Questions tagged [word-choice]
使い分け. The differences between two or more words or phrases and how to select the best one for a given situation.
2,847
questions
2
votes
1answer
48 views
得意{とくい} vs 上手{じょうず} and 下手{へた} vs 苦手{にがて}
I was doing some pre-made flashcard by others and was wondering what the difference between 得意{とくい} and 上手{じょうず} is and the difference between 下手{へた} and 苦手{にがて} is since they all mean good at or bad ...
2
votes
1answer
68 views
よみに・よむのに・よむために difference
よみに・よむことに・よむために
よみに家にかえる。
よむのに家にかえる。
よむために家にかえる。
What is the difference between the above?
What best fits the English translation "I will go home to read"?
Please explain why and ...
7
votes
2answers
3k views
Are Japanese princesses and princes referred to by a different word in Japanese than princesses and princes outside of Japan?
I know that Japanese emperors are referred to as 天皇 rather than 皇帝 which is used for almost all emperors outside of Japan including Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Americas but does the same thing apply ...
1
vote
1answer
68 views
If you want to say "a person with tanlines" , which of these would be more accurate: 日焼けあとが残っている人, 日焼けあとが残る人 or 日焼けあとがある人?
Are all three acceptable or do they mean different things?
日焼けあとが残っている人
日焼けあとが残る人
日焼けあとがある人
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 ...
3
votes
1answer
81 views
Non-weather usage of 日和
I'm aware that 日和 can be used with weather conditions to show that it's a good day for something.
今日はピクニック日和ですね。
Today's the perfect day for a picnic.
But can you use it for non-weather related ...
0
votes
0answers
63 views
How to say "Thank you for putting up with me"? [closed]
I've been studying in Japan and I feel really bad because I'm trying not to get in the way or bother anyone.
I want to tell the teacher,
"Thank you for putting up with me."
「ごめなさい、迷惑しました。...
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?
5
votes
1answer
109 views
Do チャック, ジッパー, and ファスナー all mean "zipper" in Japanese or do they refer to different types of zippers?
Are the 3 words all synonyms or do they refer to specific types of zippers, like a zipper on pants or jacket versus a zipper on a suitcase?
1
vote
1answer
54 views
What is the difference between 努める and 努力する?
I don't understand the difference between 努める{つとめる} and 努力する{どりょくする}。
I encountered the two following sentences:
ごみを少なくするように努める{つとめる}。I will try to reduce waste.
テストで百点が取れるよう努力する{どりょくする}。I will try ...
1
vote
1answer
104 views
What is the difference between 切り替える and 変える?
I'm trying to figure out which verb to use if I want to say "Let's switch between speaking English and Japanese", but in general I would just like to know.
2
votes
1answer
98 views
Is 言葉が2つ話せる unnatural/incorrect?
This is from an exercise in Tobira Grammar Power, you had to explain what 'bilingual' is using the というのは~ということ/という意味だ.
I wrote「バイリンガル」というのは、言葉が2つ話せるといういみです。, But in the answer key it says 2つの言葉が話せる. ...
4
votes
1answer
99 views
Words meaning “medical checkup”
I’ve come across a few terms for medical examination:
身体{しんたい}検査{けんさ}
健康{けんこう}診断{しんだん}
検診{けんしん}
Which word should one use for an annual health checkup?
Are the words above any different in their ...
2
votes
1answer
66 views
What is the difference between 新規 with 新しい and 新た?
I know 新しい{あたらしい} and 新た{あらた} and I understood that the latter is usually used in newspaper because it brings more politeness/formality.
However, I encountered 新規{しんき} in a newspaper article:
...
1
vote
1answer
80 views
Nuances between the various words for "head" and how to write them
The ways I have noted are:
あたま, which can only be written 頭
かしら, which can be written as 頭, 頁, or 首
こうべ, which can be written as 頭 or 首
かぶり, which can only be written as 頭
おつむ, which can be only ...
4
votes
2answers
108 views
Differences between 町, 都市 and 都会
Please help me understand the differences between these 3 words meaning "city": [町]{まち}, 都市 and 都会.
According to this article hosted by tadasiikeigo.com, 都市 is for big cities:
「都市」は、...
0
votes
1answer
46 views
What's the difference between 瞬く and 煌めき?
I was studying death note's first ending 「アルミナ」, and I found this phrase: 「流れる時間の中瞬く刹那的煌めきを」the dictionary that I was using (nihongo dera) said that both 「瞬く」 and 「煌めき」mean "to twinkle", but ...
2
votes
1answer
60 views
What are the differences between 救う, 救助する and 助ける?
From my understanding, 助ける{たすける} is used when helping someone with a task, 救助する{きゅうじょする} and 救う{すくう} can be used to save someone/something from a dangerous situation. However, 救う can also be used for ...
2
votes
1answer
109 views
Nuances between できる and 作られる when used for "to be made"
As the title suggests, I'm curious what determines which word is used for "to be made."
For example, what are the nuances between
法律ができた
and
法律が作られた
1
vote
2answers
98 views
difference in nuance: できれば・できたら
I'm just wondering if できれば・できたら at the beginning of a sentence has any difference in nuance?
My thought is more:
できれば: if such a thing is possible
できたら: when you are free to do it (like a Spanish &...
1
vote
3answers
115 views
What are the differences between 同時に and 一斉に?
I understand that 一斉に{いっせいに} and 同時に{どうじに} are adverbs and they both mean "at the same time, simultaneously", so I am wondering if there is any nuance or difference between them ?
I ...
3
votes
2answers
159 views
How exactly do しよう and しようか differ in usage?
I personally consider the different usages of 「～しよう」 「～しようか」 「～しないか」 「～する」 「～してもいいか」 「～してください」 etc. one of the most difficult parts in Japanese grammar, alongside 敬語 and particles (e.g. は/が, で/に). It ...
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 ...
2
votes
3answers
370 views
Which is the best way to translate "disrespect" in this context?
I want to write a short quote to hang up on my wall.
It is about respecting yourself and never finding excuses or allowing yourself to slack. In other words, to properly take care of yourself and not ...
2
votes
1answer
203 views
高い in this sentence seems redundant
So in this sentence "最も効果の高い頭痛薬はどれですか" Which according to Kanshudo, translates to "What's your strongest type of headache pill?", 最も seems to fill the role of 高い and it seems ...
1
vote
1answer
125 views
Difference between 道化師, ピエロ, and クラウン
What’s the difference in usage between these three words?
ピエロ
クラウン
道化師
Which of these would describe a typical American’s notion of a circus clown?
type of clown I’m thinking of
Does one of these ...
1
vote
0answers
63 views
What does のよ mean at the end of a sentence? [duplicate]
I sometimes see のよ at the end of sentences, and unfortunately haven't found any answers as to what it means exactly. The way it's used, it seems like some kind of command, but if that's the case then ...
2
votes
1answer
117 views
Nuance between using 飲む and 吸う for smoking
I know one can say タバコを飲む or タバコを吸う from seeing both uses in the dictionary. What are the differences between the two?
0
votes
1answer
73 views
Nuance between 氏名 and 姓名
On the Goo thesaurus page, it says:
通常は「氏名」が使われるが、名前のつけ方そのものを問題にする場合は、「姓名」を使う。
I'm not really sure what 名前のつけ方 is referring to here. When exactly should one use 姓名 over 氏名?
1
vote
2answers
104 views
思い vs 考え vs 思考 vs 思索
I was reading this goo thesaurus page on the nuances between 思い, 考え, 思考, and 思索, and I got confused by how the example uses related to the nuances given in the explanation. The explanation stated that ...
2
votes
1answer
146 views
Using 人 vs の vs 人の when talking about a person's nationality
What should be used when describing someone by their nationality?
Example:
日本人女性 vs 日本の女性 vs 日本人の女性
I've seen all three of these used, but it's hard for me to see the difference.
1
vote
1answer
83 views
Uses of the motion verbs （行く、来る） with the te-form
I'm studying with Tae Kim and it says that you can use a verb in te-form + 行く、来る to show that an action is oriented toward or from someplace.
In one example it says:
日本語をずっと前から勉強してきて、結局はやめた。
Studied ...
1
vote
0answers
70 views
Why is こと written in katakana in this sentence?
I was reading a webtoon and came across this sentence:
傷つきそうなコト言わないでね
I'm aware of the meaning of this sentence, but I'm confused as to why it uses katakana here. I know that katakana is sometimes ...
3
votes
1answer
195 views
What's the difference between 下向く and 見下ろす?
Can you please tell me the difference between these verbs:
下{した}向{む}く and 見{み}下{お}ろす
I was writing a little "poem" but I came across this doubt xD.
This is the poem:
If you're always ...
2
votes
1answer
75 views
How do I colloquially say "The restaurant was empty" in Japanese
More specifically I want to know the difference between 空（す）いていました and 空（そら）でした
For example, which one of these is better / what is the difference?
レストランは空いていました。
レストランは空でした
Is there an even better ...
3
votes
1answer
79 views
Can に乗る contain a place/direction and is it the same as [vehicle]で 行く?
In the Busuu course I'm taking I learned the word 乗る and that it means something like "take" or "ride". For that purpose I used the structure [vehicle]で 行く up until now.
I ...
4
votes
2answers
248 views
Difference between 殺人 and 殺人罪 and a change in grammar
In Duolingo this Japanese sentence is the approved translation for the English sentence:
He received a guilty verdict for murder.
彼は殺人の有罪判決を受けました。
Likewise for the following pair:
She was found ...
1
vote
1answer
82 views
What is なんか doing in these sentences?
I know that なんか means "something" or that it can be used as filler. But in these two sentences it seems to be using another meaning.
• 東京に行くけど、なんか欲しいものある？
• なにか食べたいものはある?
Doesn't "もの&...
1
vote
1answer
81 views
Example sentence with 歌謡
I'm trying to learn how to use the word 歌謡 (song). However, I'm having some trouble to find an example sentence that teaches me how to use 歌謡, and all that appears when looking for this word on Google ...
1
vote
1answer
165 views
How to say "they liked it" in this context?
A mangaka that I like replied me in my native language, and when I showed this to my parents they liked it. I want to say that to this mangaka, but I don't know how to say that in a natural form.
I ...
1
vote
1answer
274 views
Is 売られる the potential form of 売る?
I came across this sentence:
米はキロ単位で売られる。
The translation given was "Rice is sold by the kilogram." I assume that 売られる's meaning is more like "is sold" or "to be sold" ...
3
votes
2answers
209 views
Problems with translating the word "自省に" in the context of the whole sentence
I'm currently working on one of my Japanese translation assignments and having some major difficulties with the translation of a sentence. First of all, this is the sentence:
中央集権の権化とも見られる内務省の存続に対しては、...
1
vote
1answer
98 views
meaning of 一応 at the beginning of a sentence [closed]
I was wondering what 一応 would mean in this context. always had trouble grasping the concept of this word.
-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. ...
1
vote
1answer
246 views
[発見]{はっ・けん} and [発明]{はつ・めい} difference
I'm trying to memorize the kanji 発 and a few of its most important usages in vocab.
Jisho says はっけん means discovery and はつめい means invention. Aren't these synonyms of each other? They are both used in,...
1
vote
1answer
105 views
The nuances between さて and さ/さあ
Is there any difference between the two? I think さて is more formal than さ/さあ, but is that true? And are there any other nuances?
2
votes
1answer
93 views
The nuances between といえば, というと and といったら
First, I know that they all can be used with the "speaking of" meaning, and that といえば can't be used with questions/confirmations while というと can.
My questions are as follows:
Are there any ...
3
votes
2answers
221 views
Is 領外{りょうがい} a common translation for "out of bounds"?
I think I've heard the word 領外{りょうがい} used several times to mean "out of bounds" (as in physically out of bounds, for instance outside of the playing field for sports).
But, when I try ...
2
votes
2answers
91 views
4
votes
1answer
121 views
Why are these sentences involving 一部, 一部分, and 部分 ungrammatical?
I've been trying to figure out the differences between 一部, 一部分, and 部分 using GOO's thesaurus. It indicates that 部分 is used for one of several parts, while 一部 and 一部分 are for parts of a whole. And then ...