Let's learn Japanese

[Code001]

Yeah, exactly. I'm not trying to call you out or anything, btw. I just wanted to state some generalities that came to mind from your posts. I know because I went through pretty much everything you're going through. If you stick to it enough, you'll get to your end goal, but it's going to be years and years. It's a long commitment, and most don't make it past the first year or so. You'll hit these walls in your learning process, and it'll take a bit to overcome them. Just stick with it and keep chugging along. While it might not make a ton of sense right now, or you might keep forgetting certain things, keep practicing. It'll all come together eventually. I'm actually really big into proper English grammar, and that's helped me quite a bit when it came to certain aspects of Japanese grammar. Ironically, the better I got at Japanese, the harder it was for me to explain certain things to people because the meanings can be quite a bit deeper than what basic English can convey, and without proper understanding of the Japanese language, it can be a huge pain.

Also, very cool that you do have some teachers. I had to do everything on my own, and it sucked, lol. I can read novels, play video games, have detailed conversations and watch TV without any issues, so I think I've pretty much reached my end goal. I've gone through JLPT2 and JLPT1 workbooks without many issues, too. I still study every day, though. Then again, I still review English grammar points, but that's probably because I have no life.

[Legion]

Its a testament to your determination that you learnt everything by yourself.
Your attention to detail can probably get you a good job in translation if you are not already working in that field or using your Japanese for anything.

I need the help ^_^

I am not young anymore (Japanese is my third language - the other language I picked up by living in my mothers native country when I was young) and I cant drink caffeine so my memory is terrible and my focus is worse.

I think if I get to a good level and someone asks me to explain grammar Id have to reply like my GF - its difficult :)
I cant explain inflections, declinations, prepositions, etc etc even in English (mainly because I am too lazy to properly learn them ^^).

When/if I develop my Japanese well enough I'll be buying Jump magazine to get my weekly manga fix (though for some reason the english fansub comes out faster than the magazines) .

[GaijinPunch]

Living in Japan you can take the fast track though. If you show the same amount of dedication that you would in your home country, you'll learn at like a 3x rate. That will require you jumping off the cliff though . You need to take care of your own shit (in Japanese). It is daunting at first, and you will feel hugely inadequate for a while, but after a year you can be a comfortable level, and at the end of 2 years a decent conversational level. I think an hour of books daily, and an hour or so of some real life shit a day will take you places.

[Legion]

Living in Japan you can take the fast track though. If you show the same amount of dedication that you would in your home country, you'll learn at like a 3x rate. That will require you jumping off the cliff though . You need to take care of your own shit (in Japanese). It is daunting at first, and you will feel hugely inadequate for a while, but after a year you can be a comfortable level, and at the end of 2 years a decent conversational level. I think an hour of books daily, and an hour or so of some real life shit a day will take you places.

I didn't study anything in my home country and was not really studying hard neither here..so I kind of wasted a year and a half.

Now I am, in earnest - at least the Remember the Kanji is enjoyable for me.

[GaijinPunch]

Don't forget to learn how to talk though... nothing more painful than watching someone that can read and write but can't string a sentence together. We have the entire Japanese population that can do that for us.

[Code001]

Don't forget to learn how to talk though... nothing more painful than watching someone that can read and write but can't string a sentence together. We have the entire Japanese population that can do that for us.

Statement of the year right here.

[fireaza]

Guys, if you're trying to learn Hiragana, go download a phone app called "Dr. Moku's Hiragana Mnemonics". Seriously, I learned Hiragana in a few days, I'm shocked at how well it works! Now I kick ass at Hiragana Pixel Party :D

[GodofHardcore]

All you need to know is

O-tearai Wa doki ni Arimasu Ka

and if looking for a Japanese Booty call

Kimi to ecchi o shitai.

[ave]

Another valued posting by our most productive member! I don't even want to imagine that accent :P



"Kimmey to etchy oh sheetay?"

[GodofHardcore]

Blame the site I got the 2nd one from not me you grammar nazi

http://www.ghettocitiesclothing.com/languagehelp.html

[GaijinPunch]

Blame the site I got the 2nd one from not me you grammar nazi

http://www.ghettocitiesclothing.com/languagehelp.html

wow

[GodofHardcore]

Yes asking where the bathroom is, pretty much is the extent of my Japanese Knowledge that, How are you "O-genki desu ka" and Nice to meet you "Hajimimashite"

[XxHennersXx]

http://www.youtube.com/user/MissHann...?feature=watch

yes. I'm learning Japanese.

[GodofHardcore]

The weeaboo queen her self

[GaijinPunch]

Well bless her tits.

[HEX1GON]

wonder how she has so many views? I still just don't know how. /sarcasm.

[Shinebi]

that link's hilarious, will research this eve :p

[la-li-lu-le-lo]

I've been attempting to learn Japanese again, and I have some questions for you guys.

First, if you're telling your name to someone in Japanese (if you're a westerner), should you use your the pronunciation of your name as it would be written in katakana, or the actual pronunciation of your name?

Second: the Japanese book I'm studying says this about the word ano: "Ano indicates that you have some reservations about saying what you are going to say next. You may be worried about interrupting something someone is currently doing, or sounding rude and impolite for asking personal questions, for example."

I always thought that ano means "uh" or "um," more or less. I saw an interview with Katsuhiro Otomo where he was using the word ano almost every sentence. In fact, that seems to be rather common for interviews with anime directors. I'm sure that's not normal for everyday speech, but it seems to me like he wouldn't be using it that often or in that context if it means what my book says. "Uh" makes more sense, but I don't know.

[Code001]

First, if you're telling your name to someone in Japanese (if you're a westerner), should you use your the pronunciation of your name as it would be written in katakana, or the actual pronunciation of your name?

Personal choice. I think you're better off pronouncing it phonetically like the Japanese would because they're going to eventually resort to saying it that way anyway. Saves time and headache of having to explain it multiple times.

Second: the Japanese book I'm studying says this about the word ano: "Ano indicates that you have some reservations about saying what you are going to say next. You may be worried about interrupting something someone is currently doing, or sounding rude and impolite for asking personal questions, for example."

I always thought that ano means "uh" or "um," more or less. I saw an interview with Katsuhiro Otomo where he was using the word ano almost every sentence. In fact, that seems to be rather common for interviews with anime directors. I'm sure that's not normal for everyday speech, but it seems to me like he wouldn't be using it that often or in that context if it means what my book says. "Uh" makes more sense, but I don't know.

Words have multiple meanings, even in English. This is random, but think of the word "degree." You can have a degree (ex: diploma of some sort), you can measure in increments of degrees (ex: it is 30 degrees C outside) , it can be used to describe the extent of something (ex: to what degree did that person perform?) and so on. Saying "ano" and "etto" are both used in every day speech, BTW. Both have the same meaning when used in the context of stalling or gathering your thought process, too.

[Legion]

OK here is my experience - I try to say my name phonetically and people repeat it that once. Then they say my name normally as I would normally say it.
It might depend on your name :)

I just wanted to quickly update on my heisig Kanji learning.
After 3 weeks I am up to 1000 Kanji!
And I have a 90% correct answer (no cheating) record on Anki with 2218/2450 correct answers
just under 1/3 of my target

This is also whilst trying to do a private Japanese lesson 2 days a week (with homework...generally a chapter of minna no nihongo 2) exercising, cooking my meals, and a full time job with occasional overtime + a bit of social life on weekend + gf.
I think my progress will slow down soon though as I have Tokyo Game Show to attend.....ちょっと　邪魔 けど。。。。
I am only on 6-7.5 hours sleep though..I could cut out the exercise and save a few hours