All Questions
27,661
questions
0
votes
0
answers
19
views
Meaning of "・・・・・・ありません." at the end of a sentence
I am fairly new to Japanese and am reading through a book passage with this sentence:
"決して、 侑としずくの 楽しそうなお出かけに ヤキモチを焼いたわけ では・・・・・・ありません."
I can make sense of the first half, but the addition ...
- 1
2
votes
0
answers
83
views
On the inconsistent stroke order for 右 and 左 [duplicate]
In the manga Tomehane!, which revolves around a high school calligraphy club, there's a rather convoluted historical explanation for the differing stroke order of the "right" and "left&...
- 121
1
vote
2
answers
97
views
Is keigo/formal only used at the end of sentences?
So I was going over から, and I noticed how all the sentences had like 病気だから, or りんごがない in the middle of the sentences, and then they had keigo/formal at the end with ます and です. So that got me thinking, ...
- 121
1
vote
1
answer
67
views
Meaning and breakdown of こそすれ(ども・ど) + ない
With a bit of googling I found that this form means "Although; But; subject may well do N, but not S; ~することはあっても~することはない", and I found this answer, which as far as I understand confirms that ...
- 3,329
0
votes
0
answers
62
views
How to provide variable text in Japanese?
In my web application, we want to allow users to provide custom text for simple automated messages, in which they can provide variables that will be filled in automatically. To give an example in ...
- 101
2
votes
1
answer
48
views
The construction and etymology of -たら
Ever since I learned that "if" and "when" can be used as translations for the -たら conditional form depending on the context, I have been looking for an explanation of its ...
- 127
0
votes
1
answer
66
views
The different ways to say "forever"
皆さん、こんにちは!
I have a somewhat basic but intricate question about the way the Japanese say forever or something close in concept (sayings, expressions or poetic ways would work too).
The context is that ...
- 1
0
votes
1
answer
51
views
啓発本 (keihatsu-bon) = self-help book = a common word? Any insight on this?
In the latest season (S6) of Boku no Hero Academia, basically a mom was trying to help her kid by giving some advice about not having such a chip on his shoulder. But the edgelord kid reacted with &...
- 708
1
vote
1
answer
47
views
What does 「問題」とはいえないことにも気づいていない mean?
それなのに、解決策がどこかにないだろうか、と②「検索」する。検索で解決するようなものだったら、「問題」とはいえないことにも気づいていない。
"問題とはいえないこと" means something that can not be called issue;
ことにも気づいていない means being unaware of something;
but when you ...
- 189
3
votes
1
answer
58
views
using は twice in the same sentence for two non-contrastive topics
In the sentence:
漢字は全部書けるようになる必要はないが、たくさん書けた方がいい。
the particle は is used twice in this sentence (漢字は,必要は). Is there any reason why we don't use 漢字を at the start of the sentence here, or is it just the ...
- 41
1
vote
1
answer
65
views
what does ことになる in this mean?
ですから、聞く構えができている人は、より良く学べることにもなります
As far as I have learned, ことになる indicates decision, but in this context, it seems the sentence doesn't fit into the pattern.
- 189
0
votes
1
answer
44
views
The meaning of 頭が上がらない
The following sentence is taken from the transcript of 進撃の巨人. https://docs.google.com/document/d/10cBh6DAcXgxOpwlmSFFb2oV06vgi4zRTIPhpYHUjsVA/edit
先生 に は 頭 が 上がら ねえ。
Literally this translates to ...
1
vote
1
answer
75
views
Usage of the てくる in 近づいてくる。
瞳に涙をためながら、おずおずと、彼が香織さんに近づいてくる。
I'm curious, what is the usage of てくる in this sentence? Why not いく? Given the character in question is clearly "heading" for the 香織さん and it's not 香織さん coming ...
- 11
0
votes
1
answer
44
views
0
votes
1
answer
57
views
Reading of 第1希望?
How does one read the phrase 第1希望? Like this, maybe?
結婚【けっこん】して子【こ】どもがいる人生【じんせい】が第【だい】[1希望]【いっきぼう】だったから、他【ほか】のことは何【なに】も頑張【がんば】ってきていない
My first choice was to get married and have children, so I haven'...
- 1,720
1
vote
0
answers
48
views
The meaning of this expression こんなことを言うのも何ですけど [duplicate]
hope someone can explains to me the correct meaning of this expression .My guess is : "I don't know if this is the right word to describe you" ?
Context: After MC described his strategy in ...
- 295
0
votes
0
answers
45
views
Can someone give me a detailed difference between the conditionals to, tara, ba? [duplicate]
I have read a lot of answers from different sources about the differences between these conditionals (Ba. Tara, To) but I could not get a satisfactory answer. Could someone please help me understand ...
- 1
1
vote
1
answer
111
views
Proper way to say "Grocery store" and what types of stores this usage applies to
What is the proper way? According to jisho, it seems as simple as saying 食{しょく}品{ひん}店{てん}? In the case of a Walmart, Target, GameStop Costco or Family Dollar could these all be considered 食{しょく}品{ひん}...
- 265
1
vote
1
answer
169
views
Can なにか be used to mean "no"?
In a Japanese dictionary entry for the word なにか, I came across the following definition:
今まで述べてきたことや相手の言葉などを否定して、それとは反対の趣旨を述べるときに用いる。いやいや。とんでもない。
The example sentence is
「―。この歌よみ侍らじとなむ思ひ侍るを」
Some ...
- 2,177
0
votes
1
answer
71
views
Could someone please explain to me the meaning of もち in the following sentence?
私たちは自然の流れとは別の生活リズムをもち始め、次第に自然との調和を失い始めたのです。
I searched but couldn't find an answer.
- 1
0
votes
1
answer
51
views
what are the usages of ものか?
The only definition i can find is that it expresses irony/rhetorical question, but that doesnt really fit into expressions like どういうものか? etc.
So what can be the usages of ものか?
2
votes
0
answers
51
views
のなんのって and variations
Do the structures のなんのって, のなんのと and のなんのといって / のなんのと言って refer to the same and can be used interchangeably? If so, is there also any other variation of のなんのって that can be used in the same way?
A time ...
- 1,049
2
votes
2
answers
96
views
Asking questions: ○○か。VS ○○か？ VS ○○？
I was wondering if I could get some insight into something that keeps popping up for me.
When I ask questions I usually write ○○か and attach a 。 at the end. I know ○○か？ is common and I also see ○○？ ...
- 1,329
-1
votes
1
answer
71
views
what does this sentence mean？ [closed]
しかし、そういった考えは許されないようだ。なぜか個性とは、常識的な考えからいって褒められるものでなければいけないのである。そうなると、今言われている個性とは、一般的にいいとされる個性というものがすでにいくつかあって、それをどう獲得するかを考えなければならないということになる。しかし、そんなものは個性ではないし、結局は人と同じになってしまうのである。
this sentence literally ...
- 189
0
votes
0
answers
17
views
たら as a recommendation [duplicate]
The following sentence is taken from page three of the transcript of 進撃の巨人.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/10cBh6DAcXgxOpwlmSFFb2oV06vgi4zRTIPhpYHUjsVA/edit
でも 理由 も 無く 涙 が 出る なんて 、一度 おじさん に 見て ...
0
votes
2
answers
111
views
How could you improve the word Hikari-tai (火雷隊) as a name
This might be a subjective question
Okay first things first, this question is more about trying to come up with a better name that doesn't disrespect or butcher the language. And I'm not really ...
- 3
0
votes
1
answer
44
views
what does と in the sentence below mean?
そんな彼らは、仕事を頼まれてもすぐに始めることができない。失敗したくないので、仕事をする前にいろいろ質問をしてくる。彼らの気持ちがわからないと、聞かれた人は自分の若い時と比べて仕事に消極的だ、ロばかりで働くのを嫌がる、と誤解することになる。
does this "と" mean "and" and is used to connect 嫌がる and ...
- 189
1
vote
1
answer
57
views
Grammatical usage of "で" in the sample sentence: 「～～で正解だと思います。」
"Do you mean the red haired boy?"
は、「赤毛の男の子のことですか？」で正解だと思います。
So this is an explanation I got from a Japanese person.
And I wanna understand what does exactly "で" mean here. Why ...
0
votes
3
answers
79
views
What does 毎日働かせる mean exactly? (causative form + frequency modifier)
To me it seems that 毎日働かせる has two possible meanings:
Every day (I) make (him) work. (So I issue this order to him every day) OR,
(I) make (him) work every day. (So maybe I only issue this order ...
- 1
0
votes
1
answer
46
views
How adverb placement affects the meaning of conditionals
Consider
それならなにか、君のほうが正しいというのだな
Then something tells me you're right.
The thing that's tripping me up is the placement of なにか (which I'm assuming is acting as an adverb here). Why is this word ...
- 2,177
1
vote
1
answer
28
views
what does に in the paragraph below mean
人が個性について語る場合、どうもいい個性のことばかりを取り上げているように思う。いい個性は伸ばし、悪い個性は直しましょう、というわけだ。しかし、私にとってはどちらも大切にすべき個性であるし、そもそもこうしたものにいいも悪いもないのである。
I don't know what the sentence "そもそもこうしたものにいいも悪いもないのである" exactly ...
- 189
0
votes
0
answers
18
views
て-form as a topic [duplicate]
I saw a particularly interesting sentence in the wild just yet:
陛下は度々僕の部屋にやってきては手を握って何かを考えるんだ。
The interesting thing to me are the two te-forms in the sentence, with the former being made a topic, ...
- 453
1
vote
1
answer
55
views
～なり～なり and ～なりと～なりと
In all the websites I've seen the grammar ～なり～なり (A or B, either A or B), I've seen the pattern ～なり～なり expressed as ～なり～なり. However, now I've seen in jisho for the entry なりと that the meaning "...
- 1,049
0
votes
1
answer
48
views
how to understand this sentence(reading comprehension)
ここで、「叱る」うえでの注意点を一つ。叱ることが何度も続くと、叱られることに対する慣れが生じ、「いつものことか」と子どもが感じとり、指導者の本当にいいたいことが伝わらないということがあります。叱ることによって、得られる効果が半減しないためにも、指導者は日頃から注意深く、また意思を持って、みずからと向き合う必要があるのです
I can't understand "また意思を持って、...
- 189
0
votes
1
answer
100
views
Understanding どことなく in terms of どこ＋と＋なく
The phrase 「どことなく」 (何処と無く) is translated in dictionaries as "somehow", "for some reason", or "vaguely". It seems to be the combination of どこ ("which place?") + ...
- 2,177
1
vote
1
answer
273
views
What is the meaning of ぬ in the song ミルクムナリ? (Not the archaic auxiliary verb ぬ)
Call me crazy, but I am trying to translate ミルクムナリ, which is common played in Taiko performances, at least in Okinawa; the song is very archaic, as it speaks of a king from the turn of the 16th ...
- 156
-2
votes
0
answers
88
views
開かなくって is the colloquial form of?
I know it means something like "I'm not able to open it", buy I don't understand how to parse it to get the proper way to say it.
It's on the second page of "Teasing Takagi-san" or ...
- 253
0
votes
0
answers
55
views
Possible translation [closed]
Can
何百 何千ともうすでに
見てるよ 聞いてるの 知りはしないでしょう
be translated as:
"Hundreds and thousands of times already
I've been watching, I've been hearing, you probably don't know"
1
vote
0
answers
50
views
What is the difference between してしまいそう and しそうだ [duplicate]
I've come across this sentence in Shinkanzen Master N3 Reading, and I don't understand what the difference is.
The sentence goes as follows:
遅刻してしまいそうだ。it then asks what the difference would be, if ...
0
votes
2
answers
206
views
Translating a combination of superpower/special talent - does 異能殊才 work? [closed]
I am attempting to combine 異能 (i nō - supernatural power) with 殊才 (koto sai - special talent), with the finished phrase being written as 異能殊才.
With various engines (I'm RomajiDesu for this specific ...
- 9
-5
votes
0
answers
98
views
Need help with a confusing sentence.(A character's comment about his opponent's ability/strength.He thought that his opponent can predict his attacks)
いくつもの過程が続いて導き出される、一連の行動。その行動パターンを、可能性の高い順に考え、読み切り、その対処法を準備する。
Much thanks if anyone can explains to me this sentence's meanings. I'm afraid that i was wrong.
My guess is : "You can derive a ...
- 413
4
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Meaning of も in ３つ も
I've got this sentence that I'm not sure if it is grammatically correct:
今月、 大切な テスト が ３つ も あります
It supposedly translates to
I have three important tests this month.
Why the も, though? The counter ...
- 189
0
votes
1
answer
57
views
Meaning and usage of ～ど／～ども
What do the structures ～ど／～ども exactly mean? How are they used?
I have seen these structures in this site:
https://nihongonosensei.net/?p=7938
but I don't understand very well the explanation, apart ...
- 1,049
3
votes
1
answer
76
views
Adverbial use of そんな without に
What puzzles me are these two sentences (coming from Ensemble Stars!!, both spoken by teenage characters and unrelated to each other):
んもう。そんな睨まないでくださいってば〜。絶対悪いようにしませんから
あっ。そんな適当に拭っちゃダメよォ！ ...
- 179
0
votes
1
answer
57
views
Patterns of synthesis of all the variations of ～とまではいかないが
During my time studying Japanese, I have come across many variations of the ～とまではいかないが (even if not) pattern, which are as follows.
～とまではいかないが
～とまではいかないとしても
～とまではいかないにしても
～とまではいかないまでも
～とまではいかなくても
...
- 1,049
1
vote
1
answer
85
views
what is the meaning of "メチメタ" in below sentence?
I searched on the internet but I didn't find the meaning of "メチメタ" in the below sentence:
いにしえの書物には魂が メチメタこもってっからひとを呼び寄せたり乗り移ったりすっかんね。
- 133
1
vote
1
answer
480
views
what is the meaning of "系" in below sentence?
I checked on internet to find the related meaning of "系" in below sentence but I didn't find.
"レポート 進んでる系?"
- 133
3
votes
1
answer
87
views
「２０歳以上での年齢」- Why include this で? [closed]
In a store's liquor section in Japan, a sign reads: 「20歳以上での年齢であることを確認できない場合には酒類を販売致しません。」
What is the purpose of the particle で in 「20歳以上での年齢」, and is the meaning any different if 「20歳以上の年齢」 without ...
- 1,670
-5
votes
0
answers
89
views
What does this ninja art means ? 蒼燕瞬歩 (souen shunpo ? not sure if I spelt this correctly) [closed]
蒼燕瞬歩
I met this ninja art/ skill name in a video game , and don't know if anyone can understand the meaning of this skill. If this is not a made up skill name by the writer, please explains to me its ...
- 413
0
votes
0
answers
19
views
what does で this paragraph below mean? [duplicate]
人間のすることに失敗はつきもので、トラブルに巻き込まれる（注2）こともあるから、ときにはどうしても避けられない形で失敗が訪れる。
does "どうしても避けられない形で" is something like adjective to decorate 失敗?
please tell me what で mean in this sentence ,thank you
- 189