The "I found some Japanese I don't understand" thread.

[マーク・ウェーバーMember]

ギリシャでは１７日、この問題で議会の選挙をもう一度行いました。
↓
Due to this problem, parliament election was carried out once again in Greece on the 17th.

[JoelMember]

That would be a more natural wording. =P

[マーク・ウェーバーMember]

haha didn’t even see your translation before I posted mine ^^; Once again I will say this(not that it will change anything lol), this forum seriously needs an update, on IPboard it will tell you if someone posted in a thread you are reading right now, pretty useful if you open a thread but don’t read through it immediately after opening it.

[MisterM2402 [Michael]Member]

Ah, right, so この問題で could be thought of as “due to this problem” – it seems obvious now, but my brain just couldn’t process it at the time :D Thanks guys.

[troutMember]

I apologize if I’m on the wrong thread but could someone tell me what this sentence means. 日本の梅雨は湿度が多く過ごし難い。 Something about Japan’s rainy season…. I can’t figure out the last half of the sentence. Thank you.

[JoelMember]

Trout: I’d say something like “In Japan’s rainy season, the humidity level makes it difficult to pass the time.”

MisterM2402 [Michael]
it seems obvious now, but my brain just couldn’t process it at the time

I hear you. I mean, I’ve been using English for as long as I can remember, so I know what natural English is meant to sound like, but sometimes my brain just completely refuses to come up with the natural translation.

[troutMember]

Thanks, Joel. Much appreciated.

[TripMasterMunkyMember]

http://www.textfugu.com/season-5/dict-past-neg/9-6/

States the example にほんご　を　ならわない。(I will not learn Japanese) is the right way to say this in casual form. Why is it not ならあない?

Going by what textfugu has taught me so far I assumed it would be:
習います > 習う > 習った > 習あない > 習あなかった

I’m still getting a hang of casual form, so please let me know if I’m missing something. Because I am just not understanding where “ならわない” is coming from. Thanks.

• This reply was modified 12 years, 6 months ago by  TripMasterMunky.

[クリスMember]

TripMasterMunky:
http://www.textfugu.com/season-5/dict-past-neg/9-6/

Why is it not ならあない?

You’re understanding everything correctly, just that this is one of those things. Anything that ends in う goes to わ　instead of あ。 So 習う　ー＞　習わない、買う　ー＞　買わない,　歌う　ー＞　歌わない etc.　　The same for past negative, 買わなかった、習わなかった。

I can’t tell you the reason why it is so, maybe someone else can help there. :)

[MisterM2402 [Michael]Member]

Anyone here who’s used to using “A Dictionary of [Level] Japanese Grammar”? How would I look up “volitional + と + する”? In the index, I’ve looked for “~ to suru”, “to”, “suru” and “~ou to suru” but I can’t seem to find anything :/

[JoelMember]

It’s in the Beginner, under “yō to suru” – at least, that’s how it’s listed in the index. In the main body, it’s just a note under “miru” as a related expression. It’s also listed in the Advanced as a related expression for “n to suru”. You’d think they could give it its own entry somewhere…

[MisterM2402 [Michael]Member]

Thanks Joel, I’ll take another look :)

[ClementMember]

I’m starting to sentence mine by using the comments I receive on Lang-8. I’m not sure how well I’m doing though so here is one comment I’m not too clear on. I have an idea on what it means but want to see what someone here says it is. :P

私は英語を勉強しています。
お互い、頑張りましょう^^

I’m particularly unsure about “勉強しています”. What does that “してい” mean?

[マーク・ウェーバーMember]

It is grammar. You won’t learn it till later. Look for an explanation of ～て-form and you will find what you are looking for.

[ClementMember]

Ah, so that’s why I couldn’t get it. Alright then, onwards with Textfugu it is!

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