Questions tagged [set-phrases]

決まり文句・慣用句・成句. Phrases with fixed words used as a single unit, such as idioms and set collocations. For questions about a particular idiom, please use the tag "idioms".

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What's the structure behind 雲を霞(と)

I don't understand how 雲を霞 makes any sense (especially because there's no particle at the end of 霞). Is 雲を霞と supposed to be parsed 雲を霞となる/あり or 雲を霞とする? I think をかすみとする is more likely, and it's ...
Star Peep's user avatar
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1 answer
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あなたにも as a response to someone's best wishes

I recently saw an exchange between two non-native speakers where one wished the other a happy new year, and the other replied with あなたにも (literally, "and to you"). Putting aside whether the ...
user3856370's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
217 views

Need help understanding したところで/ところで in this context

So in this manga (月が導く異世界道中) there are these 2 sisters where the older one made some bad decisions about borrowing money from the wrong kind of people. After being rescued the younger sister says to ...
Quit007's user avatar
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2 answers
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Understanding 女の方が願い下げ

I am uncertain how to understand 女の方が願い下げ in the below panel: I believe it means "women won't accept a man like him"? Perhaps "he has no interest in women"?
John Davies's user avatar
0 votes
1 answer
114 views

How do I talk to someone explicitly?

明日の朝おそいおきたら、にどねないよ! Given this phrase in this Context I’m not sure if I talk about myself or if I talk to someone else like I intend to do. I could add あなたは at the beginning but I know this is ...
onizukaek's user avatar
  • 137
1 vote
1 answer
103 views

Meaning of とすればの話だが

ピーブズよりやっかいなのは...そんなのがいるとすればの話だが...管理人のアーグスフィルチだった。 The thing that was a bigger nuisance than Peeves...if there was such a thing... was the caretaker, Argus Filch. I'm struggling to understand what ...
user3856370's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
82 views

When are good situations to use the phrase "見事にやられた"?

When are good situations to use the phrase "見事にやられた" ? In the language guide book "Shadowing," the authors use it to refer to doing very badly on an exam. Thank you.
Conan Wong's user avatar
4 votes
1 answer
326 views

なるほど why it means "I understand" and usage as an adverb

I recently came across this phrase しばらくは呆れていましたが、なるほど考えてみると My questions are: What is the meaning of this なるほど? Why なるほど means "I understand" when used in isolation?
0149234's user avatar
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2 votes
3 answers
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Function of ておく in 伝えておきます

ておく basically means to do something in advance/preparation, and 伝えておきます seems to be a common saying for "I will tell somebody", e.g. 素晴らしい披露宴だったと彼に伝えておきます。 I do not understand how does ておく ...
Kotoba Trily Ngian's user avatar
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How do I pronounce this 「暖」 that lacks 送り仮名?

I am learning Japanese, and one of the ways I'm doing so is playing games. I am playing "Stranger of Sword City," and I saw this exact expression, in the game: 何か[暖]{L}を取るものを探して彷徨ったあなたは、...
LionKimbro's user avatar
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79 views

Can anyone help me fill in the blanks of a kid's rhyme?

My 4 year old has been going to a Japanese preschool for a few weeks and has picked up a rhyme/chant that all the kids say before they eat. I'd love to learn it too so we can say it together at home, ...
Meecho's user avatar
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2 votes
1 answer
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How to express accidentally sitting on something

その銃は、ダドリーが尻に敷いて銃身をひどく曲げてしまい、... Dudley sat on the gun and bent the barrel badly ... Is 尻に敷く normal Japanese for "to sit on something"? I guess it could be from the literal translation of '...
user3856370's user avatar
1 vote
0 answers
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Confusing use of imperative in a threat [duplicate]

小僧、変なことをしてみろ。ちょっとでもだ、そしたらクリスマスまでずっと物置に閉じ込めてやる。 Boy! Do something weird, no matter how small and I'll lock you in your cupboard until Christmas. Firstly, is してみろ actually imperative here? I don't see ...
user3856370's user avatar
0 votes
1 answer
88 views

Meaning of 喉まで出かかる

マクゴナガル先生は口を開きかけたが、思いなおして、喉まで出かかった言葉をのみ込んだ。 Professor McGonagall began to open her mouth, but reconsidered and swallowed her words. My translation does not include 喉まで出かかった. Is this a set phrase? ...
user3856370's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
94 views

Other uses for の?

In this sentence そうして将校の部屋に行くべく木に登るものの、 窓まで伸びていた木の枝は切られてしまっている The "の" is followed by a "," So my first guess of it being the feminine version of "よ" doesn't seem correct....
Marie OP's user avatar
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1 answer
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Nuances between 悪知恵が働く and ずる賢い and clarifications for 悪知恵が働く

From I know, [悪知恵が働く] means "cunning" and [ずる賢い] also means "cunning". Is there any nuances when I use [悪知恵が働く] or [ずる賢い]? Also for [悪知恵が働く], the kanji 悪知恵 already means "...
asyraf shaari's user avatar
2 votes
1 answer
122 views

Meaning of 鼻を鳴らす?

I am reading 煙草と悪魔 by Akutagawa, and came across a phrase which has me stumped. The sentence reads as follows: 伊留満は、これを聞くと、小さな眼を輝かせて、二三度、満足さうに、鼻を鳴らした。" My current understanding of this sentence ...
Phantom's user avatar
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1 vote
0 answers
160 views

What does てもらえたら嬉しいmean?

僕の漫画がたくさんの人に楽しんで読んでもらえたら嬉しいです。 I know 楽しんで読む means “to read with pleasure”, but I’m not sure about もらえたら嬉しいです. I’ve interpreted it as a grammar constitution that means “I’ll be glad/happy if you ...
Stefania Ogun's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
74 views

Why can't に対して be used in this sentence?

I'm currently using the 新完全マスター N2 Grammar book. One of the questions required completing the following sentence: 今回の選挙では、環境税 () 候補者たちの意見が対立している。 Two of the options were に対して and をめぐって, and をめぐって ...
benjli's user avatar
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0 votes
1 answer
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What does 白と茶色を基調とする mean in this sentence?

白と茶色を基調とした真新しい洋風の外壁。 I saw that ~を~とする means "as" and that 基調 means "to be the main color in something like a picture" (2nd definition), but I can't link everything in this ...
BIG-95's user avatar
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5 votes
1 answer
216 views

Understanding 軍服に着られた

威嚇のつもりかアサルトライフルを抱えた兵を二人も従えて、いかにも軍服に着られた貧相な士官が顎をしゃくる。どうでもいいが、後ろの兵のライフルは安全装置がかかったままで、しかも初弾が装塡されていない。それぞれの立ち位置も近すぎるから、やろうと思えば撃たせる前に全員制圧できる。意味がないのでやらないが。 86─エイティシックス─ 安里アサト Why is the bold part passive ...
chino alpha's user avatar
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2 votes
1 answer
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Understanding その上で、だ

続いて、ライデンが名乗った。 「戦隊副長、ライデン・シュガだ。……まず最初に謝っとく。あんたが毎晩繫いでくるのを、俺達は聖女気取りの偽善者のブタが、自分のブタ加減に気づきもしねぇでおめでたいって笑ってた。それについては詫びる。悪かった。その上で、だ」  黒鉄色の双眸が冷然と細まる。 「セオが言ったとおり、俺達はあんたを対等とも仲間とも思わない。あんたは俺達を踏みつけた上で、...
chino alpha's user avatar
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3 votes
1 answer
311 views

How do I parse the phrase 手も汚さず正しくあろうとするなんて?

I'm having trouble understanding the vocabulary and grammar of this phrase. It's from Attack on Titan S4E26 (minute 10:50 on Hulu, E85 minute 10:30 on Crunchyroll) though it's probably not a spoiler. ...
ubershmekel's user avatar
2 votes
1 answer
109 views

良さそう usage in this context:【誰かが手伝ってくれたら、せめて「ありがとう」ぐらいは言ったって良さそうなものだったのに。】

誰かが手伝ってくれたら、せめて「ありがとう」ぐらいは言ったって良さそうなものだったのに。 You might at least have said, "Thank you", when someone helped you. Source: https://jisho.org/sentences/51866b92d5dda7e98100cf56 In this ...
Erica's user avatar
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2 votes
1 answer
276 views

"It can't be helped": しようがない , し方ない , しかない

「しょうがない」/「しようがない」 「しかない」  「仕方がない」 What are the subtle differences in usage of the above three ways for saying "there's no way" or "it cant be helped"?
Erica's user avatar
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4 votes
2 answers
166 views

諺/熟語 for "paint oneself into a corner"

I am trying to find an idiom that describes someone setting hurdles for themself or putting themself in a more difficult position every step of the way, eventually trapping oneself or forcing one's ...
Eddie Kal's user avatar
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4 votes
1 answer
896 views

「いただきます」 to accept to a food offer?

In this JLPT N3 audio practice question (#3), the correct reply to the statement is 3. コーヒー、もう一杯いかがですか。 けっこうだと思います。 おかげさまで。 いただきます。 If the question translates as "How about another cup of ...
Hikonyan's user avatar
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1 vote
0 answers
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おそれがある vs おそれあり [duplicate]

I recently found an example of おそれあり in a fictional headline 「ネットワークしはい計画が本格的にはじまったおそれあり」だって Presumably this is "It says 'It may be that their plan for network domination has begun to go all ...
MegaZeroX's user avatar
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4 votes
1 answer
739 views

What is どうって in どうってことありません?

どうってことありません。 I know it means "It was nothing." But, what is どうって?
Eric's user avatar
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0 votes
1 answer
43 views

Breakdown of 運をつく [closed]

The title of the chapter in my book is: まる子 うんをつく I know that this has something to do with Maruko being lucky but I don't understand precisely what is meant. Does Maruko have the inherent property ...
user3856370's user avatar
1 vote
0 answers
159 views

(推量形+) というものだ: nuance and function? [duplicate]

圧倒的だなんて言葉では表現しきれない、絶望的な戦力差である。 しかもそれらが皆、親でも殺されたかのような調子で士道に憎々しげな視線を送ってきているのだ。どれだけ肝が据わった人間でも汗くらい滲ませようというものである。 だが、改変後の折紙の意識が『士道への思い三〇パーセント:節度七〇パーセント』だったところに、『士道への思い一二〇パーセント』が足されたなら、...
chino alpha's user avatar
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1 vote
2 answers
229 views

Grammar of 仕方ないな

Shouldn't it be 仕方がないな? And what is the function of な? The context is: A: 出かけようとした時に、電話があったんです。 B: そうか。それじゃ、まあ、仕方ないな。 よろしくお願いします。
sfy's user avatar
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1 vote
2 answers
260 views

To what extent is 御目出度う御座います used? Is it considered bad form?

Relatively recently - probably in the last few months or something - I've noticed the much more Kanjified version of おめでとうございます - 御目出度う御座います. Personally I think this looks cooler than the strictly ...
Panzercrisis's user avatar
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1 answer
101 views

Question regarding 上がったり

Why does 上がったり mean doomed business etc. even if in 上がったり下がったり it means going up/improving (as does 上がる)? Is it shortened from a longer phrase or something? Thanks
Jack D's user avatar
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1 vote
1 answer
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は versus が in this sentence

In the Genki 1 textbook, the question prompt 本を読んでいる人は誰ですか? appears alongside an illustration with a bunch of people doing different activities. The textbook user is then supposed to pick out a ...
Daphne's user avatar
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2 votes
1 answer
397 views

What would be the function of the ときたものだ?

神無月とやらは大仰に礼をすると、興奮した調子で続けてきた。  「突然ですがお嬢さん!あなた、モデルになってみる気はありませんか!?」 「え……っ?」 急に発された言葉に、七罪は目を見開いた。 「も、モデル……って、あの、雑誌なんかに載ってる……?」 「はいッ!そのモデルです!」 神無月が力強くうなずいてくる。が、それに反して七罪は冷ややかに息を吐いた。 なんと、モデルときたものだ。...
chino alpha's user avatar
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3 votes
1 answer
242 views

What would be the function of the というものだ in this context?

一体、士道や琴里にどんな狙いがあるかわからなかったが、それが七罪にとって不利益になるものであろうことは想像に難くなかった。きっと何らかの方法で七罪に復讐するつもりに決まっているのだ。それこそ、肥え太らせてから食べてしまうつもりかもしれない。それならば、七罪にこんなに美味しいご飯を与える意味もわかるというものだ。 Hi. What would be the function of the ...
chino alpha's user avatar
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1 vote
1 answer
470 views

Meaning of "であること" in "親子であることのむずかしさについて (...)"

There is a book called 街場の親子論 by 内田樹, and I'm trying to read its preface on the author's blog. There is the following sentence: ここでは「まえがき」として、もう少し一般的なこと、親子であることのむずかしさについて思うところを書いてみたいと思います。 I ...
BIG-95's user avatar
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2 votes
0 answers
224 views

Is というのだ similar to "in addition"? Or it is "they said"?

まだ十香の件にさえ納得がいっていない様子の折紙である。そんなところにもう一人精霊が現れたというのである。それは不審に思うだろう。だが、かといって<ラタトスク>のことを説明するわけにもいかない。 『ーー君の説明だけでは、信憑性が足りなっかたのだよ。何しろ自己蘇生能力に……精霊の力を吸収する能力というんだ。にわかには信じられん』 ただでさえ、女子の手作りクッキーをいただくなんてのは、...
chino alpha's user avatar
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0 votes
1 answer
211 views

Meaning and origin of もありか?

精霊の身体は人間より遥かに強靭だからな。毒でも呑ませてみようか。ああ、それならば麻薬を打ってみるのもありか…… The speaker was offering some ways to torment a 精霊. Hi. Does the もありか mean “OK”? But I can only find the word 在り処(ありか), which means “...
chino alpha's user avatar
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2 votes
1 answer
165 views

What does 形になります mean here?

『その隙を、ステージ部門二位につけた来禅が衝いたというわけですね。特に模擬店部門のメイドカフェの得票数が凄まじい!審査の際に物議を醸したという話ですが、実行委員の熱心なプッシュが功を奏した形になりますね!』 The host was announcing that the champion school at a school festival was 来禅高校, whose maid cafe ...
chino alpha's user avatar
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2 votes
2 answers
117 views

Is the following sentence a set phrase?

本日はお忙しいところ、ありがとうございます A book I'm learning from translates this sentence as 'thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule today' Is the first part a set phrase or is it just an elaborate ...
Jack D's user avatar
  • 215
7 votes
1 answer
343 views

「目が高い」meaning and is it actually used in conversation?

Is 「目が高い」 a set phrase that a native speaker would ever use in daily conversation? (I memorized that phrase from a book long ago). If this phrase is not used, then I don't care. I will basically ...
rppkgai's user avatar
  • 269
0 votes
2 answers
264 views

How is "あるちゃあるけど" used?

As far as I understand "あるちゃあるけど" is close in meaning to "ないとは言い切れない" and "しいていえばある" but I could not find how it is used, nor understand the exact meaning.
light of gold's user avatar
3 votes
1 answer
151 views

Understanding 「…でけっこうですので、…」

In my textbook, I encountered the phrase 先生のお時間があるときでけっこうですので、[わからない言葉を教えていただきたいんですが] I assume that the meaning is approximately "I'd like to ask you something, but it's OK if you don't have time"...
ersbygre1's user avatar
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1 vote
1 answer
984 views

What does というのである mean here?

何しろ買い物から帰ってきたら、出かける前に見ていた街とは別の光景が広がっていたというのである。その場にへたり込んでしまわないだけ、折紙はまだ幾分落ち着いているのかもしれなかった。 Hi. This quote is a flashback from a novel. When 折紙 returned home she found the whole street was on fire and ...
chino alpha's user avatar
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2 votes
1 answer
207 views

Is 会いたくなる one way to say "I miss you?" [連絡とったら、会いたくなるやん] What is the nuanced meaning of 会いたくなる in this context?

I know that there is no direct translation for "I miss you" in Japanese. I am wondering if the nuanced understanding of 連絡とったら、会いたくなる indicates that it is too painful to contact because it leads to ...
Zee's user avatar
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5 votes
1 answer
337 views

山と積む: what does this と mean?

In the expression 山と積む (meaning 山ように積む , I think) I can't understand the grammatical function of this と. Is there any omission after と in the phrase? Or is this a use of と that I don't recognize? Or ...
giuc99's user avatar
  • 97
0 votes
1 answer
109 views

Meaning of phrase “to stay alive”? [duplicate]

気をつけてな! Is the meaning of this phrase “try to stay alive” or something like that? It’s like literally “keep your air attached to you”, right?
Ragaroni's user avatar
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3 votes
2 answers
3k views

About what age to stop using おいくつですか?

Is it natural to say 「おいくつですか」 to children who are around 10, or younger? Then, just like in Western culture, above a certain age I'm sure it is impolite or creepy to even ask another person's age. ...
user312440's user avatar
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