Japanese Help Thread

[Stella]

はじめまして.
['hajimemashite' This is a greeting like 'Nice to meet you']

This is a Japanese Help Thread, for anyone learning Japanese or with interest in the language and culture.

Here we can discuss topics like:
- translations
- grammar
- culture
- job opportunities
- missions work with Japanese and Japanese culture

Feel free to post any questions or comments in this thread, or directly PM me.

I grew up in Japan, am bilingual, and have a BA, undergraduate degree in Japanese Studies.
Over the past 7 years I have worked as a translator, as well as taught Japanese at the college level and private lesson, and have taught English as a Second Language to Japanese natives.

どうぞよろしく
['Douzo yoroshiku' Ending greeting when first meeting someone. Means = I look forward to our friendship]

I hope this thread is helpful for you,
Stella

[AnimeGirl]

Thanks for starting a thread like this! I really need it since I'm learning all by myself XD!!

Let's see....questions....

How do you say "Happy Sabbath" if you know? I was told it was "Ansokubi Omedetou" I think, but I like to be certain before I use it and look like an idiot XD.

[Lynna]

Huzzah!!! Arigatougozaimasu!
Ummm...I'm having trouble memorizing vocabulary...there's just so much....
especially dates....today is ni sen juu nen, Ku gatsu, ni juu shichi nichi, getsuyoubi right?

[Mr. Rogers]

http://blog.jimrogers.me/tag/japanese

If anyone would like some great resources for learning Japanese, I have been writing a series on the topic. There are three articles so far with more to come.

[Hiryu]

Flash cards help with learning vocab or kana.

[Yuki-Anne]

Stella -
I currently live in Japan. I really can't think of anything to say except, thank you so much. I can't think of any questions right now, but rest assured, I'll be asking.

Also, one website that's been very helpful to me is smart.fm. It's by Japanese speakers for English speakers learning Japanese, and it was instrumental in helping my hiragana proficiency. It's completely free, and it's one of the only programs I've found that teaches reading as well as vocabulary.

That being said, Stella, I do think I'll have some grammar questions for you at some point in the future.

[Stella]

Wow everyone! I am so excited to see postings here already - and look forward to responding tomorrow morning!

It's been a LLLoooooNNNg day in my world, so 'oyasuminasai' for now!
[good night]

[Stella]

Here's a few notes for now:

1) Sabbath greeting
AnimeGirl, I am confirming your phrase with a colleague and will post as soon as I hear back from her

2) Memorizing vocab, kanji, etc
Getting a memorizing system for yourself is one of the KEYS to language learning.
Especially with Japanese.

As Hiryu mentioned, Flashcards are a great way.
- Physical flash cards
- Computerized flash cards (there are several sites)

One of my favorites, is studying with a friend or a small group.
Quizzing each other, keeps you on your toes.

There is also a Japanese 'Slap Card' card game.

One 'deck' of flash cards are placed on the floor. Everyone sits in a circle.

One person is the 'Caller'.
The card is called out, and whoever slaps it first gets it.
The one with the most cards 'Wins'.

Stay tuned for more posts ^u^

[Hiryu]

Is the card game like "Slap Jack", where you have to get a certain card, or does it not matter at all?

[Stella]

It is a 'slap' game because you SLAP the card that is called.
You are not matching cards together with other cards.

For example, let's use the Japanese alphabet.

Each card has a letter in Japanese written: A, I , U, E, O, KA, etc

The Japanese-side is face up.
The English-side is face down.

When the caller says "KA", then the first person who sees and slaps the KA card, wins that card.

[Hiryu]

Ah, I see.

I was wondering if anyone had any stories on any culture shock they experienced. Did you learn about Japanese culture before you went or not?

[Lilac#18]

[color="Plum"]How'd you say/write "Serene" or "Serenity?"[/color]

[Stella]

Culture Shock
----------------
Did everyone experience culture shock only in Japan?
How about when you returned home?

Yes, differences in culture can be quite shocking.
But often times, getting 're-acclimated' to life back home can be just as jarring.

What do you all think?

[Stella]

Serenity:

静けさ 【しずけさ】[shizukesa] (n) stillness; silence; hush; calm; serenity; (P)
冷静 【れいせい】[reisei] (adj-na,n) calm; composure; coolness; serenity; (P)
平静 【へいせい】[heisei] (adj-na,n) calm; serenity; tranquillity; tranquility; (P)

[Stella]

Serene:

明鏡止水 【めいきょうしすい】[meikyoushisui] (n) clear and serene (as a polished mirror and still water) 


天空海濶; 天空海闊 【てんくうかいかつ】[tenku ukaikatsu] (n) the open sky and the serene sea; as open as the sky and serene as the sea; magnanimous 


乙に澄ます 【おつにすます】[otsu ni sumasu] (exp,v5s) to affect a serene mood; affect a serious demeanor; to act prudishly; to assume an air of superiority 


真澄の空 【ますみのそら】[masumi no sora] (exp) perfectly clear and serene sky 


春日遅々; 春日遅遅 【しゅんじつちち】[shunjitsu chichi] (n) spring day being long and balmy; serene spring day 


失意泰然 【しついたいぜん】[shitsuitaizen] (adj-t,adv-to) (arch) keeping calm and collected at times of disappoinment; maintaining a serene state of mind in adversity 


澄み切る 【すみきる】[sumikiru] (v5r,vi) to be serene; (P) 


清澄 【せいちょう】[seichou] (adj-na,n) clear; serene; (P)

[Yuki-Anne]

Culture Shock
----------------
Did everyone experience culture shock only in Japan?
How about when you returned home?

Yes, differences in culture can be quite shocking.
But often times, getting 're-acclimated' to life back home can be just as jarring.

What do you all think?

I'm still kind of working through some of the stages of culture shock. I experienced the initial, "Oh, everything's so cool and different!" and then the, "Where's American food when I need it?" when I visited last year, but when I moved here this year, it became mostly an issue of becoming comfortable with my differentness. As a white person with fair hair, I really stand out in a crowd, especially where I am out in the country. And as a person who isn't particularly skinny, it's been hard for me to not compare myself to all of the super-skinny Japanese women around.

So while becoming comfortable in my own skin was a tricky deal in America, it's been even more of a roller coaster here.



Thanks for the stuff on serenity! It was fascinating to see the kanji. I noticed that first one on "serene," about being calm as cool, still water, incorporated the kanji for "stop" and "water." That's just kind of cool. I love that you posted the kanji, because it helps so much with understanding the thought processes that go into this language.

Do you know of any good resources for learning kanji radicals? I'm learning kanji, and I know a few of the radicals, but my textbooks are for Japanese elementary schoolers, so even if they do explain that stuff, it's hard for me to understand.

[Kaori]

@Stella: はじめまして！私の名前はかおりと申します。よろしくお願いします。

How do you say "Happy Sabbath" if you know? I was told it was "Ansokubi Omedetou" I think, but I like to be certain before I use it and look like an idiot XD.

That does, in fact, translate into “Happy Sabbath.â€

[Lynna]

Do you know of any good resources for learning kanji radicals? I'm learning kanji, and I know a few of the radicals, but my textbooks are for Japanese elementary schoolers, so even if they do explain that stuff, it's hard for me to understand.

I'm not sure how good this site is considered to be from a more knowlegable perspective, but before I thought it was really cool http://www.kanjisite.com/

[AnimeGirl]

[quote="Kaori (post: 1429022)"]@Stella: は]

Yeah, I was aware it wouldn't be known amongst non-Saturday goers XD!!! I should of asked the people at Japanese Church (the one I went to is the same denomination as I am) when I had the chance *sigh* I hope I get to go next time, but thanks for clarifying!!! I've always wanted to say "Happy Sabbath" in Japanese!

[Stella]

Sorry I wasn't able to help with the 'Happy Sabbath' - I never got confirmation from my friend

[Stella]

About the Kanji Question:
Are you looking for reading or writing radicals?

My absolute favorite kanji website is Jim Breen's JDIC.
http://www.csse.monash.edu.au/~jwb/cgi-bin/wwwjdic.cgi?1C

Having a website compilation version of ALL kanji dictionaries, makes life SO much easier.

It does take a little time to get use to the site.
So make sure to play around with it, and see how it works.

It is a MUST for any translator.

You can also google 'kanji stroke order' and find great sites to help with Stroke Order
http://www.yamasa.org/ocjs/kanjijiten/english/index.html
is an example

[Stella]

About.com as Kaori mentioned, is also helpful for kanji/radicals

[AnimeGirl]

Sorry I wasn't able to help with the 'Happy Sabbath' - I never got confirmation from my friend

It's OK; it's probably a hard term to try and find. For me, at church, this phrase is very common. I keep forgetting it's uncommon for everyone else XD!!! But thank you anyway!

I'll post more questions later!

[ABlipinTime]

Would you teach us some greetings and common sayings / words used in daily conversation?
Thanks!

[Rusty Claymore]

I was wondering if you knew what was the best place to learn about teaching english in Japan, or other such activities such as building projects and such.

@AnimeGirl: はぴ　さばす！！aka: hapi sabasu! >_< somehow I don't think that was quite what you were looking for... n.n

[Hiryu]

Check out the JET Programme, Rusty.

Would you teach us some greetings and common sayings / words used in daily conversation?
Thanks!

You mean like "Hello, How are you, Nice weather today,etc"? You can find that almost anywhere on the internet with Google.

[Kaori]

I was wondering if you knew what was the best place to learn about teaching english in Japan, or other such activities such as building projects and such.

Like Hiryu said, Jet Program is probably the most common route.

Or, if you are interested in teaching at a private Christian school in Japan rather than working as an ALT at a Japanese school, check out ACSI. There are two accredited Christian schools in Japan and a whole bunch of smaller, unaccredited ones.

[Mithrandir]

About the Kanji Question:
Are you looking for reading or writing radicals?

My absolute favorite kanji website is Jim Breen's JDIC.
http://www.csse.monash.edu.au/~jwb/cgi-bin/wwwjdic.cgi?1C

Having a website compilation version of ALL kanji dictionaries, makes life SO much easier.

It does take a little time to get use to the site.
So make sure to play around with it, and see how it works.

It is a MUST for any translator.

In case you're curious, there's an EXCELLENT iPhone app that's based of Jim Breen's JDIC out there. I use it all the time and it's absolutely spectacular!

[Stella]

I found this advertised on facebook

http://friends.nihongo.fm/public/home.jhtml;jsessionid=9830A34EA6C4FBB37D375925EC1154BA.wfn-web-5

It seems to be a 'free' location to meet up with people from different countries/languages to discuss travel or perhaps practice speaking?

Anyone know anything about it?

[Lilac#18]

[color="Plum"]How do you say/write "I like video games", "I'm bored" and "I want to get married"?[/color]