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.
2,893
questions
2
votes
1
answer
142
views
What does 「の元に」mean in this sentence?「白銀会長の元に 承認リクエストが送られます」
This line is from Kaguya-sama: Love is war
白銀会長の元に 承認リクエストが送られます
What does 「のもとに」mean in this sentence?
From my understanding of the context, the characters were talking about how to send a follow ...
- 137
1
vote
0
answers
110
views
Meaning of として after past form in this sentence [duplicate]
I heard this sentence in this news:
外務省は事前の同意がなかったとして、ただちに中国側に対し、「海洋の科学的調査を実施しているのであれば極めて遺憾だ」と即時中止を求めて抗議しました
I know とする and として can have several meanings and I found answers about として (like this and ...
- 3,471
1
vote
2
answers
489
views
What does 「他にやたら」mean in this sentence? 「今はいないけど他にやたら頑丈なお姉さんもいるんですよ」
I found this line while watching an anime and can't I don't know what word to look for in the dictionary for it
今はいないけど、他にやたら頑丈なお姉さんもいるんですよ
What does 「他にやたら」mean in this sentence?
- 137
1
vote
1
answer
113
views
What does いろりのそば mean?
I am reading Basic Connections by Kakuko Shoji and came across the following passage from 雪女 (page 63 of book)
みのきちはいろりのそばで仕事をしている。
みのきち is a name, but I am not sure what いろりのそば means in this ...
1
vote
1
answer
352
views
What does 「感謝こそすれども」mean in this sentence?「恨むようなことはありません」
I came across this episode and I have no idea how to make sense of it
感謝こそすれども 恨むようなことはありません！
What does 「すれども」mean exactly in this sentence?
I also thought I knew what 「こそ」meant but this sentence is ...
- 137
3
votes
2
answers
197
views
What does とびっことりっこ mean?
I’m translating a Japanese novel into my language. The novel I’m working with is a fantasy story about a teen witch and children. But I’m not sure about the meaning of とびっことりっこ which appears several ...
- 221
-4
votes
1
answer
245
views
Do you think using original Japanese words is out of date?
The more I learn Japanese, the more I think Japanese is a subtype of English, now every Japanese Word are replaced by English words, some words I learned from textbook seems out of date.
For example, ...
- 412
0
votes
0
answers
54
views
Difference between kanji にち and び [duplicate]
Google translate used same kanji for にち and び 日曜日. First syllable represents にち whereas last syllable represent び. But I can differentiate them both of them are looking same. They are pronounced ...
- 125
3
votes
1
answer
136
views
What does ネタ mean in 完全にネタだったから一日で変わったけど?
In this sentence here, I understand the overall gist of what it is saying, but I just can't find any sort of definition for ネタ. I'm thinking its some kind of slang which requires a bit of contextual ...
2
votes
1
answer
817
views
Meaning of ノッて来ん
誰か誘って遊び行こうかとおもったけど、ノッて来んの男のダチばっかりでさぁ…
I can understand the first half of the sentence just fine, but what does the character mean when he refers to his friends as "ノッて来ん"? Is it some form ...
- 349
0
votes
1
answer
240
views
What are the differences between 出身地 and 故郷{こきょう}?
I can't figure out the difference between 出身地 and 故郷{こきょう}, both meaning "hometown, birthplace", despite having done some research of my own in the internet as well as in this site.
There is ...
- 5,757
2
votes
2
answers
832
views
What is the semantic difference between 認める and 通じる?
I am looking for the differences in terms of meaning between 認める and 通じる. I have 3 related questions which I have numbered across this answer to make it clearer.
Now, 通じる has a myriad of different ...
- 5,757
1
vote
1
answer
148
views
What is the meaning of エラ？
Watching a Youtube video this tshirt appeared:
What's エラ supposed to mean here? It has something to do with 偉? Sexual meaning? I googled a bit but didn't find any other examples.
Thanks!
- 485
2
votes
0
answers
84
views
Suffix as defined in romanized Japanese morphological analysis
Older grammar books tend to rely on a lot of romanization to teach the nitty-gritty of morphology, which is also reflected in some of @snail's answers like this one. I was reading Samuel Elmo Martin's ...
- 11.4k
4
votes
1
answer
429
views
申し訳ないです not used as an apology?
I read the following sentence:
あんなおまけイラストまで喜んで貰えて却って申し訳ないです。
As far as I know 申し訳ないです is usually used for formal apologies but translating it like "I'm sorry that you are pleased ..." ...
- 43
2
votes
1
answer
114
views
Positive use of “だめ”?
I had always thought from examples that “だめ” can have a slang positive connotation in context, similar to how English speakers often use “sick” or “damn” to express positive emotions, but I cannot ...
- 513
1
vote
1
answer
58
views
Meaning of 託す here
What does 託されて mean in this passage? I see that it can mean "to express in the form of" or "to use as a pretext". Is one of those definitions applicable?
とまれ古い昔にどこかの遥かな国の王子が、...
- 3,326
0
votes
1
answer
93
views
What is the Japanese name for the genus of plants "Saxifraga"?
What is the Japanese name for Saxifraga (rockfoil) genus of plants (or any more well-known species within this genus) and how is it written in rōmaji?
2
votes
2
answers
335
views
Meaning of だけれど at sentence end
I'm finding difficult to understand how だけれど is used here.
〝藤戸千雪〟
あの子、技術と勘はかなりいいわよね
…ただ
〝技術〟じゃ差が出ないのよ
ショーモデルは〝歩き〟と〝ポーズ〟をちゃんと鍛えてくるから
だからこそ〝身長〟と〝雰囲気（オーラ）〟の世界って言われるのだけれど
I think I understand what the ...
- 3,471
0
votes
3
answers
184
views
What does ということ mean here?
それは、この世の全ての暗号を無意味にできるということ
It means that it can render all the encryptions of the world useless
What does it mean in this context and what usage of it is being used? Is it "means x)"?
- 111
1
vote
2
answers
206
views
Would you ever use 親友 to refer to your romantic partner?
My understanding is 親友 (shinyuu) is the closest equivalent to English "best friend." In English, some people might say things like "My husband/wife is my best friend." Would using ...
- 53
1
vote
1
answer
188
views
Why 厚かましい is not 厚がましい
I usually encounter adjectives of this form adj+がましい which means similar to adj+らしい based on my understanding. I recently discovered this word 厚かましい. I find it peculiar that it ends with かましい not がましい....
- 2,112
0
votes
1
answer
141
views
How do I write "Yoshimeatsu" in Japanese characters?
I am doing a study on a Japanese Yakiniku (grilled meat) restaurant named "Yoshimeatsu" and wanted to ask how to write it in Japanese characters? The name was a play on words using Ashikaga ...
- 3
2
votes
1
answer
126
views
Meaning of に起こす
I'm reading a manga in which often 起こす is used with に, in situations like this:
次は工場用に こいつをパターンに起こす
The characters just finished making a test piece for a shirt, and the speaker is saying to the ...
- 3,471
0
votes
1
answer
129
views
だとよ at the beginning of a sentence
I watched a show in which person A tells person B they want them to come back. After it's said, person C said " datoyo." I don't understand it. Da to yo is used to quote things but why would ...
- 41
0
votes
1
answer
216
views
What fraction of Japanese words contain digraphs?
I'm curious as to what the percentage of native Japanese words that contain digraphs, or to put it another way, the average number of digraphs (or individual kana) in a Japanese word would be. I'm a ...
- 103
2
votes
1
answer
110
views
Meaning of 巡り合う好機 in this passage
A passage from the first chapter of 夜は短し歩けよ乙女 by 森見登美彦:
あな恐ろしやと思いながら肩身の狭い思いをしてカウンターをすり抜けると、その奥に隠れ家のような薄暗い空間があって、羽貫さんが四人のナイスミドルの方々に交じってお喋りしていました。
紅い布張りのソファに座ったおじさん方は、皆さん紅いネクタイを締めています。...
- 3,326
1
vote
2
answers
240
views
"Struggle to the death" Japanese culture
I read an article and it had the word "shinimonogurui". And this is how it was explained:
「死に物狂い」というのは、「生きるか死ぬかというくらいの覚悟を持って全力で物事に当たるさま」を意味している表現なのです
例えば、「死に物狂いで努力し続けた結果、...
- 11
0
votes
1
answer
173
views
Nuances on the usage of 思い出す vs 覚える
I'm aware that both can mean 'to remember', but is there a nuance on the usage of these words? or are they interchangeable?
- 35
4
votes
1
answer
144
views
Meaning and usage of 単位
I know 単位 can indicate unit of measurement, but I can't really understand what does it adds, and if it's needed or something extra; I also tried on Weblio, but while I understand the definition, I don'...
- 3,471
0
votes
1
answer
147
views
Why is the イ段 used for 拗音, as opposed to, say, the ア段?
Is there some specific reason or logic that came behind this, or was it simply because everybody thought it was the best representation for the sounds that create the words that use ゃゅぇょ?
- 163
1
vote
1
answer
130
views
Why did 実在 retain its old form when the 促音 was introduced?
Furthermore, are there any other words that retained their larger, pronounced つ when this change occurred?
Edit: 仏像 seems to be another one.
- 163
1
vote
1
answer
155
views
How to say the vertical vowel extension line in Japanese?
I'm learning katakana these days and my book introduces the horizontal line which is use to lengthen a vowel sound as in internet inta-netto
My book says this line is called yoko bou which I can find ...
- 2,412
1
vote
1
answer
131
views
Understanding the Reading of 近道
Why is 近道 read/pronounced as ちかみち and not きんどう?
My first assumption is that the word originated before the kanji was introduced, but I don't have this sort of information on tap.
- 163
0
votes
2
answers
624
views
What Japanese word for "user experience" or UX in IT field?
My team is developing a app for mobile.
I want to tell to customer about the speed of some APIs are very slow. So it is not good for User Experience (UX)
How to say it in Japanese?
- 183
2
votes
1
answer
148
views
Meaning of 「さすがに」in a particular context
I think 「さすがに」 generally means something like "Generally acknowledging a fact, but still has more to say regarding that fact in this specific situation". But I recently encountered a usage ...
- 155
1
vote
1
answer
161
views
Problems with understanding 高が子供となめてかかる
I have problems with a phrase I found:
高が子供となめてかかる
It was an example sentence of たかが:
［副］程度・質・数量などが、取るに足りないさま。問題にするほどの価値のないさま。「―子供となめてかかる」「―一度の失敗」
I know that in this contenxt, なめる means to make ...
- 694
0
votes
1
answer
105
views
What is the meaning of 及ぼし合う in 人間や生物の周囲にあって，意識や行動の面でそれらと何らかの相互作用を及ぼし合うもの?
I was reading the definition of 環境:
取り囲んでいる周りの世界。人間や生物の周囲にあって，意識や行動の面でそれらと何らかの相互作用を及ぼし合うもの。
I understand the first sentence it as: "world that is a surrounding-area" or like "the ...
- 694
0
votes
1
answer
571
views
What does ってやつか mean?
I was watching a music video (name: 思想犯). I've been going through the song and I stumbled upon this ってやつか. What does it mean here, it's not って奴か. I've found a post here about ってやつ vs というもの but I don't ...
- 694
0
votes
1
answer
100
views
For what type of relationships can "関係" be used?
I am writing a text about relationships between different generations and would like to know is [関係]{かんけい} an appropriate word in this context.
- 1
0
votes
1
answer
87
views
Difference between 心の中に浮かぶ vs 心に浮かぶ
I read the definition of 面影:
実際に目の前にあるように心の中に浮かぶ姿・かたち
"Shape(s)" that comes up in your mind as if it was in front of you/real
Based on the kanjis 面影 I'm assuming it's something to do with ...
- 694
0
votes
1
answer
94
views
Is the phrase 他【ほか】を利【り】する ambiguous?
Is the phrase 他【ほか】を利【り】する ambiguous?
I found it here:
https://dictionary.goo.ne.jp/word/en/他/#je-44494
他【ほか】を利【り】する
benefit others
Could this example also mean exploit others?
- 1,804
1
vote
0
answers
71
views
What is the meaning of うち in this sentence? [duplicate]
I read the definition of 本能:
ほん-のう [1][0] 本能
（１）生まれつきもっている性質や能力。特に，性質や能力のうち，非理性的で感覚的なものをいう。
I understand the 生まれつきもっている性質や能力 part as "Qualities and abilities" x holds naturally. But I don'...
- 694
3
votes
1
answer
351
views
What does this だけ mean in particular?
I read the definition of くだら◦ない【下らない】:
［連語］《動詞「くだる」の未然形＋打消しの助動詞「ない」》まじめに取り合うだけの価値がない。
I know everything but that だけ. I've searched it up but I have no clue "which" だけ is used here.
- 694
4
votes
1
answer
423
views
What does ぶり mean when it is attached to question words?
I already understood the nuances of ぶり that were presented here:
ぶり
But what does it mean when it is attached to question words like いつぶり or 何年ぶり？
I got recently this message 学校に行くのいつぶり？
How does that ...
- 1,293
3
votes
2
answers
419
views
Meaning of いかにもついでに~ような
I found this sentence in a book:
いかにもついでに掘ったような細い道を無視し、放置されたライトが多くぶら下がってる方向を選んだり、と自分なりに工夫しながら進む
I think I kind of understand it: something like "Ignoring the narrow dug paths, I chose the ...
- 3,471
1
vote
1
answer
81
views
Question about the part "のどは針のように細く" of this phrase
I found this in 大辞林 for ガキ:
I know that the appropriate definition is probably:
俗に，子供の意。
In slang, has the meaning of kid
But I always love to read the definitions with the (仏) in them:
〔仏〕（ア）...
- 694
0
votes
0
answers
225
views
What's a good way to say "liminal"?
I speak a fair amount of Japanese (from America, live in Kobe, Japan), but am having a hard time finding a good way to say liminal.
The best I can think of is things like gap or transition 間 【あいだ】
- 11
2
votes
2
answers
527
views
できる after したがい meaning, and also what does "が," mean?
I read the definition of a word I'm pretty sure means crusty scab [瘡蓋]{かさぶた}:
できもの・傷口が，治るにしたがいできる皮膜。
I believe this means "a film-membrane that can (?) follow up to fix a wound". I'm not ...
- 694
-1
votes
1
answer
89
views
What is the Fast Way on remembering the Japanese adj/verb pronouciations and its related meanings? [closed]
By far, I found the most difficult and important parts of learning Japanese words is to memorize its pronounciations.
eg.
あつい . It means Hot, an adjective. But how can I relate the two - pronouciation ...
