I havent used Japanese since I left Tokyo.....slowly I am losing it. When I was in Japan, alot of people told me that to learn Japanese fast, you just find a Japanese girlfriend or boyfriend. . I know it works...

In microsoft office, there is also a possibility to check the phonetic of kanjis. Here is the link on how to do it.
https://thomasplagwitz.com/2012/02/21/how-t...n-ms-word-2010/
It was very useful during my university years especially while I was doing research and need to do presentation.

Yah wei saw your itinerary, nice my turn will be in Dec. So much to plan, but so little time. Saw the news yesterday - Tokyo experienced unexpected weather change. it was so cold - around 13 degrees. May slowly change back to normal the next few days.

Kino in Malaysia is expensive, thus buying from them is $$$$. Nais, which month are you planning to go?

You mean cheaper than Kino in Malaysia right? The books here is $ but i saw the yen price tag and IMO it's decent in Japan. Just need to find time among my itinerary to stop at bookstore for an hour or two.

Hahahaha yes i think for all those who study on their own, the biggest issue is procrastination. Even I have the same problem; I'll sometimes do my homework 1 day before class ...and I have to complete last semester's work.

いいえ、どういたしまして。がんばってね。

Thanks sacwoc!! That's very helpful! While I have a furigana app in my mobile, I've always wondered if there's a convenient way to read furigana on laptop awesome! Do share if you have any other tips or useful resources.

Ahhh you'll need to make some Japanese friends in Hong Kong

loll you'll need to stalk Chinti... not. Just visit Travel & Living section - Japan thread. A number of us knew each other from there

yea this year weather a bit bad, im kinda worry of all those unexpected weather as well.
hopefully everything will go as plan.
really looking forward to halloween party in Shibuya

yeap i mean cheaper than kino even after shipping. kino sell like 2x~3x the original price

in the japan travel thread

dun stalk me leh, i shy shy

huh? u met me before?
i met too many lowyat ppl d...cant keep track of all...

Yah lai lai, check out the T&L section. We've got good traffic and seniors who gives good advices and suggestions/ recommendations related to Japan travel.

It's alright! You know Tokyo pretty well, there won't be issues oh man, one day I'll make a trip in October! But as long as i'm working in my current job, it will be pretty impossible as Oct is peak. Important presentations/ budget and submission of reports etc time aih.

Really a lot cheaper ah? Aiyo... Kino is so expensive. I'll just get from Kino Japan. Honto.jp not bad leh, can get it in electronic copy at lower cost!!! But but but it's so hard to register for an account aih. It kept rejecting my password! Even when I use suggested password there's an issue -___-|| and then it said i didn't have an existing member ID (surely not, since it's a new registration). Will study it when i have more time.

u should make trip in nov actually, most autumn leaves forecast is in november or from late october.

yeap really a lot cheaper if u can wait n select the cheapest shipping method.
their electronic copy is good n they always got a lot of discount coupon code. they got their own apps for u to store ur electronic copy n read it from there.

I come from the JLPT era which means more than 15years ago! Not sure if my JLPT 2 is still valid. Two yearsago I took BJT (Business Japanese Test instead). My score at that time was about 550 with 800 being the full marks. You really have to be there, to rreally learn the language. When I was there, I tried to live in the community instead of out of it. I know a few Malaysians at that time who just stick to their own group and just do the bare minimum to get by.

Might take me some time. I'm always lazy about opening my laptop at home!

I did once - end Nov to early Dec. But it entered Winter so I didn't get to enjoy much of the autumn. Probably when I change job I'll get to take off in October. I've always wanted to visit autumn (peak)! Love it way more than Sakura season actually.

Eh got app ah? Okay later i go download. Maybe register through app is easier than website

Hahahahaha age or period is not a problem! I think JLPT has no "expiry" date right? ah... Business Japanese Test. Not sure, I guess it's a test on using work terms and all? Necessary when you have to meet clients/ suppliers. I asked my sensei the other day to clarify on the usage of 敬語 and he said organisations are divided into 外 and 内 whereby even if you're speaking to the receptionist of a supplier, it's still necessary to use Polite terms. So much confusion. Wanna ask - then when you dine in a restaurant, even if the person serving you is older than you - you'll use plain form? or polite form?

Normally if you talk to waiter or ppl you dont know, its better to use polite form or slightly more than plain. Like if you want water, you can ask　水ください。If you want to be more polte. 水お願いします。

yeap got apps, just search for Honto in Japan region store for both ios and android

For me i didnt even take n5 and n4, i just straight take n3 this july and passed with the score of 103 ... and i also didnt study because i use japanese everyday to communicate with japanese friends and watch raw anime. Im also thinking of taking N1 next year. [been studying japanese for the past 3 years]

Got it thank you. Will take the chance to speak more this Dec. Abit worrying but have to force myself to speak more.

Wokay! Thanks


Dang, wished you'd said you're in a rush loll

That's great, congratulations! From what everyone said, N1 is really tough. Will suggest you take N2 first and see how it goes, then only register for N1. Just a suggestion though.

Those that are just beginning to learn Japanese, can check out this series of games.

https://store.steampowered.com/bundle/7746/...urvive_Trilogy/


Learn Japanese to Survive, Hiragana Battle, Katakana war and Kanji Combat.

I played it all aside from self studying via Japanesepod 101. Helped me to memorize those scripts a lot, while keeping it kind of entertaining. Gamification.

Well, I knew about it but just don't want the hassle buying from online and ship as books are heavy when you buy a lot. Basically the extra $$$$ is including shipping costs, handling of delivery and the hassle to avoid customs checks.

Usually I bought online (Amazon.jp, Buyee.jp) or bidding from yahoo auction via buyee.jp for items that I cannot order in Malaysia.

Thinking of end of April till beginning of May 2019. I will be going alone to Tokyo. This will be my 2nd time going by myself. Quite fun when you travel alone except for theme parks. Itinerary wise, kind of repeating but will think of new places.

Whoa, very nice. I am considering backpacking alone too, but not sure if it's wise since it's my first time going overseas. Some more was adventurous , wanted to plan to go to the less urban areas.

For 1st timers, best is to go together with friends/family or either with Tour to familiar with the area.

I'm more on towards shopping kind of person. Hence Tokyo area will be ideal for me, eventhough hectic. I love to stay in Ikebukuro. It's really a nice place to stay. Easy access to find food, shopping, anime shops, Donki, Book off! And etc.

If want to visit cultural places, I rather go to Kansai area.

I never stay in backpackers before (don't fancy sharing bed bunking). Therefore I stay in a ryokan hotel (tatami) style. Which I have stayed for 3 times.

Out of 5 times I've been to Japan, 4 of it was solo trip including my first time.
Japan is one of the most solo/backpackers friendly country imo. But of course you have to do homework before the trip.
And I keep an eye of my budget tight (not much money), that's y I prefer to go solo.

For me going to Japan is never sightseeing, I go there usually for concerts or events, sightseeing is added value.

This post has been edited by fuji_apple: Sep 29 2018, 12:51 AM

To improve the listening skills in exam, can try listen NHK news everyday.
Its very helpful

Actually you are correct. Listening to news is better way to sharpen your listening skills.

Once in a while I have record live FB and post it up. Example of link below.
1.5 hrs of Japanese News on Typhoon No. 21

Recorded Live FB yesterday from TV Asahi.

Japanese Variety Show on traveling. Below is the link.
Click here

Oh really ...but Japanese meant it when they say "take your time" hahahahahahaha.

Agree on the shipping fees and all. If e-books can help just as much, I think I won't hesitate to buy them for the convenience; but anyway to each his/ her own.

Yet to do my solo to Japan. I think I'll prefer going on my own as I can wander around with having to worry about others or arrange the time. Safety side, there's really nothing much to worry about when it comes to Japan. It's only worrisome when more hands are needed - eg. a friend to help hold your bag for a while, or a company to look after the luggage while you run down or across to ask for help/ directions etc. And would be nice to have someone help take photos, vice versa.

Friends and I kept bumping into this Singaporean who was there for a backpacking trip. We first met him at Kawaguchiko station. Then we bumped into him in Asakusa, and once more in Yoyogi Park. And to think that Tokyo is big. So anyway we ended up having dinner with him and one last dinner before we go off. He said it was lonely. Although it's not bad but also boring as there's no one to talk to. He would get home and do his own stuff. In comparison, the few of us would get back to accommodation and turn on TV. We'll have snacks while laughing at the show. While the ryokan has no TV, we'll go for onsen. After onsen we'll go back to our room and have some snacks with tea (ryokan style places usually gives you a set of tea cups & pot) while chit chatting. It was very fun with them around. Doing a solo would be desirable yet seem a little empty sometimes, without people to chit chat. If it's not a city area/life, the places close early - easily around 5pm - so there's nothing much to do but to go back to the room.

Safety is not much of a concern, but more your familiarity with the place. If you don't know how the station works, which is which etc - i'll say go with someone first and get to know the transport system, way things works around there etc. In your 2nd or 3rd trip then only plan your solo. I've been to Japan a couple of times in recent years and I still get confused by their rail system sometimes.

Less urban areas you'll need to think more on the transportation - how to get there, where to get off/ transfer etc. Talking to the locals will require decent knowledge of Japanese as they do not speak English. Even in the city, one would think the station master in Shinjuku station (one of the biggest train station) will be able to speak some English, unfortunately that's not the case.

You can always visit the Japan thread in Travel & Living to ask for more info. Page 1 Post 1 has a lot of info on Japan, which could be useful for first time travelers. Take a look when you're planning a trip.

That's right. No matter how much home work I do, it's never enough. Things could change when you're there - a missed bus, a wrong timetable, a delay due to train accident etc.