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It seems strange to me that in Japanese the preferable question is どういう意味
while in English we ask "what is its meaning", rather than, "how do you say
it's meaning." Although you can ask 何とかの意味は何、 can you say 何とかはどういう意味？ This
statement of making meanings how's and not what's is difficult for me to
understand. Any suggestions?
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2013-07-14T07:54:22.123
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2013-07-14T15:28:46.413
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etymology
Usage of どういう意味
Some examples.

> _friend 1_ : ねぇねぇ、天真爛漫ってどういう意味？  
>  what is '天真爛漫' meaning.
>
> _friend 1_ : ～Hard to understand explanation～  
>  _friend 2_ : え？つまりどういう意味？  
>  like a 'What did you say?'.
>
> _friend 1_ : 大丈夫、君なら女だと気づかれずに通り抜けられる。  
>  _friend 2_ : ちょっと、それどういう意味？  
>  What do you mean?

I usually use this word in situations of 'ask something's meaning.', 'tell me
again, more simply.' or 'ask for an explanation.'.
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2013-07-14T14:04:33.450
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2013-07-14T14:04:33.450
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こういう、そういう、ああいう and どういう are pretty much fixed constructions with meanings
similar to こんな、そんな、あんな and どんな. They're not limited to 意味. For example, you
can say

> どういう家に住んでるの？  
>  What kind of house do you live in?
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2013-07-14T15:28:46.413
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2013-07-14T15:28:46.413
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