http://www.englishforums.com/English/EslGeneralEnglishGrammar-Questions/Forum12.htmAsk your questions on grammar and get your sentence checked. We answer lots of different types of general English grammar questions here. <font color=red>DO NOT post paragraphs and compositions here. Post them in our <a href="http://www.englishforums.com/English/EssayReportCompositionWriting/Forum9.htm"><b>Essay, Report and Composition Writing Forum</b></a>.</font>enXMOD (Build: 3715.30106)http://www.englishforums.com/English/Barely/2/vdjgv/Post.htm#351729Fri, 22 May 2009 09:45:03 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:351729Dawnstorm0http://www.englishforums.com/English/Barely/2/vdjgv/Post.htm#351729http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-351729.xmlHi. From the perspective of a non-native speaker who's used to translate a lot (between German and English), I have a few things to add: While "somehow" and "barely" are not equivalents, neither semantic nor pragmatic, there are situations where cultural differences might make them look similar. For example: "How are you? I hear you lost your job." - "Thanks. I'll manage somehow." Notice that "somehow" hear does not mean "barely". It merely means that the speaker is not divulging any plans. S/he may not have any; s/he may be unwilling to share them. Taken English pragmatics, however, it is strongly implied that "managing" will not be easy. A perpetual optimist might talk out of conviction, but many people would use the phrase to relief...http://www.englishforums.com/English/Barely/vdjgv/post.htm#351695Mon, 22 Jun 2009 09:45:03 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:351695Marius Hancu1http://www.englishforums.com/English/Barely/vdjgv/post.htm#351695http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-351695.xmlAnother good synonym for "barely": "only just."http://www.englishforums.com/English/Barely/vdjgv/post.htm#351634Mon, 22 Jun 2009 09:45:03 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:351634Taka2http://www.englishforums.com/English/Barely/vdjgv/post.htm#351634http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-351634.xmlSo you used to speak Japanese. Great! Anyway, thank you, MH (not MM. Sorry, I was wrong)!http://www.englishforums.com/English/Barely/vdjgv/post.htm#351605Wed, 22 Jul 2009 09:45:03 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:351605Marius Hancu3http://www.englishforums.com/English/Barely/vdjgv/post.htm#351605http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-351605.xmlI lived two years in Tokyo (Kokubunji), some time ago. I've lost the language, unfortunately, lack of practice. There are many Japanese in Montreal "Just a touch" is also similar to "barely."http://www.englishforums.com/English/Barely/vdjgv/post.htm#351589Mon, 22 Jun 2009 09:45:03 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:351589Taka4http://www.englishforums.com/English/Barely/vdjgv/post.htm#351589http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-351589.xmlMarius Hancu wrote: My English-Japanese dictionary shows for barely : mukidashi ni, wazukani, karojite What a surprise! You have an English-Japanese dictionary. Are you Japanese? Or are you just interested in Japanese? Anyway, if you have some knowledge about Japanese, I tell you what the problem is. Many English-Japanse dictionaries show for 'barely': yatto, nantokashite. However, both Japanese words can be used not only as 'at the very limit of...' as you say, but also as 'somehow, in some way', which is the problem when it comes to translation. I think this is one of those cases where the direct translation doesn't really work.http://www.englishforums.com/English/Barely/vdjgv/post.htm#351576Mon, 22 Jun 2009 09:45:03 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:351576Marius Hancu5http://www.englishforums.com/English/Barely/vdjgv/post.htm#351576http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-351576.xmlI mentioned limit, because something which exists/performs/etc barely, it exists/performs/etc at the very limit of existing/performing, by the narrowest of margins: -------- barely Function: adverb Etymology:Middle English, from 1 bare + -ly 1 : by the narrowest margin &lt; barely escaped injury&gt; : lacking any excess : with nothing to spare : SCARCELY , HARDLY &lt; barely enough food to sustain life&gt; 2 : SCANTILY , MEAGERhttp://www.englishforums.com/English/Barely/vdjgv/post.htm#351573Tue, 22 Sep 2009 09:45:03 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:351573Taka6http://www.englishforums.com/English/Barely/vdjgv/post.htm#351573http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-351573.xmlGlad my intuiton was right; I didn't think it was the same either. Thank you both! (So GG, your interpretaion of 'barely' is the same as MM, something 'limited'?)http://www.englishforums.com/English/Barely/vdjgv/post.htm#351539Mon, 22 Jun 2009 09:45:03 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:351539Grammar Geek7http://www.englishforums.com/English/Barely/vdjgv/post.htm#351539http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-351539.xmlNo, it's not at all the same! At four or five, many children are incredibly articulate. They do not struggle to communicate, so to say that they "barely" express themselves is not accurate.http://www.englishforums.com/English/Barely/vdjgv/post.htm#351532Fri, 22 May 2009 09:45:03 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:351532Marius Hancu8http://www.englishforums.com/English/Barely/vdjgv/post.htm#351532http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-351532.xmlNo. we become able to express ourselves somehow means we can express ourselves in one manner or another, in some way we become able to barely express ourselves means we have a very limited/incipient capability in that sensehttp://www.englishforums.com/English/Barely/vdjgv/post.htmWed, 22 Jul 2009 09:45:03 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:351530Taka9http://www.englishforums.com/English/Barely/vdjgv/post.htmhttp://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-351530.xmlWe human beings begin to speak when we are about one year old. And when we become four or five years old, we become able to express ourselves somehow . As I've become a parent of a child and now watch him growing, I've come to think this is wonderful. Now, a student of mine used 'barely' instead of 'somehow' as: We human beings begin to speak when we are about one year old. And when we become four or five years old, we become able to barely express ourselves . As I've become a parent of a child and now watch him growing, I've come to think this is wonderful. Do you native speakes think that her composition has the same 'air' as the original with her 'barely'?