Learning Japanese

[raphaël]

Originally Posted by Thalarian

Hey everyone, first time posting.

I'm finally looking to bite the bullet and learn Japanese, then hopefully move on to written Japanese (Kanji, Kana, etc.)

Welcome Chris. Let me just tell you that'd be the biggest mistake you could do. Believe me, learn both at the same time, even if you feel like it's too hard or too slow sometimes, it's worth it. Yeah, trust me.
I studied Japanese at the university so I don't really know about self-learning, but sure thing is that's a language you can't learn phonetically, even though it sounds easy. For the english speaker I guess you are, It wouldn't be like learning Spanish, German, Italian or French.

I'm posting here because you sound motivated. Japanese is sure a great language, funny and rich as hell. I wish you good luck.

[Thalarian]

Originally Posted by raphaël

Welcome Chris. Let me just tell you that'd be the biggest mistake you could do. Believe me, learn both at the same time, even if you feel like it's too hard or too slow sometimes, it's worth it. Yeah, trust me.
I studied Japanese at the university so I don't really know about self-learning, but sure thing is that's a language you can't learn phonetically, even though it sounds easy. For the english speaker I guess you are, It wouldn't be like learning Spanish, German, Italian or French.

I'm posting here because you sound motivated. Japanese is sure a great language, funny and rich as hell. I wish you good luck.

Thanks, I am motivated, and like you said, I'm an English speaker. So any learning curves I may believe in, need to be bent in a different direction by those who know what they are talking about. Thus why I'm posting here.

The Genki books like rec'd by Quark sound like a good start also, as I believe they cover the wording, kanji, and vocab all at about one time. Keios' should also come in handy. I don't know alot of people who have self taught. (Don't know a lot of people who even speak Japanese, not really a high subject around here I guess. Quite a shame)

As far as language courses go, even if it might take longer, is self-teaching a lost cause? I'm sure the courses help, but I'm already attending college in S.F. and working full time, so obviously I don't have time to take courses in it. That's why I'm headed towards self teaching.

Especially since I have about an hour and a half window using the public transit to and from school. Probably can spare another two or so hours a day dedicated to it.

[samurai666]

Here is another great extension that will work well in conjuction with Moji. Moji works with Kanji, but rikaichan works with Kana, as well and unlike Moji it automatically highlights words, so no guess work is needed.

rikaichan

Japanese to English/German/French dictionary. Just hover the mouse on top of a word, and a popup appears. Automatically de-inflects verbs and adjectives. Detailed kanji view.

Download the dictionaries here.

[anyweather]

Hi I need some help with japanese word/pronounciation

I always hear "meh-sa-meh" or something like that in anime series. What does it mean? Does it mean resurrection / awakening / recovering?

Or does it mean something different? If so, what is the correct meaning and spelling of "meh-sa-meh"?

Thanks for anyone's help

[Keios]

That would be mezame (目覚め), which means waking. AFAIK.

[raphaël]

Yup. Like "kyô mezameta toki" = When I woke up this morning.
For instance you find the same root in "mezamashi dokei" (alarm clock) too.

[doink-chan]

Yeah, 目覚める（めざめる, mezameru) means "to wake up" (as in to wake up from sleeping).

おい、目覚めよ！（おい、めざめよ！, Oi, mezame yo!) = Hey, wake up!

[Evan]

This is an interesting thread.

I kinda need some help in trnaslation of japanese words.I'll be greatful if anyone is kind enough to translate what the words means in this pic .



Thanks in advance

[Shini_GamI]

i thought "oki" means waking up..... or is ther another word for waking up too?

[Keios]

Both 目覚める (mezameru) and 起きる (okiru) mean 'to wake up', but the latter has other meanings as well.

[PoisonedV]

I thought this was pretty related to Anime since most anime is originally in Japanese. And comes from... Japan. Some from Korea. Haven't seen any from china. So eh my question is... How can I learn japanese? internet? Books? EH? EH?!

[Keios]

There's already a Learning Japanese -thread on General Chat.

[PoisonedV]

oh my god i was a weeaboo

[Himeyotsu]

Originally Posted by doink-chan

Yeah, 目覚める(めざめる, mezameru) means "to wake up" (as in to wake up from sleeping).

おい、目覚めよ!(おい、めざめよ!, Oi, mezame yo!) = Hey, wake up!

In ordinary conversation, 「おい、目覚めよ!」 is a little bit strange.

If you want to say "Hey, wake up!"
「ねぇ、起きて」"Ne^, okite"(for boys and girls, or wemen(shy men OK))
「ねぇ、起きてよ」"Ne^, okite-yo"(same as above)

「おい、起きろ!」"Oi, okiro!"(for men or boys. It sounds so　rough, intense, rude or impolite. If you want to say this, only for friends who are very close to you )
「おい、起きろよ」"Oi, okiro-yo"(a little calmer than above)

「あのー、起きて下さい」"ano^, okite kudasai"(for all, so so polite)
「ちょっと!、起きて下さい」"chotto! okite kudasai"(same as above)

[doink-chan]

Yeah, that's what I meant. ^^;;

「起きる」のほうがいいと思います。(^^)

[Shini_GamI]

anyone know how to say "no"? not "iie" but the one that sounded like "jigau"
should i say, more of a non-formal way of saying no... probably

[Cloudnine]

Originally Posted by Shini_GamI

anyone know how to say "no"? not "iie" but the one that sounded like "jigau"

I think you mean "chigau", pronounced chi (ち) - ga (が) - uu (う). It means 'wrong' or 'to differ' so it's used slightly different from 'no'.

[Shini_GamI]

Originally Posted by Cloudnine

I think you mean "chigau", pronounced chi (ち) - ga (が) - uu (う). It means 'wrong' or 'to differ' so it's used slightly different from 'no'.

Arigatoo, cloudnine-sama =D

[darklegion]

Originally Posted by samurai666

Here is another great extension that will work well in conjuction with Moji. Moji works with Kanji, but rikaichan works with Kana, as well and unlike Moji it automatically highlights words, so no guess work is needed.

rikaichan





Download the dictionaries here.

There's also PopJisyo for people who don't use firefox.Simply save the bookmarklets as bookmarks, and open the bookmark while on a page with japanese text.Under Opera I add the bookmarklets with a nickname and then I can type in the nickname in the address bar to translate the page.

[Hebby]

i was wondering what is the best technique to learn japanese, and also if any you guys fluent in it would like to give me some tips n maybe help me a lil?