Difference between 予定 and 計画

予定: Schedule; something that is decided in advance; what you think of doing whether you do or not.

計画: Plan; design; image you built concretely for action.

明日その計画を発表する予定だ。
I am scheduled to announced the plan tomorrow. (I am going to announce the plan tomorrow)

計画がだいなしになる: A plan comes to nothing
計画をねる: Consider a plan
計画的はんこう: Deliberate attack


予定どおりに着く: Arrive on time
しゅっさん予定日: Expected due date

Source: http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20081127024654AAYkPuW

Some Phrases

What did you say?
何と言ったのですか。

Could you please repeat that?
もう一度言ってもらえますか。

Could you speak more slowly?
もう少しゆっくり話してもらえますか。

I don't understand what you said.
あなたの言ったことが分からない。

Source:
http://japanese-phrases.sakura.ne.jp/page16j.html

How to say 'I don't understand what you said'

Sorry, I don't understand what you just said. 
すみません、なんと仰ったのか分かりません。

仰る is the honorific form of 言う



I don't understand what you're saying.
りかいできません。Or
あなたが言っているをしりません。


Casually,
What are you saying?
何言ってるの？

I can't understand what you're saying.
何言ってるのか分からない。

Source:

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=Avl0M2mKyRbAbfThxxEA7.Dsy6IX;_ylv=3?qid=20090216155007AAAwYz0

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20090211182718AA9abIC

けど

In many cases when けど is used at the end of sentence, the original meaning "but" fades away, and it simply functions as a softener to avoid an abrupt remark.

野球が好きですか。Do you like baseball?
はい、好きですけど。Yes, I like it.

When making a phone call and identifying yourself, "kedo" is often used as a softener.
田中ですけど。This is Tanaka.

Source: http://japanese.about.com/blqow1.htm

Levels of politeness with どう

どうする？- What will you do? (Lit. How do?)
どうしますか？Regular polite
どうされますか？Passive polite
どうんさいますか？Honorific
どうなさいますでしょうか？Honorific + a lesser degree of certainty.

Source: http://www.guidetojapanese.org/learn/grammar/causepass

的

的＝-ic; -li; -al; -like; -ish; -ly

How to use 的
E.g.一般=general, 一般的=generally

So: different ways to use 的
一般的な意見です。（的＋な＋Noun）
It is a generally held opinion.

一般的に普及しています。（的＋に＋Sentence）
It is in general use.

一般的です。（的＋です）
It is general.


Some vocabulary involving 的
主観的（しゅかんてき）- Subjective(ly)
客観的（きゃっかんてき）- objective(ly)
合理的（ごうりてき）- rational(ly)
効果的（こうかてき）- effective(ly)
全体的（ぜんたいてき）- whole(lly)
否定的（ひていてき）- negative(ly)
肯定的（こうていてき）- affirmative(ly)
平均的（へいきんてき）- (on) average
専門的（せんもんてき）- specialized (professionally)
伝統的（でんとうてき）- traditional(ly)
論理的（ろんりてき）- logical(ly)
社会的（しゃかいてき）- social (ly)
精神的（せいしんてき）- spiritual (ly) / mental (ly)
封建的（ほうけんてき）- conservative (ly) / feudalistic (ally)
協力的（きょうりょくてき）- cooperative (ly)
画一的（かくいつてき）- stereotypical (ly)

Source: Pera Pera Penguin Vol. 7

Informal: ～そうです．

～そうです(I heard that~)

そうです→って

小林さんが新しいステレオを買ったんだって。
I heard Kobayashi bought a new stereo.

Special usage of 思う and たい

私は作家になりたいです。＝　私は作家になりたいと思います。
I want/I'd like to become an author. (Does not translate to 'I think I want to become an author')

Informal speech ～と言って

Informal form of ～と言って is just って

智子さんは来年、海外に行くんだって。
Tomoko said that she's going overseas next year.

Further reading: http://www.guidetojapanese.org/quotation.html

Informal speech of てしまう

てしまう→ちゃう
でしまう→じゃう

とか

To break uncomfortable silences while you are searching for words, use とか as filler as follows:

～とか．．．～とか．．．

Example:
友だち：どんな食べ物が好きですか？
Poleさん：えーっと…さかなとか…肉とか…です。Let's see...I like fish...meat...and so on.

As seen from the example, also used to list several items. This is similar to や～など。

Source: Pera Pera Penguin Vol. 7

Difference between なんか、なんて、など

なんて and なんと／など are completely separate from なんか.
なんて is the formal way of expressing yourself. It's almost like a prefix in English (except for the part that it's not thrown in front of a word, but instead it's just put in front of a sentence).
So you could say:
きれいな 女の人 だろうね
That's a beautiful girl.
If you throw in なんて, you only stress the meaning of what you are saying.
So
なんてきれいな女の人だろうね
What a beautiful girl she is!
The meaning is the same; all you've done is stress what you're saying.

That said, you can also throw なんて in the middle of a sentence.
トムがおばけのことなんてしんじられない
Tom doesn't believe in ghosts.
I'd like to note that you are being emphatic when you say this though. Much more so than had you left なんてout.

If なんて is at the beginning of the sentence, you can use なんと instead.
If it comes in the middle of the sentence, you can replace it with など. Simple as that.
Just note, that なんと and など are more familiar, so should only be used in casual situations.

なんか: That is the word that is similar to  "like". That's the word you throw in when you're trying to think of what you're going to say.
Example:
なんか、どうしよう？どこ行くだろう？あのさあ、なんか、この町のおいしいところはどこだろう？
Like, what should I do? Where should I go? Excuse me, but umm... where can I go for some good food around here?"
なんか is basically used for "like" or "umm" as we would English, and I don't think I need to explain to you that it's very informal.


Source: http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20100424195808AAGfq7F

ではありません

ではありません is a polite version of じゃない, which is the plain negation of BOTH ある and いる. When you negate in plain form, you don't make a distinction between animate and inanimate.
ではありません is a stock phrase used regardless of the living status of what it describes.

Source: http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=As79K9A1AsPCbB2hT9BiQWjq1KIX;_ylv=3?qid=20110605101603AAgM4x4

Difference between 持っている and ある

持っている - to hold, carry or have
ある - something is there or present.

Main difference between 持っている and ある: (when used as "have")
持っている is transitive (it can take an object)
ある is intransitive (it cannot take an object, the object being "had" is the subject).

Example:
ぼくは本がある.
I have a book (using subject + ga + aru).

ぼくが本を持っている.
I have a book (using object + wo + motte iru).

If you want to specify that the book is not with you, you're going to have to add another part to the sentence saying so. Like for example:
本がある。たぶんかばんにあるでしょう。
I have a book with me, maybe in my bookbag.



You can say 本がある or 本を持っている for saying you have a book but not with you.
You can only say 本を持っている if you have a book and you are currently carrying it.

Usually though, in conversation, you don't just say this. I can't remember anytime when someone has asked me, "Do you have the book?" without just wanting a simple "Yes, I have it with me right now" or "No, but I do own it" and it's all obvious by context.

Teacher: (You need a book for class) Do you have the book?
Me: Yes, it's right here.
Me: No, it's at home.

You wouldn't say, "Yep, I have it" when you don't have it currently with you without clarifying. Like "Yeah, I have it, but now with me right now."
Same for Japanese.


Source: http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20081203203119AADtIoq

どうする

どうする？
What should I do?
What will I do?

どうするの？
What are you going to do?

Source:　http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20100804201600AA16o4K
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AuJ08l7kQs8ULa1zNggFugIjzKIX;_ylv=3?qid=20120117173000AANaM74

How do you say "I give up?"

give up:
もう止める（もうやめる）
もう参った（もうまいった）
降参（こうさん）
諦める（あきらめる）

When to use different forms of saying 'give up':

I give up (もう止めた,もう待った, 降参)
give up smoking. (止める)
give up the ideas (諦める, すてる)
give up trying to help him (諦める)
give up the presidency (ゆずる)
give oneself up to the police (自首（じしゅ）する)
its too early to give up (あきらめる)

Source: http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080207060222AAY9mBH

When to use 母、父、お父さん、お母さん

父 and 母 - When introducing your parents to someone else.

John: あの方だれ？
Bob:あっ、父です。


お父さん and お母さん - When introducing someone else's parents to someone else, or when you talk to your parents.

John:そして田中のお父さんです。

山田:お父さん！どうしてビデオゲームをできないの？全部で宿題をしてしまったんだよ！

When to use other family terms:

Talking about them:
父（ちち）、母（はは）、兄（あに）、姉（あね）、弟(おとうと）、妹（いもうと）、祖母(そぼ）、祖父(そふ）、いとこ。

Calling them, talking to them, or talking about other people's family:
お父さん（おとうさん）、お母さん（おかあさん）、お兄さん(おにいさん）、お姉さん（おねえさん）、弟さん(おとうとさん）、妹さん（いもうとさん）、おばあさん、おじさん、いとこさん、ごりょうしん

Source:http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080603180324AAzm1ZB
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20100924181747AAovYYE

Difference between する and やる

ゲームをやる。Do game.〇
ゲームをやる。Do game.〇

想像する。Imagine.〇
想像やる。Imagine.×

やる means 'to do' only as a physical action. So while its okay to say やる for doing a game, you can't use it with mental processes since they don't involve any physical movement.


やる can also be used as a way to give things or do something for somebody while looking down at that person.する does not have this property.
Example:
お前にこれをやるよ。I give you this. (looking down)
ぜったいに勝ってやる！I'll win (beat you) for sure!

Source: http://www.guidetojapanese.org/blog/2005/04/21/difference-between-and/

ように

ように - In order to; so that.

ように is placed after a plain verb.

Examples:

分かるように、ゆっくり話してください。Speak slowly so I can understand you.
たくさんまちがえないように、よくかんがえてください。Please think carefully, so that you won't make a lot of mistakes.

Source: http://www.guidetolearnjapanese.com/2008/06/using-you-ni-to-say-in-order-to-in-japanese/

Difference between いつも ＆ いつでも

いつも (always)
いつでも(any time)

Examples
私はいつも家で晩ごはんを食べる。I always eat dinner at home.
田中さんはいつも電話しています。Mr. Tanaka is always talking on a phone.

いつでも家に来てください。Please come to my house any time.
私はいつでもどこでも寝られます。I can sleep anytime anywhere.


Source:http://www.yesjapan.com/YJ6/question/1418/what_is_the_difference_between_nanimo_and_nandemo

Difference between 何も、何でも、and 何か

何か - Something
何も（ない） - Nothing
何でも - Anything


何も is only used in a negative sentence and 何でも is used in a positive sentence.
Examples:
今日は何も食べた。I didn't eat anything today.
冷蔵庫に何もない。There is nothing in the refrigerator.（ない informal form of ありません. ある is the verb 'to exist', hence 'there is nothing'=何もない）
何もいない。I don't need anything.

何でも食べるよ！I'll eat anything/everything!
冷蔵庫に何でもありますよ。I have everything/many things in the fridge.
プルゼンとは何でもいいです。Any present will do. (Lit. As for presents, anything is good for me.)

Source:http://www.yesjapan.com/YJ6/question/1418/what_is_the_difference_between_nanimo_and_nandemo

Difference between ではない and でない

Short answer: they can be used interchangeably.ではない is more commonly used.

は has strong affinity for negative expressions, in other words the function of は referring to topic is almost neutralised, or at least weakened in negative sentences.

でない is just a negative, e.g. He's not Christian.
ではない is also negative, but implies something else. e.g. He's not Christian (but Buddhist (say)).

e.g. 私はりんごが好きではないが、（みかんは好きだ。）
私はりんごが好きでない。

Source: http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080328040511AARlO5j

Difference between ている and てある

Transitive Verbs: ～ている= ~ing
                          ～てある=Result of a previous action that has been done by someone.
The object is accompanied by が／は／を
e.g. ドアが開けてある (The door has been opened: Result of ドアを開ける)


Intransitive Verbs: ～ている= Result of a previous action now exists.
e.g. ドアが開いている(The door is open: Result of ドアが開く)
This merely describes the fact - describing something that is a state brought about by an unidentified individual or natural force.

Source: University notes

Transitive and Intransitive I

Transitive verbs: These verbs are descriptions of actions that are being done by yourself. These are actions in which you have a direct hand in the result of the verb; the ones that you have a direct influence on.
e.g. 'I opened the door' is transitive, but 'the door opened' is intransitive.

Intransitive verbs: These are 'passive' verbs. These are actions that are done automatically, without your help. E.g. 'I woke up' is intransitive because it automatically happened, whereas
'I woke someone up' is transitive because you're doing the action.

General rules to help tell the difference between transitive and intransitive verbs.
Transitive: Usually end with える or  す sound.

Intransitive: Often end with ある、う or える sound.

Source: http://www.tofugu.com/2007/07/28/transitive-intransitive-confusing-yes/

Difference between 始まる and 始める: My first encounter with transitive and intransitive verbs.

授業が始まる。The class starts.
先生が授業を始める。The teacher starts the class.

始める is a transitive verb, and requires an object.
始まる is an intransitive verb, and normally requires the particle が before it. More detail on intransitive and transitive verbs later on.

Source: http://www.sljfaq.org/afaq/jitadoushi.html

Difference between ほしい and ～たい form

ほしい means to want/obtain an object. A noun normally precedes ほしい.
～たい means to feel-like/would-like a verb. This (obviously) modifies a verb.

While both phrases express a desire (usually the speaker's), who is to perform the desired action is dependent on which 'want' term is used.

In these examples, when the て form of a verb and ほしい are in the same sentence, the person performing the desired action is someone else.

Examples
ピザが食べたい。I want to eat pizza.
ピザがほしい。I want pizza.

車を買いたい。I want to buy a car.
車がほしい。I want a car.

あの新しいB'zのアルバム買いに行きたいな。I want to go buy that new B'z album.
あの新しいB'zのアルバムほしいな。I want that new B'z album.

それを食べたい。I want to eat that.
それを食べてほしい。I want you to eat that.


バスケがほしい。I want a basketball.
バスケを遊びたい。I want to play basketball.
バスケをパスしてほしい。I want you to pass the basketball.


バスケがほしい？Do you want a basketball?
バスケを遊びたい？Do you want to play basketball?
バスケをパスしてほしい？Do you want me to pass the basketball?


何をしたい？What do you want to do?
これを食べたい人はいる？Is there anybody who wants to eat this? (Note: relative clause: これをたべたい）


Source:
http://www.guidetojapanese.org/forum/viewtopic.php?pid=57224
http://www.anime-planet.com/forum/japanese-discussion/13016-i-want-ga-hoshi-versus-tai-form.html

なきゃ ＆ なくちゃ

These mean 'to have to do something' or 'must do something'.

When you want to say, 'I have to go now', you could translate it as
もう （私は）行かなくてはいけない。Or
もう （私は）行かなければならない。
These are rather formal, and in day to day conversations, these sentences would become:
もう行かなくちゃ。Or
もう行かなきゃ。

More examples
食べなきゃ（いけない）。I have to eat.
食べなくちゃ（いけない）。I have to eat.


When we use them:
With possible consequences:
勉強し「なくちゃ／なきゃ」試験に受からない。If I don't study, I will fail the exam.

Showing your determination:
ぜったいに勝たなくちゃ（いけない）or （だめだ）。I really have to win.

When you tell other people what to do:
もっと日本語の勉強しなくちゃ。You have to study Japanese more.

For the most part, なきゃ and なくちゃ, are interchangeable, but there is a slight difference. なきゃ is a bit stronger than なくちゃ. It we feel something has to be done urgently or we really feel obliged to do something  we tend to use なきゃ.


Similarly, てはいけないー＞ちゃいけない
ではいけないー＞じゃいけない


Source: http://www.maggiesensei.com/2010/11/20/%E3%80%9C%E3%81%AA%E3%81%8D%E3%82%83%EF%BC%86%E3%80%9C%E3%81%AA%E3%81%8F%E3%81%A1%E3%82%83-nakya-nakucha-suffixes/

Difference between 出る and 出かける.

出る-  describes the action of just getting out (e.g. out of a room or place). Can be used for both things and people. Dictionary definition: to go out, to exit, to leave, to depart, to get out (from).
Examples: 
部屋を出ろ。You must go out of the room.
外へ出たい。 I feel like going out.
太陽が出てきた。The sun came out.


出かける-  To go out, in the sense that you’re going out somewhere specific for a while (with the intention of returning, e.g. going shopping, meeting a friend, going out to the park, etc). Can only be used for people.
Examples:
彼は昼食に出かけた。He has gone out for lunch.
彼女は散歩に出かけた。She went out for a walk.
夕食に出かけませんか。How about going out for dinner?


Sources: 
http://malaysia.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20110604080422AApiQyd
http://www.japan-guide.com/forum/quereadisplay.html?0+38488
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20100723045920AAPi5uR
http://learn-japanese.livejournal.com/429023.html
http://jisho.org/sentences?jap=%E5%87%BA&eng=