邪魔 ( じゃま = jama )   (Mini Lesson)

jama1

そおお…

=Sooo… 

(the sound to describe someone coming in or peeking quietly or in secret.)

「お邪魔してもいいですか?」

= Ojama shite mo ii desuka?

May I come in?


Today’s key word is 邪魔  ( =  jama) 

It means obstacle, imposition, hindrance, interruption, disturbance, interference,etc

For example, if you see someone in your way, you say,

「邪魔だからどいて!」

= Jama dakara doite!

Get out of my way.

If you see something in your way, you say

「これ邪魔だからどけて!」

= Kore jama dakara dokete!

This is in my way. Move this!

「そこの自転車、駐車するのに邪魔だからどけてくれる?」

Sokono jitensha chuusha surunoni jama dakara dokete!

Can you move that bike because it’s in the way and I can’t park.

The verb form is 邪魔する ( = jama suru) to bother someone, to bug someone, to be in one’ s way

If someone is bothering you or in your way, you say

「邪魔しないで!」

= Jama shinaide!

Don’t bother me. /Don’t get in my way!

So 邪魔  ( = jama) is negative and kind of strong to use towards other people but if it is referring to yourself, it sounds very humble.

For example like in the picture above, when we visit someone’s house, we say,

「お邪魔します。」

= Ojama shimasu.

(The literal meaning is “I will come in although it is bothering you.” Saying this is just a formality.)

If someone invites you to their house and you accept the invitation, you can also say

「じゃあお邪魔します。」

= Jaa ojama shimasu.

Well then I will visit you.(to bother you)

If you are already in someone’s house and see their family member, it is polite to say,

「お邪魔しています。」

= Ojama shiteimasu.

= (The literal meaning is “Sorry that I am at your house to bother you.” “Sorry I am in your house” But it just means “Hello” in a polite and humble way.)

:u: Guest teacher Sano-Sensei”

sano

「あっ!マギー先生、お邪魔しています。」

= Ah! Maggie-Sensei, Ojama shiteimasu.

Oh, Maggie Sensei. I am sorry to impose.

And when you leave the house, you should say

「お邪魔しました。」

= Ojama shimashita.

The literal meaning is “(Sorry that )I bothered you!” Again it is considered to be polite to say this to the family who has all the troubles to have you. Also  don’t forget to say

「御馳走様でした。」

= Gochisou sama deshita.

if they served you a cup of tea, sweets or food.

Someone has a date and they invite you to go somewhere with them.

「お邪魔じゃない?」

= Ojama ja nai?

(Women will often add this with お ( = 0)  to the front 邪魔  ( =jama)

or「 邪魔したくないからやめとく」

= Jama shitaku nai kara yametoku」

I don’t want to be the third wheel so I won’t go./Three is a crowd.

It is a bit old fashioned slang but we call ourselves or others who are the third wheel as

 

:rrrr: お邪魔虫 ( = or ムシ= ojama mushi

:rrrr: ( = mushi )  means a bug


maggie-senseiFrom Maggie Sensei

今、ご飯食べてるから邪魔しないでね!

=Ima gohan tabeteru kara jama shinai dene.

=I am eating now so don’t bother me!

***

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53 Comments

  1. Hi maggie sensei, may I ask,, a Japanese called me ojama mushi .. I’m living in his house though..
    is that rude or something? though he treats me well in the house…

    1. As I mentioned in the lesson, it usually use it as a third wheel. Two people go out on a date and if someone else joins them, then that person is お邪魔虫. ,
      It is a kind of cute word. I bet he uses it as a joke.

    2. Hey Maggie Sensei, I was just at my friends house and they were telling their daughter to go to bed and she keep saying 邪魔邪魔!
      Does that mean like “you guys are ruining my fun!”?

          1. Oops sorry. I missed that part.
            But the meaning is the same or “You are in my way.”/”Stay away. I am in the middle of doing something.”
            I don’t know how old the daughter is but she could be just mimicking her mom (I assume her mom tells her many times.)

  2. こんにちは🤗マギー先生👩‍🏫!

    I have some trouble understanding this sentence 😓 I would really appreciate your help 😉😊

    ちょ肉球がじゃまで押しにく …

    First I don’t really understand the ちょ at the beginning I thought it could be a other writing style of the ちょう which stand for ちょっとin kansai Ben and also i don’t really understand the じゃま or 邪魔 in this case and also the ending is totally confusing for me 😓😅

    よろしくお願いしますマギー先生👩‍🏫!

    I really hope you can help me 😊😉

    Love Chii 🤗

    1. @Chii

      Hello Chii!!
      ちょ is a slang expression of ちょっと which means “kind of/ a little” You see that a lot on the comment section of Niconico douga. チョ!, ちょ etc.
      Did you find the sentence with a cat or dog picture?
      ~がじゃま in that sentence means “to make it hard to do something with ~”
      So it means
      It is kinda hard to type with my paws.

      1. @maggie

        Yes I found this sentence with a cat picture 😊😉 thank you so much 😊 👍😊😉 put can you please explain me the 押しにく at the end is it kind of an adverb or is it a negative form 😅 That’s what’s bothering me 😓 But thank you so much for the explanation of ちょ and じゃま 🤗👍😊😉

        1. @Chii

          Ah, sorry. I forgot to explain that part.
          It is an unfinished sentence. (Some people drop い in colloquial Japanese
          Ex. 寒い→さむ!)

          押しにくい = hard to push (If the cat is in front of a computer, It is hard to type)

          ~にくい to be hard to do something
          Ex. 食べにくい = hard to eat
          opposite:
          〜やすい = easy to do something
          Ex. 飲みやすい= easy to drink

          Hope this helps your question. ☺️

          1. @maggie

            Yes now I understand it thank you for the great explanation 😊🤗👍😉 sorry for bothering you 😓

            ありがとうございます先生👩‍🏫😊

  3. My question is what is customarily said in reply to someone who says お邪魔しました as they leave your home?

    1. @SRinJapan

      You don’t usually say anything to that phrase.
      If someone is visiting your house and says “お邪魔しました” when they leave, you say “お気をつけて。Take care (casual 気をつけて)/ またどうぞいらしてください。Please come again. (more casual またいつでも来て=You can come anytime.,etc.)
      If it is an office, you can say “お疲れ様でした。(Otsukare sama deshita )”, “お気をつけて (= Oki wo tsukete)”,etc.

  4. Good day dear Maggie sensei.

    Thank you so much for explaining them to me, haha, my interpretations were totally wrong in the first place. Oh, sorry for the typo for だという.

    My questions for today are:

    1.

    便利なはずのスマホが時々すごく不便に感じる

    Smartphone is supposed to be convenient, but I sometime feel it is very inconvenient to use.

    (from hazu lesson)

    If I understand this correctly:

    “1. No it won’t be the same. If you say プロジェクトの新メンバー紹介が、”プロジェクトの新メンバー紹介” will be a subject.”

    Then

    便利なはずのスマホが時々すごく不便に感じる would give a thought:

    “sometimes I feel that the smart phone which is supposed to be convenient, is very inconvenient”

    Though,

    Smartphone is supposed to be convenient, but I sometime feel it is very inconvenient to use. – Would be natural in English. Did I get it right?
    ——-
    2.
    事になった – it has been decided that.

    How about

    事に決まった and事に決めた?

    決まる – instransitive
    決める – transitive

    But when they are used with 事に, i don’t know when
    事に決まった or 事に決めた is preferred over 事になった.
    ——–
    thank you so much in advance dear Maggie sensei.

    1. @obakasan000

      Hello “orikousan”000

      1. Yes, you got it right.
      2. OK the translation of 〜ことにきまった / 〜ことになった could be both “has been decided” but the difference is
      You use ことになった when you describe some situation/state has turned out to be ~

      Ex. 大変なことになった。= It turned out to be a big trouble.

      You use 決まった when there are people behind and they decide something.
      And as you said 決める intransitive and 決まる transitive so
      Personが〜を決める ( Person decides ~ )
      ~が決まる (~ is decided)

      1. Good day dear Maggie sensei.
        Thank you so much for clarifying them to me.
        My questions for today are:

        1.
        こんなにも喜んでくれる方がいる
        i am not really sure where こんなにも applies to:

        does こんなにも apply to 喜んでくれる方 =
        a. there are people this much delighted.

        Or こんなにも to いる:

        b. there are many (this many) delighted people
        ——–
        2.

        [I don’t know if he will “still” go.]
        I would like to translate this sentence in Japanese but I think if I will use:

        まだ彼が行くか分からない – this would mean
        [I “still” don’t know if he will go]

        So I would like to ask for dear Maggie sensei’s version.
        ——–
        3.
        What would be the difference between 時 and たら if they are both translated as “when”. I just made these sentences:

        頼む時, 丁寧な言葉を使って下さい
        頼んだら, 丁寧な言葉を使って下さい
        ——–

        Thank you so much in advance dear Maggie sensei.

        1. @obakasan000

          Hello,

          1. こんなにも modifies 喜んでくれる
          There are people who are happy for me (us) this much.

          2. [I don’t know if he will “still” go.] Right. It is a confusing sentence.
          How about
          私は彼がまだ行くかどうかわからない。

          3. I would say 頼む時は、丁寧な言葉を使ってください。

          たら is more hypothetical situation.

          Ex. If you ask him, he might do it.
          彼に頼んだらやってくれるかもしれない。

          1. Good morning dear Maggie sensei.
            Thank you so much clarifying it to me. .n_n.
            My questions for today are:

            1. Are 久し振り and 久々 interchangeable when they become adverb or modifier?
            ——-

            2.

            後輩たちがドッと増えて、
            『先輩として、恥ずかしくないように!』って、気が引き締まる年でもありました

            I think the missing verb for 『先輩として、恥ずかしくないように!』is 頑張る but I would like to ask what could be the other verbs that could fit in this sentence.

            ———-
            3. でもありました = this is derived from である which is the ancient from of です and not from で+(も)+ ある. Is my observation ok?

            —-
            Thank you so much in advance dear Maggie sensei.

          2. @obakasan000

            Hello, おはよう!!
            1. Yes. 久々に東京に行った。 = 久しぶりに東京に行った。
            To be precise, 久々 is slightly stronger. While you use 久しぶり even if it is not actually a long time ago, you use 久々 when you did/do something for the first time in a really long time.

            2. OK, for example, 先輩として、恥ずかしくないようにする。or ふるまう

            3. Yes. But である is not “ancient form”. It is just a literal form and we do use it when we write.

            obakasan000
            One suggestion. Why don’t you use Maggie’s room when you have a question? All your questions are really good so that other people can learn from your questions. (If it is related to the lesson, you can keep using the comment section of each lesson.) :D

  5. Hello, Maggie-sensei!

    I have a question regarding 邪魔する.

    I came across it being used like this:

    邪魔するぞ、お前たち。

    It’s being translated as “Pardon for the interruption, you guys,” or something like that. And I’m just wondering if that is correct.

    Doesn’t it have to be お邪魔します、お前たち for it to be translated like that? Because, if it’s 邪魔するぞ、then it’s somehow a reproach rather than a polite “excuse me,” is it?

    Sorry for bothering, and I await your reply~

    P.S. Your lessons are great! Thank you so much!

    1. @tweeny

      Hi tweeny

      The speech 邪魔するぞ、お前たち is very rough. I think you probably saw it in animation or something.
      ~ぞ suffix and お前(達)are considered to be very strong/rude expression.

      So you don’t use お邪魔します+お前たち together because お邪魔します is a polite expression.

  6. Good day dear Maggie sensei. Thank you so much for answering my question and for sharing a trivia about the blog. I hope that your site will last for many many many more years and that your future puppies will continue your legacy..

    My question for today is:

    勉強してきた– have/has/had been studying.
    (focusing on the length of the action) according to dear maggie sensei.

    And if I will try to convert this verb into its potential form, it would be something like:

    勉強してこれらた=

    And the thought would be something like:

    have/has/had been (staying in the state of [being able to study])

    is my observation somewhat ok?

    recently, I have been seeing てこれらた often, so I thought i need to clarify if my understanding is correct.
    ———–
    Thank you so much dear Maggie sensei in advance. .n_n.

    1. @obakasan000

      こんにちは!
      Thank YOU again for remembering our important day.

      Yes, you are right. 勉強してこられた means “have/has/had been (staying in the state of [being able to study])”
      (Also してこられた is used as a polite form.)

      6年間、このブログをやってこられたのは皆さんのおかげです。
      =Thanks to everyone I have been able to continue this blog for six years.

      1. Good day dear Maggie sensei.
        Thank you so much for answering my question. .n_n.
        My question for today is based on a blog..

        Blog: http://gree.jp/c_ute/blog/entry/691784636

        話は変わって、ハロー!プロジェクトのコンサートのスタートと同時に、ブログで始めたハロー!プロジェクトの新メンバー紹介ですが、
        ついに今日で最後です

        Translation given: http://maimilog.com/2015/01/22/blog-update-spring-touro/

        Changing the subject, coinciding with the start of the Hello! Project concerts, I’ve introduced the new members of Hello! Project in this blog,
        and today is finally the last

        I would like to ask if is there by any chance that

        ブログで始めたハロー!プロジェクトの新メンバー紹介ですが…

        is a variation of:

        ハロー!プロジェクトの新メンバー紹介[を]ブログで始めた[ん]ですが… ?

        I often see this structure where in the [verb] comes first, then [noun+ですが] followed by the rest of the sentence but, the English translation looks like as if it is based on the [noun+を+verb+んですが]…

        Though sometimes I think maybe the meaning of

        ブログで始めたハロー!プロジェクトの新メンバー紹介ですが is somewhat like:

        [Regarding about the new members’introduction that I have started in this blog] – where in the role of ですがis to give an [introducing-nuance] by placing the [noun] before ですが, but i am not really sure..

        But if dear maggie sensei thinks that the english translation is quite incorrect in the first place..i would like to ask for dear Maggie sensei’s English version..
        ——-
        Thank you so much in advance dear Maggie sensei.

        1. @obakasan000

          ブログで始めたハロー!プロジェクトの新メンバー紹介ですが is somewhat like:

          [Regarding about the new members’introduction that I have started in this blog] – where in the role of ですがis to give an [introducing-nuance] by placing the [noun] before ですが, but i am not really sure..

          Your translation is right.
          The direct translation is something like “(as for) the introduction of new members for Hello! Project which I started on my blog…”

          So ((Subjet)+ verb (私がブログで始めた))modifies the following noun, “新メンバーの紹介”.

          But I guess they choose the most natural translation, I’ve introduced the new members of Hello! Project in this blog,and…

          1. Good evening dear Maggie sensei.
            Thank you so much for clarifying it to me .n_n.

            My question today are:
            1.

            Regarding again about:

            ブログで始めたハロー!プロジェクトの新メンバー紹介ですが

            If I will remove です, and leave only が, would the sentence still retain it’s meaning of:

            “(as for) the introduction of new members for Hello! Project which I started on my blog…” ?

            —–
            2
            Blog:

            たくさんの方たちの支えが導いて下さった横浜アリーナ公演で、感動や喜びを皆さんと分かち合いたいと思います

            English translation:

            the support of many people led us here, so I want to share my gratitude
            and joy with everyone.

            The pattern with [ですが] is the same where in [noun] was put at the end before [で]

            But the translation looked like as if it was based on:

            横浜アリーナ公演[に]たくさんの方たちの支えが導いて下さった[ので]
            (I am not sure if に is the right one to use)..

            So that this pattern has also the [introducing nuance]?

            Or 矢島様 just imply jumbled the position of words because たくさんの方たちの支えが導いて下さった first came in her mind before 横浜アリーナ公演 and ので
            ——-

            3.

            Blog:

            そんなメンバーたち含め、
            大好きなteam℃-uteの皆さんに祝福されながら迎えた10周年!

            私はステージに立ちながら、
            まだまだ皆さんと一緒に走り続けていたい!っていう想いを噛み締めていました。

            English translation:

            With those members and everyone in team ℃-ute we love celebrating,
            we reached our 10th anniversary!

            While standing on stage,
            I reflected on the feeling that I still want to keep moving forward with everyone.

            My understanding is somewhat like:

            We celebrated our [anniversary # 10 / 10th anniversary] including those members, while having the blessing of everyone in team ℃-ute.

            But the [We celebrated our [anniversary # 10 / 10th anniversary]] part
            Would be only possible if the sentence was like : 10周年を迎えた

            (I assumed that the next 私はステージに立ちながら is another sentence after 10周年 and it has nothing to do about 10周年) do you think, it has been jumbled?
            —–

            4.

            日本人だとういのは,本当ですか?
            if I will try to shortcut this sentence, would this form be acceptable?

            日本人ってういのは, 本当?

            だとういのは became ってういのは
            —–

            Thank you so much in advance dear Maggie sensei.. I really don’t know what to do without you..

          2. @obakasan0000

            Hello!

            1. No it won’t be the same. If you say プロジェクトの新メンバー紹介が、”プロジェクトの新メンバー紹介” will be a subject.

            2. I am not sure if I understand your question here but if you are talking about で at the end

            たくさんの方たちの支えが導いて下さった横浜アリーナ公演”で”

            It is a location marker, “in/ at/ where…”

            →I would like to share my gratitude and joy with everyone in the 横浜アリーナ公演 where the support of many people led us

            3. 大好きなteam℃-uteの皆さんに祝福されながら迎えた10周年!

            The translation is very natural.
            If you translate this directly it sounds strange

            大好きなteam℃-uteの皆さんに祝福されながら迎えた modifies 10周年
            We have commemorated the 10th anniversary being blessed by dear team℃-ute members.

            4. I think it’s typo but it should be

            だというのは
            っていうのは

            Anyway っていうのは is a casual way to say だというのは

  7. good morning sir 天人 . Thank you so much for answering them for me and telling me bonus infos..
    .n_n. you are really smart as always.

    my question for today are:

    Q1

    さて、今日は何をして遊ぼうかな… (from かな lesson)
    Hmm…what should I play with today.

    I would like to ask, what is the difference between して遊ぶ and the plain 遊ぶ?

    ——–
    Q2

    サグラダファミリアは建築家ガウディーによって設計されました。
    SagradaFamilia was designed by an architect, Gaudi.

    (from受身 lesson)

    によって= depeding

    Would there be a big difference if によって is removed?
    Or is it customary to add よって to に in passive type sentences and I don’t have to translate it to (depending to/in etc.)?
    ————-

    Q3

    お宅(様)に比べたらもう全然..
    もう本当に手がかかって、目が離せませんよ。
    いやあ〜、乗りもしないのに、もう何を考えてるんだか
    (from 謙遜 lesson)

    もう-1) already, anymore 2) soon, shortly 3) more, further, other, again 4) interjection used to strengthen expression of an emotion (often exasperation)

    I would like to confirm if the もう that is included in these sentences are the もう that = interjection used to strengthen expression of an emotion (often exasperation)…? looks like it is customary to add もう before you list bad things about you/your family when you/your family is being praised..

    ———-

    Q4
    [she wants him to go to japan]
    If I will try translate this using 欲しい, please help me fill in the blanks…
    彼女[?]彼[?]日本に行くって欲しい..

    if the format is wrong, I would like to ask for dear maggie’s version or sir 天人’s version using
    欲しい.

    —–

    Q6

    お茶も出さないで申し訳ございません。 (from 謙遜 lesson)
    “I am sorry that we didn’t even serve you a cup of tea.”

    i would like to ask, would there be a big difference [in nuance] if I will turn出さないで into出さなくて?
    お茶も出さなくて申し訳ございません。

    ———–

    Q7

    順位だけが全てではありませんが、
    努力してきたその過程も含め
    今回1位という結果が出たこと。

    Ranking isn’t everything、
    But including the course of our hard work
    It resulted in this 1st place。

    Source: http://ameblo.jp/juicejuice-official/entry-12014109359.html
    Source: http://blog-project.net/kanazawa-tomoko/229093

    my question is about
    “努力してきたその過程”

    努力してきた = has been working
    過程 = process, course…

    i would like to ask if the interpretation of the translator is right?

    my interpretation, though, it is kinda vague is:

    including the course where we have been working so hard at leads to..
    it brought our song into number 1 spot…

    my english is also not good so i am not really sure if i was able to present my interpretation exactly as i thought, but please bear with me if i got these all wrong sir 天人..
    ——-

    thank you much in advance dear maggie sensei and sir 天人..
    hope you are having a great time dear maggie sensei..

    oh speaking of which, the anniversary is drawing near. .n_n.

    1. Hello obakasan.
      お誉めにあずかり光栄です。

      Answer nr 1
      ~して遊ぼう。 is a fixed construction which implies “to do something for fun” / “to amuse oneself”, like in: 雨降りには何をして遊ぶか。
      何を遊ぶ means just: “what do (/ does someone) play”.

      Answer nr 2
      The fixed construction によって ~られた is used in sentences, where “designed by / created by / made by / discovered by” appears. It implies that someone important has done something important for the world.

      Answer nr 3
      Yes, this もう used here implies strong emotions.
      もう has 2 meanings in this case:
      1. ある感情や感動が高まったときに用いられる。
      2. やや非難・叱責の気持ちをこめていう。

      Answer nr 4.
      彼女が彼に日本に行って欲しい… or …行ってもらいたい。
      行くって欲しい sounds strange and it’s incorrect.
      Here って implies a quotation and 行く verb doesn’t imply volition.

      Answer nr 5.
      Well, there’s no question 5…

      Answer nr 6.
      ~くて申し訳ございません。
      ~で申し訳ございません。

      Both constructions are correct.
      However ~くて implies a reason and it’s more natural to use it with ごめんあさい、すみなせん、よかった etc.
      ~くて申し訳ございません。 I’m terribly sorry that…; I…. so / and I’m sorry (for that).
      ~で申し訳ございません。 I…. , I’m sorry.

      Answer nr 7.
      Both interpretations are correct.
      This してきた implies that this 努力 has taken a really long and hard time (=have been working on so hard).
      The first interpretation doesn’t show us this nuance.

      ご参考になれば。

      1. Good day sir 天人
        Thank you so much for answering..i really appreciate it
        haha, sorry for not having number 5.. .n_n.

        My questions for today are:
        ——
        Q1
        辛い時も優しい言葉をかけてくれる家族みんな
        (to my family who comforts me during tough times)

        (“thank you” is the last line of this paragraph)

        If I will assume that it is the [emphasizing も], is it interchangeable with に?

        辛い時に優しい言葉をかけてくれる家族みんな

        If so, what would be the basic difference?
        I have read before that 時に has emphasize more the time and if there is only 時, there is no emphasis. But how about the [emphasizing も]

        ——
        Q2
        1.[名詞]を[場所]に/で忘れた
        2.[名詞]を[場所]に/で忘れてきた
        I left [noun] at [somewhere]

        I would like to ask what rule for てきた should I apply for 忘れてきた?

        ———-
        Q3
        I would like to ask if I got these right.
        聞いてくる人 could mean:
        a. a person that comes to ask (a person that approaches someone to ask)
        b. a person that comes to listen (a person that approaches someone to listen)
        —–
        Thank you so much in advance dear Maggie sensei and sir 天人.

        1. Hello Obakasan,
          Here are the answers.

          Answer nr 1
          If you put に instead of も then the meaning will change a bit.
          に will imply that you are grateful only for that (= that all members of your familiy supported you in your hard times, and only in hard times).
          も will imply that you are grateful to your family for supporting you in good times as well as in bad / hard times. も implies therefore “even, also, …, too”. It sounds better because it puts more emphases.

          Answer nr 2
          We use …に何かを忘れる, not で.
          忘れた vs 忘れてきた
          Meaning is the same. 強いていえば、you can translate 「忘れてきた」 as: “left”
          私は鍵をどこに忘れてきたかな~。 = I wonder where I left my keys.
          鍵を忘れてきた。 = I left my keys.
          鍵を忘れた。 = I forgot my keys.
          すみません、宿題を忘れました。 = I’m sorry, I forgot to do my homework.
          すみません、宿題をどこかに忘れてきた。 = I’m sorry, I left my homework somewhere.

          Answer nr 3
          Both answers are correct. It depends on the context.
          Most natural, I’d say, is “to ask”, rather than “to listen”.

          ご参考になれば。

          1. Good day dear Maggie sensei and sir 天人
            Belated happy anniversary.. if my memory is right, august 5 is the date?
            Thank you so much for regularly answering my questions, I am really grateful to you and to sir 天人..

            My question for today is:
            I don’t know if this is the right question in order to understand this sentence but I will try my best.

            http://maimilog.com/2015/06/20/blog-update-the-place-we-dreamed-of/
            http://ameblo.jp/c-ute-official/entry-12038167633.html

            アリーナなんて言ってられないよな

            this was the first time I saw 言ってる becomes 言ってられる (I think that

            られる here is probably the passive form of 言ってる

            I would like to ask why 言われない has not been used?

            Is it because アリーナ has been previously mentioned in 『アリーナやドームでライブができるようになりたい!』と書いた後

            so 言ってられない is appropriate?
            ——-

            thank you so much in advance dear Maggie sensei and sir 天人.. .n_n.

          2. @obakasan000

            Awwwww how sweet of you to remember the anniversary. It is August 6th but it is Japan time so August 5th may work for some other country. Arigatou for all your support. I started this blog in 2009. That means it’s 6th year anniversary.

            OK, let me see your question.
            The English site translated her sentence pretty accurately.

            That られる is not a passive form. It is a potential form but depending on the sentence, you translate with “should”.

            言ってられない
            言っている = to be saying, have been saying
            言っていられない= can’t be saying, can’t say → shouldn’t say
            (casual contraction)
            →言ってられない

            Ex. 両親のおかげでこうやって生活していられる= Thanks to my parents, I can live like this.
            Ex. こんなことやっていられない →こんなことやってられない = It is not the time to do such a thing/ (I shouldn’t be doing this.)

  8. good day dear Maggie sensei.
    はい, 元気です. Thank you so much for always answering my questions .n_n.

    My questions for today are:

    Q1
    マギー先生の教え[?]分かる為に犬語の勉強をしなくてもいいというのは嬉しいです.
    I am happy that I don’t need to study dog language in order to understand maggiesensei’s teachings.
    I would like to ask what is applicable for phrases like:
    分かる為に
    分かるのに
    分かるように
    [を] or [が]

    —–

    Q2

    全曲フル尺での
    パフォーマンスっていうのも、
    なかなかレアだったなぁ…

    (my understanding is different from the given translation)

    My understanding is:

    [Performances where all [of our] songs are sung in full (full length) are pretty rare]

    My assumption is that this is really [というのは] but [というのも]has emphasis power, while having explanatory tone because of [というの] format..

    is my observation correct?

    ———-

    Q3

    フルで聴くのは久々な曲とかも
    あったでしょ?!

    The translation given is:

    I’m sure that there were songs
    That you haven’t heard fully for a while?!

    I would like to ask for とかも…

    isit [かもしれない] and the [と] before it, is the [と] that
    quotes?

    orとかも is really a separate word that does not included in the dictionary?

    ——-

    Q4
    たり + して
    「休日は、食べたり寝たりして過ごしています。」
    (got this from たり lesson)

    I spend my days off eating, sleeping and etc.

    疲れてるんだけど忙しい時、どーやって疲れを癒したりリフレッシュしてますか?

    If my understanding is correct, then i can translate this is as:

    When you are tired but busy, how do you do things like [relieving] stress and [refreshing] yourself?

    ——-
    Thank you so much in advance dear Maggie sensei .n_n.

      1. Thank you so much in advance dear Maggie sensei .n_n.

        good day dear maggie sensei. thank you so much for answering them..

        my questions for today are:
        ———-
        Q1

        when japanese people write their signatures, do they still follow the right stroke orders? or it is up to them to follow it or not?

        ————
        Q2

        what would be the closest english filler equivalent of:

        何だろうな..

        ex.

        a. 好きなアイドルは?

        b. 何だろうな..

        ——-

        Q3

        みんなで髪型をやり合いっこしたよー

        the [members] all did each others’ hairstyle

        I would like to ask what is the function on っこ? Is this a slang term?

        ——–
        Thank you so much in advance dear Maggie sensei. .n_n.

        1. @obakasan000

          Hello!

          Q1 I wouldn’t say all the Japanese people know the right stroke order of all the kanji but usually we follow the right stroke order when we write our names.

          Q2 I think it should be 誰だろうな・誰かな = Who could it be?

          Q3 っこ is a kind of cute (girly) way to say “to do something each other”

          1. good day dear Maggie sensei.
            thank you so much for answering .n_n.

            oh, sorry for my wrong example..

            my questions for today are:

            Q1

            i would like to ask what is the long version of
            やめんか, i think, the root verb is やめる (to stop)..

            例:

            男: かわいいな (teasing)
            女: やめんか..
            ———–

            Q2

            鳥取には、なかなかこれなかった分、
            初めましての方がたくさんいらっしゃいましたー

            Translation given:

            Since we haven’t been able to come to Tottori,
            there were a lot of people we met for the first time
            (many people came for the first time)

            I would like to ask for [なかなかこれなかった分]..

            なかなか-1) very, considerably,
            これなかった- was not able to come (my guess is that [ら] is omitted)
            分-part

            I would like to ask if the interpretation of the translator was correct?

            鳥取には、なかなかこれなかった分 = Since we haven’t been able to come to Tottori
            ——

            Q3

            Please correct me if I got this wrong..

            マギー先生のサイトはもうなくなるのかなと心配していました。

            I was afraid Maggie Sensei’s site would be gone.
            (got this from かな lesson)

            のかな – stresses the doubt / uncertainty..

            so if i will remove the のかな, would it show less emotion?

            (the speaker is more worried, in the のかな sentence..)

            マギー先生のサイトはもうなくなると心配していました。

            Did I get it right?

            Or, if the translation would be totally different, please let me know..
            —-
            Thank you so much in advance dear Maggie sensei… .n_n.

          2. Hello Obakasan,
            Maggie Sensei is on vacation, therefore I shall answer your questions.

            1.
            やめんか(い)=やめないか = Would you stop it?  やめんなや=やめるなよ! = Stop it now!!! It’s Kansai dialekt.

            2.
            This translation is correct. 「来れる」 = 「来られる」. It is calleg ら抜き言葉.
            食べられる=食べれる
            見られる=見れる
            It’s very important to know, that you can use ら抜き言葉 ONLY with the potencial (可能) meaning of (ら)れる. In 尊敬 and 受身 meaning of (ら)れる you cannot use ら抜き言葉.

            Also 分 implies 物事の状態/様子/程度 therefore we can translate it as: because, since, etc. It’s rarely used, often with この、その、あの; in this case it implies: as affairs / matters now stand; as the case /matter, situation now stands; as things are / go, stand now, etc.

            3.
            マギー先生のサイトはもうなくなると心配していました。 => Speaker is more or less (I’d say more) sure that Maggie Sensei’s site will disappear one day and he’s afraid of that.

            マギー先生のサイトはもうなくなるかなと心配していました。 => Speaker is less sure that Maggie Sensei’s site will disappear. He’s just wondering and at the same time he’s afraid of that.

            マギー先生のサイトはもうなくなるのではないかと心配していました。==> Speaker supposes that Maggie Sensei’s site might disappear one day and he’s afraid of that.

            ご参考になれば幸いです。

  9. good day dear maggie sensei.
    thank you so much for explaining them to me.

    ah, yes.. for me i believe, your guide is really based on practical usage so i am really grateful to be given a chance to study them.

    ———–

    for 諦めないで = I normally hear/see 諦めず in songs with no follow-up sentence and the translation is always [don’t give up] so I thought 諦めず + [に] (another variation of 諦めず) is applicable. But then thank you so much for telling me that 諦めず is not supposed to mean [don’t give up]

    ———-

    for んじゃない = i was just confused in this sentence I got from [私+自分] lesson

    そんなの自分(←あなた)が悪いんじゃない
    It’s your (own) fault!

    though there is んじゃない, there is no [?] question mark/かと思う/かな, in the end so i assumed the speaker is just making his point.

    Same with:

    愛ってそんな崇拝的じゃないんじゃない = Love isn’t something to worship that much

    http://projecthello.com/c-ute/aitte.html

    sorry for almost regularly asking for んじゃない.. even now, i am still confused when a complete sentence ends up with the plain [んじゃない] which is not accompanied with question mark [?] or かと思う or かな..

    but then, based on Japanese understanding what would be the possible meaning of

    その新曲は可愛いんじゃない。 (giving that is there no context).

    ———
    The questions for today are:

    Q1

    「実は今回集まってもらったのには別の理由があります」

    i just saw it when was watching hello station # 120, this was the first time i saw のには so i would like to ask if it is [のに+は]? i can’t find it in the dictionary..
    ———

    Q2
    i just noticed that Japanese people combine 漢字 with katakana / English words to produce compound words. But then, i do not know if I will stick to 音読み all the way.

    Please help me to fill the pronunciation of 漢字 for the compound words
    Ex:

    新メンバー = new member
    [新] + メンバー = しん

    Just incase, for some compound words, I will put the Japanese and English version of the sentence from which I got the compound word.

    1.
    受URL : application URL
    [受] + URL=???

    2.
    大ホール :
    [大] + ホール =???

    3.
    両A面:

    [両] + A + [面] =????

    両A面「Wonderful World/Ça va ? Ça va ?」
    double A side「Wonderful World/Ça va ? Ça va ?」

    4.
    フル尺 =
    フル + [尺] =????

    全曲フル尺での
    All the songs were sung in full so…

    5.
    CD付
    CD + [付] =????

    劇中歌が全て収録されたCD付だよ

    There’s an included CD that has recordings of all the songs we sang in the play!

    6.
    笑 = laughs / LOL (though it is not a compound, it seems pretty common)
    笑 =?????
    ——–

    thank you so much in advance dear maggie sensei. .n_n.
    i really owe you a lot….

    1. @obakasan000

      Hello!
      Let see what you have today….

      1) の+に+は

      The first の is for nominalization
      So it makes the verb 集まってもらった a noun.

      に shows a reason or a purpose (=in order to do something)

      And は shows the contrast.

      →There is a reason why I gathered everyone (←I have you gathered here)

      2) It is all depends on the compound words.

      受URL I have never seen it…. If it is 待受 then まちうけ
      大ホール  だいホール

      If the kanji itself can be read as kun reading, then I would stick to kun reading

      フル尺= We usually read 尺 with kun reading so フルしゃく
      CD付 = 付き= tsuki →CDつき
      両A面 = りょうAめん

      But to be honest some of the new coined words are just for visual. People can recognize kanji so they can figure out the meaning.
      笑 わらう or わら

      1. Good day dear Maggie sensei. Thank you so much for answering them for me.
        Belated happy father’s day to your Maggie sensei’s papa and mam yukari’s お父さん. Hope you all had a good time yesterday.

        My questions for today are:

        ——
        Q1
        てくる
        based on the [てくる and ていく] lesson, noun+を+してくる would be mean
        to do [something/noun] and come somewhere else
        ex.
        宿題をしてくる= to do homework and come somewhere else

        (come to school with their home homework done)

        but how about if the format is [noun+してくる] where in the noun is not an object but

        serves as a part of the verb.

        Ex. i could not find a simple example so I just type the main verb.

        活動してきた and 紹介してきた

        Does this format also give a meaning of:

        to do [something/noun] and come somewhere else

        or i should use the [time-related] meaning for [noun+してくる]?

        —————

        2Q

        I was able to read the lesson about 中 but i would like to ask for this specific

        format.

        plain verb + 中で

        [日本語の勉強をする中で] ?

        if the plain verb should be inている-form first before i can add中で, please

        disregard the first format..and:

        ている-form + 中で

        [日本語の勉強をしている中で] ?

        To be honest the exact phrase was:

        活動してきた中で, but since i don’t know the exact meaning of 活動してきた,

        i cannot finish the sentence

        Aちゃんが研修生として活動してきた中で感じていた胸の内を語ってるところがありましたね

        研修生として= as a trainee

        感じていた胸の内を語ってるところがありましたね =
        there was a part where Aちゃん talked about the her feelings as a trainee during…

        活動してきた中で = ?

        —————-

        Q3
        [たり] though I was able to check the lesson aboutたり, i would like to confirm something:

        悔しさがあったりする= ある in たり form?

        do you think this it needs to be rephrased or i can translate it as

        [to have frustrations]?

        the whole sentence is:

        きっと、他の子にも他の子なりの、悩みや、悔しさがあったりするんだろうな~。

        also I would like to ask what would be the meaning of

        Noun + にも + noun + なり like in 他の子にも他の子なり?

        is this a set of expression?

        ——————
        Q4
        ところ

        彼女に枕を貰ったところで, 今寝ます.

        Does this mean:

        a. i “just” got pillow from her, [so/and] I am going to sleep now.
        b. i will sleep now with the pillow I “just” got from her.

        ————

        Thank you so much in advance dear maggie sensei..

        1. @obakasan000

          Hi there,
          Thank you for your father’s day wish! Hope you had a nice father’s day,too.

          Q1. Q2.

          It will be better to think 活動する and 紹介する are verbs not a noun plus verb, suru.

          活動をする → 活動する
          紹介をする→紹介する
          勉強をする→勉強する

          and ~してきた there means “has/have been doing something until now/ had been doing something in certain period of time in past

          While 〜ている is focusing on the current action or action which has been done and it affects the current state, してきた focuses on the length of the action that someone has been doing.

          活動してきた= has/have/had been doing some activities
          紹介してきた= has/have/had been introducing
          勉強してきた= has/have/had been studying

          活動してきた中で = while she has been doing the activities

          Q3. 悔しさがあったりする= ある in たり form?

          Yes. It means there are cases that other children have their own 悔しさ

          ~にも〜なりの〜
          yes, it is a set expression.

          〜なりの means “one’s own”
          By using にも together you can express the nuance of “even for ~, there is one’s own ~ ”

          Q4.

          It should be
          a. i “just” got pillow from her, [so/and] I am going to sleep now.

          If there is no 今, it could mean “I will go to bed when I receive a pillow from her.”
          But it is a strange sentence.

          1. Good day dear maggie sensei.
            Thank you so much for clarifying those things to me and for greeting me..

            Oh just a follow-up question.

            Q1
            Then, if i want to produce the thought
            [i will sleep now with the pillow I “just” got from her.]

            Then it would be something like:

            [彼女に貰ったところの枕で, 今寝ます]?
            Or no need for の?

            ————–
            Q2
            他人が羨ましいなと思う立場にいる人でも…
            [Even people who are in the [position/situation] where they think other people envy them]

            Was I able to get the thought from the noun-clause?

            thank you so much in advance dear maggie sensei…

          2. @obakasan000

            Hello! Genki?

            Q1.[i will sleep now with the pillow I “just” got from her.]
            ばかり(-bakari) is better.
            →彼女にもらったばかりの枕で今から寝ます。

            (If you want to say, “I just got a pillow from her” then you can say 今、彼女に枕をもらったところです。)

            Q2. 他人が羨ましいなと思う立場にいる人でも…

            Your translation is correct up to here.

            Even people who are in the position where

            where they think other people envy them]
            →where other people envy

            羨ましいと思う= envy

  10. good day dear maggie sensei.
    thank you much so much for explaining their differences.
    recently whenever i have time, i randomly read comments on facebook and i happen to see a sentence that goes like this:

    Q1
    1. Aさんは喜んだことでしょう。
    this was the first time i saw こと in this usage.
    i would like to ask what is the purpose of こと here?
    or is it a shortcut for喜んだことがあるでしょう。
    [a-san experienced being happy]?
    if this is out of context then, i will just forget about it.

    2. 人混みに出る時はマスクを着用すること。
    3. 帰宅したら手洗いとうがいをすること。
    (got these from [風邪 (=kaze) cold related Lesson)
    i would like also to ask what is the role of こと at the end of the sentences?

    ————–
    Q2
    i was able to read all the lessons about the tenses but i would like to clarify something for
    たいと思う。
    please correct me if I got these all wrong.

    i just based my observation on all the examples i have seen so far.

    1. 私は日本に行きたいと思います。
    I would like to go to japan.
    2.私は日本に行きたいと思っています。
    I would like to go to japan.
    though they have the same translation [2] implies that the speaker has been thinking/planning to go to japan (within a certain period of time).
    ———–
    Q3
    can I use「諦めず」+「に」to say:
    [do not give up.]?

    ———-
    Q4
    i was able to read the lesson about [になる vs となる] but i am not really sure
    if i can apply it with出会う.

    1.彼女に出会う
    2.彼女と出会う
    i would like to ask what is the difference between the two?
    ————
    Q5
    彼女に早く寝ろと言った。
    I told her to sleep early.
    Though寝ろ is a command form, it does not necessarily mean that i commanded her to sleep early, but it could also mean that i politely told/asked her to go to bed early. and if was to put 寝てor 寝て下さい before と言った, i would be needing to use「」but the meaning would slightly change because it would become:
    彼女に「早く寝て下さい」と言った。= a direct quote.

    ————-
    Q6
    1. 海外にはよく行きますか?
    (got this from 頻度(=hindo) Frequency)

    2. 近所の人には自分から声をかけましょう。
    (got this from [私+自分= watashi + jibun lesson]).

    3. 軽過ぎる男には要注意!
    (got this from [karui/charai] lesson)

    4. 風邪の初期には生姜湯が効きます。
    (got this from [風邪 (=kaze) cold related Lesson)

    5. 7時には帰って下さい.
    (got this from dictionary.)

    には makes the sentence a bit more softer, but it only applies with sentence [1] which the format is [location/name] に/へ [motion verb].
    from [2] to [5] は stressed the word before に.

    ————-
    Q7
    1. 高い本は図書館にあります。
    2. 図書館に高い本があります。
    3. 図書館には高い本があります。

    1. an expensive book is in the library.
    (telling the location of the高い本)

    2. there is an expensive book in the library.
    (telling that 高い本 is the thing/one that exists in the library)

    3. in the library, there is an expensive book.
    (the library has an expensive book.)

    in #[3], 図書館 has been stressed out.
    —————-
    Q8
    1. その新曲は可愛いじゃないか
    2. その新曲は可愛いんじゃない?
    3. その新曲は可愛いんじゃない。

    1. the new song is really cute (amazed)
    2. the new song is cute, don’t you think? (opinion with tag question)

    but [3], without a context, could be translated as

    a. the new song is not cute (opinion with explanatory tone).

    b. the new song is really cute (when you make your point).
    ————
    Q9
    このラスイチのお菓子は、広島名物、「紅葉まんじゅう!」です!
    誰が「遠慮のかたまり」を食べたって?当ててみて!
    (got this from enryo no katamari)

    i would like to ask what is the missing word after [食べたって?] or [って?] is another way to ask?
    ———

    thank you so much in advance dear maggie sensei.

    1. @obakasan000

      Hello! How have you been?
      Since you have 9 questions, let me answer your question little by little. I will come back here again when I have more time.

      Q1.
      こと has many usages.

      1) talking about one’s experiences
      喜んだことがあるでしょう。

      2)
      人混みに出る時はマスクを着用すること。
      帰宅したら手洗いとうがいをすること。

      Verb plain form + こと= You must ~~ = When you tell people what to do, when you explain some rules.

      3) ことでしょう・ことだろう
      When you assume someone’s feeling or what was happening, you use ことだろう/ ことでしょう
      Usually it is use with どんなに, どれだけ、どれほど,etc.

      Aさんは喜んだことでしょう。
      = Aさんは(どんなに)喜んだことでしょう。
      = I assume A was very happy.

      Ex. お父様が亡くなられてどんなにつらかったことでしょう。
      = It must have been really hard for you to lose your father.
      = I assume it was really hard for you to lose your father.

      Q2.
      Ah OK,

      1. 私は日本に行きたいと思います。
      I would like to go to japan.
      2.私は日本に行きたいと思っています。
      I would like to go to japan.

      2) could be translated “I have been wanted to go to Japan.”
      思っています focuses on the current feeling more.

      Q.3

      I don’t know if I understand your question but

      Don’t give up is 諦めないで
      If you meant to say “Keep doing whatever you do without giving it up” then you say 諦めずに今やっていることを続けなさい”

      Q 4.

      1)Aと出会う (focusing on who you met, “A”)
      2)Aに出会う (focusing on the fact you met A.)

    2. Q5)

      Though寝ろ is a command form, it does not necessarily mean that i commanded her to sleep early, but it could also mean that i politely told/asked her to go to bed early.

      →But we can assume he used a strong command form.

      The neutral way to say
      Someone told her to go to bed early will be 彼女に早く寝るように言った。

      As you said, you could use “direct quote”, 彼女に「早く寝て下さい」と言った。= a direct quote.
      But you could also say 彼女に早く寝なさいと言った。/ 早く寝てと言った。

      Q6) Wow! You really are studying really hard using my lessons. :)

      1. location marker に + は to show the contrast (stressed the word before)
      2. Object marker に+ は to show the contrast (stressed the word before)
      3. For (purpose)
      4. by the time

      Q.7) You got them right.

      Q. 8)

      1. Right. But please note that it is a male speech so it sounds a bit rough.
      2. Right.

      The problem is 3.

      a) We don’t say その新曲は可愛いんじゃない。when you want to say “the new song is not cute” We say その新曲はかわいくない
      b) the new song is really cute (when you make your point). It should be 2) その新曲は可愛じゃない。

      Q. 9)

      食べたって(言ったの)?
      So it missing 言った?言ったの?言ったのですか? 

  11. thank you for todays lesson!

    when i first read 今、ご飯食べてるから邪魔しないでね!
    I thought it means, “I am going to eat now so I’ll stop bothering you.”

    but then i read it “I am eating now so don’t bother me!”,

    so how would you say “I am going to eat now so I’ll stop bothering you.” ?
    is it 今、ご飯食べてるからお邪魔しました。

    1. @tremault

      You mean I am going to eat now so I will not bothering you (→I won’t visit you)?
      then it will be
      今から、御飯食べるから (お)邪魔するのやめます。(お)邪魔しません。or(casual) 邪魔するのやめとくよ。(man) ~やめとくわ(women)
      Did I answer your question?

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