for a semester at school (but I plan on choosing it as a ...
8
votes
1answer
206 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
141 views
How to say 'It differs depending on the person'
Would the following sentence be correct?
人によってちがいます。
Or would it make more sense to use '人々'? As in;
人々によってちがいます。
2
votes
1answer
70 views
How to say 'Exercise is also very important' (Hontō ni)
In context, I'm attempting to say 'For the sake of a long life, eating well is important but exercise is also very important'.
So far I have:
長生きのために よく食べることが大切ですが、運動も本当に大切です。
Is the usage of ...
0
votes
1answer
87 views
Is it usual for men to use な instead of ね?
I was surprised when in this video:
https://youtu.be/m9rf63DsN-s?t=2m44s
I heard ごめんな instead of ごめんね.
Is this because men ten to use な instead of ね? So maybe men would say, for example, 怖いな ...
2
votes
3answers
120 views
What's the role of the に particle in this sentence?
I'm having trouble to understand why the ni particle is being used here.
ギルダが「情報源」？
本当にギルダ…？
That's a part of Yakusoku no Neverland manga, when Emma (one of the main characters) is doubting if Gilda ...
1
vote
1answer
86 views
What's the use of ね in the following two sentences?
私はそろそろ寝るね。
I understand ね as is it? or isn't it (I think it has other uses)?
But in the example above:
I will go to bed early.
I can't see any possible use for ね. Maybe it could act as "okay?" ...
1
vote
2answers
120 views
I don't understand the role of the に particle in this sentence?
The definition of 募集【ぼしゅう】 given in an article by NHK News Web Easy is
人や作品などを、大勢の人に呼びかけて集めること.
I don't know what is the role of the に particle in that sentence, is it marking the subject of the ...
3
votes
2answers
106 views
Why do you use に with 欲しい?
I recently encountered the sentence 「あなたに嬉しくなって欲しい」, which means “I want you to be happy.” Why is に used to mark “you”? If you rephrase the sentence as 「あなたが嬉しくなることが欲しい」, the meaning still comes ...
3
votes
1answer
119 views
何とも Usage and Meaning
象は 大きい。
象は おりに入れた。
象は えさをやった。
象は 鼻が長い。
などの文では、「象は」はいずれも題目を示している。4の「象は」は「象が」に言い換えられるもので、事実上は文の主語を兼ねる。しかし、5以下は「象が」には言い換えられない。5は「象を」のことであり、6は「象に」のことである。さらに、7の「象は」は何とも言い換えられないものである（「...
3
votes
1answer
84 views
Turning down an invitation: grammar question
Turning down an invitation
For some reason I got it into my head that すみませんがちょっと was a way to turn down an invitation.
But for example say you were asked to do X at time Y, and you want to do X but ...
2
votes
2answers
367 views
How do I ask about the specifics of a general activity (like watching TV, reading) with correct grammar?
For example, テレビをみませ is "I will watch TV". I would like to say なにをテレビをみますか but I'm not sure the double を makes any sense, for example in なにをみますか the person may answer テレビ but I want to know what is on ...
