My Japanese Lessons menu

User Tag List

Results 1 to 7 of 7
  1. #1
    Kubiatsu's Avatar Contributor
    Reputation
    168
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Posts
    506
    Thanks G/R
    9/5
    Trade Feedback
    0 (0%)
    Mentioned
    0 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)

    My Japanese Lessons

    As I am currently teaching myself to speak Japanese (Nihongo) I thought I would post simple words, greetings, and sentences in Romaji (using the Latin alphabet to write the Japanese language) that I have learnt along the way, so if anyone else wishes to start learning, or if you are just curious, you can give it a go!

    Lesson 1: Pronunciation & Word Order (The technical shizzle)

    The Japanese language has only 5 vowels: A, I, U, E, O. They are terse vowels, pronounced clearly and sharply.

    A - ah
    I - ee
    U - oo
    E - eh
    O - oh

    If you want to learn how to pronounce the more advanced stuff then check out this link.

    Japanese is a SOV (Subject-Object-Verb) language. English is typically SVO (Subject-Verb-Object). In Japanese, the verb usually always appears at the end of clauses and sentences. Japanese parts of speech are usually marked with words called "particles" that follow the word they modify. These particles identify the word's or phrase's function in the sentence; for example, topic, subject, direct/indirect object, location of action, etc.

    Here is a sentence demonstrating the SOV differences:

    Japanese (Romaji): Watashi wa hako o akemasu.
    Gloss (Meaning): I (tpc) box (obj) open.
    Parts: Subject Object Verb
    English: I open the box.

    The markers wa and o are, respectively, topic and object markers for the words that precede them. Technically, the sentence can be translated a number of ways ("a box", "the boxes", etc), but this does not affect the SOV analysis.

    Lesson 2: Greetings

    Hello - Konnichiwa
    Good morning - Ohayou
    Good evening - Konbanwa
    Good night - Oyasumi
    Good bye - Sayounara
    See you later - Dewa mata
    See you tomorrow - Mata ashita
    How do you do - Hajimemashite
    I'm glad to see you - Oai-deki-te ureshii-desu
    How are you? - Ogenki desu-ka
    I'm fine - Genki-desu
    And you? - Anata wa?
    I'm fine too - Watashi-mo genki-desu
    Thank you - Arigatou

    Lesson 3: Positive & Negative Replies

    Yes - Hai
    Yes it is - Hai sou-desu
    I understand - Wakari-masita
    I know - Wakatte-imasu
    I think so - Sou omoi-masu
    Sure/Of course - Mochiron-desu
    OK - Ii-desu

    No - Iie
    I don't understand - Wakari-masen
    I don't know - Shiri-masen
    I didn't know that - Shiri-masen-deshita
    I don't think so - Sou omoi-masen

    Lesson 4: Situational Phrases

    Self Introduction:

    Nice to meet you - O-ai deki-te ureshii desu
    Let me introduce myself - Jiko-shoukai sase-te kudasai
    My name is... - Watashi no namae wa (insert name) desu
    I am... years old - Watashi wa (insert age) sai desu
    I'm from... - Watashi wa (place) shusshin desu
    I live in... - Watashi wa (country) ni sun-de i masu
    My hobby is... - Watashi no shumi wa (hobby) desu

    Questions For Conversing:

    May I ask your name? - O-namae wo kiite-mo iidesu-ka?
    What is your name? - O-namae wa nan-desu-ka?
    Tell me your name - O namae wo oshie-te kudasai
    How old are you? - Nan-sai desu-ka?
    What do you do? - O-shigoto wa nan-desu ka?
    Where do you live? - Doko-ni sun-de imasu-ka?
    Where are you from? - Shusshin wa doko-desuka?
    Do you speak English? - Eigo wo hanashi-masu-ka?
    What is your hobby? - Shumi wa nan-desu-ka?
    Do you like...? - ... wa suki desu-ka?

    Lesson 5: Coming Soon

    I'm tired and bored of typing, so new lessons will come soon... Oyasumi!

    My Japanese Lessons
  2. #2
    Remahlól's Avatar !!jeULyJf8ld1
    Reputation
    538
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Posts
    2,254
    Thanks G/R
    0/1
    Trade Feedback
    0 (0%)
    Mentioned
    0 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)
    Arigatou Sensei !
    19/5/2013

  3. #3
    Glynbeard's Avatar Mawd Authenticator enabled
    Reputation
    616
    Join Date
    Jul 2006
    Posts
    2,646
    Thanks G/R
    0/1
    Trade Feedback
    1 (100%)
    Mentioned
    0 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)
    It's kinda sad, but the only reason I know most of these sayings (and more) already is from Naruto... Does that mean I watch to much? :/

  4. #4
    Kubiatsu's Avatar Contributor
    Reputation
    168
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Posts
    506
    Thanks G/R
    9/5
    Trade Feedback
    0 (0%)
    Mentioned
    0 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)
    Haha nope that's good that you're taking it in Quan! Watching anime is a great way to submerge yourself in the language, and if you can watch it without subtitles and still understand what's going on, then well done! ^^

  5. #5
    mag1212's Avatar Active Member
    Reputation
    55
    Join Date
    Aug 2009
    Posts
    352
    Thanks G/R
    0/0
    Trade Feedback
    0 (0%)
    Mentioned
    0 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)
    this is nice

  6. #6
    Kubiatsu's Avatar Contributor
    Reputation
    168
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Posts
    506
    Thanks G/R
    9/5
    Trade Feedback
    0 (0%)
    Mentioned
    0 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)
    Thanks mag1212, I will be adding more lessons that go into numbers, objects, and locations soon!

  7. #7
    project anthrax's Avatar Contributor
    Reputation
    180
    Join Date
    Nov 2007
    Posts
    993
    Thanks G/R
    0/0
    Trade Feedback
    0 (0%)
    Mentioned
    0 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)
    haha nice service kubiatsu
    removed by Unholy

Similar Threads

  1. Hilarious japanese game show vid
    By marick626 in forum Community Chat
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 06-17-2007, 11:01 AM
  2. Crazy Japanese dancing remix rave something WTF?!
    By JediMindTrix in forum Community Chat
    Replies: 6
    Last Post: 06-14-2007, 07:05 PM
  3. japanese game show
    By Drakee in forum Community Chat
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 05-18-2007, 03:52 PM
  4. Learn some japanese!!!
    By pwner in forum Community Chat
    Replies: 11
    Last Post: 03-25-2007, 07:12 PM
All times are GMT -5. The time now is 12:04 AM. Powered by vBulletin® Version 4.2.3
Copyright © 2025 vBulletin Solutions, Inc. All rights reserved. User Alert System provided by Advanced User Tagging (Pro) - vBulletin Mods & Addons Copyright © 2025 DragonByte Technologies Ltd.
Google Authenticator verification provided by Two-Factor Authentication (Free) - vBulletin Mods & Addons Copyright © 2025 DragonByte Technologies Ltd.
Digital Point modules: Sphinx-based search