Hi Maggie-Sensei!
I’ve come back to this page multiple times over the past few years (you can see I left a comment back in 2020!), but no matter how advanced I get, I don’t understand how to use ところを to show contrast.
To be clear, I understand sentences like「海に溺れているところをイルカに助けられた」and 「彼が歌っているところを見たことがない」.
But below those examples, you say that ところを is used to “to show contrast,” and you give the following example:
いつもは１８００円のところを木曜日は１０００円で映画を観ることができます。
I just don’t understand why ところを is used here, as opposed to something like ですが, and I don’t understand the sentence structure or how to build other sentences using ところを in this way. In fact, I don’t think I’ve ever heard ところを being used in this way anywhere else.
Could I be so rude as to ask if you could give a more in-depth explanation, and more example sentences?
Hello Marco
Yes, to make 二人(them/these people/these two) scared
ビビる (very conversational word) to be scared
ビビらせる = to make someone scared
When you provoke someone’s emotion, you can use this form.
There is more complete lesson on causative form
Link is here
The usage of the causative form in your sentence is
6) to provoke someone’s emotions, and feelings: to make someone feel angry/happy/disappointed, etc.
Aは ( = wa) 、Bを ( = wo) + verb causative form
Yes, では is used to mean “if”
I explained in the usage 3) in this lesson
それだけでは寂しいじゃない？
Right. Your translation works in this case, If it’s just that, wouldn’t you feel lonely?
But the literal translation is
Wouldn’t you feel lonely just with that?
So this で actually means “with”
Tシャツだけでは寒い
It’s cold just with a T-shirt. (just wearing a T-shirt)
→(You can interpret this with conditional, if →If it is just with a T-shirt, it will be cold.
However, if you use the past tense,
Tシャツだけでは寒かった (past tense)
I felt cold just with a cold.
It doesn’t have a meaning of “if”.
Whoops, my bad for commenting a bit too quick hahah.
I see, how come the literal translation is ”with just that” ? would it mean that it kind of show that the choice of ”with that” would make them feel lonely? Kind of like それでいい (fine with that (choice,thing etc)
For context, the person tried to invite someone to a date ”デ…デデ”but instead said 出稽古 and finds herself saying ”それだけでは寂しいじゃない？” afterwards to herself
頑張るだけではダメなんです
”Can’t just not do one’s best (cause I must do something else aswell)” was my understanding but the だけで is confusing me.. Maybe I am just overthinking it?
~関係で
This で describes the state/condition/situation
頑張るだけで
Vだけで = just doing something
Just working hard (is not enough)
で can describe the state/condition
And the English translation could be if (if you are talking about the condition) or if you simply describe the state, it could be “with”
I still don’t know the context but in that case you can rephrase it
出稽古だけでは寂しいんじゃない？
Wouldn’t you feel lonely just doing something (in this case 出稽古）
I see so if 関係で would describe the state then directly would it translate to this?:
”２人がライバル関係では絶対嫌だ”
”I certainly don’t like it when they are ( in the condition/situation of being) in a rival relationship”
”出稽古だけでは寂しいんじゃない？”
”Just going out to practice is lonely in itself isn’t it?”
”それだけでは寂しいじゃない？”
And if the state isn’t apparent:
”Just with this condition/situation wouldn’t it feel lonely?”
Essentially: ”With X condition I feel Y”
And sorry for asking so much but could you give me 2 example sentences where you use the
”if you are talking about the condition”
and
” ”with” to describe the state” ?
With a direct translation and explanation? I’m going to add these as Anki cards afterwards to be able to firmly grasp the concept. Been stuck on it for a while and have had issues finding any resources about it
I think your interpretation (translation) is right.
About “talking about the condition” and “describing the state,” as I mentioned in my T-shirt examples, it depends on the context and how you interpret the sentences.
For example:
おにぎり一個だけではお腹がすく。
You can translate this as
“I will be hungry with just one onigiri.”
You can also interpret this as
“If you just eat one onigiri, you will be hungry.”
If you want more, check this lesson
I wrote a few example sentences of だけでは just doing something
I think it is starting to make sense….
”With(At/By/Under/In/As) X condition Y applies”
Thanks for the reply!
You’re welcome!
There are many uses of で(では/だけでは）, but I hope this clears up some of your doubts.
I think I cracked it:
ライバル関係で/は絶対嫌だろうなって
being [in] a rival relationship is the condition
おにぎり一個だけで/はお腹がすく。
Just [with] one onigiri is the condition
それだけで
Just [with] this is the condition
頑張るだけではダメなんです
Just [by] doing one’s best is the condition (which is not good enough)
I am really sorry for the amount of replies I gave.. I’ve had long covid and it seems like I lost so much of my language knowledge from it… Got kinda desperate trying to figure out if I was right. But as a last message/reply could you tell me if I am on the right track with my understanding here?
Hi Marco
I think you figured them out. Good job!
Just, you wrote で/は in the first two sentences. では is more natural in those example sentences.
Good morning Maggie. I have a question about the following sentence: ついでに竪琴、音楽、芸術、弓術、予言、牧畜の神様でもある。
I saw that ついでに means to do action B while doing action A. But in the translation of the sentence, this kanji was translated as By the way. Is this correct?
First of all, I have a lesson on ついでに
Link is here
As you said it means to do action B while doing action A. /while you are at ~ / taking the opportunity
The sentence, ついでに竪琴、音楽、芸術、弓術、予言、牧畜の神様でもある。
There must be a sentence before and this person adds some more information.
It/He/She is also the god of ~~
It can be easier to add some verb after ついでに
ついでに言うと = Additionally, (You can also translate it as “By the way”)
ついでに補足(ほそく）すると = To add a supplementary note
I was wondering what the grammatical/meaning function of もの is. Does this sentence fit the pattern of [sentence] + X, where X adds a ‘color’ or nuance to the entire sentence, similar to how でしょう , そうです, んです(か) are used to add something to the sentence?
静かな田舎で暮らしたい simply express one’s desire
I want to live in quiet countryside
→静かな田舎で暮らしたいものだ:
~たいものだ(or ものです） is used for long-held wishes or wishes that are difficult to achieve.
By adding “ものだ,” the sentence expresses a deeper/stronger desire or one’s belief.
That’s very interesting. Before I posted the question I interpreted もの literally ( = ‘thing’) and tried to think of an English expression that used the word in this way. In fact, there is one: ‘to have a thing for/about’, where ‘thing’ is a greater than average interest in something, possibly even a preoccupation or obsession.
For example,
A: You’ve been reading a lot about Japan lately. Why’s that?
B: I’ve always had a thing about Japan. I want to visit next year.
Or:
A: What’s with John? He’s been acting weird lately.
B: Oh, he has this thing for Mary and it’s messing with his head.
But this is a very colloquial way of speaking, and might even not be common in different English-speaking regions (USA vs Australia vs England vs Canada). I don’t know if I would use this as a translation for ものだ (= I have a thing about wanting to live in the quiet countryside). That sounds too casual for the Japanese. Still, there is an overlap in how もの=thing is being used for emphasis in both languages.
Ah, very interesting.
The term ~もの can mean a thing or things but
“To have a thing for/about ~” is translated as 気になる (to be concerned about), 好き (to like), 好意をもっている (to like someone), or 夢中になる (to be obsessed with/crazy about ~), etc. but not with もの.
もの and こと are used to nominalize a verb and there are many expressions. I explained in one of my old lessons. Link
Thanks for the extra information. Literal translations of slang, idioms and other colloquial expressions in a language can be dangerous .. especially when two different languages seem to use the same words but in a completely different way.
Anytime! ☺️
Anytime! ☺️
two different languages seem to use the same words but in a completely different way.
→That’s one of the reasons why learning languages is interesting. 😉
Hello Maggie Sensei,
I found this sentence a while ago on stack exchange:
”入れ違いで亜美さんが出て行ったところです。”
”Ami just went out as we passed each-other” Is the translation apparently.
And I hear the で here indicates situation? But I don’t know how one would parse or translate it? It does not indicate location nor time so how would one translate it? I’ve even tried to look for grammar guides talking about it but no one does. I am completely stuck and lost now… I feel like I’m back on 0
If you want to categorize this で, maybe “12) Describing the state/condition/manner of action” would work.
で indicates the situation or condition under which the action (in this case, Ami-san going out) took place.
→入れ違い describes the situation how Ami has left while the listener is coming back.
Hey Maggie, In regards to the part here:
”11) To indicate the purpose/usage/occasion: for ~ / as~ /In order to do something.”
–
I have a sentence here that I’m wondering a bit about:
小林さんの印象を元に描いてみた
Would this be translated to:
”I drew Kobayashi san as a basis of her impression” ?
And would this mean that in cases like these you are doing an action as the role of f.ex an apology or in this case basis?
Good evening Maggie. I would like to know if 色合い refers to aspects of a color such as hue, clarity and brightness, etc. or can it just be translated as color (like yellow, red, etc.)
色合い means aspects of a color/tone/hue/clarity/brightness not basic colors (yellow/red.etc.)
It is also used figuratively referring to the tone of a situation or matter
こんばんは、マギー先生！
This was a very useful guide and helped me a lot. I thought I knew all the usages of the ”de” particle but after coming back I only had like 80% of it.
I have a question for you though which has been bothering me for a while, there is a specific usage I just can’t grasp. I’ve been trying to get my head wrapped around it but my brain just is not able to.
The concept of ”追加で” is confusing me. Some say it is the ”means/method” of an action while some say it is the conditional/scope marker (Which I still don’t understand)
Could you explain to me how it works in these three sentences if you got the time?
追加で Maybe it will be easier to think this で as a method (by means of an addition)
追加でAも注文できますか？
→ で shows that ordering A is done by adding it as an extra item.
ドル札を追加で用意してくる
→で indicates that the preparation of additional dollar bills is done by adding them as an extra step.
But you are right. This で could be interpreted as a function of conditional marker.
Ex.追加で頼むといくらですか？
(the condition being ordering something extra)
食べ物で言ったら
In this case, I would say it belongs to 13)Indicating one’s choice among available options./Expressing preference/Making a request among options.
P.S. last question. With the ”追加で頼むといくらですか？” Example in mind, since you mentioned it could be conditional. How would one translate the ”追加で” here? Would ”by means of” still be viable?
I came across this sentence and the でも is puzzling me. That aside 少し and 沢山 together here is generally confusing. 沢山 makes sense in the context (buying a lot of supplies) but 少し…
I guess I haven’t covered that usage of でも in this lesson.
The pattern is
少しでも + adjective + noun
少しでも + adverb + verb
(The original meaning is “even if only a little/a few”
→ as much/many/adjective as possible
少しでも多くの人に来てもらいたい。
I want as many people as possible to come.”
少しでも早く来てください。
Please come as soon as possible.
少しでもきれいな・安いホテルに泊まりたい。
I want to stay in a hotel that is as clean/cheap as possible.
P.S.
”次の学会はニューヨークであります。”
I don’t get how であります functions here. Doesn’t it usually mean ”it is” in a formal way? How does it relate to the で particle meaning location of action or event?
This であります means to be held ~ and it is different from the formal expression that you are talking about.
So you talk about the location of a building
Aビルはどこにありますか？ = Where is A-Building?
渋谷にあります。 = It is in Shibuya.
But when you talk about the location where some activity/event is held, you use で
試合はどこでありますか？ Where will the match/game be held?
B体育館であります。= It will be held in B Gymnasium.
It might look confusing but
この部屋に一緒にいる : いる is considered to be a state
この部屋でご一緒する: ご一緒する the English translation could be “to be with someone” but it is considered to be an action verb. to spend some time with someone
Good evening Maggie.
1) 画像 means still image (In real life and on the internet)?
2) In the following sentence: 伝説の最後の部分は後世付け加えられたものだ。, should 後世に be used instead of just 後世?
Good evening Maggie. I came across the kanji 無造作 and am having difficulty with its second meaning. It’s second meaning basically means: Casual or careless, right?
Hi Iraci
中庸 (ちゅうよう) is a word originating from Confucian philosophy. Though it is not commonly used in daily conversation, it means being balanced and harmonious.
This example sentence is in the first section 1) progressive form: ongoing action, continuous action that is happening in the present which is described as “What someone/something is doing right now, What is happening now”
昨日の夜は何をしていたの？
Why is “what was done last night” considered as something happening now?
I wondered if it is possible to combine がち with ねる
so something like “i tend to go to sleep at 9” (i am aware that this sentence might not be the most natural in Japanese but i wonder if it would work)
９時に寝るがちです
Hello Will
You don’t say 寝るがち but you can say 寝がち
９時に寝がち If you meant go to sleep, it works, but since you can’t tend to fall a sleep at nine, it may sound unnatural.
うちの犬は、仰向けで寝がちです。
My dog tends to sleep on its back.
1) to be good at, to be skilled at
2) そこら（辺） =thereabouts (an unspecified location near the speaker)
Idiom そんじゅそこらの = ordinary/run-of-the-mill
→Sometimes you skip そんじゅ = そこらの + noun = something or someone that is not special or remarkable
When I researched the kanji すする I found the following definitions: 液状のものを吸い込むようにして口の中に入れる and 音を立てて少しずつ口に吸い込む。Which would be the most correct?
What is the most correct reading of 荒野? I found three different readings.
What does 可憐 mean?
Hello Pedro
すする: Both. You can slurp noodles, hot soup with or without making a slurping sound.
荒野 = You can read it こうや/あらの. I think こうや is more common
可憐 = かれん = pretty/lovely/sweet (It describes delicate beauty or innocence.)
笑の事について教えてくれる本当にありがとうございます！
I recently came across the phrase:
「笑勉強続けて」
and I was wondering
1. How do I read 笑 in this context
2. is 笑…続ける a construction I can use more often, even for other context?
Also, not to be pedantic but I thought you might want to know, when you first introduce ケラケラ, in the first romaji you wrote (kearakera) instead of (kerakera).
Hi 紫花
Thank you for spotting the typo. I fixed it. ありがとうございます！☺️
笑 = わら is a slang word. Sometimes you just write “w” (ww, www)
It is like LOL in English.
So that person reacted to what someone said and
LOL (That’s funny). Keep studying!
Is the tai form of verbs essentially an i-adjective? I came across the phrase “読みたくなった” (started wanting/came to want to read?) which made me think of the adj + なる/する lesson. Can you also then do たい+する, like 食べたくした (made me want to eat)?
Sorry. I answered your question once yesterday but I misunderstood what you meant by ” the tai form of verbs essentially an i-adjective? ” part. So let me try again.
When you use なりたい/したい with adjectives,
かわいくなりたい = I want to be cuter
かわいくしたい = I want to make something/someone cuter.
Verb + たい
読みたい / 食べたい
When you express the change of your feelings,
→ 読みたくなる/食べたくなる (past tense) 読みたくなった/食べたくなった
Since Verbたい is one’s spontaneous desire and you can’t control someone’s desire
you don’t say
X たべたくした (not natural)
That makes sense. So is there an equivalent in Japanese to saying “____ makes me want to _____”? ie. “The smell of food makes me want to eat,” or “Reading books makes me want to write.” I guess for the first you could say something like ご飯の香りだから食べたくなる, but what about the second? Is there a grammatical structure that handles both? ありがとうございます。
The common patterns are
Vたら/Vていたら〜たくなる/なった
Vと〜たくなる/たくなった
The smell of food makes me want to eat
食べ物の香りで食べたくなる
食べ物の香りが食欲をそそる。
Or I would say いい匂いで食べたくなる。
Reading books makes me want to write.
本を読むと/読書をすると書きたくなる。
Hello! I always learn so much from your posts! I was wondering if you have covered how to use 風（ふう）？I can’t find any good explanation anywhere. I’m not sure how to use any combination of 風 (そういう風に、という風に、こんな風に、のふうだ、など）and the difference between ように、のようだ、とか or similar grammar. I would be so grateful for your help!!
Good question.
Meanwhile 風 means, “way”, “stile/manner” and “like ~”
こんな/そんな/ あんな/どんな＋風に
このようにやってください
こんな風にやってください
They both mean “Please do like this” But the difference is
このように = The speaker expects you to follow the instructions (exactly like they showed)
こんな風に is more vague. “something like this”
Also 風 is attached to a noun
Ex. 日本風 = Japanese style (It doesn’t have to be authentic Japanese style. )
If I have a chance, I will make a mini lesson of 風 in future for you.
My bf was talking to me in Japanese using Google translate, and he said “なんと面倒なことだろう.” I could get what he was trying to say but the なんと part specifically is confusing? It’s “what” with と quotation particle, right? Like in 何と言う？ So how does it make sense?
なんと/なんて〜だろう/でしょう is a pattern of exclamatory sentence and it means “What a ~/ How ~!”
Actually you don’t use it in conversation so much because it sounds too dramatic but you may see in a written form
especially when you translate English sentences, such as
What a nice person you are./How nice of you! なんて親切な人だろう。
What a surprise! なんという驚きだ
Again, it is very rare to hear this in daily conversation.
You just say ああ、面倒くさい。 = It’s such a pain. instead of なんと面倒なことだろう
Good evening Maggie. I have a question about the kanji 出頭. This kanji means: Some person going anywhere or some person, specifically, going to court, government office, etc.
I’m confused on when to で vs をください/おねがいします when ordering.
例えば: 「セットでお願いします」とか「コーラのMサイズで」とか「お茶でお願いします」などです。vs 「コーヒーをください」、「コーラのSサイズを一つお願いします」などです。 「でお願いします」か「をお願いします」は I’m not sure which one would be correct to answer with for certain situations or is it just up to personal preference?
Hi Maggie-sensei. I don’t have any question, I just want to thank you for creating this super helpful site. I managed to pass N3 this year, thanks to your fun and clear (and cute!) explanations of scary Japanese grammar rules (lol) ^_^ ありがとうございます！これからもよろしくお願いします。
Hi Breano
Yes, that’s right. It means “a word” but you can use it for a few words/brief speech
一言で言うと = If I put it in one word ~
一言言ってもいいですか？ = Can I say something? / Can I say a few words?
一言、スピーチをお願いします。= Could you give a brief speech?
Good evening Maggie. I have doubts about some phrases.
1) Does the 政府役人 part of the sentence 政府役人の豪邸が略奪された make sense? I searched but couldn’t find anything on the subject.
2) What is the function of として in words like 突如として? From what I researched, 突如として and 突如 have the same meaning.
But I have one more doubt. I came across the adjective 漠然とした and realized that it means vague. What is the difference between using として or とした after an adjective?
Oh okay, because with what I was trying to do (彼に声を出して読めながら) whatever is being read is the subject, not who’s being read to. I was thinking the opposite for some reason, oops
1) 今、彼に（or と）話しているところです/ところだ
= I am just talking to/with him./ I am in the middle of talking to him right now./ I am in the process of talking to/with him now.
It is emphasizing the ongoing process or being in the middle of the action
2) 今、彼に（or と）話しています。/いる
= I am talking to/with him now.
It simply states the fact that talking is happening without emphasizing the ongoing action.
You are right. どの means “which” but どの (dono) can be used as “which” or “any/every,” depending on the context.
Ex. どの国もインフレに苦しんでいる。 Every country is suffering from inflation.
Ex. このレストランは、どの料理も美味しい。Every dish at this restaurant is delicious
こんにちは先生。
Since potential verb form is the same as passive verb form, how would you make a both potential and passive verb?
Example sentence: He can’t be stopped.
Something like 止められることをできない?? Seems weird. How do you do it?
こんにちは、Terry
I would say it is not common to use passive form + できない because it looks/sounds confusing.
He can’t be stopped. : The most natural way to say this in Japanese is to say would be
“I/We can’t stop him.”
→彼を止められない or 彼を止めることはできない (Nobody can stop him.”誰も彼を止められない・誰も彼を止めることはできない)
If you want to use a passive form, it is a less direct but you say
彼は止めらることはない
Good evening Maggie. I discovered the following phrase 三角形で、先がとても鋭利な形状だ。and I had some doubts.
1) Does this sentence make sense grammatically?
2) I translated this sentence as: It has a triangular shape and the ends are quite sharp. Is this translation correct?
This is probably a silly question, but why is 「に」 used to mark the location of of an object with 居る and 在る rather than say 「で」? I’ve read that for some other similarly confusing verbs (such as 住む and 泊まる) that the location should be considered a destination (which doesn’t really make sense to me even in those cases) but I haven’t seen any clarification on these existential verbs.
こんにちは、クリス
Good question.
As you know
You use 「で」 to indicate the location where some action occurs.
You use 「に」 to indicate the location where something/someone exists (with verbs like 「いる」/「ある」) and also location of state.
「住む」 and 「泊まる」 are not action verbs. They describe a state (living/staying). Therefore, you use the particle 「に」 with these verbs.
I was having trouble understanding what 言う辺り means in this sentence from a popular light novel- なんでもないことのように言うあたりが、とても思いつきの噓に思えずロレンスはか固唾を飲んでしまったが、ハッとしてホロの口元に目をやった
Hi Maggie Sensei, I’ve been studying Japanese for 3 years now. My current book at school is TRY N2 (although I don’t feel at all I am N2, not even N3).
I have a question regarding the structure of Japanese grammar. Basically TRY and also other books I have seen don’t really teach you grammar as in western languages. Rather, it is full of this forms (e.g. niyotte, nitotte, nitaishite, monda, bakarida, etc.) that sound very much like idiomatic expressions to me.
So far everything looks very random, which makes it also more difficult to learn and memorize.
Are those “expressions” qualified collectively somehow? And is there any actual classification/categorization or any booklet summarizing them in a structured way (e.g. by topic, use, scope) to make it easier to memorize?
Hi Kuki
First of all, I apologize. I have to admit, my site is pretty random 😆, but I believe there are many excellent Japanese learning sites that provide good classification and categorization in a structured way.
I think many of them are categorized by JLPT level. So, JLPT websites or textbooks might offer better categorization.
Learning Japanese grammar could be quite different from learning Western languages. In Western languages, grammar is often taught separately from vocabulary and expressions, focusing on things like tense and conjugation, conditional forms at different levels. But with Japanese, especially in JLPT study materials, the focus is not just on grammar but also on using expressions effectively.
I understand it could be confusing, but I believe that if you already know the basic grammar, all you need to do is to build complicated sentences and increase your range of expressions, which would help.
Hi thank you for your kind reply. Just to be clear, I wasn’t referring to your site but to the textbooks, I find them pretty random, which is surprising for a textbook imho!
Good evening Maggie. I was looking at the definition of 風格 and came across the following definition: 味わい。趣。
Can you tell me what it means? I’m trying to find out but I’m not having any success.
風格
If you are talking about a person,
あの人は風格がある
He/She has a presence. (to have dignified presence)
You can also describe classy buildings, houses, area, streets with 風格
味わいがある/趣がある
You don’t usually use these words to describe a person.
味わいがある = the place has got a style
趣がある = quaint
Hi Tiana
I see your confusion.
When you simply describe someone’s action to take or bring something, you use
持っていく to take something with you
and
持ってくる to bring something with you
However, the English translation can change depending on the speaker’s point of view.
For example, you are invited to a party and telling the host that you are going to get some wine and take it to the party.
You say
ワインを持って行きますね
It actually means “I will take some with with me (and go to your party.)”
But the most common English translation will be
“I will bring some wine (with me). ”
It is based on the listener’s (the host’s) point of view.
It is similar to “come” and “go”
If someone calls you, you say
I am coming.
to come is 来ます but the most natural Japanese translation will be 行きます
Hello there Maggie-sensei!
I’ve been using your lessons for awhile now and had a question about this sentence. Or rather, I suppose I wanted to make sure I am reading it correctly.
[ケンシくんが好きっていうもののことは･･････]
A character is ruminating on another character and I was a bit confused seeing もののこと back to back here, but after reading your lesson もの is making the previous phrase a noun and then のこと is now modifying that noun, right?
So it becomes “About what I like about Kenshi-kun” or since the sentence trails off “What I like about Kenshi-kun is…”
Please correct me if I’m mistaken, and thank you for all the lessons!
Hello かえで
It is a little hard to interpret the sentence without knowing the context but the literal translation is
“About the thing(s) Kenshi-kun likes….”
This interpretation only works if this speaker is talking about something that Kenshi likes.
Hi, Maggie sensei, hope everything is going well. In an essay, I’ve accross this sentence, 夢を求めて狂っても。Could you please explain me why も has been used in the
Hi Mojo 元気？
夢を求めて狂っても
〜ても means “even if/even though/although”
You don’t usually leave the sentence with ても unless there is a sentence before that sentence or omitted the following part on purpose when it is obvious.
For example 夢を求めて狂っても（それでも夢を求める）
Even if I go mad seeking for the dream, I still go for it.
thus you can show your strong will emphasizing what comes before ても
入れる = いれる = transitive verb
So if the speaker had someone (Ex. their child) go to the school
入れてよかった = いれてよかった
I’m glad I enrolled my child in that school
There are many differences but here’s the confusing difference.
だけ is just/ only
ばかり = on going action/ emphasizing the quantity or frequency of the activity.
Ex.マギーは肉だけ食べる。
= Maggie eats nothing but meat
Ex.マギーは肉ばかり食べる。
= Maggie mainly eats meat. It suggests a focus on meat but doesn’t necessarily mean she eats nothing else.
Ex. このサイトの先生は犬だけだ。
The teachers on this site are only dogs.
Ex. このサイトの先生は犬ばかりだ。
The teachers on this site are mainly dogs.
It implies that while dogs are the majority or main focus, there might be other animals (such as cats, mice, etc.) also serving as teachers on the site.
Maggie Sensei, あけましておめでとうございます。(.. if it is not too late to say this).
Would you be interested in reading about some of my most recent language learning experiences in Japan? I think you will find it interesting. I don’t think it would be appropriate to post it here. I could send to your email address (which I already have), if that is OK. Then you can read at your leisure, whenever you have some time.
just found out this website, i think is really wholesome that youve been doing this for so long , you can tell when someone puts love in what they do. thanks for your work, ill check some of your lessons.
Good evening Maggie. I came across the following phrase: 幽閉 – ある場所に閉じこめて外に出さないこと。and I had some doubts.
1) In this sentence, is 外に read as ほかに or そとに?
2) When do I use 外に (ほかに) instead of 外に (そとに)? Can you give me an example?
3) I searched the internet and discovered on a website the following word 外に出さない. Is this an expression?
The meaning of 幽閉/閉じ込めること is confinement/lock ~ in
外に出さない = そとにださない = Not let that person outside
It is not a set expression but 外 means outside so you can figure out the meaning.
ほか: When you use this word as “others/another”, you use the kanji 他
You read 外, ほか in expressions like
Thanks for the lesson. I have some questions.
What is the difference between するとしても したとしても ?
For example,
年内に新しい機種が出るとしても今の機種とそんなに違いはないだろう。
Does this sentence mean “a new model hasn’t/will or come(s) out yet”
年内に新しい機種が出たとしても今の機種とそんなに違いはないだろう。
and this sentence mean “a new model already has come out” ? if that is so, what is the difference when it comes to hypothetical situations (としても）? Is it interchangeable ?
Good question. I should have explained the nuance difference in the lessons.
You can sometime use the past tense and the present tense with としても
The mean the same but the nuance difference is
when you focus on the event itself, releasing a new model (the anticipation of a future event that hasn’t happened yet) you use 出る
when you focus on the state/situation (right) after they released a new model, you use 出た
Good afternoon Maggie. I have some questions that I would like you to answer.
1) In the sentence この問題が解けなかったら、罰ゲームが待っていますよ！, the verb 解けなかったら is derived from 解ける or解く? I’m having trouble figuring this out.
2) In the sentence もうお利口さんにしないとお仕置きしますよ。, what is the function of しない? I researched and I think it has the function of: to serve as; to act as; to work as; , but I’m not sure and would like confirmation.
The translation could be the same in English but the difference is
A: It simply states that you are going to be home late tonight.
B: It indicates the process of becoming late. For example, if you have a lot of tasks to do, you might end up being late as a result of those circumstances.
どういたしまして
Yes it may sound subtle.
It might be just easy to think
→ the basic idea of なる expresses the change and the result. A →B
For example you usually get to home around six. But you have many things to do and it will be late.
your regular time to go home (around six) A →do this and that →It will be late. B
Happy New Year Maggie Sensei! Thanks for all you do for us!
I hope this is the year we all finally achieve our New Year’s resolutions! (Mine is learning Japanese…and then becoming a host for a kids TV show that teaches English! Dream big! XD)
1) The following sentences are correct: 私は、ひどく残酷な決断を迫られました。 and あなたはすべてを見つけるでしょう：家畜、野生または固有種。
2) What is the function of 何 in the following sentence 脳の病気は何の前触れもなく起こることが多い。?
Hi Leandro
1) The first sentence is OK.
I am not sure what you are trying to see with あなたはすべてを見つけるでしょう：家畜、野生または固有種。
2) That 何の = noun means “any”
So the literal meaning is “without any warning/sign”
Good evening Maggie. I would like to clear up some doubts about the following sentences.
1) In the sentence 経験不足が相まって、就職は非常に困難だ。, 相まって was translated as due or because, but shouldn’t its meaning be coupled with or together? Why was it translated as due?
2) In the sentence 交渉が成立するという前提で話を進めます。, what is the function of the particle で in this sentence?
3) In the sentence ランサー源頼光は道徳心を以て、夏休みの風紀の乱れを監視する。, what is the function and meaning of を以て in this sentence?
4) Is the following sentence: それってすごく矛盾した状況じゃない？ correct? And why put した after 矛盾? And it shouldn’t be それら because the translation was: They’re really contradicting circumstances, aren’t they? ?
Hi Pedro
1) 相まって means “two or more elements interact, and as a result, it leads to some negative consequences.
So because of one reason which is not written in your sentence and 経験不足, it is difficult to get a job.
2) This で indicates the condition by which something is done
Ex. ~という条件で
3) 以て(or 以って⇨I think 以って is more common) means “with”
It indicates the method. Ex.誠意を以って対処します。
4) Yes. If you rephrase it in a little more formal way, ⇨それはとても矛盾している状況ではないですか？
I think the translation is “Isn’t it a very contradictory situation?”
こんばんはマギ一先生、
Does it sound weird to use different tenses in one sentence?
Ex. trying to say: We went to the movies and shopping [and stuff], now we’re going to eat dinner.
That から is a reason, so. (It implies the nuance “Since I have done things I wanted to do” + Now I am going to eat something)
You can replace し with から to emphasize the reason.
Since your original sentence may look like just listing three actions, it will be more clear to use から.
However you can just use し in casual conversation.
Good evening Maggie. I came across the following sentence: 俺が逆らうと、兄貴はよく脇をこしょばしてきました。
I had some doubts. Shouldn’t it be こしょばくして? Or is it okay to use it the way it was written in the sentence?
My other doubt is that I would like to know what the function of きました is in this sentence.
Just wanted to point out a small oversight. (Sorry if it’s already been mentioned, I didn’t have time to read all the comments)
You write,
>>First make a past tense and delete た ( = ta) ・だ ( = da) and switch with ちゃう ( = chau) / ちゃった ( = chatta)<<
Since ちゃう is a contraction of 〜てしまう it would make sense to think of making the conjunctive form and delete the て/で instead of making the past tense.
Thus one can go from 食べてしまう to 食べちゃう and see the logic behind the contraction.
Thank you for all you do Maggie sensei! This has been a huge help for me as I am preparing for a school trip to japan in 2025!
Thank you very much!
Hi Auger
Thank you for your message.
I’m happy to hear this site has been helpful. Good luck preparing for your 2025 school trip.
Hi Maggie Sensei!
Your website was brought to my attention from the Learn Japanese reddit and I love your website. I am a beginner and have a question.
On your “About Us” page you introduce yourself, but I noticed the use of へ was stated as “ye” for introducation. This is new to me as I learn grammar and other things about japanese.
If you have an article about the use of particles regarding this I’m sorry, so I was curious why it is “ye”. I’d like to understand better!
ありがとうございます！
Hi Opal
Thank you for your comment. And I am sorry.
I should have typed “e” instead of “ye” to avoid the confusion. I’ll fix it.
へ is pronounced as “e” when it is used to indicate the direction or destination of an action.
Ex. へや = heya = room
Ex. とうきょうへいきます = Toukyou e ikimasu.= I am going to Tokyo.
I guess I used “ye” in About Us and maybe in some of my old lessons to distinguish the hiragana え ( = e) .
I now stick to the romaji “e” for へ. It is much more common than “ye”.
There are two other particles that you pronounce differently.
は and を
は = ha →(particle for topic) You pronounce it wa
を = wo →(particle for object) You pronounce it “o” (I use the romaji “wo”)
Good evening Maggie. I would like to know if the following sentence is correct: 中世時代に、騎士道の訓練の第一段階として、騎士の従者をする若者.
Hi Pedro
Is it some kind of description? Then yes, it is correct.
Hello Maggie Sensei,
I have a question :
I have seen this sentence: ごはんを食べたり、お茶を飲んだりしてもよかったです
What does てもよかったです mean here in this context ?
Good Maggie. I found the following sentence: 勇者や救世主だって世界のせいで闇堕ちすることだってあるのです. I would like to know if there should be が in place of the second だって or if the phrase is right.
Hi Mutuio
闇堕ちすることだってあるのです can be rephrased
闇堕ちすることがあるのです or 闇堕ちすることもあるのです
Hello Maggiesensei,
Thank you for the great lesson. I’m currently trying to translate Saori Hayamis Yume no Hate made, but I’m struggling with two lines and was hoping you could help me.
寂しい人ほど 優しさを持ち
優しい人ほど 強さを秘めている
Am I right in the assumption that this is a shortening for the ば～ほど〜 grammar point? So those two lines would translate to
The lonlier a person is, the more kindness they hold
The kinder a person is, the more strength they’re hiding
Good evening maggie. The following sentence makes sense: 魔獣と交わることで根源を模索する魔術師もいたのかどうか
I was in doubt after seeing this sentence because I don’t know if it should be かどうか or か at the end.
Hello Matheus,
I wouldn’t leave this sentence with どうか
いたのかどうか+ わからない/不明である
If you want to show your surprised feelings
いたのか… works.
If you meant “I wonder if there was a magician ~” then, you can say いたのだろうか.
Good evening Maggie. I came across a sentence and didn’t understand part of it. The sentence is as follows: 明治時代の終わりにかけて英語亡国論を唱える人たちがいた.
I didn’t understand the part: 英語亡国論. Can you explain this part to me?
When I put it on Google Translate, it was translated as: theory of the exile of the English language, but I don’t understand how it got to that translation.
Hi Thiago
英語 = English language
亡国 = collapse of a country →国がなくなる / 滅びる こと the country will perish/be ruined
論 = theory
the theory that the English language would lead to the collapse of the country.
Dear Maggie Sensei,
What is the purpose of って in this sentence?
雨上がりの空って綺麗ですよね
Thank you!
You have the question: 日本に来たのはこれで何回目ですか？
Answer 1: これで３回目です。
It is a simple substitution Q: 何回目→A: ３回目, and this is how people talk, even at airport immigration, and in other languages. In other words, drop the topic/subject and substitute the question word with the answer.
Grammatically, would a more complete answer be:
A2: 日本に来たのはこれで３回目です。
How about
A3: 私の日本に来たのはこれで３回目です。
The reason why I ask is that I found this sentence on the internet:
私にとって日本への訪問はこれで3番目です。
Even with the minor change of subject (‘number of visits’ instead of ‘number of times’), would a Japanese person ever say something like this? Especially ‘私にとって’ seems to be an unnecessarily complicated answer to a simple question.
Thanks in advance,
Michael (different ‘Michael’ from the other person below)
私の日本に来たのはこれで３回目です。→Not natural
It will be more natural to omit the subject in conversation but if you include the subject it will be
A: 私が日本に来たのはこれで3回目です。 not 私の〜
The sentence you found on the internet
私にとって日本への訪問はこれで3番目です。should be 3回目.
B: 私にとって日本への訪問はこれで3回目です
A and B are grammatically correct but as you said it is an unnecessarily complicated answer to a simple question.
Also you don’t repeat the same words when it is obvious what you are talking about.
So the most natural way to answer the question will be これで3回目です。
Yes, I will be going to Japan next month, for 6 weeks. This time, I will mainly visit Okayama-ken, Shikoku, and Nara-ken.
My vocabulary is still too small, and I don’t get enough practice speaking. However, I’m getting better at improvising, rather than staying in a safe zone of scripted dialog (questions and answers). Also, for practical purposes, a person really does not need to speak complex, grammatically complete sentences. When I go to a restaurant or hotel or train station or konbini etc., it is obvious why I am there. If you know the key words, that is often enough.
Most people realize that you can’t speak much of the local language, and they almost automatically simplify. And, if I go somewhere, such as restaurant, especially when it isn’t very busy the staff are are quick to give some guidance with procedures (how to use tablet to place order), and so on.
So, sometimes it is stressful and embarrassing, with all the mistakes I make, but it is still an adventure.
Great!
You have a great attitude. I can already tell that you’re going to have an amazing time in Japan. Six weeks in Okayama, Shikoku, and Nara will be fantastic. And if you ever encounter any problems, just drop me a line.
I hope your next adventure will be fulfilling.
Good afternoon Maggie. I looked up the definition of 後半 and got 前後二つに分けた、あとのほうの半分。
I didn’t understand the 前後二つに分けた part. Can you explain each part to me?
Hi Mario
If it is talking about the story (books, movies, etc.) 前後二つに分けた divided into two parts, the first part and the second(later) part
Thank you for this helpful article!
There is a very small typo in the romanization of one of the examples. The kana is fine!
→* 楽しみ = たのしみ = tanoshimi = pleasure
Ex. 来週のデートが楽しみだ。
I had a question regarding the “determine” use of という in these sentences:
A.)冬に北海道に行ってみればどんなに寒いかということがわかるだろう。
If you go to Hokkaido in the winter, you will see how cold it is there.
B.)S子供に会えないということがどれだけ辛いかあなたにはわかりません。
You have no idea how hard it is not to be able to see your own child.
C.)できないとわかっていてもまずやってみるということが大切です。
Even if you know you can’t do it is important to at least try once.
a.) What does “determine” mean here?
b.) Could の be used in place of こと here? I know that often の can replace nouns, but I also know that というのは and ということは are different grammars. When can you use の in place of こと?
Because I heard these two kinds of sentences are equivalent:
彼がパーティーに来なかったということは知っている
彼がパーティーに来なかったというのは知っている
“I know that he didn’t come to the party”
Are there other examples where you can do this replacement?
As in, perhaps these two are these equivalent?:
まだ分からないということが嫌だ
まだ分からないというのが嫌だ
“I hate the fact that I don’t know yet”
Again, thank you so much, this is tricky grammar for me and helped a lot =)
Good night Maggie. Can you tell me if the following sentence sounds natural in Japanese: 聖女様が中傷や殲滅なんてする訳ない+Extras?
Hi Mutuio
I guess for a dramatic games or anime, yes. (or 聖女様が中傷したりや殲滅なんてする訳ない)
中傷 means “slander” (to damage someone’s reputation).
殲滅 annihilation (in other word 皆殺し）
Is that what you wanted to say?
Hello Maggie,
どうよ?
I’m trying to understand what she says here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5g5jNuGxyz4
あんたみたいに用意周到な男が失敗するなんて**おにょウケる**んですけど
せっかく言い訳あるなら聞いてあげようってのに
“It’s so funny to me that a man as well-prepared as you would fail.
If you have an excuse, I’d listen to it.”
The word in **___** is not understandable at all to me. Is おにょける a slang used by young people? I know ウケるんです means “it’s funny” but おにょウケるんです ?
Thank you Sensei!
Hi Gaspatcher
Is it from ポケモン?
I think the character meant to say “鬼ウケル” but it came out おにょウケる” in a cute way.
鬼(original meaning is “demon”) is a slang word it means “very/extremely” like メチャ.
Ok I think that’s the case. I can’t follow kids slang, it’s too complicated haha!
☺️
Yes its from ポケモン. Sorry, I didn’t see your question.
OK 👍
It does sound kind of cute おにょウケる 😆
Hi, Maggie-Sensei!
When まで means “until ~ does something,” does the verb before まで always have to be in present tense regardless of whether the overall sentence is past tense?
For example, given
“He wandered the hills and plains until he reached Shagri-La.”
a. シャングリ・ラにたどり着くまで、野山をさまよった。
b. シャングリ・ラにたどり着いたまで、野山をさまよった。
which option is correct?
Good night Maggie. I found the following sentence: 特定の人種や民族を支持するという話ではありません。
I would like to understand the function of という話. I looked it up on a few sites and I still don’t understand.
Hi Luigi
The literal meaning of 〜という話 is “the story of ~”, quoting what comes before (民族を支持する）
But you would just translate it “about”
It is not (a story) about supporting specific races or ethnicities.
Thanks
Hello Maggie-sensei,
How are you? Not much a question this time, but rather to be sure of something:
「頑張ってはいるんだが」
Is the particle は used to emphasize 頑張って in 頑張っている? (1)
Or is it an expression 頑張ってはいる like 頑張って入る? (2)
I think it’s more (1) but I wanted to be sure. Does that mean we can add は whenever we want if we want to emphasize a particular word?
Here is the sentence in its context:
[A] 分かってくれるよね？
[B] ええっと……
[B] それが……完璧に理解するのは難しいんだ……
[B] 頑張ってはいるんだが
I think your comment is cut in half haha.
But yeah, I had this intuition it was a は for emphasizing!
Vて+は+いる: I’ve never seen this structure before (I think). So you can put a は between the てverb and いる, good to know!
ごめんなさい。You are right. My previous comment was cut in half.
Yes, Vて+は+いる is a very common expression especially when you make an excuse like my example sentence that I added in my previous message. 😆
Yes, Vては+ いるのですが(formal) /いるのですけれども(polite) / いるのですが/いるけれども(casual) /いるんだけれども (casual)
Or sometimes you finish the sentence Vてはいます. In this case you can tell there is some kind of problem.
Ex. A: 日本語の勉強していないの？
B: やってはいます。
In this case, the speaker
FYI The similar expression is
VことはVっています/いる （が・けれども/のですが..）
頑張ることは頑張っているのですが = I do try hard but ~
Bonjour Blue
Thank you for spotting the mistake.
Originally I wrote a sentence, 明日、私は<荷物が届くので>出かけられません。 but I changed my mind and made it easier deleting 荷物が届くので part. Apparently I forgot to erase とどくので.
Thanks for the answer Maggie, but I thought the “what” was the function of なんたる, because when I looked it up, I found that なんたる means What (something) is like.
If I understood your lesson correctly, the function of か in this sentence would be to make the sentence have an interrogative tone, like: What is a king is like?
OK, I will try answering you in English.
Yes, なんたる means “what” ( I thought that what I meant by “que” in my previous message. 😅) and it has mainly two ways of using.
１） What ~! (interjection/exclamatory words) : Expressing one’s emotion
The same as なんて but it is more formal
なんてことだ = It’s unbelievable /Oh My God!! (Expressing one’s surprise)
→なんたることか！
2)The one you asked me is “what” as a relative pronoun
Nounはなんたるか = What ~ is / What ~ means
王とはなんであるか（ということ）を指導する
To teach what the king is (or what the king is supposed to be)
礼儀とはなんたるかを教えてあげなくてはいけない。
= We have to teach them what the manner is.
Hello Maggie-sensei ^^
I’d like to ask, how would you rate the politeness between (for example) やめないか vs. やめて? Or are they used in different contexts? Thank you!
やめないか has two meanings.
1) Stop it! (Command form. Telling someone to stop in a strong way expressing one’s angry feelings.): Male speech/pretty rough
Compare to やめて, it sounds much stronger.
2) Why don’t we stop? : Male speech/rough
I believe it roughly translates to: ‘What should I buy so I can read this?’
I know ‘えば’ can mean ‘if’ or ‘when,’ , but it doesn’t seem to fit those translations. I think it may be used to express the idea of ‘should.’ Perhaps it’s a shortened form of ‘買えばいい’, but I’m not sure.
Thank you in advance.
Hello luno. I’m good. Lunoも元気？
何を買えば is a condition for the following sentence 読める to be able to read
What should I buy to (in order to) read this?
Hello Maggie (again),
I’m trying to understand this sentence but it’s all mixed up in my head (I mean I understand the meaning but I couldn’t rewrite this because I don’t understand the grammar)
「毎日お前と会えることが十分に価値のあることだ」
毎日お前と会えることが : Seeing you everyday…
Until here it’s okay… and after that it’s the circus, all the words and particles are mixed up!
十分に価値のある : I thought the expression was 価値は十分にある
〜のある : what is 〜のある? Is it the same as 〜がある? 価値 is a noun here, so の can’t be a nominalizer
あること : why is it あること and not ことある? or ことがある?
Maybe it’s just some expressions or vocabulary I lack. Thank you again Sensei!
My question is about the よう (hence the lesson) in this sentence:
「文芸部に入部するようお前が説得してくれて本当に良かったと思ってるんだ」
“I’m really happy that you convinced me to join the club.”
Your lesson mentions the use of よう〜 (ような or ように) but not よう alone. I thought maybe it was some kind of contraction in casual speech but even the notion of similarity (as, like) of よう does not appear here is not obvious to me. “You convinced me like to join the club” makes no sense. So what is the purpose of よう here?
Hi Gaspatcher
This よう belongs to the usage
→the other usages of よう ( = you) besides the meaning of “as/like”
(From my lesson)
1) ように ( = youni) = to do something ~ in order to do ~ / so that ~ / in such a way ~
(to intend to make things work as you hope)
★verb (→the result you hope, your goal/non-volitional verb/ verb potential form ) ように ( = youni) + verb (what to do/what you did/ to hope, to wish)
⬇️
Your sentence 文芸部に入部するよう means “to join the literary club” with the purpose or intention of doing so. It describes the result or goal that “you” (the listener or someone mentioned in the conversation) hoped or intended to achieve thinking of the speaker.
And, Yes, in casual conversation, you can omit に and just say よう in this usage.
Do you know anyway to view your tweets without [log in to twitter?]
When I search google I can only see your old tweets
いつも ども ありがとう。
Hi soleyman
I checked it myself with other browser. You are right. Unless you don’t log in, you can’t see other people’s tweets.
(FYI Patreon ありがとうx 10 tier members can get Monthly Tweets (PDF file with all my tweets lessons with an audio file every month.)
Hello Maggie,
Sorry for spamming, I’m on a rampage of questions haha!
You said in your lesson “to give a reason” is のせいで but here it’s なせいで
でもわたしが自分勝手なせいで……
どれほど酷い人間なのかを見せてしまった
I noticed several times that な is replacing の. Is it the same case here? When do I know when to use な or の after a noun?
Good question. I have been thinking about making more detailed lesson on せいで and おかげで.
I mainly introduced the usage of Noun + の + せいで in this lesson.
But you can use せいで with verbs and adjectives as well.
verb (present/past tense, etc.) + せいで
i-adjective + せいで （→past tense i-adjective 〜かった＋せいで）
na-adjective + せいで (→past tense na-adjective + だったせいで）
noun + の + せいで (→past tense noun + だったせいで）
自分勝手/勝手 is actually na-adjective 自分勝手な（人・人間）
→自分勝手なせいで
How are you doing? I don’t know how is your summer in Japan but here in Europe, it’s a burning hell! I would like to go to Sweden for some days to get some fresh air! It’s not much, but I noticed lately I’m reading faster (I can “cut” the words faster in-live instead of reading the whole line then process to cut each word to have the sentence makes sense), so I wanted to share that with you (even though this is a little improvement)
Now question time to my sensei. In the sentence 「全部俺に教えてくれれば！」, I understand he says “If only you told me everything” but in the official translation he says “All you had to do was tell me!”
I understand sometimes the translation adapts to the language, but I would like to know the literal translation of the Japanese version.
To give you some context,
お前の毎日が少しでも良くなるように、どんな小さな努力でもしたのに！
そのための友達だろ！
全部俺に教えてくれれば！
Thank you Maggie!
Hi Gaspatcher
First of all, I am happy to hear that you can read faster now. It is an important skill to understand the context without reading every single word.
It has been very hot in Japan, too.Going to Sweden sounds like a great idea.
The translation is correct.
If only you told me everything/All you had to do was tell me!
Or you can say “If you had told me everything.”
I think you know but the speaker added the sentence last but 全部俺に教えてくれれば is a condition
The right order is ~れば〜のに
So let me rephrase it for you to see the structure better.
全部俺に教えてくれればお前の毎日が少しでも良くなるように、どんな小さな努力でもしたのに！
If you had told me everything, I would have made even a small effort to make your everyday life a little better!
Thank you so much! Makes more sense now! I didn’t understand why there was a condition and he stops like that… With the restructuration, it’s much more understandable. Is this order natural when speaking? Or is it because he speaks out words without structuring them before, but the listener can still understand (not me)
My original question actually was for the 全部. Was it the subject All (you had to do) or the object (tell everything). It seems both are acceptable, so again, we can understand this sentence in many ways, daro?
If only you told me everything! (object) 全部(を)?
All you had to do was tell me! (subject) 全部(は)?
Maybe I’m too focused on the details, but that kind of stuff bothers me hahaha!
1) Is this order natural when speaking?
Using the inversion method allows for changing the order of sentences, adding important information at the end to leave a stronger impression. You usually use this method in writing （especially lyrics)
In spoken language, people use the inversion method not just to create an impact but also when they just add something important.
2) 全部 is an object. 全部 ( = 全てのことを)教えてくれれば
Thank youuuu!
You’re welcome! ☺️
Hello Maggie,
I couldn’t find a lesson about that but what does the 分 mean after a verb?
なんで他の人が頑張った分をわたしが無駄遣いしてしまうの？
Is it to show some extent or something like that?
This 分 indicate the “portion” or “share” of effort that other people have put in.
Hi again, Gaspatcher
This 分 indicate the “portion” or “share” of effort that other people have put in. z
The literal translation is “Why do I end up wasting the portion of effort that other people have put in?” which means, “Why do I end up wasting other people’s efforts?”
Thank you Maggie! You’re always so kind!
You’re very welcome! :)
Hello Maggie sensei. Your lessons are amazing, you put so much work into them!
As a teacher of English, I totally agree that textbooks are full of boring grammar rules. Making a lesson interesting is what all schools around the world should do. I wonder when they will realise and change methods? I’m so glad your site exists! It helped me a lot in the past and it’s helping me now too. THANK YOU for everything!! ^__^
Hi madridimi
Thank you so much for your comment. Your kind words made my day. I am sure you are an amazing English teacher. Rest assured, I will do my best to keep making more Japanese lessons that will help you in your journey to learn Japanese.
Love,
Maggie
Hello Maggie,
I have a really hard time to understand the structure of this sentence:
「完璧に無価値なわたしがやるようなことなんて何もないもん」
I understand that:
– 完璧に is an adverb with に modifying a な-adjective: perfectly
– 無価値な is a noun becoming an adjective with the な-particle: worthlessness -> worthless
– やるようなことなんて何もない: ような modifies ことなんて何もない with なんて emphasizing the negative sentence
– もん gives a childish way of expressing her feelings
So I see many different translations, which is the correct one:
“There’s absolutely nothing to do, for someone as perfectly worthless as me.”
“There’s absolutely nothing, someone as perfectly worthless as me, could do.”
“There’s absolutely no way there’s anything someone as perfectly worthless as I am could do, right?”
If you need context, she says before
「なんで毎朝学校に遅刻してるか分かる？」- Do you know why I’m (always) late to school every morning?
「いつも、ベッドから起き上がる理由を見つけられないから」- Because, every time, I can’t find a reason to get out of bed.
「完璧に無価値なわたしがやるようなことなんて何もないもん」- ???
I think the first one is the closest translation for the sentence.
If you interpret やること as something you could do then the second translation works too.
The nuance difference is
やることがない can be translated “There is nothing to do” , “There is nothing I could do.” , “There is nothing I want to do” ,etc.
Since the subject has a description, 完璧に無価値な, so judging from the context, I think “There is nothing I could do.” may sound more natural.
Good afternoon Maggie. I would like to know the meaning of やろ in the following sentence: これ絶対今年のfesでやる気やろと思ってたのに……ｗ
Is this an expression attached to やる気 or does it have a standalone meaning?
Hi Mario,
やろ is a very casual speech and it is originally from Kansai dialect.
It means だろう
やる気やろと思ってた ←やる気(なん)だろうと思っていたのに
おはようMaggie Sensei, お久しぶりですよ!
I’m so happy to see your lessons are still on the first page when I have a question related to Japanese!
My question is about the particle は and を. In a visual novel, a character is asking:
今日モニカの手伝いはしないのかよ？
I saw that to say “to help ~” it’s more 手伝いをする and not 手伝いはする. What is the difference between both? Is it because we just want to say 手伝いする with は emphasizing 手伝い?
Thank you Maggie-sensei!
手伝いをする 手伝い (help) + を (=object marker) + する ( = to do ) = to help
You can also just say 手伝う
手伝いはする As you say you use は has a couple of functions, topic, showing the contrast, emphasizing what comes before.
It depends on the context but from just that sentence, it could be just bringing up a topic.
(I think you wrote the same message twice. I erased one of them.)
It depends on the context but from just that sentence, it could be just bringing up a topic. > OK makes sense, because the speaker wants to confirm what she’s doing today. “Aren’t you going to help Monika today?”, maybe that’s why は is used here, to introduce the new topic. What was said before was:
でも、お前はどうなんだよ
今日モニカの手伝いはしないのかよ？
(I think you wrote the same message twice. I erased one of them.) > Yeah I wanted to delete it myself, but I couldn’t, thank you!
I’m not sure if this is the same use of でいい, but I have a big problem with sentences like this one:
ここ万博会場でいいんですよね？
Context: a man looking for the world fair venue finds himself in an odd place, so he’s trying to make sure. I think this should mean “Are you sure this is the world fair venue?” or “This is the world fair venue, right?”, but I can’t understand why.
I’m guessing there’s a は omitted here: “ここは万博会場…”, so according to this lesson, shouldn’t it mean “It’s fine for this place to be the world fair venue, isn’t it?” ?
Couldn’t it just be “ここは万博会場ですよね？”
I understand how でいい works, when it follows a simple noun (like in this lesson’s examples) or it’s a part of a verb (～ていい/～でいい), but I guess here it follows an “A is B” sentence and I can’t wrap my head around it.
Ah OK. The usage of でいい in this lesson is mainly to express one’s preference.
でいい in your example sentence ここ万博会場でいいんですよね？ is used when you confirm something checking something is OK/right/correct.
You can rephrase it ここは、万博会場ということでいいですか？ ( = 合っていますか？ )
The literal translation “Is it right that this place is Expo site? ” →Is this Expo site, right? Am I correct?”
It’s very hard to find something about this, because if you try to look up “でいい”, all you get are preferences and asking for permission, so your reply was a huge help.
Good question. You change the way you read 中 depending on the word.
今年中 = ことしじゅう = kotoshijuu
明日中 = あしたじゅう = ashitajuu /あすじゅう = asujuu
***
一日中 = いちにちじゅう = ichinenjuu
一年中 = いちねんじゅう = ichinennuu
but you read ちゅう = chuu in the following words.
今月中 = こんげつちゅう = kongetsuchuu
今週中 = こんしゅうちゅう = konshuuchuu
***
午前中 =ごぜんちゅう = gozenchuu
I explained the usage of としても in my として lesson. Link is here.
However, I haven’t made the lesson on the usage of としても・としたって of hypothetical (in the meaning of “even if”) yet. Maybe I should add it to a request lesson.
Good afternoon Maggie. I would like you to translate the following sentence: 間隔が狭いところは人が集まるのを避けるべきです。
I translate as: You should avoid gathering people when the gap is narrow. But I’m not sure if it’s right.
Hi Mario
I wonder what kind of place they are talking about with 間隔が狭い in the context but you should change the subject. Not “you” but “people”. Your translation means “人を集める”
People should avoid gathering in a narrow (spaced) area.
a few days ago I left a comment in the discussion dedicated to hazu (maybe my comment got lost because I didn’t get the answer, so I’ll rewrite it here if I don’t disturb)
Is the following sentence correct? Xのものだったはずの帽子…
why instead of はずだった is written だったはず ? I’m confused
—–
but there is some problem with the blog? I can’t send comments normally…the error message often comes out
Hi floccio
I’m so sorry that I haven’t answered your question. I remembered that I saw your message but it slipped my mind while answering to other person’s question.
I wonder why you get the error message often. 🤔
(If you leave a comment for the first time, I have to approve it before it appears on the blog. So until I approve your comment, you won’t see it. Even if it’s your second time commenting, but you use a different email address, I still need to approve it before it becomes visible.)
Anyway, let me answer your question here.
X のものだったはずの帽子 = the hat which was supposed to belong to X
I guess you can use はずだった if you finish the sentence with it.
それはXの帽子のはずだった。
It was supposed to be X’s hat.
Good night Maggie. I came across a sentence and I don’t understand a part of it.
The sentence is as follows: どんな理由からにしろ何も言わずに仕事を辞めるのは無責任すぎる。
I don’t understand the following part: どんな理由からにしろ. Can you explain each part of that part?
Hi Patrick
Sure. First ~にしろ means にしても →(more conversational) でも (even though/even if/regardless )
どんな理由からにしろ →どんな理由でも for whatever reason
Thanks for the reply Maggie. But what about the から? Does it have a function or do you think it was a mistake and that I should remove it?
~という理由から仕事を辞めた
Since 理由 already has a meaning of “reason”, it may look redundant but から indicates a reason.
You can also say ~という理由で仕事を辞めた
And if you want to rephrase it with にしろ
どんな理由にしろ〜 as well.
Hello maggie sensei,
Thank you as always.
I have a question
How do you say “risky choice in Japanese”
There are some option I have thought as below
1. 際どい選択肢
２．危険な選択肢
３．リスクがある選択肢
４．危うい選択肢
Or do you have any other idea to answer the question?
Hi Nanpa
They are all good but I would change 4 to 危ない
And you say 選択肢 when you have options. You can just say 選択.
Hi Nanpa
They are all good but I would change 4 to 危ない
And you say 選択肢 when you have options. You can just say 選択.
(Or if you are talking about decision 決断)
こんにちは、マギー先生!
単語の質問があります。(時々、辞書が全然役に立たないなぁ^^;）
__ “To have a cow” is an expression that means “to become very angry.”
こんにちは、Sora!
どれでも大丈夫です。
もとの英語が”expression”だから「表現」でもいいと思います。
Ex. 〜という表現があります。
Ex. 〜という表現の意味は〜です。
不自然ではありません。表現の代わりに「言い回し」も使います。
元の英語とは少し違いますが、
もし idiomという言い方にするならば慣用句
to have a cowはことわざではないのでこの場合は使いませんが、proverbならば諺（ことわざ）を使います。
ありがとうございました！
could i ask a question?
Is the following sentence correct? Xのものだったはずの帽子…
why instead of はずだった is written だったはず ?
I’m confused
hello sensei, i found your grammar lesson on internet , and i have 1 question related to this blog post
Hope you can explains to me what does this character mean ? いやー、乗ってきた。
Context: MC is eating lunch at school together with his big sisters, at their class (they went to a same school, but his big sisters are 1 year older than him). Both of them want to feed MC with the side dishes from their bento box.
Note: the 3rd big sister of MC is a class rep with serious + tsundere personality, while the 4th one is mischievous (like to tease other people)
彰吾 (MC)「あ、あーん……むぐっ」
三空 (3rd Big sister)「……ど、どうかしら」
彰吾「はむ……むぐっ……うん。そりゃもう……三空ねぇの卵焼きは絶品だよ」
三空「そ、そう。それなら良かったわ。よく噛んで食べなさい？」
詩桜 (4th Big sister)「んっふふー、みーちゃん嬉しそうな顔しちゃって」
三空「何をニヤニヤしてるのよ。別にいいでしょう？」
詩桜「やっぱみーちゃんも、したかったんじゃん」
三空「だ、だったらどうだって言うの」
女子生徒Ｃ「へぇー、三空ちゃんも弟さんの前だとあんな感じなんだ」
女子生徒Ｄ「ねっ、結構可愛いよね」
三空「～～っ！」
詩桜「くふふっ、赤くなってる。いやー、たーのしいねぇ？」
三空「人をからかって楽しむんじゃありません！ もう！」
詩桜「いやー、乗ってきた。次は、これ行ってみよう、あーん」(>> I don’t understand this part)
I watched a video by Miku Real Japanese, but i am still a bit confused on the difference between “Mitaina” and “ttekanji” (and “mitainakanji”). She Said they are interchangeable, except you can use “ttekanji” to quotes what you just said, similar to “she was like…”in English. Could you maybe simply the differences and nuances of “mitaina”, “ttekanji”, and “Mitainakanji”?
Are you talking about the usage when you finish the sentence with みたいな/ って感じ/みたいな感じ？
They are all very conversational and not much difference.
But let me give you one super conversational example.
For example when you express your opinion, 「それは違うな」That is not true, That is wrong
A) それは違うなって感じ
B) それは違うなみたいな…
C) それは違うなみたいな感じ
They are all ambiguous expressions but the level of ambiguousness is
B>C>A
That means みたいな is a softer way to express one’s opinion because you leave the sentence unfinished.
C is a kind of combination of A and B
But over all, it depends on the context and the speaker’s conversational habit.
I was in the midst of translating Yotsuba! and came across this sentence
“いつものこ事だから心配しなくても…”
The translation seems to be “This always happens, you don’t have to worry.” My question is, does it still directly translate to “even if you don’t worry,” or is the “いい” after implied and is this form common?
It is pretty common to leave the sentence unfinished when you avoid straightforward expression or when it is something obvious.
The whole sentence should be
いつものことだから心配しなくても（いいよ)
So you are right. They omitted the last part, いい (いいよ） and the translation is correct.
I have a question about the verb tetsudau 手伝う.
If I want to say: Thank you very much helping me. I need to make sure to add -kurete.
手 て 伝 つだ ってくれてありがとう ございます.
Or another example:
Thank you for teaching me Japanese.
日本語を教えてくれてありがとう.
But if I was talking to someone about my husband and want to say “My husband helps me a lot with the chores around the house.”
Or
“My husband tries to help me and teach me Japanese when he has time.”
How do I construct these sentences and do I still need to add kureru?
Thank you so much.
Hi Mini House
You can express your appreciation with くれる
So if you meant to say your husband did something “for you”, you use くれる
“My husband helps me a lot with the chores around the house.”
→主人が家事をよく手伝ってくれる
“My husband tries to help me and teach me Japanese when he has time.”
主人が時間がある時は、手伝ってくれるし、日本語を教えてくれる
Good night Maggie. I came across a sentence and didn’t understand a part of it. The sentence is as follows: 今度の台風では最悪の事態は避けられたにしても、被害は甚大だ。
I didn’t understand the role of the で particle in this sentence.
Hi Satorou
で in that sentence means “in” (in this typhoon)
By attaching は, you show the contrast. We could avoid the worst case in this typhoon (but maybe not in other typhoons (in the past or in the future)
Hello,
I’m trying to say “Even though I’ve studied for so long, I’m still not good at all.” Which one of these, if any, would be correct?
In that case it will be more natural just to use のに
こんなに長い間、勉強したのに全く上手にならない。
（ 長い間”を”→長い間）
For example if you compare two people and show the contrast, you can use 対して
Aさんは長い間勉強したのに対してAさんは全く勉強していなかった。
While A has been studying for a long time, A hasn’t studied at all.
Hello Maggie!
Your lessons are great as always, but I have a question about のに in the meaning of “would have… / could have…”
Does the verb have to be in the casual (た) form of past tense or I can also use the polite form (い)ました+のに?
For example:
日本にいたら、チケットの数枚を買いましたのに。
I think it would be better to point it out in the article, it might help someone else.
Hi Maggie-sensei.
Sorry to bother you but I think there might be a problem with the comments on your website. For example, I left a comment on your latest lesson 2 days ago but I do not see my comment. I know that you replied to it because it said so in the “Recent comments” section but when I look I don’t see your reply either. When I look at Maggie’s Room, the latest post I can see is Mini House on May 19, but I know someone else made a post since then but I can’t see it either.
It had been the case for a few weeks now. I checked on a different computer and on my phone and I can’t see it either. I’m wondering if something happened? I’m not sure if this message will be posted once I press submit or if I will see your reply but I wanted to let you know in case you know what is happening.
Hello Luna
Thank you for informing me about the commenting issues. It appears that there may be a glitch of some sort. The site has experienced some problems in the past few months, so it could be related to that. I apologize for any inconvenience caused. I hope you can read this comment.
***
Update:
I tried something. Your comment should appear now. Let me know if it doesn’t.
I can see all the comments now! You fixed it!
Thank you! :)
やった〜！！(*^^*)
Thank YOU for telling me about the comments, too!!
Hello maggie sensei.
Please can you tell me the difference between nichi and hi as i saw they can both mean “day”?thank you
Hello Yenicall
OK,
にち (= nichi) is a counter for days
From 2 ~ 10 days you use the special counter (2 days = ふつか, 3 days みっか = mikka, etc) but after 11 days, you say number + にち ( = nichi)
11にち ( 11 days)
12にち ( 12 days)
19にち ( 10 days)
ひ (= hi) is used to refer to a day
It is a nice day today
今日はいい日です。
= きょうはいいひです。
= Kyou wa ii hi desu.
(You can’t say にち= nichi)
what is there are living things in an inanimate object? like if there are people on a cover of a magazine or animals in a photo. would you use いる or ある or some other verb?
Thank you for all your wonderful lessons as always.
I am struggling with a few phrases and jut wanted to check if they sound correct and natural in Japanese?
The more Japanese I study, the more confused I get.
日本語勉強すればするほど、わからなくなる。
Is your baby sleeping well?
赤ちゃんよく寝ますか？
Our little baby really does not like wearing his shoes.
あかちゃんわほんとに靴がはいるきらいいです。
I guess all children develop differently.
子どものはそれぞれは立つ違うと思います。
Hello Mini House
１）日本語勉強すればするほど、わからなくなる。
Missing a particle after 日本語
Two possibilities
日本語を (object marker) or if it is a topic 日本語は
２）赤ちゃんよく寝ますか？
For conversation, you can say that. For writing add a particle
→赤ちゃんは、よく寝ますか？
いつもありがとうございます。
Is this sentence correct? I want to say: My name is House. I am very sorry I am late. I am here to pick up my daughter.
こんにちは。ハウスともうします。遅くなりました、申し訳ありません。娘大迎欲しいです。
And also, how do I say: “I would like to pick up my daughter earlier today at 1 PM.”
Thank you very much.
Hi Mini
元気でしたか？
OK, let me help you.
こんにちは。ハウスともうします。遅くなりました、申し訳ありません。娘大迎欲しいです。
→こんにちは、ハウスともうします。遅くなって申し訳ありません。娘を迎（むか）えにきました。
I would like to pick up my daughter earlier today at 1 PM.”
→今日は、早めに１時に娘を迎えに行きたいのですが。
Thank you so much for taking the time to reply to my questions, Maggie-sensei.
That helped a lot – I very much appreciate it – thank you!
You’re very welcome ❤️
Hello maggie sensei,
Can you please tell me how the “masen ka” form used to make invitations should be translate? I get a little bit confused. For exemple in the following sentence: bangohan o tabemasen ka? I have seen some explanations telling it can be translated as “won’t you eat?” And some instead translating it as ” would you like to eat?”. What is the correct translation?
Also what is the différence between “masen ka” and “mashou ka”? Thanks in advance
Hi Yenicall
I already answered your question. Please check your previous comment.
Hello maggie sensei,
I am confused about the use and translation of “masen ka” when making an invitation. For exemple in the following sentence : bangohan o tabemasen ka? I’ve seen some translating it as won’t you eat? And some translating it as will you (like to) eat? What is the correct translation?
Also can you tell me the difference between mashou, mashou ka and masen ka when used to make invitations? Thank you in advance
Hello Yenicall
OK, many people (especially when they have started to learn Japanese) seem to have a problem understanding the nuance difference between mashou, mashou ka masen ka, so I will make a lesson sometime.
1) masen ka?
Ex. Tabemasen ka? = It could be 1) You are not going to eat? or 2) Would you like to eat? (invitation) (invitation) depending on the context and the intonation.
For example someone wouldn’t eat something, you ask これ、食べませんか？ = Kore tabemasen ka? = You are not going to eat this?
But if you offer some food to someone, you also say これ、食べませんか？ = Kore tabemasen ka? = Would you like to eat this?
2) mashou
It means Let’s ~
So imagine the food is already served in front of you and you tell someone at the table,
So, Ex. さあ、食べましょう！ ＝Saa, tabemashou! = Let’s eat.
3) mashou ka?
Again it changes the meaning depending on the context
(1) Do you want me to do something for you?
Ex. 手伝いましょうか？ = Tetsudaimashou ka? = Do you need my help? / May I help you?
(2) Shall we do ~ ?
Ex. そろそろいきましょうか？ = Sorosoro ikimashou ka? = Shall we go now? (But you may see the translation Let’s go)
If I say “A half hearted man” would it be correct.
Hello ホットサンド
Yes you can translate that.
中途半端男 It refers to a man who lacks dedication to a task, or who does things in a half-hearted or incomplete way.
Thank you for featuring my pets and thank you for the nice lesson! It made me smile. I hope you have a wonderful day!
Good afternoon Maggie. I had some doubts about a phrase I found. The sentence is as follows: 発言の自由は政府支配の新しい触手によって年々むしばまれつつある。
1 – What is the function of つつある?
2 – Is 発言 only for written things? or just for spoken things?
3 – What does むしばむ mean?
4 – This word is not in the sentence, but I would like to know the meaning of: がっつく. I had a little trouble understanding.
Hi Sora
1. Verb+ つつある = (literal expression) be in the process of doing something (expressing the on-going change)
2. 発言 is for spoken thing
3. むしばむ = to erode (passive form) むしばまれる to be eroded （To be affected by something negative)
4. がっつく = eating like a pig. It can be used to express someone greedy
Thanks for the reply Maggie. But I was left with a doubt. What is the difference between Verb + ている and Verb + つつある.
Hi Sora
つつある focusing on the process of doing something (on-going change) towards completion. It is used in a formal speech or writing.
Ex. 戦争が終わりつつある。The war is coming to an end
If you just express what one is doing or the current state, you use ている
Ex. テレビがついている = The TV is on. (current state/condition) →You can’t say テレビがつきつつある
Ex. 手紙を書いている = I am writing a letter. (The action is happening right now and it focusing on the current action) →You can’t say 書きつつある
Thank you so much!
Would you know how to pronounce katakana when there is a vowel used instead of the nobasu?
For example: ケアウホウ
It is a name of a town/beach in hawaii
In this case ホウ is used instead of ホー
In these cases, would one pronounce the vowel? Like ホ・ウ (ho-u)
It depends on the word and it could be very different from the original sound.
As you said, the original “ho” could be closer to ホー but ケアウホウ （Bay = 湾(わん）) is commonly used for the bay.
The thing is you don’t always pronounce the Japanese vowels あいうえお/アイウエオ when they are combined with consonants
Ex. ほうりつ (法律） houritsu = law ➡️Actual pronunciation is hōritsu (ō = stretching “o” sounds)
I see! If I understand, even with ホウ the same rule applies and one would say this like hō (stretched)
So even in katakana, generally whether a nobasu or vowel is used (ホー/ホウ) this just means the consonants are both being stretched. And it would be read as (hō).
And whether it shows up with ー or ウ in the name is more just a written formality.
Thanks just surprised me when I saw the vowel instead of the nobasu.
As I usually see in katakana the nobasu used to imply stretching the vowel (ニューヨーク/フィジー）
Likewise in hiragana the vowel is used instead as you say. (ほうりつ/りょこう）
So when I saw ホウ instead of ホー I wasn’t sure if that had meant to pronounce the vowel! (笑）
Thank you very much for your explanation! If not mistaken I think I got it now and was just overthinking it.
So even in katakana, generally whether a nobasu or vowel is used (ホー/ホウ) this just means the consonants are both being stretched. And it would be read as (hō).
→That’s right.
So you know how to write katakana for the well-known things, places, countries, people’s names such as ニューヨーク、フィジー, ヨークシャ(ー）, ドーナツ,etc. However if you hear uncommon names, it is very natural to get confused whether you stretch the vowel or use the vowels. :)
1) Is the following sentence correct/natural?
What is the difference betw と する and に する
「貨物船」とは、貨物 を 輸送 する 船舶です。
Kamotsusen is a vessel that carries cargo
ライオン は にく を えさ と する。
Lions feed on meat
鯨くじら は プランクトン を えさ と する。
Whales feed on plankton
パンダ は ささ を えさ に する。
Pandas feed on bamboo grass
2) As for Hen is it pronounce as medori or mendori or ..,?
( google translate = mesudori )
雄鶏 おんどり Rooster
雌鶏 めんどり Hen
Thanks
Hi soleyman
1) You can say both えさとする and えさにする
にする is more conversational and とする is more formal.
2) 雌鶏 can be read めどり or めんどり. (Originally めどり but I would say it is more common to say めんどり in conversation.)
Good morning Maggie. I would like her help to understand the following sentence: 泥棒は盗むのが商売 、たとえそれが人の心だとしてもね。
I understand the たとえ~ても structure, but why use とする?
Hi Berserk
たとえ〜ても and たとえ〜としても mean the same. としても emphasizes hypothetical situation more.
Thanks for the lesson!
In these sentences:
日曜日は何もしないで過ごしました
昨日の夜は、一睡もしないでゲームをしていた。
Why is it しないで and not しなくて ? It’s not telling someone not to do something, it’s talking about yourself so I’m confused.
Hi Evon
何も is used in a negative sentence.
何も美味しくない Nothing is delicious.
何 in that sentence is actually an object so you use an object marker を
何を食べますか？ What would you like to eat?
魚を食べます I will have fish.
And
何を〜ても is a sentence pattern and it means “whatever you do ~ = everything one does ~ is ~ ”
何をしても面白い Whatever someone does is funny = Everything someone does is funny
何を読んでもつまらない Whatever I read is boring. = Everything I read is boring.
If you want to say this sentence without a verb, you can use 何でも
何でも美味しい
Hello maggie. I found this sentence: 中止命令に従わない場合は、5万円以下の罰金が科せられます。
The translation read: In case of non-compliance with the suspension order, a fine of up to 50,000 yen will be imposed.
I would like to know why 科せられます is in potential form and not just passive and negative.
Hello Leonardo
科せられます is a passive form.
The basic form is 科す or 科する
The passive form is either 科される or 科せられる
Hi there,
There is an anime is currently airing, its name is “推しの子 (Oshi no Ko)” and I translated it as “kid of my favorite idol” cuz the anime is about an idol named “Hoshino Ai”. But someone says it’s not true as it may be translated to one of those:
– the kid you support
– the kid who is a fan
– or the child of a fan
which is correct?
thank you.
Ah OK, it could be confusing because the literal meaning of the title can be “the kid you support” ( = the idol herself = “My favorite idol” ) but if the story is about the child whose mother is your favorite idol then your translation is right.
kid of my fav/ a child of my fav.
If you are focusing the idol herself you can still say 推しの子 so “My favorite idol” works.
I read the story but it is complicated, huh? The main character reincarnated as a child of his favorite idol.
The following two have different meanings
the kid who is a fan = ファンの子 ( A child who is your fan)
the child of a fan = ファンの子 (A child of your fan)
Hi everyone! Sorry that the site has been down and some of your recent comments were gone. I think I answered all your questions but if you haven’t read them yet, please ask me the questions again. I’ll be happy to answer your questions. Have a great weekend! いい週末を！🐶
Welcome back!
I had a question about the word 感じ, and I saw your answer. I learned something very interesting from your answer. First, this is what you said:
The reason why I asked you to reply in Japanese is that I want to stop learning Japanese by using English. I am trying to connect Japanese language direct to the world and direct to my own thoughts/impressions etc., without English getting in the way.
This is where the 「直接的な言い方を和らげる」 is important. In fact, a scientist was explaining a procedure to some students. I forgot to take that into account. In trying to make sense of what he said, I was putting myself in the position of the listener, and that was my mistake. When I put myself in the position of the scientist, talking to students, then I got closer to what I would be thinking/feeling (感じ?!) in that situation. When I did that, then the purpose of 「こんな感じで」starts to make more sense at a more intuitive level .. without the English translation.
I think that answers your last question?
私の日本語の説明で理解してもらえればうれしいです。
Good afternoon Maggie. I found the following sentence and had difficulty getting a part of it and would like your help if possible.
The sentence is as follows: それは氷のような砂糖菓子。
触れれば冷たさに指先が凍り、
舐めれば甘さに舌が痺れゆく。
まさに至宝と慕うにふさわしい―――
I can’t understand the part: 痺れゆく. Can you explain to me?
Hi Matheus
痺れゆく is a written language and it means 痺れていく going numb
thank you
どういたしまして 😊
Hi Matheus
痺れゆく is a written language and it means 痺れていく going numb
(ていく→ゆく） expresses the change, getting, going, becoming ~
No problem, Luna!
Yes, you can use 距離 in that context. 長距離（長い距離を）走る = to run a long distance
FYI 隔たり is often use to express a gap/difference
二人の意見には大きな隔たりがある
There is a wide gap in the opinions between the those two.
Hi! Maggie sensei, I’m wondering about this sentence…..
会いたかった なあ Does this mean “I’ve been wanting to meet you for long time”? and still looking forward to see you, right? Also what is the meaning of なあ? Someone told me that it’s like to show strong feeling of really wanted to meet. Is it? or actually it’s just suffix of the sentence, no emotional.
Hi Luck
会いたかったなあ I wish I could have seen you/him/her/them.
So you wanted to see someone but you missed the chance/you couldn’t.
By attaching な/なあ you can add the feelings (in this case regret)
Please check my lesson on な/なあ. Link is this https://bit.ly/3TOe1BD
Good night Maggie. I came across a sentence and would like to know if it is grammatically correct. The sentence is as follows: 私はこの怪物の弱点をついに見つけました。その神経もいつも以上に高ぶっております。
Hello Pedro
The first sentence is correct but the second sentence is not natural.
Hello Maggie-sensei!
I have a simple question. If my dog is 7 years old, I can say 犬は七歳です, right? But what if my dog is only 7 months old? Do I say 犬は七月歳です?
こんにちは、Luna
7 months old is just 7ヶ月
You can also add 生後=せいご before 7ヶ月
（生後=せいご）7ヶ月
Is the (noun)し(verb) construction common? I’ve come across the phrase 愛し創り上げる, which contextually I’m assuming means “lovingly create”/”create with love”, but I’m a bit confused about the grammar here.
It is hard to tell you by just the phrase without knowing the context but
愛し（あいし） in that sentence means “愛して” love (something/someone) and create ~
I think you know connecting verbs with te-form but you can also connect the verb with masu-stem
愛します→(masu-stem) delete ます 愛し
So it happened to be “し” but if it is a different verb, for example
食べて寝る = eat and sleep
食べ寝る (the masu-stem of 食べます is 食べ)
Hi Maggie, What is the difference between 角かど and 角かく ?
Got the following example sentences from websites; all of them is かど right??
とおり の 角 に たって いた。
I stood at the corner of the street
角 に おおきな 目印 が あります。
There is a big sign at the corner
角 で ひだり に 曲まがる。
Turn left at the corner
すいぎゅう は おおきな 角 を もって いる。
Buffaloes have big horns
すぐ 角、あかい の みせ です。
It’s the red shop just at the corner
Thank you せんせい
ps google translate it as tsuno
Hi soleyman!
角 = かど = corner
角 = つの = horn
So from your example sentence only
すいぎゅう は おおきな 角 を もって いる。
Buffaloes have big horns
is ”つの = horn”
Do you know if there is a difference between using に and で with the verb 保存する？
I would’ve guessed で、 but when I looked up native example sentences on Weblio, I saw examples using both に and で!
例 ファイルをディスクに保存する。
冷暗所で保存して下さい。
I can understand why に would be used. に often implies a destination or directionality. Basically, 「ディスクに保存する」implies that the disk is the destination of the file, or that the file is being moved to the disk in order to save it.
But で also makes sense, as it marks the location of an action such as in a 冷暗ところ。
Does this mean that both of these particles are interchangeable, and I can use either one?
Can 「冷暗所で保存して下さい」 also be 「冷暗所に保存して下さい」？
If so, is there a difference in nuance? For example, do these two sentences
画像をスマホに保存
画像をスマホで保存
mean the exact same thing?
ありがとうございます！
Sora
Hi Sora
Good. You figure out the function of に.
冷暗所（れいあんしょ）に保存して下さい
冷暗所で保存してください。
You can use them both. The difference is
に implies the object you put in 冷暗所 is somewhere else but you move it/them into the cold and dark place (ex. refrigerator)
And you use で when you indicate the place where you keep/conserve something.
画像をスマホに保存 (the file was somewhere else or even in the same cellphone, from where the pictures are to the file in the cellphone)
画像をスマホで保存 (You save the pictures “with” (tool) your cellphone.)
なるほど！とても分かりやすい説明です！
いつもありがとう、マギー先生！
どういたしまして💖
Hello sensei,
i must admit i forget the basic counting in japanese, can you please check whether it is right or not?
so in here you cannot use another form? you cannot use 個? i hear that 個 can be used to anything.
You can not use 個 with everything.
You use it with small items and if it is something small but is obviously long, you use 本
So 鉛筆一個, 箸一個、車一個 are not natural.
thank you very much sensei
No problem! :)
Hello Sensei,
Thank you as always
Can you please check this sentence?
I see how He is an inspiration to you. Your mindset towards life are really similar with him.
あなたは彼に霊感されることを私が理解しました。あなたと彼の人生に対する考え方がよく酷似していいます。
Hello ビーフレンダン
霊感 is something more spiritual (Ex. being psychic)
How about 彼がどれだけあなたに刺激を与えているのか (or 刺激を与える存在なのか) わかります。
We just say インスピレーション as well.
→（あなたが）どれだけ彼からインスピレーションを受けているかわかります。
The second sentence is fine but I would change よく酷似 (よく & 酷似 are redundant) to よく似ています。
Hello sensei,
i agree with you and want to add some point.
if i change 霊感 with 触発 will it be correct ?
あなたは彼に触発されることを私が理解しました
Yes, it sounds more literal but you can say 触発
But I would say あなたが彼に触発された （or if it is still going on →されている）ことがわかります。
Thank you very much sensei, love
🐶💖💖💖
Sorry Maggie. I forgot to put the phrase. The phrase is this: ガキはガキらしくよ、ニカーッと笑っていこうや。
Good night Maggie teacher
I would like to clear up some doubts regarding the following sentence:
Why is らしく in adverbial form? and why is よ in the middle of the sentence and not at the end? What is the function of the や at the end of the sentence?
This is a rough male speech
1) It is similar to さ・さあ (子供は子供らしくさあ） →rough ガキはガキらしくよ・よう
2) The last や is another rough way to say よ (→This よ is to encourage someone to do something. It is not rough like the one in 1).
笑っていこうよ →(rough) 笑っていこうよ
Good morning Maggie, I found a phrase and would like to understand something.
The sentence is as follows: あれもこれも、色々と興味深いものが目の前に現れる。
I would like to know the role of と (after 色々) in this sentence?
Hello Jack
色々と This と has a function as an adverb and it modifies a verb, 色々と現れる
Hello Maggie-sensei.
Could you tell me what じゃんじゃんやっちゃう means?
I see じゃんじゃん means continuously, but I’m not sure what this expression means.
Hi Miki
じゃんじゃん is onomatopoeia to express doing something heavily, vigorously, keep doing something a lot.
じゃんじゃんやっちゃう = Keep doing something more and more
じゃんじゃん飲んで = Keep drinking a lot!
Hello Sensei,
My previous post got deleted by the maintenance
I need your help to check the sentence
My locker is far away from my English classes. That is the reason why I carry all my books with me. Is it going to rain hard or just a drizzle?
私のロッカーは英語の教室まで遠く離れています。すべての本を持ち歩いているのはその理由があるからです。今日は大雨が降るのかそれとも小雨が降るのでしょうか？
Hi Alex
Sorry. I answered your question but the message was gone.
すべての本を持ち歩いているのはその理由があるからです。
→だからすべての本を持ち歩いています
you are the best, please help me again to check the sentences in the future.
thanks a lot
🐶💖💖💖
Good night Maggie. I came across a sentence and would like to know if it is right.
The phrase is this: 私たちはこれまで明日のことを皆はなしてきたから、さて、現実に戻って、今日のことを話そう
I had doubts if the kanji 皆 should be removed or if it is fulfilling some function
Hello i will answer on maggie sensei behalf.
it has function as adverb, it can mean
1. everyone 2. All
just translate it one by one
私たちはこれまで明日のことを皆はなしてきたから、
Because we all have talked the matter about tomorrow until now,
さて、現実に戻って、今日のことを話そう
for now, let’s go back to reality and talk about today
in sentence one you can see i translate 皆 as “all” and 私たち as “we”
@ビーフレンダン
Thank you for helping Brock.
Hi Sensei !
Thank you so much for everything you do for us, I’m studying and hope I’ll pass the JLPT this year and your website is so useful, I feel so grateful for everything you put here!
Best regards from France !
Hi Magou
Thank YOU for your kind message.
JLPTがんばってくださいね。私もレッスンがんばって作ります。😊
So… shorter form ため is more formal than ために, right? But can I use both forms in ALL examples above? How big is the difference between formal and less formal version? Will I sound weird if I use only ため in informal situation or conversely?
As I wrote in this lesson you san use either ため or ために in the examples of the usage 2) Expressing a reason/cause
If you are writing to your friends, ため is just fine but in conversation, it might sound slightly unnatural.
渋滞のため、着くのが遅くなりそうです。(formal conversation/ writing (formal and informal) )
渋滞のために、遅くなるよ。(informal)
Japanese has been an interest of mine for some time and while some may suspect it is my interest in Japanese media, like anime and manga, which sparked my interest. Such interests came later to me in life while my interest in the language was pre-existing.
It wasn’t until an old friend of mine suggested an educational video game series called “Learn Japanese to Survive” that I really started picking up the basics of the language and encouraged me to practice outside of the game. Now I feel like I have all of the Hiragana characters memories though my Katakana and Kanji could use some work. Though I am able to recognize some Kanji characters as well.
Besides Japanese, I’ve also enrolled in a beginner’s Spanish course as well so I feel confident that I could potentially read and write in that language at an early early level too. However, when it comes to speaking and hearing, as well as writing or reading for the case of Japanese, I feel slow.
It took me awhile before I feel like I could say I achieved mastery in the English language, my native tongue, and even then I still am prone to forgetfulness of certain grammar rules. Like those matter anymore in English speaking countries. lol The reason I believe for my difficulties in learning English and other languages like Spanish and Japanese is because I was a special needs student. I am a slow learner. So I guess I am writing this message to you to ask… do you know anyone willing to work with me in one-on-one sessions until I could attend a fluent level? I don’t have much money so my budget is limited, but I would forever be appreciative of you if you could point me in the direction of someone who could help teach me.
ありがとう
Hi Aliyah
It is a great idea to work on your speaking and taking a class on line. That way you can improve your Japanese. There are many Japanese on-line schools. Google “On line Japanese lesson”. The price is not that expensive, I believe. I hope it fits your budget.
And if you still can’t find a good teacher, write to me
through an email on the following page. http://142.93.68.150/about-us/
Hi Maggie-sensei! I thought this lesson was a bit difficult! Is it right to say that you would use てある only if you are currently seeing/experiencing the subject? For example, if I say: 壁にポスターが飾ってある,then I am probably looking at the poster on the wall right now. If the poster was in a different house, I would probably say 飾っている , right?
Another question, I sometimes hear ておる／ております Is it something completely different?
Hello ルナ
Maybe the English translation might have confused you for the example sentence.
Even if you are not looking at the poster right now, you can still describe the wall, 飾ってある
Here’s the difference
Ex. 壁にポスターが飾ってある (Describing the current state of the wall. Someone put the poster on the wall in the past and you are looking at the result.)
Ex. 壁にポスターを飾っている (The subject is a person (or a store) Someone is putting the poster on the wall (either right now or routine work, they usually put the poster on the wall.)
ておる is a humble expression of Vている
Ex. 鍵を預かっています。 ( We keep your key.)
→鍵をお預かりしております。
Hi ルナ again
猫カフェで、たくさん猫を見ていた > Focuses on me who saw cats at the cafe.
→Right. The speaker was looking at many cats.
猫カフェで、たくさん猫を見てあった > Focuses on the cats that I was able to see by going to the cafe.
→This sentence is not correct.
For example if someone who works there placed lots of toys for cats for the customers and the cats ahead of time and you describe the state, you can say
猫カフェには、猫のためにたくさんのおもちゃが置いてあった。
Ok. Would you say that てある is mostly used to describe inanimate objects?
Would this be correct: 猫を撫でてので、服に毛が付けってある
I’m sorry for so many questions D:
In that case you say
猫を撫でたので、服に毛がついた
As I wrote in the lesson, you intentionally do something and leave it
For example if you are looking at the clothes and there is a name tag on it (someone put the name tag on it and leave it for some reason) you say
服に名札がつけてある
So if you looking up the sky and it is cloudy, you say (1) but you won’t probably say (2)
If you see the sky is getting really dark and it looks like it’s gonna rain any minute, you say (2) because 降り出す has a meaning of “It is about to rain”
2.
(3) 「街灯にぶつかりそうになった女性」
(4) 「街灯にぶつかりそうになる女性」
If you are describing what has just happened more vividly, I would say (3) is more natural.
Thank you.
When you want to cheer up someone, you say 元気を出して、so if I wanted to say you make the “genki” come out of me, it’s still wrong to say 元気を出されます ?
出される is a passive form so you can’t use it in this case.
Though 元気にしてくれる/元気をくれる are much more natural, if you want to use the causative form
出される should be 出させる
（私の）元気を出させます/出させてくれます
1. The newspaper has several pages. The front page is called 一面 and ３面 technically means “the third page” but it refers to the social news page.
So you probably got the article from 日経新聞 but it refers to the section called きょうのことば where they explained a trend word of the day on the third page.
2. 勢 means “companies, entities, group” so 海外勢 means “foreign companies” in this context.
先生すごい
優しいだけではなく賢いです。
ありがとうございます
いえいえ、日本の新聞で勉強をしているビーフレンダンが賢いのですよ〜😉
Hello! About this sentence:
彼が私のこと好きかどうかわからなくなってきた
I asked a similar question the other day, but I’m still confused about the use of きた in sentences such as these. Why is it わからなくなってきた and not わからなくなった or わからなくなっていた?
Hi ルナ
Yes you can say わからなくなった/わからなくなっていた
but the nuance changes. The English translation could be the same so let me explain the difference.
１）わからなくなってきた Focusing on the moment when she is speaking.
Describing the change from the certain moment in the past to the present moment. She thought he had liked her but she is getting confused and losing the confidence.
The change is happening now.
2) わからなくなった I don’t know his feelings anymore.
English translation is “present tense” but she’s already done defying her feelings.
3) わからくなっていた is describing the state (not the change) in the past.
So again, you can use all of them but it depends on how you want to express it. (focusing on the change from the past up to now, the change in the past, the state on the present moment, etc.)
FYI
I have a lesson on
ていく てくる So please check the lesson when you have time.
Link: Click here
させた I let my daughter do whatever she wanted. (Talking about the specific time in the past.
させてきた is I have been letting my daughter. (Expressing the duration of time from some time in the past up to the moment when they are talking.)
I have a question sort of related to shopping, but hard to categorise.
I left a clothes shop the other day and as I was exiting, the alarm went off.
I waited politely for someone to come and check, but I didn’t know how to say:
“Your store alarms went off.’
Or
“I am not sure why… but your store alarms went off?”
When you want to tell them the alarm goes off even though you paid
すみません、アラームが鳴ったんですが…
= Sumimasen. Alarm ga nattan desu ga…
= Excuse me. The alarm went off..
You can add
このまま出てもいいですか？
= Kono mama dete mo ii desu ka?
= Can I just leave?
Good night Maggie. I have doubts about two sentences and I would like you to answer these doubts.
The first sentence is: アラビア語を独習したいのですが良い参考書を教えてください。I would like to know the が function in this sentence.
The second sentence is: 台湾はグルメも良し、観光も良し、ショッピングも良しと、魅力たっぷりの観光地だ。I would like to know the function of と in this sentence.
Hi Mutuio
1) が has many different functions but this が is just to connect the sentence. “so”/”and”
You often leave the sentence with が without finishing it.
Vたいのですが + (what should I do/Do you have any advice?/ Can you help me?, etc.)
2) と in that sentence is to give examples and quote them.
I think you know the pattern AというB B which is A
You sometimes omit という/といった
〜ショッピングもよしと（いった(ように）)、魅力たっぷりの〜
Hi, Maggie-sensei! I love your posts very-very much, thank you for your work!
My question is about this example: 彼女はまだ２０歳にはなっていないはずだ
I didn’t know we can use wa twice in one sentence – it’s like we have two topics of the sentence. Could you elaborate on that please? Are there any tips/rules for using wa multiple times in a sentence?
You are right. You tend to avoid using the same particle because repeating the same particle may look/sound confusing.
彼女はまだ２０歳にはなっていないはずだ
You can say
彼女はまだ２０歳になっていないはずだ as well but the nuance changes a little.
彼女は this は is a topic marker
20歳には→ this は is to show the contrast. (showing the contrast of 20 years old and other ages. For example, maybe she is close to 20, like 19 years old but not she hasn’t turned 20 yet.)
So even if there are two は, it won’t be confusing.
I will show you another example.
この会社は、給料はいいが、仕事が多い。
= This company offers good salary but gave us a lot of work.
まんざらでもない is a vague Japanese expression and it means “not so bad/ not totally bad and actually something is good” ./someone seems kind of satisfied or happy with something.
女の子の服もまんざらじゃなさそうだし
I don’t know the situation but
It seems like the girl’s outfits are not so bad.or The person who is wearing girl’s outfits seems to like wearing them.
Ah, thank you much sensei
The reason i got confused is because in some site i found an explanation that say まんざら＝必ずしも。
The scene is the tomboy girl is trying the dress, She is usually using boy clothes and when she tried to try skirt, She said to herself (女の子の服もまんざらじゃなさそうだし)
ありがとうございます。
まんざら is not exactly the same as 必ずしも.
You often use まんざらじゃない/ まんざらでもない in the situation like you expect someone would be unhappy with something but actually they actually kind of like it.
So in your example sentence, you assume the girl would hate that skirt because she was complaining or she usually hates wearing a skirt.
But once she puts it on, she looks rather happy with it. Though she is not saying anything, you can see she is thinking “Hey, this is not that bad. I actually like it.”
right, really appreciate for the help
My pleasure! :)
Maggie-sensei,
Happy New Year! 今年もよろしくお願いします。
I find your blog extremely helpful and one of the most useful out there. Thank you for all your work and effort.
I wondered if you could create a lesson on
こじんめんだん at Japanese kindergartens. It’s something that I am really struggling with.
Any phrases/vocabulary similar to the below would be super appreciated!
*My child has been toilet-trained.
*She goes to the potty by herself at home, but cannot go by herself outside the house.
*She speaks English at home and can only say a few single Japanese words.
*How is she doing at school.
*Ways to talk about one’s child: She is stubborn/independent/sociable/scared of strangers/quiet/very active at home.
*She holds food in her mouth./ I am worried about choking hazards.
and so on.
Thank you so much.
Hi Mini
I’m happy to hear you find this site useful.
OK, let me help you.
*My child has been toilet-trained.
うちの子*は、トイレのしつけができています。/オムツがとれました。
= Uchi no ko wa toire no shitsuke ga dekite imasu./ omutsu ga toremashita.
*She goes to the potty by herself at home, but cannot go by herself outside the house.
家では一人でトイレに行けますが、家の外では一人で行けません。
Ie dewa hitori de toire ni ikemaseuga, ie no soto dewa hitori de ikemasen.
*She speaks English at home and can only say a few single Japanese words.
家では英語を話していますので1) 日本語は一言、二言しか話しません。/ 2) 日本語はほとんど話せません。(2) She barely speaks Japanese.)
= Iedewa eigo wo shnashite imasu node 1) nihongo wa hitokoto futakoto shika hanasemasen / 2) Nihongo ưa Hotondo hanasemasen .
*How is she doing at school?
娘は、幼稚園ではどんな感じですか？/ちゃんとやっていますか？
= Musume wa youchien de wa donna kanji desu ka? / Chanto yatte imasu ka?
*Ways to talk about one’s child: 1) She is stubborn/2) independent/3) sociable/4 ) scared of strangers/ 5) quiet/ 6) very active at home.
*She holds food in her mouth./ I am worried about choking hazards.
and so on.
口の中に食べ物を入れます。/喉につかえないか心配です。（窒息（ちそうく）しないか心配です）
= Kuchi no naka ni tabemono wo iremasu / Nodo ni tsukaenai ka shinpai desu. (Or Chissoku shinai ka shinpai desu)
Hello,
What should I answer to this message?
“フォロバ頂きありがとうございます”
Thanks!
Hi Topaz
So this person followed you first and you follow him/her back, right?
Did you say thank you for following before? If not, you can say
こちらこそフォローありがとうございます。And you can continue これからもよろしくお願いします。
Maggie-sensei,
Thank you so much for taking the time to reply.
This is very helpful.
Huge fan of your blog – thank you!
You’re very welcome,Mini.
こじんめんだん、がんばって！
Hello! I have a question about one grammar aspect, because my 先生 told me one thing and my workbook keeps mistaking those two (well, maybe the workbook is wrong)
「思っていたより」と 「期待していたより」の違いはなんですか。
先生 told me that 「思っていたより」is used when the outcome is better than expected, for example このケーキは思っていたよりおいしかった。 (You expected it to taste bad)
And 「期待していたより」is used when the outcome is worse than you expected, for example 試験の点数は期待していたより悪かった。
Is this right? Because when I searched in the internet, the opinions vary a lot and I don’t know anymore :((
Hi Alioth
Very good questions.
Technically
思う = to think
期待する = to expect
And they both can be translated “to think” but 期待する means “to hope” and it is used for something one is looking forward to.
So your teacher is right. The outcome should be good when you use 期待したより ~
You can say このケーキは思っていたよりおいしかった/おいしくなかった。 but it sound unnatural to say このケーキは期待していたよりおいしかった。
If it is a negative sentence, you can say
このケーキは期待していたよりおいしくなかった
I will give you other verbs that are often used in this pattern.
予想する = to fore
想像する= imagine
考える = to think (logically)
Among these verbs, only 期待する is used is used when the outcome is good.
新年明けましておめでとうマギー先生！
No matter how many years pass, I always find myself visiting and revisiting your blog posts😂 Your quality is unrivaled.
I have a vocab question: how do you say the word “interchangeable” in Japanese?
e.g
”Jealous” and “envious” mean the exact same thing. They are interchangeable.
”Wanna” is interchangeable with “want to,” with the former being more casual.
I typically wouldn’t want to bother you with words I can just look up in the dictionary, but I just can’t seem to find it.
On jisho, 「同意語」and 「同義語」show up, but being interchangeable is a bit different from being synonyms. For example, “while” and “during” are synonyms, but they aren’t interchangeable.
e.g
While I was sleeping, an earthquake happened.
During I was sleeping, an earthquake happened. ❌
The word that always comes up on DeepL is 「互換性」
e.g
”Wanna “は “want to “と互換性があります。
However, when I look up example sentences, it’s used with computers and devices and is translated as “compatible.”
Thank you as always!
Hi Sora
I’m happy to hear you have been visiting this site for many years. :)
OK, the most common way to say “A and B are interchangeable” in Japanese is
AはBに言い換えることができます
（You also say 置き換えることができる)
Oh, I see! It’s been driving me crazy, so thank you so much!!
Anytime! :)
Hello Maggie Sensei, Happy New Year and Wish you be Blessed with Good Health and Fortune
This the first question on this year.
1. What is the meaning of 僻む(ひがむ）
2. What is the meaning of 振り回す in the sentence (彼女はいつも友達に振り回されていてイライラする)
3. Are they have a same meaning : 取り繕う・決め込む・偽装
Thank you very much
Happy New Year! 明けましておめでとうございます！ いい年になりますように🙏
1. to have an inferiority complex feeling jealous of someone.
2. 振り回す to involve someone into something for one’s own convenience in a selfish manner.
For example, her friend says, “Let’s go out tomorrow and do something.” And though you were busy you arranged your schedule to go out with her. Then she said she changed her mind and she doesn’t want to go out anymore. So you rearrange your schedule. Then she said you should meet her somewhere instead. In this kind of situation you are 振り回されている.
3. No, they are different.
取り繕う to mend something/keep up with lies
決め込む persist in doing something/make up one’s mind
偽装 disguise
3.
sensei thank to explain in detailed manner. 改めてあけましておめでとうございます。
どういたしまして❤️
みなさん、明けましておめでとうございます！
今年もよろしくお願いします！
Happy New Year, everyone! 🐶
Happy new year sensei
Happy New Year, Emerald❤️
Hello Maggie sensei! I was reading a book and came across this sentence: “ぼうっと、その場に立ちすくんだ” and I can’t figure out what the use of んだ is for here! I hope you can help me understand.
Hi, Maggie!
First of all, thank you very much for the lesson. It was incredibly helpful. ^^
About にしては, apart from what it was explained in the lesson, my textbook says it can also appear in the form それにしては. However, I’m having a hard time trying to find helpful examples taken from real and daily-life Japanese that show me how is それにしては used. The very few ones I could find were kind of stiff sentences that, although they show the idea of the meaning of それにしては at some extent, they were a bit artificial. So, if you could please give me some examples of how それにしては is used in daily life, I’d appreciate a lot.
You state something first. (Or someone states something)
You use それにしては ( = even so, in spite of, although) when you hear/see something is different from your expectation.
今日は、平日だけど、それにしては人が多いね。
The speaker thinks there are fewer people on weekdays
→Though it’s a weekday, there are unexpectedly many people today.
毎日、がんばって節電しているが、それにしては電気代が高い。
The speaker had expected lower electric bill because they have been saving electricity.
I have been trying to save electricity but still electric bill is high.
A: 「👨のうちはお金持ちなんだって」
= I heard 👨’s family is rich.
B: 「それにしては毎日、コンビニで安いパンばかり買っているよ。」
= But he buys cheap bread at a convenience store every day.
B thinks if 👨 is rich, he wouldn’t buy cheap bread every day at a convenience store. (Different from B’s expectation)
A: 「一度も海外に行ったことがありません。」
= I have never been abroad
B: 「それにしては英語がうまいね。」
= But your English is great.
B thinks if A has never been abroad, A’s English skill is so-so.
Thank you very much for answering me and for your examples and explanations! They have been super helpful in order to understand better the usage of それにしては. ^^
I’m confused to this sentence translation.
” 結婚するなら絶対にお金持ちというわけではない。
It is not necessarily true that I would only marry a rich man. ” I get it as “It is not needed to be rich when getting married” . How about this 僕は絶対にお金持ちと結婚するとういわけではない。
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Hi Maggie-Sensei!
I’ve come back to this page multiple times over the past few years (you can see I left a comment back in 2020!), but no matter how advanced I get, I don’t understand how to use ところを to show contrast.
To be clear, I understand sentences like「海に溺れているところをイルカに助けられた」and 「彼が歌っているところを見たことがない」.
But below those examples, you say that ところを is used to “to show contrast,” and you give the following example:
いつもは１８００円のところを木曜日は１０００円で映画を観ることができます。
I just don’t understand why ところを is used here, as opposed to something like ですが, and I don’t understand the sentence structure or how to build other sentences using ところを in this way. In fact, I don’t think I’ve ever heard ところを being used in this way anywhere else.
Could I be so rude as to ask if you could give a more in-depth explanation, and more example sentences?
Thank you so much!
Sora
Hi Sora
いつもは１８００円のところを木曜日は１０００円で映画を観ることができます。
Or you can add a verb (いつもは１８００円払わなければいけないところを）
You can rephrase it だけど/なのに
You are showing the contrast/difference between usual price and the special price
I will give you another example
普段は３０分かかるところを、1時間で着きました。
It usually takes 30 minutes, but it took 1 hour this time.
OK, if you can see the omitted verb, you may be able to figure it out.
For example いつもは１８００円(払わなければいけない = have to pay) ところを
Does that mean that any sentence using だけど can be rephrased with ところを？
I usually go with Yumi, but this time I went with Sakura.
普段は由美ちゃんと一緒に行くけど、今回は桜ちゃんと行きました。
＝普段は由美ちゃんと一緒に行くところを、今回は桜ちゃんと行きました。
Is the sentence above natural?
Hey maggie, in this sentence:
”わんこいいっスか？２人をビビらせてくっつけるっス”
Why is をさせる used? Is it because it is a direct object? Even though the action is done directly to these people?
Hello Marco
Yes, to make 二人(them/these people/these two) scared
ビビる (very conversational word) to be scared
ビビらせる = to make someone scared
When you provoke someone’s emotion, you can use this form.
There is more complete lesson on causative form
Link is here
The usage of the causative form in your sentence is
6) to provoke someone’s emotions, and feelings: to make someone feel angry/happy/disappointed, etc.
Aは ( = wa) 、Bを ( = wo) + verb causative form
In this sentence:
”お前には天才的な閃きを感じる—” does the に show the source of the feeling? Kind of like ”I can feel X feeling coming off of you”
Yes, that’s right. ☺️👍
Thanks for the answer! :)
Can では be used to mean ”if”?
それだけでは寂しいじゃない？
”If it’s just that, wouldn’t you feel lonely?”
Yes, では is used to mean “if”
I explained in the usage 3) in this lesson
それだけでは寂しいじゃない？
Right. Your translation works in this case, If it’s just that, wouldn’t you feel lonely?
But the literal translation is
Wouldn’t you feel lonely just with that?
So this で actually means “with”
Tシャツだけでは寒い
It’s cold just with a T-shirt. (just wearing a T-shirt)
→(You can interpret this with conditional, if →If it is just with a T-shirt, it will be cold.
However, if you use the past tense,
Tシャツだけでは寒かった (past tense)
I felt cold just with a cold.
It doesn’t have a meaning of “if”.
Whoops, my bad for commenting a bit too quick hahah.
I see, how come the literal translation is ”with just that” ? would it mean that it kind of show that the choice of ”with that” would make them feel lonely? Kind of like それでいい (fine with that (choice,thing etc)
For context, the person tried to invite someone to a date ”デ…デデ”but instead said 出稽古 and finds herself saying ”それだけでは寂しいじゃない？” afterwards to herself
Oh and forgot to ask as well
In this sentence does the で indicate condition/situation?
だから２人がライバル関係では絶対嫌だろうなって
[ライバル関係で] ”In a rival relationship”
Here I am a bit unsure though…
頑張るだけではダメなんです
頑張るだけではダメなんです
”Can’t just not do one’s best (cause I must do something else aswell)” was my understanding but the だけで is confusing me.. Maybe I am just overthinking it?
~関係で
This で describes the state/condition/situation
頑張るだけで
Vだけで = just doing something
Just working hard (is not enough)
FYI I also have a lesson on で (Link is here.)
Marco
で can describe the state/condition
And the English translation could be if (if you are talking about the condition) or if you simply describe the state, it could be “with”
I still don’t know the context but in that case you can rephrase it
出稽古だけでは寂しいんじゃない？
Wouldn’t you feel lonely just doing something (in this case 出稽古）
I see so if 関係で would describe the state then directly would it translate to this?:
”２人がライバル関係では絶対嫌だ”
”I certainly don’t like it when they are ( in the condition/situation of being) in a rival relationship”
”出稽古だけでは寂しいんじゃない？”
”Just going out to practice is lonely in itself isn’t it?”
”それだけでは寂しいじゃない？”
And if the state isn’t apparent:
”Just with this condition/situation wouldn’t it feel lonely?”
Essentially: ”With X condition I feel Y”
And sorry for asking so much but could you give me 2 example sentences where you use the
”if you are talking about the condition”
and
” ”with” to describe the state” ?
With a direct translation and explanation? I’m going to add these as Anki cards afterwards to be able to firmly grasp the concept. Been stuck on it for a while and have had issues finding any resources about it
I think your interpretation (translation) is right.
About “talking about the condition” and “describing the state,” as I mentioned in my T-shirt examples, it depends on the context and how you interpret the sentences.
For example:
おにぎり一個だけではお腹がすく。
You can translate this as
“I will be hungry with just one onigiri.”
You can also interpret this as
“If you just eat one onigiri, you will be hungry.”
If you want more, check this lesson
I wrote a few example sentences of だけでは just doing something
I think it is starting to make sense….
”With(At/By/Under/In/As) X condition Y applies”
Thanks for the reply!
You’re welcome!
There are many uses of で(では/だけでは）, but I hope this clears up some of your doubts.
I think I cracked it:
ライバル関係で/は絶対嫌だろうなって
being [in] a rival relationship is the condition
おにぎり一個だけで/はお腹がすく。
Just [with] one onigiri is the condition
それだけで
Just [with] this is the condition
頑張るだけではダメなんです
Just [by] doing one’s best is the condition (which is not good enough)
I am really sorry for the amount of replies I gave.. I’ve had long covid and it seems like I lost so much of my language knowledge from it… Got kinda desperate trying to figure out if I was right. But as a last message/reply could you tell me if I am on the right track with my understanding here?
Hi Marco
I think you figured them out. Good job!
Just, you wrote で/は in the first two sentences. では is more natural in those example sentences.
Good morning Maggie. I have a question about the following sentence: ついでに竪琴、音楽、芸術、弓術、予言、牧畜の神様でもある。
I saw that ついでに means to do action B while doing action A. But in the translation of the sentence, this kanji was translated as By the way. Is this correct?
こんにちは、Antonio
First of all, I have a lesson on ついでに
Link is here
As you said it means to do action B while doing action A. /while you are at ~ / taking the opportunity
The sentence, ついでに竪琴、音楽、芸術、弓術、予言、牧畜の神様でもある。
There must be a sentence before and this person adds some more information.
It/He/She is also the god of ~~
It can be easier to add some verb after ついでに
ついでに言うと = Additionally, (You can also translate it as “By the way”)
ついでに補足(ほそく）すると = To add a supplementary note
Hello Maggie Sensei,
I found this sentence:
静かな田舎で暮らしたいものだ。
I was wondering what the grammatical/meaning function of もの is. Does this sentence fit the pattern of [sentence] + X, where X adds a ‘color’ or nuance to the entire sentence, similar to how でしょう , そうです, んです(か) are used to add something to the sentence?
Thanks,
Michael
Hello Michael
静かな田舎で暮らしたい simply express one’s desire
I want to live in quiet countryside
→静かな田舎で暮らしたいものだ:
~たいものだ(or ものです） is used for long-held wishes or wishes that are difficult to achieve.
By adding “ものだ,” the sentence expresses a deeper/stronger desire or one’s belief.
That’s very interesting. Before I posted the question I interpreted もの literally ( = ‘thing’) and tried to think of an English expression that used the word in this way. In fact, there is one: ‘to have a thing for/about’, where ‘thing’ is a greater than average interest in something, possibly even a preoccupation or obsession.
For example,
A: You’ve been reading a lot about Japan lately. Why’s that?
B: I’ve always had a thing about Japan. I want to visit next year.
Or:
A: What’s with John? He’s been acting weird lately.
B: Oh, he has this thing for Mary and it’s messing with his head.
But this is a very colloquial way of speaking, and might even not be common in different English-speaking regions (USA vs Australia vs England vs Canada). I don’t know if I would use this as a translation for ものだ (= I have a thing about wanting to live in the quiet countryside). That sounds too casual for the Japanese. Still, there is an overlap in how もの=thing is being used for emphasis in both languages.
Ah, very interesting.
The term ~もの can mean a thing or things but
“To have a thing for/about ~” is translated as 気になる (to be concerned about), 好き (to like), 好意をもっている (to like someone), or 夢中になる (to be obsessed with/crazy about ~), etc. but not with もの.
もの and こと are used to nominalize a verb and there are many expressions. I explained in one of my old lessons.
Link
Thanks for the extra information. Literal translations of slang, idioms and other colloquial expressions in a language can be dangerous .. especially when two different languages seem to use the same words but in a completely different way.
Anytime! ☺️
Anytime! ☺️
two different languages seem to use the same words but in a completely different way.
→That’s one of the reasons why learning languages is interesting. 😉
Hello Maggie Sensei,
I found this sentence a while ago on stack exchange:
”入れ違いで亜美さんが出て行ったところです。”
”Ami just went out as we passed each-other” Is the translation apparently.
And I hear the で here indicates situation? But I don’t know how one would parse or translate it? It does not indicate location nor time so how would one translate it? I’ve even tried to look for grammar guides talking about it but no one does. I am completely stuck and lost now… I feel like I’m back on 0
Hello Mathias
If you want to categorize this で, maybe “12) Describing the state/condition/manner of action” would work.
で indicates the situation or condition under which the action (in this case, Ami-san going out) took place.
→入れ違い describes the situation how Ami has left while the listener is coming back.
Hey Maggie, In regards to the part here:
”11) To indicate the purpose/usage/occasion: for ~ / as~ /In order to do something.”
–
I have a sentence here that I’m wondering a bit about:
小林さんの印象を元に描いてみた
Would this be translated to:
”I drew Kobayashi san as a basis of her impression” ?
And would this mean that in cases like these you are doing an action as the role of f.ex an apology or in this case basis?
P.S.
If this is the case, how does the particles here differentiate if both could be used to mean ”as”?
追加で食べ物を買った
”Bought food as an addition”
小林さんの印象を元に描いてみた
”I drew Kobayashi san as a basis of her impression” (?)
Hi Kevin,
〜元に means “(to do something) based on ~ ”
I drew something (this picture) based on my impression of him/her.
I might not have covered this particular usage but it is an idiomatic expression.
something を ~ に + do something (する or other verbs)
Ahhh okay I see, I don’t think I would’ve grasped it unless you told me. Appreciate it!
You’re very welcome! 😊
Good evening Maggie. I would like to know if 色合い refers to aspects of a color such as hue, clarity and brightness, etc. or can it just be translated as color (like yellow, red, etc.)
Hello Eduardo
色合い means aspects of a color/tone/hue/clarity/brightness not basic colors (yellow/red.etc.)
It is also used figuratively referring to the tone of a situation or matter
こんにちはMaggie先生！
よさそうです>it looks good
いいそうです> i heard it’s good
Is this correct?
thaknss
こんにちは、カミラ！
That’s right.
よさそうです = It looks good.
いいそうです = I heard/ They said it’s good.
こんばんは、マギー先生！
This was a very useful guide and helped me a lot. I thought I knew all the usages of the ”de” particle but after coming back I only had like 80% of it.
I have a question for you though which has been bothering me for a while, there is a specific usage I just can’t grasp. I’ve been trying to get my head wrapped around it but my brain just is not able to.
The concept of ”追加で” is confusing me. Some say it is the ”means/method” of an action while some say it is the conditional/scope marker (Which I still don’t understand)
Could you explain to me how it works in these three sentences if you got the time?
追加でAも注文できますか？
ドル札を追加で用意してくる
食べ物で言ったら…寿司がいい (another usage I’m confused by)
Kind regards – Kevin
Hi Kevin
追加で Maybe it will be easier to think this で as a method (by means of an addition)
追加でAも注文できますか？
→ で shows that ordering A is done by adding it as an extra item.
ドル札を追加で用意してくる
→で indicates that the preparation of additional dollar bills is done by adding them as an extra step.
But you are right. This で could be interpreted as a function of conditional marker.
Ex.追加で頼むといくらですか？
(the condition being ordering something extra)
食べ物で言ったら
In this case, I would say it belongs to 13)Indicating one’s choice among available options./Expressing preference/Making a request among options.
Appreciate the answer!
P.S. last question. With the ”追加で頼むといくらですか？” Example in mind, since you mentioned it could be conditional. How would one translate the ”追加で” here? Would ”by means of” still be viable?
The literal translation is “If I order ~ as an additional order”
Yeah after looking back I had a feeling, thanks for clarifying! Now I feel more confident to continue with input.
No problem! 😊
Good evening Maggie. I would like you to tell me the function that the kanji 以外 has in the following sentence: 平民 – 古代ローマで、貴族・奴隷以外の一般市民。プレブス。
Does the following sentence make sense grammatically? 彼は背後に殺気を感じた。
Hi Dito
以外 = いがい means “except/other than/excluding”
ordinary citizens other than nobles and slaves.
彼は背後に殺気を感じた。
Yes, it makes sense.
He sensed/felt the murderous intent behind him
お久しぶり、マギー先生！
I came across this sentence and the でも is puzzling me. That aside 少し and 沢山 together here is generally confusing. 沢山 makes sense in the context (buying a lot of supplies) but 少し…
マスクやせっけいんや、パン、パスタ、缶詰なんかを少しでも沢山買おうってスパーや薬局に押し掛けた。
Also that って、is it short for って思って here?
こんにちは、Terry! 元気でしたか？
少しでも means “even just a little”
And 少しでもたくさん（沢山） means means “as much as possible”
You are right
買おうって(思って） is a casual form of 買おうと(思って）
こんにちは、Terry! 元気でしたか？
少しでも means “even just a little”
And 少しでもたくさん（沢山） means means “as much as possible”
You are right
買おうって(思って） is a casual form of 買おうと(思って）
You can omit 思って. volitional form + と/って expresses one’s will.
こんにちは、Terry! 元気でしたか？
少しでも means “even just a little”
And 少しでもたくさん（沢山） means means “as much as possible”
You are right
買おうって(思って） is a casual form of 買おうと(思って）
You can omit 思って. volitional form + と/って expresses one’s will/intention.
元気です(でした？)。マギー先生は？
わかりました。Does the “as much as possible” meaning stem from the #4 usage in the lesson? So it’s literally like listing: “few or many”? ありがとうございます。
I guess I haven’t covered that usage of でも in this lesson.
The pattern is
少しでも + adjective + noun
少しでも + adverb + verb
(The original meaning is “even if only a little/a few”
→ as much/many/adjective as possible
少しでも多くの人に来てもらいたい。
I want as many people as possible to come.”
少しでも早く来てください。
Please come as soon as possible.
少しでもきれいな・安いホテルに泊まりたい。
I want to stay in a hotel that is as clean/cheap as possible.
P.S.
”次の学会はニューヨークであります。”
I don’t get how であります functions here. Doesn’t it usually mean ”it is” in a formal way? How does it relate to the で particle meaning location of action or event?
This であります means to be held ~ and it is different from the formal expression that you are talking about.
So you talk about the location of a building
Aビルはどこにありますか？ = Where is A-Building?
渋谷にあります。 = It is in Shibuya.
But when you talk about the location where some activity/event is held, you use で
試合はどこでありますか？ Where will the match/game be held?
B体育館であります。= It will be held in B Gymnasium.
Hello Maggie.
In this sentence ”初めまして今日からこの部屋でご一緒させて頂くことになった”
Why is the で particle used? ご一緒 is more like a state than a direct action so how come is で used here?
Hello K
It might look confusing but
この部屋に一緒にいる : いる is considered to be a state
この部屋でご一緒する: ご一緒する the English translation could be “to be with someone” but it is considered to be an action verb. to spend some time with someone
Hi, Maggie!
I was just passing by, while googling for difference between 高校 and 学校, but I don’t really have any questions so, well, just best wishes to you 😊
Hello Sergei
学校 = がっこう means “school” in general.
高校 = こうこう means “high school”
Good evening Maggie. Does the following sentence make grammatical sense?
この過酷な連行で、たくさんの捕虜が死んだ。
Hi Lucas
Yes, it makes sense.
~で (reason) + result/consequence
Good evening Maggie.
1) 画像 means still image (In real life and on the internet)?
2) In the following sentence: 伝説の最後の部分は後世付け加えられたものだ。, should 後世に be used instead of just 後世?
Hi Rafael
1) 画像 means image or picture
2) Yes, you can say 後世に instead of 後世
Good evening Maggie. I came across the kanji 無造作 and am having difficulty with its second meaning. It’s second meaning basically means: Casual or careless, right?
Hi Leonardo
Yes. You usually use that word with に as an adverb
無造作に + verb (to do something casually, carelessly)
Ex. 無造作に置く = to put something carelessly
マギ先生のサイトで、いつも新しいものを学んでいます。ありがとうございます ：）
インデックスもありがとうございます。何かを探そうの時は、簡単になります。
こんにちは、ルナ
いつも一番にコメントありがとう🩷
はい、長いレッスンなので是非、インデックス使ってみてくださいね。
Good evening Maggie. I would like you to translate the following sentence: あらかじめ計画して人を殺すこと。
Hi Fernando
あらかじめ計画する means to plan beforehand
So あらかじめ計画して人を殺すこと means to kill someone with prior planning.( = premeditated murder)
Good evening, Maggie. I was researching the meaning of 中庸 and I saw on a website that one of its meanings is To be ordinary. Is this correct?
Hi Iraci
中庸 (ちゅうよう) is a word originating from Confucian philosophy. Though it is not commonly used in daily conversation, it means being balanced and harmonious.
Hi Maggie先生!
This example sentence is in the first section 1) progressive form: ongoing action, continuous action that is happening in the present which is described as “What someone/something is doing right now, What is happening now”
昨日の夜は何をしていたの？
Why is “what was done last night” considered as something happening now?
Hi Tiana
Ah OK. Good point. I should have included the information.
on-going action (in the present and the past)
I will add that in the description.
So 昨日の夜は何をしていたの？ What were you doing last night?
It describes the actions that were happening at a certain time in the past.
Hey Maggie先生!
I wondered if it is possible to combine がち with ねる
so something like “i tend to go to sleep at 9” (i am aware that this sentence might not be the most natural in Japanese but i wonder if it would work)
９時に寝るがちです
Hello Will
You don’t say 寝るがち but you can say 寝がち
９時に寝がち If you meant go to sleep, it works, but since you can’t tend to fall a sleep at nine, it may sound unnatural.
うちの犬は、仰向けで寝がちです。
My dog tends to sleep on its back.
Good evening Maggie,
1) What does 得意とする mean?
2) Does そこら mean anywhere or everywhere?
HI Matheus
1) to be good at, to be skilled at
2) そこら（辺） =thereabouts (an unspecified location near the speaker)
Idiom そんじゅそこらの = ordinary/run-of-the-mill
→Sometimes you skip そんじゅ = そこらの + noun = something or someone that is not special or remarkable
Thanks for the response, Maggie. But I have a few more questions. What does: 幸せを１００％する and 100%の確率で mean?
Hi Matheus
幸せを１００％する You don’t say 幸せを する
I think it is missing something in this sentence. Ex. 幸せを１００％ものにする/確約する etc.
Or 幸せに100%する = to make someone happy 100 %
１００％の確率で with a 100% probability ・ with a 100% chance
→確実に = surely/without fail
Good evening Maggie, I have some questions.
When I researched the kanji すする I found the following definitions: 液状のものを吸い込むようにして口の中に入れる and 音を立てて少しずつ口に吸い込む。Which would be the most correct?
What is the most correct reading of 荒野? I found three different readings.
What does 可憐 mean?
Hello Pedro
すする: Both. You can slurp noodles, hot soup with or without making a slurping sound.
荒野 = You can read it こうや/あらの. I think こうや is more common
可憐 = かれん = pretty/lovely/sweet (It describes delicate beauty or innocence.)
笑の事について教えてくれる本当にありがとうございます！
I recently came across the phrase:
「笑勉強続けて」
and I was wondering
1. How do I read 笑 in this context
2. is 笑…続ける a construction I can use more often, even for other context?
Also, not to be pedantic but I thought you might want to know, when you first introduce ケラケラ, in the first romaji you wrote (kearakera) instead of (kerakera).
Hi 紫花
Thank you for spotting the typo. I fixed it. ありがとうございます！☺️
笑 = わら is a slang word. Sometimes you just write “w” (ww, www)
It is like LOL in English.
So that person reacted to what someone said and
LOL (That’s funny). Keep studying!
こんばんは、マギー先生。
Is the tai form of verbs essentially an i-adjective? I came across the phrase “読みたくなった” (started wanting/came to want to read?) which made me think of the adj + なる/する lesson. Can you also then do たい+する, like 食べたくした (made me want to eat)?
Hi Terry
Sorry. I answered your question once yesterday but I misunderstood what you meant by ” the tai form of verbs essentially an i-adjective? ” part. So let me try again.
When you use なりたい/したい with adjectives,
かわいくなりたい = I want to be cuter
かわいくしたい = I want to make something/someone cuter.
Verb + たい
読みたい / 食べたい
When you express the change of your feelings,
→ 読みたくなる/食べたくなる (past tense) 読みたくなった/食べたくなった
Since Verbたい is one’s spontaneous desire and you can’t control someone’s desire
you don’t say
X たべたくした (not natural)
That makes sense. So is there an equivalent in Japanese to saying “____ makes me want to _____”? ie. “The smell of food makes me want to eat,” or “Reading books makes me want to write.” I guess for the first you could say something like ご飯の香りだから食べたくなる, but what about the second? Is there a grammatical structure that handles both? ありがとうございます。
The common patterns are
Vたら/Vていたら〜たくなる/なった
Vと〜たくなる/たくなった
The smell of food makes me want to eat
食べ物の香りで食べたくなる
食べ物の香りが食欲をそそる。
Or I would say いい匂いで食べたくなる。
Reading books makes me want to write.
本を読むと/読書をすると書きたくなる。
Hello! I always learn so much from your posts! I was wondering if you have covered how to use 風（ふう）？I can’t find any good explanation anywhere. I’m not sure how to use any combination of 風 (そういう風に、という風に、こんな風に、のふうだ、など）and the difference between ように、のようだ、とか or similar grammar. I would be so grateful for your help!!
Hello M
Good question.
Meanwhile 風 means, “way”, “stile/manner” and “like ~”
こんな/そんな/ あんな/どんな＋風に
このようにやってください
こんな風にやってください
They both mean “Please do like this” But the difference is
このように = The speaker expects you to follow the instructions (exactly like they showed)
こんな風に is more vague. “something like this”
Also 風 is attached to a noun
Ex. 日本風 = Japanese style (It doesn’t have to be authentic Japanese style. )
If I have a chance, I will make a mini lesson of 風 in future for you.
Wow, thank you so much! :D
You’re very welcome! 😊
約束通り、今日もレッスンを読みました！
いつも私を助けてくれてありがとうございます！
ルナ
また来てくれてありがとう！ 😊
新しいレッスンを読んで遅くなってすみませんでした！明日は雨そうだから、もっとよ読もうと思います。（実は、明日は晴れそうだけど、「そう」の文を書いてみたかったんです。^^）
PS, the links to these lessons are wrong:
Check my lessons on らしい ( = rashii) and みたい ( = mitai) for more information:
→らしい ( = rashii)
→みたい ( = mitai
ルナ
いつもレッスンを読んでくれてうれしいです。そしてリンクの間違い教えてくれてありがとう！直しました。😊
(Let me help your sentence a little: 雨そう→明日は、雨が降りそう It looks like it’s going to rain.or 雨だそう = I heard it will rain tomorrow)
いい週末を過ごしてくださいね。😊
1) Is the Kanji 美貌 only used for face or does it refer to face and body?
2) Is the Kanji 顔かたち only used for face or does it refer to face and body?
Hi Thiago
1) face
2) face
So 美貌 means 美しい顔かたち
こんにちは先生。
My bf was talking to me in Japanese using Google translate, and he said “なんと面倒なことだろう.” I could get what he was trying to say but the なんと part specifically is confusing? It’s “what” with と quotation particle, right? Like in 何と言う？ So how does it make sense?
こんにちは、Terry
なんと/なんて〜だろう/でしょう is a pattern of exclamatory sentence and it means “What a ~/ How ~!”
Actually you don’t use it in conversation so much because it sounds too dramatic but you may see in a written form
especially when you translate English sentences, such as
What a nice person you are./How nice of you! なんて親切な人だろう。
What a surprise! なんという驚きだ
Again, it is very rare to hear this in daily conversation.
You just say ああ、面倒くさい。 = It’s such a pain. instead of なんと面倒なことだろう
そうですか。Goes to show computer translations still aren’t great with nuance
ありがとうごさいます。
どういたしまして 😊
Good evening Maggie. I have a question about the kanji 出頭. This kanji means: Some person going anywhere or some person, specifically, going to court, government office, etc.
Hi Jason
出頭する = しゅっとうする means “to turn oneself in to the police station or to appear in court voluntarily
初めまして、マギー先生。ガビです。質問があります！
I’m confused on when to で vs をください/おねがいします when ordering.
例えば: 「セットでお願いします」とか「コーラのMサイズで」とか「お茶でお願いします」などです。vs 「コーヒーをください」、「コーラのSサイズを一つお願いします」などです。 「でお願いします」か「をお願いします」は I’m not sure which one would be correct to answer with for certain situations or is it just up to personal preference?
こんにちは、ガビ 😊
Both を and で can be used when ordering things, but there is a nuanced difference between them
を: Use を when indicating something specific or emphasizing what you want (→What I want is ~).
コーラを/コーヒーを/セットを + ください/お願いします.
で: Use で when selecting something out of a few/several/many choices.
コーラで/コーヒーで/セットで + (お願いします* You can sometimes omit お願いします and just say ~で).
While で might sound a little softer than を, if you say ~でいいです, it expresses the nuance of compromising, so you have to be careful when you use it.
I am now actually working on a new lesson on the particle で. So I will cover this usage for you. 😉
Hi Maggie-sensei. I don’t have any question, I just want to thank you for creating this super helpful site. I managed to pass N3 this year, thanks to your fun and clear (and cute!) explanations of scary Japanese grammar rules (lol) ^_^ ありがとうございます！これからもよろしくお願いします。
Hello Noi
Thank you for your kind words.
そして、N3合格おめでとうございます！！！ 私もうれしいです！！
こちらこそこれからもよろしくお願いします。🐶❤️
Good evening Maggie. I have a question about the kanji 一言
Does this kanji mean both “a word” and “a short phrase”?
Hi Breano
Yes, that’s right. It means “a word” but you can use it for a few words/brief speech
一言で言うと = If I put it in one word ~
一言言ってもいいですか？ = Can I say something? / Can I say a few words?
一言、スピーチをお願いします。= Could you give a brief speech?
マギー先生、レッスンありがとうございます。
見ぬふりできませんから言う. この二つのリンクが使えません：
How to use ~ぶり = buri (久しぶり = ひさしぶり = Hisashiburi)
Check my たい & がる ( = tai & garu) lesson.
一つはGoogleMapsのリンクですね。Sainte-Chapelleはどうしたの？マギ先生いきたいですか？ :D
こんにちはルナ！
リンクのこと教えてくれてありがとう。「 久しぶり」のレッスンリンクは合っていたのですが念の為、もう一度リンク入れ直しました。
「たい＆がる」のリンクがフランスの地図になっていたのは本当に謎です。調べたこともないのですが…
URLを短くするサイトを使っているのですがリンクの文字が足りなくてそのサイトに行ったのかもしれません。
でもフランス行きたいです。😆
面白いですね！
しかし、 たい & がる のリンクまだ直っていませんみたい。
Good evening Maggie. I have doubts about some phrases.
1) Does the 政府役人 part of the sentence 政府役人の豪邸が略奪された make sense? I searched but couldn’t find anything on the subject.
2) What is the function of として in words like 突如として? From what I researched, 突如として and 突如 have the same meaning.
Hi Daniel
1) Yes, it make sense. It is talking about a mansion ( = 豪邸) and the mansion belongs to 政府役人 = 政府の役人 = government official
2) 突如として is an expression, suddenly and you can use it without として
So you are right. They have the same meaning. ~として is a more formal expression.
Good evening Maggie. Thanks for the answer.
But I have one more doubt. I came across the adjective 漠然とした and realized that it means vague. What is the difference between using として or とした after an adjective?
Hello again Daniel
The difference between として and とした
〜とした + noun
Ex. 漠然とした態度
~として + verb/sentence
Ex. ( ~は、)漠然としている
そうです。分かりましたと思います 😊
Oh okay, because with what I was trying to do (彼に声を出して読めながら) whatever is being read is the subject, not who’s being read to. I was thinking the opposite for some reason, oops
You often omit the subject in Japanese so it must have been confusing. 😉
こんにちはMaggie先生
いい授業にありがとうですが、一つだけ質問があります。
”今、彼に話しているところです”と
”今、彼に話している”
どう違う？同じ意味でしょう？
こんにちは、壱茶
1) 今、彼に（or と）話しているところです/ところだ
= I am just talking to/with him./ I am in the middle of talking to him right now./ I am in the process of talking to/with him now.
It is emphasizing the ongoing process or being in the middle of the action
2) 今、彼に（or と）話しています。/いる
= I am talking to/with him now.
It simply states the fact that talking is happening without emphasizing the ongoing action.
ああなるほど。どうもありがとうございました♡
いつでも質問があったらどうぞ 😘
Good evening Maggie. I would like to know what the function of どの is in the following sentence: どの群れにも必ず黒い羊がいる.
Hi Thiago
That どの means “any” or “every”
(There is always a black sheep) in any flock/every flock
Thanks for the response Maggie. But I still have a doubt. I thought どの meant which or which way. Why was this sentence translated the way you did?
You are right. どの means “which” but どの (dono) can be used as “which” or “any/every,” depending on the context.
Ex. どの国もインフレに苦しんでいる。 Every country is suffering from inflation.
Ex. このレストランは、どの料理も美味しい。Every dish at this restaurant is delicious
こんにちは先生。
Since potential verb form is the same as passive verb form, how would you make a both potential and passive verb?
Example sentence: He can’t be stopped.
Something like 止められることをできない?? Seems weird. How do you do it?
こんにちは、Terry
I would say it is not common to use passive form + できない because it looks/sounds confusing.
He can’t be stopped. : The most natural way to say this in Japanese is to say would be
“I/We can’t stop him.”
→彼を止められない or 彼を止めることはできない (Nobody can stop him.”誰も彼を止められない・誰も彼を止めることはできない)
If you want to use a passive form, it is a less direct but you say
彼は止めらることはない
Indeed it looked and sounded confusing to me ^^; ありがとうございます！
どういたしまして。Good question. It made me think. 😉
Where is the audio clips where I can hear the proper pronunciation?
Hi August
I think put the link below but https://www.patreon.com/posts/audio-file-how-95844000
If you are member of my Patreon, you can access the audio files and get PDF files anytime.
Hello, Maggie-sensei!
In a game, I saw this sentence when characters were arguing;
そんな態度はないでしょう!
Is it the same as point 5 of the lesson, even if there is no こと ?
Hi ルナ
いつも新しいレッスンをチェックしてくれてありがとう。
Yes, it is the same idea. If you rephrase that sentence with Vこと（は）ない
you can say そんな態度をすること（は）ないでしょう
Good evening Maggie. I discovered the following phrase 三角形で、先がとても鋭利な形状だ。and I had some doubts.
1) Does this sentence make sense grammatically?
2) I translated this sentence as: It has a triangular shape and the ends are quite sharp. Is this translation correct?
Hi Lucas,
1) Yes, It makes sense.
2) Whatever thing you are talking about has a triangle form and have sharp tips.
Hi Lucas,
1) Yes, It makes sense.
2) Yes. Or It has a triangle form and have sharp tips.
こんにちは！
This is probably a silly question, but why is 「に」 used to mark the location of of an object with 居る and 在る rather than say 「で」? I’ve read that for some other similarly confusing verbs (such as 住む and 泊まる) that the location should be considered a destination (which doesn’t really make sense to me even in those cases) but I haven’t seen any clarification on these existential verbs.
こんにちは、クリス
Good question.
As you know
You use 「で」 to indicate the location where some action occurs.
You use 「に」 to indicate the location where something/someone exists (with verbs like 「いる」/「ある」) and also location of state.
「住む」 and 「泊まる」 are not action verbs. They describe a state (living/staying). Therefore, you use the particle 「に」 with these verbs.
FYI I have a lesson of に & で
I was having trouble understanding what 言う辺り means in this sentence from a popular light novel- なんでもないことのように言うあたりが、とても思いつきの噓に思えずロレンスはか固唾を飲んでしまったが、ハッとしてホロの口元に目をやった
Thank you in advance
Hi Chris,
言う辺り means the fact/the aspect/the way that [someone] says [something]
Hi Maggie Sensei, I’ve been studying Japanese for 3 years now. My current book at school is TRY N2 (although I don’t feel at all I am N2, not even N3).
I have a question regarding the structure of Japanese grammar. Basically TRY and also other books I have seen don’t really teach you grammar as in western languages. Rather, it is full of this forms (e.g. niyotte, nitotte, nitaishite, monda, bakarida, etc.) that sound very much like idiomatic expressions to me.
So far everything looks very random, which makes it also more difficult to learn and memorize.
Are those “expressions” qualified collectively somehow? And is there any actual classification/categorization or any booklet summarizing them in a structured way (e.g. by topic, use, scope) to make it easier to memorize?
Thank you in advance!
Hi Kuki
First of all, I apologize. I have to admit, my site is pretty random 😆, but I believe there are many excellent Japanese learning sites that provide good classification and categorization in a structured way.
I think many of them are categorized by JLPT level. So, JLPT websites or textbooks might offer better categorization.
Learning Japanese grammar could be quite different from learning Western languages. In Western languages, grammar is often taught separately from vocabulary and expressions, focusing on things like tense and conjugation, conditional forms at different levels. But with Japanese, especially in JLPT study materials, the focus is not just on grammar but also on using expressions effectively.
I understand it could be confusing, but I believe that if you already know the basic grammar, all you need to do is to build complicated sentences and increase your range of expressions, which would help.
Hi thank you for your kind reply. Just to be clear, I wasn’t referring to your site but to the textbooks, I find them pretty random, which is surprising for a textbook imho!
Hi Claudio
I know you weren’t. 😉
Good evening Maggie. I was looking at the definition of 風格 and came across the following definition: 味わい。趣。
Can you tell me what it means? I’m trying to find out but I’m not having any success.
風格
If you are talking about a person,
あの人は風格がある
He/She has a presence. (to have dignified presence)
You can also describe classy buildings, houses, area, streets with 風格
味わいがある/趣がある
You don’t usually use these words to describe a person.
味わいがある = the place has got a style
趣がある = quaint
So, if I understand correctly, 風格 and 味わい have the same meaning, but 風格 refers to people and things while 味わい mainly refers to things.
Hi Pedro
You may encounter some exceptions when using ‘味わいがある’ for people as a metaphor but that’s right.
Hi Maggie先生! Thank you for your explanation!
In the dictionary when I look up 持っていく it means: “to take (something) along; to bring with one”
And 持ってくる means: “to bring; to take (something) along”
Why do they mean the same thing? Can you explain this please?
Thank you!
Hi Tiana
I see your confusion.
When you simply describe someone’s action to take or bring something, you use
持っていく to take something with you
and
持ってくる to bring something with you
However, the English translation can change depending on the speaker’s point of view.
For example, you are invited to a party and telling the host that you are going to get some wine and take it to the party.
You say
ワインを持って行きますね
It actually means “I will take some with with me (and go to your party.)”
But the most common English translation will be
“I will bring some wine (with me). ”
It is based on the listener’s (the host’s) point of view.
It is similar to “come” and “go”
If someone calls you, you say
I am coming.
to come is 来ます but the most natural Japanese translation will be 行きます
Hello there Maggie-sensei!
I’ve been using your lessons for awhile now and had a question about this sentence. Or rather, I suppose I wanted to make sure I am reading it correctly.
[ケンシくんが好きっていうもののことは･･････]
A character is ruminating on another character and I was a bit confused seeing もののこと back to back here, but after reading your lesson もの is making the previous phrase a noun and then のこと is now modifying that noun, right?
So it becomes “About what I like about Kenshi-kun” or since the sentence trails off “What I like about Kenshi-kun is…”
Please correct me if I’m mistaken, and thank you for all the lessons!
Hello かえで
It is a little hard to interpret the sentence without knowing the context but the literal translation is
“About the thing(s) Kenshi-kun likes….”
This interpretation only works if this speaker is talking about something that Kenshi likes.
『甘いものが欲しいときは疲れているんだって。』
^それ、私も聞いたことがあります！ほんとのかな？私いつも甘いものが欲しいんだけど。。。
Note: (Related lesson: How to use がる = garu ) < リンク、使えないです。
ルナ
リンク直しました。教えてくれてありがとう❤️
私も、疲れているときも元気なときも甘い物が欲しいです。😆
ルナ
リンク直しました。教えてくれてありがとう❤️
私も、疲れていなくても甘い物が欲しいです。😆
Hi, Maggie sensei, hope everything is going well. In an essay, I’ve accross this sentence, 夢を求めて狂っても。Could you please explain me why も has been used in the
end of this sentence???
Hi Mojo 元気？
夢を求めて狂っても
〜ても means “even if/even though/although”
You don’t usually leave the sentence with ても unless there is a sentence before that sentence or omitted the following part on purpose when it is obvious.
For example 夢を求めて狂っても（それでも夢を求める）
Even if I go mad seeking for the dream, I still go for it.
thus you can show your strong will emphasizing what comes before ても
Good evening Maggie. I would like to know if the following sentence is grammatically correct: 彼女は亡くなった夫の冷凍精子を用いて受精した。
Hi Bruno
I would say 夫の冷凍精子を用いて→”凍結した夫の精子で”
How would you say your husband is dead?
It depends on the relationship with the speaker/ how formal you want to speak with the person but
ご主人はお亡くなりました。
いい会社に入れてよかった
はいれて？いれて？
If the speaker is talking about oneself, はいれて
I’m glad I got into a good company.
入る = はいる = intransitive verb
→potential form 入れる ＝ はいれる
入れる = いれる = transitive verb
So if the speaker had someone (Ex. their child) go to the school
入れてよかった = いれてよかった
I’m glad I enrolled my child in that school
こんにちは、先生。
Is there a difference between using だけ and ばかり?
こんにちは、Terry
There are many differences but here’s the confusing difference.
だけ is just/ only
ばかり = on going action/ emphasizing the quantity or frequency of the activity.
Ex.マギーは肉だけ食べる。
= Maggie eats nothing but meat
Ex.マギーは肉ばかり食べる。
= Maggie mainly eats meat. It suggests a focus on meat but doesn’t necessarily mean she eats nothing else.
Ex. このサイトの先生は犬だけだ。
The teachers on this site are only dogs.
Ex. このサイトの先生は犬ばかりだ。
The teachers on this site are mainly dogs.
It implies that while dogs are the majority or main focus, there might be other animals (such as cats, mice, etc.) also serving as teachers on the site.
Maggie Sensei, あけましておめでとうございます。(.. if it is not too late to say this).
Would you be interested in reading about some of my most recent language learning experiences in Japan? I think you will find it interesting. I don’t think it would be appropriate to post it here. I could send to your email address (which I already have), if that is OK. Then you can read at your leisure, whenever you have some time.
Michael
Hi Michael
あけましておめでとうございます！
Yes, I’d love to read your experiences. Sent it by email.
楽しみにしています。
Maggie
just found out this website, i think is really wholesome that youve been doing this for so long , you can tell when someone puts love in what they do. thanks for your work, ill check some of your lessons.
Hi Alvaro
Welcome to our site. Hope you can learn something here. ☺️
Good evening Maggie. I came across the following phrase: 幽閉 – ある場所に閉じこめて外に出さないこと。and I had some doubts.
1) In this sentence, is 外に read as ほかに or そとに?
2) When do I use 外に (ほかに) instead of 外に (そとに)? Can you give me an example?
3) I searched the internet and discovered on a website the following word 外に出さない. Is this an expression?
Hi Angelo
The meaning of 幽閉/閉じ込めること is confinement/lock ~ in
外に出さない = そとにださない = Not let that person outside
It is not a set expression but 外 means outside so you can figure out the meaning.
ほか: When you use this word as “others/another”, you use the kanji 他
You read 外, ほか in expressions like
思いの外 = おもいのほか = unexpectedly.
ありがとうございます。日本語の勉強はまだまだ続きます ：’）
いつもルナのことを応援しています！ p(^_^)q
マギー先生は新しレッスンをアップするとき、さっそく読めばいいともいます。時には読んでくるを忘れます。
ルナ
今日は、二つもレッスン読んでくれましたね。
(Note for you: ルナの書いてくれた文章もわかりますが、少しお手伝いしますね。
マギー先生が新しいレッスンをアップしたときに(or アップしたら、) すぐに読めばいいと思います。
時には（すでに）読んだことを忘れます。) ☺️
どのレッスンが読んだことありますを忘れないようにいつもコメント書きたいのですが、時々わすれてしまう。
このレッスン、二度目読んだことです ;o
何回でも読んでください。😉
（Note for you: どのレッスンをよんだか忘れないように〜/このレッスンを読んだのは２度目でした。）
Thanks for the lesson. I have some questions.
What is the difference between するとしても したとしても ?
For example,
年内に新しい機種が出るとしても今の機種とそんなに違いはないだろう。
Does this sentence mean “a new model hasn’t/will or come(s) out yet”
年内に新しい機種が出たとしても今の機種とそんなに違いはないだろう。
and this sentence mean “a new model already has come out” ? if that is so, what is the difference when it comes to hypothetical situations (としても）? Is it interchangeable ?
Hi Kiw
Good question. I should have explained the nuance difference in the lessons.
You can sometime use the past tense and the present tense with としても
The mean the same but the nuance difference is
when you focus on the event itself, releasing a new model (the anticipation of a future event that hasn’t happened yet) you use 出る
when you focus on the state/situation (right) after they released a new model, you use 出た
Good afternoon Maggie. I have some questions that I would like you to answer.
1) In the sentence この問題が解けなかったら、罰ゲームが待っていますよ！, the verb 解けなかったら is derived from 解ける or解く? I’m having trouble figuring this out.
2) In the sentence もうお利口さんにしないとお仕置きしますよ。, what is the function of しない? I researched and I think it has the function of: to serve as; to act as; to work as; , but I’m not sure and would like confirmation.
Hello Matheus,
1) 解けなかったら is from 解ける (to be able to solve)
解ける is a potential form of 解く
問題が解ける/解けない (can solve/can’t solve)
問題を解く/解かない (involves one’s will)
If you use the verb form 解く, the sentence will be
この問題を解かなかったら 〜
2) That する/しない means “to (try) be/act/behave”
お利口さんにする = to be good/behave well
こんにちは先生。
This example sentence:
今日は、帰りは遅くなるよ
Can you explain the difference between this and just saying「今日は、帰りは遅いよ」?
こんにちは、Terry
A 帰りは遅いよ。
B 帰りは遅くなるよ
The translation could be the same in English but the difference is
A: It simply states that you are going to be home late tonight.
B: It indicates the process of becoming late. For example, if you have a lot of tasks to do, you might end up being late as a result of those circumstances.
Hmm, that’s subtle. どうもありがとうござあいます~
どういたしまして
Yes it may sound subtle.
It might be just easy to think
→ the basic idea of なる expresses the change and the result. A →B
For example you usually get to home around six. But you have many things to do and it will be late.
your regular time to go home (around six) A →do this and that →It will be late. B
みなさん、明けましておめでとうございます！
今年もよろしくおねがいします！
Happy New Year, everyone!
Happy New Year Maggie Sensei! Thanks for all you do for us!
I hope this is the year we all finally achieve our New Year’s resolutions! (Mine is learning Japanese…and then becoming a host for a kids TV show that teaches English! Dream big! XD)
Happy New Year, Douglas!
I hope all your dreams come true this year.
いっしょにがんばりましょう！ ٩(^‿^)۶
こんにちは先生！
How would you do “adjective clauses” to describe nouns? My gut is telling me this is wrong…
ex. People who like dogs
犬が好きな人
こんにちは、Terry
Yes, you can say 犬が好きな人
I hope you are 犬が好きな人 😆
もちろんですよ！
良いお年をお迎えください。
よかった 🐶❤️
Terryもどうぞよいお年をお迎えくださいね。
In “信号が赤から青に変わった,” shouldn’t it be “The traffic lights turned from RED to GREEN” and not “from GREEN to RED”? Just making sure I didn’t misunderstand.
Hello Douglas
Yes, you are right. “The traffic lights turned from RED to GREEN”
1) The following sentences are correct: 私は、ひどく残酷な決断を迫られました。 and あなたはすべてを見つけるでしょう：家畜、野生または固有種。
2) What is the function of 何 in the following sentence 脳の病気は何の前触れもなく起こることが多い。?
Hi Leandro
1) The first sentence is OK.
I am not sure what you are trying to see with あなたはすべてを見つけるでしょう：家畜、野生または固有種。
2) That 何の = noun means “any”
So the literal meaning is “without any warning/sign”
Good evening Maggie. I would like to clear up some doubts about the following sentences.
1) In the sentence 経験不足が相まって、就職は非常に困難だ。, 相まって was translated as due or because, but shouldn’t its meaning be coupled with or together? Why was it translated as due?
2) In the sentence 交渉が成立するという前提で話を進めます。, what is the function of the particle で in this sentence?
3) In the sentence ランサー源頼光は道徳心を以て、夏休みの風紀の乱れを監視する。, what is the function and meaning of を以て in this sentence?
4) Is the following sentence: それってすごく矛盾した状況じゃない？ correct? And why put した after 矛盾? And it shouldn’t be それら because the translation was: They’re really contradicting circumstances, aren’t they? ?
Hi Pedro
1) 相まって means “two or more elements interact, and as a result, it leads to some negative consequences.
So because of one reason which is not written in your sentence and 経験不足, it is difficult to get a job.
2) This で indicates the condition by which something is done
Ex. ~という条件で
3) 以て(or 以って⇨I think 以って is more common) means “with”
It indicates the method. Ex.誠意を以って対処します。
4) Yes. If you rephrase it in a little more formal way, ⇨それはとても矛盾している状況ではないですか？
I think the translation is “Isn’t it a very contradictory situation?”
こんばんはマギ一先生、
Does it sound weird to use different tenses in one sentence?
Ex. trying to say: We went to the movies and shopping [and stuff], now we’re going to eat dinner.
映画に見り行ったし、買うものしたし、晩ごはんを食べに行く。
Oops, meant 映画を見に行ったし
こんばんは、Terry
OK, let me correct your sentence to make it sound a little more natural.
映画を見に行ったし(Or 映画は見たし）、買い物もしたから、今から晩ごはんを食べに行こう。
What does the から mean there? “Because” or “from” doesn’t seem to match…? 答えでありがとうございます。
Oh to clarify, the から after 買い物した
Hello again, Terry
That から is a reason, so. (It implies the nuance “Since I have done things I wanted to do” + Now I am going to eat something)
You can replace し with から to emphasize the reason.
Since your original sentence may look like just listing three actions, it will be more clear to use から.
However you can just use し in casual conversation.
映画は見たし、買い物はしたし..(new sentence) ご飯でも食べに行こうかな。ご飯でも食べにいかない？
マギ一先生、
Would it be correct to use なんて sort of like “only”? As in demeaning something as lesser? Examples:
すみません、飲み物は水なんてがあるのです。
Sorry, I only have water to drink. (inferior compared to tea, coffee, etc for a guest)
安くて古いコンピュータなんてがあるから、ゲームをできないんだ。
I can’t play the game because I only have a cheap, old computer.
Is this correct sounding, or is there a better way to get that idea across?
Hi Terry
You don’t say 〜なんてがある
すみません、飲み物は水なんてがあるのです。
→You can say 水しかありません. If you want to add the nuance of demeaning the water,
水ぐらいしかありません。
安くて古いコンピュータなんてがあるから、ゲームをできないんだ。
→安くて古いコンピューターしかないから、ゲームができないんだ。
Oh, is that because なんて replaces particles or you wouldn’t say なんてある either?
Aaah, I had your しか lesson open in another tab but hadn’t read it yet ^^; ありがとうございます！
Right. You don’t say Noun+ なんてある in the meaning of “only have something”
Good. Please check my しか lesson. ☺️
先生こんにちは。
下の文の「上で」の使い方をちょっと解説していただけませんか？
＝＞’’そのような画像は各種報道やインターネット上で公開されていた。’’＜＝
その課には何処でも見つかりませんでした。
僕の理解では手段を表します。
こんにちは、ニクラブス
まず、その文書の”上”は「じょう」と読み、”on” という意味です。
インターネット上(じょう）で →on the Internet
の意味になります。
Good evening Maggie. I came across the following sentence: 俺が逆らうと、兄貴はよく脇をこしょばしてきました。
I had some doubts. Shouldn’t it be こしょばくして? Or is it okay to use it the way it was written in the sentence?
My other doubt is that I would like to know what the function of きました is in this sentence.
Hi Pedro
こしょばす is a dialect and it means くすぐる to tickle
So こしょばしてきました means くすぐってきました
And Vてくる/きます is used when some action is coming towards you.
Hi, thanks for all the good info.
Just wanted to point out a small oversight. (Sorry if it’s already been mentioned, I didn’t have time to read all the comments)
You write,
>>First make a past tense and delete た ( = ta) ・だ ( = da) and switch with ちゃう ( = chau) / ちゃった ( = chatta)<<
Since ちゃう is a contraction of 〜てしまう it would make sense to think of making the conjunctive form and delete the て/で instead of making the past tense.
Thus one can go from 食べてしまう to 食べちゃう and see the logic behind the contraction.
Hi Niwashikun
You are right. You can also make ちゃった form from te-form.
こんにちはマギー先生
「面白い話でした」と「面白かった話です」の違いは何でしょうか？
「面白かった話でした」も言えますか？
こんにちは、らわ！
元気でしたか？ 😀
「面白かった話でした」は、二つ過去形が入っているので「面白い話でした」 の方が、自然でよく使います。
「どれだけ高かったとしてもマギーに会えるなら行くべきだよ。」
ええ、行くならマギー先生と会える？？
いくら行きたいとしても、お金がない；ー；
(Perfect!!)
遊びにきて〜〜 😆
Thank you for all you do Maggie sensei! This has been a huge help for me as I am preparing for a school trip to japan in 2025!
Thank you very much!
Hi Auger
Thank you for your message.
I’m happy to hear this site has been helpful. Good luck preparing for your 2025 school trip.
Hi Maggie Sensei!
Your website was brought to my attention from the Learn Japanese reddit and I love your website. I am a beginner and have a question.
On your “About Us” page you introduce yourself, but I noticed the use of へ was stated as “ye” for introducation. This is new to me as I learn grammar and other things about japanese.
If you have an article about the use of particles regarding this I’m sorry, so I was curious why it is “ye”. I’d like to understand better!
ありがとうございます！
Hi Opal
Thank you for your comment. And I am sorry.
I should have typed “e” instead of “ye” to avoid the confusion. I’ll fix it.
へ is pronounced as “e” when it is used to indicate the direction or destination of an action.
Ex. へや = heya = room
Ex. とうきょうへいきます = Toukyou e ikimasu.= I am going to Tokyo.
I guess I used “ye” in About Us and maybe in some of my old lessons to distinguish the hiragana え ( = e) .
I now stick to the romaji “e” for へ. It is much more common than “ye”.
There are two other particles that you pronounce differently.
は and を
は = ha →(particle for topic) You pronounce it wa
を = wo →(particle for object) You pronounce it “o” (I use the romaji “wo”)
Good evening Maggie. I would like to know if the following sentence is correct: 中世時代に、騎士道の訓練の第一段階として、騎士の従者をする若者.
Hi Pedro
Is it some kind of description? Then yes, it is correct.
Hello Maggie Sensei,
I have a question :
I have seen this sentence: ごはんを食べたり、お茶を飲んだりしてもよかったです
What does てもよかったです mean here in this context ?
Thank you for your answer.
Best regards.
Léo
Hi Léo,
てもよかったです means “It was OK to do something”
So →It was OK to have a meal, drink tea and etc.
Good Maggie. I found the following sentence: 勇者や救世主だって世界のせいで闇堕ちすることだってあるのです. I would like to know if there should be が in place of the second だって or if the phrase is right.
Hi Mutuio
闇堕ちすることだってあるのです can be rephrased
闇堕ちすることがあるのです or 闇堕ちすることもあるのです
Hello Maggiesensei,
Thank you for the great lesson. I’m currently trying to translate Saori Hayamis Yume no Hate made, but I’m struggling with two lines and was hoping you could help me.
寂しい人ほど 優しさを持ち
優しい人ほど 強さを秘めている
Am I right in the assumption that this is a shortening for the ば～ほど〜 grammar point? So those two lines would translate to
The lonlier a person is, the more kindness they hold
The kinder a person is, the more strength they’re hiding
Thank you in advance.
Hi Liz
Yes, your interpretation is right. ☺️
Thank you very much!
🐶❤️
Good evening maggie. The following sentence makes sense: 魔獣と交わることで根源を模索する魔術師もいたのかどうか
I was in doubt after seeing this sentence because I don’t know if it should be かどうか or か at the end.
Hello Matheus,
I wouldn’t leave this sentence with どうか
いたのかどうか+ わからない/不明である
If you want to show your surprised feelings
いたのか… works.
If you meant “I wonder if there was a magician ~” then, you can say いたのだろうか.
Good evening Maggie. I came across a sentence and didn’t understand part of it. The sentence is as follows: 明治時代の終わりにかけて英語亡国論を唱える人たちがいた.
I didn’t understand the part: 英語亡国論. Can you explain this part to me?
When I put it on Google Translate, it was translated as: theory of the exile of the English language, but I don’t understand how it got to that translation.
Hi Thiago
英語 = English language
亡国 = collapse of a country →国がなくなる / 滅びる こと the country will perish/be ruined
論 = theory
the theory that the English language would lead to the collapse of the country.
Dear Maggie Sensei,
What is the purpose of って in this sentence?
雨上がりの空って綺麗ですよね
Thank you!
Hi ami,
That って is to bring up a topic. You use って instead of は (or というのは)
The same function of the example sentence
Ex. マギーって (→は)かわいいね。
Hello Maggie sensei,
You have the question: 日本に来たのはこれで何回目ですか？
Answer 1: これで３回目です。
It is a simple substitution Q: 何回目→A: ３回目, and this is how people talk, even at airport immigration, and in other languages. In other words, drop the topic/subject and substitute the question word with the answer.
Grammatically, would a more complete answer be:
A2: 日本に来たのはこれで３回目です。
How about
A3: 私の日本に来たのはこれで３回目です。
The reason why I ask is that I found this sentence on the internet:
私にとって日本への訪問はこれで3番目です。
Even with the minor change of subject (‘number of visits’ instead of ‘number of times’), would a Japanese person ever say something like this? Especially ‘私にとって’ seems to be an unnecessarily complicated answer to a simple question.
Thanks in advance,
Michael (different ‘Michael’ from the other person below)
Hi Michael
私の日本に来たのはこれで３回目です。→Not natural
It will be more natural to omit the subject in conversation but if you include the subject it will be
A: 私が日本に来たのはこれで3回目です。 not 私の〜
The sentence you found on the internet
私にとって日本への訪問はこれで3番目です。should be 3回目.
B: 私にとって日本への訪問はこれで3回目です
A and B are grammatically correct but as you said it is an unnecessarily complicated answer to a simple question.
Also you don’t repeat the same words when it is obvious what you are talking about.
So the most natural way to answer the question will be これで3回目です。
Are you planning to come to Japan again? ☺️
Thanks for the reply.
Yes, I will be going to Japan next month, for 6 weeks. This time, I will mainly visit Okayama-ken, Shikoku, and Nara-ken.
My vocabulary is still too small, and I don’t get enough practice speaking. However, I’m getting better at improvising, rather than staying in a safe zone of scripted dialog (questions and answers). Also, for practical purposes, a person really does not need to speak complex, grammatically complete sentences. When I go to a restaurant or hotel or train station or konbini etc., it is obvious why I am there. If you know the key words, that is often enough.
Most people realize that you can’t speak much of the local language, and they almost automatically simplify. And, if I go somewhere, such as restaurant, especially when it isn’t very busy the staff are are quick to give some guidance with procedures (how to use tablet to place order), and so on.
So, sometimes it is stressful and embarrassing, with all the mistakes I make, but it is still an adventure.
Great!
You have a great attitude. I can already tell that you’re going to have an amazing time in Japan. Six weeks in Okayama, Shikoku, and Nara will be fantastic. And if you ever encounter any problems, just drop me a line.
I hope your next adventure will be fulfilling.
:-) Thanks
Michael
🐶❤️❤️❤️
Thank you for the lesson! I have noticed a typo in these sentences:
* 始める & 始める = はじまる & はじめる = hajimeru & hajimaru
= Kaigi no nihiji ga kiettei shita.
Thank you Luna!!
I fixed them. ☺️
Good afternoon Maggie. I looked up the definition of 後半 and got 前後二つに分けた、あとのほうの半分。
I didn’t understand the 前後二つに分けた part. Can you explain each part to me?
Hi Mario
If it is talking about the story (books, movies, etc.) 前後二つに分けた divided into two parts, the first part and the second(later) part
Thank you for this helpful article!
There is a very small typo in the romanization of one of the examples. The kana is fine!
→* 楽しみ = たのしみ = tanoshimi = pleasure
Ex. 来週のデートが楽しみだ。
= Raishuu no deeto ga tanoshimi ***ta*** → da
Hello Jesse
Thank you for spotting the typo. I fixed it. ありがとう！
Hi Maggie Sensei,
I had a question regarding the “determine” use of という in these sentences:
A.)冬に北海道に行ってみればどんなに寒いかということがわかるだろう。
If you go to Hokkaido in the winter, you will see how cold it is there.
B.)S子供に会えないということがどれだけ辛いかあなたにはわかりません。
You have no idea how hard it is not to be able to see your own child.
C.)できないとわかっていてもまずやってみるということが大切です。
Even if you know you can’t do it is important to at least try once.
a.) What does “determine” mean here?
b.) Could の be used in place of こと here? I know that often の can replace nouns, but I also know that というのは and ということは are different grammars. When can you use の in place of こと?
Because I heard these two kinds of sentences are equivalent:
彼がパーティーに来なかったということは知っている
彼がパーティーに来なかったというのは知っている
“I know that he didn’t come to the party”
Are there other examples where you can do this replacement?
As in, perhaps these two are these equivalent?:
まだ分からないということが嫌だ
まだ分からないというのが嫌だ
“I hate the fact that I don’t know yet”
Again, thank you so much, this is tricky grammar for me and helped a lot =)
Hi Silas
Good questions.
a.) What does “determine” mean here?
→I’m sorry. It is an old lesson but I think I meant “define”. Either way, let me revise it and add more explanation later.
Anyway, you use ということ attaching to a phrase and make the phrase into a noun.
b.) Could の be used in place of こと here?
→Yes, you can rephrase the sentences with の in the usage (1)
まだ分からないということが嫌だ OK
まだ分からないというのが嫌だ OK or simply 分からないのが嫌だ
By using という, it adds more explanatory tone.
かわいい犬といえば、マギー先生ですね！
PS, I think there is a typo in both these sentences:
Ex. 安いといえば、このジェケット、いくらだったと思う？
= やすいといえば、このジャケット、いくらだったおおもう？
Hi ルナ！
ありがとう〜❤️🐶
（I fixed the typo. Thank you!!)
Good night Maggie. Can you tell me if the following sentence sounds natural in Japanese: 聖女様が中傷や殲滅なんてする訳ない+Extras?
Hi Mutuio
I guess for a dramatic games or anime, yes. (or 聖女様が中傷したりや殲滅なんてする訳ない)
中傷 means “slander” (to damage someone’s reputation).
殲滅 annihilation (in other word 皆殺し）
Is that what you wanted to say?
Hello Maggie,
どうよ?
I’m trying to understand what she says here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5g5jNuGxyz4
あんたみたいに用意周到な男が失敗するなんて**おにょウケる**んですけど
せっかく言い訳あるなら聞いてあげようってのに
“It’s so funny to me that a man as well-prepared as you would fail.
If you have an excuse, I’d listen to it.”
The word in **___** is not understandable at all to me. Is おにょける a slang used by young people? I know ウケるんです means “it’s funny” but おにょウケるんです ?
Thank you Sensei!
Hi Gaspatcher
Is it from ポケモン?
I think the character meant to say “鬼ウケル” but it came out おにょウケる” in a cute way.
鬼(original meaning is “demon”) is a slang word it means “very/extremely” like メチャ.
Ok I think that’s the case. I can’t follow kids slang, it’s too complicated haha!
☺️
Yes its from ポケモン. Sorry, I didn’t see your question.
OK 👍
It does sound kind of cute おにょウケる 😆
Hi, Maggie-Sensei!
When まで means “until ~ does something,” does the verb before まで always have to be in present tense regardless of whether the overall sentence is past tense?
For example, given
“He wandered the hills and plains until he reached Shagri-La.”
a. シャングリ・ラにたどり着くまで、野山をさまよった。
b. シャングリ・ラにたどり着いたまで、野山をさまよった。
which option is correct?
Hi Sora,
The verb before まで should be in present tense.
So
a. シャングリ・ラにたどり着くまで、野山をさまよった。 is correct and you don’t say 着いたまで
Good night Maggie. I found the following sentence: 特定の人種や民族を支持するという話ではありません。
I would like to understand the function of という話. I looked it up on a few sites and I still don’t understand.
Hi Luigi
The literal meaning of 〜という話 is “the story of ~”, quoting what comes before (民族を支持する）
But you would just translate it “about”
It is not (a story) about supporting specific races or ethnicities.
Thanks
Hello Maggie-sensei,
How are you? Not much a question this time, but rather to be sure of something:
「頑張ってはいるんだが」
Is the particle は used to emphasize 頑張って in 頑張っている? (1)
Or is it an expression 頑張ってはいる like 頑張って入る? (2)
I think it’s more (1) but I wanted to be sure. Does that mean we can add は whenever we want if we want to emphasize a particular word?
Here is the sentence in its context:
[A] 分かってくれるよね？
[B] ええっと……
[B] それが……完璧に理解するのは難しいんだ……
[B] 頑張ってはいるんだが
Thank you Sensei!
Hello Gaspatcher
元気？
First this (て）いる is a progressive form and it indicates what someone has been or is doing.
work hard/try hard 頑張る → (have been/to be) working hard/trying hard 頑張っている
You add は between Vて and いる to emphasize the contrast. Vて+は+いる
So that は actually emphasizes “頑張っている”
A) 頑張っているんだが （= 頑張っているのだが・頑張っているのだけれども) + contrasting outcome/contradictory outcome
→B ) (add は） 頑張ってはいるんだが （= 頑張ってはいるのだが/頑張ってはいるのだけれども）+ contrasting outcome/contradictory outcome
B) shows the contrast between the fact 頑張っている and outcome more.
Another example:
Ex. がんばらなくてはいけないとわかっているけれどもできない = I know I have to work hard but I can’t.
→がんばらなくてはいけないとわかってはいるけれどもできない
Ex. A: 来年、日本に行きますか？ = Are you going to Japan next year?
B: 考えてはいるのですが.. = Yeah, I have been thinking about it (but..)
Thank you Maggie.
おかげさまで!
I think your comment is cut in half haha.
But yeah, I had this intuition it was a は for emphasizing!
Vて+は+いる: I’ve never seen this structure before (I think). So you can put a は between the てverb and いる, good to know!
Thank you Sensei!
Hi Gaspatcher.
ごめんなさい。You are right. My previous comment was cut in half.
Yes, Vて+は+いる is a very common expression especially when you make an excuse like my example sentence that I added in my previous message. 😆
Thank you, your explanations are always clear, Sensei!
So in general, we see this structure because of a contrasting outcome
Vて+は+いる+んだが+……
+は +んだけれども+……
+は +のですが+……
+は +のですけれども+……
+は +けれども+……
Yes, Vては+ いるのですが(formal) /いるのですけれども(polite) / いるのですが/いるけれども(casual) /いるんだけれども (casual)
Or sometimes you finish the sentence Vてはいます. In this case you can tell there is some kind of problem.
Ex. A: 日本語の勉強していないの？
B: やってはいます。
In this case, the speaker
FYI The similar expression is
VことはVっています/いる （が・けれども/のですが..）
頑張ることは頑張っているのですが = I do try hard but ~
Link is here
先生、ありがとう！
いいえ、お役に立てたらうれしいです☺️
hello Maggie Sensei…
Thank you for everything…
I think there is a problem in this sentence… (but maybe I’m wrong…)
明日、私は出かけられません。
あした、わたしはとどくのででかけられません。
= Ashita watashi wa dekkakeraremasen.
Why this “todoku no” in kana?
sorry for my broken english… I’m from Belgium and I speak french, but I try to learn Japanese!!! Thank you for all that you learn to me!!!
Bonjour Blue
Thank you for spotting the mistake.
Originally I wrote a sentence, 明日、私は<荷物が届くので>出かけられません。 but I changed my mind and made it easier deleting 荷物が届くので part. Apparently I forgot to erase とどくので.
J’espère que vous comprenez mon explication.
Boa tarde Maggie. eu gostaria de saber a função de か (depois de なんたる) nesta frase: いいでしょう。齢を重ねた私が王とはなんたるかあなた達に指導してさしあげましょう。
Bom dia Pedro
か significa “que”
王とはなにか →(mais formal)王とはなんたるか = que um rei é
(I hope my Portuguese makes sense 😆）
Related lesson ~か/かどうか Click here
Thanks for the answer Maggie, but I thought the “what” was the function of なんたる, because when I looked it up, I found that なんたる means What (something) is like.
If I understood your lesson correctly, the function of か in this sentence would be to make the sentence have an interrogative tone, like: What is a king is like?
OK, I will try answering you in English.
Yes, なんたる means “what” ( I thought that what I meant by “que” in my previous message. 😅) and it has mainly two ways of using.
１） What ~! (interjection/exclamatory words) : Expressing one’s emotion
The same as なんて but it is more formal
なんてことだ = It’s unbelievable /Oh My God!! (Expressing one’s surprise)
→なんたることか！
2)The one you asked me is “what” as a relative pronoun
Nounはなんたるか = What ~ is / What ~ means
王とはなんであるか（ということ）を指導する
To teach what the king is (or what the king is supposed to be)
礼儀とはなんたるかを教えてあげなくてはいけない。
= We have to teach them what the manner is.
Hello Maggie-sensei ^^
I’d like to ask, how would you rate the politeness between (for example) やめないか vs. やめて? Or are they used in different contexts? Thank you!
Hello Ai
やめないか has two meanings.
1) Stop it! (Command form. Telling someone to stop in a strong way expressing one’s angry feelings.): Male speech/pretty rough
Compare to やめて, it sounds much stronger.
2) Why don’t we stop? : Male speech/rough
So て is much more polite than やめないか.
I see, I was under the impression that ~ないか was softer but I wasn’t sure, glad that I decided to ask. Thank you for the answer! ^^
You’re very welcome! ☺️
Hello, Maggie-sensei. How are you?
My question is about: ‘これは何を買えば読めるのでしょうか?’
I believe it roughly translates to: ‘What should I buy so I can read this?’
I know ‘えば’ can mean ‘if’ or ‘when,’ , but it doesn’t seem to fit those translations. I think it may be used to express the idea of ‘should.’ Perhaps it’s a shortened form of ‘買えばいい’, but I’m not sure.
Thank you in advance.
Hello luno. I’m good. Lunoも元気？
何を買えば is a condition for the following sentence 読める to be able to read
What should I buy to (in order to) read this?
Hello Maggie (again),
I’m trying to understand this sentence but it’s all mixed up in my head (I mean I understand the meaning but I couldn’t rewrite this because I don’t understand the grammar)
「毎日お前と会えることが十分に価値のあることだ」
毎日お前と会えることが : Seeing you everyday…
Until here it’s okay… and after that it’s the circus, all the words and particles are mixed up!
十分に価値のある : I thought the expression was 価値は十分にある
〜のある : what is 〜のある? Is it the same as 〜がある? 価値 is a noun here, so の can’t be a nominalizer
あること : why is it あること and not ことある? or ことがある?
Maybe it’s just some expressions or vocabulary I lack. Thank you again Sensei!
おはよう、Gaspatcher
When you modify a noun you can use の as a topic marker as well.
Gaspatcherは漫画を読んだ。
When you talk about the manga which Gaspatcher read, you can say
The manga that Gaspacher read ⬇️
Gaspatcherが読んだ漫画 （X Not “Gaspatcherは読んだ漫画”）
or
Gaspatcherの読んだ漫画
The same idea works for your question.
十分価値がある
When you add こと, you can say either
十分に価値があること
or use の
十分に価値のあること
I have a lesson how to modify a noun. Link is here.
https://maggiesensei.com/2017/02/04/how-to-modify-a-noun-in-japanese/
Thank you!
Your explanations are always well written and clear for my level!
You’re the best sensei!
さすが、マギー先生！
You’re too kind.❤️
Hello Maggie, me again (⁄ ⁄•⁄ω⁄•⁄ ⁄)
My question is about the よう (hence the lesson) in this sentence:
「文芸部に入部するようお前が説得してくれて本当に良かったと思ってるんだ」
“I’m really happy that you convinced me to join the club.”
Your lesson mentions the use of よう〜 (ような or ように) but not よう alone. I thought maybe it was some kind of contraction in casual speech but even the notion of similarity (as, like) of よう does not appear here is not obvious to me. “You convinced me like to join the club” makes no sense. So what is the purpose of よう here?
ありがとう!!!
Hi Gaspatcher
This よう belongs to the usage
→the other usages of よう ( = you) besides the meaning of “as/like”
(From my lesson)
1) ように ( = youni) = to do something ~ in order to do ~ / so that ~ / in such a way ~
(to intend to make things work as you hope)
★verb (→the result you hope, your goal/non-volitional verb/ verb potential form ) ように ( = youni) + verb (what to do/what you did/ to hope, to wish)
⬇️
Your sentence 文芸部に入部するよう means “to join the literary club” with the purpose or intention of doing so. It describes the result or goal that “you” (the listener or someone mentioned in the conversation) hoped or intended to achieve thinking of the speaker.
And, Yes, in casual conversation, you can omit に and just say よう in this usage.
****
And thank you so much for the ☕️s!! ❤️
No problem, thank you for helping me improving Sensei!
ありがとう！ 🐶❤️❤️❤️
Hi sensei,
This link does not work anymore https://twitter.com/MaggieSensei
Do you know anyway to view your tweets without [log in to twitter?]
When I search google I can only see your old tweets
いつも ども ありがとう。
Hi soleyman
I checked it myself with other browser. You are right. Unless you don’t log in, you can’t see other people’s tweets.
(FYI Patreon ありがとうx 10 tier members can get Monthly Tweets (PDF file with all my tweets lessons with an audio file every month.)
Hello Maggie,
Sorry for spamming, I’m on a rampage of questions haha!
You said in your lesson “to give a reason” is のせいで but here it’s なせいで
でもわたしが自分勝手なせいで……
どれほど酷い人間なのかを見せてしまった
I noticed several times that な is replacing の. Is it the same case here? When do I know when to use な or の after a noun?
Thank you Maggie!
Hello Gaspatcher
Good question. I have been thinking about making more detailed lesson on せいで and おかげで.
I mainly introduced the usage of Noun + の + せいで in this lesson.
But you can use せいで with verbs and adjectives as well.
verb (present/past tense, etc.) + せいで
i-adjective + せいで （→past tense i-adjective 〜かった＋せいで）
na-adjective + せいで (→past tense na-adjective + だったせいで）
noun + の + せいで (→past tense noun + だったせいで）
自分勝手/勝手 is actually na-adjective 自分勝手な（人・人間）
→自分勝手なせいで
Oh thank you! I thought 自分勝手 was a noun! Makes more sense now!
Thank you!
Anytime! ☺️
Hello Maggie,
How are you doing? I don’t know how is your summer in Japan but here in Europe, it’s a burning hell! I would like to go to Sweden for some days to get some fresh air! It’s not much, but I noticed lately I’m reading faster (I can “cut” the words faster in-live instead of reading the whole line then process to cut each word to have the sentence makes sense), so I wanted to share that with you (even though this is a little improvement)
Now question time to my sensei. In the sentence 「全部俺に教えてくれれば！」, I understand he says “If only you told me everything” but in the official translation he says “All you had to do was tell me!”
I understand sometimes the translation adapts to the language, but I would like to know the literal translation of the Japanese version.
To give you some context,
お前の毎日が少しでも良くなるように、どんな小さな努力でもしたのに！
そのための友達だろ！
全部俺に教えてくれれば！
Thank you Maggie!
Hi Gaspatcher
First of all, I am happy to hear that you can read faster now. It is an important skill to understand the context without reading every single word.
It has been very hot in Japan, too.Going to Sweden sounds like a great idea.
The translation is correct.
If only you told me everything/All you had to do was tell me!
Or you can say “If you had told me everything.”
I think you know but the speaker added the sentence last but 全部俺に教えてくれれば is a condition
The right order is ~れば〜のに
So let me rephrase it for you to see the structure better.
全部俺に教えてくれればお前の毎日が少しでも良くなるように、どんな小さな努力でもしたのに！
If you had told me everything, I would have made even a small effort to make your everyday life a little better!
Thank you so much! Makes more sense now! I didn’t understand why there was a condition and he stops like that… With the restructuration, it’s much more understandable. Is this order natural when speaking? Or is it because he speaks out words without structuring them before, but the listener can still understand (not me)
My original question actually was for the 全部. Was it the subject All (you had to do) or the object (tell everything). It seems both are acceptable, so again, we can understand this sentence in many ways, daro?
If only you told me everything! (object) 全部(を)?
All you had to do was tell me! (subject) 全部(は)?
Maybe I’m too focused on the details, but that kind of stuff bothers me hahaha!
1) Is this order natural when speaking?
Using the inversion method allows for changing the order of sentences, adding important information at the end to leave a stronger impression. You usually use this method in writing （especially lyrics)
In spoken language, people use the inversion method not just to create an impact but also when they just add something important.
2) 全部 is an object. 全部 ( = 全てのことを)教えてくれれば
Thank youuuu!
You’re welcome! ☺️
Hello Maggie,
I couldn’t find a lesson about that but what does the 分 mean after a verb?
なんで他の人が頑張った分をわたしが無駄遣いしてしまうの？
Is it to show some extent or something like that?
Also, I wrote a question in the 〜よう lesson (https://maggiesensei.com/2012/04/03/request-lesson-%E3%82%88%E3%81%86you/) but I’m not sure if it has been approved.
Thank you Maggie-sensei!
Hi again, Gaspatcher
This 分 indicate the “portion” or “share” of effort that other people have put in.
Hi again, Gaspatcher
This 分 indicate the “portion” or “share” of effort that other people have put in. z
The literal translation is “Why do I end up wasting the portion of effort that other people have put in?” which means, “Why do I end up wasting other people’s efforts?”
Thank you Maggie! You’re always so kind!
You’re very welcome! :)
Hello Maggie sensei. Your lessons are amazing, you put so much work into them!
As a teacher of English, I totally agree that textbooks are full of boring grammar rules. Making a lesson interesting is what all schools around the world should do. I wonder when they will realise and change methods? I’m so glad your site exists! It helped me a lot in the past and it’s helping me now too. THANK YOU for everything!! ^__^
Hi madridimi
Thank you so much for your comment. Your kind words made my day. I am sure you are an amazing English teacher. Rest assured, I will do my best to keep making more Japanese lessons that will help you in your journey to learn Japanese.
Love,
Maggie
Hello Maggie,
I have a really hard time to understand the structure of this sentence:
「完璧に無価値なわたしがやるようなことなんて何もないもん」
I understand that:
– 完璧に is an adverb with に modifying a な-adjective: perfectly
– 無価値な is a noun becoming an adjective with the な-particle: worthlessness -> worthless
– やるようなことなんて何もない: ような modifies ことなんて何もない with なんて emphasizing the negative sentence
– もん gives a childish way of expressing her feelings
So I see many different translations, which is the correct one:
“There’s absolutely nothing to do, for someone as perfectly worthless as me.”
“There’s absolutely nothing, someone as perfectly worthless as me, could do.”
“There’s absolutely no way there’s anything someone as perfectly worthless as I am could do, right?”
If you need context, she says before
「なんで毎朝学校に遅刻してるか分かる？」- Do you know why I’m (always) late to school every morning?
「いつも、ベッドから起き上がる理由を見つけられないから」- Because, every time, I can’t find a reason to get out of bed.
「完璧に無価値なわたしがやるようなことなんて何もないもん」- ???
Thank you sensei!
Hi, Gaspatcher
I think the first one is the closest translation for the sentence.
If you interpret やること as something you could do then the second translation works too.
Thank you Maggie <3
So that was my main problem, the やる can be applied either to the "nothing", or to the "I"? "nothing to do" "nothing I can do"
So does that mean this sentence is ambiguous so we can understand both meanings?
The nuance difference is
やることがない can be translated “There is nothing to do” , “There is nothing I could do.” , “There is nothing I want to do” ,etc.
Since the subject has a description, 完璧に無価値な, so judging from the context, I think “There is nothing I could do.” may sound more natural.
Good afternoon Maggie. I would like to know the meaning of やろ in the following sentence: これ絶対今年のfesでやる気やろと思ってたのに……ｗ
Is this an expression attached to やる気 or does it have a standalone meaning?
Hi Mario,
やろ is a very casual speech and it is originally from Kansai dialect.
It means だろう
やる気やろと思ってた ←やる気(なん)だろうと思っていたのに
おはようMaggie Sensei, お久しぶりですよ!
I’m so happy to see your lessons are still on the first page when I have a question related to Japanese!
My question is about the particle は and を. In a visual novel, a character is asking:
今日モニカの手伝いはしないのかよ？
I saw that to say “to help ~” it’s more 手伝いをする and not 手伝いはする. What is the difference between both? Is it because we just want to say 手伝いする with は emphasizing 手伝い?
Thank you Maggie-sensei!
Hi Gaspatcher
手伝いをする 手伝い (help) + を (=object marker) + する ( = to do ) = to help
You can also just say 手伝う
手伝いはする As you say you use は has a couple of functions, topic, showing the contrast, emphasizing what comes before.
It depends on the context but from just that sentence, it could be just bringing up a topic.
(I think you wrote the same message twice. I erased one of them.)
It depends on the context but from just that sentence, it could be just bringing up a topic. > OK makes sense, because the speaker wants to confirm what she’s doing today. “Aren’t you going to help Monika today?”, maybe that’s why は is used here, to introduce the new topic. What was said before was:
でも、お前はどうなんだよ
今日モニカの手伝いはしないのかよ？
(I think you wrote the same message twice. I erased one of them.) > Yeah I wanted to delete it myself, but I couldn’t, thank you!
OK, yes, then it is は to bring up a topic. ☺️
I’m not sure if this is the same use of でいい, but I have a big problem with sentences like this one:
ここ万博会場でいいんですよね？
Context: a man looking for the world fair venue finds himself in an odd place, so he’s trying to make sure. I think this should mean “Are you sure this is the world fair venue?” or “This is the world fair venue, right?”, but I can’t understand why.
I’m guessing there’s a は omitted here: “ここは万博会場…”, so according to this lesson, shouldn’t it mean “It’s fine for this place to be the world fair venue, isn’t it?” ?
Couldn’t it just be “ここは万博会場ですよね？”
I understand how でいい works, when it follows a simple noun (like in this lesson’s examples) or it’s a part of a verb (～ていい/～でいい), but I guess here it follows an “A is B” sentence and I can’t wrap my head around it.
Hi Shin
Ah OK. The usage of でいい in this lesson is mainly to express one’s preference.
でいい in your example sentence ここ万博会場でいいんですよね？ is used when you confirm something checking something is OK/right/correct.
You can rephrase it ここは、万博会場ということでいいですか？ ( = 合っていますか？ )
The literal translation “Is it right that this place is Expo site? ” →Is this Expo site, right? Am I correct?”
Now it all makes perfect sense.
It’s very hard to find something about this, because if you try to look up “でいい”, all you get are preferences and asking for permission, so your reply was a huge help.
Thank you very much, Maggie-sensei!
You’re very welcome, Shin!❤️
今日の夕飯まあまあだったね。。。まあ、次はもっとおいしくしよう。
PS, you forgot a word in this sentence:
= I want to a job like that.
何を作ったのかな〜 😃
Thank you for spotting the mistake. I fixed it. ありがとう！
Hi Maggie-sensei! I’d like to know why “chuu” in 今年中に新しい車を買いたい。you wrote it as “juu”.
I’m a little confused.
Arigatou gozaimasu!
Hi Jennifer
Good question. You change the way you read 中 depending on the word.
今年中 = ことしじゅう = kotoshijuu
明日中 = あしたじゅう = ashitajuu /あすじゅう = asujuu
***
一日中 = いちにちじゅう = ichinenjuu
一年中 = いちねんじゅう = ichinennuu
but you read ちゅう = chuu in the following words.
今月中 = こんげつちゅう = kongetsuchuu
今週中 = こんしゅうちゅう = konshuuchuu
***
午前中 =ごぜんちゅう = gozenchuu
Hi Sensei! Your site have always been my main source. I wonder if you already made a lesson about としても and としたって 😊?
Hello Mai
I explained the usage of としても in my として lesson. Link is here.
However, I haven’t made the lesson on the usage of としても・としたって of hypothetical (in the meaning of “even if”) yet. Maybe I should add it to a request lesson.
Thank you so much! I appreciate it, and i’m not in a rush so please take as much time as you need😊🤍
🐶❤️❤️
Hello Mai
It took me a long time but I finally made a lesson on としても/としたって
The link is here.
Good afternoon Maggie. I would like you to translate the following sentence: 間隔が狭いところは人が集まるのを避けるべきです。
I translate as: You should avoid gathering people when the gap is narrow. But I’m not sure if it’s right.
Hi Mario
I wonder what kind of place they are talking about with 間隔が狭い in the context but you should change the subject. Not “you” but “people”. Your translation means “人を集める”
People should avoid gathering in a narrow (spaced) area.
a few days ago I left a comment in the discussion dedicated to hazu (maybe my comment got lost because I didn’t get the answer, so I’ll rewrite it here if I don’t disturb)
Is the following sentence correct? Xのものだったはずの帽子…
why instead of はずだった is written だったはず ? I’m confused
—–
but there is some problem with the blog? I can’t send comments normally…the error message often comes out
Hi floccio
I’m so sorry that I haven’t answered your question. I remembered that I saw your message but it slipped my mind while answering to other person’s question.
I wonder why you get the error message often. 🤔
(If you leave a comment for the first time, I have to approve it before it appears on the blog. So until I approve your comment, you won’t see it. Even if it’s your second time commenting, but you use a different email address, I still need to approve it before it becomes visible.)
Anyway, let me answer your question here.
X のものだったはずの帽子 = the hat which was supposed to belong to X
I guess you can use はずだった if you finish the sentence with it.
それはXの帽子のはずだった。
It was supposed to be X’s hat.
Good night Maggie. I came across a sentence and I don’t understand a part of it.
The sentence is as follows: どんな理由からにしろ何も言わずに仕事を辞めるのは無責任すぎる。
I don’t understand the following part: どんな理由からにしろ. Can you explain each part of that part?
Hi Patrick
Sure. First ~にしろ means にしても →(more conversational) でも (even though/even if/regardless )
どんな理由からにしろ →どんな理由でも for whatever reason
Thanks for the reply Maggie. But what about the から? Does it have a function or do you think it was a mistake and that I should remove it?
~という理由から仕事を辞めた
Since 理由 already has a meaning of “reason”, it may look redundant but から indicates a reason.
You can also say ~という理由で仕事を辞めた
And if you want to rephrase it with にしろ
どんな理由にしろ〜 as well.
Hello maggie sensei,
Thank you as always.
I have a question
How do you say “risky choice in Japanese”
There are some option I have thought as below
1. 際どい選択肢
２．危険な選択肢
３．リスクがある選択肢
４．危うい選択肢
Or do you have any other idea to answer the question?
Hi Nanpa
They are all good but I would change 4 to 危ない
And you say 選択肢 when you have options. You can just say 選択.
Hi Nanpa
They are all good but I would change 4 to 危ない
And you say 選択肢 when you have options. You can just say 選択.
(Or if you are talking about decision 決断)
こんにちは、マギー先生!
単語の質問があります。(時々、辞書が全然役に立たないなぁ^^;）
__ “To have a cow” is an expression that means “to become very angry.”
上の文の “expression” は日本語で何と言うんですか？
「表現」はちょっと違うなぁって思います。「言い回し」や「慣用句」が合っていると思いますが、確信はありません。
マギー先生はどう思いますか？
いつもありがとうございます。
こんにちは、Sora!
どれでも大丈夫です。
もとの英語が”expression”だから「表現」でもいいと思います。
Ex. 〜という表現があります。
Ex. 〜という表現の意味は〜です。
不自然ではありません。表現の代わりに「言い回し」も使います。
元の英語とは少し違いますが、
もし idiomという言い方にするならば慣用句
to have a cowはことわざではないのでこの場合は使いませんが、proverbならば諺（ことわざ）を使います。
ありがとうございました！
could i ask a question?
Is the following sentence correct? Xのものだったはずの帽子…
why instead of はずだった is written だったはず ?
I’m confused
hello sensei, i found your grammar lesson on internet , and i have 1 question related to this blog post
Hope you can explains to me what does this character mean ? いやー、乗ってきた。
Context: MC is eating lunch at school together with his big sisters, at their class (they went to a same school, but his big sisters are 1 year older than him). Both of them want to feed MC with the side dishes from their bento box.
Note: the 3rd big sister of MC is a class rep with serious + tsundere personality, while the 4th one is mischievous (like to tease other people)
彰吾 (MC)「あ、あーん……むぐっ」
三空 (3rd Big sister)「……ど、どうかしら」
彰吾「はむ……むぐっ……うん。そりゃもう……三空ねぇの卵焼きは絶品だよ」
三空「そ、そう。それなら良かったわ。よく噛んで食べなさい？」
詩桜 (4th Big sister)「んっふふー、みーちゃん嬉しそうな顔しちゃって」
三空「何をニヤニヤしてるのよ。別にいいでしょう？」
詩桜「やっぱみーちゃんも、したかったんじゃん」
三空「だ、だったらどうだって言うの」
女子生徒Ｃ「へぇー、三空ちゃんも弟さんの前だとあんな感じなんだ」
女子生徒Ｄ「ねっ、結構可愛いよね」
三空「～～っ！」
詩桜「くふふっ、赤くなってる。いやー、たーのしいねぇ？」
三空「人をからかって楽しむんじゃありません！ もう！」
詩桜「いやー、乗ってきた。次は、これ行ってみよう、あーん」(>> I don’t understand this part)
彰吾「えっ？ は……んむっ！」
三空「彰吾くん、これも食べなさい。ほら」
彰吾「三空ねぇ……あっ、んむっ……」
結局、交互におかずを差し出され、僕はお腹いっぱいにお昼を過ごした。
Hello zeroh4nter
In this case, 詩桜 has started to enjoy the way 三空 reacts. But I would just translate it as “This is getting better!” or something.
I watched a video by Miku Real Japanese, but i am still a bit confused on the difference between “Mitaina” and “ttekanji” (and “mitainakanji”). She Said they are interchangeable, except you can use “ttekanji” to quotes what you just said, similar to “she was like…”in English. Could you maybe simply the differences and nuances of “mitaina”, “ttekanji”, and “Mitainakanji”?
Are you talking about the usage when you finish the sentence with みたいな/ って感じ/みたいな感じ？
They are all very conversational and not much difference.
But let me give you one super conversational example.
For example when you express your opinion, 「それは違うな」That is not true, That is wrong
A) それは違うなって感じ
B) それは違うなみたいな…
C) それは違うなみたいな感じ
They are all ambiguous expressions but the level of ambiguousness is
B>C>A
That means みたいな is a softer way to express one’s opinion because you leave the sentence unfinished.
C is a kind of combination of A and B
But over all, it depends on the context and the speaker’s conversational habit.
Hey Maggie Sensei,
I was in the midst of translating Yotsuba! and came across this sentence
“いつものこ事だから心配しなくても…”
The translation seems to be “This always happens, you don’t have to worry.” My question is, does it still directly translate to “even if you don’t worry,” or is the “いい” after implied and is this form common?
Thank you.
Hello Norbu
It is pretty common to leave the sentence unfinished when you avoid straightforward expression or when it is something obvious.
The whole sentence should be
いつものことだから心配しなくても（いいよ)
So you are right. They omitted the last part, いい (いいよ） and the translation is correct.
Hi Maggie-sensei,
Thank you very much as always.
I have a question about the verb tetsudau 手伝う.
If I want to say: Thank you very much helping me. I need to make sure to add -kurete.
手 て 伝 つだ ってくれてありがとう ございます.
Or another example:
Thank you for teaching me Japanese.
日本語を教えてくれてありがとう.
But if I was talking to someone about my husband and want to say “My husband helps me a lot with the chores around the house.”
Or
“My husband tries to help me and teach me Japanese when he has time.”
How do I construct these sentences and do I still need to add kureru?
Thank you so much.
Hi Mini House
You can express your appreciation with くれる
So if you meant to say your husband did something “for you”, you use くれる
“My husband helps me a lot with the chores around the house.”
→主人が家事をよく手伝ってくれる
“My husband tries to help me and teach me Japanese when he has time.”
主人が時間がある時は、手伝ってくれるし、日本語を教えてくれる
Good night Maggie. I came across a sentence and didn’t understand a part of it. The sentence is as follows: 今度の台風では最悪の事態は避けられたにしても、被害は甚大だ。
I didn’t understand the role of the で particle in this sentence.
Hi Satorou
で in that sentence means “in” (in this typhoon)
By attaching は, you show the contrast. We could avoid the worst case in this typhoon (but maybe not in other typhoons (in the past or in the future)
Hello,
I’m trying to say “Even though I’ve studied for so long, I’m still not good at all.” Which one of these, if any, would be correct?
1) こんな長い間を勉強をした対してに全く上手くならない。
2) こんな長い間を勉強をしたのに対して全く上手くならない。
Thank you.
Hi Mila,
In that case it will be more natural just to use のに
こんなに長い間、勉強したのに全く上手にならない。
（ 長い間”を”→長い間）
For example if you compare two people and show the contrast, you can use 対して
Aさんは長い間勉強したのに対してAさんは全く勉強していなかった。
While A has been studying for a long time, A hasn’t studied at all.
Thank you very much, I understood.
You’re very welcome! ☺️
Hello Maggie!
Your lessons are great as always, but I have a question about のに in the meaning of “would have… / could have…”
Does the verb have to be in the casual (た) form of past tense or I can also use the polite form (い)ました+のに?
For example:
日本にいたら、チケットの数枚を買いましたのに。
I think it would be better to point it out in the article, it might help someone else.
Hello Bogdan
Ah good question.
You can use ました+ のに in formal conversation when you tell someone that you could have done something.
言っていただければチケットを買いましたのに。
If you have told me, I could have bought a ticket for you.
I guess you can say 日本にいたら、チケットの数枚を買いましたのに。 for your own regret but
日本にいたらチケットを数枚買ったのですが… might sound more natural.
Got it, thank you ^^
どういたしまして ☺️
Hi Maggie-sensei.
Sorry to bother you but I think there might be a problem with the comments on your website. For example, I left a comment on your latest lesson 2 days ago but I do not see my comment. I know that you replied to it because it said so in the “Recent comments” section but when I look I don’t see your reply either. When I look at Maggie’s Room, the latest post I can see is Mini House on May 19, but I know someone else made a post since then but I can’t see it either.
It had been the case for a few weeks now. I checked on a different computer and on my phone and I can’t see it either. I’m wondering if something happened? I’m not sure if this message will be posted once I press submit or if I will see your reply but I wanted to let you know in case you know what is happening.
Hello Luna
Thank you for informing me about the commenting issues. It appears that there may be a glitch of some sort. The site has experienced some problems in the past few months, so it could be related to that. I apologize for any inconvenience caused. I hope you can read this comment.
***
Update:
I tried something. Your comment should appear now. Let me know if it doesn’t.
I can see all the comments now! You fixed it!
Thank you! :)
やった〜！！(*^^*)
Thank YOU for telling me about the comments, too!!
日本語をもっと知りたいからには毎日勉強します。だからこそ、マギー先生のサイトに来ます。
このレッスンの長さからして、書くのは時間がかかったでしょうか。そうだったら、よく休んでくださいね。
ありがとう Luna!!❤️
はい、レッスンを作るのに時間がかかったからこそみなさんに最後まで読んでもらいたいです。☺️
Hello maggie sensei.
Please can you tell me the difference between nichi and hi as i saw they can both mean “day”?thank you
Hello Yenicall
OK,
にち (= nichi) is a counter for days
From 2 ~ 10 days you use the special counter (2 days = ふつか, 3 days みっか = mikka, etc) but after 11 days, you say number + にち ( = nichi)
11にち ( 11 days)
12にち ( 12 days)
19にち ( 10 days)
ひ (= hi) is used to refer to a day
It is a nice day today
今日はいい日です。
= きょうはいいひです。
= Kyou wa ii hi desu.
(You can’t say にち= nichi)
what is there are living things in an inanimate object? like if there are people on a cover of a magazine or animals in a photo. would you use いる or ある or some other verb?
Hi coco,
Good question. You use いる for the people or animals in the pictures as well.
Hi Maggie-sensei,
Thank you for all your wonderful lessons as always.
I am struggling with a few phrases and jut wanted to check if they sound correct and natural in Japanese?
The more Japanese I study, the more confused I get.
日本語勉強すればするほど、わからなくなる。
Is your baby sleeping well?
赤ちゃんよく寝ますか？
Our little baby really does not like wearing his shoes.
あかちゃんわほんとに靴がはいるきらいいです。
I guess all children develop differently.
子どものはそれぞれは立つ違うと思います。
Hello Mini House
１）日本語勉強すればするほど、わからなくなる。
Missing a particle after 日本語
Two possibilities
日本語を (object marker) or if it is a topic 日本語は
２）赤ちゃんよく寝ますか？
For conversation, you can say that. For writing add a particle
→赤ちゃんは、よく寝ますか？
3) 〜靴をはくのがきらいです。
4) 子供の成長のしかたはみな違うと思います。
文法を学びたいのなら、マギー先生のサイトがいい！マギー先生じゃなきゃダメです。
外のサイトでも必要ない。
こんな感じ？
こんにちは Luna
文法を学びたいのなら、マギー先生のサイトがいい！マギー先生じゃなきゃダメです。→完璧！ 👏 （あと、「文法を学ぶなら〜」とも言えますよ。）
外のサイトでも必要ない。→他のサイトなんて必要ない。
うれしい文章ありがとう😆
Maggie-sensei,
いつもありがとうございます。
Is this sentence correct? I want to say: My name is House. I am very sorry I am late. I am here to pick up my daughter.
こんにちは。ハウスともうします。遅くなりました、申し訳ありません。娘大迎欲しいです。
And also, how do I say: “I would like to pick up my daughter earlier today at 1 PM.”
Thank you very much.
Hi Mini
元気でしたか？
OK, let me help you.
こんにちは。ハウスともうします。遅くなりました、申し訳ありません。娘大迎欲しいです。
→こんにちは、ハウスともうします。遅くなって申し訳ありません。娘を迎（むか）えにきました。
I would like to pick up my daughter earlier today at 1 PM.”
→今日は、早めに１時に娘を迎えに行きたいのですが。
Thank you so much for taking the time to reply to my questions, Maggie-sensei.
That helped a lot – I very much appreciate it – thank you!
You’re very welcome ❤️
Hello maggie sensei,
Can you please tell me how the “masen ka” form used to make invitations should be translate? I get a little bit confused. For exemple in the following sentence: bangohan o tabemasen ka? I have seen some explanations telling it can be translated as “won’t you eat?” And some instead translating it as ” would you like to eat?”. What is the correct translation?
Also what is the différence between “masen ka” and “mashou ka”? Thanks in advance
Hi Yenicall
I already answered your question. Please check your previous comment.
何度もコメントを乗せたけど自分のコメントが見えないんです。
見えますか？？これ？？？
おかしいですね。コメントが出ないみたいなのでここに元の文章と私の返事をポストし直しますね。
マギー先生、こんばんは、こんばんは＼(^o^)／
いつも役に立つレッスンを作ってくださりありがとうございます。
１つ質問させてください!
彼女は料理ができないどころか卵さえ割れない。
Far from being able to cook, she can’t even crack an egg.
どうして『料理ができるどころか』ではないの？
英語訳は being able to cook なのに？
なんか。。おかしい質問ですよねｗｗｗ
****
こんにちは ユキ （同じ質問が３つあったので２つは消しました。）
最初に質問したときは、承認されるまで自分の質問が見えないと思います。
「彼女は料理ができないどころか」の英語訳は “Far from” being able to cook なので Not just being able to cook という意味です。
原因がわかりました。
最初のコメントは、コメントのずっと下の方にあるDECEMBER 26, 2018 AT 7:29 AM の私のコメントに対しての返事として書いたみたいです。
サイトの右下のRecent comment からユキのコメントをクリックしてみてください。
Hello maggie sensei,
I am confused about the use and translation of “masen ka” when making an invitation. For exemple in the following sentence : bangohan o tabemasen ka? I’ve seen some translating it as won’t you eat? And some translating it as will you (like to) eat? What is the correct translation?
Also can you tell me the difference between mashou, mashou ka and masen ka when used to make invitations? Thank you in advance
Hello Yenicall
OK, many people (especially when they have started to learn Japanese) seem to have a problem understanding the nuance difference between mashou, mashou ka masen ka, so I will make a lesson sometime.
1) masen ka?
Ex. Tabemasen ka? = It could be 1) You are not going to eat? or 2) Would you like to eat? (invitation) (invitation) depending on the context and the intonation.
For example someone wouldn’t eat something, you ask これ、食べませんか？ = Kore tabemasen ka? = You are not going to eat this?
But if you offer some food to someone, you also say これ、食べませんか？ = Kore tabemasen ka? = Would you like to eat this?
2) mashou
It means Let’s ~
So imagine the food is already served in front of you and you tell someone at the table,
So, Ex. さあ、食べましょう！ ＝Saa, tabemashou! = Let’s eat.
3) mashou ka?
Again it changes the meaning depending on the context
(1) Do you want me to do something for you?
Ex. 手伝いましょうか？ = Tetsudaimashou ka? = Do you need my help? / May I help you?
(2) Shall we do ~ ?
Ex. そろそろいきましょうか？ = Sorosoro ikimashou ka? = Shall we go now? (But you may see the translation Let’s go)
コメント乗せたいけど。。見えますか。。これ？？？
自分のコメントを自分が見えないから。。どうかしら？？
Hello Maggie Sensei,
I want to ask you about one word here,
What is the meaning of 中途半端男
If I say “A half hearted man” would it be correct.
Hello ホットサンド
Yes you can translate that.
中途半端男 It refers to a man who lacks dedication to a task, or who does things in a half-hearted or incomplete way.
Thank you for featuring my pets and thank you for the nice lesson! It made me smile. I hope you have a wonderful day!
Thank YOU for introducing me these lovely guest teachers, Luna!
Big hug to Ash Sensei and Calypso Sensei! ❤️
Good afternoon Maggie. I had some doubts about a phrase I found. The sentence is as follows: 発言の自由は政府支配の新しい触手によって年々むしばまれつつある。
1 – What is the function of つつある?
2 – Is 発言 only for written things? or just for spoken things?
3 – What does むしばむ mean?
4 – This word is not in the sentence, but I would like to know the meaning of: がっつく. I had a little trouble understanding.
Hi Sora
1. Verb+ つつある = (literal expression) be in the process of doing something (expressing the on-going change)
2. 発言 is for spoken thing
3. むしばむ = to erode (passive form) むしばまれる to be eroded （To be affected by something negative)
4. がっつく = eating like a pig. It can be used to express someone greedy
Thanks for the reply Maggie. But I was left with a doubt. What is the difference between Verb + ている and Verb + つつある.
Hi Sora
つつある focusing on the process of doing something (on-going change) towards completion. It is used in a formal speech or writing.
Ex. 戦争が終わりつつある。The war is coming to an end
If you just express what one is doing or the current state, you use ている
Ex. テレビがついている = The TV is on. (current state/condition) →You can’t say テレビがつきつつある
Ex. 手紙を書いている = I am writing a letter. (The action is happening right now and it focusing on the current action) →You can’t say 書きつつある
Thank you so much!
Would you know how to pronounce katakana when there is a vowel used instead of the nobasu?
For example: ケアウホウ
It is a name of a town/beach in hawaii
In this case ホウ is used instead of ホー
In these cases, would one pronounce the vowel? Like ホ・ウ (ho-u)
Or still say it like ホー (hoo)
Hello Kelly
It depends on the word and it could be very different from the original sound.
As you said, the original “ho” could be closer to ホー but ケアウホウ （Bay = 湾(わん）) is commonly used for the bay.
The thing is you don’t always pronounce the Japanese vowels あいうえお/アイウエオ when they are combined with consonants
Ex. ほうりつ (法律） houritsu = law ➡️Actual pronunciation is hōritsu (ō = stretching “o” sounds)
I see! If I understand, even with ホウ the same rule applies and one would say this like hō (stretched)
So even in katakana, generally whether a nobasu or vowel is used (ホー/ホウ) this just means the consonants are both being stretched. And it would be read as (hō).
And whether it shows up with ー or ウ in the name is more just a written formality.
Thanks just surprised me when I saw the vowel instead of the nobasu.
As I usually see in katakana the nobasu used to imply stretching the vowel (ニューヨーク/フィジー）
Likewise in hiragana the vowel is used instead as you say. (ほうりつ/りょこう）
So when I saw ホウ instead of ホー I wasn’t sure if that had meant to pronounce the vowel! (笑）
Thank you very much for your explanation! If not mistaken I think I got it now and was just overthinking it.
So even in katakana, generally whether a nobasu or vowel is used (ホー/ホウ) this just means the consonants are both being stretched. And it would be read as (hō).
→That’s right.
So you know how to write katakana for the well-known things, places, countries, people’s names such as ニューヨーク、フィジー, ヨークシャ(ー）, ドーナツ,etc. However if you hear uncommon names, it is very natural to get confused whether you stretch the vowel or use the vowels. :)
Hi sensei
1) Is the following sentence correct/natural?
What is the difference betw と する and に する
「貨物船」とは、貨物 を 輸送 する 船舶です。
Kamotsusen is a vessel that carries cargo
ライオン は にく を えさ と する。
Lions feed on meat
鯨くじら は プランクトン を えさ と する。
Whales feed on plankton
パンダ は ささ を えさ に する。
Pandas feed on bamboo grass
2) As for Hen is it pronounce as medori or mendori or ..,?
( google translate = mesudori )
雄鶏 おんどり Rooster
雌鶏 めんどり Hen
Thanks
Hi soleyman
1) You can say both えさとする and えさにする
にする is more conversational and とする is more formal.
2) 雌鶏 can be read めどり or めんどり. (Originally めどり but I would say it is more common to say めんどり in conversation.)
Good morning Maggie. I would like her help to understand the following sentence: 泥棒は盗むのが商売 、たとえそれが人の心だとしてもね。
I understand the たとえ~ても structure, but why use とする?
Hi Berserk
たとえ〜ても and たとえ〜としても mean the same. としても emphasizes hypothetical situation more.
Thanks for the lesson!
In these sentences:
日曜日は何もしないで過ごしました
昨日の夜は、一睡もしないでゲームをしていた。
Why is it しないで and not しなくて ? It’s not telling someone not to do something, it’s talking about yourself so I’m confused.
Hi Luna
日曜日は何もしないで過ごしました
昨日の夜は、一睡もしないでゲームをしていた。
ないで in these two sentences belong to the usage
2) to do something without doing something
to spend the time without doing anything
to play the game without sleeping
Verb B ないでVerb A = to do A (main action) without doing B
If you give a reason or list up a couple of actions, you can use なくて
お金がなくて困った = I got troubled because I didn’t have money.
Good night Maggie. I would like to know what to put after 精神 in this sentence (が?は?を?): チベットの苦痛に耐えるのは不可能ですがチベットの人々のあがないの精神 見守るべきものです。
I didn’t understand what you meant
Sorry. I might have cut the first part.
You can just use は after 精神
(Sorry the first part of my previous message was missing so it could be confusing.)
Let me answer again.
精神＜は＞見守るべきものです。
Hi Maggie sensei.
I was wondering why in the following sentnce it was used 何 instead of 何も to express everything is delicious (anything is delicious):
あの店なら何を食べても美味しい。
I’m a bit confused.
Thanks in advance.
Hi Evon
何も is used in a negative sentence.
何も美味しくない Nothing is delicious.
何 in that sentence is actually an object so you use an object marker を
何を食べますか？ What would you like to eat?
魚を食べます I will have fish.
And
何を〜ても is a sentence pattern and it means “whatever you do ~ = everything one does ~ is ~ ”
何をしても面白い Whatever someone does is funny = Everything someone does is funny
何を読んでもつまらない Whatever I read is boring. = Everything I read is boring.
If you want to say this sentence without a verb, you can use 何でも
何でも美味しい
Thanks for the lesson. I’ve learned a lot.
Hello hoh
I’m very happy to hear that. :)
Hello maggie. I found this sentence: 中止命令に従わない場合は、5万円以下の罰金が科せられます。
The translation read: In case of non-compliance with the suspension order, a fine of up to 50,000 yen will be imposed.
I would like to know why 科せられます is in potential form and not just passive and negative.
Hello Leonardo
科せられます is a passive form.
The basic form is 科す or 科する
The passive form is either 科される or 科せられる
Hi there,
There is an anime is currently airing, its name is “推しの子 (Oshi no Ko)” and I translated it as “kid of my favorite idol” cuz the anime is about an idol named “Hoshino Ai”. But someone says it’s not true as it may be translated to one of those:
– the kid you support
– the kid who is a fan
– or the child of a fan
which is correct?
thank you.
Hi Katsu
Ah OK, it could be confusing because the literal meaning of the title can be “the kid you support” ( = the idol herself = “My favorite idol” ) but if the story is about the child whose mother is your favorite idol then your translation is right.
kid of my fav/ a child of my fav.
If you are focusing the idol herself you can still say 推しの子 so “My favorite idol” works.
I read the story but it is complicated, huh? The main character reincarnated as a child of his favorite idol.
The following two have different meanings
the kid who is a fan = ファンの子 ( A child who is your fan)
the child of a fan = ファンの子 (A child of your fan)
Ah, yeah, the story is kinda complicated but worth watching. I think it’s gloomy somewhat.
Anyway, thanks for your replay, it really helps :).
No problem. 😊
Hi everyone! Sorry that the site has been down and some of your recent comments were gone. I think I answered all your questions but if you haven’t read them yet, please ask me the questions again. I’ll be happy to answer your questions. Have a great weekend! いい週末を！🐶
Welcome back!
I had a question about the word 感じ, and I saw your answer. I learned something very interesting from your answer. First, this is what you said:
日本語で返事をということなので日本語で答えますね。
そうですね、感じは、気持ちだけではなく、会話で「〜という感じ /(説明）+ こんな感じ」を加えることで直接的な言い方を和らげる時にも使います。
この二つの文章をつなげてみると一領域につき5回各6分露出で写真を撮影して30分(A) という感じで時間の許す限り観測を繰り返します。
最初の部分（A)で手順を説明してそのように観測を繰り返すように説明しています。
..という感じでどうでしょう？
The reason why I asked you to reply in Japanese is that I want to stop learning Japanese by using English. I am trying to connect Japanese language direct to the world and direct to my own thoughts/impressions etc., without English getting in the way.
This is where the 「直接的な言い方を和らげる」 is important. In fact, a scientist was explaining a procedure to some students. I forgot to take that into account. In trying to make sense of what he said, I was putting myself in the position of the listener, and that was my mistake. When I put myself in the position of the scientist, talking to students, then I got closer to what I would be thinking/feeling (感じ?!) in that situation. When I did that, then the purpose of 「こんな感じで」starts to make more sense at a more intuitive level .. without the English translation.
I think that answers your last question?
私の日本語の説明で理解してもらえればうれしいです。
Good afternoon Maggie. I found the following sentence and had difficulty getting a part of it and would like your help if possible.
The sentence is as follows: それは氷のような砂糖菓子。
触れれば冷たさに指先が凍り、
舐めれば甘さに舌が痺れゆく。
まさに至宝と慕うにふさわしい―――
I can’t understand the part: 痺れゆく. Can you explain to me?
Hi Matheus
痺れゆく is a written language and it means 痺れていく going numb
thank you
どういたしまして 😊
Hi Matheus
痺れゆく is a written language and it means 痺れていく going numb
(ていく→ゆく） expresses the change, getting, going, becoming ~
Are both んですか？ and んあんですか？
Accusatory?
Hi Mark
Yes, んですか？ could have an accusing tone or emphasize your surprised feelings.
Ex. 違いますか？
→違うんですか？
(んあんですか→???I think it’s a typo )
Hello Maggie Sensei! What is the origin/etymology of the -ら in -たら?
I think たら came from a classic auxiliary verb たり
ら is a part of the conjugation.
Thank you. I thought 距離 only applied to the distance between two things.
No problem, Luna!
Yes, you can use 距離 in that context. 長距離（長い距離を）走る = to run a long distance
FYI 隔たり is often use to express a gap/difference
二人の意見には大きな隔たりがある
There is a wide gap in the opinions between the those two.
Thanks for the lesson!
Does this sound ok:
警察に犯人の名前を出された。The police made me reveal the name of the culprit.
毎週、プールで長い隔たりを泳がされる。Every week, I am made to swim a long distance at the pool (by a teacher)
HI LUN
1) 出された→言わされた is more natural (made my say)
2) 先生に、毎週プールで長距離（を）泳がされる
Hi! Maggie sensei, I’m wondering about this sentence…..
会いたかった なあ Does this mean “I’ve been wanting to meet you for long time”? and still looking forward to see you, right? Also what is the meaning of なあ? Someone told me that it’s like to show strong feeling of really wanted to meet. Is it? or actually it’s just suffix of the sentence, no emotional.
Hi Luck
会いたかったなあ I wish I could have seen you/him/her/them.
So you wanted to see someone but you missed the chance/you couldn’t.
By attaching な/なあ you can add the feelings (in this case regret)
Please check my lesson on な/なあ. Link is this https://bit.ly/3TOe1BD
Good night Maggie. I came across a sentence and would like to know if it is grammatically correct. The sentence is as follows: 私はこの怪物の弱点をついに見つけました。その神経もいつも以上に高ぶっております。
Hello Pedro
The first sentence is correct but the second sentence is not natural.
Hello Maggie-sensei!
I have a simple question. If my dog is 7 years old, I can say 犬は七歳です, right? But what if my dog is only 7 months old? Do I say 犬は七月歳です?
こんにちは、Luna
7 months old is just 7ヶ月
You can also add 生後=せいご before 7ヶ月
（生後=せいご）7ヶ月
This makes sense! Thanks!
Anytime! :)
サイトの修理のため、1週間前のメッセージが消えてしまいました。全てのメッセージに返事を出しましてがもし読んでいなかったらまたいつでもメッセージを入れてくださいね。
Is the (noun)し(verb) construction common? I’ve come across the phrase 愛し創り上げる, which contextually I’m assuming means “lovingly create”/”create with love”, but I’m a bit confused about the grammar here.
Hello FXJ
It is hard to tell you by just the phrase without knowing the context but
愛し（あいし） in that sentence means “愛して” love (something/someone) and create ~
I think you know connecting verbs with te-form but you can also connect the verb with masu-stem
愛します→(masu-stem) delete ます 愛し
So it happened to be “し” but if it is a different verb, for example
食べて寝る = eat and sleep
食べ寝る (the masu-stem of 食べます is 食べ)
FYI I have a lesson on this usage
https://maggiesensei.com/2020/07/06/connecting-with-masu-stem/
Hi Maggie, What is the difference between 角かど and 角かく ?
Got the following example sentences from websites; all of them is かど right??
とおり の 角 に たって いた。
I stood at the corner of the street
角 に おおきな 目印 が あります。
There is a big sign at the corner
角 で ひだり に 曲まがる。
Turn left at the corner
すいぎゅう は おおきな 角 を もって いる。
Buffaloes have big horns
すぐ 角、あかい の みせ です。
It’s the red shop just at the corner
Thank you せんせい
ps google translate it as tsuno
Hi soleyman!
角 = かど = corner
角 = つの = horn
So from your example sentence only
すいぎゅう は おおきな 角 を もって いる。
Buffaloes have big horns
is ”つの = horn”
すぐ 角、あかい の みせ です。 →I think it missing の （すぐ角のあかいみせです。）
ハロー、マギー先生！
Do you know if there is a difference between using に and で with the verb 保存する？
I would’ve guessed で、 but when I looked up native example sentences on Weblio, I saw examples using both に and で!
例 ファイルをディスクに保存する。
冷暗所で保存して下さい。
I can understand why に would be used. に often implies a destination or directionality. Basically, 「ディスクに保存する」implies that the disk is the destination of the file, or that the file is being moved to the disk in order to save it.
But で also makes sense, as it marks the location of an action such as in a 冷暗ところ。
Does this mean that both of these particles are interchangeable, and I can use either one?
Can 「冷暗所で保存して下さい」 also be 「冷暗所に保存して下さい」？
If so, is there a difference in nuance? For example, do these two sentences
画像をスマホに保存
画像をスマホで保存
mean the exact same thing?
ありがとうございます！
Sora
Hi Sora
Good. You figure out the function of に.
冷暗所（れいあんしょ）に保存して下さい
冷暗所で保存してください。
You can use them both. The difference is
に implies the object you put in 冷暗所 is somewhere else but you move it/them into the cold and dark place (ex. refrigerator)
And you use で when you indicate the place where you keep/conserve something.
画像をスマホに保存 (the file was somewhere else or even in the same cellphone, from where the pictures are to the file in the cellphone)
画像をスマホで保存 (You save the pictures “with” (tool) your cellphone.)
なるほど！とても分かりやすい説明です！
いつもありがとう、マギー先生！
どういたしまして💖
Hello sensei,
i must admit i forget the basic counting in japanese, can you please check whether it is right or not?
鉛筆が9本あります
鉛筆が9個あります
鉛筆が９つあります
鉛筆が1000あります
箸が9膳あります
箸が9個あります
箸が９つあります
箸が1000あります
車が9台あります
車が9個あります
車が９つあります
車が1000あります
Hi Alex
鉛筆 →本
箸 →膳 （ 箸２本で１膳）
車 →台
hello sensei
so in here you cannot use another form? you cannot use 個? i hear that 個 can be used to anything.
You can not use 個 with everything.
You use it with small items and if it is something small but is obviously long, you use 本
So 鉛筆一個, 箸一個、車一個 are not natural.
thank you very much sensei
No problem! :)
Hello Sensei,
Thank you as always
Can you please check this sentence?
I see how He is an inspiration to you. Your mindset towards life are really similar with him.
あなたは彼に霊感されることを私が理解しました。あなたと彼の人生に対する考え方がよく酷似していいます。
Hello ビーフレンダン
霊感 is something more spiritual (Ex. being psychic)
How about 彼がどれだけあなたに刺激を与えているのか (or 刺激を与える存在なのか) わかります。
We just say インスピレーション as well.
→（あなたが）どれだけ彼からインスピレーションを受けているかわかります。
The second sentence is fine but I would change よく酷似 (よく & 酷似 are redundant) to よく似ています。
Hello sensei,
i agree with you and want to add some point.
if i change 霊感 with 触発 will it be correct ?
あなたは彼に触発されることを私が理解しました
Yes, it sounds more literal but you can say 触発
But I would say あなたが彼に触発された （or if it is still going on →されている）ことがわかります。
Thank you very much sensei, love
🐶💖💖💖
Sorry Maggie. I forgot to put the phrase. The phrase is this: ガキはガキらしくよ、ニカーッと笑っていこうや。
Good night Maggie teacher
I would like to clear up some doubts regarding the following sentence:
Why is らしく in adverbial form? and why is よ in the middle of the sentence and not at the end? What is the function of the や at the end of the sentence?
This is a rough male speech
1) It is similar to さ・さあ (子供は子供らしくさあ） →rough ガキはガキらしくよ・よう
2) The last や is another rough way to say よ (→This よ is to encourage someone to do something. It is not rough like the one in 1).
笑っていこうよ →(rough) 笑っていこうよ
マギー先生、こんにちは！
3年前、私初めてで東京にいきました。すごく楽しかったです！
もう一回行こうの予定がありましたが、そのすぐ後はcovid-19の件が始めました。
今の状況はどうですか？観光客などは戻りましたですか？もう安全ですか？
早く行きたいな～
こんにちは ルナ
日本の今ですか？ コロナはまだありますが、他の国と同じぐらい安全だと思います。
海外からの観光客の方々も増えてきています。円が安いからお買い物や食事もお得かもしれませんよ。
Good morning Maggie, I found a phrase and would like to understand something.
The sentence is as follows: あれもこれも、色々と興味深いものが目の前に現れる。
I would like to know the role of と (after 色々) in this sentence?
Hello Jack
色々と This と has a function as an adverb and it modifies a verb, 色々と現れる
Hello Maggie-sensei.
Could you tell me what じゃんじゃんやっちゃう means?
I see じゃんじゃん means continuously, but I’m not sure what this expression means.
Hi Miki
じゃんじゃん is onomatopoeia to express doing something heavily, vigorously, keep doing something a lot.
じゃんじゃんやっちゃう = Keep doing something more and more
じゃんじゃん飲んで = Keep drinking a lot!
Hello Sensei,
My previous post got deleted by the maintenance
I need your help to check the sentence
My locker is far away from my English classes. That is the reason why I carry all my books with me. Is it going to rain hard or just a drizzle?
私のロッカーは英語の教室まで遠く離れています。すべての本を持ち歩いているのはその理由があるからです。今日は大雨が降るのかそれとも小雨が降るのでしょうか？
Hi Alex
Sorry. I answered your question but the message was gone.
すべての本を持ち歩いているのはその理由があるからです。
→だからすべての本を持ち歩いています
今日は大雨が降るのかそれとも小雨が降るのでしょうか？
→OK (Or 大雨（土砂降り）になるのか 〜）
you are the best, please help me again to check the sentences in the future.
thanks a lot
🐶💖💖💖
Good night Maggie. I came across a sentence and would like to know if it is right.
The phrase is this: 私たちはこれまで明日のことを皆はなしてきたから、さて、現実に戻って、今日のことを話そう
I had doubts if the kanji 皆 should be removed or if it is fulfilling some function
Hello i will answer on maggie sensei behalf.
it has function as adverb, it can mean
1. everyone 2. All
just translate it one by one
私たちはこれまで明日のことを皆はなしてきたから、
Because we all have talked the matter about tomorrow until now,
さて、現実に戻って、今日のことを話そう
for now, let’s go back to reality and talk about today
in sentence one you can see i translate 皆 as “all” and 私たち as “we”
@ビーフレンダン
Thank you for helping Brock.
Hi Sensei !
Thank you so much for everything you do for us, I’m studying and hope I’ll pass the JLPT this year and your website is so useful, I feel so grateful for everything you put here!
Best regards from France !
Hi Magou
Thank YOU for your kind message.
JLPTがんばってくださいね。私もレッスンがんばって作ります。😊
So… shorter form ため is more formal than ために, right? But can I use both forms in ALL examples above? How big is the difference between formal and less formal version? Will I sound weird if I use only ため in informal situation or conversely?
Hello Krystian
As I wrote in this lesson you san use either ため or ために in the examples of the usage 2) Expressing a reason/cause
If you are writing to your friends, ため is just fine but in conversation, it might sound slightly unnatural.
渋滞のため、着くのが遅くなりそうです。(formal conversation/ writing (formal and informal) )
渋滞のために、遅くなるよ。(informal)
Ok, thanks a lot, Maggie. :)
Anytime! :)
Hello, maggie sensei
thank you as always.
日本語を英語に翻訳してみますが下記の文章に何か変なところがあったかさっとみっていただけないでしょうか。
イラストはあまり良すぎない限り料金を出しません。
If the illustration is not really good I will not pay the fee.
Hi ビーフレンダン
わかりました。自然な言い方に変えてみましょう。
→イラストがよくなければ料金を払いません。
〜限りは、 as long asという意味になります。
（何か不自然なところがないかさっと*みていただかけないでしょうか？）
FYI さっと quickly / ざっと = roughly
thank you very much sensei
You’re very welcome!
Hello, Maggie.
Japanese has been an interest of mine for some time and while some may suspect it is my interest in Japanese media, like anime and manga, which sparked my interest. Such interests came later to me in life while my interest in the language was pre-existing.
It wasn’t until an old friend of mine suggested an educational video game series called “Learn Japanese to Survive” that I really started picking up the basics of the language and encouraged me to practice outside of the game. Now I feel like I have all of the Hiragana characters memories though my Katakana and Kanji could use some work. Though I am able to recognize some Kanji characters as well.
Besides Japanese, I’ve also enrolled in a beginner’s Spanish course as well so I feel confident that I could potentially read and write in that language at an early early level too. However, when it comes to speaking and hearing, as well as writing or reading for the case of Japanese, I feel slow.
It took me awhile before I feel like I could say I achieved mastery in the English language, my native tongue, and even then I still am prone to forgetfulness of certain grammar rules. Like those matter anymore in English speaking countries. lol The reason I believe for my difficulties in learning English and other languages like Spanish and Japanese is because I was a special needs student. I am a slow learner. So I guess I am writing this message to you to ask… do you know anyone willing to work with me in one-on-one sessions until I could attend a fluent level? I don’t have much money so my budget is limited, but I would forever be appreciative of you if you could point me in the direction of someone who could help teach me.
ありがとう
Hi Aliyah
It is a great idea to work on your speaking and taking a class on line. That way you can improve your Japanese. There are many Japanese on-line schools. Google “On line Japanese lesson”. The price is not that expensive, I believe. I hope it fits your budget.
And if you still can’t find a good teacher, write to me
through an email on the following page.
http://142.93.68.150/about-us/
Hi Maggie-sensei! I thought this lesson was a bit difficult! Is it right to say that you would use てある only if you are currently seeing/experiencing the subject? For example, if I say: 壁にポスターが飾ってある,then I am probably looking at the poster on the wall right now. If the poster was in a different house, I would probably say 飾っている , right?
Another question, I sometimes hear ておる／ております Is it something completely different?
Hello ルナ
Maybe the English translation might have confused you for the example sentence.
Even if you are not looking at the poster right now, you can still describe the wall, 飾ってある
Here’s the difference
Ex. 壁にポスターが飾ってある (Describing the current state of the wall. Someone put the poster on the wall in the past and you are looking at the result.)
Ex. 壁にポスターを飾っている (The subject is a person (or a store) Someone is putting the poster on the wall (either right now or routine work, they usually put the poster on the wall.)
ておる is a humble expression of Vている
Ex. 鍵を預かっています。 ( We keep your key.)
→鍵をお預かりしております。
Thank you for explaining. It is a difficult concept for me. Is this correct：
猫カフェで、たくさん猫を見ていた > Focuses on me who saw cats at the cafe.
猫カフェで、たくさん猫を見てあった > Focuses on the cats that I was able to see by going to the cafe.
Hi ルナ again
猫カフェで、たくさん猫を見ていた > Focuses on me who saw cats at the cafe.
→Right. The speaker was looking at many cats.
猫カフェで、たくさん猫を見てあった > Focuses on the cats that I was able to see by going to the cafe.
→This sentence is not correct.
For example if someone who works there placed lots of toys for cats for the customers and the cats ahead of time and you describe the state, you can say
猫カフェには、猫のためにたくさんのおもちゃが置いてあった。
Ok. Would you say that てある is mostly used to describe inanimate objects?
Would this be correct: 猫を撫でてので、服に毛が付けってある
I’m sorry for so many questions D:
In that case you say
猫を撫でたので、服に毛がついた
As I wrote in the lesson, you intentionally do something and leave it
For example if you are looking at the clothes and there is a name tag on it (someone put the name tag on it and leave it for some reason) you say
服に名札がつけてある
こんにちは、マギー先生
サイトは復旧して戻ってきてくれて良かったです。
少しご質問があります。
1. 「雨が降りそうな天気」と「雨が降りだしそうな天気」、両方の言い方があるのですがどう違いますか
２．「街灯にぶつかりそうになった女性」と「街灯にぶつかりそうになる女性」はどう違いますか
英語で説明しづらい場合は日本語で説明してくれると幸いです。
よろしくお願いします
こんにちはビーフレンダン
サイトがダウンしてしまったせいでいくつかの前のコメントが消えていたらごめんなさい。
１.
(1) 雨が降りそうな天気
(2) 雨が降りだしそうな天気
So if you looking up the sky and it is cloudy, you say (1) but you won’t probably say (2)
If you see the sky is getting really dark and it looks like it’s gonna rain any minute, you say (2) because 降り出す has a meaning of “It is about to rain”
2.
(3) 「街灯にぶつかりそうになった女性」
(4) 「街灯にぶつかりそうになる女性」
If you are describing what has just happened more vividly, I would say (3) is more natural.
承知いたしました。感謝いたします。
お役に立てたらうれしいです。☺️
マギー先生のレッスンはいつも私に元気を出されます。
私も、マギー先生のこと尊敬しています。:)
ルナ
（Note for you: 元気をくれます・元気にしてくれます）
わあ〜うれしい😭
これからもよろしくね。
ルナ、大好き💖
Thank you.
When you want to cheer up someone, you say 元気を出して、so if I wanted to say you make the “genki” come out of me, it’s still wrong to say 元気を出されます ?
出される is a passive form so you can’t use it in this case.
Though 元気にしてくれる/元気をくれる are much more natural, if you want to use the causative form
出される should be 出させる
（私の）元気を出させます/出させてくれます
I see! Thank you!
Hi everyone!
サイトがしばらくダウンしていてご心配をおかけしました。
Now I am back!!
お帰りなさい！ :)
ただいま〜、ルナ💓
ってくるの使い方ついにわっかてきた！
ありがとうございます！
よかった〜😊
Hello sensei, Thank you as always
can i ask you about something i don’t really understand in this sentence?
人手不足や気候変動など日本企業の経営のリスク開示 (３面きょうのことば）が海外勢に比べ遅れている。
What i don’t understand
1. ３面きょうのことば
2. 海外勢の勢の意味？
ちなみにこちらの文は日本の新聞から抜粋されました。
よろしくお願いします
Hi, ビーフレンダン
1. The newspaper has several pages. The front page is called 一面 and ３面 technically means “the third page” but it refers to the social news page.
So you probably got the article from 日経新聞 but it refers to the section called きょうのことば where they explained a trend word of the day on the third page.
2. 勢 means “companies, entities, group” so 海外勢 means “foreign companies” in this context.
先生すごい
優しいだけではなく賢いです。
ありがとうございます
いえいえ、日本の新聞で勉強をしているビーフレンダンが賢いのですよ〜😉
Hello! About this sentence:
彼が私のこと好きかどうかわからなくなってきた
I asked a similar question the other day, but I’m still confused about the use of きた in sentences such as these. Why is it わからなくなってきた and not わからなくなった or わからなくなっていた?
Hi ルナ
Yes you can say わからなくなった/わからなくなっていた
but the nuance changes. The English translation could be the same so let me explain the difference.
１）わからなくなってきた Focusing on the moment when she is speaking.
Describing the change from the certain moment in the past to the present moment. She thought he had liked her but she is getting confused and losing the confidence.
The change is happening now.
2) わからなくなった I don’t know his feelings anymore.
English translation is “present tense” but she’s already done defying her feelings.
3) わからくなっていた is describing the state (not the change) in the past.
So again, you can use all of them but it depends on how you want to express it. (focusing on the change from the past up to now, the change in the past, the state on the present moment, etc.)
FYI
I have a lesson on
ていく てくる So please check the lesson when you have time.
Link: Click here
Thank you for explaining!
I will go read this lesson too.
You’re very welcome! :)
勉強をさせていただいてありがとうございます！
はなはな
お役に立てればうれしいです。😊
Hi! I have a question regarding this sentence:
子供の頃から娘には好きなことをさせてきた
What is the function of きた here? What is the difference from:
子供の頃から娘には好きなことをさせた ？
Hi ルナ
させた I let my daughter do whatever she wanted. (Talking about the specific time in the past.
させてきた is I have been letting my daughter. (Expressing the duration of time from some time in the past up to the moment when they are talking.)
Hello sensei, thank a always
I wonder how you say “Japanese Native Resident”
日本に駐在する外国人ではなく純粋に最初から日本に生まれ育ている人のことです。
”日本の駐在者”があっていますか？
よろしくお願いします
こんにちは Beef Rendang
駐在というと通常、会社から他の国に仕事をするために派遣された人のことを指します。
在日＋国籍＋人
という言い方がありますが、日本に住んでいますが、日本で生まれた人とは限らないので
「日本で生まれ育った」と説明をつけた方がいいかもしれませんね。
在日+ Nationality + 人 （Ex.在日
いつもありがとうございます。本当にたすかりました。感謝いたします。
どういたしまして💖
Hi Maggie-sensei,
I have a question sort of related to shopping, but hard to categorise.
I left a clothes shop the other day and as I was exiting, the alarm went off.
I waited politely for someone to come and check, but I didn’t know how to say:
“Your store alarms went off.’
Or
“I am not sure why… but your store alarms went off?”
Thank you so much!
Hi Mini
When you want to tell them the alarm goes off even though you paid
すみません、アラームが鳴ったんですが…
= Sumimasen. Alarm ga nattan desu ga…
= Excuse me. The alarm went off..
You can add
このまま出てもいいですか？
= Kono mama dete mo ii desu ka?
= Can I just leave?
せんせい、こんにちは！
好きなポケモン教えてください！:D
こんにちはルナ！
やっぱりピカチュウが好きです💕 イーブイもかわいいです。
ルナの好きなポケモンは？
そうですか！：）
私には、ウパーが好き！いつも幸せな顔をしている！
ウパーもかわいい〜〜💕
確かにいつも幸せな顔をしていますね。😊
ルナも幸せな1日を過ごしてください。
Good night Maggie. I have doubts about two sentences and I would like you to answer these doubts.
The first sentence is: アラビア語を独習したいのですが良い参考書を教えてください。I would like to know the が function in this sentence.
The second sentence is: 台湾はグルメも良し、観光も良し、ショッピングも良しと、魅力たっぷりの観光地だ。I would like to know the function of と in this sentence.
Hi Mutuio
1) が has many different functions but this が is just to connect the sentence. “so”/”and”
You often leave the sentence with が without finishing it.
Vたいのですが + (what should I do/Do you have any advice?/ Can you help me?, etc.)
2) と in that sentence is to give examples and quote them.
I think you know the pattern AというB B which is A
You sometimes omit という/といった
〜ショッピングもよしと（いった(ように）)、魅力たっぷりの〜
Hi, Maggie-sensei! I love your posts very-very much, thank you for your work!
My question is about this example: 彼女はまだ２０歳にはなっていないはずだ
I didn’t know we can use wa twice in one sentence – it’s like we have two topics of the sentence. Could you elaborate on that please? Are there any tips/rules for using wa multiple times in a sentence?
doumo :3
Hello Valery
You are right. You tend to avoid using the same particle because repeating the same particle may look/sound confusing.
彼女はまだ２０歳にはなっていないはずだ
You can say
彼女はまだ２０歳になっていないはずだ as well but the nuance changes a little.
彼女は this は is a topic marker
20歳には→ this は is to show the contrast. (showing the contrast of 20 years old and other ages. For example, maybe she is close to 20, like 19 years old but not she hasn’t turned 20 yet.)
So even if there are two は, it won’t be confusing.
I will show you another example.
この会社は、給料はいいが、仕事が多い。
= This company offers good salary but gave us a lot of work.
Hello sensei,
Thanks as always
can i ask you what is the meaning (まんざら)
女の子の服もまんざらじゃなさそうだし。
tried dictionary but nothing make sense.
Hi Beef Rendang
まんざらでもない is a vague Japanese expression and it means “not so bad/ not totally bad and actually something is good” ./someone seems kind of satisfied or happy with something.
女の子の服もまんざらじゃなさそうだし
I don’t know the situation but
It seems like the girl’s outfits are not so bad.or The person who is wearing girl’s outfits seems to like wearing them.
Ah, thank you much sensei
The reason i got confused is because in some site i found an explanation that say まんざら＝必ずしも。
The scene is the tomboy girl is trying the dress, She is usually using boy clothes and when she tried to try skirt, She said to herself (女の子の服もまんざらじゃなさそうだし)
ありがとうございます。
まんざら is not exactly the same as 必ずしも.
You often use まんざらじゃない/ まんざらでもない in the situation like you expect someone would be unhappy with something but actually they actually kind of like it.
So in your example sentence, you assume the girl would hate that skirt because she was complaining or she usually hates wearing a skirt.
But once she puts it on, she looks rather happy with it. Though she is not saying anything, you can see she is thinking “Hey, this is not that bad. I actually like it.”
right, really appreciate for the help
My pleasure! :)
Maggie-sensei,
Happy New Year! 今年もよろしくお願いします。
I find your blog extremely helpful and one of the most useful out there. Thank you for all your work and effort.
I wondered if you could create a lesson on
こじんめんだん at Japanese kindergartens. It’s something that I am really struggling with.
Any phrases/vocabulary similar to the below would be super appreciated!
*My child has been toilet-trained.
*She goes to the potty by herself at home, but cannot go by herself outside the house.
*She speaks English at home and can only say a few single Japanese words.
*How is she doing at school.
*Ways to talk about one’s child: She is stubborn/independent/sociable/scared of strangers/quiet/very active at home.
*She holds food in her mouth./ I am worried about choking hazards.
and so on.
Thank you so much.
Hi Mini
I’m happy to hear you find this site useful.
OK, let me help you.
*My child has been toilet-trained.
うちの子*は、トイレのしつけができています。/オムツがとれました。
= Uchi no ko wa toire no shitsuke ga dekite imasu./ omutsu ga toremashita.
*She goes to the potty by herself at home, but cannot go by herself outside the house.
家では一人でトイレに行けますが、家の外では一人で行けません。
Ie dewa hitori de toire ni ikemaseuga, ie no soto dewa hitori de ikemasen.
*She speaks English at home and can only say a few single Japanese words.
家では英語を話していますので1) 日本語は一言、二言しか話しません。/ 2) 日本語はほとんど話せません。(2) She barely speaks Japanese.)
= Iedewa eigo wo shnashite imasu node 1) nihongo wa hitokoto futakoto shika hanasemasen / 2) Nihongo ưa Hotondo hanasemasen .
*How is she doing at school?
娘は、幼稚園ではどんな感じですか？/ちゃんとやっていますか？
= Musume wa youchien de wa donna kanji desu ka? / Chanto yatte imasu ka?
*Ways to talk about one’s child: 1) She is stubborn/2) independent/3) sociable/4 ) scared of strangers/ 5) quiet/ 6) very active at home.
1) （娘は）頑固（がんこ）です。/ 2) 自立心があります。/ 3) 人懐っこいです。/ 人見知りしません/ 4) 人見知りをします 5) 大人しいです/ 6) 家ではとても活発です。
=1) (Musume wa) ganko desu./ 2) Jiritsushin ga arimasu. /3) Hitonatsukkoi desu. / Hitomishiri shimasen ./ 4) Hitomishiri wo shimasu 5) Otonashii desu 6) Ie de wa totemo kappatsu desu
*She holds food in her mouth./ I am worried about choking hazards.
and so on.
口の中に食べ物を入れます。/喉につかえないか心配です。（窒息（ちそうく）しないか心配です）
= Kuchi no naka ni tabemono wo iremasu / Nodo ni tsukaenai ka shinpai desu. (Or Chissoku shinai ka shinpai desu)
Hello,
What should I answer to this message?
“フォロバ頂きありがとうございます”
Thanks!
Hi Topaz
So this person followed you first and you follow him/her back, right?
Did you say thank you for following before? If not, you can say
こちらこそフォローありがとうございます。And you can continue これからもよろしくお願いします。
Maggie-sensei,
Thank you so much for taking the time to reply.
This is very helpful.
Huge fan of your blog – thank you!
You’re very welcome,Mini.
こじんめんだん、がんばって！
Hello! I have a question about one grammar aspect, because my 先生 told me one thing and my workbook keeps mistaking those two (well, maybe the workbook is wrong)
「思っていたより」と 「期待していたより」の違いはなんですか。
先生 told me that 「思っていたより」is used when the outcome is better than expected, for example このケーキは思っていたよりおいしかった。 (You expected it to taste bad)
And 「期待していたより」is used when the outcome is worse than you expected, for example 試験の点数は期待していたより悪かった。
Is this right? Because when I searched in the internet, the opinions vary a lot and I don’t know anymore :((
Hi Alioth
Very good questions.
Technically
思う = to think
期待する = to expect
And they both can be translated “to think” but 期待する means “to hope” and it is used for something one is looking forward to.
So your teacher is right. The outcome should be good when you use 期待したより ~
You can say このケーキは思っていたよりおいしかった/おいしくなかった。 but it sound unnatural to say このケーキは期待していたよりおいしかった。
If it is a negative sentence, you can say
このケーキは期待していたよりおいしくなかった
I will give you other verbs that are often used in this pattern.
予想する = to fore
想像する= imagine
考える = to think (logically)
Among these verbs, only 期待する is used is used when the outcome is good.
新年明けましておめでとうマギー先生！
No matter how many years pass, I always find myself visiting and revisiting your blog posts😂 Your quality is unrivaled.
I have a vocab question: how do you say the word “interchangeable” in Japanese?
e.g
”Jealous” and “envious” mean the exact same thing. They are interchangeable.
”Wanna” is interchangeable with “want to,” with the former being more casual.
I typically wouldn’t want to bother you with words I can just look up in the dictionary, but I just can’t seem to find it.
On jisho, 「同意語」and 「同義語」show up, but being interchangeable is a bit different from being synonyms. For example, “while” and “during” are synonyms, but they aren’t interchangeable.
e.g
While I was sleeping, an earthquake happened.
During I was sleeping, an earthquake happened. ❌
The word that always comes up on DeepL is 「互換性」
e.g
”Wanna “は “want to “と互換性があります。
However, when I look up example sentences, it’s used with computers and devices and is translated as “compatible.”
Thank you as always!
Hi Sora
I’m happy to hear you have been visiting this site for many years. :)
OK, the most common way to say “A and B are interchangeable” in Japanese is
AはBに言い換えることができます
（You also say 置き換えることができる)
Oh, I see! It’s been driving me crazy, so thank you so much!!
Anytime! :)
Hello Maggie Sensei, Happy New Year and Wish you be Blessed with Good Health and Fortune
This the first question on this year.
1. What is the meaning of 僻む(ひがむ）
2. What is the meaning of 振り回す in the sentence (彼女はいつも友達に振り回されていてイライラする)
3. Are they have a same meaning : 取り繕う・決め込む・偽装
Thank you very much
Happy New Year! 明けましておめでとうございます！ いい年になりますように🙏
1. to have an inferiority complex feeling jealous of someone.
2. 振り回す to involve someone into something for one’s own convenience in a selfish manner.
For example, her friend says, “Let’s go out tomorrow and do something.” And though you were busy you arranged your schedule to go out with her. Then she said she changed her mind and she doesn’t want to go out anymore. So you rearrange your schedule. Then she said you should meet her somewhere instead. In this kind of situation you are 振り回されている.
3. No, they are different.
取り繕う to mend something/keep up with lies
決め込む persist in doing something/make up one’s mind
偽装 disguise
3.
sensei thank to explain in detailed manner. 改めてあけましておめでとうございます。
どういたしまして❤️
みなさん、明けましておめでとうございます！
今年もよろしくお願いします！
Happy New Year, everyone! 🐶
Happy new year sensei
Happy New Year, Emerald❤️
Hello Maggie sensei! I was reading a book and came across this sentence: “ぼうっと、その場に立ちすくんだ” and I can’t figure out what the use of んだ is for here! I hope you can help me understand.
Hi 暇！
OK, the main verb is 立ちすくむ and the past tense is 立ちすくんだ.
(The verb which ends with む →(the past tense) んだ. Ex. 産む（うむ）→産んだ）
Hi, Maggie!
First of all, thank you very much for the lesson. It was incredibly helpful. ^^
About にしては, apart from what it was explained in the lesson, my textbook says it can also appear in the form それにしては. However, I’m having a hard time trying to find helpful examples taken from real and daily-life Japanese that show me how is それにしては used. The very few ones I could find were kind of stiff sentences that, although they show the idea of the meaning of それにしては at some extent, they were a bit artificial. So, if you could please give me some examples of how それにしては is used in daily life, I’d appreciate a lot.
Anyway, thanks a lot again for the lesson!
Hi Natalie
First, thank you for your kind message.
You state something first. (Or someone states something)
You use それにしては ( = even so, in spite of, although) when you hear/see something is different from your expectation.
今日は、平日だけど、それにしては人が多いね。
The speaker thinks there are fewer people on weekdays
→Though it’s a weekday, there are unexpectedly many people today.
毎日、がんばって節電しているが、それにしては電気代が高い。
The speaker had expected lower electric bill because they have been saving electricity.
I have been trying to save electricity but still electric bill is high.
A: 「👨のうちはお金持ちなんだって」
= I heard 👨’s family is rich.
B: 「それにしては毎日、コンビニで安いパンばかり買っているよ。」
= But he buys cheap bread at a convenience store every day.
B thinks if 👨 is rich, he wouldn’t buy cheap bread every day at a convenience store. (Different from B’s expectation)
A: 「一度も海外に行ったことがありません。」
= I have never been abroad
B: 「それにしては英語がうまいね。」
= But your English is great.
B thinks if A has never been abroad, A’s English skill is so-so.
Hi again, Maggie!
Thank you very much for answering me and for your examples and explanations! They have been super helpful in order to understand better the usage of それにしては. ^^
I appreciate a lot your help. 😊
よかった〜 :)
からって・からといってとと言ってもはどう違いますか
時間があれば教えていただけませんか
からって is a casual way to say からといって so they mean the same.
からといって
理由を強調 (Emphasizing the reason)
Just because, it doesn’t mean ~
英語の試験で満点をとったからといって英語が話せるわけではない。
といっても
そこから推測できることと実際が違うときに使います
Though ~, it doesn’t mean ~ (the reality is different)
英語の試験でいい点をとったといっても満点をとったわけではない。
I’m confused to this sentence translation.
” 結婚するなら絶対にお金持ちというわけではない。
It is not necessarily true that I would only marry a rich man. ” I get it as “It is not needed to be rich when getting married” . How about this 僕は絶対にお金持ちと結婚するとういわけではない。
Hi haru,
Yes, you can also say 僕は絶対にお金持ちと結婚するというわけではない。
For education purposes, can I have your citation about the realted topic?