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11
votes
2 answers
Cardinal and intermediate directions
The four cardinal directions are the directions north, east, south, and west. The intermediate directions are northeast, southeast, southwest, and northwest. In English it would be incorrect to say eastnorth, for example. But in Japanese 東北…
Enguroo
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11
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1 answer
Katakana words with Kanji. How did that happen?
Some words are written with katakana, but also have kanji. For example:
コーヒー 珈琲
ページ 頁
How did this happen? They are loanwords, but no doubt had Japanese equivalents before these variants were imported. Is that the case? And are these original…
Synesso
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11
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7 answers
Why are the katakana important to learn?
I've just started, and everything says learn your hiragana and katakana first.
The hiragana, very clear. I guess you can say an awful lot of things in Japanese with hiragana. But everything I've been reading all seems to say that katakana are mostly…
temporary_user_name
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11
votes
4 answers
What determines whether a word gets a kanji compound or katakana?
I read electronics/computing articles, and I find an incredible amount of terms are written either in kanji (almost similar to Chinese) or katakana. There are times when it's confusing as to know why.
For example:
フラッシュストレージ
メディアタブレット
バックアップ
On…
Chris
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11
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2 answers
Does the etymology of 星 suggest the japanese/chinese knew the sun was a star?
星 contains the radical 日 meaning sun/day. This makes sense from a modern understanding, as it is well known that the sun was a star. However, it appears this has only been known since the 19th century, suggesting that the connection is not so…
M Palmer
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11
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2 answers
Is there a kanji term for "-san" when used to address someone?
All other titles, used when addressing someone, have a kanji character. Was/Is there a kanji term for -san?
Jack Bosma
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Why does 一体 mean "what the heck?"?
the definition for 一体【いったい】:
Adverb :
...the heck (e.g. "what the heck?"); ...in the world (e.g. "why in the world?"); ...on earth (e.g. "who on earth?");
—Before an interrogative, forms an emphatic question.
一体どこで彼に会ったんだ。Where on earth did…
yadokari
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1 answer
What did I say was 苦手?
A few years ago, I was doing a study abroad in Japan, and I was able to participate in a tea ceremony. There was one instructor, our guide/translator, and a few of us students. At this point, I had taken a few semesters of Japanese, so I could speak…
charlieshades
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1 answer
Why is 「人口」 used to denote population?
I'm just curious at the appearance of 「口」 that makes this word mean "population". Why should it be 「口」 as opposed to any other body part or anything else? Is there a definitive reason or story associated with this word? If 「口」 is used as a counter…
Chris
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11
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2 answers
What is the difference between 意味 and 意義?
I have learned (意味) and (意義）as "meaning". I am confused these two words. Are they same or is there any difference in usage?
lelewin
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11
votes
1 answer
What's the difference between 赤ん坊 and 赤ちゃん
Are both words interchangeable? Rikai-chan defines them both as "baby, infant". So what would be the difference?
Rodrigo Pará
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11
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5 answers
Why does 悪く(は)ない give a condescending feeling?
I thought it just meant "It's not bad" but I read some comments from Japanese people who said that it can sound too condescending or like the speaker feels superior to the listener. Why is that? In what circumstances could this happen and when can…
YTKN
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1 answer
What is the difference between 始め 初め and 始まり?
Just to be sure, I'm not talking about the verbs 始める/始まる but the nouns(maybe adverb?) 始め 初め and 始まり.
Jirei
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11
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3 answers
名 vs 人 for counting people?
We were asking for seats at a restaurant in Kyoto and were unsure whether to ask for nimei or futari. Which would be more appropriate? What are the distinctions in usage between these two counters?
temporary_user_name
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11
votes
1 answer
Why is ゆ written in hiragana on bath houses' noren?
I am informally teaching Japanese to friends and they sometimes ask interesting questions I can't answer.
Yesterday, I told them that ゆ could often be seen in front of public bath houses, and someone asked me why the kanji wasn't used. I guess it…
Gumamori
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