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.
2,443
questions
0
votes
2answers
73 views
How to say “unless…?” in the context of “but what if”
In the context of the phrase "Just kidding... unless...?", how would the word "unless" be translated? Here, "unless" has sort of a connotation of "what if...?" as well as "unless you want to?"
8
votes
4answers
2k views
How can I say “to be tired of verbING” in Japanese?
How can I say "I'm tired of waiting", "I'm tired/bored of staying home all day"?
Can I use て form + 疲れる?
What is the difference among 疲れる、飽きる and うんざりする?
2
votes
1answer
81 views
Word usages for hearsay: ～そうです vs ～って
For hearsay (伝聞), one can append そうです to the plain form of an adjective and verb. For example:
体にいいそうです - Heard it's good for the body
There is also another way to say that and that's using って. ...
5
votes
1answer
295 views
Using こっち to replace 私
I have heard people replacing 私、俺 with こっち in casual speech. For example:
こっちは忙しいんだ instead of 私は忙しいんだ. The question is, under what circumstances can one use こっち instead of 私. I know that そっち can mean ...
2
votes
0answers
45 views
おくれ after verb meaning [duplicate]
お ー い 亀 よ ！ お前 の きれいな 笛 を 見せて おくれ
I dont quite get what is the purpose of okure at the end. In this sentence I understand that a man calling the turtle so show its beautiful flute to him.
2
votes
2answers
64 views
What is the difference between 補う vs 埋め合わせる
Both words are defined as "To make up for". What is the difference and in what contexts are these words used?
Thanks in advance.
1
vote
1answer
121 views
Does this dialogue imply Trunks has fought the Androids before?
Japanese manga:「母さんはっきりいってこんどはオレ自信があるんだ！」
Viz manga: "I can beat them now, Mom! I know I can!"
TV Special: "Quite frankly, I know this time I can take them!"
In Viz, 今度 is translated as "now", but ...
1
vote
1answer
88 views
Difference between 沿岸, 海岸, 沿海
What is the difference between these words? Which one is the most common?
0
votes
1answer
130 views
When is it good to use “ダサい”? [closed]
When is it good to use "ダサい" (out of fashion, boring)? Is it an everyday word?
5
votes
1answer
91 views
Difference between 光栄, 名誉 and 栄誉
I'm really confused between these three words. Most dictionaries say that all of these words have a meaning of honour. Here's what I understand, though I don't know if its right.
光栄{こうえい} ー Honor - (...
10
votes
1answer
892 views
What is the proper way to describe the weather as cool?
I was asked 今日{きょう}天気{てんき}はどうですか?
My response was: 涼{すず}しいです。
I was told that's not the right way to say that. Instead I should say: あまり寒{さむ}くなりません。
Which is the right way? If I'm wrong, why? And ...
1
vote
1answer
79 views
希硫酸, 稀硫酸? What’s the difference?
希硫酸, 稀硫酸. My dictionary says they are both “dilute sulfuric acid”. What is the difference in usage here? Is there just one optional radical?
English has “sulfuric” and “sulphuric”, and that’s an ...
4
votes
1answer
143 views
Japanese term for “cookie cutter”
I’m looking for a term in Japanese that conveys the same sense of repeated design with minimal or limited variation that is implied by the English phrase “cookie cutter”. My particular interest is in ...
4
votes
1answer
265 views
What's the difference between らーめん and らーぬん?
Both #らーめん and #らーぬん hashtags lead me to ramen posts. I'm aware that Ramen is called #らーめん. But what is #らーぬん?
3
votes
1answer
78 views
永遠 vs 永久 difference in meaning?
I was reading a Japanese version of 日常{にちじょう} where one of the main characters Yuuko is writing notecards for her English exam the next day (which she had not studied for). As she was translating “...
2
votes
1answer
83 views
Is there any difference in meaning between 野外 and 屋外?
In the sense of “outdoors,” is there any difference in meaning between 野外 and 屋外? Neither Nelson’s character dictionary nor Jisho.org indicate any obvious difference beyond the following second ...
1
vote
1answer
95 views
光の差さぬ暗い影 vaguely understanding this line
I started a light novel and I knew I would see more of formal writing and I have this part that I only understand a little. The subject is about shadows, which relates to supernatural beings (this ...
3
votes
1answer
138 views
Better to say 床屋 or 散髪屋?
Every time I walk by a barbershop (not a 美容院), I think of the words 散髪屋 and 床屋. Which word is correct, or sounds better, more interesting, for a non-native speaker to use in a conversation?
And, ...
3
votes
1answer
87 views
Differences in use between 水蒸気, 蒸気 and 湯気?
So from my dictionary 蒸気 means steam, and 水蒸気/湯気 both mean water vapor. What I would like to understand is when is 水蒸気 used over 湯気 ?
0
votes
1answer
187 views
How can I say “female soldier” in Japanese
I have trouble translating "female soldier" in Japanese: Is it 女戦士 or 女性戦士? Also is the particle の lacking between the two words?
3
votes
1answer
116 views
What is the difference between 祖先 and 先祖?
From my dictionary, both mean ancestor so I am wondering about what is the difference between them.
Is the difference in politeness ? For example [息子]{musuko} and [子息]{shisoku} both mean son, but the ...
2
votes
1answer
69 views
じゃor じゃあ for meaning “well then”
Both of these translate to "well then", for example, both would be valid:
じゃ、またね！
Well then, bye!
じゃあ、パンをください。
Well then, the bread, please.
They are both more casual than でわ for example:
...
5
votes
2answers
513 views
Which is most critical? 警報 or 注意報?
A disaster warning app asks me whether I want notifications for 警報 or for 注意報 or both.
First I signed up for both, but it sends me notifications about inconsequential things such as air dryness. So I ...
0
votes
1answer
80 views
Meaning of 寝落ちしてた and differentiating 寝 as either sleep or lying down?
I interpret 寝落{ねお}ちしてた as "I fell asleep", but I can also see it as "I was lying down". As for whether or not 寝 in a sentence implies sleeping or simply lying down, is that determined merely by ...
1
vote
0answers
23 views
Can 終わる be used as a transitive verb? [duplicate]
I came across this sentence in my textbook (上級へのとびら):
電話を終わるあいさつ
As far as I'm concerned, 終わる is an intransitive verb and as such, it can't be used with the particle を, but with が. The transitive ...
0
votes
1answer
95 views
Nuance of ひどい as cruel?
いくらなんでも、あんまりひどい。ひかりがあんなチョコレートででも組みあげたやうな三角標になるなんて。
http://contest.japias.jp/tqj2002/50133/story-old_03.html
I don't quite get how to translate ひどい as cruel here, is there a nuance I'm not getting?
7
votes
1answer
992 views
Why can できている carry a judgemental, negative connotation?
My Japanese teacher, who is a native speaker, once answered a student's question about the difference between:
（彼は）ドイツ語ができる。
（彼は）ドイツ語ができている
He said that a younger speaker might be more likely ...
9
votes
1answer
389 views
Differences between ひ弱い and か弱い
How did the prefixes ひ and か come about and what are the differences in meaning between ひ弱い and か弱い?
Are either of the prefixes pejorative like how ド is in the examples in dainichi's answer to '...
3
votes
1answer
127 views
Difference between いたします and させていただきます
When writing in humble 謙譲語｛けんじょうご} language, I see いたします and させていただきます. What is the difference between these two forms?
For example both mean "I will contact you" in humble language, what is the ...
5
votes
1answer
189 views
What are simple “No” responses?
I've learned from textbooks and online sites like Duolingo that "no" is いいえ, but I've rarely heard native speakers say that. I learned さあ today as sort of an "I don't know" response. I saw a ...
1
vote
1answer
171 views
“applause”: What's the difference between 「喝采」 and 「拍手」?
My dictionary translates both 喝采{かっさい} and 拍手{はくしゅ} as "applause". Are they interchangeable or do they have different nuances?
4
votes
1answer
263 views
Interpreting 流石に
The word 流石{さすが} is a bit tough to convey sometimes and I came across a sentence as I started reading a light novel:
作り話に使う名前は流石に選べよ
I'll try to give a bit of context. Someone (let's call him A) ...
3
votes
0answers
101 views
What's the difference between 調整する and 整える?
Both meanings are about adjust or fix, but I can't manage to understand why
温度を調整した ( right )
温度を整えた ( wrong )
If 整える usually means fix something to the right condition/state the second sentence ...
2
votes
2answers
571 views
Would a native say 心底から申し上げる? What's a better way to say “speaking with genuine sincerity…”
I've always thought / said that "心底から申し上げる" means "I am saying this with highest level of sincerity (bottom of my heart)"
"心底から申し上げて、お詫びいたします。" I very sorry for what I have done.
Google search ...
1
vote
1answer
78 views
ファーストネーム vs. 名/名前 for first name?
I'm in the middle of doing a translation project for a website that has UI elements for filling out forms. The pre-programmed UI has 「ファーストネーム」, but I would think 「名」or「名前」 would make more sense. ...
5
votes
2answers
219 views
best phrase choice for a derogatory reference to the “young generation”?
which is the natural way to refer to the "young generation" (ex: now its the "millennial generation") in a derogatory way:
若い連中
若連中 // don't say the い
若者
若者達
若者ら
Maybe say something like:
...
7
votes
1answer
136 views
Difference between 店{みせ} and 店{てん}舗{ぽ}
What is the difference between 店{みせ} and 店{てん}舗{ぽ}? Both mean shop?
0
votes
0answers
113 views
Differences between ways to express obligation?
1) I know that, to express something that you must do, you can use 方{ほう}がいい and, for a stronger feeling, べき.
2) I am also aware you can use conditionals like 〜なくちゃ、〜なきゃ、〜ないと to express that you need ...
8
votes
2answers
1k views
Is there any difference between 旅行者 and 旅人?
Is there any difference between the words 旅行者 and 旅人? Which one is more frequently used?
1
vote
2answers
97 views
Te form for consecutive verbs
I came across with this term "使われ始めて". It was translated as "Started to use". My question is why the first verb is not in TE form, ie. 使われて始めて ?
Thanks a lot.
2
votes
1answer
97 views
What is the difference between 刹那主義 and 快楽主義?
The dictionary says that 刹那主義 means "principle of living only for the moment" and 快楽主義 means "hedonism/epicureanism", but I also found entries that say epicureanism for the former. I don't think they ...
3
votes
1answer
98 views
A little help with the usage of 「……わけだよ」
I came across the following sentence in my dictionary :
下手なわけだよ，習い始めたばかりなんだから
Because of the absence of context, I imagined one by myself. Suppose I ‘m cooking unskillfully and a friend who sees ...
6
votes
2answers
150 views
Differences Between 興味深い & 面白い?
面白い has the meaning of fun or interesting, whereas 興味深い appears to represent a similar state of "interesting".
What are the differences between these two adjectives, and when should 興味深い be employed?
4
votes
1answer
175 views
What's the difference between 繁盛 and 隆盛?
According to Jisho they both mean "prosperity; flourishing; thriving", but unfortunately it doesn't give any example for 隆盛 and a Google search isn't helpful, I wasn't able to find any discussion ...
2
votes
0answers
115 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 ...
1
vote
0answers
79 views
Interpretation of にはな in this sentence
I know that based on the title it might sound a bit odd, but thing is, there's a video game I like and it only has an English dub and Japanese subtitles.
There's a line (which is spoken by a guy), ...
0
votes
1answer
156 views
how much use of カタカナis good or bad in Japanese?
While learning Japanese we students have a secrete weapon called カタカナ。We use katakana words even though there are perfectly fitting Japanese words which we obviously don't know. Just because we ...
13
votes
1answer
1k views
Is 忍者/忍び also used for women?
I was discussing with a friend, who asked me if 忍者 is also used for women, or if くノ一 is used/preferred. I know 者 means "person", so it seems to be neutral; and Weblio defines the word using 者, which ...
1
vote
1answer
92 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 ...
3
votes
3answers
144 views
Is there a rule for deciding if we should write こんばんは or 今晩は?
I always have problems deciding if I must write a word in hiragana or in kanji.
For example, should I write こんばんは or 今晩は ?
I know children would rather write in hiragana but what about for adults ?
...
