Niyakeru

May 22, 2017 10:52
"Niyakeru (にやける)" is a Japanese verb that is commonly used.

However, according to a poll conducted several years ago, around 77% of Japanese use this verb in the wrong sense.

Niyakeru is a term for men, and it means to glam up sexily like women, or to be wishy-washy.

However, most Japanese seem to think that niyakeru means to smile thinly.

I think that the reason is because it's similar to an onomatopoeia "niyaniya," which represents the sound coming from a thin smile.

Since there are so many people who misunderstand the meaning, the meaning in dictionaries may change in the near future.
にやける

「にやける」は一般的に利用される日本語です。

しかし、数年前に実施された世論調査によると、日本人の77％がこの言葉を間違って使っているそうです。

「にやける」は、「にやけ（若気）」を動詞化したもので、本来は男が女のように色っぽくめかしこんだり、男がなよなよしたりすることを意味します。

しかし、ほとんどの日本人が「にやける」を「薄笑いを浮かべる」という意味だと認識しています。

これは、人が薄笑いを浮かべる顔から聞こえてくる音を表した擬態語「にやにや」から来ているものだと思われます。

これだけ勘違いしている人が多いと、近い将来辞書の意味も変化するかもしれません。
No. 1　Xishem's correction
  • "Niyakeru (にやける)" is a Japanese verb that is commonly used.
  • "Niyakeru (にやける)" is a Japanese verb that is commonly used.
    　Or more simply:

    "Niyakeru (にやける)" is a common Japanese verb.
  • However, according to a poll conducted several years ago, around 77% of Japanese use this verb in the wrong sense.
  • However, according to a poll conducted several years ago, around 77% of Japanese use this verb in the wrong sense.
    　For some reason, using "Japanese" to mean "Japanese people" sounds a bit weird. It's understandable, but it can throw the reader off. It's the same case with "Chinese", "Vietnamese", "Portuguese", and pretty much any other nationality that ends in "-ese". For these, the following is probably more common:

    "... around 77% of Japanese/Vietnamese/Portuguese people use... "

    This is also the case for nationalities ending in "-ish" (Irish, English)

    However, this isn't the case for nationalities that end in "-an" (American, German, Russian), "-er" (New Zealander), or "-ean" (Chilean, Korean). For these, we can just use the plural:

    "... around 77% of Americans/New Zealanders/Chileans use... "

    It's probably because the plural of "-an", "-er", "-ean" is different from the adjective form:

    (1) Japanese => Japanese, but
    (2) American => Americans
    etc.

    Hopefully that makes sense.
  • Niyakeru is a term for men, and it means to glam up sexily like women, or to be wishy-washy.
  • Niyakeru is a term for men, and it means to glam up sexily like women, or to be wishy-washy.
    　"to glam up" is okay, but it's pretty uncommon.

    More idiomatic would be:

    (1) "... and it means to cross-dress as a woman... ", or just
    (2) "... and it means to dress up like a sexy woman... "
  • However, most Japanese seem to think that niyakeru means to smile thinly.
  • This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
  • I think that the reason is because it's similar to an onomatopoeia "niyaniya," which represents the sound coming from a thin smile.
  • This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
  • Since there are so many people who misunderstand the meaning, the meaning in dictionaries may change in the near future.
  • Since there are so many people who misunderstand the meaning, its definition the meaning in dictionaries may change in the near future.
    　Dictionaries containing definitions is a bit more idiomatic than them containing meanings.
I tried to nitpick at the slightest things since your writing is already very good. Hopefully it's helpful.
Toru
Thank you very much for correcting my post!
Your comments are really informative and helpful (^^)
No. 2　Austin's correction
  • Niyakeru
  • This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
  • "Niyakeru (にやける)" is a Japanese verb that is commonly used.
  • This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
  • However, according to a poll conducted several years ago, around 77% of Japanese use this verb in the wrong sense.
  • However, according to a poll conducted several years ago, around 77% of Japanese use this verb in the wrcong srrensectly.
  • Niyakeru is a term for men, and it means to glam up sexily like women, or to be wishy-washy.
  • This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
  • However, most Japanese seem to think that niyakeru means to smile thinly.
  • This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
  • I think that the reason is because it's similar to an onomatopoeia "niyaniya," which represents the sound coming from a thin smile.
  • I think that the reason for this is because it's similar to thean onomatopoeia "niyaniya," which represents the sound coming from a thin smile.
  • Since there are so many people who misunderstand the meaning, the meaning in dictionaries may change in the near future.
  • Since there are so many people who misunderstand the meaning, the meaning in dictionaries may change it in the near future.
Almost perfect English! Keep up the good work :)
Also, in the third correction, sorry that the word "incorrectly" is separated. I'm on my phone so it puts it in a weird format.
Toru
Thank you so much for correcting my post!
I'm glad to hear you say that :)
No. 3　クライド's correction
  • However, most Japanese seem to think that niyakeru means to smile thinly.
  • However, most Japanese people seem to think that niyakeru means to smile thinly.
Great post Kanotown! :D
Toru
Thank you so much for correcting my post, クライドさん! (^^)
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