Seemingly synonyms

M

Maximillian

後輩

29 Aug 2013

4

0

• 8 Sep 2013

• #1

Could anyone help me find the differences between the following words?:

kantan - raku
kanzen - kanpeki
kara - node - sorekara
keredomo - kedo - noni
nado - toka

Cheers!

 

M

Morphling

先輩

3 Apr 2013

273

32

• 8 Sep 2013

• #2

Maximillian said:

Could anyone help me find the differences between the following words?:

kantan - raku
kanzen - kanpeki
kara - node - sorekara
keredomo - kedo - noni
nado - toka

Cheers!

Click to expand...

They mean similar things with some overlap but also have their differences depending on context.

簡単 Easy/simple 楽 easy/requires little effort
完全 Complete 完璧 perfect
から Depend on context. From/because. ので because. それから And then
けれども Although/but けど shortened form of けれども のに although/even though. May have other meaning depending in context.
等 etc とか etc. use after each noun

 

M

Maximillian

後輩

29 Aug 2013

4

0

• 9 Sep 2013

• Thread starter
• #3

Thanks for your answer!
I was under the impression 完全 could also mean perfect. As for 簡単 and 楽, Would it be possible to give me a situation where it would be wrong to use the other word? So there is no difference in politeness or utility between など and とか? >_< All these synonyms are making my head hurt.

 

undrentide

Japa'n vagyok

18 Jan 2006

3,652

310

• 9 Sep 2013

• #4

Both have a meaning of "ease", but 簡単 also means "simple" and 楽 means "comfortable".
In such case they are not interchangeable.

簡単な食事を用意しました。
We prepared a simple meal for you.
どうぞ楽にしてください。
Please make yourself at home.

 

M

Morphling

先輩

3 Apr 2013

273

32

• 9 Sep 2013

• #5

とか And 等 mean the same but they differ in how they can be used grammatically.

とか Follows each clause. 等 follows only the last clause. They can be use together even but usually 等is preceded by や。

毎日、掃除とか洗濯とかをやっています。
毎日、掃除や洗濯等をやっています。