- NDL
The Second of Two Tomatoes
NikoIn the last lesson, I way-too-briefly mentioned how the meaning of numbers can change simply by adding the kanji for "eye," 目（め）to the end of them.
It's a somewhat complicated topic, so I probably should have given a better explanation... but we were drowning in the fiery pits of Numbers Hell in the last lesson, so I didn't get a chance.
Therefore, rejoice, for I will teach it in this lesson.
Consider these two examples:
トマト2個買ってきて。
トマト にこ かって きて。
Will you go pick up two tomatoes (at the store)?
2個目は半額だって。
にこめ は はんがく だって。
Apparently the second one is half price. // It says the second one is half price.
So when we just say 二個（にこ）it means "two things."
But if we add 目 (め), saying 二個目 (にこめ), then it means "the second one."
Fun Side Note: When people can't catch my name in Japanese, I will point with two fingers like I'm asking for two of something at a store and say 二個 (にこ // two [of something]). Aside from being an easy way to clarify that my name is Niko, it occasionally gets a laugh or two as a bonus. It's probably a pity laugh, as I have a pitifully low Joke Success Rate in Japanese.
Anyways, I'm not sure how to explain that any better than giving you a bunch of examples. So yeah, here we go...
全部で何個ある？
ぜんぶ で なんこ ある？
How many are there altogether?
For example, you could ask this if someone bought you a bunch of presents, and they're all sitting on a table in front of you.
それ何個目？
それ なんこめ？
How many is that now? // What number are you on now?
For example, if you're watching your friend stuff his/her face with donuts one after another, you could ask this.
4人家族です。
よにん かぞく です。
There are four people in my family.
右から4人目の奴、俺の弟なんだ。
みぎ から よにんめ の やつ、 おれ の おとうと なんだ。
The fourth guy from the right is my little brother.
Sometimes, the difference between the English translations is nice and clear-cut, like how here we have "four people" and "the fourth person," but translation is not always so easy. T_T
何人くらい誘おうか？
なんにん くらい さそおう か？
How many people should we invite?
何人目の恋人と結婚しましたか？
なんにんめ の こいびと と けっこんしましたか？
How many girlfriends [boyfriends] did you have before you got married? //Which number boyfriend [girlfriend] did you end up marrying?
A more direct translation would be, "Which number lover did you marry?" ...but I think the nuance of that English is quite a bit different than the Japanese. ^_^
おいしすぎて5回もおかわりしちゃった。
おいしすぎて ごかい も おかわり しちゃった。
It was so good that I had seconds five times.
The use of ～しちゃった instead of ～した indicates that the speaker ate too much or did not intend to eat so much. The use of も also indicates that five times is a large number.
タイに来たのは5回目です。
タイ に きた のは ごかいめ です。
This is the fifth time I've come to Thailand.
1日何回歯磨いてる？
いちにち なんかい は みがいてる？
How many times a day do you brush your teeth?
When talking about routine activities, it's common to use the present progressive [present continuous] tense. In English, this would be like saying, "How many times are you brushing your teeth per day?" In this case, though, I think "How many times do you brush your teeth per day?" or the translation used in the example is better.
何回目のデートでキスした？
なんかいめ の デート で キス した？
What [Which number] date did you have your first kiss?
This is asking if the kiss was on the first date, second date, fifth date, and so on.
I mostly let the examples do the explaining for this lesson. If you look over the literal translations a few times, it should make sense... somewhat. If not, then just come back and re-read this once you get to a higher level of Japanese.
Niko
