Questions tagged [usage]
用法・使い方. How to use certain words, phrases, particles, endings, constructions, and their variants.
1,343
questions
3
votes
1answer
137 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
108 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
154 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
782 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?
2
votes
2answers
189 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
212 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
367 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
89 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
120 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
121 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
504 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
244 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
262 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
118 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
156 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
159 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
732 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
100 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
142 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
179 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
115 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
116 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
128 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
105 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
197 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,...
11
votes
2answers
1k views
Meaning of だけはわからない
それでも彼には、自分のことだけはわからない。
I'm translating the above sentence from Japanese to English, and I'm having issues with understanding what だけはわからない means.
Why does だけ come before は?
says that だけは means 'at ...
1
vote
0answers
63 views
Difference usage of うまい and 上手? [duplicate]
I would like to tell that she is very good in Japanese . Which one is more suitable to use under sentences ...
彼女は日本語が[上手]{jouzu}です。
or
彼女は日本語がうまいです。
Can I use both sentences ? Is there no ...
1
vote
0answers
369 views
たくさん人 or たくさんの人 [duplicate]
I know the more grammatically correct version would be the Takusan NO hito, yet I'm sure I've read and heard both in Japanese media. Is the first a more colloquial way of saying it, or are there ...
1
vote
1answer
126 views
Why do I need to use のに instead of ので？
食べてばかりいるので、なんで太いじゃないだろう？？
I was told for this sentence I should use のに instead of ので. Why is のに better here? It seems like it changes the meaning from “so/since” to “even though”.
I wanted to say “...
3
votes
2answers
132 views
Is there some functional difference between デマ and ガセ?
According to gogen-allguide.com デマ comes from the German demagogie, so it would make sense for it to be similar to demagogy in English. But demagogy is used for political things like false claims and ...
2
votes
1answer
96 views
Is 「っしょ」possibly a colloquial sentence ending particle?
In this chapter of Chainsawman I saw this 「いいっしょ」 and am confused by what it means.
Are there any other particles like this? I don't see this on any lists online.
5
votes
2answers
233 views
Confusing use of あくまでも
I have a lot of trouble sorting out the different use of あくまでも.
According to goo, the definition is:
１ 物事を最後までやりとおすさま。徹底的に。
２ どこまでも。全く。
So something like:
Doing something until the very end. ...
1
vote
1answer
153 views
Saying “some” as in “What are some examples of this?”
How would you express “some” when you’re asking for a list of things or examples of something?
My gut is to just say whatever I’m talking about, like:
好きな鳥は何ですか？
meaning “What are some birds you ...
2
votes
1answer
275 views
How to order an individiual item instead of a set?
I say 「セット」 when I order a set, and I say 「これだけ」 when I just want to order an individual item.
Is there any common way to order an individual item instead of a set?
5
votes
1answer
127 views
あるか確認 vs あるかを確認
I understand that both have almost the same meaning.
But I was pointed out.
Is this a preference issue, or is one prioritized?
i.e.
「リンゴマークがあるか確認します。」
「リンゴマークがあるかを確認します。」
4
votes
1answer
93 views
Could anyone tell me about how to use か at the end of the news article I see it a lot and get confused about it all the time
I get confused about it all the time
Please explain how to use and how to translate it
Thank you for your explanation
1
vote
1answer
113 views
Difference between 〜がち and 〜つい？
If both can express habits like things you tend to do, what is the difference between their uses?
examples:
イケメン*が通るとつい見ちゃう。
昔の話をしていると話がついつい長くなる。
Why was つい used here? Would 〜がち also make sense?
-1
votes
1answer
266 views
でようか slang for で良いか? [closed]
This is the sentence I heard in an anime.
コーヒーでようか or コーヒーでよか.
I definitely did not mishear it for yoi 良い. Is this some slang for yoi? If so, which is the correct one? Stress or no vowel stress.
2
votes
1answer
180 views
What's the difference between 初心者, 入門者 and 初級者
I see 初級 Written mostly in books which mean beginner or elementary level, the other two were written on the same page for a drawing course i fould online as "入門者向け" and "初心者向け", but i don't see any ...
5
votes
4answers
265 views
Translating “different”?
I’m having trouble figuring out how to translate “different.”
I know the words 違う and 違い but I don’t know how to incorporate those to mean “different” or if that would even be correct.
「違う色がきれいだね。」
“...
2
votes
1answer
85 views
やることが多過ぎて気が張っているせいか
多過ぎ - too much
て - Why is it there? What's its position relating the grammar?
気 - Does it express intention? What does it represent exactly?
張って - to fill, to do maybe?
いるせいか - What is the ...
13
votes
1answer
740 views
Science writing - exact, precise, or accurate
While trying to write about an experiment I have done, I am having trouble deciding which words are appropriate for describing what I want to describe.
In non-scientific English, precise, and accurate ...
2
votes
1answer
229 views
How politely to say “you”?
I found many variants in the internet, but they include あなた, which as I know isn't polite and better not to say it to a stranger.
So, if I don't know the name/last name of the person, don't know the ...
2
votes
0answers
78 views
Sentences that end in a pronoun [duplicate]
A type of sentence or clause which seems to be common is one that has a long pre-modifying clause in front of a pronoun or a proper noun.
Example from a blog post:
塗装したいものがたくさんあるのに、塗料を決められない、...
1
vote
0answers
322 views
Koto ga arimasu vs. Koto wa arimasen [duplicate]
こんにちは!
I'm having some trouble understanding why は is used in the following response, instead of が. If someone could please help, I'd really appreciate it.
おさけ を のんだ こと が あります か / O sake o nonda ...
1
vote
2answers
610 views
How to determine 大都市 vs 都市
As I understand 都市 [toshi] means [city].
And therefore it could be any city, which is not town.
In Russia town means over 12K population.
100-250K pouplation = big town.
250-500K pupulation = small ...
2
votes
1answer
210 views
Meaning of によって/により
I’ve come across this phrase によって/により quite often and I’ve researched and found these meanings: by Person (この本は君によって書かれた？); due to/ because of; by means of (The teacher checked their knowledge by the ...
0
votes
3answers
136 views
Can the particle “no” の be used at the beginning of the sentence?
In the sentence
Watashi no hon.
Can the owner be omitted?
No hon.
4
votes
1answer
195 views
noun +うちに and noun+間に
When 間【あいだ】に and うちに are preceded by nouns, are they always interchangeable? For example, in 春【はる】休【やす】みのあいだに/うちに友達【ともだち】と一緒【いっしょ】に出掛【でか】けたい。 And also in: 大学生【だいがくせい】のうちに/間【あいだ】に留学【りゅうがく】する。
4
votes
2answers
881 views
How do I say what something is made out of?
The exact thing I want to know how to say is 'The wristwatch is made out of gold' and 'The wristwatch is gold and black in colour'. Would saying this be the same as talking about a house being made of ...
