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Japanese Language Stack Exchange

Questions tagged [phrase-requests]

Topics related to finding a phrase that fits a given context or meaning.

229 questions
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8 answers

What's the 日本語 equivalent of saying "That's none of your business"?

What's the Japanese equivalent of saying "None of your business", or "None of your concern"?
Tirous
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3 answers

How to say to "persuade into doing something"?

I am looking for a Japanese phrase or an idiom which could be used to describe a situation in which a person A persuades person B into doing something, not required for the person B, but beneficial to the A. Like selling a trekking map for a very…
macraf
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2 answers

Are we done here?

Today I was getting help from someone behind a counter and when I had handed in my form and shown my ID, I wasn't sure if I needed to do anything else, or if I was free to go. Usually in that situation I say something like "いいですか？" and the employee…
infinitecardinal
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8
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2 answers

How to say "See you soon" when meeting up with someone

I'm just wondering a simple way to say "See you soon" when the context is that you are talking to your friend remotely (via phone/messaging) and you plan to meet up with them in the very near future (1 or 2 hours). Would it be as simple as "Sugu ni…
Bazz Travers
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7
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2 answers

a natural and short way to say I'm currently learning Japanese, and it isn't very good?

background: I'm playing Shogi 将棋 on a Japanese site since there are no good english ones, and every once in a while someone tries to open a converstaion with me. While I try to participate as much as I can I'm not really sure how to say in a short…
Nescio
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7
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2 answers

How to correct myself or somebody else when speaking

For example, if I were in a situation where I said something and it was misunderstood (maybe because of bad Japanese), what would be the best way to attempt to correct myself? In English one could say, "Sorry, I meant ..." e.g., Saying,…
小太郎
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6
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2 answers

Is there another cheering phase to say rather than 頑張って？

I usually followed several Japanese actors on SNS. Sometime when they have an audition, people usually cheer them by commenting "頑張って/頑張ってください". However, I learned that some of them doesn't really like this because they are already doing their…
Maru
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6
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1 answer

A phrase for a capable person with a critical view of himself

I am looking for a word, idiom or a phrase to describe an attitude when someone is able to and often publicly makes fun of one's own deficiencies. Having an objective, critical, maybe even cynical view of one's own capabilities or actions and having…
macraf
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5
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2 answers

How do you say "To count" or "That doesn't count" as in "(not) a true experience"

I've come across ふくむ and かぞえる, but to my understanding, that's used for counting sequences and quantities. How would you say "That doesn't count" in the following contexts. A- Have you ever been camping? B- I've spent a few nights in my friends…
Kaney Dudey
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5
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2 answers

Catch one's breath

Background: I climbed Mt. Fuji the other day and a Japanese coworker asked me if the altitude made the hike difficult. I wanted to say "The altitude didn't make it too difficult but there were times when it was hard for me to catch my breath." I'm…
Leo
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5
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2 answers

how to say "does not make sense"?

I recently wanted to say "The Japanese counting system does not make sense." However, I could not figure out how to communicate the full meaning of "does not make sense". I don't want to say that it is good, bad, difficult, stupid, weird, etc. I…
user312440
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4
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1 answer

Way of the bicycle

I'm a karate-do practitioner. And I love the meaning of DO (way). I'm building a cyclist group. And I want to call it "The way of two wheels". Does it make sense to call it Niwa-Do?
Alberto García-Villarrubia
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4
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1 answer

How can I say "I want one of each kind" in Japanese?

I remember a trip I did to Japan (it's a magical place) back in 2007 when my Japanese was not as rusty as it is now. In Kyoto I had the chance to buy a meron pan from a stall in a park. The fact is, he had many types of bread and I wanted to say him…
Charlie
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4
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1 answer

How do you say 'close' as in a close contest?

When I play sports in Japan I hear おしい！a lot when for example a shot is almost in, but just out, or if you just about lose a closely contested point or game. Is there a way to say a match or game was close without including the dissapointment…
Pootan
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4
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2 answers

How to ask someone to repeat what they said

A recurring problem I have in Japanese dialogue is when I can't quite hear what someone said, attempt to ask them something to the effect of "excuse me?" or "what was that?" only for them to rephrase it (most likely because they think I don't know…
Amani Kilumanga
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