All Questions
28,533
questions
2
votes
1
answer
49
views
Can verbs ending with たり act as a noun?
While reading a certain manga, I found this sentence
小さい頃オレは何をするにも人の目が気になって自分の意見を言うのが苦手でさそれで後悔することも多かったけど嫌われたりが怖かったりでできなくて
I am curious about the 嫌われたりが怖かったり part. It is understood as "scared ...
- 385
1
vote
1
answer
42
views
Is it 昨日の午後 or 昨日午後
When using の to describe when something occurred, what is used?
昨日 の 午後 or 昨日午後 for "yesterday afternoon"
昨日 の 一時 or 昨日一時 for "yesterday at 1 o'clock"
昨日 の 午後一時 or 昨日午後一時 for "...
- 25
1
vote
2
answers
104
views
Trying to understand forms of “どうせ…だろう”
To my understanding, in a normal non-conditional clause “どうせ” has a function of saying that something makes the surrounding context irrelevant, similar to “anyway” in English. As in for instance “...
- 513
0
votes
1
answer
83
views
Trouble understanding context switching / setting in a Famitsu article
I started reading this Famitsu article about a new headset that is releasing soon. But I'm having trouble understanding how context or subject swapping / setting works in general.
I probably have a ...
- 2,000
0
votes
1
answer
43
views
Does potential + ばいい has the same nuance of verb + ばいい
いいんだよ別に
こっちはおもしろい記事が書ければいいんだから
My understand of the sentence is akin to "It's fine, I won't mind. If I can write an interesting article it will be fine." The character is trying to gather ...
- 523
1
vote
1
answer
104
views
Meaning of 文す, かわらせなく in sorobun, Tanizaki, Yoshino-kuzu
Ther following is an extract from a letter that the writer quotes in the above book. The letter was found amongst his grand-mother's belongings after she died, apparently a letter sent to her, by her ...
- 346
3
votes
1
answer
870
views
What だってそうだろう means here?
From Oshi no ko ch. 1,
After getting stabbed in back, the doctor recalled two questions: "what if you were born as an idol's child?" and "what if you have looks and connections from ...
- 385
1
vote
1
answer
90
views
Meaning and pronunciation of 通目
Recently I've been reading 永田カビ's 一人交換日記, and have come upon the word 通目 there, used in every "chapter" heading. Judging from context, I think this word would mean something like "entry&...
- 187
2
votes
3
answers
128
views
What does this usage of 適当にしてて mean?
Going from context, she was showing them around and gets called by the director, so she tells him "I gotta go! Sorry!
However I'm stumbled on this usage of 適当にしてて. From context I guess she's just ...
- 227
0
votes
0
answers
26
views
What is the exact differnce in nuance between させてもらう and させていただきます and させていただきたい
My understand of させてもらう is akin to "I'll take the liberty of doing x". It's not an actual request or asking for permission.
However this doesn't seem to be true for させていただきます? Which seems ...
- 523
0
votes
1
answer
82
views
what does ことに...ことに... mean here?
この教室の窓というのが、トットちゃんにとっては幸福なことに、先生にとっては不幸なことに、一階にあり、しかも通りは目の前だった。
I googled it ,and it only turned out ことに used like this
残念なことに、その商品はもう販売中止になりました。
but this usage obviously don't match the context I ...
- 412
3
votes
1
answer
196
views
い-adjectives derived from verbs
Some い-adjectives are derived somehow from verbs. For instance, 忙しい is related to 急ぐ according to Wiktionary.
Are there many い-adjectives derived from verbs? If a given verb has an adjectival form, ...
- 175
1
vote
1
answer
53
views
The use of the expresssion 首の皮一枚繋がっている + で particle
This is said at the beginning of the chapter. The character is contemplating that he managed to finish without his secret leaking out.
As far I understand 首の皮一枚繋がっている is an expression that means ...
- 227
1
vote
1
answer
59
views
Is ためらうわけではなかった natural?
...だからといって、昨日も、山ほど宿題を出すのをためらうわけではなかった。 (official Japanese TL)
...but it hadn't stopped her giving them a huge pile of homework the day before (original Harry Potter text)
"It won't stop X doing ...
- 29.3k
1
vote
1
answer
78
views
What does 決め決め mean?
個人的にこういうカチッ！っと決め決めの男性がタイプです
It's a woman commenting a picture of a young man.
I think 決め決めの means something like "determined", "resolved". It doesn't seem to be a real word ...
- 731
2
votes
1
answer
141
views
The use of causative + もらう + なさい together
My understanding of the sentence is akin to "Because there in no room for you, for a while make use of Ryo's room."
However, I don't understand this use of causative + もらう. Why add なさい?
- 523
1
vote
1
answer
75
views
Can I say 「車の速度はどのぐらいですか」 instead of 「車はどのぐらい速いですか」
Since this sentence,
富士山の高さはどれくらいですか?
I found here, is correct I figured instead of saying 「車はどのぐらい速いですか」I could just go and say:
車の速度はどのぐらいですか
I'm guessing that putting the noun "speed" ...
- 379
0
votes
1
answer
57
views
Translating into single line having the qualification name, subjects and its grades
I've been trying to translate this single line of the qualification name, subjects, and its grades in Japanese and somehow it looks more challenging to me than how it's supposed to be. Here is the ...
- 257
0
votes
0
answers
61
views
Is there a way to convert any English word to Japanese Kana？
Recently, I've been dealing with Japanese grapheme-to-phonneme conversion. But sometimes, there are plain English words in the text. So I wonder is there a way to convert these English words into ...
- 11
1
vote
2
answers
52
views
Is this phrase a double negation? [duplicate]
身を切るよう な寒い 中 で わざわざ 遊ばなくて もいい じゃない。
asobanakute comes from asobanai (i imagine), but why the jyanai? I know that the phrase mean "You don't have to play outside in the biting wind" but the ...
- 115
1
vote
1
answer
56
views
What is the exact function of だけ in this sentence?
The character recently has been having problems at schools. He got called by the teachers and he however denies to them he has been having problems.
Then he talks to a friend and tells him this.
My ...
- 523
1
vote
1
answer
137
views
A problem with numbers
I ask again today a question that will probably be completely trivial for those who know the language.
What is the difference between 一〇〇四六 and 一万四十六 ?
Or (I think the difference is the same, but I ...
2
votes
1
answer
85
views
what does の方 here mean?
会社員の方の月給すべて競馬に賭けてみた!
I wonder, is の方 really necessary here? what meaning does it add?
- 172
1
vote
3
answers
208
views
In 雪が降り続けています, why is the potential form of 降り続く being used?
From this dialogue:
まだ雪が降っています
ずーっと雪が降り続けています
why is 降り続けて in its potential form?
Doesn't it make more sense to use 降り続いて here to make it
Snow is still falling.
Continuously, snow is falling.
...
- 2,646
1
vote
0
answers
38
views
Understanding あるところ when used in a past-tense sentence [duplicate]
In
昔あるところにおじいさんとおばあさんが住んでいました
Why isn't ある in the past tense (since we're talking a place that existed in the past)? Would the sentence still be grammatical if it was?
- 2,646
1
vote
0
answers
41
views
Why does this sentence 「雨が降るかもしれないから、傘を持っていったら？」use いったら at the end, is this たら a conditional? [duplicate]
So basically I got this sentence
雨が降るかもしれないから、傘を持っていったら？
And my question is, is the たら at the end a conditional? If not what purpose does it serve?
- 379
0
votes
0
answers
26
views
Meaning of 「くらいで」after a verb when describing an environment? [duplicate]
What is the meaning of 「くらいで」after the verbs in these sentences?
「壁にはカレンダーが貼られているくらいで、ポスターなんかはいっさいない」
「その他にはミニコンポがあるくらいで、パソコンやらテレビやらゲームやらない」
From context, I would guess it to mean something along the ...
- 495
1
vote
0
answers
81
views
Meaning of 「と」at the end of a sentence [duplicate]
The opening chapter of Doraemon is titled 「未来の国からはるばると」and I'm not sure what the 「と」means at the end of the sentence here.
- 11
4
votes
2
answers
188
views
おねいちゃん vs おねえちゃん
In this frame from ３月のライオン, Akari, the eldest of the Kawamoto sisters is being referred to as おねいちゃん rather than おねえちゃん.
https://gyazo.com/e039edc3be657a4f1082dd9d152c0ae7
In this separate scene, it ...
- 1,069
0
votes
1
answer
79
views
Translation and plural - girl and girls! [duplicate]
Sorry for the question that will certainly be trivial, but for me Japanese is totally unknown territory.
I should translate this sentence into Japanese: "The Girls and the Heron" (it would ...
0
votes
2
answers
149
views
Why is 'ordinary book' translated as 普通の本 and not 普通な本
I have trouble understanding why "no" is used here instead of "na". For example, on Tofugu they translate きれいな人 as "beautiful person" and きれいのヒント as "beauty hints&...
- 3
1
vote
1
answer
64
views
What is this nuance of こればかり and how it's different from just これは or これだけ?
そんなのおかしいよっ!
おかしい?
そうかもしれない
こればかりはふたりとも驚くかも
The character realized he likes both the girls he has been hanging around recently and so he's monologuing in his mind that it's weird.
My understanding is ...
- 523
0
votes
0
answers
67
views
Why is passive used here? [duplicate]
珍しいですね 聖さんがお酒を飲まれるなんて
Sei who normally doesn't drink gets angry and starts drinking a lot of wine. The speaker is a maid and she thinks Sei is happy instead and says that.
I would have used 飲む. I ...
- 731
-3
votes
1
answer
131
views
Difference between お vs あ in causative and passive form [closed]
I think it might be to just differ between words, but why isn't 殺す こらす, 下ろす 下らす, etc. Is it phonetic change? Is that the reason why 足りる isn't 足るる。For passives, 戻る isn't もだる.
- 149
1
vote
0
answers
87
views
Why nominalize words instead of using them directly as verbs, adverbs or adjectives? [duplicate]
My question is focused particularly on verbs ending in て form nominalised with の and adverbs ending in く also nominalised with の:
かねての instead of かねる
近くの instead of 近くある/近い
My understanding of nouns ...
- 149
-4
votes
1
answer
54
views
Does the word 有不好的預感 mean いやなよかんがする in Japanese? [closed]
I also asked the same question in HiNative.
0
votes
1
answer
106
views
What is the difference between 幸せ, 倖せ and 仕合わせ?
There are several ways to write the word しあわせ:
幸{しあわ}せ
倖{しあわ}せ
仕合{しあ}わせ
I would like to know what are the different nuances between them, and when is it appropriate to use each of them. For what is ...
1
vote
2
answers
100
views
でもね sentence ending
From Oshi no ko ch. 38,
For context, these guys saw the debut of a new group named B小町. They recall hearing about a group of the same name.
I am confused about the function of でもね at the end of the ...
- 385
17
votes
1
answer
3k
views
Is Saturday considered a weekday or weekend, or something else?
I'm confused about this sign. It states working hours. The first part is easy: weekdays is 9:30 to 20:00. The second part is strange. Instead of saying 週末・祭日 (weekends and holidays), it says "...
- 343
2
votes
2
answers
128
views
What does んだけど mean?
I’m incredibly frustrated because I can’t get a straight answer anywhere. WHAT DOES IT MEAN? Is it contrastive, or not? In some sources, it says it is used to simply connect clauses (The first clause ...
- 21
1
vote
1
answer
80
views
Meaning of とすればの話だが
ピーブズよりやっかいなのは...そんなのがいるとすればの話だが...管理人のアーグスフィルチだった。
The thing that was a bigger nuisance than Peeves...if there was such a thing... was the caretaker, Argus Filch.
I'm struggling to understand what ...
- 29.3k
1
vote
1
answer
95
views
Can I say 「もしアイスクリームを食べたら、お腹が痛くなったでしょう。」 to mean the third conditional in Japanese
So I know about the fact that Japanese doesn't have a literal equivalent to the third conditional of english.
But to say:
If I had eaten ice cream, my stomach would have hurt.
Can I say it in ...
- 379
2
votes
1
answer
170
views
Why is 前 used instead of 後?
From 押しの子, chapter 2:
A guy in this panel holds a sign that reads 30秒前 to singers before their play starts. I initially thought it means "30 seconds ago" but from context, it is best ...
- 385
0
votes
1
answer
125
views
Given harakiri was once pronounced farakiri and, even earlier, parakiri, how do I write those two older forms, using kanjis?
In "The Unfolding Of Language" by Guy Deutscher, I've read that "harakiri" was once pronounced as "farakiri" and, even earlier "parakiri", thus reavaling the ...
- 105
1
vote
1
answer
82
views
Pronouncing kanji numbers
ホグワーツには一四二もの階段があった。
There were as many as 142 staircases at Hogwarts.
This is probably a daft question but I'd like to be sure.
When you see a number written in kanji like 一四二 do you read it as ...
- 29.3k
1
vote
1
answer
132
views
雨さえなければ - meaning
What kind of word is 雨さえ and how does it work with なければ since it does not seem to be a adjective or verb?
full sentence:
雨さえなければ、七月四日に花火大会を行うつもりです。
(As long as it doesn't rain, we intend to hold the ...
2
votes
1
answer
130
views
What are the nuances around the different Japanese words for 'mountain' - specifically '丸'
The names of the mountains surrounding 檜原村 in western Tokyo are varied.
Examples include 三頭山, 練行峰, and 醍醐丸. Further afield, there are famous mountains like 八ヶ岳.
I have found some explanations for the ...
- 121
1
vote
1
answer
108
views
訪問する vs 見学する in meaning 'to visit'
I have heard both 訪問する and 見学する both being used to mean 'to visit'
What is the difference between these two verbs?
- 1,069
1
vote
1
answer
126
views
Is this sentence correct「小説は読みます」?
Is this sentence correct?
小説は読みます
I've learned that は is a topic marker not an object marker. In this case it's acting as an object marker to 小説 since 読む is transitive a verb.
Now according to the ...
- 379
0
votes
1
answer
49
views
How 剥がれたり works here?
I am bit puzzled by the use of 剥がれたり in the below panel
剥がれたりまばたきがしにくくなるから顔の筋肉に沿ってね
Why 剥ぐ is passive here? Also, what's the purpose of たり? It looks like a substitute for て form?
- 385