Japanese 22

ゆうが

Elegant; refined: graceful

おさらい

Review; rehearsal; practice

Going over material that has already been learned to ensure retention.

ピアノの発表会のために**おさらい**が必要です。

• Romaji: Piano no happyōkai no tame ni osarai ga hitsuyō desu.

• Meaning: "Practice is necessary for the piano recital."

これまでの議論を**おさらいすると**、…

• Romaji: Kore made no giron o osarai suru to,…

• Meaning: "To recap the discussion so far,..."

とうろく

registration; subscription; enrollment

formal term used for the act of officially recording one's name, information, or ownership in a formal system, list, or database.

このアプリは**登録**なしで使えますか？

• Romaji: Kono apuri wa tōroku nashi de tsukaemasu ka?

• Meaning: "Can I use this app without registration (signing up)?"

りれきしょ

Resume (personal history)

えいぎょう

Operations (within a business); sales; running the business

Refers to the business activities carried out by a company to generate revenue, attract customers, and operate successfully.

ビデオショップは３時まで営業しています。The video shop is open until 3 o'clock.

のみかい

Drinking party; get together

Very common with companies

りほう

Law

れんしょう

Consecutive victories; winning steak

試合に４連勝するのは難しい。

It is hard to win four successive games

きつい

1) Tough; hard; demanding

2) (Too) tight; constricting

Potential form Conjugations and Basic Usages

This verb suffix expresses the ability or possibility to do the action described by the verb, as in 食べられる (can eat), 飲める (can drink), and 泳げる (can swim)

CONJUGATION:

Godan verbs: drop last う SOUND and add the equivalent え sound and then add る (のむ → のめる)

Ichidan verbs; drop the last る add られる

Exceptions:

する → できる

くる → こられる (これる common)

Note that られる is being used less and less because it is the exact same as られる

POTENTIAL FORM USAGES:

1) Skill and Ability

This is pretty straightforward, it’s just saying whether you can do something like:

くだものをきれる I can cut fruit

• 遠くからでも小さい文字が読める。I can see the small letters even from far away

2) Possibilities

You can also use the potential form to express what is situationally possible or allowable

Ex: 九州でナルトにあえる

3) -bility Attributes

The potential form can be used to express attributes that end in -bility like edibility, flexibility, usability, etc.

This isn’t that crazy considering we’ve already been using that and it’s not that different from “can.” Example:

この消しゴムはたべられる this eraser is edible

**NOTE: は is used for making words into -bility

Potential Form 2

English "can" covers "possibility" in a broader sense than in the potential form in Japanese, so it is important to translate potential form as “has the ability to” more than “can.” Here are situations you can’t translate from “can”

1) When something can happen without volition

To express that something might happen without anyone specifically causing it by their own volition, we have the option of using "can" in English. For example, we can say, "Things can go wrong" and "Anyone can make mistakes." But the potential form can’t be used like that because a direct translation would be:

誰もまちがえられる. Everyone has the ability to make mistakes but this sounds awkward in japanese. It insinuates that everyone has the ability to make mistakes and they can choose when to do so. It also is different from expressing there is a possibility that someone makes a mistake (“can”)…… Here’s the correct way: 誰でも間違い**がある**。 (Dare demo machigai ga aru.)

As shown above, you basically say there exists times when anyone makes a mistake

Here’s another example:

• ロボットも間違えることがある。

• There are times when robots make mistake

So basically you say your sentence, slap on ことがある instead of using potential form if you want to express the existence of a possibility of something occurring without intending to

IN OTHER WORDS: You cannot use the potential form to say someone has the ability to do something that they don’t/cant (doesn’t want to) WILL TO HAPPEN (he CAN miss free throws)

2) Asking for permission

Using “can” like “can I go outside for a bit” and so forth doesn’t translate well into Japanese. For example, トイレに行ける？ this is saying “do I have the ability to go to the bathroom (and I wield authority over that ability)?” (Technically it can also mean are YOU able to go to the bathroom)

So for example, if you wanted to take a sip of your friends drink, you would NOT say: 私はこれひとくちのめる? This does not translate well into meaning “can I have a sip of this” it would mean you’re questioning your ability to actually take a sip. (Also usually わたしは is omitted there).

If you instead omitted the 私は, you would then sound like you were asking your friend if they were able to take a sip which sounds weird.

So, instead you’d say:

• これ一口飲んでもいい？

• Is it okay if I take a sip of this?

てもいい is how you ask for permission to do things (the equivalent of the English “can I” (but sounds more like “may I”)

3) Making Requests

The potential form COULD be used to make requests in Japanese but you have to be careful as the nuance might not be the same as “can you…”

For example, if you want your friend to come over to help with your homework at 5:00, you might say:

• 五時に来れる？

• Can you come over at 5 o'clock?

The problem is that this is just asking if he has the availability, not asking for him to come over as a favor.

To ask as a favor, you use くれる and attach it onto the verb.

• 五時に来てくれる？

• Will you come over at 5:00 (for me)?

no potential form needed.

Intransitive Verbs With Potential Nuance

There are intransitive verbs that actually contain a potential nuance in them so much so that they’re used more often than their transitive potential counterpart. For example:

You see a sign for a bar and want to say, "Can you see that sign over there?" You might think of conjugating the verb 見る(to see) into the potential form and saying:

❌ あの看板見られる？

見られる is the potential form of the transitive verb 見る. However, in Japanese, there is an intransitive verb 見える, which means "to be in sight," and it is used for when something comes into your line of sight naturally without you trying to see it. In this case, instead of using the potential form of 見る, we use the non-potential, regular form of the intransitive verb 見える and say:

• あの看板見える？

Is the sign over there in your sight?

We do have situations where we can use 見られる as the potential form of 見る, but this would mean "can see" as in "having a chance to take a look" rather than "being able to see." So if you want to ask your coworker if they can take a look at a document, you can use the potential form of 見る and say:

• ⭕ この書類明日までに見られる？

• Will you be able to take a look at this document by tomorrow

There are some other intransitive verbs that you'll want to be careful with as well—聞けるand 燃える, for example.

みぐるしい

Unsightly; deplorable; disgraceful

みにつける

1) To learn; to acquire knowledge

2) To wear (clothes, etc.); to put on

ちかう

To swear; to vow; to take an oath

The most serious and formal way to express a promise. It emphasizes an emotional commitment and is often used in situations with high spiritual or legal gravity.

Used in religious ceremonies (wedding vows), legal settings, movies, dramas, or moments of intense emotional resolve.

Used the を or に particle

きをつける

To be careful; to pay attention; to take care

しゅうとく

1) Learning; acquisition (of a skill, knowledge, etc.)

外国語を習得するには多量の練習が必要である。It takes a great deal of practice to master a foreign language.

2) Finding (lost property); picking up

さいてい

1) Least; lowest; minimum

2) Worst

3) Decision; ruling

にゅうこく

Entering into a country

refers to the process of officially entering a foreign country, usually after passing through immigration or border control.

つりざお

Fishing rod

せいだい

Grand; magnificent; large scale up

ころ/ごろ

ごろ: (Used as suffix) Around; about

CANNOT BE USED TO EXPRESS APPROXIMATE DURATIONS ONLY SPECIFIC POINTS IN TIME

Important Note: The particle に (ni) is often optional after ごろ when used as an adverb.

• 5時ごろ**に**帰ります。 (with に) - I will go home around 5 o'clock. (Slightly more formal/precise)

• 5時ごろ帰ります。 (without に) - I will go home around 5 o'clock. (Common and casual)

ころ: Approximate point in time (interchangeable with ごろ)

2) Time; era; period

The way to know it’s this definition is typically just seeing のころ or ころ after a verb (maybe)

子どものころ (kodomo no koro) - When I was a child (literally: the time of childhood)

• 高校生のころ (kōkōsei no koro) - The time I was a high school student

さいしょうげん

Minimum; lowest

最小限の**労力**で With the minimum amount of effort

Adding に after forms adverbial form (obvious) and means minimally

つみかさなる

INTRANSITIVE

To pile up; to accumulate

It’s not most commonly used as something physically piling up, it is more often used as a conceptual piling up

It refers to the gradual buildup and accumulation of abstract concepts like work, stress, mistakes, or goodwill.

ひろう(fatigue)がつみかさなって、たいちょうをくずした

The fatigue accumulated so I fell ill (or can be “and” I fell ill)

• it can also be used for physical stacking: While it can be used for physical stacking, especially when stressing the accumulation over time, the simpler verb 重なる (kasanaru) is often used for simple overlapping.

  • 書類が机の上に**積み重なっている**。 (Shorui ga tsukue no ue ni tsumikasanatteiru.): Documents are piled up on the desk. (Stresses the height/quantity built up)

• Lastly, it also can be used to express the accumulation of something in relation to time and history: この神社には、長い歴史が積み重なっている。A long history has accumulated in this shrine.

ぶさいく

1) clumsy (of a work); poorly made; awkward (like an anime could be ぶさいく)

2) Ugly (of a person); unattractive

ふざい

Absence

彼女の家に行ったが不在だった。

I went to her house but she wasn’t there (literally I went to her house but she was absent)

いかす

TRANSITIVE

1) To utilize; to make good use of; to maximize potential

It means to take an existing asset (skill, resource, experience) and apply it effectively to achieve a positive result.

Emphasizes active application and positive outcome

Like taking past knowledge and making good use of that in the moment

あなたはこのチャンスをいかすべきだ。

You should take advantage of this chance

2) To retain quality; to preserve

To maintain the inherent nature, quality, or flavor of something; to allow the original state or characteristics of the object to shine through.

Most commonly used in cooking (where it is about preserving the natural flavor of the dish and only being a facilitator when cooking - like minimalism) and art (art that highlights the original elements of whatever is being done to)

Can also be used in “preserving” original texts in a way. Kinda like going against an editing decision that would cut out original part.

素材の味を**生かす**シンプルな調理法。

A simple cooking method that brings out the flavor of the ingredients.

3) To keep alive; to spare

Involves choosing not to kill a living thing. Like “mercy”

いのちをいかす spare a life

4) To be stylish; to be cool (slang)

きぼう

Hope ; aspiration; wish

(He’s our hope; do you wish for a seat?)

へんけん

Prejudice; bias; distorted view

のどがかわく

To be thirsty

びんかん

Sensitive; susceptible

私は暑さにとても敏感だ。I am very sensitive to the hot

If you want to use a noun that doesn’t have a suru verb as a verb, and you want to do that action to something else, how do you structure the sentence?

It depends. If the verb were to take on an indirect object (recipient like send a message TO someone) you would use に like: (object receiving verb) に (noun)をする

If the object is being acted upon, you can just replace the に with を

Yes two を

Pretty much as you’d expect

Differentiating direct object from indirect objects:

If the noun is something the verb physically or conceptually manipulates or affects, it is a direct object. The noun receives the action and is changed by it

会社を辞める (kaisha o yameru) To quit the company. (The company is the object being left.)

みちをわたる to cross the road (the road is the space being traversed)

ほんをよむ

When the noun is the target (like sending a message TO friend or target of causative language, etc.), destination, source (as in source of action like we see in passive language), time, or recipient (like giving or teaching) of the verb’s action it is an indirect object

友達にプレゼントをあげる (tomodachi ni purezento o ageru) I give my friend a present (friend is recipient)

椅子に座る (isu ni suwaru) to sit on a chair (the chair is the target destination)

先生に褒められる (sensei ni homerareru) to be praised by the teacher (source is the teacher)

Just remember the determining factor is the VERB not the noun itself, you just have to know how the verb interacts with the noun

Here’s some weird ones to take note of:

Entering the room (using はいる): へやにはいる. Why? Because the room is the DESTINATION

BUT!!!

Ex 2: へやをでる = exiting the room. Why? Because the room is the space being moved through/ left (idk it sounds like BS to me)

The "Hit or Go To" Test

When you encounter a new verb and are unsure whether it takes を or に for a certain noun, ask yourself:

1. Does the verb "hit" and change the noun? \rightarrow Use を (Direct Object).

2. Does the verb "go to" or "aim at" the noun? \rightarrow Use に (Target/Destination).

ちかじか

Soon; before long; shortly

(If it takes the と particle its meaning shifts to “close” but it is uncommon)

さいせい

1) Playback (of a video or sound); views (of an online video)

2) Recycling

3) Restoration; revitalization

This refers to bringing back life, strength, or economic stability to a person, company, or area.

4) Regeneration (common in science but also very common in gaming terms)

If a character's HP automatically restores over time (like a health-over-time buff), the ability is called HP 回復 (kaifuku, recovery) or simply HP 再生 (saisei, regeneration).(So regeneration is a PASSIVE SKILL)

せきぞう

Stone statue

かんぶ

Management; (executive) staff; top brass; leaders

あたえる

1) To give (to someone of a lower status); to bestow

Formal usage similar to あげる but it is a higher status giving to a lower status

2) To inflict; to cause

This is a critical usage where the "thing given" is an abstract, often negative concept like damage, effect, or influence.

Used in the exact same way as 1 (grammar speaking) just different nuance to it

人々に 不安を 与える To cause anxiety to everyone

かかわる

INTRANSITIVE

1) To be involved with; to relate to; to have to do with

Referring to being connected to a matter, person, or event. It can be a simple, neutral relationship or a necessary involvement.

彼はその事件に**関わって**いない。He is not involved in that incident

その問題は私たちの将来に**関わる** that problem affects our future

毎日、多くのお客様と**関わる**仕事だ。

It's a job where you deal with many customers every day

2) To (seriously) affect; to have a serious bearing (on)

戦争は我々すべてにかかわることだ。this war concerns us all

名誉にかかわる問題なので、彼は怒った。

He got angry because his honor was at stake.

NOTE: IT IS INTRANSITIVE SO VERY COMMONLY USES THE に

こどわる

INTRANSITIVE

To be overly concerned (with); to pay special attention (to); to worry too much (about); to be particular (about)

Some can have positive nuance some can be negative

なぜ、ムスリムの人たちは、土葬にこだわるのか。

Why do Muslims place such importance on burial?

しゅうねん

1) n-th year anniversary (when used as a suffix)

私たちの学校は創立８０周年です。Our school is 80 years old (literally: as for our school, it is the establishment 80 year anniversary/80th anniversary of the founding)

2) Tenacity; persistence

It carries a strong connotation of stubbornness, dedication, or even a fixation on a goal.

Can be positive or negative

執念で勝利を掴む。 (Shūnen de shōri o tsukamu.)

To grasp victory through sheer tenacity (or stubborn determination)

When combining multiple nouns without particles, what? What does it mean?

Makes a noun phrase so the preceding nouns modify the succeeding ones

Like そうりつ80周年

We see “80th anniversary” is being modified by “establishment” or “founding”

What kind of anniversary is it? The anniversary of the establishment

Like here: 日本語学校 がっこう is the main noun while 日本語 is the modifying noun. What kind of school is it? Japanese language school