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1500 questions
23
votes
2 answers
Why are the verb classes called ichidan and godan?
Is there a particular reason why verbs are classified as "class 1" verbs (一段動詞) and "class 5" verbs (五段動詞)?
Where did class 2 to 4 go? Do or did they exist at all, and why (not)?
Thanks!
user3436926
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23
votes
1 answer
Difference between the words for "feeling"
I have seen and been taught many words meaning "feeling", but what is the difference between the words, and where are they used?
I have done a bit of research myself and have come up with these meanings. Are they correct? Could someone please give a…
小太郎
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23
votes
3 answers
Differences in usage between する and やる
On the surface, many Japanese-English dictionaries define both する and やる as "to do", with little extra context. Offhand, I know the following:
やる and する are not interchangeable when it comes to する verbs (e.g. × 死亡やる)
やる also has a number of…
Kaji
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23
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2 answers
How does ほど work in the 〜すれば〜するほど construction?
I understand that 〜すれば〜するほど is used to mean "the more you do ~ the more ~".
However, I don't see how this meaning is derived from this sentence pattern. I assume the ば is from the conditional form and ほど is supposed to mean "extent".
人が多ければ多いほど楽しい…
phirru
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23
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3 answers
What is the difference between 完了 and 終了?
Both 完了 and 終了 seem to have the connotation of finished/complete, but what is the difference, if any, in usage?
Mark Hosang
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23
votes
2 answers
How did コンセント come to be used for an "electrical outlet"?
Saw this on a charger I bought online and was really perplexed. What foreign word does it represent? "concentric"? What does that have to do with electrical outlet and where did it come from?
mmdanziger
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22
votes
2 answers
When should I replace kanji with hiragana?
When should I write 海山 and when should I write うみやま?
jim
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22
votes
5 answers
In modern usage how do Japanese natives regard the differences between 外人, 外国人 and 外人さん?
As a near native speaker of Japanese, I find it annoying to be called 外人 since it seems to imply that I "know nothing about Japan" (outsider). I much prefer 外国人.
In modern usage, how do native speakers regard the differences between 外人, 外国人 and…
crunchyt
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22
votes
7 answers
おっす！ An abbreviation for ... what exactly?
Going hiking here in Japan, you can hardly pass anyone without either saying お疲れさまです, おはようございます (I go hiking in the morning) or こんにちは.
Some people (young males in particular) greet you with either チュワッ or オッス. A great idea, since everybody's out of…
Earthliŋ
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22
votes
4 answers
In what situations can you use ぞ as a sentence ender
When can one use the sentence ender ぞ? I've only ever heard it anime, so I'm unsure of it's actual usage in the real world. Is it not used that often or limited to specific age/gender groups?
Mark Hosang
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22
votes
4 answers
Difference between 気をつけて, お大事に and お元気で
What is the difference between 気{き}をつけて, お大事{だいじ}に and お元気{げんき}で.
How and in which context(s) are they used?
Philip Seyfi
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22
votes
1 answer
Would it be odd to refer to English-style tea as お茶?
If I were drinking English-style black tea, made by first placing a teabag in the cup, adding sugar, pouring boiling water on to it, stirring, adding milk, and stirring again, and a friend asked me, 「何飲んでる？」, would it be odd to reply, 「お茶だよ」? Would…
Angelos
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22
votes
3 answers
が and に interchangeability and difference in meaning
Consider these sentences:
だれ{が・に}これが出来るか
だれ{が・に}日本語が分からないか
When both が and に are acceptable, what is their difference in meaning and practical usage?
Flaw
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22
votes
2 answers
What does the highlighted portion of this handwritten Kanji say?
知恵袋で***いてるし…
I tried searching Google, hoping it's a phrase that might come up more often, but none of the Kanji that came up looked even remotely like the one written here.
Thank you!
Bibliocharylodis
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22
votes
1 answer
Getting your haircut in Japan
I have been living in Japan now for the last 3 months and my hair is starting to look like it needs a cut.
But I have never been to a Japanese barbers before so as you can imagine I am a little nervous about it.
I have a couple of questions about…
Lucas
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