No EZ way out. Gotta copy copy copy memorize. Just watch any Chinese school pupil, ouch! I sometimes do better remembering a whole phrase with hiragana, because the same kanji can be read differently in the next sentence. Sorry, shoganai, it's Nihongo.

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For learning any language, listening is very different from other skills, and you've just gotta do it first, and hit it hard. It is probably the MOST important skill because think of how humans learned language before the "technology" of writing. The grammar you find in anime (variety of everyday styles slang male-female) is not always what you find in books (polite public style for beginners).

Maybe try a small chunk of the anime at one time and keep repeating, sometimes with and sometimes without the romaji if you can get it. At your level, you may need a translation too. Don't be discouraged -- each particle has many more usages than you know, a few thousand vocab items are minimum, and there are over 100 kana forms -- you still need to work on it.

If you MUST use an anime approach, you can get one of those books that teach beginners via manga (likely RM$70-100).

Good luck, I know the struggle -- still doing it now!

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Mixture of both with kanji, but most katakana is ENGLISH! If you hear someone say it, you know, but the written word can be mysterious.

BTW: Many of my JPNS friends feel "jap" is offensive , like "chink or gook." Don't care about any other thread on LYN, but here, those interested in language and culture should know about this, OK?

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Both. The final -u is usually devoiced in normal rapid speech, meaning it is only air coming out without throat vibrations. However, for emphasis or special style, some people say it fully (but it does not sound like soo-oo-ooh). Like English "supreme" can be soo-preem,siu-preem, suh-preem or even ss-preem depending on how careful and how fast you are talking.

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This post has been edited by oneeleven: Oct 21 2007, 09:38 PM

なんで。。。 面倒臭いこれ。。。

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注意しなかったので、 これは親切でありたくないと思う

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OK exaggerated If you recognize French, German, etc words as well, life is easier around katakana.

"Tabako" is of Japanese origin?!?!

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Kinda unusual.

I'd suggest:

"sumimasen" for most general purposes, even thanks sometimes if you caused inconvenience

"gomen" etc if you bump into somebody

"gomen kudasai" to call staff in a shop or call outside a house

"shitsurei shimashita" if you caused serious problem or extra courteous to a superior or client

"shitsurei shimasu" if leaving or excusing self from business client or meeting


some more, "moshiwake" etc but too complicated!

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Be specific if you want to be helpful, onegaishimasu...

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Sorry if information overload for the original questioner.... but of course you realize Jpns is well, sorta DIFFERENT from most languages, ne?!?

@ xcess, TQ agree with you about everything. JIC questioner wants more... Sumimasen e.g. to pass other people when getting off train. Gomen (nasai) if packed and you bump into or step onto someone while doing so.

Sumimasen is usually first choice. If in doubt, sumimasen said sincerely slowly and more than one time is fine. When I used some other phrases all at once, concerned JP frenz asked which situation exactly I was apologizing for.

Again, sumimasen is enough for going home. You wouldn't go home halfway through a business meeting or formal reception unless it's an emergency, for which then you'd use shitsurei shimasu to the chairperson/host and an explanation.

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Small note: Some people say it when they meet someone for the first time on that day, even if it's at NIGHT!

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Can anyone explain the difference between the above and "shouganai" ?

TQ. 111.

Suggestion:

konorestoranno suteek wa yawaraka - kattari , kata - kattarisuru

Check i-Tunes store, some leads to best stuff ever.

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How about some real live conversation?

An elderly Japanese lady on a tight budget is hoping maybe a female language learner might spend a little time to shop for an MP3 player and help learn how to use it, including downloading, etc.

Meet in central KL for an hour at lunch first time, then one or two more short meetings later if useful. Please PM me if interested. Her request: "Must be someone patient with technologically challenged older people!"

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Who's around you listening? If co-workers, you must show respect, even at a party outside.

Sumimasen has wider uses too, some surprising ones like thank you. There are even higher formal ones, like shitsurei and moshiwake. Gomen useful for when physically causing trouble, like bumping into somebody.

Beginners -- books can't do it all. Different beginners books cover different combinations of grammar even. You also need a lot of listening. Don't forget this is the age of internet multimedia (hint hint).

There are plenty of opportunities to speak to real live Japanese here in Malaysia too. Many want to exchange practice English and local languages.

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Those are grammatical forms combined with politeness.

Monks and upper class people imported the Chinese millennia ago, from classical literature so the usages can be different. Actually even in modern Chinese, QING can shade towards sea green or pale turquoise blue.

It would be interesting to know if a non-speaker can actually just read without being able to pronounce anything, just remember the shape of a hiragana group like -nakattara after some known kanji, and understand the sentence. Japanese people read classical Chinese like that!

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Latest? When was it?

@ Arigatou gojaimasu~

Could do without the "happy ending" ;-0

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This post has been edited by oneeleven: Nov 19 2010, 12:24 AM

Japanese (non-teacher) seeking language exchange partner for simple conversation. Partner must have excellent command of standard English.

Likely arrangement, TT near LRT once a week, one hour each language, no payment. All negotiable.

Interested? Please PM me.

Two months, no takers for free conversation practice. What, nobody learning the real language here, just exams?!?

After working with this Japanese person for a while, I believe it would be acceptable to have a typical partner for English as long as they are not practicing broken sentences. I will meet for a few joint practices and help hand over. PM me!