Hi guys, i've just finished my SPM and i'm planning to study japanese until June. I'm hoping to pass JLPT N4 in June. Currently i'm self studying using the books Genki I, II and A Dictionary Of Basic Japanese Grammar, will they be enough? I noticed that most people are using minna no nihongo as a beginner book, is it any better than Genki?

what's the difference between kawaru and kaeru? and i see there's three type of kanji for them, any difference between them? or they're the same?

I see, arigatou gozaimasu so there's no difference between which of the 3 kanji to use right?

wakata

Do you have a textbook? If you do i suggest you to just progress learning from it, reading out all the text and sentences and eventually u'll do fine. This is because textbooks usually have translations with them, teaching you the meaning of words as you progress and as you progress, u'll find that you are getting better at reading hiragana.

In my opinion, you don't have to go into the trouble finding hiragana to read because you don't know the meaning of words yet and it won't make any sense. The more efficient way is to go on learning from your textbook (knowing the meaning of words) and then read the text in the textbook.

If you're self studying, i suggest you get a japanese textbook (aint cheap) such as minna no nihongo or genki. Minna no Nihongo textbook comes with practises but you'll have to buy the translation book separately. Genki comes with translations in the book but the practise book has to be bought separately.

Here's how they look

Wont be out so soon, but probly end June or early July, taking what lvl?

Now I'm ashamed of myself edi Taking N4 only

What's the difference between 捕まるand掴まる？
Also, what's the difference between 捕まえるand 捕まる

Thanks. =)

The best japanese textbooks can only be found in Kinokuniya at top floor, KLCC. Note that the store is divided into three parts, the English books part, Japanese books part and Chinese books part. You should be going to the Japanese books part, Language section. For beginners, I would recommend Minna no Nihongo I (JLPT N5) and Minna no Nihongo II (JLPT N4). Genki I and Genki II are also not bad and covers roughly the same stuff as Minna no Nihongo. Note that for Genki series, the translations for the Japanese text comes together in the same textbook while for Minna no Nihongo, you have to buy the translation book separately.

And oh, the books are wrapped up in Kinokuniya, so if you want to flip thru them, bring them to the counter and ask them to open it for you.

I'm personally using Minna no Nihongo to study Japanese. Doesn't come cheap 100+ bucks per book, but great value and very efficient if you are self studying.

The process is tiring and sometimes we get bored, but i know that feeling when you realise that you actually start to understand Japanese more. =)

I'm the kind of person who gets distracted easily now and then. But I always get my passion back when i watch anime lol.

Anywhere around PJ area where we can practise our listening and speaking skills? I'm at N5 level only though.

book 2 is for N4, u need book 1 and basic kanji book. studying book 2 wont hurt either.

Kanji is seriously a lot more easier for us Chinese.

Oh, thanks for the info. Appreciate it. I didn't know that. But anyway I still write all the kanji Chinese-style.

Dafuq I missed it, was still unsure whether to take N5 or N4, I guess I'll have to take it this December lol. Maybe I'll take N3 if I can make it.

Can anyone explain this to me?

Literally, the sentence "明日は友達と買い物に行く約束があります" means "As for tomorrow, I have a date with my friends to go shopping". However, the Japanese words for I or "私" isn't mentioned in the sentence. I know it's okay, I remember reading something about it being "hidden", but if I were to slot the words in, can I write it as "明日は私が友達と買い物に行く約束があります"? Or should I just write it as "明日は私,友達と買い物に行く約束があります"?

Feel free to correct me. If you can, link me to a page which explains this in detail. I do get a bit confused with the sentences like above. A few more examples:

今年は日本へ行くことができる。
本は日曜日までに返さなければなりません。

Hope you get what I'm trying to say. The sentences leave out words such as I, You, He, She, and I'm asking how to slot them in. Thanks.

I know we can write it as what you have stated. But there's a slight difference in "私は明日友達と買い物に行く約束があります" and "明日は友達と買い物に行く約束があります". The most obvious difference is in the first example, "I" is the topic while in the second example, "Tomorrow" is the topic. And then there's a not so noticable difference in tone and nuance.

I'll try to give another example and maybe you'll see the difference.

"私は食堂で昼ごはんを食べる" means "I eat lunch at the canteen"

"昼ごはんは食堂で食べる" means "As for lunch, I eat it in the canteen.

There's a slight difference in tone, deshou?

What I'm trying to ask is, for the sentence "明日は友達と買い物に行く約束があります", if I want to keep "tomorrow" as the topic, how am I going to slot "I" into the sentence. Can I do it so by writing it as ""明日は私が友達と買い物に行く約束があります"? I know it's not necessary, but I just want to know lol.

And yeah, "この" is fine, makes the sentence more smooth.

This post has been edited by Flame Haze: Jun 28 2013, 04:05 PM

Alright, I get it. I wasn't trying to translate from English to Japanese, just wondering how to mention the pronouns in that form of sentences.

I thought JLPT had conversation included? Planning to take N4 this December, just finished Minna no Nihongo book I. I think I can finish book 2 in half a year.

Woah, that's a lot of ways to experience life in Japan. Meh, I'm just a 18 year old kid, planning to do an exchange programme to Japan when I'm in university. My dad's against me going to a Japan university, wants me to go to UK. And maybe I'll marry a Japanese shoujo in the future. Have plans to migrate to Japan after retiring (still long way to go), not to the city but probly somewhere in the countryside.

I got interested in Japanese, or Japan when I was in primary school. That time, I was listening to J-pop. Then when I went up to secondary school, I started watching animes. Eventually got real interested in Japan, did a bit of researching and found their culture amazing. Some Japan's culture I like include anime, their school system, flower arranging (kadou, or ikebana) and also kendou. Didn't have much time though, to study Japanese that time, was busy with school. Now I've just graduated from secondary school, and since I've some time, decided to take up Japanese. Currently supporting the animes I love by buying anime figures from Japan. Damn expensive though, cost me around 500~1k per month, but still can hold due to my scholarship.