September 2010Archive

<Difference between 永遠(eien) and 永久(eikyuu)>:
In Japan, these words are used in same meaning.
However, the following interpretations are described in a Japanese dictionary.

*Both "EIEN" and "EIKYUU" mean "The eternity continues".
*"EIEN" has neither start nor the end.
*"EIEN" is the word chiefly used for feelings of the human race and the animal.
*"EIKYUU" is the word chiefly used for machine(equipment) etc..>

<What meaning is "果てしない(hateshinai)"?>
For instance, "Hateshinai" in Japanese is used as follows.

<What meaning is "無限の(mugen no)" and "限りなき(kagiri naki)"?>
For instance, "Mugen no" and "Kagiri naki" in Japanese is used as follows.

*limitless ambition.　無限の野望
limitless authority.　限りなき権威
limitless offers.　限りない申し出

<What meaning is "終わりなき(owari naki)"?>
For instance, "Owari naki" in Japanese is used as follows.

*endless conversation.　終わりのない（終わりなき）話し合い
*endless communications.　終わりのない（終わりなき）コミュニケーション

お父さん(otoo-san)

お兄さん(onii-san)

お兄ちゃん(onii-chan)

兄さん(nii-san)

兄ちゃん(nii-chan)

Younger brother doesn't have a special name.
But, younger brother and the younger sister use "Name to distinguish two or more elder brothers" when there are a lot of numbers of brothers.
It's "AAA nii-san" and "BBB nii-chan" etc.

<About pronunciation "弟(otouto)">

お姉さん(onee-san)

お姉ちゃん(onee-chan)

姉さん(nee-san)

姉ちゃん(nee-chan)

<About pronunciation "妹(imouto)">

Younger sister doesn't have a special name.
But, younger brother and the younger sister use "Name to distinguish two or more elder sisters" when there are a lot of numbers of brothers.
It's "AAA nee-san" and "BBB nee-chan" etc.

おじいさん(ojii-san)

おじいちゃん(ojii-chan)

じいちゃん(jii-chan)

じいじ(jii-ji)

じいさん(jii-san)

おばあさん(obaa-san)

おばあちゃん(obaa-chan)

ばあちゃん(baa-chan)

ばあば(baa-ba)

ひいおじいさん(hii-ojii-san)

ひいおじいちゃん(hii-ojii-chan)

ひいじいちゃん(hii-jii-chan)

ひいおばあさん(hii-obaa-san)

ひいおばあちゃん(hii-obaa chan)

ひいばあちゃん(hii-baa-chan)

おじさん(oji-san):
Achild and a adult usually use "Oji-san".

伯父(oji) is used for your parents' elder brother.
叔父(oji) is used for your parents' younger brother.
In addition, both of them are the same pronunciations.

おばさん(oba-san):
Achild and a adult usually use "Oba-san".

Strictly speaking, there are a lot of kanji with meaning "Cousin" in Japanese.

For instance, if your cousin is a man, you should use kanji of "従兄弟(itoko)[cousin]" for him, if your cousin is a woman, you should use kanji of "従姉妹(itoko)[cousin]" for her.

In addition, if your cousin is a man who is senior to you, you should use kanji of "従兄(itoko)[cousin]" for him, if your cousin is a man who is younger than you, you should use kanji of "従弟(itoko)[cousin]" for him.
If your cousin is a woman who is senior to you, you should use kanji of "従姉(itoko)[cousin]" for her, if your cousin is a woman who is younger than you, you should use kanji of "従妹(itoko)[cousin]" for her.