Need a word or phrase translated?

[Majestic]

I think ケイタイ is probably just as prevalent as スマホ.
The use of ケイタイ might skew a bit higher with an older demographic, but my impression (now slightly dated as I am not in Japan) is that its really 50/50. At least, that's my impression of spoken Japanese.
Kind of like cell phone, mobile phone, and smartphone in the US. None are wrong, all are more or less interchangeable.

 

[Buntaro]

I was surprised to see how prevalent the use of sumaho is. I had no idea. (But, like Majestic, it's been a long time since I lived in Japan.)

(Majestic, is it right to use "long time " to characterize you?)

 

[Majestic]

I was in Japan a proper long time (from Shōwa to Reiwa), if that is what you mean.
I've been out a few years now, so I've been out for what feels like a long time, although I go back every year or so.
My life is in California now, but maybe at some point in the future Mrs. Majestic will get the urge to relocate back to Japan, at which point I think I will happily move back. (But I do like it here in California, too. It really is blessed with the best weather on the planet.)

 

[Toritoribe]

I'm wondering about translating "cellphone" into Japanese. I was watching a video from Japan and the schoolkids in the video used the word スマホ (sumaho) (smartphone) to refer to their phones. Do Japanese people still say 携帯電話（けいたいでんわ）(keitaidenwa) (cellphone)? Which is more common in conversation?

ケータイ/携帯 can refer to both smartphone and cellphone, but スマホ is not used for older types of cellphones. If it's needed to refer to cellphone exclusively, ガラケー(= galapagos keitai) is used.

 

[thomas]

I've always thought that ガラケー was used for the old clam-type of cell phones:

What I have never heard before is フィーチャーフォン (feature phone).

フィーチャーフォン - Wikipedia

ja.wikipedia.org

 

[mdchachi]

ガラケー (Galapagos Keitai) and フィーチャーフォン (Feature Phone) are closely related concepts but differ in their scope and usage.

Differences Between ガラケー and フィーチャーフォン

1. Definition:
   
   • ガラケー: Refers specifically to Japanese feature phones that evolved uniquely within Japan, incorporating localized features such as "Osaifu-Keitai" (mobile wallet), emoji, and One-Seg TV broadcasting. The term emphasizes their isolated development, similar to species on the Galapagos Islands
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     .
   • フィーチャーフォン: A broader term used globally to describe non-smartphones with basic functions like calling, texting, and limited internet capabilities. It includes ガラケー but also covers feature phones from other countries
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     .
2. Localization:
   
   • ガラケー is Japan-specific and tailored to Japanese consumers' needs, often incompatible with international standards
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     .
   • フィーチャーフォン encompasses all basic phones worldwide, without the unique features of ガラケー.
3. Features:
   
   • ガラケー often includes advanced Japan-specific functionalities like infrared communication and mobile wallets.
   • フィーチャーフォン typically has simpler functions focused on calls and texts, with fewer advanced features
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     3​
     .
4. Usage Context:
   
   • ガラケー is a subset of フィーチャーフォン, representing a uniquely Japanese evolution of feature phones.
   • フィーチャーフォン is a general term applicable globally, including any basic phone without smartphone capabilities.

In summary, ガラケー is a localized version of フィーチャーフォン with Japan-specific features, while フィーチャーフォン is a general category for basic phones worldwide.

 

[Toritoribe]

Yes, フィーチャーフォン is quite rarely used in Japan.
As in the wikipedia page thomas-san provided, all older types of cellphones are customary called ガラケー.

前述の通り、ガラパゴスケータイの本来の意味としては「多機能かつ国内特定事業者向け専用モデルの携帯電話」を指しているため、この定義に厳密に則って解釈するならば、スマートフォンであっても特定事業者に特化した機能が満載であればガラケーであり、逆に従来型携帯電話であってもグローバルモデルやベーシックフォンはガラケーではないと言える。しかしスマートフォンの普及が進んだ現在の日本国内では、フィーチャーフォンとベーシックフォン全般、専らiPhone登場前の「従来型の携帯電話」の総称としてガラケーと表現することが定着している。

フィーチャーフォン - Wikipedia

ja.wikipedia.org

 

[Achilles 1-1]

Yes, フィーチャーフォン is quite rarely used in Japan.
As in the wikipedia page thomas-san provided, all older types of cellphones are customary called ガラケー.

フィーチャーフォン - Wikipedia

ja.wikipedia.org

うわー、トリトリーベのオンラインの珍しい例！

(Whatever if this is wrong, i used google translate, lol)

 

[Toritoribe]

That's understandable enough. The pronunciation of my user name is not accurate, though.(The long vowel and short vowel are strictly distinguished in Japanese.)

 

[Buntaro]

I want to ask the question, "How many students are in your class?" but I'm not sure how to translate the word "class." Goggle Translate just gives me クラス, as in "あなたのクラスには何人の生徒がいますか？"

I have also considered the word kyoushitu as in "あばたの教室には生徒が何人いますか？"

What is the translation for (schoolroom) "class" that is most commonly being used in Japan?

 

[Majestic]

I want to ask the question, "How many students are in your class?" but I'm not sure how to translate the word "class." Goggle Translate just gives me クラス, as in "あなたのクラスには何人の生徒がいますか？"

I have also considered the word kyoushitu as in "あばたの教室には生徒が何人いますか？"

What is the translation for (schoolroom) "class" that is most commonly being used in Japan?

クラス is best.

 

[mdchachi]

クラス is best.

Note this means a specific class/classroom. In English "class" could also mean how many kids are in your grade. But you said "schoolroom" so I guess you mean the former.

 

[Buntaro]

Yes, the former

 

[Toritoribe]

The most appropriate translation could differ depending on the context. For example, when the addressee(= you) is a teacher(担任) or a student in a specific class, 組 (e.g. (2年)3組), can be the best one.

3組の生徒は何人ですか。

 

[Buntaro]

I wanted to translate this sentence into Japanese:

"How many students are there in your school, approximately?"

and google Translate gave me this:

"あなたの学校にはおよそ何人の生徒がいますか?"

My question is about the word およそ (which I had never heard before) which seems to mean "about." I would have said だいたい. Is either およそ or だいたい more commonly used in everyday conversational Japanese?

 

[mdchachi]

I wanted to translate this sentence into Japanese:

"How many students are there in your school, approximately?"

and google Translate gave me this:

"あなたの学校にはおよそ何人の生徒がいますか?"

My question is about the word およそ (which I had never heard before) which seems to mean "about." I would have said だいたい. Is either およそ or だいたい more commonly used in everyday conversational Japanese?

だいたい→カジュアル
およそ→ていねい

 

[zeroh4nter]

What does 奮え mean here ? I watch a JP historical drama, and encounter this word said by a general before a castle siege battle. I'm not sure what it mean and can only guess vaguely as :" Get ready !". Much thanks someone as native here who could explain its meaning correctly for me !
Here's the subtitle :
General「時は来た！美濃の蝮、斎藤山城より受けた国譲り状を今こそ現実にするときだ！」
「勝負は二度あらじ！皆、奮え！」

 

[mdchachi]

What does 奮え mean here ? I watch a JP historical drama, and encounter this word said by a general before a castle siege battle. I'm not sure what it mean and can only guess vaguely as :" Get ready !". Much thanks someone as native here who could explain its meaning correctly for me !
Here's the subtitle :
General「時は来た！美濃の蝮、斎藤山城より受けた国譲り状を今こそ現実にするときだ！」
「勝負は二度あらじ！皆、奮え！」

It's the imperative form of 奮う which basically means muster your courage.

 

[Achilles 1-1]

What's the more common way to write this? き, or when the bottom stroke disconnected?

 

[Mikawa Ossan]

What's the more common way to write this? き, or when the bottom stroke disconnected?

Disconnected for actually writing it out by hand with a pen or pencil.

 

[Achilles 1-1]

Disconnected for actually writing it out by hand with a pen or pencil.

Thanks. I'm finally starting to actually learn Japanese, so i wrote down a gojuon, dakuon, handakuon, and a yoon.

 

[mdchachi]

Thanks. I'm finally starting to actually learn Japanese, so i wrote down a gojuon, dakuon, handakuon, and a yoon.

What are those?

 

[Achilles 1-1]

What are those?

Gojuon is all the hiragana. Dakuon, handakuon, and yoon are the different variations.

 

[Buntaro]

Here is a video on practicing the differences between たくおん and ほんたくおん.




Here is a video on practicing the differences between ようおん and そくおん. (More such videos which allow the practice other types of hiragana are also available.)

 

[Buntaro]

This time I am wondering how to say I am "good at" something, for example, "I am good at ping-pong." All these years I have been saying 上手 (jozu) and sometimes I say うまい (umai). But to my surprise, Google Translate says neither, it says 得意 (tokui). Which one is most common in conversational Japanese?