^
1. There's no particular rule for that. In your example, most of the readings would be せつ. You just need to memorize those read as ぜつ　(very rare)

2. Its impossible to spell gaksei in Japanese. Some people just talk fast

3. Yes, you need to remember those

2 <- when write its gakusei but when speak it oni pronounce as gakksei but its not always the case though..

does anyone know about japanese language schools in japan? like a short term course or something similar? I was trying to look for one but maybe some people here might know. maybe 1 to 3 months intensive course? dont really mind which area as long as it is affordable.
thanks!

There are rules to this, actually (Japanese grammar and historical language references through Wikipedia cited). But the most well-known case for this would be revolving around the number 100 (百, ひゃく, hyaku). But once you get to 300, it's 三百(さんびゃく, sanbyaku). As far as I could read, this is because of the Old Japanese grammar and phonology, where the mix of particular vowels and voiceless consonants would produce different alternations. In layman's terms, this means that adding certain words together produces a different sound.

Related Sources:
Yahoo! Answers - 300
Yahoo Answers - Brief Explanations On Japanese Grammar And Language
Tae Kim's Guide To Japanese Grammar

Isn't this also applicable to the characters "す" (su) and "つ" (tsu)? I'm just curious. A couple of sources actually attributed the silent 'u' in all those to dialect, but I don't really understand why in some of the dialects, they tend to emphasize on the 'u' instead. Could anyone please clarify? Still learning the ropes on essential grammar and vocabulary here. @_@"

There's one pretty good Japanese language center that's been recommended to me by a couple of friends who went there to study. It's called the Nihongo Center, based in Kyoto. But the price for studying there is pretty steep. For the quickest (and cheapest) 10-week course, it costs ¥210,000 (not inclusive of air fare), which brings it to around RM7,800 (already considered to be cheap by some).

Regards,
Gat

This post has been edited by Gatenka: Mar 8 2011, 01:53 PM

2011 JLPT July registration has ended.

This post has been edited by Cw_Huan89: Apr 27 2011, 05:41 PM

Haha... I forgot my Japanese lessons.
So I have to start anew.....

This is known as 連濁(れんだく, rendaku). See the links to wikipedia I've put on both words (1st one leads to ja.wikipedia, the other en.wikipedia). If you've got 語感(ごかん, gokan, en: language instincts), you'll automatically get used to the rules of pronunciation. Otherwise, you may have to check the dictionary everytime you come across new words.
This is the 母音の無声化(ぼおんのむせいか, bo-on no museika, en: devoicing of vowel), which, in Japanese, usually occur on い行 and う行 letters (letters with i and u sounds). For example, でした is usually pronounced as "deshta" as opposed to "deshita".
You're right about certain dialects not having this rule: ja.wikipedia.org article on 母音 states that in dialects of region ranging from Chūbu to Chūgoku, sometimes devoicing does not occur. Strange, since I've almost always hear devoicing in Kinki region (which is between the above two regions).

子供たちが大きくなると、教育費や食費など。。。。。。。。。。

the と in the end of the first part of the sentence has what function?

I think this　と　have the meaning of "By" or "once" in english?

春が来ると花が咲く

should be "IF"

がくせい is formally and properly pronounced as "gaksei".
く contracts to "k" when it preceeds さ,　し,　す,　せ,　そ.

Other examples include
沢山　たくさん
落選　らくせん
嫡子　ちゃくし
奥さん　おくさん etc etc...

This post has been edited by nazo: Jul 20 2011, 10:35 AM

thanks a lot
Any sos of this rule?

I got another problem is for 家
when to pronouse いえ and when to pronouce うち?

その家は全焼した　（いえ）
家の庭は。。。　（うち）

How to know which to prononce? Any rule?

Can anyone intro a good forum/place to get help on japanese language learning?

This post has been edited by popcorn513: Jul 20 2011, 11:21 AM

having trouble with kanji allll the time...lolz..since i dunno chinese characters..lolz.. any good way to remember them?

Just to share with everyone intend to take JLPT

Registration for december will be start on 15th August 2011-11th September 2011.

Appended details below for your attention:

a. On-Line Registration: www.jlsm.org

b. Exam Date/Day: 4 December 2011, Sunday

c. Test Fees:
N1 - RM120.00
N2 - RM120.00
N3 - RM100.00
N4 - RM 80.00
N5 - RM 80.00


d. Test Administrators:

Kuala Lumpur
The Japanese Language Society of Malaysia (www.jlsm.org)
jlsm.enquiries@gmail.com / (03) 6259 7180/ 8180

Penang
Penang Japanese Language Society (www.pjls.org)
casee343@yahoo.co.jp / (04) 226 5908 or 010-399 1903

Ipoh
Perak Malaysian Japanese Friendship Society
pkmjfs@yahoo.ca / (05) 253 7530

Kota Kinabalu
Pusat Penataran Ilmu dan Bahasa

Universiti Malaysia Sabah
oike_ums@yahoo.co.jp / (088) 320 000 ext 5078

* Johor Bahru - New Test Site
Johor Bahru
Language Academy (www.language-academy.utm.my)
Universiti Teknologi Malaysia
jlpt@utm.my / (07) 553 3135

Can someone advice how to improve listening skills? I have problem on this

Borrow thread, I'm selling my JLPT books, refer my link below


http://forum.lowyat.net/topic/2022754

This post has been edited by popcorn513: Sep 6 2011, 12:34 AM

hi,just wondering...if i buy minna no nihongo bk1 n bk2...which level of jlpt can i take after study finish both book~?

I suppose N5 and N4

o ya...i nv actually c the book b4 but a lot of ppl recommend them...the content of the book is in japanese only or does it explain also?
ok...i found this 4 book in kinokuniya...which 1 should i buy?

1. Minna No Nihongo Intermediate Level 1 Translation & Grammatical Notes English Ver.( )

2. Minna No Nihongo Bk. 2 Translation and Grammatical Notes( )

3. Minna no Nihongo Bk. 2( )

4. Minna no Nihongo Bk. 1( )


This post has been edited by chinti: Sep 7 2011, 06:00 PM

Minna No Nihongo Bk1 - JLPT N5
Minna No Nihongo Bk2 - JLPT N4

Just buy all my these books from me so you can direct go to JLPT N3

This post has been edited by popcorn513: Sep 7 2011, 07:07 PM