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.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.
窶罵What's the Kanji for sama,a suffix adds to show respect in Japanese language ?
That's a good point. My example wasn't the best.Elizabeth;382700 said: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.
~がウリのシンガー means " a singer who is famous for ～"rafe;383255 said: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
rafe;383446 said: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 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.toritaiyo;383113 said: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 think this is another example of "omission' in Japanese.Fuumei;383739 said: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.
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."epigene;383758 said: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's a mistake for いっぴき 一匹, the counter for small animals.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．．．
epigene;383758 said: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;383779 said: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."
You're right, Fuumie-san! Sorry for not elaborating on it, and thanks Elizabeth!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.
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?
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.
Watashitachi ha (zenbu de) + the number (de, desu....)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....)