Japanese Language Stack Exchange
Japanese Language Stack Exchange

Questions tagged [aspect]

相（アスペクト）. A verbal category mainly indicating the speaker's view of the temporal structure of the situation the clause describes, such as whether it is habitual or complete.

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When is Vている the continuation of action and when is it the continuation of state?

Last night, when I asked my wife to send an email to me, she said もう送っている which I took to mean that she was "sending the message". (The message had a big attachment so I imagined that it could take a few minutes to be sent.) What I later realized is…
user27478
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Difference between -ていく and -てくる

Can someone explain the differences between v-ていく and v-てくる for me. I know that they both express some kind of ongoing action (like a place getting crowded). For example, what's the difference between 込んでいく and 込んでくる, or is it even possible to use…
nevan king
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Why is a verb in the past (た形) contradicted with ～ていない?

In the episode of the anime Sora no Otoshimono linked below, the following exchange occurs several times (beginning at 3:06): A: 呼んだ？ You called? B: 呼んでねええ No I didn't! Could someone please explain why B chose to contradict A with 呼んでいない rather…
G-Cam
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How does the present tense work in a relative clause?

そんなわけで、まだ日も暮れない夕方の通学路を、駅に向かってゆっくりと歩く俺と加藤。 I encountered this quote in a light novel and am stuck on how to interpret it. It feels like 歩く should be "walking" in this context, but it is not 歩いている. The sentence does not seem to express future or…
Joe
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How do I say "before" or "used to" in Japanese?

朝、作文を書いた時、疑問に思いました。 How can I say something like: I didn't use to like this band. Before, I didn't like this band.
Myeongunder
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the logic behind "te" in "chotto matte te"

When someone says: chotto matte te, why does the te mean "... and I'll be back shortly". What's the logic behind it? Why aren't there special expressions such as chotto matte X, where X could mean "I'll give food to my cat" or "I'll need sign an…
Kommi
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Confused in choosing 早い versus 速い

In my understanding, 速い is used for motion and 早い represents "early". Which one is the correct one in this example? A: 授業がそろそろ始まるので、早く来てください。 B: 授業がそろそろ始まるので、速く来てください。
Second Person Shooter
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Are Japanese "tenses" aspects in disguise?

I read a lot of posts here saying that Japanese has this thing called "aspects". e.g. Must I use past tense before 後? ありがとうございます vs. ありがとうございました I am confused with Japanese tense Since Japanese is heavily influenced by Chinese, which seems to only…
Sweeper
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How do you say "I have been [...]"?

How would I say “I have been [...]” as in “I have been studying Japanese.” or “I have been working at an office”? If I remember correctly it is a particular verb conjugation and this would be considered past progressive tense. Correct? I would…
Unique Depiction
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The difference between する and している with onomatopoeias

For example, what would the difference between 膝{ひざ}がガクガクする or 膝{ひざ}がガクガクしている be? I believe the correct definition in Daijirin is 「恐怖{きょうふ}・疲労{ひろう}・緊張{きんちょう}などのために体{からだ}の一部{いちぶ}が小刻{こきざ}みに震{ふる}えるさま」, but that doesn't help me see how the two…
macko
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Why does 疲れた translate to the present tense

疲れた= I’m tired 1) Why is 疲れた used to indicate a present state? (Is there a logic behind these types of verbs or is it easier to remember these verbs?) 2) What is the difference between 疲れたand 疲れている? Are there situations where one would be preferred…
Chocoreto
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For 知る what is the difference between the simple present (知る) and 知っている forms?

あなたは電話番号を知りますか (anata wa denwa bangou wo shirimasu ka)? あなたは電話番号を知っていますか (anata wa denwa bangou wo shitte imasu ka)? In my book "あなたは電話番号を知っていますか" (anata wa denwa bangou wo shitte imasu ka) is translated as "Do you know the phone number?" instead…
Animewar Oficial
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Aspects in stylistics/meaning of 東雲

Does the word 東雲 shinonome have some stylistic pecularities? What's the difference between this word and others with the same meaning "daybreak; dawn"?
Julia
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How to say "started to do something"?

I am writing a homework assignment and I am trying to write "I had to start bringing my umbrella". I know that to say "I started eating" it would be 食べはじめる，or to say "I started drinking" it would be 飲み始める。 I have no idea how to start writing "I had…
MD-4
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What's the difference between ～てある and ～た (past form)?

As I understand it てある is rather different to ている in that it refers to a resultant state rather than an ongoing action. However I wonder, what then is the practical difference between a resultant state and a past action? For example, 昼ごはんを作ってある…
Tor
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