用法・使い方. How to use certain words, phrases, particles, endings, constructions, and their variants.
7
votes
2answers
115 views
What's the difference between 意外にも and 意外に?
I was practicing writing for Japanese and I wanted to say, "We don't say it often, but surprisingly, it has the same meaning as "good luck""
My original sentence was "あまり言わないけど、意外に、「がんばって！」と同じ意味だよ。" ...
9
votes
2answers
106 views
Meaning of その in particular phrases
I know that phrases like [Noun A + to と+ sonoその + Noun B] can be translated as "A and his/her/its B".
However, when there is no 'to' と, I get a bit puzzled about the meaning.
For instance, which ...
6
votes
1answer
86 views
Referring to Korean people as an ethnic group and not as political entities?
While rereading a question and answer I posted here I started thinking about how one would refer to Koreans as an ethnic whole rather than as the currently separate political countries they are.
I ...
3
votes
3answers
102 views
-ています / present continuous form not used in habitual action
I have read this sentence in my book :
山田{やまだ}さんは毎朝{まいあさ}６時{じ}に起きます{おきます}。
Why isn't the present continuous used (起きています) since it is obviously a habit for Yamada-san to wake up at 6 every morning?...
9
votes
1answer
145 views
書類や資料などの内容の引用について
My English isn't good, so I have always asked in Japanese, but Japanese isn't my mother tongue either. Sometimes, when I'm asking a question in Japanese, the question and the example are related to a ...
5
votes
2answers
189 views
I want to know the difference between ここに and ここは
What is the difference between the following sentences:
ここは きょうしつ です。
これは きょうしつ です。
ここに きょうしつ です。
14
votes
4answers
297 views
Is using 人口 when referencing animal populations alright?
I am writing about that Isle of Dogs movie and I wanted to write 日本の犬の人口. Since it has the character for person in it, I was wondering if it is appropriate for animals. Any help would be appreciated!
1
vote
1answer
52 views
What is the meaning of とも in this sentence?
I need some help with the meaning of とも in this sentence
とも言えますが
I have tried looking the definition up but it doesn't seem to fit in this context.
I have the first part roughly translated as
...
2
votes
2answers
57 views
そう in “あなたはどうしてそう私を心配させるの”
I understand そう normally means "seems that way", "I think so", etc. In this case, そう comes after どうして and before 私. Which word before or after should be paid attention to in this case to derive the ...
2
votes
1answer
93 views
In what way does ちうわけで serve this sentence?
From my understanding, absent "ちうわけで", this simply means, "Is it OK if I go to break." Is it similar to "こういうわけで"?
1
vote
2answers
70 views
Direct objects of motion verbs and help with the difference between を and に
まちをぶらぶらあるく。
English translation: Walk aimlessly through town.
I understand that aimlessly walk takes the object town and that’s why we use を, but wouldn’t it make more sense to use に as the town is ...
3
votes
1answer
65 views
＃回に＃度: probability or sequence?
In a game manual, there is a description of a rare item that sometimes appears instead of a regular one. The rule determining when this rare item appears is this:
16回に１度、Ｘのかわりに出現。
In an earlier ...
2
votes
1answer
79 views
Where? Variations and usages
I have come across three main ways to indicate the idea of "where" in Japanese:
どこ
どこに
どちら
Can anyone shed light on when one is used or preferred over another? Or with what combination of word ...
2
votes
1answer
81 views
Why does this sentence have so many words to describe its title?
I’m translating The Little Prince for fun and I have a question about the first part of this sentence.
その本の名前は『ほんとう にあった話』というタイトルで、原始のジャングルについて書かれていた本だった
Why do we have so many naming words in this?...
5
votes
1answer
130 views
Word select: 食べます？／飲みます？
食べ物の場合は動詞「食べる」を使いますが、飲み物の場合は動詞「飲む」を使います。ところが、食べ物と飲み物をいっしょに出た場合はどの動詞を使いますか。
例①：パンとミルクを...（食べます？／飲みます？）…
例②：コーヒーとりんごを...（食べます？／飲みます？）…
1
vote
1answer
93 views
Why would you use 好き to describe a favorite object?
After taking some notes from various classes, I have come across some of the same translations:
好{す}きな音楽{おんがく}：Favorite Music
好{す}きな人{ひと}：Favorite person
etc.
Why would one use 好{す}き instead of 大好{...
3
votes
1answer
93 views
~なけりゃ or ~なきゃ, how to know which one to use?
風邪を引いたから薬を早く飲まなきゃ
I know that generally, eba contracts to ya
(答えれば → 答えりゃ）
(おけば → おきゃ）
If the original form in this sentence is 飲まな[ければ]{ll}ならない.いけない
how shall we choose between 飲まなきゃ and 飲まなけりゃ?
0
votes
1answer
111 views
Can anyone help identify this character 僮?
I found this character on a website and the only associated meaning was "child, servant." Can anyone elaborate on when it may be used and why?
1
vote
2answers
148 views
Meaning of もの in this title/name
An enemy (a monster) in a game I was reading about is called [時を食らうもの]{ときをくらうもの}, which is translated as "Time Devourer". Is the もの used as sort of a -er suffix, or does it have a different function?
0
votes
1answer
66 views
When a kanji term is listed as outdated, is it for specific words or all of the words that use it?
I read jisho a lot and I run into words with outdated kanji. Does this mean that the kanji term is outdated for a particular word or all words that use it?
3
votes
1answer
114 views
Referring to the Four Seasons of Japan
To say "Four Seasons" in Japanese would you say:
Shiki しき or Yottsu no kisetsu よっつのきせつ or will either do?
1
vote
1answer
57 views
Usage of 目黒 outside of 目黒区
I am wondering if 目黒 can be used as a noun outside of its usage as a district name.
Examining each character,
目 eye, vision, sight, etc.
黒 black, guilt, etc.
provides a couple of interesting ...
1
vote
2answers
85 views
a sentence that ends with “de”
sorry if my English is bad but neither English nor Japanese is my language. i'm new to Japanese too. I have a question that i hope you will answer it.
"赤ちゃんだんごはいつも幸せの中で"
This is from a song named "...
4
votes
1answer
110 views
Is チョンボ commonly used to mean mistake (outside of conversations about 麻雀), even by people who don't play it?
I heard someone say チョンボを犯した in a situation where they could not possibly be talking about 麻雀. I don't know if he plays 麻雀 or not, but it made me wonder, how common is using チョンボ to mean mistake among ...
2
votes
3answers
135 views
What does 口 add to words like 出口？
As I am going over the uses of N5 kanji, I have gotten confused as to why 口（ぐち）is used in places such as 出口 and 入口. What meaning does it add?
3
votes
0answers
24 views
Which is preferred, 気が遠くなるほど or 気の遠くなるほど? [duplicate]
Considering the expression 気が遠くなるほど to describe something of a large scale or hard to conceive, is the variant 気の遠くなるほど also correct and is there any difference in meaning or nuance? Is there any sort ...
7
votes
1answer
559 views
How do I respond to よろしくお願いします after being assigned a task at work?
My supervisor at work tells me よろしくお願いします after she gives me a task to do in the office. What is the appropriate way to respond? I've looked around on the internet but have been unsuccessful in ...
0
votes
1answer
78 views
What's the meaning of 終末 in 終末の微笑
What's the meaning of 終末 in 終末の微笑?
I know 微笑 means smile, but would 終末の translate to "The final", "The last" etc. Would you be able to say 最後 in 最後の微笑 and it would have the same meaning?
Thank you
6
votes
1answer
142 views
What nuances are carried when addressing someone as きみ?
What nuances are carried when addressing someone as きみ?
I often hear a (Japanese) manager addressing his subordinates using きみ
My partner told me that addressing him as きみ made him feel like we were ...
1
vote
1answer
49 views
The usage of 比べて — without saying the thing being compared to?
I want to express: 'He is good at basketball. In comparison, she is less skilled.'
My sentence is: 彼はバスケットボールで上手です。彼女は、比べて、下手です。
Is this correct? Please correct me for any errors I've made
...
1
vote
1answer
103 views
I'm trying to describe a bird hopping from branches to branches
Respected readers,
I would very much appreciate your help for this problem,
So, I want to say: 'These birds prefer hopping over flying, so normally you would see them hopping from branches to ...
3
votes
1answer
129 views
Meaning of ~たりしたため
Respected readers,
I have come across the following phrase from an online article :
(extract from https://www3.nhk.or.jp/news/easy/k10011524021000/k10011524021000.html).
...
3
votes
1answer
169 views
Usage of に in 「雨にぬれる」
雨{あめ}にぬれる
Why shouldn’t it be
雨{あめ}でぬれる
Could you please explain to me why に is used in this expression? Is で incorrect here or is there a difference in nuance?
0
votes
0answers
47 views
What should I say to boss when the last day of working? [duplicate]
I always say お疲れ様でした to boss before leaving office.
But I want to know what Japanese saying normally in the last day of working (job quitting day)
P.S I will quit my job this month
1
vote
1answer
73 views
Multiple verbs as noun modifiers
I am trying to say something like "The button labeled 'blue' at the lower right is red."
I know that adjectives can be connected together with their て-form. It seems like maybe the the same should ...
0
votes
1answer
105 views
How is 盛り上げ used in these examples?
Context: Guy is talking about this girl, Haruno, to someone else about how he wants to impress her with his dancing skills.
(宴)を踊って盛り上げろ？
Does dancing get you excited?
I assumed 踊って is the ...
2
votes
1answer
55 views
About って in the following sentences
って has many meanings in spoken Japanese. Although I have looked it up in the dictionary, I am still confused about it. Please tell me the following usage.
①いいかげんに早く寝なさいだって(please tell me the ...
1
vote
1answer
67 views
Is「どっちかの～は～」a non-slang Japanese expression?
So, this catchy song, "U.S.A." by DA PUMP:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sr--GVIoluU
https://www.oricon.co.jp/special/51204/
https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/USA_(DA_PUMP%E3%81%AE%E6%9B%B2)
has the ...
2
votes
3answers
115 views
What's the role of the に particle in this sentence?
I'm having trouble to understand why the ni particle is being used here.
ギルダが「情報源」？
本当にギルダ…？
That's a part of Yakusoku no Neverland manga, when Emma (one of the main characters) is doubting if Gilda ...
3
votes
1answer
102 views
The usage of 'も' in a question
I'm really new to learning Japanese, so can answers be kept simple, please.
I just learned about 'も' as far as I am aware, this means 'also' or 'as well', my question concerns its usage in a basic ...
1
vote
1answer
97 views
「ヘト」という意味はなんですか。 [duplicate]
I tried looking up へと in the sentence スカイテラスへと続く廊下。but that didn’t yield much results towards my comprehension on the matter.
I know the sentence means something like “The corridor lead to the sky ...
3
votes
2answers
139 views
Is 「今朝」 or 「今日の朝」 more natural?
I've come across several forums online detailing that 「今朝」 sounds either very formal or old-fashioned in that it is not used too often nowadays. However, it is also the one I see most commonly used in ...
4
votes
2answers
121 views
「素早い」と「早い」ってどう違いますか？
ビジュアルノベルを読んでいたら、次の文が出てきました。
少女は素早く辺りを見回し、護りの構えをとる。
The girl quickly takes a look around and assumes a defensive stance.
質問: どうしてこの場合「素早い」が選ばれているのですか。「早い」でもいいのでしょうか。
＊このポストは僕が初めて日本語だけで書いたものですので、...
2
votes
2answers
134 views
What is the meaning of adjectives ending in 〜く?
I understand that the following words are adjectives:
早{はや}い early/fast
近{ちか}い close/near
すごい awesome/great
However I’m unsure how to use the forms ending in 〜く such as:
早{はや}く
...
6
votes
2answers
105 views
Nが好き vs Vのが好き what form should be used?
Some nouns can be converted to verbs with する
I'm wondering which form should be used in cases like that?
Or is it same as in English and can be easily swapped?
旅行するのが好きです
旅行が好きです
Also is ...
0
votes
2answers
81 views
Differences between いる and まつ
I understand what the verb まつ (wait) means fairly clearly but my book has no example of いる in a sentence and its definition seems to be similar except it uses が and に as particles for some reason?
...
2
votes
1answer
68 views
そういうことです vs そういうことになります
In a mystery story I was reading, a revelation is uncovered that changes the perception of the case. One of the characters then asks, "では, ...... というのですか?". I removed parts of the actual line to avoid ...
0
votes
1answer
56 views
The place of noun and information using の?
I have seen articles like 秘密のとんかつレシピ. This would mean that the prior word is defining the latter, it's the secret Tonkatsu Recipe. Is this true? Thanks in advance!
3
votes
1answer
82 views
「〜すぎる」と「〜まくる」はどう違いますか。
question: Is there a difference in feeling for the words? Like すぎる feels more negative with an emphasis on disagreement with the action taken, while まくる is more about the amount?
Examples I came ...
0
votes
0answers
48 views
「僅か」と「短い」は違いがありますか。
I was wondering if there is a difference in usage between 僅か and 短い?
I don’t mean the obvious difference of 僅か being a 名詞 and 短い being an イ形容詞, but more usage-wise in situations like:
短い時間
and
...
