Learning Japanese

[mendokusa]

there aren't never girls using "boku".
there is the girl on my neighborhood,too.
and some people use some expression on situation.

but there isn't this right answer,female use "watashi" or "boku","-san"or "-kun".
It depend on oneself using that.

[Heturi]

so are you saying Boku an be used by girls if they desire to? does that make them sound like a boy when they say it? also, do boys say female words in daily conversation?

[LiberLibri]

Originally Posted by Heturi

so are you saying Boku an be used by girls if they desire to? does that make them sound like a boy when they say it?

Yes, in principle. Boku conveys a boyish nuance. However, some females prefer the first pronoun since they don't want to accept the girlishness the society forces them to. In this context, a girl using Boku is thought to be showing the protest against the suppression upon female sexuality, either consciously or unconsciously. Many boku-girls are depicted as hating to become adults and to have sexual relationships with boys.

Originally Posted by Heturi

also, do boys say female words in daily conversation?

Generally speaking, no.

[Haladflire65]

Girls also don't use 'ore' much, either. Unless it's like me with my little brother and dad, or something like that. It's more widely used than 'boku' though.

[Heturi]

Nice! Thanks to you all for the info. I can tell thie forum is well put together and with well put together people. again, thank you! Anyone here use rosetta stone?

[mako1138]

This paper is a bit academic, but short, and relevant to gendered pronouns: http://socrates.berkeley.edu/~hasega...edLanguage.pdf

[mendokusa]

also, do boys say female words in daily conversation?

some male use"watashi"or"watakushi".
on besiness,often use,too.
the male who is gentleman often use "watashi".

[Haladflire65]

'Watashi' isn't really a female word... It's more neutral. A lot of men say it. As mendokusa said above me, usually polite men use 'watashi'.

[iLney]

Well, I heard this sentence in Nodame Cantabile:

今日みな学校だって行ってましたよ。 (I hope it's correct)

The sub reads: "Everyone has school today." It looks more like "Today, everyone goes to school, which is open."

Err.... I assume this is natural Japanese. My question is: is there any rule to this naturalness? I can't never find myself saying such thing.

Edit: btw, "ノダメさん、今日な予定は？" Is that a valid sentence?

[Haladflire65]

Originally Posted by iLney

Well, I heard this sentence in Nodame Cantabile:

今日みな学校だって行ってましたよ。 (I hope it's correct)

The sub reads: "Everyone has school today." It looks more like "Today, everyone goes to school, which is open."

Err.... I assume this is natural Japanese. My question is: is there any rule to this naturalness? I can't never find myself saying such thing.

Edit: btw, "ノダメさん、今日な予定は？" Is that a valid sentence?

The last sentence should be 今日の予定.

As for the first one... I'm a little confused. Give me a second...

[Tenken's Smile]

Originally Posted by iLney

Well, I heard this sentence in Nodame Cantabile:

今日みな学校だって行ってましたよ。 (I hope it's correct)

Just a very small correction:
今日 みんな 学校 だって 行ってましたよ。

[iLney]

Originally Posted by Haladflire65

The last sentence should be 今日の予定.

As for the first one... I'm a little confused. Give me a second...

Ye... it should be "の." But I've listened to it like 30 times and I couldn't hear "の." It was always "な." BTW, it's on ep.7 at 2:16, Rui's line.
@Tenken's Smile: thx

[Sa-sei]

Um, I haven't read all the posts here yet, so sorry if it is already discussed before. I've read somewhere that the japanese used in anime isn't normal japanese so we may be mistaken learning stuff from watching animes. I want to learn japanese some day and I've realised that I learned a lot from animes so I was wondering, am I wrong doing so?

[Tenken's Smile]

Originally Posted by Sa-sei

I want to learn japanese some day and I've realised that I learned a lot from animes so I was wondering, am I wrong doing so?

You can know which is wrong only if you know the grammar beforehand.
I think the main problem with learning Japanese from anime is that you may pick up a lot of "baby talk" and don't learn the "culture"

But my classmates who used to watch anime had a head-start when they took Japanese (they're already used to the sounds & pronunciation). From my personal experience, watching anime, still, is good practice for my listening skill (though I don't believe I've developed any skill at all ), just get used to the sounds.

[Haladflire65]

Anime isn't the best way for beginners, in my opinion, because in anime, they talk like how we talk in English, you know? With slang, swear words, etc. It's not the best way. It could just confuse you even more. Or even make you learn the wrong way - anime generally has rather inpolite Japanese, and Japanese is all about being polite. I think it's best to know basic grammer and words before you attempt to teach yourself through anime.

[Heturi]

I agree. The best way is Instant Immersion hands down! Living your life Japanese to constantly practicing the Language are good ways as well! Music has helped me (I think it's because I'm musically generated) but it's not recommended to be the only way you learn Nihongo.

[Mystique]

Originally Posted by Sa-sei

Um, I haven't read all the posts here yet, so sorry if it is already discussed before. I've read somewhere that the japanese used in anime isn't normal japanese so we may be mistaken learning stuff from watching animes. I want to learn japanese some day and I've realised that I learned a lot from animes so I was wondering, am I wrong doing so?

Better off watching j-dramas for everyday japanese use rather than anime.
Anime depends on the genre too, but use it as an aide rather than the core source of leaning the language.
Check out japanese news too (avoid variety shows) or documentaries and surround yourself in different registers of the language, that'll help.

[Sa-sei]

But my classmates who used to watch anime had a head-start when they took Japanese (they're already used to the sounds & pronunciation)

Anime isn't the best way for beginners, in my opinion, because in anime, they talk like how we talk in English, you know? With slang, swear words, etc.

I can see myself bowing my head down, my fist in the air, shouting "chikushou!" with perfect pronunciation but I guess I need to learn more useful stuff, huh?

Music has helped me

Yeah maybe, I should just translate Ilmari's songs because it is a huge motivation.
Thanks guys

[Sa-sei]

Originally Posted by Mystique

Check out japanese news too (avoid variety shows) or documentaries and surround yourself in different registers of the language, that'll help.

I don't know any kanji though When do you think is best to start learning kanji?

[mendokusa]

I don't know any kanji though When do you think is best to start learning kanji?

after learning hiragana and katakana,should memorize word and the kanji.