Questions tagged [word-requests]
Topics related to finding a word that fits a meaning.
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1answer
71 views
I can't identify this kanji ( kanji 当ても)
I've decided to read manga in japanese again, I left it for a couple of years so now I'm out of practice and in need of help. It must be a really simple one but still I want to understand without ...
6
votes
0answers
100 views
Are there more terms similar to 上京 or 来阪 for going to Japanese cities?
I've seen that 上京する "going to Tokyo", 来阪する "going to Osaka" are used to refer to visiting these cities.
What other terms are in use for visiting other cities? Which of them are commonly understood?
2
votes
1answer
142 views
What is the right word for existential goal?
I am looking for a Japanese word that corresponds to life goal. It does not refer to getting a good salary job, marrying with dream S.O., buying exotic cars, or other materialistic/worldly targets. ...
5
votes
2answers
169 views
Appropriate word for “fellow”
I've been wondering how to appropriately say the phrase "My fellow members" lately and I've come up with the phrase 「僕の仲間のメンバーたち」but I feel like there's a more appropriate word for it.
Is there a ...
2
votes
1answer
155 views
How can I say “self-love” in Japanase?
How can I say "self-love" in japanese, when you love yourself in a healthy way, not egoism?
Is 自愛 (Jiai) ok? And does the two pics mean same thing, with diff calligraphy?
13
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1answer
492 views
Japanese term for morning office mantra ritual
This is a follow-on question to this question which was asked on the English Language stack.
The phenomenon in question is the typical Japanese workplace ritual where team members will begin the day ...
1
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1answer
83 views
Generic Japanese greeting new people?
The most commonly cited one is Konnichiwa, but knowing that is time specific, can it be used generically in all hours of the day as a "hello" instead of a specific "good afternoon"? Ohayou and ...
5
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1answer
89 views
Is there a name for the ending year of an era?
[元]{がん}[年]{ねん} is a term for the first year of an era, i. e. 平成元年=1989 starting with 8 January. But what is the term of the ending one, i. e. 2019 for Heisei?
4
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3answers
589 views
How to say “This is how I do […]”?
私はかんじをべんきょうします。
This literally says "I study kanji".
But I would like to say "This is how I study kanji." or "I will show you how I study kanji".
Can anyone help with this structure?
2
votes
1answer
105 views
How to translate “Fill” (in a form)
Say I have a form with differents fields to fill. How do I translate to japanese the word "Fill" (For example I have a button that when pressed will fill all the fields automatically)
6
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3answers
186 views
Is there a gender-specific way of using 先輩 or 後輩?
My motivation behind this question is that I want to translate the Chinese word "学妹" into Japanese. 学妹, as you probably have guessed already, refers to a female 後輩. A male 先輩 is 学长，female 先輩 is 学姐，...
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1answer
711 views
How to say “weeaboo” in Japanese?
What's the best translation of "weeaboo" in Japanese?
I would define a weeaboo as a (generally derogatory term for a) non-Japanese person who is highly interested in manga, anime, Japanese video ...
0
votes
1answer
88 views
Japanese equivalent for “Beta” as in software prototype or early release?
What are the most common terms used by the software industry in Japan to list software as "beta" as in an early release. And how would they translate literally to American English?
Beta software ...
4
votes
3answers
153 views
Is it possible to “be confident in” without using 信 and implying having “faith”?
In academic fields, particularly in science, practitioners are often careful to to say they have confidence in something rather than saying they believe in it. Example: "I am confident the theory of ...
19
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2answers
2k views
What's the original japanese word for door, other than the loanword ドア?
I assume that ドア is a loanword from English, unless it's a big coincidence, yet, it's in the top 200 most used Japanese words by frequency in a Japanese words by frequency list. What's the original ...
4
votes
1answer
157 views
What is the word or set-phrases of “grinding/grindy gameplay” as opposed to “power-leveling” in formal/informal Japanese
Background: Japanese online games are known for its grinding process while people often find a way to "power-level" in a certain way so that they can bypass the 'grindy process'.
I have difficulties ...
14
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4answers
321 views
Is using 人口 when referencing animal populations alright?
I am writing about that Isle of Dogs movie and I wanted to write 日本の犬の人口. Since it has the character for person in it, I was wondering if it is appropriate for animals. Any help would be appreciated!
1
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1answer
112 views
What is the word for an independent-minded person? What is the opposite of that word?
I'm looking for two words: a word that means an independent-minded person and its opposite. Not necessarily a rebel or someone who wants to stand out, but someone who is comfortable sticking with what ...
6
votes
2answers
566 views
Issues translating “get an ultrasound.”
Talking about pregnancy with my Japanese friends has been a challenge because I have struggled to translate some English concepts.
Ultrasound is one of those words.
超音波｛ちょうおんぱ｝ is the word I find ...
-1
votes
1answer
135 views
What does “kittie-kittie-kittie” mean and how is it spelled correctly (in transcription) [closed]
What does the most famous line of the movie Audition (Ôdishon, 1999) mean and how is it transcribed correctly using Latin letters?
It sounds (!) like "kittie, kittie, kittie, kittie, kittie" and is ...
0
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1answer
177 views
Is there a term similar to ASL when used in chats?
The abbreviation means age, sex and location. It is used frequently in English. Is there a similar term used in Japanese?
0
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2answers
67 views
What is the proper way to use 初回?
How would you say, I saw that movie for the first time? Would you use 初回 or a different word like
第一回? What are the differences between using these words to describe the "first time" doing something ...
1
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1answer
144 views
What are the pizza delivery guys called?
I was thinking of the word ピザ配達者, or ピザ人、but it doesn't read right.
0
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1answer
86 views
What is the name for a blackboard eraser? [closed]
I found the term 消しゴム but the definition refers to a pencil eraser. Is there a name for a blackboard eraser? Thank you.
https://jisho.org/word/%E6%B6%88%E3%81%97%E3%82%B4%E3%83%A0
2
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2answers
79 views
What are the plastic meals featured in restaurants called?
I can point at the food that I would like to order, because there is a plastic representation of it. Is it called purasuchikku shokuji?
3
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2answers
145 views
What is the best way to express the concept of “accountability” in Japanese?
I am teaching a class at church on the importance of having an accountability partner to check on our goals, growth, and see whether or not we are fulfilling our plans. Originally, I found that ...
2
votes
2answers
223 views
How do you say “no!” (to stop someone)?
Suppose someone is about to do/say something dangerous/inappropriate. And I want to stop them immediately. In English and Spanish I say "no!" to them. It is an order to stop, short form of "don't do ...
1
vote
1answer
459 views
What term denotes a Japanese style living room?
I searched the word 居間 on Jisho and noticed that it referred to a Western style living room. I originally assumed that リビングルーム referred to a Western style living room. Is there a term for a Japanese ...
2
votes
1answer
93 views
The Japanese term for “synonym discussion”?
In English, when I want to know the subtle differences in meaning between similar words I consult a thesaurus's synonym discussion. To give an example of this, see halfway down Merriam-Webster's ...
1
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3answers
171 views
How can I say of a person that he or she has an open or closed personality?
How can I say of a person that he or she has an open or closed personality? Is there a standard adjective for that?
2
votes
1answer
112 views
Can I use the word “Genkō” to mean “current”?
I'm looking at words apart from "Genzai" that mean "Current" as in "Present moment".
Can I safely use the word "Genkō", or "現行" for that?
4
votes
1answer
104 views
Trouble understanding different meanings of べつに
I know べつに can mean "nothing", (not) particularly, not a big deal, I don't care etc. But I have some trouble understanding what it means in long sentences like these. I only have an idea, but I'm so ...
2
votes
2answers
114 views
What are the equivalents of millionnaire, multimillionaire and billionaire in Japanese?
I'm talking about the "cultural" ones, because with the yen currency the scale is completely different (millionnaire with yen is only about having approximately 10 000 usd so I don't think it's the ...
2
votes
2answers
158 views
What does this 意識 refer to?
Context: a guy complaining about his boss with a colleague.
振り回されて意識せざるを得ない
I don't know how to translate the sentence due to the 意識. I have two interpretations
I cannot help being controlled/...
1
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1answer
109 views
How do you say 'set 'or 'fixed' for this example
For example, a person's destiny is fixed/set from birth.
Don't suppose 決定 is the word?
-1
votes
1answer
504 views
Japanese word for element
I am trying to find Japanese word for element (as in five elements) and so far I got two answers from google translate. It would be good to confirm from a native speaker.
One is Yoso and other is ...
5
votes
2answers
1k views
What is the Japanese verb for “to flex” (one's muscles)?
I would like to know the Japanese verb for "to flex", but I haven't found much information and the few dictionary options I have found are a bit unclear to my understanding so I think that some people ...
0
votes
1answer
177 views
Looking for the japanese word for “cat collar”
I'm searching for the word for this, a kind of cat collar accessory
I've searched everywhere, ask to many people but just found it in Korean but not in japanese.
Thank you for you help
2
votes
3answers
177 views
Commonly used term(s) for floor/ground/whatever surface we usually stand on
I've had trouble communicating the concept of 'doing something on the floor/ground' in Japanese.
I've seemed to miss the mark by whichever word I used for the situation during several short ...
11
votes
3answers
658 views
A word like 猫舌{ねこじた} for spice?
Someone who can't eat piping hot food can be referred to as a 猫舌{ねこじた}. Is there an analogous word/idiomatic expression for someone who can't eat very spicy food?
The closest related word I could ...
1
vote
2answers
170 views
'Decontamination' - word that doesn't imply radiation
I already found '汚染除去' or '除染' for the English 'decontamination' but it seems, both imply cleansing from radiation. Radiation can be, but is not automatically implied in 'decontamination'.
I'm looking ...
1
vote
1answer
430 views
How would I say 'home state' in Japanese?
I'm looking for home state or really any Japanese equivalent meaning? I'm trying to explain why I love my hoodie with Wisconsin across the front. If there isn't one I could always just reword my ...
1
vote
2answers
141 views
ゲルト - means money or not?
I found it in a dictionary but I'm not sure if actually means money.
Do Japanese people use this word?
4
votes
2answers
521 views
What is the closest equivalent Japanese word to “melempem”?
How do you describe this state of 'melempem' in Japanese?
This is the food (kerupuk) in question:
Melempem = a state of condition of something that lacks 'hardness' due being out in the open for ...
9
votes
1answer
1k views
What are the Japanese names of the columns in a Kana chart? (Vowels, K, S, T…)
Here is a typical Kana chart presented in gojūon order:
In English, I refer to the first column in the chart as the 'vowels' and I refer to every other column in the chart with the first letter of ...
6
votes
1answer
329 views
Dragging one's feet for politeness
Having worked in a Japanese office for years, I have noticed this behavior thousands of time:
An important customer rings the reception's bell.
An employee 10 to 30 meters away (who has an ...
7
votes
1answer
961 views
A word used in fandoms “headcanon”-is there a word in Japanese for it?
I talk with a couple of Japanese users on social media and I was wondering what other words can I use to say "Oh, I have this theory", or "I imagine this and that about those characters". Up until now ...
3
votes
1answer
604 views
How to say “famous quote” in Japanese?
Just like the title stated, I'm wondering how Japanese say quote or famous quote, since 見積もり isn't the right translation for that meaning.
2
votes
1answer
181 views
What could キョン untwist to?
In the anime Haruhi Suzumiya there is a main character called Kyon [キョン].
The wiki page for Kyon mentions:
His nickname, Kyon, was created for him by his aunt and then spread by his little sister. ...
5
votes
1answer
173 views
What is the proper Japanese word for the germ theory of disease?
I was looking for a Japanese word for the germ theory of disease. I found an article in the Japanese Wikipedia that uses the word 細菌説{さいきんせつ} for what essentially is the germ theory. Is it the correct ...
