Daily Thread: simple questions, comments that don’t need their own posts, and first time posters go here (February 24, 2023)

6 comments

1. Not criticising, just genuine curiousity. Why are adult learners of Japanese taught with the ます form first instead of dictionary form like how Japanese children are taught? Is there a pedagogical reason or is it just so that they can start using polite speech earlier if they have to converse with a native speaker?

2. Was wondering about this sentence from the Final Fantasy IV script:

   > 我は・・・・完全暗黒物質・・・・ゼムスの憎しみが増大せしもの・・・・
   我が名はゼロムス・・・・全てを・・・・憎む・・・・！！

   For context here is the script: http://ff4com.s4.xrea.com/ff4conve/conve015.html

   I was wondering, I can’t figure out the part that says: せしもの

   I think the rest is something like:

   “I am…true dark substance…Zemasu’s hatred is increasing (??)…my name is Zeromasu….completely….hatred…..!!!!! ”

   But I’m not too sure.

3. I have another question from the Final Fantasy IV script:

   > 成せば成る、自分を信じろ！

   I was wondering, what is the grammar point for the part before the comma? It seems like “If you do it do it” but I don’t think that is right.

   After the comma seems to be “Believe in yourself!”

   For context here is the script:

   http://ff4com.s4.xrea.com/ff4conve/conve015.html

4. What’s a good phrase to end an interaction after a transaction is done? I talk to customers in Japanese and don’t really know what to say when the transaction is done. You know like have a good day or have a good one, etc.

5. Is this the correct way to ask “Where do you study?”

   どこでべんきょうしますか。

   Or would べんきょうる be the object of the sentence and する be the verb? I’m really confused sorry.

6. what is the こう here.

   マサキはこう言って欲しかったのだ.