All Questions
28,860
questions
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How are Constructed Languages referred to?
(Very beginner Japanese speaker here, go easy on me.)
I understand that to get the name of a language, it is usually the name of the country it is associated with, then 語 appended to the end.
What ...
2
votes
1
answer
219
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Honorific suffix in exchanges between university staff
I am trying to find a short summary of suffixes (honorific) that are in use in universities, in exchanges between staff at different levels. I have found a lot of advice on students addressing ...
- 153
2
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4
answers
1k
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Does kanji have meaning on their own, or they inherit their meaning(s) from the words they used in?
As the title says. I stumbled on the Reddit post today and became curious if that's true? Here's a quote from that post:
Kanji don't actually have a meaning on their own, they get meaning
from the ...
- 143
-2
votes
0
answers
102
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Please Explain the Difference between 終わり and 終わる with examples [closed]
Explain the Difference between 終わり and 終わる with examples
like which word to use
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-3
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0
answers
62
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2
votes
1
answer
129
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What is the exact nuance of ガラ in ガラじゃない
こう見えて魔術師なんだよ! ガラじゃないのは解ってるけど!
いや 魔術は見た目ではなく天性の物だから。。。
Upon failing another sword fight, the character says this and another character adds the second line in answer.
My reading of the first line is ...
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0
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1
answer
83
views
What does って時によ mean when used like this?
君は他にも誰かと秘密を共有しているのか?
あ?誰かとって。。。もしかして彼達に嫉妬してるのか?
別にっ。。。するわけないだろう！ 嫉妬なんて
スネんなよ。これからするって時によ
In the first like the girlfriend wonders how many people other than her and their friends know his secret.
To ...
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2
votes
2
answers
681
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How to translate [How can it possibly take this long to....?!] sentences
In English, for example, if you say
"How can it possibly take this long [to release a game]?!"
you are expressing anger and impatience.
In Japanese, can you express that same anger and ...
- 1,103
1
vote
1
answer
103
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What does ; ; mean?
I exchanged messages recently with someone I met from Japan, and I noticed that he often uses ; ; during our conversation. I assumed it was some kind of emoji but I’m not sure what it is. I tried ...
- 11
0
votes
1
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144
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How to count trains per day?
In this sentence, how does one read the counters?
1日あたり16本運行しています
There are 16 trains per day.
https://www.fnn.jp/articles/417130
I found several answers, such as...
1日【にち】あたり16本【ほん】運行【うんこう】しています ...
- 1,816
1
vote
1
answer
218
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Does the kanji 両 have the reading teru (てる)?
jisho.org's entry for 両 says
Kun:
てる、 ふたつ
If true, in what context do you use these kun readings?
- 4,568
0
votes
1
answer
113
views
What does と見て mean in this context? [duplicate]
I was trying to translate some phrases from an anime and と見て appeared, which I have no idea what it is. It all happened while the protagonist was watching the news.
本日未明桜見町の路地裏で
刃物で刺された女性の遺体が見つかりました
...
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1
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2
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214
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徒花”と”咲いて散っていく = bloomed and fell away “as” a fruitless flower
What does 徒花と咲いて散っていくきみに mean ?
At first, I thought it means “To you and a fruitless flower”, but later I saw the lyrics translating to “To you, who bloomed and fell away as a fruitless flower”
So, ...
- 513
0
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1
answer
56
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What does ちょうどいっか mean here?
In the first bubble, the character comments that "We did a bunch (of the stuff we needed to do)".
Then in the second line as I understand he adds
冬までにほとんど 終わりそうだけど
Looks like we'll be done ...
- 863
2
votes
2
answers
112
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What does なあって mean here?
I'm trying to figure out what is the significance of なあって in the following sentence:
そのままからかいやすい西片でいてほしいなあって
It feels like it is there for emphasis or something but I just don't get where it comes ...
- 163
1
vote
2
answers
144
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What kind of nuance does どうでしょうか have in this senence?
どうでしょうか
職業柄器用だとは思っていますが
In the very first panel, upon reading a report, the character comments that the guy has no particular ability.
To which the character replies
どうでしょうか
職業柄器用なほうだとは思っていますが
My ...
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0
votes
1
answer
108
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Meaning and usage of 刺激（しげき）?
I've come across this word 刺激 a few times now, but although the dictionary says it means "stimulation" none of the contexts I've seen it in makes sense with that definition.
For example
「...
1
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1
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79
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What does the 「いるん」in だれか好きな人がいるんですか。
Everything else in this sentence I understand except 「いるん」. Can someone tell me it's meaning/purpose? Why can't I just say だれか好きな人ですか。?
My textbook translates the sentence as: "Is there someone ...
4
votes
1
answer
127
views
Which form is the correct causative-passive 聞く?
There is an exercise in スピードマスターN4 to put verbs in the causative-passive form:
つまらない話を（聞いて）、眠くなった。
The answer key says the correct form should be 聞かされて. While, for example, JLPT Sensei lists it as ...
- 319
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0
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56
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What does "なんだもんなあ" mean?
同じ部屋とかもう慣れてるはずなのに"
当たり前のようにダブルべっどなんだもんなぁ
In the first line the character is like "We should be already used to sleep in the same room and yet"
By context I can gather the character is ...
- 863
2
votes
1
answer
115
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What is "のほうだろう" here?
So the old woman explains that in place of her dead husband her kid has been helping. Then she says the kid won't settle into a home much but
I assume この時節 in "these occasions" but how does ...
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1
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115
views
How to tell when 知らない is "I don't care"?
もし世の中君のような顔ばかりだったら それに慣れてしまって何とも思わなくなるのかな?
If everyone looked like you people would get used and it wouldn't be effective (your look)
知りません! そんなことは
To which the character answers
Is it possible ...
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vote
3
answers
170
views
Confusion with interpreting NHK title and subject scope when using て form
I read this article on NHK about Christmas cakes and it has this title:
クリスマスのケーキ 卵の値段が上がって高くなりそう
But I'm somewhat confused on how to properly interpret the title. I'm not sure what 高くなりそう (seems to ...
- 2,042
1
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1
answer
92
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When do you add の after a country name? [duplicate]
For example, why is it アメリカの映画 for American movie and フランス料理 for French food?
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2
votes
2
answers
593
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What is the best way to say "online now" in Japanese?
I'm trying to figure out what is the best way to say "my friends are online now" or "I'm online right now".
So far, I have considered:
ネットでいます。
オンラインです。
For instance:
私は今ネットでいます。...
- 141
0
votes
1
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81
views
"そのことですか" is this some kind of expression?
よかった。。。って言っていいもんかな
I wonder if it's alright to say "I'm glad"
何がです?
About what?
お前さんは何年追いかけた敵を討ったじゃない
You didn't kill the enemy that you chased for years (or you killed the enemy you ...
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0
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114
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N1 Goi practice question. Synonym of 凌ぐ [closed]
Solving some N1-Goi questions I run up to this one.
暑さを「凌ぐ」ために、多くの人が都会を離れて山や海で過ごしている。
つのる
ふせぐ
いのる
ふさぐ
I was pretty sure it was the second one 2) ふせぐ" but the solutions provided say its 1)つのる. ...
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0
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0
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107
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Creating a Unique Japanese Name: Seeking Guidance on "てるかわ" for "Terukawa" [closed]
I have a question and I kindly ask for your patience, as my knowledge of Japanese is basic. I've been trying to create a Japanese name, and I came across the word "両側" (ryōgawa), which means ...
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0
answers
63
views
How to search the 書き下し文 of a 漢文?
I want to search the 書き下し文 of a 漢文 such as 滕王閣序. Is there any reliable websites to search on?
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1
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How is いらっしゃる used with nouns?
お客様は継続ご希望でいらっしゃいますか？ それとも解約ご希望でしょうか？
I understand the meaning of the above sentence and that いらっしゃる is the honorific form of be, come, and go, but I don't understand how//why it's being used with ご希望. ...
- 106
2
votes
1
answer
261
views
Meaning of さもあろう
In Mushibugyou there is this sentence:
実物の蟲もさもあろうというリアルな夢だな
The speaking character sees a giant mosquito (giant insects are common in the setting), thinks to be in a dream, and that he says that ...
- 3,515
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0
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60
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Historical meaning of an army's name in Sengoku era 美濃八千騎
美濃八千騎
I read a historical novel with Sengoku era setting , and there's a character mentioned about this name of an army. If you know about it's historical meaning please explain.
Context is an enemy's ...
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0
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40
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0
votes
0
answers
54
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How do you use もの? [duplicate]
I'm not very familiar with もの and have never been able to understand it well. I came across this phrase recently:
付き合い悪いもんあいつ
Why was もの used?
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0
votes
1
answer
47
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How is といわず used in this sentence?
うめえ。 5キロといわず もっといけたな
The sentence before this has nothing to do with it (the character is eating and not listening to the other character's speech) so he blurts out this.
The only context is that he ...
- 603
2
votes
1
answer
92
views
Why use 耳元 rather than just 耳?
下で見ている人の悲鳴と交じり合って、風が耳元でヒューヒュー鳴った ...
The wind whistled in his ears, mingled with the screams of the people watching below ...
Would this sentence be weird if 耳元 was replaced with 耳? I'm trying to ...
- 29.4k
3
votes
1
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295
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What is the で part in ではありません？
Ok, this might be more complicated or less complicated than I'm making it out to be but I'm assuming this question will be made up of two unrelated components but I can't figure it out so I'm shooting ...
- 33
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1
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75
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Is "で一発だ an expression?
こりゃたまげた! あっという間に見つけちまうんだね
I'm shocked. You found the food in an instant
And his reply
ああ? 食い物なんて匂いで一発だ
From context I can gather it seems to be akin to ... I found it asap because of the smell but ...
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0
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1
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60
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Casually asking whether something particular is the reason
Up until now, I've been under the impression that it's acceptable in casual texting or speech to say ○○から？？ when you're asking whether ○○ is the reason for whatever the topic of conversation is.
For ...
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4
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1
answer
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Is 片付きます a word?
In the first lesson of みんなの日本語初級II (lesson 26), the word 片【かた】づきます shows up as "be put in order, tidy up." I looked in a couple of dictionaries, and can only find 片【かた】付【づ】けます, which has the ...
JNat♦
- 1,022
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0
answers
37
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Using AI to learn Japanese [migrated]
I've been using ChatGPT to learn Japanese specifically in getting vocab. My prompt is:
Always answer in this format for Japanese Word
Kanji(furigana)
JLPT level:
Commonness:
Formality:
Usually ...
- 73
2
votes
1
answer
305
views
What does 休まないでください mean in the given contex?
I'm going through listening comprehension examples, and though, I can recognise separate words (well, most of them), particles, grammar and so on and recall their meaning, I still have trouble with ...
- 143
3
votes
1
answer
823
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What is the meaning of けっこういらっしゃる in the following context?
I came across the following sentence while watching the video JLPT N3 LISTENING PRACTICE TEST 12/2023 WITH ANSWERS #5, at the timestamp 10:50:
食事がすんでいるのにずっと帰りにならない方がけっこういらっしゃるのが気になります
I heard the ...
- 33
0
votes
1
answer
83
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is verb ばいい + same verb ば some kind of grammar?
Over being asked "Will this work to measure the thing?" The character answers this:
知らねえ!
測れてりゃいい 測れてりゃ
Will the first one seems to be a ばいい, I'm unsure on how the second one is being used....
- 863
1
vote
1
answer
110
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Reporting on the emotions of another person in a relative clause?
I just yet made the sentence:
その場所の日本人はさすがに外国人が日本語を学ぶのを手伝いたがる人なんだ。
I used “〜たがる” instead of “〜たい” on the rule that “〜たい” can only be used to ask, conditionals, or in cases where one can report with ...
- 657
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1
answer
69
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What does「お金どころじゃなく出てきた」mean?
I don't get the meaning of お金どころじゃなく出てきた below:
お義父さんは別れる半年前に事業に失敗して借金を抱えてた。イライラして暴力を振るうようになって最後はもうお金どころじゃなく出てきたんだ。
I interpreted it as "[we] no longer have financial security..." I am ...
- 687
2
votes
2
answers
262
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Trying to understand ツッコミ and 突っ込まない and similiar
The character is walking around Tokyo with her boyfriend from the country. The boyfriend notices she's tired and tells her this:
少し 休んでいくか? 丁度いい所に休憩可能なホテルがある
"Should we rest a bit? Just at the ...
- 863
0
votes
1
answer
59
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What is the function of では in this context?
I was trying to translate this text and I didn't understand the use of the では particle. I thought it might be something like “with this body without feet, hands and wings I am the serpent of the world”...
- 27
0
votes
1
answer
35
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Meaning of やって in 方法をやって見せ
次にマダム・フーチは箒の端から滑り落ちないように箒にまたがる方法をやって見せ、...
Next Madam Hooch showed them how to straddle the broom so they didn't slide off the end, ...
I don't understand what やって is doing in this sentence.
Not sure ...
- 29.4k
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2
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198
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Is 夜だから some kind of idiomatic expression?
In the following dialogue from a manga:
A: 漫画かよ…！
B: わははどうしたみつや、寝ぼけてた？
A: …別に、なんで泣いてんのって思って
B: うーん、あー、夜だから？
A: 何ソレ
The character wakes up and tells his friend who was crying over reading a manga &...
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