優しくする、優しくいる

Made a mistake during class this week that I just want someone to be kind without a 対象 to be kind towards to, then I should use 優しくいる.

優しくする

to act kindly toward someone
→ more concrete / action-focused

弟に優しくする。
I treat my younger brother kindly.

優しくいる

to remain/be kind as a state or attitude
→ more abstract / emotional / poetic / self-reflective

どんな時でも優しくいたい。
I want to stay kind no matter what.

目を開けた vs. 目を開いた vs. 目を覚ます

And another one that is related is 眼を覚ます, which means to wake up.

目を覚ましたけど、まだ目を開けたくなかった。
I woke up, but I didn’t want to open my eyes yet.

corvid-language-library:

〜ふりをする pretend to be

I noticed that in my lesson notes this has shown up three times and still yesterday when I encountered:

彼氏のふりしてくれるの本当にありがたい。
Thank you for pretending to be my boyfriend.

Felt like I’ve forgotten this enough times that I need to write it down here!

Examples

い-adj
知らないふりをする
pretend not to know

Verb plain form
寝ているふりをする
pretend to be sleeping

な-adj
大丈夫なふりをする
pretend to be okay

Noun
友達のふりをする
pretend to b a friend

Pattern

本当は悲しいけど、大丈夫なふりをする。
I’m actually sad, but I pretend I’m okay.

V 意向形 + とする/と思う

Initially I was trying to form sentences like I was about to do something.

買おうとしていた。
Was about to make a purchase.

But then realize していた part is just a conjugation of する.

航空券を買おうと思ってたけど、多分明日にする。
I was thinking about buying a plane ticket but I’ll probably do it tomorrow.

• V 意向形 + とする about to do something (closer to doing it)
• V 意向形 + と思う thinking to do something (still in my head)

手に入れる vs. 手を入れる

Came across this sentence:

理由はシンプルで、運用していた個人サーバに手を入れられない状態が続いたためです。

Source: https://falog.net/blog/others/000_restart/

I remembered learning using に and not を when I learned this expression, so I looked into this a bit more.

• 手に入れる（てにいれる）- put something in my hands -> to get, obtain, acquire
• 手を入れる（てをいれる）- taking my hand and put it into project/work -> to repair, maintain, tweak, make improvements

So in this context, it’s to maintain the server.

The funny part: why am I “suspicious” of a native Japanese’s Japanese 🤔

Mandarin Doesn’t Need A Subject

While studying, t is mentioned that a subject 主語 is not required in Mandarin. This feels a lot like Japanese too.

下雨了。主語

雨が降る。Update: This sentence in Japanese actually has a subject, but see the reply below for examples. Thanks @pinklesbionade!

It is raining. (It is the subject)

In English it is required.

I find it quite interesting as I didn’t really notice this while using the language.

Reflections on Friendships

I find giving gifts a hard thing. It’s like if you don’t give anything, nothing happens. But if you send a bad gift, you might lose the friendship. I feel a bit more calmer after learning that someone else also feels the same.

• 暫停鍵 (zhàn tíng jiàn): To press the pause button (metaphor for taking a break from a relationship)
• 禮物殺手 (lǐ wù shā shǒu): “Gift killer” (someone notoriously bad at picking gifts)
• 少根筋 (shǎo gēn jīn): To be scatterbrained or lacking a certain social “nerve”
• 揪團 (jiū tuán): To organize a group activity (like group buy)
• 主揪 (zhǔ jiū): The lead organizer

13. 衛生紙當生日禮物？三十歲後，我學會按下友情的暫停鍵 | Toilet Paper for a Birthday Gift? Pressing Pause on Friendships After 30

Note: This podcast is for upper-intermediate level, but I think it’s generally good just for immersion and one of the few podcasts that provide Zhuyin transcripts.

～したほうがいい vs 〜したらいい (Should)

Yesterday I went to speak at an event, and before the event I wanted to ask what should I prep or bring in advance.

tl;dr

• Ask with: したらいい？ (What should I do?) – I should ask with this usage!
• Warn with: ほうがいい。 (You’d better do this.)

〜したほうがいい

• Usage: Strong advice/warning
• Vibe: You really should do this (or else…).

病院に行ったほうがいいよ。
You should go to the hospital. (or else it won’t get better)

パソコンを持っていったほうがいい。
You should bring your computer. (or else it would be a bother)

〜したらいい

• Usage: Asking for instructions, asking for advice, or making a light, non-pressuring suggestion.
• Vibe: What’s the best way to…?/It would be fine if you did…

何を準備したらいい？
What should I prepare?

どう言ったらいいかな？
How should I say it.

について usage

Today I made the mistake of using を with について:
最近、AIについてをたくさん投稿している。

を is not needed as について already acts as the bridge to the verb, so it should be:
最近、AIについてたくさん投稿している。

So here’s a quick refresh of how to use について:

Noun + についての + Noun

[Noun] about/regarding [noun]

AIについての投稿。
A post about AI.

Noun + について + Verb

Do [verb] about [noun]

AIについて投稿する。
Post about AI.

日本語について勉強した。
Learned about Japanese.