「〜ようとしている」 does more than mean “soon.” It describes an action or change approaching the point where it happens and can also mean “trying to” with human actions. This guide covers its formation, three main uses, similar Japanese patterns, and its relationship with Korean 「-(으)려고 하다」.
Category: SECOND LANGUAGE IN DAILY LIFE
How to Use Korean 「설마」: Meaning, Nuance, and Differences from 혹시, 아마, 정말
「설마」 is used when something originally seemed unlikely, but the speaker begins to suspect it may actually be true. This guide explains its major patterns and uses, contrasts it with 혹시, 아마, 정말, and compares it with Japanese 「まさか」.
Korean 「듯싶다」 Grammar: Meaning, Conjugation, Usage, and Similar Expressions
Korean 「듯싶다」 expresses a cautious inference or judgment based on the current situation. This guide explains its meaning, conjugation, present/past/future uses, and differences from 「것 같다」「듯하다」 and 「모양이다」.
How to Tell Time in Japanese: 時, 分, AM/PM, 半, 24時 and 25時 Explained
A complete guide to telling time in Japanese, covering special hour readings, ふん／ぷん minute pronunciation, small-っ changes, 午前 and 午後, 半, ごろ, 前, 過ぎ, midnight and noon, 24-hour notation, 24時 and 25時, practical travel phrases, and a comparison with Korean time expressions.
Korean 「막」 Meaning and Usage: Just Now, Intensely, Recklessly, and Conversational Emphasis
Korean 「막」 can mean “just,” describe an intense or unrestrained action, or function as a conversational discourse marker. This guide explains its four major uses with Korean examples and compares 「막」 with 「마구」「방금」「그냥」「막상」, as well as similar Japanese expressions.
Korean Phrases for Asking Directions: Location, Subway, Bus & Travel Expressions
A practical guide to Korean phrases for asking directions in Korea, covering location, routes, directions, subway exits and transfers, buses, walking distance, and common travel situations.
Japanese 「〜というわけではない」: Meaning, Usage, Partial Negation, and Similar Grammar
A detailed guide to Japanese 「〜というわけではない」, covering its meaning, attachment patterns, partial negation, conversational forms, and differences from similar grammar such as 「〜わけではない」 and 「〜とは限らない」.
Japanese 「この・その・あの・どの」: Meanings, Differences, and How to Use Them
A complete guide to Japanese 「この・その・あの・どの」, covering their basic meanings, 「その」 vs. 「あの」, differences from 「これ・それ・あれ・どれ」 and 「ここ・そこ・あそこ・どこ」, plus practical travel examples.
사실 vs 실은 vs 진짜: What’s the Difference in Korean?
Korean 사실, 실은, and 진짜 can look similar in translation, but they serve very different functions in conversation. This guide compares their meanings, nuances, interchangeable uses, and common examples, along with the difference between 진짜 and 정말.
Korean Tax Refund Phrases for Shopping, Airports, and Customs
A practical guide to Korean tax refund phrases for shopping in Korea, covering immediate refunds, passports, receipts, airport kiosks, customs checks, refund methods, and common problems.
Kochira, Sochira, Achira, and Dochira: Differences, Usage, and Examples
A practical guide to Japanese こちら, そちら, あちら, and どちら, covering distance, politeness, people, locations, choices, customer service, travel, and business usage.
Japanese 「わけがある」: Meaning, Usage, and Differences from 「わけだ」 and 「わけがない」
A detailed guide to the meaning and nuance of Japanese 「わけがある」, including how it differs from 「理由がある」 and 「事情がある」. The article also compares 「わけがある」 with 「わけだ」, 「わけがない」, and 「はずだ」, explains its attachment patterns, and covers common expressions such as 「ちょっとわけがあって」 and 「訳あり商品」 with examples.
Japanese Formal Nouns Explained: Uses, Meanings, and Differences of “Koto,” “Mono,” “Tokoro,” and “Wake”
A complete comparison of the Japanese formal nouns 「こと」「もの」「ところ」 and 「わけ」, including attachment rules, fixed patterns, examples, and related expressions.
What’s the Difference Between Korean Nominalizers “-eum,” “-gi,” “-neun geot,” and “-daneun geot”? Uses, Nuances, and Example Sentences Compared
A complete comparison of the Korean nominalizers -음, -기, -는 것, and -다는 것, with conjugation rules, usage nuances, workplace contexts, and examples.
Is Japanese 「何」 Read as 「なに」 or 「なん」? Pronunciation Rules, Exceptions, and How to Tell
Learn when Japanese 「何」 is read as nani or nan, including core patterns, counters, and meaning-based exceptions, with examples and comparison tables.