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“How to Use ‘すぐ’ [sugu] and ‘もうすぐ’ [mou sugu] Correctly in Japanese”
[Japanese Learning] What’s the difference between “すぐ” (sugu) and “もうすぐ” (mou sugu)? “I thought ‘もうすぐだね～’ (It’s almost time) and ‘すぐだね～’ (It’s soon) mean the same thing…””When I said ‘誕生日すぐだね’ (Your birthday is soon), I was told that’s not the right usage…””Please explain...
Correct Usage of ‘多い’ [ooi] in Japanese: Avoid Common Mistakes
[Japanese Learning] Why can’t you say “多い人” (a lot of people) or “多い雨” (a lot of rain)? “When I said ‘多い人だね～’ (a lot of people), I was told that’s not how you use it…” “I heard ‘今日は多い雨が降るみたい’ (It seems like there will...
Difference Between “jōzu” and “tokui”: How to Explain Them
How are “上手” (jōzu) and “得意” (tokui) different? How should I explain it? “上手” (jōzu) and “得意” (tokui) sound similar, but there is a significant difference. If I ask, “Are ‘上手’ and ‘得意’ the same?” the answer is, “No, they are quite...
Distinguishing ‘Yatto,’ ‘Tsui ni,’ and ‘Tōtō’: Nuance Explained
[Japanese Language Learning]The Difference Between “やっと,” “ついに,” and “とうとう” “Isn’t ‘yatto,’ ‘tsuini,’ and ‘tōtō’ all the same?””What’s the difference between ‘yatto’ and ‘tsuini’? Don’t both express happiness?””Is ‘tōtō’ often used in a negative context?” In Japanese, there are many words with similar meanings...
Distinguishing ‘Sameru’ vs ‘Hieru’: Differences Explained
[Japanese Language Learning] The Difference Between “冷める” [Sameru] and “冷える” [Hieru] “Isn’t ‘hieru’ and ‘sameru’ the same?””I was told that using ‘hieru’ in a certain situation was incorrect…””Can you explain clearly what the difference is between [冷める] and [冷える]?”Both “冷める” (sameru) and...
Kunai vs Naide: Key Differences in Japanese Expressions
[Japanese Language Learning] What is the Nuance Difference Between “入ってほしくない” [Haitte Hoshikunai] and “入らないでほしい”? [Hairanaide Hoshii] “I don’t want you to enter there. I want you not to enter there. They seem the same to me…” “In a certain situation, I was...