Translation problem
Hi all!!
Can someone please explain me this phrase: nanika taberu mono ga aru My problem is thah I don't understand why I have to use nanika and mono: mono means "thing" but nanika means "something", so by using nanika and mono together, don't I repeat twice the word "thing"? Shouldn't I say: ikutsuka taberu mono ga aru or taberu nanika ga aru End another question please: in order to translate "I speak japanese" I say: a) nihongo wo hanasu b) nihongo de hanasu Thanks very much |
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Taberu nanki ga aru? is a word for word translation of "Is there something to eat?" but that's why word for word translations work less when the sentences get more complicated. The WORDS are right, but the structure is different. Ikutsuka taberu mono ga aru is a POSSIBLE sentence in Japanese, but it sounds like you are asking for food for a starving group of people. Just get used to the structure nanika taberu mono ga aru and then you can get into more fun sentences like nanika oishiimono nai? or when your friend is watching a boring TV show: nanka motto omoshiroi bangumi nai? 2) The difference is: I speak Japanese. (emphasizes more that YOU can do it, rather than someone else) I speak in Japanese. (empasizes that you will be speaking in JAPANESE rather than another language) |
in your example (nanka motto omoshiroi bangumi nai?) there is a difference using nanka instead of ikutsuka? :confused:
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OK, thank you very well :)
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How about "tabemono ha nanika aru."? seems right to me but i am kinda confused after reading the thread too often and i am getting more an more the longer i do^^
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