Need a word or phrase translated?

[Elizabeth]

yeah. that's the idea.
both (のない＆がない) mean about the same thing and either can be used. but 意味のない話would be like "a meaningless story" and 意味がない話 would be like "a story without any meaning"
I've heard both used too.

A lot of times the noun phrase doesn't make sense as an English translation, though, such as the example a couple weeks ago of Ninki (ga) aru sports. You can't say sports that have popularity.... so to the OP, just take it as an adjective modifier and don't try to think in such direct terms with the target language.

 

[kirby36]

What's the Kanji for sama,a suffix adds to show respect in Japanese language ?

 

[FinancialWar]

What's the Kanji for sama,a suffix adds to show respect in Japanese language ?

窶罵
463246326

 

[toritaiyo]

A lot of times the noun phrase doesn't make sense as an English translation, though, such as the example a couple weeks ago of Ninki (ga) aru sports. You can't say sports that have popularity.... so to the OP, just take it as an adjective modifier and don't try to think in such direct terms with the target language.

That's a good point. My example wasn't the best.
If you search for のない on Yahoo Japan you get a lot of movie/ book titles like:
名前のない部屋
過去のない男
出口のない海 (does this one sound weird or is it just me?)
I know のない/のある is often used in titles and in sentence fragments. And there are times when using がある instead of のある would sound weird.
But I'm not a native speaker or a teacher so I am going to shut up now.

 

[rafe]

Hi all,

Just what I hope will be a quick question... does anyone know what "ウリの insert word here" means? I'm stumped... I can't find it in any dictionaries, and google searches all bring up vaguish references, although it seems to indicate to me perhaps something to do with "selling point". Although, maybe I'm just associating it to 売り which might be possible... But then google also lead me to a site about a Korean language school in Japan which had this to offer: "ウリというのは朝鮮語で私たち" ... so... =( ?
Anyway, if it helps, it's taken out of context of someone talking about a model/singer, and saying "~がウリのシンガー". About what, I can only wonder...

Any and all help appreciated!
TIA

 

[umbaba]

Hi all,
Just what I hope will be a quick question... does anyone know what "ウリの insert word here" means? I'm stumped... I can't find it in any dictionaries, and google searches all bring up vaguish references, although it seems to indicate to me perhaps something to do with "selling point". Although, maybe I'm just associating it to 売り which might be possible... But then google also lead me to a site about a Korean language school in Japan which had this to offer: "ウリというのは朝鮮語で私たち" ... so... =
Anyway, if it helps, it's taken out of context of someone talking about a model/singer, and saying "~がウリのシンガー". About what, I can only wonder...
Any and all help appreciated!
TIA

~がウリのシンガー means " a singer who is famous for ～"
I'm curious what was in the place of ～ there
「ウリ」here just happened to be written in katakana, but it is usually 売り, so your guess was right in saying "selling point"! It's nothing to do with ウリ in Korean anyway.

 

[FinancialWar]

セールスポイント？

眺望を売りにしているレストラン。
a restaurant whose selling point is the view.

 

[rafe]

Thank you umbaba and warakawa for your replies!
"A singer who is famous for ~" is the perfect translation.
Btw to answer your question umbaba, the original sentence (when talking about someone) was "露出度高い衣装がウリのシンガー". Hehe.
Thanks again!

 

[Kyoko_desu]

the original sentence (when talking about someone) was "露出度高い衣装がウリのシンガー".
Thanks again!

I think I know who he was referring to. Koda Kumi?

 

[Elizabeth]

That's a good point. My example wasn't the best.
If you search for のない on Yahoo Japan you get a lot of movie/ book titles like:
名前のない部屋
過去のない男
出口のない海 (does this one sound weird or is it just me?)
I know のない/のある is often used in titles and in sentence fragments. And there are times when using がある instead of のある would sound weird.
But I'm not a native speaker or a teacher so I am going to shut up now.

I don't think either sounds weird or impolite or is a mistake in any context like the ones above. の may be somewhat preferred, for some reason, but both are perfectly acceptable.

 

[Fuumei]

幼く処女であった

Throughout my lessons, I've always changed (i) adjectives (ex: osanai) into (ku) (ex: osanaku) before verbs. However, I haven't actually been shown the reason for using this same type of usage before nouns, such as shoujou. (osanaku shoujou). Any help here would, of course, be very appreciated.

 

[epigene]

幼く処女であった
Throughout my lessons, I've always changed (i) adjectives (ex: osanai) into (ku) (ex: osanaku) before verbs. However, I haven't actually been shown the reason for using this same type of usage before nouns, such as shoujou. (osanaku shoujou). Any help here would, of course, be very appreciated.

I think this is another example of "omission' in Japanese.
If this is a sentence without omission, it would be:
幼い処女であった。
However, the full sentence for this is very likely:
（彼女は）幼く、処女であった。

HTH!

 

[Elizabeth]

I think this is another example of "omission' in Japanese.
If this is a sentence without omission, it would be:
幼い処女であった。
However, the full sentence for this is very likely:
（彼女は）幼く、処女であった。
HTH!

It isn't the verb being modified but shows the same distinction of nuance as the English "Was a young virgin" and "She was youthful and a virgin."

Or the other possibility ? 彼女は、幼くて処女であった。:?

 

[mintuna]

Hi, I'm reading Akutagawa's "Kumo no Ito" in Japanese. And i got stuck in 1 word.. I've already checked in a dictionary, but my dictionary sucks.. I can't find this word's meaning in my dictionary.. I'm so hopeless.., can u help me??
umm.. maybe it'll be clearer if I write the sentence..
.....。と申しますのは、ある時この男が深い林の中を通りますと、小さな蜘蛛が一四、路ばたを這って行くのが見えました。....
there..
I can understand most of the meaning of the sentence, but I don't understand the word "一四" in that sentence...
教えてください．．．

 

[Elizabeth]

Hi, I'm reading Akutagawa's "Kumo no Ito" in Japanese. And i got stuck in 1 word.. I've already checked in a dictionary, but my dictionary sucks.. I can't find this word's meaning in my dictionary.. I'm so hopeless.., can u help me??
umm.. maybe it'll be clearer if I write the sentence..
.....。と申しますのは、ある時この男が深い林の中を通りますと、小さな蜘蛛が一四、路ばたを這って行くのが見えました。....
there..
I can understand most of the meaning of the sentence, but I don't understand the word "一四" in that sentence...
教えてください．．．

It's a mistake for いっぴき 一匹, the counter for small animals.
一四 is nothing more frightening than the number 14. :

 

[mintuna]

☝ ah.. i see...!! you're a big help! thanx so much!! my head feels lighter now...

 

[Fuumei]

If this is a sentence without omission, it would be:
幼い処女であった。
However, the full sentence for this is very likely:
（彼女は）幼く、処女であった。
HTH!

It isn't the verb being modified but shows the same distinction of nuance as the English "Was a young virgin" and "She was youthful and a virgin."

Hm, this is the first time I've heard of "omission" usage. But somehow I think I understand the meaning behind the change of the adjective. It's a way of denying the adjective from describing the noun. Instead it splits the adjective and noun up and describes the topic individually. Then again I may be thinking too hard, but to me it does make sense. Thanks to you both.

 

[epigene]

Hm, this is the first time I've heard of "omission" usage. But somehow I think I understand the meaning behind the change of the adjective. It's a way of denying the adjective from describing the noun. Instead it splits the adjective and noun up and describes the topic individually. Then again I may be thinking too hard, but to me it does make sense. Thanks to you both.

You're right, Fuumie-san! Sorry for not elaborating on it, and thanks Elizabeth!

 

[Zejji]

3 questions

Hello, I was wondering if anyone could help with 3 questions I have been scratching my head about for a while ☝ :

1. Mixing potential and passive forms

Is it possible in Japanese to mix potential and passive forms as in the following English examples?:

He cannot be defeated.
This code can be understood if you have the appropriate key.
They cannot be persuaded.
Phone calls can be traced.

I am aware that there is a "causative passive" verb form in Japanese but am not aware of any "potential passive" form.

Since "can write" is kakeru and "to be written" is kakareru, it seems theoretically possible (but unlikely) that "can be written" might be kakerareru. However, I suspect that this isn't possible!

What's the correct way of saying "can be ...ed"? Or should such sentences be recast in all cases?

2. "-able"

My second query is related. Is there a Japanese equivalent of English adjectives ending in "-able", e.g.: breakable, drinkable, likeable, foldable, readable etc?

3. "...must not be <Adjective>"

My final question is unrelated to the first two.

I understand that the structure <verb>-te form + wa ikenai means "X must not <verb>". An example might be:

Koko de hashitte wa ikenai.
You must not run here.

Does this also work with adjectives and adjectival nouns (with the meaning "X must not be <Adjective>"), e.g.:

Hoteru wa takakute wa ikenai.
The hotel must not be expensive.

Yoyaku wa fuben de wa ikenai.
The appointment must not be inconvenient.

Or are these sentences grammatically incorrect?

Thanks! Gerard

 

[undrentide]

Hi Gerard, here's my attempt.

1. Mixing potential and passive forms
Is it possible in Japanese to mix potential and passive forms as in the following English examples?:
He cannot be defeated.
This code can be understood if you have the appropriate key.
They cannot be persuaded.
Phone calls can be traced.
I am aware that there is a "causative passive" verb form in Japanese but am not aware of any "potential passive" form.
Since "can write" is kakeru and "to be written" is kakareru, it seems theoretically possible (but unlikely) that "can be written" might be kakerareru. However, I suspect that this isn't possible!
What's the correct way of saying "can be ...ed"? Or should such sentences be recast in all cases?

I think you guessed correctly - you cannot use potential and passive together because the form is the same. I think that normally to say "can be ...ed" we convert the passive into normal form. Or keep the passive as it is, and add such phrase as "...kotoganai", "...hazuganai", "kesshite...nai" in place of potential.

He cannot be defeated.
kare wa uchimakasarerukotoganai.

This code can be understood if you have the appropriate key.
kono angou wa kaidoku dekiru

They cannot be persuaded.
karera wo settoku surukotohadekinai.

Phone calls can be traced.
tsuuwa wa gyakutanchi(surukotoga) dekiru

2. "-able"
My second query is related. Is there a Japanese equivalent of English adjectives ending in "-able", e.g.: breakable, drinkable, likeable, foldable, readable etc?

One expression I can think of is "... kanouna". But I don't think it is equivqlent to "-able" as you can use it only in certain cases - you can use it only when you can covert the verb into noun. (...siuru is another way)
Otherwise you have to use clause, not one word; "....(surukotoga)dekiru"
or use the verb as modifier. Sometimes ...beki.

breakable: hakaikanouna, kowasukotogadekiru, kowaseru
drinkable: nomukogotadekiru, nomeru
likeable: koukannomoteru
foldable: oritatamikanouna, oritatamukotogadekiru, oritatameru
readable: yomeru, yomigotaenoaru

3. "...must not be <Adjective>"
My final question is unrelated to the first two.
I understand that the structure <verb>-te form + wa ikenai means "X must not <verb>". An example might be:
Koko de hashitte wa ikenai.
You must not run here.
Does this also work with adjectives and adjectival nouns (with the meaning "X must not be <Adjective>"), e.g.:
Hoteru wa takakute wa ikenai.
The hotel must not be expensive.
Yoyaku wa fuben de wa ikenai.
The appointment must not be inconvenient.
Or are these sentences grammatically incorrect?

Yes, ... tewaikenai is correct. More formal expression is "....tewanaranai".
Tewanaranai is mostly used in writing while tewaikenai can be used both in writing and daily conversation.

 

[Zejji]

Thanks!

Hi Gerard, here's my attempt.
I think you guessed correctly - you cannot use potential and passive together because the form is the same. I think that normally to say "can be ...ed" we convert the passive into normal form. Or keep the passive as it is, and add such phrase as "...kotoganai", "...hazuganai", "kesshite...nai" in place of potential.
He cannot be defeated.
kare wa uchimakasarerukotoganai.
This code can be understood if you have the appropriate key.
kono angou wa kaidoku dekiru
They cannot be persuaded.
karera wo settoku surukotohadekinai.
Phone calls can be traced.
tsuuwa wa gyakutanchi(surukotoga) dekiru
One expression I can think of is "... kanouna". But I don't think it is equivqlent to "-able" as you can use it only in certain cases - you can use it only when you can covert the verb into noun. (...siuru is another way)
Otherwise you have to use clause, not one word; "....(surukotoga)dekiru"
or use the verb as modifier. Sometimes ...beki.
breakable: hakaikanouna, kowasukotogadekiru, kowaseru
drinkable: nomukogotadekiru, nomeru
likeable: koukannomoteru
foldable: oritatamikanouna, oritatamukotogadekiru, oritatameru
readable: yomeru, yomigotaenoaru
Yes, ... tewaikenai is correct. More formal expression is "....tewanaranai".
Tewanaranai is mostly used in writing while tewaikenai can be used both in writing and daily conversation.

Thanks very much for your post, undrentide - it is very helpful.

Gerard

 

[Zejji]

Hello, if anyone could help with another quick question, it would be much appreciated. (My apologies for clogging up the board!)

How do you say "there are <number> of us"?

Examples:
There were ten of us at the party last night.
If no-one else turns up, there will be just two of us at Japanese class today.
(at a hotel) There are four of us, so could I have two twin rooms, please?

Thanks, Gerard

 

[miki78]

: Hi, I hope this counts but I really want to know what this video says I have had it on my computer for ages but I can't read it it is also on Youtube this is the link

It's Mana Sama



I hope someone can help.

 

[Elizabeth]

Hello, if anyone could help with another quick question, it would be much appreciated. (My apologies for clogging up the board!)
How do you say "there are <number> of us"?

Watashitachi ha (zenbu de) + the number (de, desu....)

 

[Zejji]

Watashitachi ha (zenbu de) + the number (de, desu....)

Thanks Elizabeth!