Questions tagged [reading-comprehension]
読解. Help with reading passages in Japanese and understanding their meaning.
157
questions
2
votes
1answer
66 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 ...
3
votes
2answers
131 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
votes
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
votes
1answer
75 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
votes
1answer
75 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
votes
2answers
201 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
vote
1answer
104 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.
...
1
vote
2answers
87 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。
...
1
vote
1answer
82 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
votes
1answer
146 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 ...
1
vote
2answers
118 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 ...
0
votes
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
votes
2answers
363 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 ...
1
vote
2answers
127 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
votes
1answer
156 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
votes
1answer
121 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 ...
1
vote
1answer
55 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
votes
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
votes
1answer
118 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:
0
votes
1answer
66 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
103 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
votes
1answer
136 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
vote
1answer
126 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
votes
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
votes
1answer
77 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
votes
1answer
86 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
votes
1answer
198 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
votes
1answer
65 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
votes
2answers
226 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 ...
1
vote
1answer
107 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
votes
1answer
113 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
votes
1answer
74 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
100 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
votes
0answers
120 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
votes
1answer
156 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
98 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
98 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
129 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
160 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
107 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
111 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 ...
0
votes
1answer
120 views
What does フェイスアップからよろしく！ 俺もあがって今日は寝るわー mean?
「まあまあ、まだ習うことはいっぱいあるよー！ じゃあ古倉さん、フェイスアップからよろしく！ 俺もあがって今日は寝るわー」
It's a scene taking place in a konbini. I know what is フェイスアップ because I looked it up(and all the other words) but I don't understand much ...
8
votes
1answer
275 views
Use of ある with animate subject
From the children's story おーい、でてこーい. A one metre wide hole has appeared in the ground after a landslide. The hole is dark and gives the feeling that it goes all the way to the centre of the earth. The ...
2
votes
1answer
73 views
unamed subject in this conversation and use of ~のに… in this sentence
gossip among unnamed students while being made to run laps, about a time when the ゴリ男 gym teacher got really angry at something.Reader does not anything about what had happened.
「これって、...
4
votes
2answers
127 views
interpreting 私の生徒会に欲しいって会った時から言ってる
MC bumps into the new 生徒会長 after her opening ceremony speech. MC and her are friends since the start of the last school year, but the reader doesn't know what happened between them previous year ...
3
votes
1answer
69 views
use of 単に…だけか in this sentence
speaker secretly follows a bunch of thugs. And watches them enter a somewhat hidden cave while being in a cheerful mood.
不良たちが浮かれながら入っていったのは、海岸からかなり離れた場所にある洞窟だった。
入り口に朽ち木が傾いでかぶさっているせいで、...
2
votes
1answer
98 views
use of ときては in this sentence
context is about drugging someone up to get them to more lively again for sexual purposes
やがて反応が磨耗し、クスリを用いて復調したと思ったら明後日の方向に電波を飛ばしまくりときては、単に溜まったから排泄するという感覚の方が近くなる。
before long her responses ...
1
vote
1answer
121 views
What does 白紙にかえって探さねばならぬ mean in this context
みなさんこんにちは。
I came across this paragraph in japanesetest4you site.
妻の掃除と整理の仕方、これはもう極端に偏執的である。たとえば自分の好きなところはピカピカ光るほど磨き上げるが、興味のないところは何年もほこりが積み放しになっている。家の中のある部分は精神質なくらい整然と物が並び、...
