Japanese Language Questions? Ask Here.

rei-desu wrote:

what does " iimashita" means..?

i can only translate "stop that, please" in nihongo like "sore wo yamete kudasai"

but not with, iimashita..?

:crazy:

It's the past-polite conjugation of the verb "iu," which can be translated to "said." Hence, kokuou translated it as "He said, stop that please"

rei-desu wrote:
hajimemashite..




would someone explain how to use "na, ni, no, ne, ka, ga, wa, to, etc..."


for example, daijobu ka na? so desu ne.. something like that..

i only know few like ne, ni, ka...

Try reading up on it first; Wikipedia actually has a pretty helpful article if you type up "Japanese particles." Also, everyone's favorite Tofugu has also prepared a particle cheat sheet :) Check it out here: http://www.tofugu.com/2009/03/25/japanese-particles-cheatsheet/

Just don't forget that different particles can be used differently. For instance, "wa" can be a subject marker, like "Watashi wa..." watashi would be the subject. But it can also be used as an sentence ending by females to emphasize or soften the phrase.


Now I have a question too! Going off the "wa," when I watch dramas, I sometimes hear males use "wa" at the end of the sentence too. Are they just inverting the sentence structure or are they use it as an ending? Thanks.

If it's casual japanese (and it probably would be in a drama) it's likely the speaker has just dropped the rest of the sentence, so what goes after the "wa" is implied.

Grungir wrote:SO, here I am watching Medaka and I notice that they say Ohayo to each other when they meet before school. The problem is that the drama takes place at NIGHT. I would think this would be konbanwa. So can ohayo just be a greeting for the beginning of ones day regardless of the time instead of morning specific? Also, is ohayo a special case?... cause I cant think of a situation where one of the other common greetings I have heard would be used in this (to me) unorthodox way.
Thanks! :)

Okay, only 4 months late, gomen. I think you're right that ohayo is used at the beginning of the work day whenever that might be.

The reason I say that is because in episode 7 of BOSS the main suspect is a newscaster that does the evening news. When she first arrives on the set everyone says, "Ohayo gozaimasu" even though it's late afternoon. [/list:u]

"Ohayo" can be used at any time of the day to people you see for the first time that day. It's basically the only greeting we use at university here, besides "yo" :D

In many drama's when people answer the phone, they answer with mushmush... what does that mean litterally? something like, heyhey?

Lady O. wrote:In many drama's when people answer the phone, they answer with mushmush... what does that mean litterally? something like, heyhey?

"Moshi moshi" ‚à‚µ‚à‚µ (conj,int) (1) hello (e.g. on phone); (2) excuse me! (when calling out to someone);

"Moshi moshi" ‚à‚µ‚à‚µ (conj,int) (1) hello (e.g. on phone); (2) excuse me! (when calling out to someone);

Can you say ''Moshi moshi'' to everyone? is it not something like ''Yo'' ?

bmwracer wrote:
"Moshi moshi" ‚à‚µ‚à‚µ (conj,int) (1) hello (e.g. on phone); (2) excuse me! (when calling out to someone);

Can you say ''Moshi moshi'' to everyone? is it not something like ''Yo'' ?

Lady O. wrote:

"Moshi moshi" ‚à‚µ‚à‚µ (conj,int) (1) hello (e.g. on phone); (2) excuse me! (when calling out to someone);

Can you say ''Moshi moshi'' to everyone? is it not something like ''Yo'' ?

From what I gather, you only use "moshi moshi" when answering the phone... I don't think I've seen or heard it used anywhere else.

we also use it when you're talking to someone and he/she doesnt seem listening to you (maybe coz he/she is daydreaming, mailing with so. or whatever)

but calling out to someone you dont know, lets say to get their attention, wont really be natural.

Bedi wrote:we also use it when you're talking to someone and he/she doesnt seem listening to you (maybe coz he/she is daydreaming, mailing with so. or whatever)

but calling out to someone you dont know, lets say to get their attention, wont really be natural.

Ahh... Good to know. :victory:

Bedi wrote:we also use it when you're talking to someone and he/she doesnt seem listening to you (maybe coz he/she is daydreaming, mailing with so. or whatever)

but calling out to someone you dont know, lets say to get their attention, wont really be natural.

Alrighty than..:)

I know ALOT of Japanese but i still dont understand how to make sentences.That is My Questions..

Stevie wrote:I know ALOT of Japanese but i still dont understand how to make sentences.That is My Questions..

What you mean is, you know a lot of words but don't know Japanese grammar. Try http://www.guidetojapanese.org/

Anime Dad wrote:

What you mean is, you know a lot of words but don't know Japanese grammar. Try http://www.guidetojapanese.org/

yes,I mean Grammar
Thankyou for the link

Stevie wrote:


yes,I mean Grammar
Thankyou for the link

No worries. Japanese grammar can mess with your head at times. :nut:

Anime Dad wrote:

No worries. Japanese grammar can mess with your head at times. :nut:

Its been messing with my head for years

AnimeDad,That website is a really good site! :dancing:

Stevie wrote:AnimeDad,That website is a really good site! :dancing:

great if i said...
i made it to pdf format and save it!!!! :victory:

ocha4ever wrote:

great if i said...
i made it to pdf format and save it!!!! :victory:

Its helpful