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votes
2 answers
What's the meaning of 〜ておきます?
What exactly does 〜ておきます mean in this context?
旅行{りょこう}する前{まえ}にホテルを予約{よやく}しておきます。
Is this trying to say something like "Before traveling, reserve a room". Is this a suggestion? An order? (If so, why aren't they using ください at the end instead of…
Julian
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12
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2 answers
Choice of tense with そばから
When using そばから in the sense of "as soon as", everything I find says that you can use either た form/past tense before it, or dictionary form, but not what the difference is. Sometimes people even use both forms in the same…
nkjt
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12
votes
1 answer
Which counter do you use for counting TV series episodes?
I want to say "I saw 10 episodes", but I can't find the appropriate counter.
I may use "つ" counter (十エピソードを見ました), but it's not very classy.
kadmelia
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12
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1 answer
What are the origins of 掘った芋いじるな (hotta imo ijiru na)?
The gag expression 掘った芋いじるな (hotta imo ijiruna) sounds to japanese ears uncannily like "What time is it now?" I'm guessing this is Showa era humour, since English probably sounded more foreign then than now.
Does anyone know the origin of this…
crunchyt
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12
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3 answers
When and to whom should I use the expression ご苦労様 (gokurousama)?
In what context and relationship wise to who can I safely say ご苦労様 (gokurousama)?
I often defer to using otsukaresama since I'm not sure if I'm talking down to someone by saying gokurousama. Please provide some example contexts where it would be…
crunchyt
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12
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1 answer
When do I use の/こと as a nominalizer, and when do I use というの/ということ?
I'm studying nominalizers and don't understand when to use の/こと and when to use というの/ということ.
For example, in the sentence:
こんなによく[遅刻]{ちこく}をするというのは[問題]{もんだい}ですよ。
Could I say:
こんなによく[遅刻]{ちこく}をするのは[問題]{もんだい}ですよ。
Is there any rule to choose の/こと or…
Sandra
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12
votes
1 answer
What's the difference between 心, 念, and 意?
I can say that after much research on this, I'm more thoroughly confused than before I started. I'm talking mostly about when they are used as suffixes, but the concept applies when they stand alone, or even start some words.
At first it seemed…
istrasci
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12
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1 answer
What's the difference between ぜひ and きっと when inviting someone to do something?
You can say for example
ぜひパーティーにいらしてね
そのうちまた是非お出かけください
「今晩お伺いしてもいいですか」「ぜひどうぞ」
and
きっと来てくださいね
きっと訪ねて来てください
I would translate both ぜひ and きっと in these sentences with "by all means", but I'm sure (as always), there's a nuance in meaning when you…
Tobias
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12
votes
1 answer
Is there a standard for where to put spaces in kana-only Japanese?
I've noticed that when Japanese is written mostly or entirely in kana,
it's often written with spaces. For example, a lot of old video games had spaces. I've also seen this in children's books:
Is there a standard or official way of choosing…
user1478
12
votes
1 answer
どうか, どうにか, どうかして - differences?
I was just wondering what the essential differences are between these and how I would use them in everyday speech. Thank you.
Mike
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12
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3 answers
What are common mistakes made by Japanese kombini employees speaking "manual keigo" (バイト敬語)
Mainly inspired by this question on what seems to be the misuse of a standard idiom by a Japanese employee, I was reminded of being told about バイト敬{けい}語{ご} ("manual keigo") in the past: a slightly dumbed-down sonkeigo crash course handed to new…
Dave
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12
votes
2 answers
Why can't I say 「電車に遅刻する」?
In the 2012 JLPT-official N4 sample test book, question #34, you are tested on the meaning of the word…
Hikonyan
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11
votes
1 answer
Meaning of せい conjugation of する?
I came upon this line of dialogue in a book I'm reading, from a character who has old-fashioned speech patterns:
できる限りの鶏肉を用意せい…
I assume this せい is some form of the verb する, though I'm not even sure if it's a regional dialect or some remnant of…
tansui
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11
votes
5 answers
What’s the difference between [v] たとしても and just the plain ても
What’s the difference between [v] たとしても and just the plain ても? Example:
(1) 説明書を読んでも分かりにくい
(2) 説明書を読んだとしても分かりにくい
Pacerier
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11
votes
4 answers
Etymology of 右に出る
What is the etymology of 右に出る, as in 「右に出る者はいない」? What on earth makes the right superior to the left?
Relatedly, is 左に出る ever used to mean "inferior to"?
Amanda S
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