Questions tagged [words]
言葉. Any question that does not deal specifically with grammar or pronunciation. Includes questions about prefixes, suffixes, compound words, loanwords, dialectal differences, pragmatic usage, etc. In other words, phenomena that occurs at the level of the word.
35
questions with no upvoted or accepted answers
14
votes
2answers
851 views
How has Japanese kanji and kana usage changed since 1945?
How has the percentage of writing using each script changed since 1945? With script reform, increasing influx of loanwords, and stylistic choices, several factors affect how much certain parts of the ...
4
votes
1answer
152 views
Doubt about the meaning/usage of「分」
I am reading よつばと.
In chapter 1, Yotsuba's father is carrying some boxes when he meets the neighbor Fuuka. She sees the cardboards (ダンボール) in his hands, and says:
そのダンボール ゴミに出す分ですか。
And he ...
4
votes
2answers
188 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 ...
3
votes
0answers
99 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
0answers
73 views
Is there any difference between 「精々」 and 「たかだか」?
Like mentioned in the title, I would like to know if there are any subtle differences between 「精々」 and 「たかだか」.
As an example, are all these sentences grammatically correct? Is there any change in ...
3
votes
1answer
345 views
「いくらか」と「若干」の使い分けを教えていただけないでしょうか。
「いくらか」と「若干」の違いは何ですか。ただ「いくらか」は話し言葉で「若干」は書き言葉ですか。正しいですか。もし、正しかったら、他の違いがありますか。
2
votes
0answers
116 views
Does 逆さまにする ever mean rotation on the Y-axis? a twist?
I've thought さかさま to mean to rotate 180" over the X-axis. In dictionaries, I see the definition "to invert, upside down; to flip" ok.
But "to reverse, back to front" is also included in some ...
2
votes
0answers
160 views
What is the point of 一名 in this sentence?
(Taken from ジョジョ６部)
「女性受刑者が一名頭部を砕かれ変死をとげたというのに…」
I don't really get the point behind 「一名」in this sentence.
My guess is that the sentence (badly) translates to something like: "And although one/a ...
2
votes
1answer
602 views
っていうことになったんですけど - meaning?
I had just received a somewhat rushed 'transliteration' of a 1 minute video. To me, Shigeru Miyamoto speaks in a way which is extremely difficult to understand. I am adding the full transcript just ...
2
votes
1answer
326 views
Is there any slang for 絞首刑?
In English it is quite common to use the expression "to get the chair" to refer to the death penalty. For example:
He committed such a terrible crime, I hope he gets the chair. *
The word 絞首刑, "...
2
votes
0answers
117 views
Why are the South China Sea and East China Sea still referred to as “南シナ海 ” and “東シナ海” when “シナ” is considered derogatory when referring to China?
If China is usually referred to as [中国]{ちゅうごく}, then why do the names for the seas still use the old Japanese name? Is there a reason?
2
votes
1answer
128 views
What is the correct reading of 心底?
The word 心底 has 2 readings which are しんそこ and しんてい. Both seem to be interchangeable with one another. Searching online has this page popping up. https://detail.chiebukuro.yahoo.co.jp/qa/...
2
votes
1answer
105 views
Exact definition of 針千本 in the 指切り idiom
I'm trying to learn more about idioms and expressions, and I came across this (which is apparently said when making a [pinky] promise):
指切拳万{ゆびきりげんまん}、嘘ついたら針千本{はりせんぼん}呑ます
Casting the first part ...
1
vote
0answers
104 views
How to break down the nuances of each Japanese word translating to “somehow” or “anyhow”?
There seems to be an endless supply of Japanese words and phrases that translate to "somehow" or "anyhow" in English. It's difficult, at least with J-E dictionaries, to understand the nuances of each ...
1
vote
0answers
76 views
Polar connotations in the same word: 断り and 惜しい
Recently I bumped into two words「断り」and「惜しい」.
Accordingly to Jisho:「断り」can mean permission; consent but it also can mean rejection; refusal; nonacceptance; declination; declining...
As for「惜しい」 ...
1
vote
0answers
117 views
What does 測る mean here?
前に「知るタイミング」みたいなこと言ってましたよね、それってどうやって測ればいいんですか。
I can't understand what 測る means here. I know its dictionary definition is to measure or to weigh, but it seems to have another meaning in this sentence.
1
vote
0answers
69 views
The meaning of 一時期繁く
I've been reading a book and met a phrase I don't understand.
I have translated it like that:
一時期繁く通った程度のことらしいが、そこに居を定める人間に出会ってみると、懐かしくなったものとみえる。
It seems to a degree of being there for one hour ...
1
vote
0answers
80 views
Multiple words with same definition
I am seeing pairs of words with similar meanings (where one of the words has a single kanji and the other has two kanji).
Examples include:
豊か、豊富
保つ、保存する
防ぐ、予防する
Do these pair of words share the ...
1
vote
0answers
51 views
Do 最愛の人 and ダーリン mean the same thing?
I looked up for the word "darling" and got two different answers and I just want to know if they both mean the same thing.
1
vote
0answers
70 views
1
vote
0answers
96 views
When is 下 alone read げ outside of a handful of idiomatic usages (if ever)?
Dictionary definition:
１ 程度・価値・等級・序列などが低いこと。標準より劣っていること。下等。した。「中の下の成績」⇔上 (じょう) 。
２ 書物や文の章段などで、二つまたは三つに分けたものの最後のもの。「下の巻」⇔上 (じょう) 。
Edit:
I think 巻 is not read かん, but まき. Sometimes, a word ...
1
vote
0answers
146 views
What is a term for an attitude/life that eschews luxury or comfort?
A while back I had read an article (in English) online about an Japanese ceramics artist and his work, with the writer describing the artist's rather spartan furnishings as a result of his attitude or ...
1
vote
0answers
131 views
Is there a school definition of the word ミスター aside from “mister”?
The manga I'm reading is set in school. And the girls, who are looking at their crush (who is at that moment playing soccer) said: "さすが去年のミスター!".
If I'm going to translate this, it will be: "As ...
1
vote
1answer
114 views
Which name does the -san go behind surname or given name?
when addressing a Japanese man in business, Which name does the -san go behind his surname or his given name?
1
vote
1answer
374 views
Questions about の→ん contraction, でござる→でございます shift
【原文】Original version
各これらの語の特徴はいつからなの？何時代ですの？
第一、「のです」と「なのです」を書いて「んです」と「なんです」を書かなかったことはいつからなの？
第に、「でござる」を書いて「でございます」を書かなかったこともいつからなの？
私の日本語がよくないですと、すみません！
Edited version
I have two questions ...
1
vote
2answers
117 views
How to say “unless…?” in the context of “but what if”
In the context of the phrase "Just kidding... unless...?", how would the word "unless" be translated? Here, "unless" has sort of a connotation of "what if...?" as well as "unless you want to?"
0
votes
0answers
20 views
how was なりそうな conjugated?
i was wondering how なりそう was conjugated i know it was made of なる and そう but i don't know how \
なる became なり
0
votes
0answers
47 views
in this sentence what function does と take
here is the sentence i know と can have multiple functions
ごめんね 私さごめんね 人に合わせないと不安っていうか
0
votes
0answers
100 views
Question about the kanji 兵
When I was sixteen I got my first tattoo and I choose this kanji " 兵 " because I saw that stands for warrior. A couple of years after, I saw that the kanji stands more for "soldiers" than "warrior" (...
0
votes
0answers
71 views
Understanding the meaning of 事情がわって
First, I would like to yet thank all the community for your great exchange work ! I wish I can participate one day when I get a better understanding of japanese language.
I am learning japanese as an ...
0
votes
0answers
135 views
それぞれ and ずつ use and differences
I'm a bit confused by それぞれ and ずつ.
What would the difference be between these three sentences:
それぞれの生徒にオレンジを二個ずつあげた
生徒にオレンジを二個ずつあげた
それぞれの生徒にオレンジを二個あげた
0
votes
1answer
173 views
“自然な流れ” and “サボろう” mean
In this sentence "自然な流れでサボろうと思ったのにちょっと言い過ぎたかな" ,there are
two phrases i don't know the meaning "自然な流れ" and "サボろう" . "自然な流れ" I think it means "natural flow" but what is " natural flow". Also, "サボろう" ...
0
votes
1answer
424 views
Is しごと pronounced as 'shingocto'?
I downloaded Genki and the CDs that came with it. しごと was pronounced as 'shingocto' instead of 'shigoto.' Why is that?
0
votes
1answer
301 views
How would I ask for a persons Age, Sex, and Location (ASL) in Japanese?
The abbreviation means age, sex and location, and is used frequently in English speaking chatsites during introductions. Is there a similar term used in Japanese chatsites?
-2
votes
1answer
556 views
How do you say “ 14 days left and will finish the vacation ”?
I'm a little bit confused , I tried to find a good answer of how to say 2 days left +verb
like 2 days left and will start dieting
or
2 minutes left and will be ready
or
14 days left and will ...
