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1500 questions
17
votes
9 answers
Are there any common Japanese words which were borrowed from Ainu or other indigenous languages?
I know plenty of Japanese words that came from English and a few from other European languages (obviously tons from Chinese), but what about words from Japan's indigenous languages such as Ainu? Also if there are any are they all written in kana…
hippietrail
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17
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4 answers
How did 服 come to have meanings related to both "clothing" and "submission"?
服 by itself means "clothing" (e.g. 服を着る), and there are also some related derivative terms like 私服, 制服, 和服, 洋服, etc. On the other hand, you have words like 征服 "conquest", 克服 "overcoming", 承服 "compliance", 服従 "obedience", which I have broadly classed…
senshin
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17
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4 answers
How can I say "some X " in Japanese?
I was thinking, and I can't express the word "some" in Japanese.
Examples:
There were some fruits on the table. (I would say "テーブルの上に果物があった）
Maybe 少しあった - but then I would translate as "there were few fruits".
There are some people here I know,…
daniel tomio
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17
votes
2 answers
An interesting postcard
According to my information, this postcard was sent from Japan to Russia, and probably in 1945.
Needs a translation badly and nobody has seemed to care since then. I suppose that the historical kana usage can take place here.
P.S.: Yes, a…
nikkou
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17
votes
1 answer
What is the difference between 沸く【わく】, 炊く【たく】, 茹でる【ゆでる】, 煮る【にる】, and 蒸す【むす】?
I am learning JLPT N2. I came across these words in one sentence. I couldn't find the difference between 沸く【わく】, 炊く【たく】, 茹でる【ゆでる】, 煮る【にる】, and 蒸す【むす】.
All the words have similar meanings. Can anyone tell me the exact meanings and situations where…
pranavbapat
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17
votes
4 answers
Appropriate ただいま-like greeting for a neighbor?
I frequently pass by an elderly neighbor who lives in the same apartment when coming home from a dog walk. He's kind of an in-house carpenter for the building and is frequently seen around the garage. I usually just nod to him with a small murmur…
ento
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17
votes
2 answers
Is the title ～[殿]{どの} used in modern day japanese?
Is the title ～[殿]{どの} used in modern day Japanese? If so, which people can you use it with? I've only really seen it come across in referring to [大]{だい}[名]{みょう} (feudal lords). Also it is applicable to use as a translation of "sir" of people who…
Mark Hosang
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17
votes
2 answers
What are the nuances between these three terms for intelligence: 知恵 [ちえ], 知能 [ちのう], 知性 [ちせい] ?
In particular which one is closer to the idea of "ability to reason over things" as a quality of someone in particular?
What I believe is that 知識 on the other hand is closer to "knowledge" and "understanding" and 眼識 is more about "discrimination,…
ogerard
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17
votes
3 answers
What is the difference in meaning between "husband and wife" 夫婦【ふうふ】 and 夫妻【ふさい】?
I see that those two compounds mean husband and wife, as a married couple. But is there a difference in usage or context?
ogerard
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17
votes
5 answers
What's the difference between -ga and -o when they are used to designate a direct object?
During the past month I've been addicted to Japanese. I've listened to about 10 online tutorial video courses and read about as much printed lessons. I am determined to learn Japanese, but I am really a newbie so my question may be very basic, but…
Armen Tsirunyan
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17
votes
1 answer
ぜ at the end of sentence?
What's the meaning of ぜ at the end of sentence? Is ぜ a particle?
What's the difference between:
おい、逃{に}げるぜ。
and
おい、逃{に}げる。
I found a couple of explanations on the web but none I could fully comprehend.
JohnDoe
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17
votes
4 answers
Am I coming or going? 戻ってくる vs 戻っていく
A little while ago I was in a shop, and about 5 minutes after I left, they phoned me to tell me I had left my USB stick there. I said I would head back and pick it up.
I used 戻{もど}って行{い}く to mean "I'll go back", but I wonder if 戻{もど}ってくる would have…
Questioner
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17
votes
2 answers
Why is 楽しみに！wrong?
I was corrected on Lang-8 website that I should write 楽しみ！or 楽しみにしています！instead of 楽しみに！. And I don't understand why.
Help please. 教えてくださいませんか。
dimadesu
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17
votes
2 answers
Is there a specific time to pronounce 日本, にほん/にっぽん?
Are the two used completely interchangeably or are there specific situations where one might be used more than the other? For example I've never heard 日本語 said にっぽんご.
Jamal
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17
votes
7 answers
Are there any Japanese words as versatile as "fuck" in English?
I was wondering about this one recently. "Fuck" in English is famous for being applicable in a wide, wide range of circumstances (none of them formal).
What word in Japanese covers a wide spectrum of possible meanings and uses like "fuck" does. Does…
crunchyt
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