Questions tagged [word-usage]
語法. Word usage. 単語の使い分けと単語の使い方 This tag should be used for questions about how specific words are used in speech or writing.
391
questions
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1answer
112 views
How to say 'possessed' as in haunted by a ghost
Could I say these sentences this way?
Hanako was possessed by a ghost.
花子さんは幽霊に憑依されました。
A ghost possessed Hanako
幽霊は花子さんを憑依しました。
1
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1answer
52 views
体格 vs スタイル When to use which
Not sure on the difference between these two words. Is there any real difference in how they are used?
0
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1answer
125 views
Help translate お人好しでおっちょこちょいな奴が絡んでいたというだけさ?
姫子「私としては、月見桐奈が納得する解釈を得られたらそれでよいと思っていたんだがな」
姫子「あいつは原作者によく質問をして『答え』を自ら考えようとしなかった」
姫子「だが、これで自分なりにキャラクターの解釈をまとめあげるということを覚えただろう」
寿季「先生は月見坂さんの成長を促したかったと？」
姫子「そんなところだ」
姫子「とはいえ、私から言い出したことではないんだがな」
寿季「え？」
姫子「...
0
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1answer
102 views
Help understanding 自分自身すらも朱莉に乗せる判断をした?
桐葉「いいわよ。ここまで来たらやってやろうじゃないの」
恐らく、以前のままならば彼女は否定していただろう。
でも、長い間朱莉のことを考え、どうすればよい演技ができるのか、何が自分に足りないかを自問自答し続けた。
それでも違うと否定され、藁をもすがる思いで自分自身すらも朱莉に乗せる判断をした。
……なんというか、大人らしい回りくどいやり方をするなと思いますよ、先生。
Context: 月見坂桐葉 ...
2
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1answer
177 views
Why does その辺 mean “regular”?
寿季「だって、なんというか……ずっと憧れの人だったわけで……」
桐葉「あら、そうなの？」
寿季「月見坂さんは俺のこと、その辺のファンだなぐらいに思っていただろうけど……」
寿季「俺は君が心の支えだった。そのぐらいまで月見坂ーー月見桐奈のことが好きだったから」
寿季「多分……このことが無かったら、俺は月見坂さんに告白していたと思うぐらいには」
桐葉「……そうなんだ。ちょっと照れちゃうわね」
...
2
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1answer
486 views
Why can だらしない be used in this sentence?
I was trying a JLPT mock test and there was a question in which you had to pick the sentence in which the given word was used correctly. In one of those, the given word was だらしない, and the answer was ...
2
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1answer
78 views
Understaning 聞く分?
「自殺、ですか？」
「信じがたい話だがね。......『死霊の声』とやらに、退役してなお付きまとわれたのだそうだ」
「......」
それはやはり、まるきり怪談の類に聞こえるのだけれど。
沈黙するレーナを何と思ったか、カールシュタは気遣わしげに首を傾げる。
「君も嫌ならそう言って構わんよ、レーナ。今の部隊に残りたければそれでいいし、スピアヘッド戦隊は先刻も言ったが古参兵の集まりだ。...
3
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1answer
88 views
Non-weather usage of 日和
I'm aware that 日和 can be used with weather conditions to show that it's a good day for something.
今日はピクニック日和ですね。
Today's the perfect day for a picnic.
But can you use it for non-weather related ...
3
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1answer
160 views
Why 一緒に here in 一緒に教えてもらって?
この前、一緒に料理を教えてもらって、ばぁばと色々話せて、すごく嬉しかったよ。
I heard this line in a TV drama, but I am bugged by the use of 一緒に in it. The protagonist says this to her ailing grandma by her deathbed. She recalls how her ...
2
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1answer
128 views
What is wrong with いきなり涼しくなった
While talking about the weather, I said:
✖️ いきなり涼しくなった
My interlocutor corrected me:
◯ 急に涼しくなった
I would like to understand what makes いきなり inappropriate to avoid making the same kind of mistake ...
0
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1answer
158 views
What does いやよね mean in japanese? [closed]
Is there a word such as いやよね ? I heard The Anime Man mention it in this video(https://youtu.be/k8UmX17DXWg) at around 14:34. However I couldn't find this word in any dictionary.
0
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1answer
104 views
"con" meaning in The Japense podcast "nihongo con teppei" [closed]
Hey just wanted a quick clarification for "Con" in this podcast tite. Does it mean "Japanese with Teppei"? sorry I don't know the exact script for "con" as it wasn't ...
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3answers
116 views
What are the differences between 同時に and 一斉に?
I understand that 一斉に{いっせいに} and 同時に{どうじに} are adverbs and they both mean "at the same time, simultaneously", so I am wondering if there is any nuance or difference between them ?
I ...
0
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1answer
78 views
Usage of その here?
明日から収穫祭だ。
今日はその前夜祭だということで、実質、今日から収穫祭は始まっていると言っていい。
収穫祭 being the festival to which 前夜祭 refers.
Usually I find myself comfortable considering その as a rough equivalent of "that", but in this ...
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0answers
81 views
Usage of ちまう (not "sense of regret" or "accidently do" usage) [duplicate]
I am familiar with the different variations of ちまう, じまう, しまう, ちゃう etc.
I am mostly familiar with the "sense of regret" or "accidently do" usage, but I am confused in sentences like ...
0
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1answer
201 views
What's the difference between わけです。 and はずです。?
実験のやり方を変えてみたんです。今度はきっと成功するはずです。期待していてください。
vs
実験のやり方を変えてみたんです。だから、こんなにいい結果が出たわけです。
Can someone explain what the difference between these two sentences above is? Mainly the difference between はず and ...
2
votes
1answer
347 views
Meaning of せん in そのすべてに感謝せん
大地の精霊よ
イシの村にもたらす恵み
そのすべてに感謝せん
I am wondering if this is perhaps a shortened version of an expression like 感謝の言葉もありません or something like that?
I've tried looking in jisho for せん but it is still ...
1
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1answer
307 views
When do you use forms of 歩く as a verb to talk about walking?
I've come across different usages of 歩く as a verb and was unsure in which scenarios they would be most appropriate to use.
Is 歩く used with 来る?
東京タワーまで歩いて来ます。
Or is it used with 行く?
東京タワーまで歩いて行きます。
...
-1
votes
1answer
146 views
Translating to english a Japanese word that phonetically sounds like "Ish" or "Hish" or "Yish" etc
I have been watching some old Japanese movies and anime with sub titles. I don't speak or under stand Japanese and rely totally on the English subtitles.
I have seen a word used a couple of times that ...
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2answers
99 views
歓迎しましょう vs 歓迎します vs ようこそ
What is the difference between:
歓迎しましょう (Kangei shimashou)
歓迎します (Kangei shimasu)
ようこそ (Yōkoso)
They all mean "welcome" but in which occasions should we use which more appropriately. ...
2
votes
2answers
230 views
Is 領外{りょうがい} a common translation for "out of bounds"?
I think I've heard the word 領外{りょうがい} used several times to mean "out of bounds" (as in physically out of bounds, for instance outside of the playing field for sports).
But, when I try ...
1
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0answers
81 views
How should I complete the sentence? [duplicate]
I have the following sentence:
会社は（ ）ですか。...パワー電気です。
I guess you it should be translated as "What is this company? It's the Power Company"?
A classmate suggested:
会社は どこ ですか。...パワー電気です
But ...
11
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2answers
1k views
Could 家族 be used for really close friends?
My family has a very good relationship with a Japanese family since many decades ago. When I was a kid, I used to play when their sons, and I visited them once and stayed at their home for a month. ...
1
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1answer
128 views
Understanding 分?
今週は大学のオリエンテーション。要は、これから一年受ける講義を選ぶための説明、及び体験期間である。自分の興味のある科目や必修科目を、進級・卒業に必要な単位の分、バランスよく選ばなければならない。
What is the function of the bold 分? Is it like 一年間の休職の分だけ、仕事がたまっていた。?
2
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1answer
118 views
What's the difference between ぞわぞわ and ぞくぞく?
Both ぞくぞく and ぞわぞわ seem to refer to trembling/goosebumps caused by intense emotions or coldness. Is there any difference between the two, though? My intuition is that ぞわぞわ refers more to goosebumps ...
0
votes
2answers
111 views
Are verbs of movement typically used in compounds?
I've been reading a lot of graded readers lately (targetted at JLPT N4/N3 level). I recognize that these are not "pure authentic native Japanese", but I also don't believe they are ...
6
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1answer
226 views
Why is 株 used as variant for viruses, e.g. デルタ株?
I've noticed that Delta variant and so forth is translated using 株.
I've always understood this kanji to primarily deal with things regarding stocks, business, and so forth.
I also see from my ...
3
votes
2answers
136 views
Difference in usage between 嬉しい and 幸せ
What is the difference between [嬉]{うれ}しい and [幸]{しあわ}せ for "happy" or "happiness"? Are these interchangeable or are there cases where one should be used over the other? If so, ...
3
votes
1answer
108 views
What does "天然記念物" mean in this context?
The dictionary I have defines this as "natural monument" and "protected species" and I don't see how it relates to the conversation at hand. Based on the context though, since the ...
1
vote
1answer
142 views
Why are there so many words that mean "first" (and other ordinal numbers)? What are the differences?
Here are the words that roughly mean "first" that I'm aware of, but feel free to add more:
最初
一番
一番目
一次
第一次
第一
第一位
一位
首位
What are the differences (if any) between all of them?
2
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1answer
150 views
Difference between 監督 and 管理 for "to control"?
So I think both 監督（かんとく）and 管理（かんり）are different from 経営（けいえい）in that 経営 refers to managing a business. However the word "control" can be used for many things in English:
To have control ...
2
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1answer
246 views
Difference between 表立つ and 表沙汰する?
From what I understand, they both have the meaning of going public or becoming public knowledge. Is there a more nuanced difference between the two?
4
votes
1answer
167 views
Word Usage: ほがらかな vs 人懐っこい
I am doing some JLPT prep, and I'm struggling with the differences between ほがらかな and 人懐っこい。
私は、誰にでも抱っこされる（ ）赤ちゃんだったらしい。
A「ほがらかな」 B「人懐っこい」
The given correct answer is 人懐っこい which I can understand as ...
2
votes
2answers
743 views
Should I use -Sensei (先生) to refer to a teacher if they aren't my teacher?
Does it make a difference whether they teach at my school, even if they don't teach my class?
3
votes
1answer
70 views
When is 請じる used?
I read a novel, with the following sentence :
社会部記者と称する男は、快く支配人の部屋へ請じられた。
According to jisho.org,請じる means "to invite; to show (someone) in". I searched online for examples of sentences ...
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1answer
173 views
Why would there be a (笑) after 汚点?
I'm reading through a book put out by a manga publisher (Tosuisha/冬水社 if it's relevant) in 1998 that's a compilation of interview questions given to different manga characters. One of the questions ...
2
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1answer
92 views
What is the difference between 受け継ぐ、引き継ぐ，and 継承する?
I know these words roughly translate to "to inherit", "to take over", "to succeed", etc, but what is the difference between these words? These words were used in Attack ...
1
vote
1answer
86 views
What is the difference between ギャンブラー, 博徒, and 博奕打ち?
I was looking up a character from a Japanese game whose profession/specialty was gambler and saw that the word used in Japanese was ギャンブラー. My general distaste for katakana-English inflamed, I looked ...
0
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2answers
113 views
What does 送る mean in this sentence and is it similar to 生活を送る?
幻聴？あたし妄想見やすいタイプなのかな？父親の愛情なき幼児体験おくってっからな…
(first sentence for context)...because I experienced childhood without my father's love.
Would it work to also say 「幼児体験で育ったから」?
I'm also wondering if it is ...
0
votes
1answer
171 views
What would be the difference between 書こう and 書きよう when used in this sentence?
EDIT: Apparently I read the answers wrong, and the correct answer is actually the one I chose, i.e. 書こうにも.
Then my question would be focused on the difference between these two forms. I guess in this ...
1
vote
1answer
138 views
Usage/difference between ーみたい、－そう、and っぽい [duplicate]
So I know that these words would have the same-ish meanings, however the usage confuses me.
For example:
A:「この歌の歌手はBさんの声________よ。」
B:「本当ですか？ありがとう！」
Which would be used in a sentence like that? Why?
2
votes
1answer
112 views
What is the usage of そこはそれ?
と、先ほどよりだいぶ気安い調子で言ってみる。が、真士はすぐにむうとうなった。
確かに自然にはなったけれど、これではいつもと変わらない。別に真士は、澪と二人で出かけたことがないわけではないのだ。……いやまあ、二人きりで出かけるのとデートがどう違うのかと言われれば答えに窮してしまうのだが、そこはそれ、澪に『真士とデートしている』と思って欲しいのである。
I know probably it is ...
1
vote
1answer
53 views
What's the difference between 「殺人者」「殺戮者」 and 「大量殺人者」?
Is it a matter of the degree of the crime like "satsurikusha" is worse than "satsujinsha" and "tairyousatsujinsha" is worse than "satsurikusha"? Or are "...
0
votes
1answer
126 views
Why is the verb conjugated to え-form?
選べなかったら俺ん家来れば？
Translation:
If you don't like your choices, why not live at my place?
What I'm particularly confused about is the verb being in え-form. As far as I know, one usage of it is to give ...
2
votes
1answer
115 views
What is the meaning of 礼楽?
I was checking the definition of 堂 in my online dictionary (大辞林) when I came across the word 礼楽 in:
堂 → 客に接したり，礼楽を行なったりする所。== Hall → a place where you can interact with customers and perform ritual ...
0
votes
2answers
145 views
What would be the meaning of the 「筋」in 「親戚筋」?
「もちろん偶然苗字が一緒だっただけとか、名前を騙ってるだけって可能性もゼロではねーですけども、何らかの関わりがあるという前提で考えるのなら、私や兄様の親戚筋ってところですかね？少なくとも、私や兄様と面識があるみてーですし」
What would be the meaning of the 「筋」in 「親戚筋」? Are there any other examples of this ...
1
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1answer
105 views
Why does this sentence has a negative connotation and what does 外れ mean in this context?
I came across this sentence "予報外れの雨が降った" in a manga, and it's translated as: " It rained despite the forecast for today". Few things I want to ask:
First, a look up in the dict ...
3
votes
1answer
135 views
Is 「謙譲 」really used as a standalone word different than 「謙譲語」？
When I started studying Japanese, I learnt the word 謙譲語 which means "humble language" (one type of 敬語). At that point, I looked up the word 謙譲 at the dictionary jisho.org and found out that ...
0
votes
1answer
39 views
A & B don't/doesn't exist translation [closed]
How to say or write
"A & B don't exist" in formal and informal form with involving the word 存在 ?
0
votes
1answer
131 views
How do I understand いいかしら
My guess is that it's asking whether something is good or not, similar to saying いいですか.
So my question is what form is this and what does it stem from?
