Questions tagged [set-phrases]
成句. Phrases with fixed words used as a single unit, such as idioms. For questions about a particular idiom, please use the tag "idioms".
290
questions
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2answers
330 views
Meaning of それどうする気
Yamada has just collected a lot of insects and is asked:
「それどうする気?」
I'm guessing this is a set phrase along the lines of "What were you thinking?". I can't get any sense out of a literal ...
3
votes
2answers
246 views
function of the particle も in 「~も辞さない」
I came across the sentence「訴訟も辞さない」in a book today and even though I am able to understand its meaning, I can't figure out the actual function of も in this case.
I looked into my grammar dictionary ...
4
votes
1answer
1k views
Regarding 何と言うか、というのがある
Regarding this bit,
日本人がアメリカ人によく聞かれて困る質問の一つに、”How are you?" は日本語で何と言うか、というのがある
I'm guessing the meaning is something along the lines of
"One of the troubling questions that Japanese are ...
2
votes
1answer
126 views
Is saying Subjectは熱が痛いです correct? I thought we use あります
Saying I have fever is 熱があります. But my teacher messaged me that there won't be any class today because apparently 先生の女の子は熱が痛いです. Isn't saying 熱が痛いです is wrong because "fever" cannot feel pain?
4
votes
3answers
358 views
“Once upon a time” is to “The End” as “昔々” is to “______”?
(Question A) "Once upon a time" is to "The End" as "昔々" is to "______" ?
Here are my thoughts and problems with some possible answers:
ザーエンド
using ザー as "the". But this seems problematic since I ...
7
votes
1answer
358 views
Why does Siri say 座布団１枚お願いします when I told him he is an interesting person?
I use Siri to practice my Japanese. I basically say random things to him and see how he responds. (I know this is not even close to effective, don't judge me...)
Today I said to Siri that he is an ...
7
votes
3answers
3k views
What is the Japanese equivalent of “to pick up a girl” or “to hit on girls”?
How do you say "to pick up girls" in Japanese?
I would like to say: I'm going to go and pick up some girls!
I tried: 女を持ちに行くぞ！
But I don't think 持つ is the right verb to use here
-1
votes
1answer
746 views
Saying 'A little bit' instead of 「はい」 when asked 「日本語ですか？」 or similar?
みなさんこんにちは!
Let's say a 日本人 asked you 日本語ですか？ or whatever to ask yes/no if you can speak 日本語 or not.
If you can KIND OF speak it... but not really(or at least not well...), and thus wanna answer with ...
1
vote
1answer
181 views
Kanji or kana for いってきます?
Should I use kanji or kana for the first and second verbs in いってきます? When each verb is used individually there's usually kanji if I recall correctly, but I'm wondering if it's changed for being used ...
4
votes
1answer
1k views
How to confirm plans?
If you make plans to meat with someone, what's the best way to confirm the plans are still on. Something like "We're still meeting up tonight, right?"
Would anything like the following work, or is ...
7
votes
3answers
392 views
“fancy meeting you here”
Is there a phrase that Japanese people use to express amusement when seeing each other unexpectedly? For example, if you just said goodbye and then ran into each other somewhere else?
2
votes
1answer
222 views
When might someone say おしたいしておりました?
In what situation might a Japanese person say:
「おしたいして おりました。」
and what is it most commonly used to imply?
0
votes
2answers
220 views
Phrasing queries about doko
Should I use "doko wa otearai desu ka?" Or "otearai wa doko desu ka?"
Or are they the same?
3
votes
1answer
172 views
meaning in context of 矛先 and 逃げ切る
I'm writing my thesis on the newly perceived generation of さとり世代.
My Japanese reading is fairly good but I have this one article that I cannot crack.
My question is regarding the meaning of a word in ...
6
votes
2answers
356 views
How does the までに work in ご参考までに
I know it means roughly "for your reference", but I can't really grasp why it means that based on my understanding of までに (which I consider roughly as 'before' or 'by'). I can't really come to any ...
1
vote
1answer
105 views
Meaning of 勝つ手に
Dad is being told off for eating too fast and not leaving enough food for grandma and grandad. He replies:
「おう、これでも遠慮してるんだぞ。じいさんもばあさんも、どんどん勝つ手に食べりゃいいんだ。」
Even though it looks (bad) I'm holding ...
2
votes
2answers
1k views
Is there some set sentence for 「XXXX年度海外予算会議社長講評」?
I wonder, if there is some set sentence for the heading 「XXXX年度｛ねんど｝海外｛かいがい｝予算｛よさん｝会議｛かいぎ｝社長｛しゃちょう｝講評｛こうひょう｝」?
I have tried to translate it on my own, but I had difficulties with posing the word "...
4
votes
1answer
144 views
ことわざ for staying out of things you don't understand
Is there a ことわざ which means "don't talk about things you don't understand"?
2
votes
2answers
310 views
Meaning of このなかでは
I keep on hearing the term 「このなかでは」 and 「そのなかでは」from news, but I can't seem to find what it means anywhere. I found a meaning for 中, which is probably what なか refers to, as "while". Does it mean "...
7
votes
1answer
109 views
Can お[邪魔]{じゃま}します be used in cases of long-term stay?
So I need to write an email for an assignment where I am an exchange student who is going to Japan and staying at someone's house for a period of time.
I want to begin with "thank you very much for ...
7
votes
3answers
429 views
To test appliance before buying
First, I would like to let you know that I'm aware of a few topics already made regarding "try" here:
• Saying "try" in Japanese
• Different ways to "try"
But after ...
7
votes
1answer
2k views
Regarding どういたしまして usage
Japanese textbooks teach us to reply どういたしまして。 when people say ありがとうございます。So generally it means "You're welcome~"
But I read that a lot of people saying that when we say どういたしまして。 it somewhat looks "...
2
votes
1answer
161 views
Rain on your parade [closed]
How can I say something like "I hate to rain on your parade, but..." In Japanese? If there is no equivalent then kindly teach me how to say "Sorry to disappoint you, but..." Thanks!!!
15
votes
3answers
4k views
“Strike while the iron is hot” - Japanese equivalent
Is there an equivalent expression in Japanese for "strike while the iron is hot"?
I've seen a few questions on here with phrases and their equivalents. Does anybody know of a site where these are ...
2
votes
3answers
6k views
Common ways of asking for someones phone number
I saw somewhere today that [電話]{でんわ}[番号]{ばんごう}は何番ですか is used to ask for someone's phone number. It seemed strange to me since I usually hear it as [電話]{でんわ}[番号]{ばんごう}何ですか, and also because the literal ...
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vote
2answers
187 views
Meaning of 声をそろえる
What is the meaning of 声をそろえる in this conversation:
「だからってドロボーの手伝いまですることないじゃない」
お姉ちゃんがあきれたように言うと、ヒロシも声をそろえた。
「そうだぞ。そんなバカなことしない人間に育てるために、厳しくする方がまる子のためだ。...」
Literally I think it means 'to ...
3
votes
1answer
242 views
Context of “何様のつもりか”
I came across someone referring to the phrase "何様のつもりか" in the middle of an English-language discussion:
if I were [person X], I would be shouting "何様のつもりか" (although I am not, and so I can't)
...
3
votes
1answer
850 views
verb-ている in potential form やってられないよ
A girl is moaning about how she is treated for not doing her homework then pauses and says:
やってられないよ
I assume this is a contraction of やっていられないよ which would literally be "I can't be doing it". I'...
7
votes
2answers
2k views
Is it ok to say 問題ない instead of 問題じゃない? Why?
問題ない vs 問題じゃない
From what I understand the negative form of a noun is created with じゃない and not ない however my textbook uses 問題ない in an example (translated as "no problem").
Looking elsewhere on the ...
1
vote
1answer
131 views
How do I interpret お釣りが来るほど？
豪邸を三つ作ってもお釣りが来るほどの価値がある一級品の武器の筈だ。
I'm not sure how to interpret this part of the sentence. Is it some kind of phrase? I feel that it means something like "It should be a first class weapon that, even ...
4
votes
1answer
1k views
How to ask if someone is ready
I think I can ask something like もう学校に行く用意はできてるの for "Are you ready to go to school yet".
I was wondering what is the most natural way to simply ask "Are you ready yet?". E.g. the wife is in the ...
8
votes
2answers
16k views
“Hey Bro!” how to call out friends
There is a variety of words such as ”友” ”相棒” ”仲間”, etc. to describe a person as a friend or partner.
Is there a casual way to call out your friend in Japanese, instead of having to call his/her name ...
3
votes
1answer
1k views
Confusing use of と言えば
「おれは...」と田中が言えば、「おれは...」と吉田が言った。
Literally, "if Tanaka could say ... then Yoshida said ...".
What is the meaning of this structure? I've seen Aと言えば to mean "speaking of A", but that doesn't seem to ...
4
votes
1answer
408 views
Meaning of 身もフタもない
怒られるタイプの人のことを考えていて、自分が怒られたんじゃ、身もフタもないじゃないの
I've been thinking about people who are the type to get scolded and, I scold myself...
I can't make any sense out of the part in bold. Literally I get, "...
10
votes
1answer
884 views
Why is やりたい放題 used as opposed to やり放題?
A common word in Japanese, meaning "all-you-can-drink", is "飲み放題". It is "放題" - as much as you would like - appended to the verb-stem of "飲む". It is the same rule for instance, for: 食べ放題, 読み放題, （電話）...
6
votes
1answer
179 views
Meaning and usage of 運のツキ
何さ、いやな人たちだね。こんな家に生まれてきたのが運のツキだよ。
What!? I'm an unpleasant person am I? To be born in a house such as this ...
Bit confused by the part in bold.
運 means "luck" and ツキ can also mean "luck". So is ...
5
votes
1answer
214 views
「私の緊張のあまり」 vs.「私は緊張のあまり」in this sentence?
sentence #1:
自分{じぶん}の番{ばん}が近{ちか}づいてきたとき、私{わたし}は緊張{きんちょう}のあまり頭{あたま}の中{なか}が真{ま}っ白{しろ}になってしまった。
sentence #2:
自分の番が近づいてきたとき、緊張のあまり、私は頭の中が真っ白になってしまった。
sentence #3:
自分の番が近づいてきたとき、...
5
votes
2answers
2k views
Meaning of nounってとこ
People are discussing the characters in a comedy show and one of them asks
高木ってとこじゃないの
From the context I'm guessing it means "You like Takagi, don't you?"
Again the dreaded って. Don't know if it ...
3
votes
1answer
86 views
Meaning of じわれができる
その瞬間、まる子は、地割れができて、AとBとCの三人と、まる子とDとEに分けられてしまったような気がした。
Just then Maruko had a feeling that the group seemd to be divided into the three people A,B,C, and herself and D and E.
The only meaning I can ...
8
votes
2answers
434 views
“なし” used for both animate and inanimate things?
I was so surprised to read:
孝行をしたい時分に親はなし。
(paraphrase) When one finally wants to truly fulfill the obligation to his/her parents, they often have already passed away.
(note): I would have said ...
12
votes
4answers
1k views
Why “お食事の際は、…” instead of “ご飯を食べる際は、…”?
In the following, my textbook says that #1 is the correct choice.
(1) お食事の 際は、こちらのテーブルをお使いいただけます。
(2) ご飯を食べる 際は、こちらのテーブルをお使いいただけます。
I think that both are grammatically correct and have the same ...
2
votes
1answer
90 views
can i say “四者択一の問題”?
Since "二者択一の問題" is a multiple choice problem with 2 options, would it be understandable to say:
"三者択一の問題" --> multiple choice with 3 options
"四者択一の問題" --> multiple choice with 4 options
.....
would ...
5
votes
2answers
632 views
“お調べいただいた上、” vs. “お調べいただき、…”
What is the difference in meaning between:
(1) お調べいただいた上{うえ}、注文通りの品をお送り下さいますよう、お願いします。
(2) お調べいただき、注文通りの品を送り下さいますよう、お願いします。
I understand #2.
(2) Upon your looking into the matter, please ...
4
votes
2answers
615 views
What to say when answering the phone
I'm often unsure what to say when answering the telephone when I am the customer; people usually say their name and then wait for me to say something before stating their business. I'm guessing there ...
2
votes
1answer
301 views
What do these sentences mean? [closed]
Recently, I heard (in a song) these 3 sentences and I can't translate some words in them. I've tried various translators but I'm still confused, so I hope you can help me. Sentences are.
紡いだ日々もあるよ
...
3
votes
2answers
859 views
Farewell message - 悔しさをバネに
On my last day my co-worker told me this. I'm not sure what バネに means. I tried looking it up but didn't get anywhere.
ここでの悔しさをバネに、次のとこでもがんばってくださいね
1
vote
2answers
25k views
'nihongo ga wakarimasen' vs 'nihongo wo hanashimasen' ga and wo usage?
I'm afraid this question might be basic knowledge, but for the life of me, I cannot figure it out:
So most of us know the phrase 'nihongo ga wakarimasen' (meaning: I don't understand japanese) but ...
1
vote
1answer
99 views
ヤマトナデシコ七変化 translation
What is the meaning of this phrase? I understand the lady and kabuki references but overall, what is it trying to say?
5
votes
2answers
414 views
In Japanese, how do you say you will skip ahead past one section for time's sake while reading aloud to an audience?
How do you succinctly say that you are going to skip ahead past the next section or paragraph for time's sake and tell the audience which spot you are picking up again when reading a paper aloud at an ...
3
votes
1answer
418 views
In Japanese, how do you tell the reader that a quotation is literally translated from the original when the original sounds strange?
In cases where the original wording of a quotation sounds strange, and thus the Japanese translation of it sounds unnatural, my advisor says I need to add a note each time in my academic paper to tell ...
