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.
2,511
questions
1
vote
1answer
59 views
Difference in adding a たとえ [duplicate]
Whats the difference in using a たとえ in a sentence. For example:
たとえ行かなくてもいいんだ
行かなくてもいいんだ
From what I understand, even without using たとえ, the sentence already mean " even if you don't go, it's ok". ...
0
votes
0answers
77 views
胸をほれる to mean proud? [closed]
I came across あなたが胸をほれるようなヒーローになる while watching an anime.
I think it means "I will become a hero you can be proud of". Or literally, "I will become a hero that you can engrave in your heart", which ...
0
votes
0answers
54 views
How to express “such that” at the beginning of a sentence
How to express "such that" at the beginning of a sentence. For example:
I will clean the floor real good. Such that you will not see even a stain on it.
In japanese:
地をきれいにするさ。(Such that) ...
0
votes
2answers
117 views
2
votes
1answer
140 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) ...
1
vote
1answer
103 views
How to say “It is unfortunate that the class can't meet”?
The coronavirus brought an abrupt end to my Intro Japanese course, and as my Professor isn't comfortable using technology, I would like to write her a closing letter.
I'm still very new to Japanese, ...
0
votes
1answer
82 views
Why does one have to use ながら instead of つつ in this sentence?
I'm going through an exercise book to prepare for the N2 exam, and I got confused by this question:
＿たばこを吸わないでよ
There are choices for 歩きつつ and 歩きながら, and the answer is 歩きながら.
What's the difference ...
1
vote
2answers
61 views
Just by: だけで vs ばかりに
I've been using Bunpro to review grammar and came across the following example sentence:
外国人だけど、着物を着る______、日本人みたいになった。
The site is looking for だけで (just by) as the answer, which I understand in ...
1
vote
1answer
187 views
What's the difference between そうだ and そうです?
It supposedly mean "that is so; that is right", but is there any difference between そうだ and そうです in terms of the context or any point of view?
0
votes
1answer
699 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 ...
-2
votes
1answer
64 views
difference in using と and で to specify context
What's the difference in using a と and で in the sentence:
そう、女の子に取って貰い たて、口の横にわざとソースを 付けている ツン ツン 頭のメガネも
3
votes
2answers
403 views
how to say pretend in the context of a sentence
How to say "pretend as if carrots tastes like chicken and eat it"
人参が鶏肉ふりをして食べて
or would
人参が鶏肉まねをして食べて
be better?
5
votes
1answer
9k views
What is the word for FISH in Japanese? Sakana or Uo?
Okay, not finding a definite answer online, what is the word for FISH in Japanese?
BTW - When I say FISH, I mean, if you had a pet fish, I do not mean eating a fish, make sense?
According to my ...
4
votes
1answer
89 views
The difference between ありきたり and 平凡?
Both of them are Na-adjectives and both mean "ordinary, common". Are there any differences?
I saw a sentence:
そんな平凡でありきたりなことじゃないのかも
Why "平凡" and "ありきたり" are both used here?
2
votes
1answer
74 views
correct way to use 是非 and its meaning
是非 means "by all means". And in English, when using "by all means", one does not need to complete the sentence as it already has an implied meaning. For example:
If you have any problem, by all ...
-1
votes
0answers
35 views
How to say “due to” [duplicate]
What;s the difference in using ために and せいで to mean "due to". For example:
コロナウィルスが蔓延しているため....bla, bla, bla (Due to the rampant spread of corona virus, ....)
コロナウィルスが蔓延しているのせいで....bla, bla, bla (Due ...
0
votes
1answer
67 views
Word choice in a sentence and meaning
醬油 を掛けて辛口で食べたい俺でも甘めの卵焼きが美味い
What does 掛けて mean here? Does it mean "attach"? Why can't I use 付けて instead?
What is the difference in using 辛口 and 塩辛い? Both means salty
1
vote
1answer
48 views
Word choice to mean “take care of yourself”
ご無事で - Take care of yourself
大事にして - Take care of yourself
What's the difference in the sentences? Is ご無事 more formal? Or is there a better word to mean "take care of yourself"?
0
votes
0answers
15 views
Meaning of a word in a sentence [duplicate]
私に食べさせてくれぬか - can you let me eat
What does ぬ mean in the sentence above?
14
votes
4answers
10k views
Usage of お[冷]{ひや} ＆ お水
I just went out for lunch with a friend and when the waiter asked what we want to drink, I ordered 'お[水]{みず}下さい' whereas I noticed my friend asked for 'お[冷]{ひや}下さい'.
Which expression would be more ...
-1
votes
0answers
73 views
あまり…いい means positive? [duplicate]
I was watching dragon ball when I came across あまり天気がいいから本を読もうと思った and that means (from context), "The weather IS good and I'd thought I'd read the book (outside)". Can we even use あまり with いい? I'd ...
3
votes
1answer
104 views
How to say “give”
あげる would be the word that means "give". But what if I were to give someone something that I am not sure if it will benefit the person or the person might not like. In this case, あげる would probably be ...
0
votes
0answers
43 views
What's the difference in using もらう and くれる with a verb [duplicate]
What's the difference between:
これは相川に食べてもらうんだ！
これは相川が食べてくれるんだ！
Notice the change in particle に to が. I think this is a MUST otherwise it wouldn't make sense?
I think that もらう would mean "I ...
2
votes
1answer
185 views
Meaning of なき in a sentence
Sentence:
全員のオススメを食べて事なきを得よう
what does なき mean here? Also what difference would it make if I replace 食べて事 with 食べる事?
0
votes
0answers
40 views
してならない meaning in a sentence [duplicate]
What does してならない mean in the sentence
みんながどんどんおかしくなっている気が してならない。
気がする would mean "I get the feeling". But I am not sure what してならない means.
0
votes
0answers
34 views
Difference in ていた and た
Been wondering for a long time what the difference between ていた and た is. For example:
友紀 の 心境 に 少し 変化 が 起こっ て い た。
If I were to replace the 起こっ て い た with 起こった, what difference would that make?
0
votes
2answers
109 views
Difference in adding a も
I always thought that the word ても means 'even if'. For example, 一緒に行かなくてもいい would mean 'Even if you don't go with me, it is ok'(speaker really wants to go together but is ok even if they dont go ...
2
votes
1answer
65 views
だから/から and なので/ので when used with anything but nouns and なadjectives
What's the difference in using なので and ので when used in anything but nouns and な adjectives. For example:
行かないなので他の誰かを頼んで
行かないので他の誰かを頼んで
I assume that a similar explanation holds for だから and から
-1
votes
0answers
74 views
Word meaning in a sentence
I came across 逃げることはないなのに逃げなさいと and it translates to "Despite knowing you won't run, I told you to run". Sounds to me like 逃げなさいと means "I told you to run". Why does と mean "I told you" in this case?
5
votes
2answers
203 views
まま + 放る{ほうる} used for emphasis or are they both needed?
A group of people are talking about the best way to get rid of a monster in their town and one of the villagers says this:
仕方{しかた}あるまい。このまま放って{ほうって}おけば村は[全滅]{ぜんめつ}するかもしれん…。
From what I understand,...
0
votes
2answers
54 views
How to say “respond” in this sentence
What word to use to mean "respond" in the sentence below:
"You should respond to her confession" ー彼女の告白にお返事してください
Most accurate I can think of is 返事 but it still feels wrong
4
votes
4answers
344 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....
3
votes
0answers
130 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 ...
0
votes
0answers
55 views
I can't recognize which conditional form to use? [duplicate]
so as you know there are varieties of conditions forms in Japanese...(と, …ば, …たら, なら)
and 大変ですね？
so my problem is, I may be able to recognize them in a test but while speaking, I have no idea which to ...
0
votes
1answer
76 views
Difference between 顔を合わせる and 会う
I would like to know the difference between 顔を合わせる and 会う
彼はそれまで長く親密に交際していた四人の友人たちからある日、我々はみんなもうお前とは顔を合わせたくないし、口をききたくもないと告げられた (from Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage, Haruki ...
4
votes
2answers
180 views
What is the difference between 振る and 揺る?
Both of these words seem to mean "to shake". From what I got:
振る is "higher frequency" shaking.
揺る is more like a swaying or rocking motion, "lower frequency".
Is this correct? An explanation would ...
1
vote
2answers
91 views
How to say 'fellow sweet tooth'
How do I say 'fellow sweet tooth' (noun) in japanese. I'd thought it would be either 甘党仲間 or 甘党同僚 but there's probably something more accurate
0
votes
0answers
41 views
Nine pronouns… how to distinguish them all? [duplicate]
So there are nine related pronouns...
kore kono koko
sore sono soko
are ano ako
The first kana tells you where object is, and the second kana tells you whether it is a thing (re and no) or a place (...
6
votes
2answers
340 views
How to use またしても?
I know that またしても means "again, moreover, in addition" and it often comes with relative nuance. However, given the below sentences, I don't know why it's only proper in a sentence but not both.
1/ ...
18
votes
1answer
754 views
What's the difference between 一応 and とりあえず?
What's the difference between 一応{いちおう} and とりあえず?
While I think they can both mean "tentatively" or "for the time being", there seems to be a difference in their usage. How do the two translate ...
0
votes
0answers
50 views
な vs の when using with nouns or adjectives
What's the difference in using の and な when using it with nouns or adjectives. For example:
きれいなこと
きれいのこと
0
votes
0answers
65 views
Meaning of 輪を作る in a sentence
I came across this sentence:
だけど ─ ─ こうして輪を作って連むのは、それ以上の贅沢だと思う。
What does 輪を作って mean in the sentence? Surely it can't be "making a circle/ring"?
2
votes
1answer
193 views
Sign says or reads
Firstly, just to double check, when we are talking about a sign, like an information sign or a warning sign, is the correct word: ひょうしき【標識】?
I’m constructing a sentence using quotation:
ひょうしきは「女性専用車」...
0
votes
1answer
36 views
Stem of verbs vs て-form of verb in complex sentence [duplicate]
What's the difference between using a verb stem and the te-form of a verb. For example:
机を六つも合体させ、まるで小学校....
机を六つも合体させて、まるで小学校....
2
votes
1answer
166 views
What is the difference between 〜と呼ぶ and 〜という?
Both 〜と呼ぶ and 〜という can be translated as “to call...”.
Examples of 〜と呼ぶ.
Examples of 〜という.
So, for situations where something is given a name, what's the difference between the two?
0
votes
1answer
103 views
Is 不死身 a possible adjective to use with regard to likely immunity to the COVID-19 virus?
Were I to think that a demographic such as young, healthy adults might have "near immunity" to COVID-19, the Japanese that comes to my mind is 不死身.
若くて、健康がようさそうなので、田中さんはCOVID-19に不死身でしょうか。
general ...
0
votes
1answer
112 views
Japanese word for “side”
Is there a word that means "side" like the one in "good side" or "cute side"
I've searched and so far I found 面 so will it be 可愛い面? But the translation is face but I'm specifically looking for the ...
2
votes
2answers
511 views
What's the difference between たびに, ごとに and おきに?
I can't wrap my head around the difference between たびに, ごとに and おきに. I have already looked up at the answers already posted in two previous posts and on the internet, but I still don't get it.
I ...
0
votes
0answers
34 views
やってくる meaning in a sentence [duplicate]
I am reading a novel and I realised the author likes to use the term やってくる. For example:
さらに二人の少女がやってくる
What's the purpose of adding a やって as opposed to just saying くる?
3
votes
1answer
138 views
Nuance differences between the kanji for ぐあい, 具合 and 工合
Usually I read ぐあい as 具合 but recently I was reading a some Japanese literature and the 工合 version of the kanji was used.
For reference the literature:
脳味噌の中心にヒリヒリと焦げ付く位である。それでいて、あとから考えるとその興味の焦点と、...
