"Just" in Japanese

[execute]

Hi guys, I wanted to know what is the equivalent of using the word "just", similar to the word "only", it implies something more. Here are some examples of what I'm trying to figure out.

"I was just wondering how much it costs."

For examply, you're impying " i want to know how much it costs, but i don't necessarily want to buy it", which is different to me than saying "How much does it cost?"

Is there a special way to say what I mean in japanese?

[jkid]

There seems to be many ways to express this in Japanese. While I can't comment specifically on how you would translate your example phrase into Japanese, I suggest you take a look at: http://eow.alc.co.jp/just+wondering/UTF-8/ just as a starting point.

[Belton]

It seems to be the sort of phrase that a literal translation won't work for, especially the word just (or only or merely).
In English what is being done is softening the request. "I was just wondering" does not actually mean you were wondering, it's a politeness/avoidence mechanism. An English set phrase to avoid asking for something directly.

In Japanese でしょうか？ might have a similar effect.

おいくらでしょうか？

but I'm not sure it's necessary (or if it's said, although it does appear in writing if Google is anything to go by), especially of a foreigner. すみませんが，これはいくらですか？seems perfectly acceptable I think.

To start to introduce nuance in a phrasing I think you'd need to approach it from Japanese rather than English.

[reboundstudent]

Kind of going along with the original post, can someone clarify 通り（に） for me? I've seen it translated as "just as" or "just," but I cannot figure out how it used in conversation, or even what form it follows (short form? Verb stem??) Thanks!

[mieth]

i think that in this case you could use tada which means that according to the seaker something does not go above a certain level. so maybe you might want to say something like

tada dore gurai suru kana to omotteiru

[jkid]

reboundstudent-san,
I will answer your question but please in the future create a new thread rather than using an existing thread to ask a question. Only because it makes it easier for people to find when searching the forum if they have a similar question and it also allows the thread opener to be able to focus on their question specifically. Thanks

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In regards to 通りに. it does mean "just" in the sense of "just as I do". 通りに is used in situations where one is to copy what they have seen or heard exactly.

There are a number of uses:

1. V1通りにV2 (Dictionary Form, た form or Nの)
"This means copy exactly in words or actions (V2) what one has heard seen read learnt etc (V1)."

僕がやるとおりにやってください。
Please do as I do

2. Nの通りにV
"This means that an action (V) is done in accordance with the manner shown by the preceding phrase."

線のとおりに紙を切ってください。
Please cut the paper following the line

** Examples and explanation taken from Minna no Nhongo II page 56.


Note: とおりに is not normally written in Kanji.