This is a mobile optimized page that loads fast, if you want to load the real page, click this text.

Need a word or phrase translated?

I see, so it seems entering abstract things (tournaments, society) you use deru, while entering physical things (ofuro, classrooms etc), you use hairu? Thanks!

Also, while at it, I was wondering what the difference is between these two:
~ta (past tense) vs Vru + koto ni shita

I mean, there's these two sentences:

先生が生徒の意見を求めました
先生が生徒の意見を求める事にした

They seem the same to me, but if going with the rule that "longer is more polite", is the second form above just the more polite version?
 
kawaiisan said:
I see, so it seems entering abstract things (tournaments, society) you use deru, while entering physical things (ofuro, classrooms etc), you use hairu? Thanks!
Click to expand...
Not at all. Of course it's much more complicated than that. You can "hairu" to enter a time (season, month, year), discussion, negotiation, organization, job, lifestyle, friendship etc....
 

dictionary form verb + kotoni suru/shita is a set phrase, meaning "decide(d) to do ~".

本を読みました。 I read a book
本を読むことにしました。 I decided to read a book.
 
How do you say " I am bored." in Japanese?
 
Last edited:
Thanks Elizabeth and Undretide!

so I guess with deru I'll just need to read more and more..
 
Hello!
Can anyone tell me, is there any difference between two verbs which means "to close" - 閉じる and 閉める - And between verbs which means "to open" - 開ける and 開く.

Thanks for help
 
undrentide said:
dictionary form verb + kotoni suru/shita is a set phrase, meaning "decide(d) to do ~".

本を読みました。 I read a book
本を読むことにしました。 I decided to read a book.
Click to expand...
Unless there are some very unexpected usages, to me it's exactly the same as 事に決める。Only much more common as everyday language.


Can anyone tell me, is there any difference between two verbs which means "to close" - 閉じる and 閉める - And between verbs which means "to open" - 開ける and 開く.
Click to expand...


閉じる = Cause something to become nonfunctional by removing its opening to he outside (Eyes, mouth, book...)

閉める = Move something to a closed position so as to prevent access to it (Shop, road, door, window...)


開ける = Cause something to become exposed to or in contact with the outside (Door, window, shop, letter, present, eyes, mouth...)

開く.ひらく？To hold (party, meeting, conference, festival etc), open a bank account ; To open by spreading out or "opening up" (Flower bud, umbrella, book, hand....）


For open, there is overlap in some of these (Door, book are the two that come immediately to mind) as I'm sure you can understand by the same ambiguity in English between to "open" (simply expose) and "open up" (often implying a three dimensional action).
 
How do you say "eternal light" in Japanese? Or the closest translation to that phrase?

Also, what does the name Sasori mean?

Thanks!
 
eternal light = eien no hikari? :emoji_stuck_out_tongue_winking_eye: just a guess. and my dictionary says sasori means scorpion.

I got another question.. this JLPT level 2 study really exposes my lack of knowledge in Japanese T_T

ここから頂上までの道は今までよりもさらに険しいに違いない。

I've never seen that "ima made yori mo sara ni" phrase bit before.. can I just confirm if the whole thing means something like "the road from here to the top.. it's always been dangerous now and then.. no mistaking it" ?

Elizabeth said:
Good for your first 20 uses...:

「でる」の検索結果 - Yahoo!辞書
Click to expand...
That is very useful! Thanks :emoji_grinning:
 
Last edited:
1. Is it just my imagination, or do i see the "dakuten" (the two dots) on ん. Kinda like ん". WHat's that supposed to mean?
2. is じゃ another way of saying です? i hear it when watching anime, e.g. inuyasha. why would u use じゃ?
3.
sono katana wa sonna katachi dewanakatta gana...
Click to expand...
i know that it means "That katana wasn't that shape...", but what does "gana" mean?
4. I also notice that sometimes people in manga end phrases w/ "mona..." what does that mean?
 
I'll try this.

1. I don't think there's a "ten ten" version of ん. I've never seen it so far even in the dictionary and wouldn't even know how to pronounce it. Are you sure you didn't see the phrase highlighted?

2. Ja じゃ, can be replacing: - "dewa or deha では" in ではありません
- "dewa or deha" in それでは to それじゃ
- じゃ、また明日 So, see you again tomorrow.
or sometimes just じゃis understood as good bye if i'm not wrong.

3. がな gana means "sigh" or means "impossible to come true". Exp: そんな事ならすぐできるがな。Sigh, You could complete the stuff if you do it right away.
So..."sono katana wa sonna katachi dewanakatta gana.." probably said in a depressing tone rite?

4. I'm not sure with the mona phrase. sorry.

Please correct me if I'm wrong. 私の誤りを修正ください。ありがとうございます。
 
Thanks for helping me with what you've got, Apheleon.
1. I swear I saw a "ten ten" version of ん. it was in inuyasha book 50 on pg 11l
like this: ん"!? is the dakuten supposed to show emphasis?
2. "ja" like "mura ja", "there's a village". is it only used by young kids (cuz in the manga, this little kid uses it)
3. thanks a lot!
4. I think I misread it. the sentence was: sono kao (face) mo na... (sumimasen). then what does "na" mean? is it like "gana"?
also, I have another question:
5.
dou nattenda
Click to expand...
what does that mean?
 
dounattenda= どうなった？ = What happened?

Also, be careful, as some manga characters' speech end in endings that are unique to those characters, or seldom/never used. In one cartoon in the children's newspaper I read, one character ending every sentence with a frog-like sound--not the most useful thing to learn. Or look at Naruto's abuse of the dattebayo form...


Couple of my own questions:

い形ー
な形ー ＋ げ ＝ ？

The book I'm using says something like (I'm translating from Japanese): a person (you're looking at) appears to be expressing a certain emotion

Examples in the book:

老人が何か言いたげに近づいて来た」。
Let me test a translation:
An elderly person approached me, looking like he wanted to say something.

Does that seem right?

If yes, how about this sentence I'm creating myself: (and is the rest ok?)

今日は公園ではとても嬉しげな女性を見ました。あの女性は私の所を歩いて通ったら突然歌い始めて本当にびっくりした。

Today at the park I saw a really happy looking woman. When she passed by me, to my surprise, she even starting singing!
 
I'm translating lyrics for someone into English and want to make sure I have the meaning of the following bits correct:

自分の全部を使いきってでも、
このCHANCEをものにしてやる

First of all the meaning. Does this mean something like: [Even if I have to give everything I have, I will make this chance count.] ? The translation will probably be more poetic than literal, so its more important that I know the exact feeling rather than the structure.

But...for my own curiosity, lets talk about the structure! In the first sentence, is the form that's being used -きる? i.e. the きる that means to do something completely or to the very end?

And the second one; I have never seen ~ をものにしてやる before, but does that mean something like ～を実現する? i.e. does it mean to make something come true or to turn something into reality?
 
おじさんは、 こわくてしょうがなかったが、 楽しげなおはやしに合わせて体を動かじているうち、 だんだん調子が出てきました。

Red colored sections are what I couldn't figure out.
Can you explain them?
 
What I see all the time is そうな to express a perception of other people's emotions, hardly ever げ, so naturally that is where I also normally end up. Maybe because げ is older or has become overly formalized ? Or could be because I've never seen it explained in a text or listed in a dictionary. Someone else will have to come along and fill in the reason. :sorry:


So I did the below correction which I'm pretty sure still isn't perfect. The basic structure was there. But I think this gives what you wanted to say a slightly better feel.

Couple notes of usage:
(とすれ違う) In passing
(歌いだした) Also, started to sing, but with -だす as the compound usually gives a more spontaneous, playful, frolicking ("bouncy" if you will) ring than はじめる。



今日は公園でとても嬉しそうな女性を見ました。彼女は私とすれ違うとき突然歌いだしたので本当にびっくりしました。
 
82riceballs said:
1. is it just my imagination, or do i see the "dakuten" (the two dots) on ん. Kinda like ん". WHat's that supposed to mean?
4. I also notice that sometimes ppl in manga end phrases w/ "mona..." what does that mean?
Click to expand...

Apheleon already gave good answer to your questions, so here's additional explanation.

(1) In manga, dakuten is often used to express strange sounds... like groaning. It is not a normal usage.
e.g.
ん゛～、あ゛ー、

(2) mona : mo (too) + na (adding emphasis, feeling, light assertion, etc.)
おまえもな for example, means "you, too" which is often used as a retort.

82riceballs said:
Also, I have another question:
5.
dou nattenda
Click to expand...
what does that mean?
Click to expand...

どうなってんだ＝どうなっているんだ means
What's happening?!
 

Ah, you're reading Japanese folktale!

楽しげなおはやし＝楽しげな おはやし

～げ（気） means looks/sounds like ~
楽しげな＝楽しそうな

おはやし（お囃子） is a traditional music accompaniment for dancing, normally consists of flute, drums and other percussion.

～（する）うち while doing ~

調子（ちょうし） means tone, rhythm, condition, shape, etc.
調子が出る : warm up, get into the swing (of something)
 
Sorry I don't have time for the rest, but in this case essentially yes.
 
It means "to gain possession of" or "gain mastery of."
 
Hello everyone!
I am going to Japan in a month, and I'm making a celebratory t-shirt for the occasion. It's going to have some English on it, but also some Japanese. This is where the experts (you) come into play!
Here are the bits and pieces that I need translated:
After 10 years.... I'm finally here!
Hello Tokyo!
Happyness!
Shinjuku
Erics Trip to Tokyo
Thank you so much!


Edit: Btw, whoever answers this also gets the 5000th post in this thread! ^_^
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

  • Sticky
Need a Kanji Translated? Just ask!
81 82 83
Replies
2K
Views
308K
Ukigumo
N
"Proverb" Translation
2
Replies
35
Views
75K
Swede
S
M
Help with translation
Replies
12
Views
59K
Jerry1834
J
H
What is "half-width" number?
Replies
6
Views
79K
Mike Cash
A
Need to change car navigation/audio/video system language to English
Replies
11
Views
115K
Rich345
R
Menu
Log in
Register
Cookies are required to use this site. You must accept them to continue using the site. Learn more…