Questions tagged [reading-comprehension]
読解. Help with reading passages in Japanese and understanding their meaning.
164
questions
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1answer
66 views
のりまきみたいにくるまればふかふかふとんになるんだもん。
In a Japanese children's book I read:
のりまきみたいに くるまれば ふかふか ふとんに なるんだもん。
For the sake of analysis, I looked up the kanjis (correct me if they're wrong):
海苔巻きみたいに包まればふかふか布団になるんだもん。
From the context, ...
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1answer
102 views
I-adjective in く form modifies a noun/adverb
In the song 宝物 by WANIMA, the chorus goes:
思いにまかせて
感じるまま描いて
まだ見えない明日へ
誰にも止められない
今この瞬間が紛れもなく全て。
紛れもない is in く form, which means it's modifiying a verb. However, 全て is nowhere near a verb, but might ...
5
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1answer
441 views
How is 懐く read in this case?
I came across this word in a manga page, on the top right speech bubble. I'm not sure whether this Kanji should be read as なつく or いだく. Moreover, neither of the readings make too much sense to me, ...
1
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1answer
99 views
Whats the name of this izakaya? [closed]
everyone I was in an awsome izakaya in Osaka but wasnt able to figure out the name of it and stuff like it is private owned or of a chain.
Below is a picture of its front (google translate etc. cant ...
3
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1answer
140 views
Help identifying blurry kanji [closed]
I am currently trying to learning Japanese by reading manga. So far so good, but this kanji is too blurry for me to figure out. Anyone know what this could be?
I'm 98% sure the first character means '...
1
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1answer
71 views
What would 箆深い (のぶかい) mean?
While 深い (ふかい) means "profound; deep; dense", 箆 (へら, の), as a noun, means "spatula; arrow shaft" in japanese and, originally, "fine-toothed comb" in chinese.
This word is used adverbially in this ...
2
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1answer
66 views
Interpretting 別に…とは無関係なところで
俺としては、姉についてはあまり触れられたくない話題だ。別に、姉の死を思い出すとつらい…といったようなセンチメンタルとは無関係なところで、余計なことを思い出して気が重くなるからだ。
Based on the statement ending with "余計なことを思い出して気が重くなるからだ", i would expect the first half to have a soft "it's ...
2
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1answer
79 views
Noun + に続いて + Verb phrase
I am struggling with the meaning of に続いて in the following sentence:
貞操に続いて今度は命を守り抜くために、この街を走り続ける羽目になった。
I know that the sentence carries a rather ironic meaning and that 貞操 is not used in a ...
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2answers
155 views
なにかなのだろう parsing and meaning
In a short story I found a sentence I'm having difficulties understand no matter how I look at it or how I try to parse it:
これは、心の病かもしれない、と思い、私と母はやがてじょじょにだが公にする祝い事をとりやめていった。...
3
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1answer
144 views
Is there an omitted particle between the いい and 歳 in the following sentence?
こんな、少女と言っていい歳の女の子が殺し屋だと？
I'm wondering if there is an omitted particle between the bolded いい and 歳 of the above sentence, which is the last sentence in the provided context below.
Context: Narrative ...
2
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1answer
84 views
Meaning of らしたのじゃありません?
Prior to this sentence, Kawashima was talking about jumping from the school's roof with Obata-sensei; aftwerwards, another teacher is speaking with Obata, and says:
小幡先生はひょっとして、...
0
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1answer
85 views
Meaning of そうでもない
In this sentence:
神野{じんの}菜生子{なおこ}さして意外そうでもなくうなずいた
I'm having some issue in understanding そうでもない, and according to how I read it it reverse the meaning of the sentence: as far as I understand, ...
3
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2answers
205 views
Interpreting 下手に俺を残して手柄を奪われても困ると判断した in this context
The MC/魔術者 found out that their army was headed towards a trap/ambush and informed in commander about it. The MC proposed that the solution was to turn backwards/retreat and take out all the enemies ...
1
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1answer
105 views
反動で大きな反作用を招いて and how ぐらい is relevant in this context
The speaker, a 魔術者, is talking about the process of manipulating a man to do something advantageous for the speaker. The exact particulars of how this was done were never mentioned, it just was done.
...
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2answers
90 views
performers of actions in 自らも同行すると言い出して聞かず
X went on a mission, the speaker just appeared in scene as well.
x 「出陣は久々だなぁ・・・ふふっ、なんだか気分が高揚するよ」
手勢を連れて村へ様子を見に行っていたXが戻ってきて、俺に声を掛けてくる。
突然自らも同行すると言い出して聞かず、さらにXの希望で俺まで連れ出されたのだ。
...
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1answer
91 views
二つ下のいとこ instead of はとこ
I'm trying to understand the usage of 二つ下 in the following sentence.
シンちゃんは私の二つ下のいとこです
When I read it without 下 it sounds like:
Shin-chan is my second cousin or something along those lines.
The ...
6
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1answer
161 views
Japanese N1 practice questions help
Taken from question 4 and 5 of this URL:
https://japanesetest4you.com/japanese-language-proficiency-test-jlpt-n1-listening-exercise-5/
QUESTION 4:
The audio starts with: あ～ぁ、やってらんないよなあ。 I usually ...
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2answers
120 views
What does 何分くらい右往左往していた？ mean?
「（踏切{ふみきり}に）入っていって後{うし}ろで標識{ひょうしき}をなぎ倒{たお}して、前{まえ}の車輪{しゃりん}がおそらく線路{せんろ}に落{お}ちるという感{かん}じ。（Ｑ．何分{なんふん}くらい右往左往{うおうさおう}していた？）僕{ぼく}が見{み}てからは２０分{ぷん}」 （目撃者{もくげきしゃ}）
"The front wheel probably fell on the ...
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1answer
72 views
what is その効力 in this context?
super popular dude XXX disapears, start of an epilogue
数週間後。
大学構内からXXXの姿が消え、彼に好意を寄せていた女性たちが騒動となったのは一週間ほど前のことである。
いまでは長期の休学だとか外国の大学へ編入しただとか、ありそうも無いような噂が飛び交ってこそいるものの、失踪直後ほどは騒がれなくなった。
...
6
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2answers
372 views
What verb is かまされる?
In the first light novel of the Konsuba series there are two pages of character profiles. In them Kazuma say to Darkness,
どこかの誰かに爆裂魔法をかまされたからな
I am confused as to the meaning and identifying what ...
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2answers
128 views
誰かの胸の夜の空に伝えたい気持ちが生まれたら meaning
This line is from 流れ星の正体 of Bump of Chicken:
誰かの胸の夜の空に伝えたい気持ちが生まれたら
Which meaning is suitable?
When you have a feeling that you want to tell someone’s night sky in his heart.
When you have a ...
2
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1answer
162 views
Meaning of 誰かの代わりに
このアニメは、戦争の中で育った女の子が、誰かの代わりに手紙を書く仕事をして、愛や人の気持ちを知る話です。
This anime is a story about a girl who grew up during the war who works on writing letters 誰かの代わりに and experiences love and people's feelings.
I'...
4
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1answer
127 views
Meaning of 準備ができたものから
Context:
１０円や５０円などほかの硬貨も、準備ができたものから作り始めます。
They will also start making other coins such as the 10 and 50 yen from the thing they were able to prepare.
I can't even guess at what 準備ができたものから is ...
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1answer
56 views
Meaning of に続いて in this sentence
Context:
このお祭りは、３８０年以上前、神社の場所が移ることを祝って木の車に太鼓をのせて町を歩いたことから始まりました。
Over 380 years ago this festival originated from celebrating the move of the shrine and walking through town carrying a drum on a ...
6
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1answer
173 views
あまり気持ちのいいものではない in this context
girl X who the MC has never met before, suddenly appears and says that she is he MC's fiance
俺だって、興味がない訳じゃない。
会ったこともない人との絆があるって言われても正直ピンとこないし、あまり気持ちのいいものではない。
それに、もし、Xと俺が許嫁となる運命であるのならば……...
2
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1answer
134 views
Help identifying a Kanji character from image
I've been struggling to identify this Kanji for 30 minutes now. Tried looking up radicals, stroke order, etc. but can't figure it out.
More context:
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1answer
68 views
ちいとばかし苦しいから extra cash to make ends meet
ティーゼル:
うぐっ！まだ潰れちゃいねえよ
今月の運転資金が、ちいとばかし苦しいから
軽くバイトするだけのこったよ
Teisel: Gaahh! No, it hasn't gone under! We're just, a little in the red this
month, that's all! Just need a little extra cash to ...
2
votes
2answers
106 views
placement of さえ
I came across this statement involving さえ.
私はAKB48が全然分からない。一番有名な人さえ名前がわからない。
My question is: Is there a general rule as to where you can place さえ?
What about: 一番有名な人の名前さえ分からない。What is the meaning ...
3
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1answer
137 views
Understanding 自分は in this sentence (and other potential gross misunderstandings)
受話器を置き、口ひげをなでながら、ダーズリー氏は考えた。
He put the receiver down and, while stroking his moustache, Mr Dursely thought.
———まさか、自分はなんて愚かなんだ。
I'm being stupid
I'm really stuck on the line ...
1
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1answer
129 views
What is the implied-verb represented by the sentence-ending を in the following context？
I am trying to understand the dialogue being spoken by the narrative character on the page below, specifically the fourth line of dialogue from the right in the picture.
「……さっきは何で、あんなことを？」
What is ...
2
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1answer
87 views
Meaning of 感じの in this sentence
「なんか男らしくない感じの人。」
if らしく already gives the meaning of “seeming, characteristic of, ish,” etc then what is the purpose of adding 感じの？
3
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1answer
78 views
What is being referred to by やり過ぎてる (also why てる instead of た)
I am a bit confused as to what is being referred to by やり過ぎてる, is the speaker referring to his actions as being やり過ぎ or to her actions? I am also a bit confused why the てる form is used instead of た.
...
0
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1answer
87 views
Help understanding whose 解釈が間違ってる
I need some help understanding whose 解釈が間違ってる in the following exchange, and also what types of situations/contexts 解釈 can be used for this type of meaning.
From the below extract it is clear that ...
0
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1answer
234 views
What does それはそれでまったく意味が分からん mean in this context?
The situation was describing how the older sister suddenly stopped in front of the gate, staring at the building ahead, with the other sister following suit. Context leading to the sentence in ...
3
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1answer
69 views
Relative pronouns in せずにはいられない + noun
天を仰ぎ両手を合わせずにはいられない結果が得られている
In the above excerpt, I'm not 100% sure how to connect the 結果 with the rest of the sentence. I do understand that the meaning is something like "Obtained result that you ...
0
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2answers
235 views
ように translation help
Page seven in my book has the following text, which is linked to the next sentence on page seventeen.
貫くような衝撃が顎から脳天を突き抜け、次第に目の前が真っ白になってゆく感覚に襲われる中、耳には銀髪の外国人の興奮した声が入ってきていた。
(translation: The ...
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1answer
110 views
I can't identify this kanji ( kanji 当ても)
I've decided to read manga in japanese again, I left it for a couple of years so now I'm out of practice and in need of help. It must be a really simple one but still I want to understand without ...
2
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1answer
119 views
Identifying the meaning of こんなこと in this context
For the full text see here. A girl has had an argument with her boyfriend. On the way home she thinks that maybe she should have apologised. She's now changing the password on her room door.
...
2
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1answer
77 views
What is 「や」doing in these sentences?
From a book about space:
近年になり、観測技術の向上や大きなプロジェクトとして取り組まれるようになって、惑星の存在の確認が待たれていたのです。
And from a ghost story:
そんな訳で、小学生の頃は友達と学校帰りや家に帰ってから山へ入り、虫取りや秘密基地を作ったりして泥だらけになるまで遊んでいました。
The や seems like ...
0
votes
1answer
102 views
How do we spell this word in japanese? [closed]
I've just began learning Japanese & I saw this word in a web series. I tried to read it but I'm not really sure how to spell it. I'm finding the one left of 王 especially difficult. Can someone ...
3
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0answers
121 views
What does には mean in this case?
The sentence in question:
休日の繁華街は平和な賑わいに満ちていた。道行く人々の笑顔は眩しく、街灯はどこまでも明るく、一足早いクリスマス模様のショウウィンドウには、まるで世界中の幸せを寄せ集めて詰め込んだように華やかだった。
I would normally think of には following after something like ショウウィンドウ to ...
8
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1answer
161 views
Understanding ７７の海岸のうち６０％で、
そして、調べた７７の海岸のうち６０％で、砂が全部なくなる可能性があることがわかりました。
In 60% of the 77 coasts investigated, it is understood that there is a possibility that all the sand will be lost.
I'm a bit confused by the ...
4
votes
1answer
99 views
Meaning of 字 in this context
From a story where people no longer use keys for locks, but speak a special phrase into the lock:
それよりも、酒の勢いで、ついその文句を口に出してしまうことのほうが、しばしば発生した。しかし、帰ってから、酔いがさめて、後悔したりあわてたりする必要はない。内側から字を入れ替えて、...
3
votes
1answer
101 views
fragmented statement and いつの世も
Speaker talking about a painting with a goddess and an owl
「ミネルヴァの梟は夜に飛ぶ──と記したのはヘーゲルでしたか。知恵の女神の聖鳥である梟もまた知恵の象徴」
「そんな梟が夜に飛び立ったのを人が知るのは、夜が明けて朝になってから。いつの世も人は起こったことしか知ることができないのです」
「...
5
votes
1answer
140 views
Meaning of こった in Xと、こったのもあった
From the story 愛の鍵 by 星新ー:
ある人のは「チューリップが咲いた。」と言えば開いたし「しっかりしなくちゃあ。」と言うのもあった。なかには「王さまの耳はロバの耳。」などと、こったのもあった。
One person's phrase to open the lock was to say "The tulips have bloomed". There was also ...
0
votes
1answer
109 views
Trouble understanding this small review
木造の建物なのでしかないけれど大変寒かったです。
またフロントの方は夜帰るので、到着が遅れてしまい、申し訳ないことをしました。
8時で予約しましたが到着が8時40分頃になり、電話を頂戴しました。from here
What does なのでしかないけれど mean? I've searched but found nothing.
Who is the subject of ...
6
votes
1answer
178 views
How is readability measured in Japanese?
First of all, I apologize if this question is better suited for the meta. It's a little theoretical, but it's also very much about the Japanese language, so I figured it was fine here.
I was looking ...
9
votes
1answer
112 views
Understanding のひとつぐらい in this context
Another question on my favourite hole. An opportunist has offered to buy the hole and rebuild the shrine for the villagers:
村長が答えるさきに、村の者たちが、
「本当かい。それならもっと村の近くがいい。」
「穴のひとつぐらい、あげますよ。」
...
4
votes
1answer
136 views
Subject confusion or mistranslation of 無難
A scientist is investigating a mysterious hole in the ground. His experiments have failed and I think he's a bit sulky. He then says:
「埋めてしまいなさい」
Fill it in.
Then the narration goes:
わからないことは、...
4
votes
1answer
119 views
What does this 数えてみたら mean?
The following sentence is from this article on NHK Web特集
数えてみたら、息子と一緒に過ごせる時間がとても限られていることに気がつきました。
My attempt at translation:
When one tries to count it, they took care that the time shared with ...
