My Limited Journey Into Japanese

[MasonC2K]

For a long tie now I've wanted to learn Japanese. I know I am unlikely to ever go to Japan but I'd really like to be able to watch anime without the distraction of subtitles. I just didn't have the time and/or resources. I've picked up a bit just from watching anime. Thanks to DBZ I know a bunch of fruits, nuts, dairy products, and underwear.

Inuyasha helped a lot with with family descriptors. All have helped with some basic words.

I have also learned that like English, one word can mean different things depending on the context and there are a hundred ways to say the same thing. There also seems to be different dialects and accents just like there are in English. There seesm to be several ways to say "what?" and I don't really know why yet. Nani, nanda, nandato, nan deska....

Now I've found some free stuff online and I may at some point fork over some money for something. I can make the time if I want it bad enough.

At the very least now I can call someone a baka and them not be insulted.

[Don]

Fruits, nuts, dairy products and underwear, why would you need to learn anything else? You will be able to eat and have clean underwear on any trip to Japan now. You are set!

[Rocialhabit]

Just learn bathroom and you are set!

Actually I know what you mean. I use to work in guest relations for anime conventions and that meant I had to work with a lot of Japanese people. Some from bands, some voice actors, some who are artists you get the picture. And I had to learn a few phrases to work with them. Usually they would have a handler with them that would help with the talking but when there wasn't one I was responsible for them. I had to learn things like, "This way" "Through that door." General numbers so they would know the room keys. And as you said, one word can mean a 100 different things and I had to be careful in how I would say what little I knew.

[HypoLyf]

I'm the same... all the Japanese I've picked up is from watching anime. It's educational from a language standpoint as well as entertaining, plus the voice actors are usually better than those in the English dubs.

[satomi325]

I suggest watching subbed Japanese dramas and shows. They are very helpful for learning common speech, speech patterns, and vocabulary . Anime tends to be a lot of 'kid talk' and made up words.

Good luck with your lessons! Japanese is a great and fun language to learn.

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[HaikyFin]

I took Japanese in high school, so I can speak some sentences and understand what is basically meant by the most common phrases - and the attitude of the person saying them.

One reason there are many words for one thing is formality. The longer the word for something, generally the more polite it is - and opposite for a shorter word. "Nan desu ka" is more polite and formal than "nani" when asking "what?". "Ka" is basically the Japanese word for a question mark. Ha! And the many, many ways to say "you". "Anata", which is general and polite enough - to "Kimisama" which is asking for a fight. Honorifics are extremely interesting, too - "San", which is general ("Mr." or "Ms."), "Chan" which is somewhat cutesy and female, mostly used between girls and as a sign of affection from a boy (kind of a girlfriend thing), "Kun" - basically, the male form of "Chan", doesn't always have the same "boyfriend" meaning, "Sama" - more respectful, "Tono/Dono" - common in anime, translates to "Lord" and is basically the utmost respect. Not really used anymore.

I love this language - it is a TON of fun and easier, to me, than some others. Took Spanish and forget it - I am not a fan. Tried German and while I learned a bit, I didn't retain much and it's so...harsh. Japanese is flowy and, in my opinion, very easy on the ears. I'd love to get back into it but it isn't exactly a common language to go learning. It's gorgeous - and the culture is really interesting, I especially love their myths/folklore. Japanese scary stories are really, really creepy - they make American stories look like fairytales, sometimes.

Btw, InuYasha is an extremely harsh character. He speaks very vulgarly and very rudely. I have seen a few times in the anime where it appears that Kagome overreacts to something InuYasha has said and, for those who don't understand Japanese and only have a literal translation, it doesn't make sense. Trust me - there is usually a reason. Also, in Naruto - Naruto refers to Sakura as "Sakura-Chan" through the entire series. He has affection for her but it isn't returned. I asked my teacher about this and at the time, he didn't have time to explain it. Perhaps she tolerates it because she's close to him, although this wasn't the case in the beginning, so not sure.

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I suggest watching subbed Japanese dramas and shows. They are very helpful for learning common speech, speech patterns, and vocabulary . Anime tends to be a lot of 'kid talk' and made up words.

This, as well.

[Mft62485]

I remember www.realkana.com helped me memorize the hiragana and katakana, granted it's been a few years and I've forgotten A LOT.

[python_addict]

I took Japanese in high school, so I can speak some sentences and understand what is basically meant by the most common phrases - and the attitude of the person saying them.

One reason there are many words for one thing is formality. The longer the word for something, generally the more polite it is - and opposite for a shorter word. "Nan desu ka" is more polite and formal than "nani" when asking "what?". "Ka" is basically the Japanese word for a question mark. Ha! And the many, many ways to say "you". "Anata", which is general and polite enough - to "Kimisama" which is asking for a fight. Honorifics are extremely interesting, too - "San", which is general ("Mr." or "Ms."), "Chan" which is somewhat cutesy and female, mostly used between girls and as a sign of affection from a boy (kind of a girlfriend thing), "Kun" - basically, the male form of "Chan", doesn't always have the same "boyfriend" meaning, "Sama" - more respectful, "Tono/Dono" - common in anime, translates to "Lord" and is basically the utmost respect. Not really used anymore.

I love this language - it is a TON of fun and easier, to me, than some others. Took Spanish and forget it - I am not a fan. Tried German and while I learned a bit, I didn't retain much and it's so...harsh. Japanese is flowy and, in my opinion, very easy on the ears. I'd love to get back into it but it isn't exactly a common language to go learning. It's gorgeous - and the culture is really interesting, I especially love their myths/folklore. Japanese scary stories are really, really creepy - they make American stories look like fairytales, sometimes.

Btw, InuYasha is an extremely harsh character. He speaks very vulgarly and very rudely. I have seen a few times in the anime where it appears that Kagome overreacts to something InuYasha has said and, for those who don't understand Japanese and only have a literal translation, it doesn't make sense. Trust me - there is usually a reason. Also, in Naruto - Naruto refers to Sakura as "Sakura-Chan" through the entire series. He has affection for her but it isn't returned. I asked my teacher about this and at the time, he didn't have time to explain it. Perhaps she tolerates it because she's close to him, although this wasn't the case in the beginning, so not sure.

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This, as well.

lol I just taught myself phrases I never actually knew all that haha

[MasonC2K]

I know Inuyasha is crass and rude. Lot's of anime characters are.

Right now I am having trouble with particles because there's no counter in English. I've gotten the SOV order down though. I really don't care about the Kanji yet. I just want to learn to speak and understand verbally first. I mean that's how we learn our native language. Children learn to speak months or years before writing.

I do find it funny that the most common words I hear are the previously mentioned variations of "what" as well as:

Mate (and variations): Stop!
Baka: Stupid/idiot/jerk...
Soka: I see.
Watashi: I
Hentai: Pervert. I think it also can mean pron.

I also love the Japanified English words. It's like they take the English words and draw out some syllables while dropping other. Like Buruma for Bloomer and Supa for Super.

Hopefully I'll be able to commit to this.

[satomi325]

But kids also learn their alphabet before writing too. It will help with the pronunciation of certain words.
When attending a formal class, they teach Hiiragana and Katakana first.
Kanji comes way later.

By learning the alphabet, you can distinguish words like Yuki vs Yuuki. Look similar in Romanji and kana but with totally different meanings. To the untrained ear, it could sound similar too, but there is a difference. If they were written in Kanji, its obvious which is which as both have their own unique character.

Also, men tend to use 'Boku' instead of 'watashi' when referring to themselves. Mostly kids and women use watashi, but formal classes do teach primarily 'watashi'.

If you want to watch anime to help learn, The Prince of Tennis is THE best to pick up words and basic/everyday vocab.
They literally repeat the same type of words in every episode.

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