ちょっと…( = chotto) + あいまい表現 ( = Aimai hyougen) ambiguous expressions

chotto2

:P 「マギー先生、ちょっと質問があるんですが..」

= Maggie sensei, chotto shitsumon ga arun desu ga…

Ms. Maggie, I have a little question to ask…

:maggie-small: 「う〜ん…今、ちょっと…」

= Uun… ima chotto…

= Umm …. now??

Today’s key word is ちょっと  ( = chotto)!!

You might say “I know that! It is eeeeasy!!”

Yes, it’s easy! It is a casual way to say 少し ( = sukoshi), a little bit of something,a kind of, a sort of
 
•日本語をちょっとだけ話します。
 
= Nihongo wo chotto dake hanashimasu.)
 
= I speak a little Japanese.
 
お代わり如何ですか?
 
=Okawari ikaga desuka?)
 
= “Do you want a refill?”
 
 
「じゃあちょっとだけ。」
 
= Jaa chotto dake
 
“OK, then I will have just a little bit..”
 
*You can also use it when you talk to someone.
 
•ちょっとすみません。
 
= Chotto sumimasen.
 
Excuse me!
 
•ちょっと、いいですか?
 
Chotto ii desuka?
 
May I interrupt you a bit? / Do you have a minute? / May I bother you for a moment? /Can I say something?
 
•ちょっと申し訳ないのですが、車をどけて頂けますか?
 
= Chotto moushiwake nai no desu ga kuruma wo dokete itadakemasu ka?
 
I am sorry to bother you, but could you please move your car?
 
*If you stress ちょっと ( = chotto), you can protest to someone showing your anger.
 
•ちょっと!いい加減にしてよ!
 
= Chotto iikagen ni shiteyo!
 
Hey! That’s enough!
 
•ちょっと!やめて!
 
= Chotto! Yamete!
 
Hey! Cut it out!
 
ちょっと  ( = chotto) means “Hey!“, “Come on!” “Sorry but…” here.
 
**********
In today’s lesson I will “reveal” some of the important secrets of the Japanese language.
Even if you know many 漢字 ( = kanji) or difficult Japanese grammar, you won’t go further without getting familiar with what I am going to explain in this lesson.
OK, ちょっとずつね!( = chotto zutsu ne. ) little by little!

In many cases, ちょっと(=chotto) doesn’t have any specific meaning but it helps soften what you want to say and/or helps you to avoid being too straight with someone — a very important quality in Japanese. You will hear this particular use of ちょっと ( = chotto) all the time.
 
As I have mentioned in past lessons, Japanese people tend to avoid straight expressions. They prefer to say things in a roundabout 遠回し ( = toomawashiway.
That is why the Japanese language is considered to be 曖昧 ( = aimai), vague, unclear, ambiguous, obscure, noncommittal, reflecting their personality and culture.

Let’s see some examples here.

•ちょっと困ります。

= Chotto komarimasu.

I am sorry but it would be a problem for me.

( You are obviously annoyed but by adding chotto, it sounds softer.)

 

• あの人はちょっとね…。

= Ano hito wa chotto ne….

That person is a bit…/ kind of…

(Usually negative. So we can assume the person is a trouble.)

 
• 昨日、職場でちょっとあってさあ….。(casual)
 
= Kinou shokuba de chotto atte saa….
 
There was something happened at work yesterday and…
 
(It insinuates there was some troubles at work. )
 
• 僕の彼女はちょっと可愛いんだよ!
 
= Boku no kanojo wa chotto kawaiin dayo.
 
My girlfriend is quite cute!

(This chotto doesn’t mean “a little”. The speaker is bragging about his girlfriend in a modest way by using ちょっと(=chotto.))

Note :  ちょっとした  ( = chotto shita)adjective

Ex. ちょっとしたことだけど、すごく嬉しい。

= Chotto shita koto dakedo sugoku ureshii

It’s a small (minor)  thing but I am very happy!

Ex. 私の父はちょっとした会社の社長だ

= Watashi no chichi wa chotto shita kaisha no shachou da

My father is a president of a quite big/well-known company.

(It hints that the company is big or famous.)

Ex. 彼の作品ってちょっとしたもんだね。

= Kare no sakuhin tte chotto shita monda ne.

=  His work is not bad at all!

(もん ( = mon) is a casual way of saying = もの ( = mono) things.

ちょっとした物 ( = Chotto shita mono) could be a small something as its literal meaning but sometimes we use it as pretty good)

 
:qq: More 曖昧  ( = aimai) ambiguous &  遠回し ( = toumawashi) round-about, expressions.
 
1) やんわり断る ( = yanwari kotowaru) to decline gently, softly
 
When someone asks you for a favor and you don’t want to do it, we can decline like Maggie in the picture above.
 

「マギー先生、ちょっと質問があるんですが..」

= Maggie sensei, chotto shitsumon ga arun desu ga…

= Maggie Sensei, I have a little question to ask…

「う〜ん…今、ちょっと…」

= Uun…ima chotto…

Umm…. now???

 
Did you notice that she didn’t finish the sentence? But you can tell what she wanted to say, right?
 
:rrrr: 今ちょっと忙しいです
 
 = Ima chotto isogashii desu.
 
 I am busy right now.

:l: How to decline using ちょっと ( = chotto) 
 

•「明日、暇?」( = Ashita hima?)  Are you free tomorrow?

:rrrr: X「明日は暇だけどあなたとつきあいたくはありません。」

= Ashita wa hima dakedo anata to tsukiaitaku wa arimasen.

I am free tomorrow, but I don’t want to go out with you!

(This answer is too straight! :!: )

• 明日は用事があるのでだめです。

= Ashita wa youji ga aru node dame desu.

I have plans tomorrow, so I can’t go out with you.

(We do say this but it sounds still a bit too straight.)

:u:

•「明日はちょっと用事があって…」

= Ashita wa chotto youji ga atte

I have something to do tomorrow so….

•「明日はちょっと忙しくって…」

= Ashita wa chotto isogashikutte.

I am busy tomorrow so….

•「明日はちょっと都合が悪くって…」

= Ashita wa chotto tsugou ga warukutte .

I am not available tomorrow so….

:u:

「明日はちょっと…」

= Ashita wa chotto

=  Tomorrow is….(not convenient)

We don’t finish the sentence to make it sound softer. We have to read between the lines which is expressed with  “”   = 点点  or てんてんてん ( = ten ten ten)  dot dot dot part.

•「週末、引っ越しの手伝いしてくれる?」

 = Shuumatsu hikkoshi no tetsudai shite kureru?  

Can you help me move this weekend?

:rrrr: •「週末は忙しいから手伝えません。」

= Shuumatsu wa isogashii kara tetsudaemasen.

I am busy this weekend, so I can’t help you. (too direct.)

:u:

•「週末はちょっと忙しいです。」

= Shuumatsu wa chotto isogashii desu.

I am a bit busy this weekend.

:u:

•「ごめんなさい。週末はちょっと…」

= Gomennasai. Shuumatsu wa chotto

I am sorry but this weekend is…(→not good for me.)

「彼と付き合ってみない?」

= Kare to tsukiatte minai?
Why don’t you 
 go out with him?

:rrrr: 「付き合いたくありません。」

= tsukiaitaku arimasen.

I don’t want to go out with him!  (too straight.)

Instead you can say

•「う〜ん、ちょっと遠慮しておく。

= Uun chotto enryo shite oku.

No, thank you!  / I would pass… (casual)

•「ちょっとタイプと違うから…。」

= Chotto taipu to wa chigau kara….

He is not my type so…

:u:

•「う〜ん、ちょっと…」

= Uun chotto…

=  I am sorry but…

Note : Of course, there are girls who are very straight forward!

•「ムリ!ムリ!!」(colloquial) 

=muri! muri!!

No way! Impossible!  

•「ムリだから!」(colloquial) 

 = Muri dakara!

No way! That’s not happening! 

•ムリ無理 = impossible

〜(だ)から ( =~dakara)   very colloquial

•「来週の金曜日に合コンやるんだけど、どう?」

=Raishuu no kinyoubi ni goukon yarundakedo dou?

”We are going to have a matchmaking party. Do you wanna come?”

:u:

:rrrr: その日は、( = Sono hiwa)  that day (is)

→ 忙しいです( =isogashii desu.)  to be busy

→都合が悪いです。(=tsugou ga warui desu.) not convenient

→難しいです。( = muzukashii desu.) to be difficult

:u:

•「その日は、ちょっと」

= Sono hi wa chotto…

That day is … (I am not available on that day…)

•「残念ながらその日は、ちょっと…」

= Zannen nagara sono hi wa chotto…

Unfortunately that day is…I am sorry, but I am not available on that day.

「ごめんなさい、その日は、ちょっと…

= Gomennasai sono hi wa chotto…

=  I am sorry but I am not available on that day…

「その日は、ちょっと無理!」

= Sono hi wa chotto muri

I can’t make it that day!

Note : ちょっと ( = chotto) a bit + 無理 ( = muri) impossible might sound strange. Although it isn’t grammatically correct we do hear this phrase often.

•「飲み会がありますが、来ませんか?」

 = Nomikai ga arimasu ga kimasen ka?

Would like to join us for drinks?

(飲み会  nomikai =  a drinking party) 

•「行きたくありません。」

= Ikitaku arimasen.

I don’t want to go.

•「都合が悪いです。」

= tsugou ga warui desu.

I am not available.

:u:

•「今回はちょっと遠慮しておきます。

= Konkai wa chotto enryo shite okimasu.

I’m sorry, but I ‘m going to have to pass this time.

•「今回はちょっと遠慮させて下さい。

= Konkai wa chotto enryo sasete kudasai.

I’m sorry, but let me a pass this time.

:u:

•「今回はちょっと遠慮しておくよ。」(male/casual) 

= Konkai wa chotto enryo shite okuyo) for men 

I’ll pass this time.

Note : The ending with ~おくよ (~okuyo) is for man. The ending with  ~しておくわ ( = ~shite okuwa) is for women.

•「ごめん!今回はちょっと勘弁して!」 (casual) 

= Gomen! Konkai wa chotto kanben shite!

=  I’ll pass this time. Let me pass this time. 

And you apologize,

•ごめんなさい。( = gomennasai) I am sorry

•すみません。( = sumimasen)  I am sorry

•ごめん!( = gomen) Sorry! (casual)

Then you can follow up :

•「またの機会にお願いします。」

=Mata no kikai ni onegai shimasu.

Please ask me again, Next time, Give me a rain check!

•「またの機会に!」

=Mata no kikai ni!

Next time! / Some other time. 

•「また誘って下さい。」

= Mata sasotte kudasai.

Please invite me again.

•「また誘って!」(casual) 

= Mata sasotte!

Invite me again!

:rrrr: This is the typical “procedure” of declining someone’s invitation.

:ee: <How to receive annoying phone call for sales.>

:rrrr: •「今、ちょっと手が離せないので…」

= Ima chotto te ga hanasenai node.

I am tied up right now so…

:n: Extra Information : In a romantic situation

When you ask a girl for a date :

•「日曜日、ドライブにいかない?

= Nichiyoubi doraibu ni ikanai?

Do you want to take a drive this Sunday?

•「今度の休み、どこか遊びに行かない?」

= Kondo no yasumi dokoka asobini ikanai?

Do you wanna go out with me next holiday?

and if she says

•「皆と一緒だったら…」

=Minna to issho dattara…

If it is in a group…(→I prefer to go out in a group.)

That means she is not comfortable being alone with you, and there is less chance for a romantic relationship (yet).

Also when you ask her for a second date and she says

•「今度は皆で行きましょ!」

=Kondo wa minna de ikimasho!

Why don’t we go out in a group next time!

Again, this probably means the romantic outlook is… not sunny. Sorry! ;-)

:i: <How to avoid giving people your personal information>

When you don’t want to say anything personal you can also use ちょっと ( = chotto)

•「どちらへお出かけですか?」

=Dochira e odekake desu ka?

Where are you going?

:rrrr: 「ちょっとそこまで」

= Chotto soko made

I will just go somewhere around here.

Note : You don’t have to specify the place you are going.

•「どうかしたの?」

= Dou ka shita no?

What is wrong?

:rrrr: 「ちょっといろいろあって…」

= Chotto iroiro atte

Many things happened so…. / I had some problems so.. / for many reasons

:rrrr: 「ちょっとごたごたしていて」

= Chotto gotagota shite ite.

I have been busy for many things so…. / I have been having some problems so..

Also when you don’t want to ask all the personal details,

:u:

• いろいろ大変でしたね。

= Iroiro taihen deshita ne.

I feel sorry that you have been through many things

Please go check 労るレッスン ( = Itawaru ressun)

In the lesson, I mentioned a line which you can say to a person who has just lost their family

• (この度は、)ご愁傷様でした。

 = goshuushou sama deshita.

Sorry for your loss. My condolences.

You could also just say,

:rrrr: •この度は…( = kono tabi wa…)

Note : この度 ( = konotabi) means “this time

Because Japanese language is 曖昧 ( = aimai) ambiguous and we use 遠回しな言い方 ( = toomawashi na iikata ) round about expressions, sometimes it causes misunderstanding with people who are not familiar with this custom.

For example, you made some business proposal to a company and they say :

• 考えておきます。

= kangaete okimasu

We’ll think about it.

• 少し考えさせて下さい。

= Sukoshi kangae sasete kudasai.

Let me(us) think a little. Give us some time to think about it.

• 検討させて下さい。

= Kentou sasete kudasai.

Let us review/go over this.

As many of language resources might say, it doesn’t always mean they actually think about it, and it could be indirect way of saying “No!” or at least that there is not much of a chance.

We try to avoid saying “No!” to people immediately face to face and tell them we will think about it.

But there are cases when we actually need time to take matters into consideration and say these quotes. So it depends on the situation. I guess we have to observe the speaker’s facial expressions and everything.

Note : Sometimes we add  前向きに ( = maemukini)  positively to add more possibility.

• 前向きに検討いたします。

 = Maemuki ni kentou itashimasu.

We will think about this (and see if we can make this work out).

We also hear the followings in a business situation:

• 善処致します。

=Zensho itashimasu.

We’ll see what we can do./We will try to deal with the matter in an appropriate manner.

• 努力致します。

=Doryoku itashimasu.

We will do our best.

• 努力したいと思います。

= Doryoku shitai to omoimasu.

We will try to do our best.

OK, after buying some time to decline, finally they may say,

• いろいろ検討したのですが、…

= Iroiro kentou shita nodesu ga…

After reviewing ..

• 考えさせて頂いたのですが、…

= Kangaesasete itadaita no desu ga…

We thought about this but..

• 考えたんだけど 

= Kangaetan dake do

I thought about this but… (casual)

They might say things s little bit more clearly,

• やはり今回は難しいという結論に至りました。

= Yahari konkai wa muzukashii toiu ketsuron ni itarimashita.

As we had expected, we came to a conclusion that it would be very hard to do/accept this time.

(This means NO!)

You can also finish in the middle of the sentence ;

• 大変申し上げにくいのですが、...

= Taihen moushiagenikui no desu ga..

It is very difficult to tell you but…  (=It means NO!)

:jjj: <How to response when you disagree>

It is all matter of intonation.

•そうですねえ…

= Soudesunee…

Well….

•おっしゃることはわかるのですが…

= Ossharu koto wa wakaru no desuga…

I know what you mean but…

If you really want to say it is really difficult to achieve, you can say,

•それはちょっと厳しいですねえ

= Sore wa chotto kibishii desunee…

It seems a bit difficult/tight.

:s: < Other   曖昧  +   ぼかし表現   ( = aimai +bokashi hyougen) +  Ambiguous + obscure expressions>

There are many more words that make our statements purposely ambiguous. I will teach you some of them here and include very slangy expressions.

*こちら/そちら/あちら ( = kochira / sochira / achira) I, we, our side/you, they/they

We sometimes omit pronouns and substitute them with こちら ( = kochira)  / こっち ( = kocchi) I, we, our side, more casual, そちら  ( = sochira)/そっち  ( = socchi) you, they, more casual, and あちら ( = achira)  /  あっち  (  =  acchi) they more casual

 

 

 

• あちらさんもいろいろ大変みたいですね。

 

= Achira san mo iroiro taihen mitai desune.

 

They seem to have a lots of problems…

 

• こちらもちょっと忙しくって…。

 

= Kochiramo chotto isogashikutte….

 

We(I) have been a bit busy as well and…

 

• こっちはいいけどそっちはどうなのよ?

 

= Kocchi wa iikedo socchi wa dounano?

 

We (My side is/I am ) are OK but how about you(them)?

*程   ( ~ = hodo) Even if you know the precise number, you add  程  ( = hodo) and make it sound vague.

• 一週間旅行に行きました。

= ishuukan ryokou ni ikimashita.

:rrrr: 一週間程旅行に行ってきました。

 = isshukan hodo ryokou ni itte kimashita.

I went traveling for a week.

*〜でも( = ~demo)

• お茶を一緒に飲まない? 

= Ocha wo issho ni nomanai?

Do you want to have a cup of tea with me? (=Do you want to go to a coffee shop or something?)

:rrrr: お茶でもどう? 

= Ocha demo dou?

How about having a cup of tea?

• 映画に一緒に行きませんか? 

= Eiga ni issho ni ikimasenka?

 Do you wan to go see a movie with me?

:rrrr: 映画でもどう?

=Eiga demo dou?

=  How about going to see a movie?

〜でも( = ~demo)  makes your suggestion sound very light.

:h: More colloquial expressions :

The following expressions are very colloquial and many of them are all grammatically wrong but you will hear these often in daily conversation especially among young people.

:u:

*〜とか  ( = ~toka)  (colloquial)

•彼とデートした?

= Kare to deito shita?

Did you go out with him?

:rrrr: 彼とデートとかした?

= Kare to deito toka shita?

So? Did you go out with him or something?

•ドライブに行きませんか?

=Doraibu ni ikimasen ka?

Do you want to take a drive somewhere?

:rrrr: ドライブとか行く?

=Doraibu toka iku?

How about taking a drive somewhere?

•明日は暇ですか? 

= Ashita wa hima desuka?

Are you free tomorrow?

:rrrr: 明日とか暇?

= Ashita toka hima?

Are you free tomorrow or…?

Usually 〜とか   ( = ~toka)  means “etc.”. We use this to make it sound like there are other choices.

You can also use it when you suggest something.

•この方法でやってみるとか (したら?)

=Kono houhou de yatte miru toka(shitara)…

How about giving this (way) a try..?

or tell someone what you have assumed.

•この時間は銀行やっていないとか

= Kono jikan wa ginkou yatteinai toka

=  I have a feeling that the banks are closed around this time…

Check とか ( = toka) lesson for more details.

*〜の方/ほう ( = ~no hou)  (colloquial)

You can hear this at a convenience store or restaurant as well as their way of “formal” Japanese.

• お料理はもうお持ちしてもいいですか?

= Oryouri wa mou omochi shitemo ii desu ka? 

:rrrr: お料理の方は、もうお持ちしてもいいですか?

= Oryouri no hou wa mou omochi shite mo ii desu ka?

May I bring out your dishes now/already?

• お弁当は温めますか?

= Obentou wa atatame masu ka? 

:rrrr: お弁当のほう、温めますか?

= Obentou no hou atatame masu ka?

Do you want us to warm up your lunch (food)?

(Please check the coffee shop conversation lesson!)

• 結婚生活は上手くいっていますか?

=Kekkon seikatsu wa umaku itte imasuka. 

:rrrr: 結婚生活の方は上手くいっていますか?

=Kekkon seikatsu no hou wa umaku itte imasuka?

How is your married life?

的には ( = tekiniwa) very colloquial

•私はそう思います。

=Watashi wa sou omoimasu.

That’s what I think.

:rrrr: 私的にはそう思います。

=Watashi teki niwa sou omoimasu.

That’s just what I think.

*マギーはどう思うの? 

= Maggie wa dou omou no?

What do you think, Maggie?

:rrrr: マギー的にはどう思うの?

= Maggie teki niwa dou omou no?

What about you, what do you think, Maggie?

You add 的には ( = tekiniwa) to the subject to make it sound softer.

Note: For more details, check ( = teki) lesson.

*っていうか ( = tte iuka) / つーか ( = tsuuka) / てか ( = teka) actually very colloquial

•実際のところマギー先生はいい先生なの?

= Jissai no tokoro maggie sensei wa ii sensei nano?

Is Ms. Maggie actually a good teacher?

:rrrr: 「っていうかさあ、マギー先生はいい先生なの?」

= Tteiuka saaMaggie sensei wa ii sensei nano?)

 = Is Ms.Maggie actually a good teacher? 

(っ)ていうか ( = (t)tteiuka) /つーか  ( = tsuuka) てか ( = teka) are originally from というか ( = toiuka) or rather / rather to say. We use this when we want to take back our words and rephrase them, add something, or deny what someone has just said.

Also we start a sentence with this when we want to explain something,

“What I mean is..”/ ”I mean..”/ “I know what you mean but..”/ “You know..”

or simply when you change the subject like

それはいいけど ( = Sore wa iikedo) / それはおいといて.. ( =  Sore wa oitoite)

I know what you mean but/be that as it may

Exっていうか明日どうすんの?

 = Teiuka ashita dousunno?

That’s fine, but what are you going to do tomorrow?

Ex. 明日、っていうかこれからどうするの?

= Ashita, tte iuka korekara dousuru no?

What are you going to do tomorrow, I mean now (that we’ve just talked, etc.)?

*〜みたいな….。( = ~mitaina…) like, I think… very colloquial

 •彼ももうちょっとがんばればよかったのに..、みたいな…。

= Kare mo mouchotto ganbareba yokatta noni..mitaina…?

I mean like..he should have tried a little harder or something…..

(You say this after you express your opinion or feeling and add 〜みたいな….。( = ~mitaina…)and finish the sentence.)

frenchbulldogマギー先生より = Maggie sensei yori = From Maggie-sensei

このレッスンの方、どうでしたか?

= Kono ressun no hou doudeshitaka? 

= How did you like this lesson?

「ちょっとというテーマでしたが、ちっとも「ちょっとではなかったですね。

=”Chotto” toiu teema deshitaga chittomo “chotto” dewa nakatta desune.

The theme was “Chotto” but it was not “chotto” at all , huh?

私的にはとっても役に立つと思うんだけど…

= Watashi teki niwa tottemo yaku ni tatsu to omoundakedo…

I personally think it is very useful but…

日本人の話し方の奥深さがわかるみたいな..

= Nihonjin no hanashikata no okufukasa ga wakaru mitainana..

Like you know..it could help you to understand the depth of the way Japanese people speak..

→自分でも書いていたらちょっとイラっとしてきちゃった...

=Jibun demo kaite itara chotto iratto sihte kichatta..

Umm…somehow I’m getting annoyed by writing this…

***

Will you be my Patron? 

I appreciate your support!  サポートありがとう!

Become a Patron!

 




You may also like

44 Comments

  1. Hello Maggie Sensei,
    I have a question regarding表現.
    What does 表現 mean in the following phrase?

    私は「寒椿」というお菓子を選んだ。いつも公園で見る赤い椿の花を表現したお菓子だ。

    My guess:
    I picked up this candy. This candy is like the flowers in the park?

    1. Hi Mark,
      表現 in that sentence means “depict” (The sweets that depict the red camellia flowers that I always see in the park)

  2. Hello Maggie sensei,

    I have a slightly stupid question. What is the meaning of の in this sentence:
    “いろいろ検討したのですが、…”?

    Is it supposed to be a nominalizer? I can’t quite tell. Thank you for the lesson!

    1. Hello Vit,
      If you just tell the fact, you say 検討しました
      When you explain the reason or stress the meaning, you use の.
      I have a lesson on の・ん usage. Click this link.

  3. “勘弁して”

    In one of my favorite Japanese dramas, long vacation, sena-kun says to minami when she asks him to marry her (they have just met): “kanbenshite kudasai!” 😊

    1. @Joanne

      勘弁して has a couple of meanings
      “I am sorry / Please forgive me” or “Give a break / Spare me / Are you kidding me?”
      In that case, she meant the later. “Oh please, give me a break..”

  4. Thanks for this wonderful explanation, Maggie-sensei. Though I still feel like I have to re-read it a couple of times before really grasping it :cryingboy:

    Anyways, if it’s not too much to ask, I was wondering what it does mean in this case? “(あ、いや…帰るんじゃなくて…)今からちょっとな!” the context is just someone else asking him 家帰るのか?

    1. @Kano

      Hi, Kano!
      So someone asking that person if he is going back home now.
      The speaker doesn’t want to tell that person what he is going to do/where he is going,
      (Ah, no I am not going home) I have something to do.
      So in this case, ちょっとな(male speech)

  5. Hello, maggie sensei! This is my first time replying to one of your lessons !niconico!  !niconico!  I had watched this drama called 明日、ママがいない and heard this phrase ちょっと離してよ! have you ever done a lesson on 離す? I don’t understand it really. :cryingboy:

    1. @ラミイシャ

      Hello!

      I have to see the scene but I assume someone is hold on to a speaker or something and the speaker tells that person
      “Let me go! / Let it go!”

  6. マギー先生
    役に立つレッスンありがとうございます ^^
    日本語であいまい表現は本当に多くてよく使われていますね。
    ちょっと質問があるんです。「そのうち」はどういう意味で使われますか?「そのうち」を言うときは、永遠にこないという意味ですか?例えば、「そのうち行きたくなるかもしれない」を言う人は、ぜんぜん行きたくないでしょうか?

    1. @jolie

      「そのうち」ですね。
      もしその人が「そのうち、行きます。」と言ったら、かなり可能性があります。
      「そのうち行きたくなるかもしれない」この文章の問題は「そのうち」よりも ”行きたくなるかもしれない”の部分です。
      下の文章で比べてみると

      A) そのうち行きます。= I will go there sometime (soon).
      B ) そのうち行くかもしれません。= I might go there sometime (soon).
      C) そのうち行きたくなるかもしれません。= I might want to go there sometime (soon).
      D)行きたくない。

      A>B>C>D の順で話し手の気持ちが読み取ることができます。
      つまりC)の文章は「今は行きたくないけれど」という気持ちを相手の気持ちを考えて、少しでもpositiveに聞こえるように言っています。

  7. wow, tottemo helpful Maggie sensei AS ALWAYS
    ^ o ^ and this is SO important cause the last thing you want is to go to another country, unintentionally offend people, and not even know it (cause knowing japanese, they probably won’t even react to it they’ll just get offended and be quiet about it…)
    and such a loooong lesson… otsukaresama!!
    so またの機会に!can that be used for any kind of invitation (like goukon etc) or only for nomikai?
    and ごたごた is busy?
    and this form of the verb with -reba, like がんばれば nanka “I wish…” ne? I’ve seen it a few times and it seems like it always gives out that kind of feeling ne…

    1. @Aki

      Hi Aki! Yes, you can use またの機会に for any invitations.
      ごたごたしていて…: Yes it means you are busy taking care of some problems or troubles. When you have some troubles but you don’t to give others any details, you say ごたごたしていて…
      The last question : ?? -reba? I wish? Which verb are you talking about?

      1. thank you~!
        ah I was just wondering about that reba ending (it’s called conditional form of the verb ne?) and it’s sometimes used as “If… then…” right?
        so I was wondering if you had a lesson on that conditional verb or if you could explain it to me really quick? :) conditional form ga wakaranaiyo ~_~

        1. @Aki

          Oh I see. れば!! It can be used for conditional sentence and also suggestions,etc.
          Conditional forms is complicated. But I am working on たら(Remember you asked me before?) right now so will include some more information in that lesson.
          待っててね!

  8. Hi Maggie先生

    先生はこのレッスンを詳しく作られて本当に素晴らしいでした。
    又たくさん習いました。曖昧表現は全てまだそんなに把握できなかったが、もう一度読んで見るとさらに分かれます。
    このようなレッスンは教室に詳しく説明しないと思います、だからこれはすごくいいレッスンです。
    有り難うございました。 ^_^

    1. LadySapphireさん

      こちらこそいつもコメントありがとう!!LadySapphireさんは、”把握”とか難しい単語をよく知っていますね!
      (Note : 先生はこのレッスンを詳しく作られて本当に素晴らしいでした。→先生は、こんな詳しいレッスンを作られて本当に素晴らしいです。(→ホント?”ちょっと”うれしいかも…!!)
      できなかったが→できなかったけれど(or できませんでしたが) *”できなかったが”はちょっと堅いです。written formなら大丈夫!)
      さらに分かれます。→わかりました。
      教室に→教室では)

  9. Ah! ありがとうございます!

    I’m so sorry for not replying back sooner ^_^; I just realized that I spelt the name of the game wrong, so that might be why you aren’t able to find information on it (すみません). It’s お姫さまデビュー (Princess Debut).

    To sum it up, it’s about a girl who switches places with a princess who looks exactly like her. The girl then has to dance with all these other princes and socialize with them…so it’s partially a dating sim for girls, too.

    I’ve come across a lot of the vocabulary you’ve mentioned already, and that is quite awesome! The only thing I keep tripping on is place names. I know for things such as lake 「湖」 that there’s two ways to pronounce the kanji. When it’s by itself, and when it follows the name of the place. It’s hard, but I think I’ll eventually get the hang of it.

    Thank you so much for your help! ^__^

    1. Jackiさん
      どういたしまして!The name of the places are sometimes confusing. I checked the game. Looks very cute. I added two more words on the previous vocabulary. If you don’t understand the certain word, please let me know.
      Good luck on the games!

  10. こんにちはマギー先生!

    Just wanted to say ありがとう for this post. I’ve been looking over it a few times the past few days, and it’s been very useful for learning new 漢字。I don’t know how you manage to post so many chokfull lesson each day!

    If it’s alright, I have a request. I recently imported a game called お姫さまデーブ, and although it’s for children (specifically girls), there’s a good amount of royalty vocabulary that I’m not familiar with. Could you make a lesson that involves something with お姫や王子や王女? If not, I understand, but I figured it wouldn’t hurt (much) to ask ^^;

    1. こんにちは!Jacki!! Thank you for visiting my site!
      Yes, I don’t know how I manage to make these lessons, either! ;-) I mean I am a busy dog. I have to play, hide a bone, eat…etc.
      I am not familiar with the game and I couldn’t find any information on the web but I can give you some of the basic vocabulary for today, OK?

      お姫様(=ohimesama) /姫(=hime)princess
      王子様(=oujisama) / 王子(=ouji)prince
      王女様(=oujo sama)/ 王女(=oujo) princess
      王様(=ousama )/王(=ou) king
      女王様(=jouou sama) /女王(=jouou) queen
      お城(=oshiro) a castle/ 城(=shiro)
      家来(=kerai)a retainer, servant
      騎士(=kishi)a knight
      王国(=oukoku) kingdom
      舞踏会(=butoukai) dance party, ball
      If you have a specific question about certain vocabulary, please do not hesitate to leave a comment and ask me a question.

  11. マギー先生、
    また大変役に立つレッスンを、ありがとうございました。
    いつものように日本の文化の洞察を見せていただき、楽しい学習方法ですね。
    マギー先生のレッスンといえば、全く初心者でも上級でも、だれでも勉強になるものですね。
    私的には特に、断り方の部分から新しい表現をたくさん習得できました。
    話題が変わりますが、日本語が言語としては曖昧というよりも、多くの日本人が状況をうまく読んで、相手のことを考えながらどんな行為や言葉などがいいかってよく考えるようだと私は個人的に思います。
    まあ、英語でも似ている曖昧な表現といったのがもちろんあるのですが、以前よりも次第に使われなくなってきたみたいですね。というか、友達と英語を喋ることは日本語の会話と比べると、ちょっと違う空気ですかね。
    だから古い映画などで聞こえる昔に使われた英語のように、私は日本語を勉強すると、とても清涼な気持ちですね。楽しんで勉強しています!
    では、次のレッスンを大変楽しみにしております。
    RW

    1. roosterswildさん
      いつも来てくれて有り難うございます!!その通りです!他の方のコメントのお返事にも書いた通り日本語が曖昧というよりも相手とのコミュニケーションを円滑にする為に曖昧な言葉が使われていると私も思います。言葉はその背景の文化も映し出すので私も話す言葉によって性格が変わる様な気がします。
      私のレッスンが初級者の方から上級の方まで勉強になると聞いてとっても嬉しいです。いつもレッスンを作る時にどのレベルの人が読んでくれるかわからないのでいろいろな情報を詰め込み過ぎてついつい長くなってしまいます。
      それにしてもroosterswildさんの日本語はとっても綺麗な日本語ですね。また来て下さいね!!

  12. キューケンホフに花いっぱいあったね。そうだね、自分の間違いからいっぱい習えるということですね。
    上級って、僕はまだまだです。ハハハ
    ところで、今年は日本語能力試験を受けるつもりです。2級だけど。大丈夫かな〜

    1. chokochoko-san

      2級受けるのね。合格する様に祈っていますね。がんばれ〜!チョコチョコ〜!!!p(*^-^*)q

  13. オランダへ行ったことありますか。へぇ〜、オランダのどこ?

    うん、そうだね、日本人はみんないつも優しくて、ときどき優しすぎると感じます。特に知らない人と会うとき、日本人の方がすごく丁寧と思います。やっぱり日本人はみんな子供の頃からいい育ちを受けましたね。すごい!

    添削してもらってありがとう!僕がそんなに多い間違いをしたのはハ ズ カ シ イ〜。ごめんね。

    1. chokochoko-san
      オランダは、アムステルダムに行ったよ。もちろん、世界で最も美しいと言われるキューケンホフも!
      添削は、このブログに日本語でコメントしてくれた人には時間がある限りサービスでします。周りに日本人がいてもなかなか直さないでしょ。一杯間違いをした方が覚えるよ。だから直しても恥ずかしいって思わないでね。特に、chokochokoはもう上級だからね。そう、日本人はそんなに優しい?例外も一杯いるけど、私ももっと優しくなろっと!
      (Note : いい育ちを受けましたね。->「育ちを受ける」とは言いません。教育は「受ける」っていいます。「育つ」を使うなら「いい育ち方をしましたね。」でもOK!  添削してもらって->くれて)

  14. 前向きに is extremely helpful. I didn’t know there was a positive form. I always thought it was more 微妙 (negative).

    ありがとうね!

    1. Yammy-san

      前向き is usually positive. Ex.彼女はとても前向きな人だ。(=Kanojo wa tototemo maemuki na hito da.) She is very positive person.
      So just saying 考えておきます。or ちょっと考えておきます。may not to have much chance but if someone tells you 前向きに考えておきます。, you can expect more chance.
      If someone says「それでは考えておきます。」, we sometimes add「是非、前向きに御検討下さい。」(=zehi maemuki ni gokentou kudasai.) to encourage them to think more seriously to give us more chance.
      Comment 有り難う!

  15. また素敵なレッスン!!!マッギー先生は外国人が何分からないとか、常にどんなようなことに迷っているとか、よく知っていると思います!前の日本語の先生は日本語はすごく曖昧の言語と言われていた。確かにね。オランダ人としての僕は、オランダの習慣のように何か言いたら、はっきりで直接の方がいいです。でも、日本語は逆に曖昧だと思います。それは可笑しいだね。

    1. chokochoko-san

      オランダの人だったのですね。(TheDutch Gaijinさんも)一度行ったことありますが、オランダの人は英語もぺらぺらだしいろいろな言葉ができる人が多いですよね。羨ましい…
      日本語が曖昧というよりも日本人が円滑な人間関係を保つために曖昧な言葉を使ってきているのだと思います。でも日本人でも話していて「どっちやねん!!」とイラっとすることあります。
      だから国際社会ではよけいに誤解されるよね。
      (Note : 何分からないとか->何が /どんなようなことに->どんなことに (or どのようなことに)/何か言いたら->何かを言いたかったら /はっきりで->はっきりと /可笑しいだね。->可笑しいね。or 可笑しいですね。可笑しい=funny. もしinterestingと言いたかったら<面白い>を使ってね。)

    1. jeremy-san

      早っ!!さっそくチェックしてくれてありがとう!
      「ちょっと」大変でしたが、来てくれて嬉しいです。

Leave a Reply to Maggie Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *