group of questions

Hello everyone. Once again I`ve waited until all my questions about
Japanese have built up, and now I`m going to ask them all at once.
Sorry everyone, it probably looks bad and is a pain in the neck. Most
of these questions are pretty half-thought, so an equality half-thought
out answer would be completely fine. Thanks!


1. How does one say `based on`? For example:

This book is based on a true story
This movie is based on a book
This statue is based on the shape of that building
This buildings foundation is based on that building`s.
Etc etc. I was trying to tell a coworker about something being based
on the shape of a building, and realized I was unable to. Pondering
the thought, I realized I couldn`t really say any of the above
sentences. When can one use ni motodzuku? is this word just for basic
ideas springing from other ideas? Can I apply it to any/all of the
examples above? Also, Can I use tehon or mohan for these sentences?


2. What is the difference between kono atari and konohen？
Are the meanings the same? if so, is there some sort of nuance
difference?

3. `mohan` and `tehon` from above.. Are these two words the same? How
are they different? Meaning? Usage?

4. How can I say `mention`? mention`s meaning being `casually say` in
context? For example `I didnt mention that` or `Ill mention it to him`

5. How does one say `look around for/keep an eye out for`, for example,
`while you`re in Canada, keep an eye out for different flavors of
pancakes (because I want you to buy them for me)` etc

6. This is probably the worst question here: How could I say `The
only thing I do when I`m not working is watch TV`. If I was to make a
guess in my aweful (but coming along) Japanese, Id say something like
`sigoto wo siteinai toki ni suru koto ha terebi wo miru gurai da. I`m
sure there`s a more natural way to say this, right?

7. Is choudai (in the sense of `give me please`)polite? For example
could a suborinate say `pen wo choudai` to his boss? could a waiter
used this word to a customer?

8. ike ni tuujiru michi = ike he no michi
tanaka-san-ate no tegami = tanaka-san he no tegami
kyouryuu ni kyoumi = ？ what could i say? kyouryuu ni no kyoumi is
obviously wrong... can i use he no again? `kyouryuu ni kan suru kyoumi`
maybe? also, are the above examples strange? How could I say
something like `My interest in computers is wanning`?

9. If someone calls `looking for someone`, for example `Person A
called looking for Person B` what word should i use here? personA ha
personBwo motomeru? tanomu?

10. finally, if something `runs out` can i just say naku naru? i
realize this question is lacking in context, but in general is this
strange sounding? at work, i wanted to say That the paper in the
printer had run out, so i used nakunaru, but i was seemingly laughed at
for the comment, heh. maybe it was the accent, or the rest of the
sentence or something, but is nakunaru ok in this sense? kami ga naku
natta= odd?

Thank you everyone

--Matt

.

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