Questions tagged [usage]
用法・使い方. How to use certain words, phrases, particles, endings, constructions, and their variants.
1,218
questions
6
votes
1answer
565 views
How to say “Why I started studying Japanese”
I have a Japanese assignment that requires me to write about anything I want. I decided that I wanted to write about why I want to learn Japanese. I think the title should be "Why I want to study ...
1
vote
0answers
83 views
What are the differences between うちに、間に、同時に, ながら & ついでに
These all generally mean whilst & during but I still (after ages of trying) make mistakes on where to use which one.
For anyone who knows the ins-and-outs of these grammar points, please explain ...
3
votes
1answer
110 views
Connotations and use of 日本晴(れ)
I know that 日本晴れ （にっぽん・ばれ）(it can be にほん, but is most commonly にっぽん) literally means "sunny Japan" and gives the sense of a clear sky, but I was wondering: are there any other connotations of this? I ...
2
votes
1answer
100 views
Difference between “doko desu ka” and “doko ga”
I've read: Difference between Xはどこ and どこがX.
I understand the top answer but I'm unsure of the "why" for why those two statements mean differently.
A) 「病院はどこですか。」
B) 「どこが病院ですか。」
They say that ...
1
vote
1answer
89 views
Which verb can I use with the word “散文”?
So basically, what I want to say is something along the lines of, "He begins his story with a rhyme" or, "He tells a poem and begins his story". What's the word for "tell" here? Is there a verb phrase ...
1
vote
0answers
53 views
What is the meaning or usage of the に at the end of the following sentence?
あなたもできる対処法とは? 不安から日常安心できる生活に 。
So what does the に here refer to? Is it になる?
2
votes
1answer
86 views
What is the meaning of 出るべきところ here?
首から下に目を向ければ、すらりと伸びきった四肢や、引き締まっていながらも胸や腰など出るべきところはきちんと出ているメリハリの利いたグラマラスボディ。
What does 出るべきところ mean here ?
Also what does メリハリの利いたグラマラスボディmodify here?
0
votes
1answer
54 views
What is the meaning of うなじや in the following passage?
雪乃の汗で濡れ光っている白いうなじや、上衣の合わせ目から覗くほっそりとした鎖骨は、清楚な容貌とは裏腹に淫靡な色香を漂わせている。
what does うなじや mean here ?
清楚な容貌とは裏腹に淫靡な色香を漂わせている。
Also what does 裏腹に refer to in this context?
2
votes
3answers
699 views
What is the meaning/usage of に in the following sentence?
ある事柄について感じた事(が、発表できる程度にまとまったもの)。
So, I understand the first sentence, but I'm a little confused about the second one.
My translation is: to have a feeling about a certain matter to the extent of ...
2
votes
1answer
140 views
What is the meaning of 何をどう?
Context: the narrative character is attempting to find a reason explaining his past behavior.
あの時、何をどう考えて行動したんだろう？
I understand the gist of the above sentence (as seen with my translation attempt ...
2
votes
0answers
96 views
Is 〜であるものか construction allowable?
In 新完全{しんかんぜん}マスター文法{ぶんぽう}N2 page xi the formation rules for 〜ものか are
普通形{ふつうけい}（ナ形｛けい｝だ-な・名｛めい｝だ-な）＋ものか
These rules seem to preclude the form 〜であるものか.
There is also this note at the bottom of ...
4
votes
1answer
93 views
In the sentence 雑誌のほうは彼に渡してくれ, what does のほう mean?
I found this sentence in an anki deck, which gives its translation as "Give him the magazine" or something to that effect. I understand the rest of the sentence but I'm not sure why it has ほう in it, ...
3
votes
2answers
145 views
Please illustrate the differences between 数 and 量. Also 番号？
数 refers to something's corresponding number. For example, a reading on a monitor.
量 refers to an amount, something that can be measured.
However, if you wanted to say that the number of something ...
-4
votes
1answer
107 views
Can a conbini be referred to as a benriya when translating the term literally?
Can both terms be used to indicate a convenience store? I was having a discussion about convenience stores, and a chat friend sent 便利屋. I answered as convenience store. My answer was correct. The ...
3
votes
2answers
298 views
鶏肉【とりにく】? 鶏肉【けいにく】? 鶏肉【ちょうにく】? チキン? for chicken meat
Others have asked about "chicken meat" in general, but I do not see any answer to this question: what is the usage difference between:
鶏肉【とりにく】,
鶏肉【けいにく】,
鶏肉【ちょうにく】,
and
チキン?
Thanks.
0
votes
1answer
176 views
How to say animal feed in Japanese? Is there a particular verb for eating when the subject is an animal?
Is the verb 食【た】べる used for animals that are eating?
Is animal food called 食事【しょくじ】?
I was having a conversation about a cat. I wanted to know what the cat was eating and the conversation came off ...
6
votes
1answer
164 views
The usage of あげく
My current understanding of the grammar あげく is based on this common explanation I gathered online:
spending considerable time and effort doing an action, resulting in an outcome
X + あげくY = “after ...
4
votes
1answer
109 views
What does 仕入れて来る mean here?
Person A: そのちょっと変な写真だったって、えっと心霊写真みたいな
Person B: どこで仕入れて来たんだそんなような話
What does 仕入れて来た mean here? I know the dictionary definition of 仕入れる which is to stock up but I don't know its meaning here and ...
1
vote
1answer
131 views
Adding -い at the end of questions [duplicate]
どうしたんだ vs どうしたんだい
そうか vs そうかい
This kind of thing. Is it a formality difference? Is it dialectical/Regional? Age related?
3
votes
1answer
92 views
what does 線 mean here?
The context here is that an elevator fell and someone died in the fall
ワイヤを止めてる金具が外れて落下という線には間違いないんだけどね
I understand the sentence but i can't wrap my head around 線's meaning here
10
votes
2answers
334 views
What is the difference between 体面 and 面目？
体面{たいめん} = honor; dignity; prestige; reputation; appearances
面目{めんぼく} = face; countenance; honor; reputation; prestige; dignity
As individual words they seem to be almost the same, is there any ...
1
vote
0answers
114 views
What does 測る mean here?
前に「知るタイミング」みたいなこと言ってましたよね、それってどうやって測ればいいんですか。
I can't understand what 測る means here. I know its dictionary definition is to measure or to weigh, but it seems to have another meaning in this sentence.
1
vote
1answer
84 views
What does かとか mean in this sentence?
血筋かとか言われたくなかったんでな.
I've been watching some anime and came across this sentence and while i understand what it means i can't understand the (かとか）part.
1
vote
1answer
156 views
Different ways to ask help from strangers
1) Offering help to strangers in Japanese is te form shimashouka ( o tetsudaishimashouka- Shall I help you / Do you need any help ?)
2) What are the different ways to seek help ( one I know is eki no ...
3
votes
1answer
78 views
What is the difference between 編修 and 編集?
According to the translator, 編修 and 編集 are pronounced as "Henshū" and given the same meaning of "Edit". Also, both can be used as a noun.
So are there any specific situations to use these words?
...
0
votes
1answer
88 views
Difference between 僕等 and 僕ら?
It’s in an amazarashi song. When he sings, he says 僕ら but if when I look at the lyrics it says 僕等. Is there a difference in these?
1
vote
1answer
93 views
What is the difference between 動画 and 映画？
My research indicates that both terms refer to movies, 動画 and 映画. Is there a difference in usage? Does 映画 refer to film/videotape based movies and 動画 refer to everything else?
6
votes
1answer
202 views
What is the difference between 調子【ちょうし】 (choushi) and 具合【ぐあい】 (guai)?
Both words mean condition. In what context do we use them? Is one for expressing the condition of living things and the other one for the non-living things?
0
votes
0answers
63 views
What is the difference in connotation between できれば and できたら?
Is できれば more polite? Is one more often used when describing favors?
Also could you please provide some examples?
2
votes
2answers
175 views
添付される for physical objects. Does it mean “included with” or “attached to”?
When 添付される is used for physical objects. Does it mean "included with" or physically "attached to"?
So far I've only seen 添付 used with email and paper documents, for which no distinction needs to be ...
2
votes
2answers
140 views
What is the difference between 「何を…ましょうか」, 「何を…ますか」 and 「何を…ませんか」?
What are the differences in meaning between these three sentences?
えいがはなにをみましょうか。
えいがはなにをみますか。
えいがはなにをみませんか。
Does the last sentence even make sense?
2
votes
1answer
245 views
Can さくじつ and きのう be used the same way?
Can さくじつ and きのう be used the same way? I know the terms mean yesterday. Thank you!
1
vote
1answer
86 views
what is に's role in this sentence?
その巨大{きょだい}な学園{がくえん}は都会{とかい}のど真{ま}ん中{なか}の一等地{いっとうち}に聳{そび}えたっていた
I can understand the meaning of this sentence but I can't comprehend what「に」is meaning in it.
-2
votes
1answer
95 views
What term is used to mean the game of American football?
I see terms for soccer and football and they seem closely related. What is the term used to clearly indicate American football? National/American Football League football. Thank you for your time in ...
3
votes
1answer
84 views
Is として in this sentence adverbial?
I was trying to get a full understanding of this sentence's structure:
政府が学校の建設を計画しているが、遅々として進まないので、現地にあるNGO組織が学校づくりを支援している
I know として as "As; In", like in 教師として, "as a teacher", but in this ...
0
votes
1answer
131 views
What is the meaning of している in this sentence?
I know from looking at the title many of you are thinking "Frey, you should KNOW THIS by now." And to be honest I should, its just a matter of the more research I did only served to further confuse me....
1
vote
3answers
195 views
Why is the particle と being used in the following sentences?
I'm reading the JLPT N3 読む guide and the explanation for the conjunction ただ says this:
前の文の内容と違うことがあると付け加えて説明する。
Also, there's a section where the next sentence appears:
台風が接近しています。そのため、...
4
votes
1answer
188 views
Can I use the title san if I refer to myself as an ojisan?
I know that the title san cannot be used when referring to myself. It seems appropriate to use if it is with a title of some sort. I just wanted to clarify. Thank You!
0
votes
1answer
109 views
I think できる in this sentence here means “begin to exist”, am I correct?
"大阪ではタピオカを入れた飲み物を売る店がたくさん***できていて***、。。。”
I looked it up in the Weblio Japanese-English Dictionary (the most trustworthy one online I suppose) and found this definition of できる (as below) the most ...
4
votes
1answer
144 views
Could you please help me understand this sentence from NHK News?
タピオカは暑いところでできる芋から作った食べ物で、最近若い人。。。
I can't understand the part underlined quite well.
Does it mean that Tapioca is made from 芋 that is grown in hot places, or does it mean that Tapioca is made in hot ...
6
votes
1answer
112 views
what doesかどうかという mean in this sentence?
I've been watching anime and came across this sentence:
全員足しても15人いるかどうかという寒村ぶりだ
I can't understand the meaning of かどうかという in this sentence.
The context is that the village is isolated, and it ...
4
votes
3answers
682 views
Why is there a が in 深淵に臨むが如し?
In the sentence 深淵に臨むが如し why is there a particle が after the verb 臨む? Shouldn't it be 深淵に臨むよう?
2
votes
1answer
93 views
What is the meaning of 「一人」in the following sentence?
今、女性一人が生む子どもの数が減ってきている。つまり、少子化が進んできている。 Now, the amount of women that give birth to a child is decreasing. That is to say, the declining birth rates are advancing.
What is the role of 「一人」? To me, ...
0
votes
1answer
127 views
Should I use 正解 or 当たり to mean correct in a testing situation?
I want to use the term(s) when indicating a correct answer to a TEST question. I am thinking that one term may be preferred in TESTING situations, over the other.
2
votes
2answers
145 views
Why is the term 者 used in some job titles and not others?
Why is the term 者 used in some job titles and not others? I see the term used for doctor, dentist and translator 医者, 歯医者, 翻訳者 to name a few, but not for teacher, mayor, secretary, etc.
4
votes
1answer
103 views
What are the nuanced usages of まず?
The following lines of dialogue is spoken by a girl to the narrative character in a book I'm translating.
「普通の人なら、あの状況{じょうきょう}ではまず間違いなくパニックになるわ。
自分の置かれた状況を把握{はあく}しようとして、混乱しているうちに殺されていたはずよ。
...
0
votes
0answers
64 views
ところ＋particle(助詞) precision
Hy, I am currently working on with 新完成マスター N3 for my grammar part and I get stuck on a small section of the lesson related to ところ(~p.17)。
So far, I understand that, according to this lesson, ところ can ...
3
votes
1answer
106 views
What is the difference between ending a question with んだ？and の？
I thought の when used in questions is for when you’re asking for an explanation or to have a curious tone, but んだ is also for explanation and I’ve seen both used to end questions so what are the ...
0
votes
1answer
89 views
So that + adjective? [closed]
How would you translate something like “so that you are/can be X”?
I bought this so that he’ll be safe.
I want to do this for you so that you’re happy!
2
votes
2answers
172 views
Why was し used instead of から？
通訳の仕事は視野が広がるし、自分自身も成長できるよね
In this message why is し used instead of から？I thought し was mainly for when there’s multiple reasons for things. Is there another use or reason for it or is it kinda like や,...
