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1500 questions
13
votes
3 answers
Why do we use 〜ないで instead of 〜なくて before auxiliary ください?
I was taught in college that the 〜ない verb conjugation behaves like an i-adjective, thus it has 〜く form, it takes 〜ければ for "if" scenario, it modifies the noun that follows it etc. Also, I know that the 〜くて form of i-adjective has overlapping roles…
Lukman
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13
votes
2 answers
How do you say "if and only if" in Japanese?
I would like to know how to express mandatory conditions in Japanese. Since Japanese distinguishes between different types of languages, I should probably ask more precisely:
What is the right way to express equivalence statements (the kind a…
Dominik
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13
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1 answer
Is 花見 only for "cherry blossom" viewing?
Textbooks usually teach that 花見 / お花見 means "cherry blossom viewing".
Tatoeba has a couple of examples supporting that:
ヒラヒラと桜の花が舞っている。もうお花見の季節も終わりだな It looks like cherry blossom-viewing season is at an end. You can see the petals…
Pacerier
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13
votes
1 answer
The first: 第一 vs 一番 vs 第一番
What are differences among 第一, 一番 and 第一番, all of which seem to mean "the first" in English? Are any of them more suitable for some specific scenarios than the others (e.g. 安全第一 but 世界で一番)?
Lukman
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13
votes
1 answer
How is 口 used here?
祖父はシベリアからの引き揚げを経験した口だ。
My grandfather was one of the people who were repatriated from Siberia.
I couldn't find any dictionary entries that would fit 口 in this context. What does it mean here exactly?
user12320
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13
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2 answers
What is the meaning and root of 意味くじピーマン?
Recently a friend of mine threw the term 意味くじピーマン (imi kuji pi-man) into a story she was telling, and it totally threw me off. At first I thought, because I wasn't sure how to parse the くじ part, it meant something like "meaningful peppers."
Then a…
Questioner
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13
votes
2 answers
Difference between「と思います」and「かと思います」?
What is the difference in meaning and usage between「と思います」and「かと思います」at the end of a sentence?
ddiez
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13
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1 answer
なく vs. なくて and stem form vs. てform as conjunctions
I have been wondering about this, since every time I hand in a 作文 in a Japanese class, I'm corrected on conjunctions. It seems to me that whenever I use a てform as a conjunction, a response comes back that it has a cause-and-effect feel. I thought…
xana
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13
votes
2 answers
Confused in choosing 早い versus 速い
In my understanding, 速い is used for motion and 早い represents "early".
Which one is the correct one in this example?
A: 授業がそろそろ始まるので、早く来てください。
B: 授業がそろそろ始まるので、速く来てください。
Display Name
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13
votes
3 answers
What's the difference between 完成 and 完了?
Dictionaries list "completion" as a definition for both of these words. I'm trying to figure out the difference between them.
Some online sources say 完成 is used when you finish making something and 完了 is used when you are finished doing something,…
Blavius
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13
votes
2 answers
Looking for meaning of 「入道雲」
I'm currently reading a Japanese book on clouds, and am hoping someone can shed some light on the exact meaning of a cloud type called 「入道雲」. The English translation would be "cumulonimbus", but I'm hoping to get a breakdown on if there is…
Leila
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13
votes
4 answers
What is the significance of の in 「鳥の詩」?
I've seen it used in many places, and sometimes it feels like a connection between words.
For example in 「鳥の詩」 (tori no uta), it looks as if the の is connecting 鳥 (tori) and 詩 (uta), and I would like to know what it represents, in this case at…
Madcowe
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13
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2 answers
When do you mark きょう or other similar relative time expressions with は
I've been trying to make proper sentences using the word きょう when I realized that I'm not really actually sure when I'm suppose to mark it with は. I know relative time expressions tend to stand alone meaning it's not followed by に and because of…
Nate
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13
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Contrasting 〜てならない、〜てしょうがない and 〜てたまらない
These three phrases can be used to express emotions and feelings that cannot be controlled.
For example in the following sentences:
a) １点差で負けたので、悔しくてならない。
b) １点差で負けたので、悔しくてしょうがない。
c) １点差で負けたので、悔しくてたまらない。
With this,
1) How do the above sentences…
phirru
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13
votes
2 answers
Younger uncles and aunts
If you are older than your uncle or aunt, do you still address them as 叔母さん or 叔父さん? I see no reason why you wouldn't, but I recall once seeing a description saying that family titles are only used for elder relatives.
Angelos
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