Questions tagged [usage]
用法・使い方. How to use certain words, phrases, particles, endings, constructions, and their variants.
1,398
questions
-3
votes
0answers
120 views
What tense to use in arigato?
You can say:
「ありがとうございます」
「ありがとうございませ」
「ありがとうございまして」
「ありがとうございませ」
But when to use the different ones?
(extra question for those of you who are looking to answer questions)
mase or mashite???
I'm not ...
1
vote
1answer
59 views
どうせだったら, どうせなら and どうせだから
どうせだから seems to occur more when some sort of causality is in place or some sort of explanation is expected, and it also often appears as a standalone sentence. And I guess どうせだったら would be more likely ...
0
votes
0answers
46 views
The meaning of "んやし" in this sentence [duplicate]
I found this sentence in a book I was reading.
今時間ないんやし用件は口で言って.
While I understand what the sentence means, I can't find the reason why "んやし" is there.
0
votes
1answer
66 views
Are てからでないと and てからで なければ the same?
Are てからでないと and てからで なければ the same?
I learned them in N3 shinkanzen book and I was confused. Are they the same? Can I use them interchangeably?
1
vote
2answers
265 views
How do you talk about a word or phrase itself?
Basically, I want to know how to talk about the meta properties of a word or phrase while mentioning said word or phrase in the same sentence.
Maybe って is somehow involved, but I don't know even know ...
2
votes
0answers
49 views
Difference between どれだけ and どのくらい and どんなに
It seems that どれだけ can be used interchangeably with どのくらい and どんなに, but is there any difference in nuance?
For example:
(どれだけ/どんなに)聞いても意味が分からない
(どれだけ/どんなに)説明しても、あの人はわかってくれない
彼の身長は(どれだけ/どのくらい)ですか。
...
1
vote
0answers
89 views
I don't get the meaning of 思うたより [duplicate]
I recently encountered the following sentence
みんな思うたより緊張しとらんのぉ
I understand it means "everyone is less stressed than I expected." What I don't understand is why it is 思うたより rather than ...
2
votes
2answers
1k views
ドアのカギを外してください meaning
DeepL translates ドアのカギを外してください to either "Remove the key from the door", "Unlock the door", or "Remove the door lock"
Which one of these is the more common meaning or is ...
2
votes
0answers
92 views
Does に function like は in お前に俺の気持ちがわかるもんか? [duplicate]
I saw this sentence in this topic, but I just have a different question.
お前に俺の気持ちがわかるもんか。
Does に here function like は? Because I think the sentence can also be written like this
お前は俺の気持ちがわかるもんか。
2
votes
0answers
52 views
日本人の男の人 vs 日本の男の人 vs <something else entirely>? [duplicate]
I want to say "a Japanese man." I am still learning introductory-level Japanese, but I know I can say
男の人 to refer to a man somewhat politely. I figured I could just say 日本の男の人 to specify ...
5
votes
2answers
147 views
Difference between「なんか」and「なんだか」?
What are some examples of their usage? Is なん the short form of 何【なに】 in both words?
Also, not sure if this is correct, but the だ in the middle of なんだか should be the copula. Why is the copula being ...
2
votes
1answer
69 views
Usage of では in this sentence
I have read some topics about usage of では on the internet, like で for places, means, tools and は to mark the subject, argument,... However, I can't apply those to explain meaning of では in this ...
1
vote
1answer
480 views
How do I know if 「何でいきますか」 means "Why did you go?" or "In what means did you go?"
Ａ： あした 東京【とうきょう】へ 行き【いき】ます。
Ｂ： 何【なん】で 行き【いき】ますか。
Ａ： 新幹線【しんかんせん】で 行き【いき】ます。
Ｂ： 一人【ひとり】で 行き【いき】ますか。
Ａ： いいえ、会社【かいしゃ】の 人【ひと】と 行き【いき】ます。
(original page)
The example given here (from Minna no Nihongo 1) ...
2
votes
0answers
80 views
Can あなたはなんで会社へいきますか mean "How did you get to work?" (such as via what means) [duplicate]
Can あなたはなんで会社へいきますか mean "How did you get to work?" as in what method did you use to get to work (train, bus, etc.) or can it only mean the literal translation of "Why do you go to work?...
1
vote
1answer
97 views
Can you say 「普段に○○」 or does it have to be「 普段は○○」？
Can you say 「普段に○○」 or does it have to be「 普段は○○」?
1
vote
1answer
89 views
勝負 being used with あげる、もらう、くれる
Is it possible to use 勝負 with あげる、もらう、くれる?
ex. "I'll give you this match." (Give the win)
Also, can 勝負 be used in place of a physical videogame?
-1
votes
1answer
134 views
Do japanese people actually make jiiii sound when staring like in anime?
I noticed that in anime, almost every character make "jiii" sound when staring. Is this an anime only thing or do people actually make "jiii" sound in real life when staring? I ...
1
vote
1answer
67 views
Can 訂正 be used like this? 訂正しろ、今すぐ。
From here: https://nihongomaster.com/japanese/dictionary/word/41934/teisei
訂正しろ、今すぐ。 Translation: Take that back, right now!
("Take that back" as in taking back what you said.)
Can 訂正 be ...
2
votes
3answers
970 views
Does "彼は昼過ぎに来ます" mean "He'll come after lunch." or "He'll come in the afternoon."?
Dictionary says 昼 means noon, midday, or lunch but colloquially if someone says "彼は昼過ぎに来ます" would it mean "He'll come after lunch." or "He'll come in the afternoon."?
2
votes
1answer
87 views
I do not understand how 世間 works with 一般 in this sentence
I came across this sentence - 彼は世間一般の学生とは違っている
I also read the meaning of the various kanji used here. If I'm not mistaken, 一般の学生 already means ordinary students or average students. But how does 世間 ...
2
votes
1answer
130 views
Is にする always a voluntary action taken by the speaker (or target person)?
Source
にする is defined as "to decide on" but does it always represent a voluntary action taken by the speaker or are there cases when it is not neccesarily up to their decision?
For example,
...
2
votes
1answer
129 views
Use of chance (チャンス)
Was wondering if it is natural to use 「チャンス」in Japanese sentences.
For example, 「本を読むチャンスになって」
It feels somewhat natural, as I likely heard it in a manga, but wanted to see if it was okay to use it in ...
0
votes
1answer
44 views
0
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1answer
130 views
Popular conventions that Japanese people use the Japanese characters to draw or type Emoji
This question is about the popular conventions that Japanese people use the Japanese characters to draw or type Emoji.
What are some principles and conventions that Japanese people follow?
Here is one ...
4
votes
1answer
143 views
The reading of 灯
Recently I have discovered that there are so many 訓読み for 灯, and all of them seem to carry similar meanings, surrounding the core concept of "light." Can someone explain to me the ...
1
vote
1answer
71 views
Understanding the subject and object when using 満足/満足できない
I'm a little confused as to who the sentence is referring to as the satisfied/dissatisfied person.
for example: 彼はもう彼女満足できない。
I understand this sentence to mean: He cant be satisfied by/with her ...
-3
votes
2answers
94 views
歓迎しましょう vs 歓迎します vs ようこそ
What is the difference between:
歓迎しましょう (Kangei shimashou)
歓迎します (Kangei shimasu)
ようこそ (Yōkoso)
They all mean "welcome" but in which occasions should we use which more appropriately. ...
3
votes
1answer
86 views
What’s the difference between 始まっている最中に and 始まろうとしているとき in this context?
I am currently studying for the JLPT N2, and I am confused about the answer for this particular practice question:
会議が（ ）リンさんが慌てて入ってきた。
I put 始まっている最中に as the answer, but my textbook tells me that ...
0
votes
2answers
132 views
Is no the same as not?
is いいえ/no the same as not? For example, if I said,いいえ きょう, would that mean Not Today? Or No Today? I know google translate is known to be inaccurate, but it shows both Not and No as the same, いいえ. ...
-1
votes
2answers
155 views
結構{けっこう}と決行{けっこう}と欠航{けっこう}
I'm sure the YouTuber Dogen's name would not be strange to a lot of people here on this site, and I'm sure a lot of you have seen his this video where he makes fun of words that sounds similar.
...
4
votes
1answer
545 views
How to properly use とまる/とめる/やむ/やめる/とどまる/とどめる/よす/さす
There are a lot of native Japanese verbs that use 止, namely 止まる{とまる}, 止める{とめる}, 止む{やむ}, 止める{やめる}, 止まる{とどまる}, 止める{とどめる}, 止す{よす}, and 止す{さす}.
There are many confusing parts about these words for a ...
0
votes
2answers
115 views
Difference between 原因 and 理由
The posts here and here do not address the difference between 原因 and 理由.
So, in short, what are the difference in usage between these words? Both seem to mean reason.
日本に来た理由は見つからない
日本に来た原因は見つからない
...
2
votes
1answer
124 views
の(代名詞) after の adjectives
So, when we use the 代名詞 の, it goes like this:
美味しいのをください Please give me the tasty one
静かなのはあれ The quiet one is that one
But what happens with adjectives or nouns that take a の already?
最後のの？ 最後なの？
1
vote
1answer
116 views
there's a sentence that's in negative in japanese, but translated to english is in positive, why
The sentence is
俺は自分が生き残ることしか考えていなかった.
the only thing I thought about was surviving.
ore ha jibun ga ikinokoru koto shika kangaeteinakatta.
i don't really understand why in japanese it uses the ...
2
votes
1answer
48 views
～と言いました vs ～とのことです
お忙しいところ、すみません。質問が２つあります。
In this sentence:
田中さんは「明日10時にまた電話します」と言いました。
Could it also be said as:
田中さんは明日10時にまた電話するとのことです。
Since when translated, they are both:
Mr. Tanaka said that he will call ...
1
vote
0answers
66 views
What does the ち mean in this situation? [duplicate]
Why is Ms. Kobayashi's Dragon Maid written as 小林さんちのメイドラゴン instead of 小林さんのメイドラゴン? I'm still new to Japanese and I don't understand what the ち is for in the title. Can it be written either way? I can'...
1
vote
1answer
89 views
What does でね mean at the end of a sentence?
I keep seeing this at the end of sentences lately, but couldn't find much explaining it online. When I see it, I feel like it's usually serving as some kind of explanation but I'm not entirely sure.
...
2
votes
2answers
189 views
What are the differences between 賠 and 償?
I am learning kanji with Heisig's method, and I have seen that 賠 and 償 means the same (compensation, indemnify), so I have been searching for examples in 'Yomiwa' and 'jisho.org' trying to clear my ...
0
votes
1answer
100 views
Is there any difference between でしょう and でしょ besides politeness level?
I understand that でしょ is a contraction of でしょう used in very casual speech. Besides that difference in the degree of politeness, do they also have any difference in meaning or usage?
0
votes
1answer
72 views
Question on the other meaning of するのに
First of all, I might be mistaken entirely about this, and if so, feel free to just point that out. But, I seem to have many memories of conversations with Japanese speakers in which "するのに" ...
0
votes
1answer
100 views
How are 造語 like ググる or スタバる used and by whom?
I'm trying to find out more about innovative verbs that come from loanwords, and i have a couple questions about them:
Are they used by older people/in formal situations? Or are they really slang?
I'm ...
1
vote
1answer
141 views
Do particles go after or between question words?
Recently, I have realized something interesting:
The following sentences are from Japanese lyrics of different songs, so they must be grammatically correct:
誰よりも輝く君を見て
誰にも話せない
誰の心にも、大切な場所がある
...
1
vote
0answers
33 views
What does "との" mean in the following sentence? [duplicate]
Unfortunately the sentence was written in romaji so i'm not sure if との is supposed to be written in hiragana or if its written in kanji but the sentence goes like this (the translation is also taken ...
2
votes
2answers
720 views
Should I use -Sensei (先生) to refer to a teacher if they aren't my teacher?
Does it make a difference whether they teach at my school, even if they don't teach my class?
3
votes
1answer
69 views
When is 請じる used?
I read a novel, with the following sentence :
社会部記者と称する男は、快く支配人の部屋へ請じられた。
According to jisho.org,請じる means "to invite; to show (someone) in". I searched online for examples of sentences ...
2
votes
1answer
133 views
Why are these sentences with conditional forms not correct?
I'm struggling a lot with the use of conditional forms, especially using ～たら and ～なら. I recently had the following sentences corrected by my Japanese teacher:
a. 専門書を買ったら、私にも見せてください。
b. 専門書を買うなら、...
1
vote
2answers
106 views
What does 送る mean in this sentence and is it similar to 生活を送る?
幻聴？あたし妄想見やすいタイプなのかな？父親の愛情なき幼児体験おくってっからな…
(first sentence for context)...because I experienced childhood without my father's love.
Would it work to also say 「幼児体験で育ったから」?
I'm also wondering if it is ...
1
vote
1answer
120 views
Usage/difference between ーみたい、－そう、and っぽい [duplicate]
So I know that these words would have the same-ish meanings, however the usage confuses me.
For example:
A:「この歌の歌手はBさんの声________よ。」
B:「本当ですか？ありがとう！」
Which would be used in a sentence like that? Why?
2
votes
2answers
69 views
Same sentence, different use of conditional
Are both of the following sentences correct?
a. 明日授業に出たら、予習したほうがいいですよ。
b. 明日授業に出るのなら、予習したほうがいいですよ。
I feel like (a) does not sound good, but I cannot say why.
2
votes
1answer
1k views
What does it mean when someone refers to themselves as この + name?
When watching taiga dramas, I have noticed that people often talk about themselves in the third person. Also, they say kono before their name.
Example, "kono Musashi will fight them".
I'm a ...
