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.
2,343
questions
2
votes
1answer
55 views
Is there a difference in usage between 賃銀 and 賃金?
I was looking into a novel and I found the word 賃銀. According to my dictionary, this word has the same meaning as 賃金, which is wages, the money a person receive for a work/task.
They have the same ...
2
votes
1answer
66 views
About the differences between 貯金 and 節約
As the title says, I would like to know differences between 貯金{ちょきん} and 節約{せつやく}.
Both mean "saving money" and have the irregular する verb ending:
貯金する{ちょきんする} : To save money
節約する{せつやくする} : ...
0
votes
0answers
34 views
〜たことある/ない vs 〜たことあった/なかった
I see these as example sentences on sites, and I cant figure out the nuances between both. When would you use the past form of this phrase?
3
votes
1answer
99 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
91 views
0
votes
1answer
87 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
0answers
112 views
Why is the term 一期一会 added to the movie title “Forrest Gump”? [closed]
Why is the term 一期一会 added to the movie title "Forrest Gump"? I know what the term means. Once in a life time. Is there a reason for the changed movie title?
6
votes
1answer
197 views
+50
The difference between transitive verbs 窮める, 極める, 究める and intransitive verbs 極まる, 窮まるand 谷まる?
I'm sorry if this question has been answered before, but I did not find a suitable answer. Please provide reliable link if that is the case.
I would like to know the differences between the ...
1
vote
1answer
82 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,...
2
votes
1answer
81 views
左に曲がる/右に曲がる v/s 左折/右折
That's it, essentially. What differentiates these two ways to indicate a turn?
So far, I had only heard 左に曲がる/右に曲がる, but recently I heard 左折/右折 in the GPS of a car. At first I thought that the latter ...
1
vote
1answer
137 views
Is there a difference between とろっとろ and とろとろ?
Please help me understand what mean とろっとろ in this sentense「あのとろっとろの猫撫で声で」. May I translate とろっとろ like "looking sleepy" or it's meaning only "soft / runny"?
Person A: 悪い男か何人泣かしとんねん
あのとろっとろの猫なで声で
...
3
votes
1answer
61 views
Why is て used here?
I got this message after asking for recommendations for Japanese media:
海猿て映画はオススメかな
My question is, why is there a て after 海猿？I was thinking it was apart of the title but 猿 doesn’t need a て. Does ...
1
vote
0answers
44 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
1answer
98 views
Can one say [ゲームを遊ぶ ]?
So I know that commonly people say 「ゲームをする」or 「NOUNで遊ぶ」 yet on the Japanese playstation website, I see 「ゲームを遊ぶ」written, even though the verb is intransitive. Are they both correct or is it sorta like ...
1
vote
0answers
34 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
75 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 “...
11
votes
1answer
852 views
What is the difference between 型 and 形?
What is the difference between 型 and 形?
I was taught that 型 means something like "form" and 形 means shape/form、and I wonder, are they interchangeable? Does 型 only come after a word or phrase?
-3
votes
1answer
154 views
Can the term kaiwa no heya be used to mean an actual location/room to chat in?
I know that the term chattorumu is used for online chats. What term would be used to denote an actual room for this activity? A room to chat in.
2
votes
0answers
47 views
What is the difference between ある日 and ある日のこと?
For example:
ある日のこと、たろうは、また海へ出て。
As I understand ある日 means "one day". What does the のこと do to it?
Possibly related? What is the こと in sentences such as あなたのことが好きだ? and What is “koto” used for?
0
votes
1answer
53 views
Is there a difference between tomo and tomodachi?
I was able to translate the terms as friend. Is there any difference in meaning between the 2 terms?
5
votes
2answers
424 views
Which is the correct phrase to say saving money?
I like to tell that I am saving money to buy Mac Book . So two sentence come to my mind , which one is more suitable to use ..
僕はMACBOOKを買うためにお金を貯金しています。
僕はMACBOOKを買うためにお金を節約しています。
1
vote
1answer
106 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 ...
3
votes
1answer
63 views
What is the expression/word for “going against traffic (flow)”?
Suppose you're driving in a one way street and see someone coming in the opposite direction.
What's the most natural way to say something like "Hey, you're going against traffic!"
I know how to say ...
1
vote
1answer
158 views
Help with translating this quote
I'm going to say a word on peace, participating in contest at university, and I have literally no one to check what I've written, and it's tomorrow.
I think of putting this quote from Ibn El Romi:
...
3
votes
1answer
116 views
Does this saying make sense? (Kurayami kara Hikari or 暗闇 から光)
I'm trying to convey the message "Light from Darkness" or "Light out of Darkness" so I came up with the saying "Kurayami kara Hikari" or "暗闇 から光". Or is this too simple and it should be "暗闇からの光"? I'm ...
3
votes
0answers
85 views
Expressing “huh” tag?
How would you express this type of tag?
For example:
Lovers, huh? That’s what you think they are?
Would って work?
恋人って？そうと思う？
3
votes
1answer
81 views
Ask for a facility visit to another Japanese company
I'm in the process of asking another company if they would be so kind to let us visit their facility. Some kind of tour of the company.
They already accepted us going there, but we would like to ask ...
1
vote
1answer
79 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 ...
0
votes
1answer
91 views
Casual ways to ask meaning?
I know 〜はどう言う意味ですか？ but how might you ask this question in a casual setting among friends?
3
votes
2answers
598 views
Which would be the better translation for “Even though you're X, you're still Y?”
Given a phrase of the form "Even though you're X, you're still Y..." what would be the best (i.e. more natural or grammatically correct) Japanese form?
For example:
"Even though you're that weak, ...
2
votes
1answer
100 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 ...
0
votes
1answer
129 views
What's the correct translation for 'Japanese Student': 'Nihonjin gakusee' or 'Nihonjin no gakusee'?
I have seen both uses in different contexts, but I'm having trouble figuring out in which case to use the 'no' particle!
2
votes
1answer
87 views
What is the difference between はじめまして vs 始めよう?
I was watching a Japanese TV show, and in the start of the episode, introductions were made between two people; then later in the show, they were playing a video game. In both instances, the phrase "...
4
votes
4answers
250 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
100 views
Difference between ばかり, ところ, and 今?
I’ve gathered that these all can be used like “just” (right?) so I’m wondering what the difference in usage is between them.
今終わった。
終わったばかり。
終わったところ。
Are these all basically the same?
(...
0
votes
0answers
84 views
What are the different uses of iroiro?
I already know there is the adjective iroiro+na, and I've learned that, but recently I've learned that iroiro+to and iroiro+no are different ways to use "iroiro", which I have not learned in class, ...
1
vote
1answer
124 views
Convoluted translation attempt 世界のすべて城砦に抱く
I'm trying to make sense of the words said by a character in a manga who talks in an archaic manner. I tried into account the context, the images, all to help me figure out what he is saying.
...
1
vote
1answer
74 views
Difference between the words kakemono and kakejiku
Does anyone reading this site know of any nuance(s) differentiating these two words? Numerous online sites say that kakejiku is more commonly used, but I have found no information about whether the ...
12
votes
1answer
603 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 ...
0
votes
1answer
113 views
What's the difference between 海獣 and 怪獣? [closed]
What's the difference between 海獣 and 怪獣? Do they both mean the same thing, or is one proper and the other one not?
3
votes
2answers
136 views
Is there a difference between the dekiteru/dekita part in “Junbi wa dekiteru/dekita”,and ii in “junbi wa ii”?
I would like to know if, like:
Junbi wa ii
Junbi wa dekiteru
Junbi wa dekita
Are all interchangeable? I feel like the last two mean "Plans are complete" and "Plans have been completed" ...
8
votes
1answer
148 views
What's the difference between 役割 and 役回り?
Weblio gives both the meaning of role or part (duty is there too as a less used meaning), so I assume the difference is on the nuances.
In addition, 役割 seems to be much more used by Japanese natives ...
2
votes
2answers
146 views
What's the difference between 知り合い & 付き合い?
I have answered this 知り合い but in answer's sheet it was 付き合い and I don't get the difference.
0
votes
1answer
140 views
Differences between Wa Nai and Ga Nai?
I first learnt Ga as always attached to Arimasen so still trying to grasp the nuances when changed to a Wa.
From my understanding of Wa vs Ga differences, it's just simply a matter of topic vs ...
5
votes
2answers
110 views
Different nuances of そっか and なるほど？
I’ve learned that both mean something like “I see” or “I understand” but are they interchangeable? Is there any difference?
0
votes
0answers
60 views
これ vs この: what is the difference? [duplicate]
What is the difference between これ and この? When and why to use them?
8
votes
1answer
286 views
What's the difference between 反面 and 一方？
I understand that they both present two opposite sides of a situation or of something. However, even if in some cases they can be interchangeable, there are other where they cannot. Can somebody ...
2
votes
1answer
333 views
What/Where usage English vs Japanese
I've been told that number 1 wrong and number 2 is correct, but I'm wondering why exactly.
出身は何ですか。
出身はどこですか。
In English, what's your origin vs where's your origin has the same meaning to me and my ...
14
votes
1answer
2k views
Why is 一日 used instead of 日 to ask how your day is?
I spoke with someone from Japan on Tandem and she said to me “今日はどんな一日でしたか?” and I’m wondering why 一日 was used since I thought that meant the first of the month?
2
votes
2answers
286 views
How to say:'It's not like he's dying or anything'?
"別に死ぬあいつはわけじゃないし"
I want this to convey a sense of denial
