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.
2,760
questions
4
votes
1answer
141 views
Helper Kanji: What is 状 doing here
Given the sentence:
今日は大学の講義で日本状の経営について学んだ。
I usually interpretate 状 as 'state, condition', but that doesn't seem to fit here (japanese state of business management?). Looking online, lead to 状 as '...
2
votes
1answer
67 views
What's the difference between うたがう (疑う) and うたぐる (疑る)?
What's the difference between 疑う{うたがう} and 疑る{うたぐる}?
It seems that うたぐる is not common, but I'm not sure.
How should I read 疑って?
7
votes
1answer
526 views
Does 両目 have a special meaning or is it just a mistake?
Today I found this sentence on my Japanese textbook (みんなの日本語中級I - 本冊 pg. 70) And it didn't make any sense to me.
前から２両目の電車を降りたところで待っています。
I looked for 両目 on 電子辞書 and it says it means both eyes. ...
7
votes
3answers
376 views
Could a translation error lead to squares to not be considered as rectangles?
I'm reading a certain set of kindergarten/lower primary maths textbooks that is written by North American authors for an Asian company.
Whenever students are asked to identify the number of rectangles ...
2
votes
1answer
358 views
Examples of when to use ではありません、ではない、じゃありません、 じゃない
I'm looking for example situations of when to use each level of politeness. I know they all are the same but when situational wise to use each one is where I am having confusion. Thank you.
1
vote
1answer
177 views
What is the difference between 当 and この?
I am making a website and needed inspiration for a "404 not found" page in Japanese.
Going to a non-existent page on Amazon.co.jp (ex: amazon.co.jp/aaaaaaa) gives this message:
何{なに}かお探{さが}...
4
votes
3answers
4k views
How to say “you may not [verb] here”?
たとえば、おすしを食べてもいいですか？ is for "May I eat sushi?". However I know that ちょっと、食べなくてもいいです。Is not the right phrase because that means: "Well, you don't have to eat (that)." So what is the response for "[Sorry,...
1
vote
1answer
64 views
What's the difference between 「なんだか」 and 「なんとなく」?
The meanings and explanation of なんだか and なんとなく in Wikitionary:
なんだか【何だか】明確な理由が無いさま。
なんとなく【何と無く】明確な理由が無いさま。
It seems that they have totally the same meanings. Is there a difference between the usage ...
7
votes
2answers
904 views
Difference between 生き物 and 生物
I had assumed that 生物 was just a fancier word for 生き物 in the way that onyomi compounds often are. But when I looked in the dictionary I became less sure.
For 生物 I see:
動物・植物・微生物など生命をもつものの総称。
Animals, ...
2
votes
3answers
516 views
Why is 行く used in the sentence “すぐに出て行け”?
I don't understand the role of 行く in the following sentence:
すぐに出て行け！
As I understand it, the sentence sounds like "get out now!". Why not just say "すぐに出ろ"?
Is 行く used to ...
1
vote
1answer
80 views
Is there a difference in meaning between 匹敵 and 互角?
Is there a difference in meaning between 匹敵 and 互角?
Besides that one is a suru verb and the other a noun/adjective
80
votes
5answers
130k views
When to use ください (kudasai) or お願いします (onegaishimasu) in requests?
When asking for something I seem to hear sentences end in both ください (kudasai) and お願いします (onegaishimasu). Is there a difference and how do I know when to use which?
0
votes
1answer
123 views
what does 見てできる mean?
Can this phrase be broken down into 見る and 出来る?
If so, does it simply mean "can see"? How is it different than the potential form of 見る which is 見られる?
Edit:
To add some context to this ...
10
votes
1answer
239 views
Comparing the usage of というのは and ということは
As far as I know, both というのは and ということは can be used to give definition/explanation.
留学するということは、海外で勉強するということだ。
ユートピアというのは理想郷の意だ
And are also used to make inferences.
ご意見がないということは賛成ということですね。
...
1
vote
0answers
87 views
What is the difference between の中に and の中で?
I have two sentences having の中に (no naka ni) and の中で (no naka de), and I want to know if they are correctly framed.
If yes, then how does the meaning change?
日本{にほん}の食{た}べ物{もの}の中{なか}に寿司{すし}が大好{だいす}...
2
votes
1answer
218 views
Difference between the following phrases
I was coming up with a phrase that means "don't look at me too much." in a very formal tone. I thought of many sentences but I don't know which one is the most correct one.
1) あまり見ないでくれ
2) ...
2
votes
1answer
61 views
「~るとき、…」vs「~まえに、…」／「~たとき、…」vs「~あとで、…」
What is the difference between「~るとき、…」vs「~まえに、…」?
日本へ行くとき、日本語を勉強しました。→ I studied japanese, before going to Japan.
日本へ行くまえに、日本語を勉強しました。→ I studied japanese, before going to Japan.
And between「~たとき、…」...
1
vote
1answer
129 views
Is there a Japanese word for money/wealth that sounds like 'tuh ki'?
About 30 years ago, when meeting the famous George Takei, my friend accidentally pronounced his last name as 'Tuh ki' (rhymes with 'hi'). As an 11 year old, he had never really heard George's name ...
2
votes
1answer
84 views
What's the difference between 震う (ふるう) and 震える (ふるえる)?
On my kanji dictionary, they have the same translation. I don't understand if there's any difference. As usual.
0
votes
1answer
2k 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
1answer
146 views
Difference between 様々 and 色々
I have heard both of these in several contexts and I have having trouble understanding the difference in meaning and connotation.
I would like to know the difference between 様々 and 色々and when to use ...
7
votes
1answer
356 views
Difference between 呟く and 囁く
I understand that both 呟く and 囁く mean "whisper", but are there any subtle differences?
7
votes
2answers
1k views
What is the difference between 外科 and 手術?
What is the difference between 外科 and 手術 ?
According to 三省堂, they both mean "surgery".
I've seen 外科 being used as part of larger names such as 脳神経外科学, while 手術 used with の before as in: ...
-1
votes
1answer
54 views
How do you translate the world “layer” in Japanese? [closed]
Layer as in the ones used in digital art software like Adobe Photoshop, Clip Studio Paint, Manga Studio, etc.
5
votes
1answer
137 views
How to choose adjective or noun with color
I know this question has been asked before but I remain confused about the use of nouns or i-adjectives in predicate position for colours, i.e. 海は青です versus 海は青いです.
I have received the following ...
4
votes
1answer
60 views
What's the difference between 伸ばす and 伸べる?
Just for example, can I say both 手を伸ばす and 手を伸べる? Is there any difference between them? Are they interchangeable?
If it's possible, make similar examples, please.
3
votes
4answers
488 views
What is the difference between ~たい and ~ことを望む?
I have been trying to translate some English sentences into Japanese. I have been asking people on OKWAVE to translate these sentences. I am happy to say that the results have been mostly satisfactory....
1
vote
1answer
165 views
Difference between すれ違う, 外れる and ずれる plus something about grammar
I've heard in a song the following line:
すれ違い心見えたなら
「要らない，要らない」しないのに
貴方はいつも貴方のまま
This seems to mean something like "If I met someone whose feelings differed from mine, I wouldn't say 'I don't need ...
2
votes
2answers
76 views
Difference between ～につれて and ～にしたがって
As I understand it, they're synonyms except ～にしたがって is more formal, but in Shin Kanzen Master Bunpô N2 it says:
「～につれて」は一方方向の変化の場合にだけ使う。「～にしたがって」は一方方向の変化でなくても使える。
The thing is that the examples that ...
1
vote
2answers
74 views
Clarification on Compound Japanese nouns
I've sort of thought of making sentences for words in my custom Anki deck to sort of improve my sentence writing skills.
Now, the word is 矛盾{むじゅん}, which means "contradiction"
The sentence I'...
5
votes
2answers
122 views
Role of をする in 学習の助けをするおもちゃ
I am triing to figure out the use of をする in 学習の助けをするおもちゃ translated as toys to help you learn in this article
I learned a bit about noun + する / をする in this post but for what i understand so far we use ...
0
votes
2answers
100 views
5
votes
1answer
211 views
When to use 結構 (けっこう）vs なかなか vs かなり?
From what I understand, all three mean "rather", "quite", or "somewhat". When should I use each one?
0
votes
1answer
51 views
Listing the activities I did on each day of the week
I need to list the activities i've done for each day of the week. But after I talk about the first day, do i start the sentance again with ”わたしは” or is there a different way to do it?
This is how I ...
2
votes
1answer
107 views
What's the difference between 閉じる and 塞ぐ?
So i was doing Kanji Quiz, and i stumbled with 塞ぐ Kanji. I know 閉じる is used for eyes,etc. But 塞ぐ also has the same definition with 閉じる.
Here are the definitions.
Definitions
塞ぐ
to stop up; to close ...
0
votes
0answers
45 views
Usage of の v/s から [duplicate]
私の家は[駅]{えき}の[近]{ちか}くです.
私の家は[駅]{えき}から[近]{ちか}くです.
Is there any functional difference between the two sentences? Or do they mean the same? I am somewhat of a beginner and the difference doesn't seem ...
31
votes
3answers
10k views
The differences between ～がたい、〜にくい、〜づらい
I was wondering what the differences are between these three: ～がたい、〜にくい、〜づらい
They all seem to be some sort of variant of "Hard to do ~". But it seems they are used with different verbs and/or imply ...
3
votes
1answer
161 views
What's the proper form (formal/informal) to use when speaking to others online?
I should preface this by saying that I myself am fairly young (a teenager) and speak primarily to other young people (while I may not know their exact age, it's safe to assume the other people I speak ...
2
votes
1answer
129 views
replacing よう with みたい
Is it always possible to replace よう with みたい?
For example in this sentence:
思うようにはいかないものだ。
Would
思うみたいにはいかないものだ 。
work as well?
I've read many times that these two can be interchangeable, but it ...
1
vote
1answer
191 views
What's the difference between そして and そうして?
What's the difference between そして and そうして? Both mean 'and', 'and then' and are written with the same kanji. そして I've seen more often in texts, but そうして - only a couple of times. Is the difference ...
1
vote
1answer
354 views
What do you call males in their late teens/early twenties?
For example, what word would I use to say like “Boys are cute” or “Guys are cute”? I’m 19, so what word would fit me? 男？
12
votes
2answers
1k views
What's the difference between 腹切り and 切腹?
I need to add a body to submit my question, so I'll just say the Mortal Kombat seemed to believe that the term 腹切り (はらきり harakiri) was more appropriate for self slaughter (i.e., throwing a boomerang ...
1
vote
0answers
112 views
How do you say 'sentence'. [duplicate]
I searched jisho and they gave me 句 and 文. Bun seems way too generic and has so many other meanings that I'm not sure people will understand it. So is 句, a one-worded syllabus which also seems to mean ...
5
votes
1answer
539 views
頭【かぶり】を振る and 頭【かしら】を横に振る, why the change in pronunciation?
As the title suggests, why is there a change in pronunciation between 頭【かぶり】を振る and 頭【かしら】を横に振る? As far as I can see, there is no difference between the meanings of the two—デジタル大辞泉 even lists the ...
1
vote
1answer
261 views
When people use ざっくり？
I recently heard my colleagues use ざっくり which I haven't heard before. When I look it up in dictionary it translates to 'roughly; approximately; loosely' or 'deeply (cut or split)' - very different ...
1
vote
2answers
234 views
Use of the "きた” form before するnoun
During my research, I came upon two forms to express the fact of moving to a new house:
ここは 三月前に引っ越ししてきたアパートです。
ここは 三月前に引っ越ししたアパートです。
I don't understand the difference between the two, does the one ...
1
vote
2answers
144 views
自分自身らしくいてください (double checking the meaning)
I want to double check the meaning of the sentence above. I have the word(s) 自分自身 and I need to use it in a sentence that expresses the essence of "please be yourself." For context, the ...
1
vote
2answers
115 views
How to say “cannot compare/compete with him?”
How do you say these. E.g. I cannot compare/compete with him。 彼と比べらはできない/彼と比べられない/彼と叶わない?
Not sure if 比べ is too literal for comparing to use in this case.
What about "This is no contest."
...
1
vote
1answer
60 views
どこからか、バイオリンの(a.音色 b.コーラス)が聞こえてきた。
I am learning Japanese N1 and found this question
どこからか、バイオリンの(a.音色 b.コーラス)が聞こえてきた。
Which one do you think is correct ? a or b ?
9
votes
2answers
1k views
What is the diference betwen 電気製品 and 電化製品?
On Google Translate, both of them are 'electrical appliances'
