View Single Post
(#714 (permalink))
Old
masaegu's Avatar
masaegu (Offline)
永遠の愛
 
Posts: 2,573
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Central Tokyo
05-08-2011, 02:57 PM

Quote:
Originally Posted by Vinnythefox View Post
Once again I cannot understand the difference between these, sorry to bother you.

物静かな性格
or
静かな性格

I can only venture a guess that 物静か is a noun and 静か isn't a noun. I still can't see the difference between the meaning of the na-adjective form. Since 物静か has the kanji 物 on the front, I can only guess that it is as silent as an object.. but that is a far-fetched assumption.
Both are na-adjectives.

The 物 part of 物静か has nothing to do with "object". It is a prefix meaning "somewhat" or "somehow". It is only used with limited words, such as 物静か、物寂しい、物悲しい、物めずらしい, etc.

The difference between 物静かな性格 and 静かな性格 is very subtle. I would say that the former was preferred among better writers/speakers. The former puts a little more emphasis on the "composed" part of the personality while the latter says one is plain "quiet".


Your Japanese proficiency shall be in direct proportion
to your true interest in the Japanese Mind.