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votes
1 answer
The difference between 書店 and 本屋
What is the difference between:
書店 and 本屋
Are there any specific places where you can use one over the other? Or is it simply like the English Bookstore/Bookshop, and are perfectly interchangeable?
phirru
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Differences between 「することはない」 and 「しなくてもいい」
Like the title says, I'd like to know the difference in nuance and usage between 「することはない」 and 「しなくてもいい」。
For example:
「謝らなくてもいいよ」 vs. 「謝ることはないよ」
To me, they both sound like "You don't have to apologize [for that]." On one hand, 「…なくてもいい」 sounds…
Anonymous
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Why "greengrocer" kanjis are 八百屋 (やおや)?
I've seen the last one (屋) many times before meaning something along the lines of "establishment where you can buy things or services".
However, the rest of the word confuses me. Doesn't the word 八百 also mean the number 800 (はっぴゃく)?
ArthurTheLearner
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1 answer
Old way of counting people?
I always found it funny how the counter for people, 人, has the special cases [一人]{ひとり}, [二人]{ふたり}, but then continues [三人]{さんにん}, [四人]{よにん}, ...
However, this summer I came across a neat bit of info. If you go to bunraku plays or similar…
Espen Nielsen
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12
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"Irregular" 命令形 of some verbs
Recently I've noticed several verbs where the imperative form is used in a way that is not the "correct" conjugation.
くれる → くれ！ → The one we're all used to
つける → つけ！ → An example from my プログレッシブ dictionary: 「気をつけ」と先生が号令をかけた。
はじめる → はじめ！ → Said…
istrasci
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12
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1 answer
Japanese/Chinese numbers usage timeline
Japanese uses both native and Chinese numbering numbering systems, the Sino-Japanese pronunciations being いち, に, さん, etc. and the native being ひと, ふた, み, etc. For the most part they are used for different things. However, numbers past 10 generally…
Nate Glenn
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1 answer
Can we use Kanji for 「もらう」?
Can we use Kanji for 「もらう」(to receive)? If so, is it recommended?
Ernestas Gruodis
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12
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1 answer
Is 「うそおっしゃい」 to be taken literally here?
In the video game Ripening Tingle's Balloon Trip of Love, the protagonist Tingle meets a fortune teller who demonstrates her powers to him. She asks him, "You come from a far away town, right?" If Tingle answers, "No", she responds:
うそ おっしゃい ! おばさん…
waldrumpus
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2 answers
Middle Dot (中黒) in Non-Japanese Names
My previous question about ellipses (三点リーダー) in Japanese got me thinking about the middle dot (中黒) in foreign names.
When I was in college, I learned that if you have a non-Japanese (or, rather, non-kanji) name, you should put a 中黒 in between your…
Anonymous
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votes
1 answer
What do you call brothers or sisters of the same age?
From what I can see people are forced to use the term of a younger or older brother/sister oneesan, oniisan, etc.
But what do you call a brother or sister if they're the same age as you?
Tek
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12
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2 answers
What does 「なし」in 「問題なし」 mean?
I just started playing the video game Mother 3, and if you try to examine the trash can in front of his house, Lucas says, 問題なし.
I expect this means something like, "no problem here", but I haven't been able to confirm that so far.
What kind of…
waldrumpus
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5 answers
Who scolded whom in Aに怒られる?
I can see that someone got mad or someone made someone else mad. The things that make it difficult are に and the られる form of 怒る. What does this mean? How do you figure out who did what in these types of sentences?
language hacker
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How are the different pronunciations of kanji used, such as onyomi and kunyomi?
Even when I think I've memorized how to read a particular kanji, 人 (ひと) for example, and try to read other words I find that it's also pronounced じん...and I'm sure it probably has many other readings.
Should readings just be taken on a case-by-case…
Mou某
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2 answers
どのように and どうやって - difference and usage
どのように and どうやって are both question words used to to ask "how" to do something. But what is the difference between them? Actually, it's rare to see どのように in a written text. Can anyone show me how to use it?
user6709
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What are the differences between すぐ、もうすぐ、すぐに?
As far as I am aware, すぐに means "immediately", but in which contexts can you use もうすぐ and すぐ？
miikaelf
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