Daily Thread: simple questions, comments that don’t need their own posts, and first time posters go here (October 31, 2023)

5 comments

1. Hello! Today I was practing some sentences and there was this one: “Watashi ga ikimashou” and it meant “Why don’t I go?”. I don’t really understand. Could someone explain me why this sentence gets translated like that?

   Thanks I’m advanced.

2. Was wondering why ある here is using the volitional form:

   この二十面相をこんなめにあわせるやつがあろうとは、おれも意外だったよ。

   Context: この二十面相 is a thief who seemingly has been thwarted by someone (but he doesn’t know who)

   Full Context: https://www.aozora.gr.jp/cards/001779/files/57228_58735.html

   I think overall it says something like, “It’s unexpected for there to be someone who can put the man with 20 faces through some ordeal like this.”

3. 冬のせいでシックになってるの？

   Sorry I don’t remember the context, but what is this shikku? I tried googling but nothing seemingly relevant came up

4. I registered to take the JLPT in December (US based) and the registration email claims I was supposed to receive an email in October with more information. The email hasn’t come as of tonight, Oct 30th. Have any other JLPT registrants received their email?

5. しかし、小林少年は泣きもしなければ、絶望もしませんでした。

   is the ば here in なければ, acting more like an “and” rather than an “if”

   I.e., “However, young Kobahashi did neither cry nor despair”, something like that?

   Context: Kobahashi fell down a pit (which was a trap).