| Current Entry | 限り難しい [かぎりむずかしい] /(adj-i) difficult to restrict/TempSUB/ED/ |
| Headword 1 | 限り難しい |
| Reading 1 | かぎりむずかしい |
| Part-of-speech | adj-i |
| English 1 | difficult to restrict |
| English 2 | TempSUB |
| English 3 | ED |
| Reference | See below. |
| Comment | It was interesting to read the submission of Rene [02/11/08] on the above.
If, on the one hand, your site is aiming at 'exclusion' unless something conforms to a set criteria, then I can understand Rene's first line which states 'This shouldn't be an entry'. However, such criteria was no doubt the reason why I could not find the above entry in any of my hard reference books. If, on the other hand, as evidenced by many entries in your data, there is a good tolerance to include a great deal which lies outside the normal criteria of dictionaries and reference books, then I should have been very pleased to have come across Rene's very valuable observations. It may also have been additionally helpful to have seen a cross-reference to 'かぎりにくい' and 'かぎりづらい' in order to complete the picture. Further, although most of the web hits are returning '限り、難しい', it is also the case that a great number returned '限り難しい' ; which was, of course, the way of the text in the book which I was reading. I would, inevitably, quite understand exclusions where they are technically not possible. However, where the system allows it, I would be grateful to get as many clues to meanings and readings as possible; even for low usage words and expressions. As a further comment, because of this exchange, which triggered Rene's really helpful contribution, for those of us who have seen Rene's contribution, an entry is no longer relevant. However, for those who have not seen that contribution and who just happen to come across that piece of text in their reading, an entry based upon Rene's submission would be valuable. |
| Other language option | eng |
| Name | Francis |
| Submission Type | amend |
| Editorial Comment |
| Headword 1 | 一風景 |
| Reading 1 | いっぷうけい |
| Reading 2 | いちふうけい |
| Part-of-speech | exp |
| English 1 | one scene |
| Reference | See below. |
| Comment | I believe that I know what the above submission means; and I have expressed that meaning in the above. However, with regard to the reading, I do not know whether I have the choice of 'いっぷうけい' or 'いちふうけい' or whether grammar, or perhaps just custom, dictates the reading; or, indeed, whether the reading is something else from what I have stated.
The text which I was reading was this: '...の一風景です。' On the site, you have some entries which start off with 一 as a prefix, for example:- 一風 【いちか】 Ichika (f); NA. 一風 【いっぷう】 (n) eccentric; (P). 一風 【いっぷう】 Ippuu (g); NA Two of the above are names, but one is not. In addition, the 幾室 [いくしつ] which I submitted recently was not sufficiently common enough for an entry, but I note that you have 一室 【いっしつ】 (n) one room; (P), which although naturally very common, is no more than ordinary; unless there is confusion about the reading which need clarification. In addition, you also have '一風呂 【ひとふろ】 (n) (a) bath', which probably means that other readings of '一' are not customary in that case. If such a little thing like '一' is a plague to the beginner, then I am wondering how the plague can be minimized. I appreciate that one cannot possibly include all entries prefixed by all quantities, however, perhaps it would be possible to develop the explanations adjacent the numerical, and similar [e.g., 幾 (いく)], entries by explaining the customary usage in more precise terms; perhaps, for example, noting which reading precedes 'ON' and 'KUN' readings. I can see that the following entries are quite comprehensive, but for the beginner there does not seem to be that definitive step which would take them to, for example, the above readings and the like with any degree of certainty:- 一 【いち(P); ひと】 (num,pref) (1) (ひと when a prefix) one; (suf) (2) (いち only) best in; the most (...) in (where an adjective follows); (P) [Also, for example, should 'いつ' be included in the above to give 'いっぷうけい' in the submission and also how, if if were included, would I know that it was 'いつ' as opposed to 'いち' or 'ひと'?] 一つ(P); １つ; 一(io) 【ひとつ】 (n) (1) one; (2) for one thing (often used in itemized lists); (3) (after a noun) only; (4) (with a verb in negative form) (not) even; (n-adv) (5) just (i.e. "just try it"); (P) [I think that this entry is clearer in the reading for the beginner because of the 'つ' which follows the '一', but as to which of any of all of the above should definitively be used in any particular case seems to be not at all clear.] 幾 【いく】 (n,pref) (1) (in the form 幾+ctr+か) some; several; (2) (in the form 幾+ctr+も) many; (3) how many?; how much?; (P) [In the above, again the guidance is fairly clear, but the 'ctr' for counter [if I have that right], was not clear to me upon first access because the word 'counter' was more associated in my mind with the 幾 part of the explanation. As I read it now, it seems that I should read '幾+the thing being counted + か'; and in the case of my earlier submission '幾室', the thing being counted could be either 'しつ' for room or 'むろ' for greenhouse. |
| Name | Francis |
| Submission Type | new |
| Editorial Comment | There are WWW examples of both readings, with いちふうけい more commonly cited. |
| Current Entry | 幾 [き] /(?) ???/RH/ |
| Headword 1 | 幾 |
| Reading 1 | き |
| Part-of-speech | ? |
| English 1 | ??? |
| English 2 | RH |
| Reference | See below. |
| Comment | I am wondering if this RH entry has been taken over by the following:-
幾 【き】 how many; BU. |
| Other language option | eng |
| Name | Francis |
| Submission Type | new |
| Editorial Comment | I don't think so. The Buddhist file has a lot of very obscure and Chinese terms. I wouldn't roll an entry from it into the main file without good corroboration. 幾/き is in Koujien, but its explanation looks like a straight ON reading in jukugos to me. |
| Current Entry | 限り [かぎり] /(n-adv,n) (1) limit(s)/bounds/(2) degree/extent/scope/(3) as far as possible/as much as possible/to the best of one's ability/(4) unless (after neg. verb)/(5) the end/the last/(P)/ (1264610) |
| Headword 1 | 限り |
| Reading 1 | かぎり |
| Part-of-speech | n-adv,n |
| English 1 | (1) limit(s) |
| English 2 | bounds |
| English 3 | (2) degree |
| English 4 | extent |
| English 5 | scope |
| English 6 | (3) as far as possible |
| English 7 | as much as possible |
| English 8 | to the best of one's ability |
| English 9 | (4) unless (after neg. verb) |
| English 1 | (5) the end |
| English 1 | the last |
| Comment | I understand that it makes it easier for some people to find what they're looking for if you add absolutely everything you can in the dictionary, but some entries just aren't worthy, IMO.
Unlike 〜朝時代 or 〜大生, which are somewhat passable as collocations, there's nothing to single out 限り難しい as being particularly special. Adding "限り難しい" to a Japanese dictionary would literally be like adding "difficult unless ..." to an English dictionary. Since you can say "A unless B" with pretty much any combination of words, I don't see any reason to single out this one example. You're better off including "unless" as a grammar point (as above), and giving some example sentences of its usage, like any of these in the Tanaka corpus: # 言いかえると、生来の温かさがない限り信頼性は不可能だ。 [T] In other words, reliability is impossible unless there is a natural warmth. (Sense 4) # あの政治家に会うつもりなら、袖の下を使わない限り駄目だね。 [T] That politician won't meet you unless you grease his palm. (Sense 4) # 残念ながら、あのオフィスでは賄賂を使わない限り何事もうまくいかないよ。 [T] Unfortunately, you won't get anything done in that office unless you grease someone's palm. (Sense 4) # 西洋人は一般に相手が持ち出さない限りそうした話題を避けたがる。 [T] Westerners, in general, prefer to avoid such topics unless the other person brings them up. (Sense 4) # 絶対必要でない限りタクシーを使わない。 [T] I don't use taxis unless it's absolutely necessary. (Sense 4) # 大きなイベントがない限り、私はお酒を飲まない。 [T] I never drink unless there's a big event of some kind. (Sense 4) # 土壇場で踏ん張ってその契約を勝ち取らない限り、我々は破産も同然だ。 [T] If we don't make a last ditch stand at winning that contract, we may very well go under. (Sense 4) # 配達のレシートに受け取った品物の正確なリストがない限り、サインをしてはいけません。 [T] Do not sign a delivery receipt unless it accurately lists the goods received. (Sense 4) # 彼は恥ずかしがりやで、話しかけない限り、話しません。彼には話しかける必要があります。 [T] He's shy, and never speaks unless spoken to. You have to talk to him. (Sense 4) # 彼は話しかけられない限り決して自分からは口をきかない。 [T] He never speaks unless spoken to. (Sense 4) # 予定変更のお知らせをしない限り、日曜日にお伺いします。 [T] I will visit you on Sunday, if I do no write to you to the contrary. (Sense 4) # 来なさいと言わない限り来ないように。 [T] Don't come unless I tell you to. (Sense 4) # 話しかけない限りめったに話さない人もいる。 [T] Some seldom speak unless spoken to. (Sense 4) # その電車に乗り遅れない限り、そこへ間に合って着くでしょう。 [T] You'll get there in time, so long as you don't miss the train. (Sense 4) # もっと勉強しない限り落第しますよ。 [T] You will fail unless you work harder. (Sense 4) # 安全性が改善されない限り、２０１０年までにジェット旅客機は週に１度の割合で空から落ちる事態になっている可能性があると、ボーイング社の分析は予測している。 [T] A recent analysis by Boeing forecasts that unless safety is improved jet airliners could be falling out of the sky at the rate of once a week by the year 2010. (Sense 4) # 雨が降らない限り、試合は日曜日に行います。 [T] Unless it rains, the game will be held on Sunday. (Sense 4) # 雨が降らない限り、祝宴は庭園で開催されるだろう。 [T] The festival will be held in garden unless it rains. (Sense 4) # 汚さない限り、この本を持ち帰ってもいいですよ。 [T] You may take this book as long as you keep it clean. (Sense 4) # 奇跡が起こらない限り、それを時間通りにやることはできないだろう。 [T] Unless there is a miracle, we won't be able to make it on time. (Sense 4) # 奇跡でも起こらない限り、彼はそこから逃げられないんじゃないか。 [T] He won't be able to escape from there without a miracle, will he? (Sense 4) # 近いうちに雨が降らない限り、この町は深刻な水不足になるだろう。 [T] This city will suffer from an acute water shortage unless it rains soon. (Sense 4) # 君から来ないでくれと言ってこない限り、月曜日には行きます。 [M] [T] I will come on Monday unless you write to the contrary. (Sense 4) # 思いもよらないことが起こらないかぎり、きっとうまくいくはずだ。 [T] Barring anything unforeseen everything should turn all right. (Sense 4) # 食べすぎないかぎり、何を食べてもかまわない。 [T] You may eat anything so long as you don't eat too much. (Sense 4) # あなたの仕事に精を出さないかぎり成功しないでしょう。 [T] You won't succeed unless you attend to your work. (Sense 4) Part of learning Japanese is learning where the word breaks are. And I think that process is actually *hindered* if people are using a dictionary that has all kinds of unnecessary word combinations that give a false impression of being a single word or a collocation. Perhaps you could submit your 限り難しい sentence as a Tanaka corpus example. To me, that seems the better way to handle it. |
| Other language option | eng |
| Name | Rene Malenfant |
| Submission Type | amend |
| Editorial Comment |
| Headword 1 | 前のめり |
| Reading 1 | まえのめり |
| Part-of-speech | exp |
| English 1 | to list forward, as if to fall. |
| Reference | comic title: 倒れるときは前のめり。 (http://www.amazon.co.jp/倒れるときは前のめり。-いのうえ-さきこ/dp/4253105726).
in the goo online dictionary. Seems to be a common phrase (3e6 hits in google). |
| Name | Carl Quillen |
| Submission Type | new |
| Editorial Comment |
| Headword 1 | 顕微鏡 |
| Reading 1 | けんびきょう |
| Part-of-speech | n |
| English 1 | microscope |
| Reference | Located in Genius Ei-Wa Daijiten (in Canon Wordtank V90). |
| Name | Name |
| Submission Type | new |
| Editorial Comment | Also located in EDICT, for about the last 10+ years. |
| Headword 1 | 見立てる |
| Reading 1 | みたてる |
| Part-of-speech | v1 |
| Part-of-speech | vt |
| English 1 | (1) to select, to choose |
| English 2 | (2) to diagnose (an illness), to judge |
| English 3 | (3) to liken to something else, to regard as something else (e.g., to use another person as a mirror) |
| English 4 | (4) to see someone off |
| English 5 | (5) to look after, to be (someone's) guardian |
| English 6 | (6) to underrate, to look down on, to underestimate (someone) |
| Reference | http://dic.yahoo.co.jp/dsearch?enc=UTF-8&p=荀�腴����&dtype=0&dname=0na&stype=0&pagenum=1&index=19658817647300 |
| Comment | If the Reference URL gets scrambled, you can find the source by searching on dictionary.goo.ne.jp for 見立てる |
| Submission Type | amend |
| Editorial Comment |
| Current Entry | 給油口 [きゅうゆこう] /(n) fuel filler opening/petrol cap/ (2260310) |
| Headword 1 | 給油口 |
| Reading 1 | きゅうゆこう |
| Part-of-speech | n |
| English 1 | (See 給油口のふた) fuel filler opening (that the petrol cap goes on) |
| English 2 | tank pipe opening |
| Comment | This isn't the petrol cap itself. |
| Other language option | eng |
| Name | Paul |
| Submission Type | amend |
| Editorial Comment |
| Headword 1 | 情報通信費 |
| Reading 1 | じょうほうつうしんひ |
| Part-of-speech | n |
| Misc | uK |
| English 1 | telecommunications fees |
| Cross-reference | 情報通信 |
| Reference | Used in business language as an expense category, often as a stamp for office use. |
| Name | Charles Chappell |
| Submission Type | new |
| Editorial Comment |