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Japanese Versatility List

The future and chances

Core words, Stage 3chunk 27 of 76Life and time

Lets you talk about what's ahead and the chances you get.

Mix-ups Kikai (an opportunity) vs kanousei (a likelihood); shourai vs mirai for 'future'.

shourai

the future; in the future

Your own future, career and life plans: shourai no yume (your dream for the future).

Mirai is the future in general (the world, sci-fi); shourai is a person's own.

casual

shourai, nani ni naritai?

What do you want to be when you grow up?

将来、何になりたい?

polite

shourai, nani ni naritai desu ka?

What would you like to do in the future?

将来、何になりたいですか?

Written 将来 · しょうらいRank #1228 in 3,030 TV dramas

taimingu

timing; the right moment

Taimingu ga ii = good timing. Taimingu o miru = wait for the right moment.

casual

chotto taimingu ga warukatta ne

The timing was a bit off, huh.

ちょっとタイミングが悪かったね

polite

chotto taimingu ga warukatta desu ne

The timing was a bit off, wasn't it?

ちょっとタイミングが悪かったですね

Written タイミングRank #1237 in 3,030 TV dramas

kanousei

possibility; chance; potential

How likely something is (~ kanousei ga aru, it might ~), or someone's potential.

Kanousei wa zero ja nai = it's not impossible. An opportunity is kikai, not kanousei.

casual

ame ni naru kanousei mo aru yo

There's a chance it'll rain, too.

雨になる可能性もあるよ

polite

ame ni naru kanousei mo arimasu yo

There's a chance it'll rain, too.

雨になる可能性もありますよ

Written 可能性 · かのうせいRank #683 in 3,030 TV dramas

kono saki

from now on; up ahead

Both time (from here on) and place (further along this way).

For places: eki wa kono saki desu (the station is just up ahead). For time, kore kara is the plainer word.

casual

kono saki dou naru ka wakaranai

I don't know what'll happen from here.

この先どうなるかわからない

polite

kono saki dou naru ka wakarimasen

I don't know what'll happen from here.

この先どうなるかわかりません

Written この先 · このさきRank #1213 in 3,030 TV dramas

kikai

chance; opportunity; occasion

A chance to do something: ~ kikai ga aru / nai. Mata no kikai ni = some other time.

Sounds the same as kikai (machine). Chansu is the casual, big-break 'chance'.

casual

nakanaka au kikai ga nai ne

We hardly ever get a chance to meet, huh.

なかなか会う機会がないね

polite

nakanaka au kikai ga arimasen ne

We hardly ever get a chance to meet, do we?

なかなか会う機会がありませんね

Written 機会 · きかいRank #1427 in 3,030 TV dramas