maybe it’s another Duolingo bullshit they push upon us or maybe a typical thing in Japanese? namely in phrases like けんさんは二年生ですか it could mean both “Is Ken a second year student?” and (according to duolingo) “are you a second year studentsophomore, Ken?” how do i know if it’s directly addressing the person? which is which?

  • muhyb@programming.dev
    9·
    1 month ago

    If you are talking to someone asking about Ken, it’s the first. If you are talking to Ken, it’s the second.

    • 1Fuji2Taka3Nasubi@lemmy.zipEnglish
      3·
      1 month ago

      If you are Ken, you have amnesia.

      (Yes, it is possible to refer to oneself by name, but it would be quite awkward / weird if one do it in real life.)