Ichido...

[Carabas]

Hello,

I'm confused about the use of "ichido" in the following sentence:

私の猫も一度逃げ出しちゃうとどこ行っちゃうかまった くわからんないんです

"Ichido" suggests that it happens in the past, but why does the speaker use the present tense? Isn't that a conflict?

Or am I getting the meaning of "ichido" wrong and the cat actually runs away on more than one occasions.

"Once my cat runs away, I don't have the slightest idea where he goes." Like that?

 

[NANGI]

Konnichiwa Carabas-san!

I'm confused about the use of "ichido" in the following sentence:

Yes, "Ichido" means "once" usually. But in your case, it means "if".

私の猫も一度逃げ出しちゃうと

This part means the subjunctive mood "一度 ～すると". You can substitute "一旦 : Ittan" for "一度 : Ichido" in this case.

一度逃げ出しちゃうと ==> 一旦逃げ出しちゃうと
Both sentence are same meaning.

"If my cat run away," is a correct but not "Once my cat runs away,".

NANGI

 

[Carabas]

NANGI-san,

Thanks for your explanation! Now that sentence makes sense to me.

 

[invitation]

As I native, I would more likely use in that context, "Suman, mou ikai totemoratemo-yoroshidesuka?" = Sorry about this, but would it ok for you to take one more?
A trick maybe to help you with the difference (and you probably can't find this in textbooks, "mou ikai" generally follows with a consequence that affects an upcoming action of a person or of the interlocutor. In other words, check out this example:
"Mou ikai ya tara, ouchi ni kaeru" = If you do that one more time, we're going home.
The person's action if done just one more time, will affect him and the person who said the quote: they will go home.)

( In the example about the camera, the cameraman's 'retaking' of the picture affects you and himself, the cameraman is using an action to fulfill your request, thus, "moui ikai"--which is a minutely pushy--would be better here)

vs, "mou ichido" which conveys a sense of one's repetition of something as part of a process. For example:
"Mou ichido itte kudasai masuka?" = Could you say that again, please?
"Mou ichido yatte-kudasai." = Please do it again.

However, we tend to use "mou ichido" and "mou ikai" interchangeably; just know that "mou ikai" is a slight degree less formal that "mou ichido," and is slightly more insistent than "mou ichido," Really, this is splitting hairs!

Hope this helps! Gambattei-nei!

Edit 1: If you need any help in Japanese, I'm usually floating about on Yahoo Answers to help out on the Japanese questions of language and culture. In regards to the "suman" vs. "sumimasen" : the latter is formal and is used very frequently."Suman" is very casual, like "My bad..." It's not embarrassing at all.
Source.

 

[undrentide]

I'm afraid that there are some mistakes and may mis-spelling...

As I native, I would more likely use in that context, "Suman, mou ikai totemoratemo-yoroshidesuka?" = Sorry about this, but would it ok for you to take one more?
A trick maybe to help you with the difference (and you probably can't find this in textbooks, "mou ikai" generally follows with a consequence that affects an upcoming action of a person or of the interlocutor. In other words, check out this example:
"Mou ikai ya tara, ouchi ni kaeru" = If you do that one more time, we're going home.
The person's action if done just one more time, will affect him and the person who said the quote: they will go home.).

"Suman, mou ikko tottemorattemo-yoroshiidesuka?" = Sorry about this, but would it ok for you to take one more?

one more (another piece) : mou ikko
one more (in case of photo): mou ichimai
once more : mou ikkai (not "ikai")

Also it sounds awkward/unnatural if you use "suman" (less polite) and "yoroshiidesuk" (very polite) in the same sentence.

( In the example about the camera, the cameraman's 'retaking' of the picture affects you and himself, the cameraman is using an action to fulfill your request, thus, "moui ikai"--which is a minutely pushy--would be better here)

moui ikai? Which do you mean, "mou ikkai" (once more/again) or "mou iikai" (are you ready?)?

vs, "mou ichido" which conveys a sense of one's repetition of something as part of a process. For example:
"Mou ichido itte kudasai masuka?" = Could you say that again, please?
"Mou ichido yatte-kudasai." = Please do it again.

However, we tend to use "mou ichido" and "mou ikai" interchangeably; just know that "mou ikai" is a slight degree less formal that "mou ichido," and is slightly more insistent than "mou ichido," Really, this is splitting hairs!

Again, not "mou ikai" but "mou ikkai"!

Hope this helps! Gambattei-nei!

Edit 1: If you need any help in Japanese, I'm usually floating about on Yahoo Answers to help out on the Japanese questions of language and culture. In regards to the "suman" vs. "sumimasen" : the latter is formal and is used very frequently."Suman" is very casual, like "My bad..." It's not embarrassing at all.
Source.

"Gambattei-nei!" is wrong. It should be "gambatte ne".

Obviously you're not a native speaker of Japanese ... I think it is a common mis-pronounciation of え by some English speakers, they tend to say "nei" for "ne".

 

[Ashikaga]

As I native, I would more likely use in that context, "Suman, mou ikai totemoratemo-yoroshidesuka?" = Sorry about this, but would it ok for you to take one more?

As a native, I would never use "Suman" and "tottemorattemo yoroshiidesuka" in a single sentence.

In regards to the "suman" vs. "sumimasen" : the latter is formal and is used very frequently."Suman" is very casual, like "My bad..." It's not embarrassing at all.
Source.

Unless you live in the Kansai area, you seldom hear "suman" as a casual way to say "Sorry". Furthermore, it is an expression only used by men.

If you're looking for a casual way to say "Sorry (or My bad!)", you should go with "Gomen".