Daily Thread: simple questions, comments that don’t need their own posts, and first time posters go here (November 19, 2023)

5 comments

1. When used at the end of a sentence, can んだ fully replace の in informal speech? For adding an explanatory tone, making a question, softening the tone, indicating a mild command, some nuance of surprise or doubt, and so on. Or are there certain nuances that are exclusive to sentence-ending の?

2. So I looked up the definition of ネタ in Japanese (I already have a general grasp, but was hoping for some clarification) and came across this as a definition:

   真実ではない、悪ふざけの言動。 いかにも真実であるかのように語られる。

   I have 2 questions regarding these sentences:

   1. Why is there a か in the second sentence? It’s not a question, it’s not part of a list, it doesn’t seem like an either or statement, its not a nominalizer as の is already there, I just can’t think of a reason.

   2. I am unclear on the definition of the word いかにも and the meaning of the second sentence. The first sentence is something along the lines of “Words or actions expressing a joke not based in reality.” And then, to my understanding,いかにも in a positive sentence indicates affirmation or emphasis of what is previously said, so then the second sentence would mean something along the lines of “Moreover, it [the joke] is said as if it were serious.” Is that right? But then again, か could be serving a purpose thst completely changes the meaning of the sentence, so I don’t know.

   Anyway, any help is appreciated.

3. Would anybody be interested in becoming study buddies? I feel like it could really benefit me (a total beginner) and hopefully you too (who I hope is also a total beginner) to have someone to give motivation, study advice, share news words, etc…

4. > 　このようにして名探偵と大盗賊の初対面の小手しらべは、みごとに探偵の勝利に帰しました。賊にしてみれば、いつでもとらえようと思えばとらえられるのを、そのまま見のがしてもらったわけですから、二十面相の名にかけて、これほどの恥辱はないわけです。

   I think I get this more-or-less but have some questions.

   > いつでもとらえようと思えばとらえられる

   Is this right? If he thinks “I will catch him”, he can catch him. -> This means, “He can catch him whenever he wants”

   > これほどの恥辱はないわけです。

   Is this right? Something like, “there is nothing (else) to this degree of humiliation” or something like, “There is no greater shame”

   Was wondering what the わけ does there though. Like, does it do anything different than just having ないです

   > 初対面の小手しらべは

   This part makes no sense to me, the arm-search of their first meeting?

   Overall I think this means

   “In this way the great detective and the man with twenty faces [? met each other?]. The thief, he could catch him whenever he wants, and he just overlooks him, for the man with 20 faces, there is no greater shame”

5. 都合のつき次第私に電話をして下さい。
   I’m having trouble breaking this example sentence down.
   “都合がつく” is a set phrase right? Which is attaching to 次第. The が is turning into a の because it’s acting as a relative clause when it attaches to 次第?
   Are “都合のつき次第” and “私に電話をして下さい。” Two different sentences or is “都合のつき次第” modifying 私？if so wouldn’t that make the translation something like, ” Please call the as soon as convenient me.” ? I know that’s not it and a proper translation would be, “please contact me as soon as possible.”. But I don’t understand the logic in how that could be possible if the 私 is being modified by the “都合のつき次第”. It would make more sense if it wasn’t being modified and they were to separate sentences but I don’t think that’s the case. What am I missing?