Official "what Nihongo" thread.

[FrustratedDave]

Ok , we all have things that we can't understand why something is stated in a particular way in Japanese. So I thought it would be fun to make a thread of all those little quirky things that we have noticed in Japanese. (sorry if there already is a thread like this, I could not find one)

I will start,
お湯を沸かす(oyu wo wakasu)= Boil some water.
But, the literal translation is boil some "hot" water. So I ask why does one need to boil some already hot water?

 

[Ashikaga]

Ok , we all have things that we can't understand why something is stated in a particular way in Japanese. So I thought it would be fun to make a thread of all those little quirky things that we have noticed in Japanese. (sorry if there already is a thread like this, I could not find one)

I will start,
お湯を沸かす(oyu wo wakasu)= Boil some water.
But, the literal translation is boil some "hot" water. So I ask why does one need to boil some already hot water?

I
I guess you should just think of the verb 沸かす as "prepare".

How about ご飯を炊く (Gohan o taku) = Cook some "cooked" rice? lol

 

[Putrefaction]

I'd like to know why double negatives.

Literally translated into English (and placed in somewhat normal structures) it means that it is.

 

[Ashikaga]

I'd like to know why double negatives.

Literally translated into English (and placed in somewhat normal structures) it means that it is.

What double negatives? I'm sorry but I'm lost.

 

[Elizabeth]

Easy one. I just want to know where the あずみ in 安曇野 comes from.

 

[undrentide]

Easy one. I just want to know where the あずみ in 安曇野 comes from.

Do you mean why 安曇 is pronounced あずみ?
It is one of 熟字訓, many examples are found in place names.
Japanese wiki gives a good explanation.

https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E7%86%...9C.B0.E5.90.8D

I do not know the etymology of あずみ, quick search by Google shows the possibility that it was derived from わだつみ（海神綿津見）＝海の神 but I'm not sure if it is correct and has a solid background or not...

 

[Elizabeth]

Do you mean why 安曇 is pronounced あずみ?
It is one of 熟字訓, many examples are found in place names.
Japanese wiki gives a good explanation.

https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E7%86%...9C.B0.E5.90.8D

I do not know the etymology of あずみ, quick search by Google shows the possibility that it was derived from わだつみ（海神綿津見）＝海の神 but I'm not sure if it is correct and has a solid background or not...

Thanks, undrentide ! It isn't infrequent at all to have particular 名乗り、this was only frustrating encounter of the last week. Plausibly, the あ(安） had been part of or symbolized the same background as other ancient kunis (安芸（あき）、安房） and the ずみ related to ずも、くも somehow...But will take a the Google and wiki sites to see to how far off that comes.

 

[Kirakira1232]

What double negatives? I'm sorry but I'm lost.

I believe he is refering to the ~nakeraba naranai structure maybe?

As in Benkyou shinakeraba naranai

If you were to translate it literally it would be "If you don't study, you won't become"????

Although it just means "Have to study" lol.

 

[Toritoribe]

I'd like to know why double negatives.

Literally translated into English (and placed in somewhat normal structures) it means that it is.

Also, わからなくはない, for example.

Double negative - Wikipedia

 

[FrustratedDave]

I love this one,

分りかねる。 wakarikaneru = not be able to understand.

 

[nhk9]

tottoto kieusero = "get the f* out now"
used quite a lot in historical dramas.