Be right back!

I'll be back with your order.

vs.

I'll be right back with your order.

What's the difference between these two sentences? The first sentence is open-ended, meaning the person doesn't say WHEN they'll be back with your order. It could be 5 minutes later, it could be 5 hours later... you have no idea.

By using right you add EMPHASIS that the time will be short.

So you will often hear it when someone says they won't be long:

Be right with you in a sec!

meaning

I'll be with you in just a second.

She's coming over right now.

meaning

She is coming over at this moment.

So right now means without delay.

Do it right now.

meaning

Don't wait. Do it NOW.

One of the best uses of this is the expression.

Be Right Back

meaning

I'll be back very soon.

It is used so often that it became an acronym used in internet chat: BRB.

Have a nice weekend!

Phil

Sophisticated vs complicated

Hey everyone, for today's quick little lesson I'd like to ask you if you know the difference between these two adjectives?

complicated 複雑 (ふくざつ)

This generally has a NEGATIVE kind of feeling. It means something is too complex, it isn't simple and so is a little annoying. When talking about machines or tools, it means it isn't easy to use OR that it has many small moving parts working together (like and old-style clock's gears).

My job's too complicated.

Our relationship's complicated.

The new photocopier at my office's complicated. It always takes me 10 minutes to
make a simple photocopy!

sophisticated 貴やか (あてやか), 粋 (いき; すい)

This generally has a POSITIVE feeling. It means something is advanced or worldly. When talking about machines it means that it is the latest technology, really high tech. The Japanese translations I found seem to be used to talk about people but sophisticated in English is a bit broader and can also be used to talk about things.

Our electric cars are extremely sophisticated.

He's a sophisticated man.

Any questions? Have a nice week!

Phil

Time flies~!

Sorry guys, I meant to post again before now but time flies~!

Do you understand this idiom? It means time goes by quickly.

It is part of an idiom:

Time flies when you're having fun.

Whenever you are having a good time and enjoying yourself time seems to go by much more quickly. BUT when you're bored time seems to go by really slowly! Which sucks...

We use this saying when we want to explain why we lost track of time.
The short form, time flies, is used when talking about how time is moving quickly. It is neutral and doesn't mean you're having fun, just that time is passing by fast.

Wow! Time really flies! It's almost Christmas already, I really have to finish my Christmas shopping soon...

Have a nice weekend,

Phil

He's cheap. She's thrifty. My boss is stingy.

Today, we're going to talk about the differences between these three similar adjectives:

thrifty

This has a POSITIVE meaning. It means that someone is good at economizing money (economize in Japanese is: 節約 - せつやく).

When I was a kid, my parents were quite thrifty.

You need to be more thrifty! Stop wasting your money.

stingy

This has a NEGATIVE meaning. It is similar to the Japanese, けち.

Jim's a stingy jerk. He wouldn't even lend me 5$ when I forgot my wallet!

Stop being so stingy! Give me a bite of your cookie!

cheap

This can have a positive or negative meaning. When talking about a person it is usually negative:

John's so cheap!

When talking about a thing or place it can be POSITIVE or NEGATIVE.

Sukiya's cheap but tasty. (positive)

You should try the lunch special, it's pretty cheap. (positive)

Do you like my jacket? It's Chanel but I got it cheap because it was on sale! (positive)

A: What the?! My tablet broke!

B: Well, what do you expect for 60$. It was cheaply made. (negative)

A: Yeah, you're right. you get what you pay for.

You shouldn't buy cheap medicine, it's dangerous. (negative)

Have a nice weekend!

Phil

Go to home??? huh?

Hey everyone, a few years ago I posted on the difference between go and go to. You can find that link here. Today, I am going to talk about a when you should use:

go to + place

and

go + place

Usually, we use go to + SPECIFIC place, for example:

I want to go to Tokyo.

He went to Isetan.

Her parents are going to Mongolia next week.

Tom went to the post office.

I have to go to the bank today.

SOMETIMES, we just use go + place. We use this structure when the place ISN'T specific.

A: Have you been to Disney Sea?

B: Yeah, I went there 3 years ago.

--------------

Harry: Ted's never gone abroad.

Alice: What? Really? He seems so cosmopolitan.

Harry: Yeah, he's well-read. He's gonna go abroad this winter.

Alice: Good for him!

--------------

Mom: Kids, go outside and play.

later

Neighbour: What's that racket? Oh, it's just some kids playing outside.

--------------

Wow, it's late. Time to go home.

So when the place isn't specific like with there, outside, abroad, or home we DON'T use go to!

I am aiming for about 6 lessons this month. Have a nice week!

Phil