How To Say In Japanese
How to say "Hi" or "hello" in Japanese?
(konnichi wa)
How do you say "Bye" or "Goodbye" in Japanese?
(ja mata ne)
How do you say "pink" in Japanese?
(pinku)
How do you say "blue" in Japanese?
(aoi)
How do you say "red" in Japanese?
(akai)
How do you say "purple" in Japanese?
(murasaki)
How do you say "green" in Japanese?
(midori)
How do you say "yellow" in Japanese?
(kiiroi)
How do you say "black" in Japanese?
(kuroi)
How do you say "white" in Japanese?
(shiroi)
_____________________________________________________________
How to say "strawberry" in Japanese?
(ichigo)
How do you say "love" in Japanese?
(ai)
How do you say "I love You" in Japanese?
(ai shite iru)
How to say "bed" in Japanese?
(futon)
How to say "sexy" in Japanese?
(kakoi, sekushi, seiteki miryoku ga aru)
How to say "I dont speak Japanese" in Japanese?
(wakarimasen, wakannai)
Learn to speak Japanese quick and easy using the Rocket Japanese course. Impress the ladies and your friends. Order the full course or just get the FREE 6-Day Japanese course.
JPPGG the original
Say Other cool Phrases in Japanese
How to say "wonderful" in Japanese?
(subarashii)
How do you say "love motel" in Japanese?
(rabu hoteru)
How to say "yes" in Japanese?
(nod your head up and down)
How to say "no" in Japanese?
(nod your head to the left and to the right,
iie, chigau see http://squidoo.com/ghettogrammar112 )
How do you say "I hate it" in Japanese?
(sukan)
How do you say "happy birthday" in Japanese?
(O-tanjobi omedeto^ gozaimasu)
How do you say "chrysanthumum" in Japanese?
(kiku)
How do you say "welcome" in Japanese?
(yo^koso)
How do you say "please" in Japanese?
(O-negai shimasu)
How do you say "Japan" in Japanese?
(Nihon or Nippon)
How to say "thank you" in Japanese?
(Just sing that song by Styx)
How do you say "Even monkeys fall from trees" in Japanese?
(Saru mo ki kara ochiru)
How do you say "McDonald’s" in Japanese?
(Makudonarudo) – try it!
How to say "Merry Christmas" in Japanese?
(meri kurisumasu)
How do you say "stray cat" in Japanese?
(hiroi neko)
How to say "fool" in Japanese?
(baka) –the only cuss word you need in Japanese
How do you say "how are you?" in Japanese?
(O-genki desu ka?)
How do you say "spoiled" in Japanese?
(najite iru)
Other neat words in Japanese
How do you say "Summer Vacation" in Japanese?
(natsu yasumi)
How do you say "Autumn Vacation" in Japanese?
(aki yasumi)
How do you say "Spring Vacation" in Japanese?
(haru yasumi)
How do you say "Winter Vacation" in Japanese?
(fuyu yasumi)
How do you say "baby" in Japanese?
(akachan)
How do you say "tokyo" in Japanese?
(to^kyo^) –long o’, and kyo not kiyo
The age you become an adult in Japan?
(19)
How to say "old hag" in Japanese?
(baba)
How to say "dirty old man" in Japanese?
(jiji)
How to say "as for the topic” in Japanese?
(wadai wa)
How do you say "hungry" in Japanese?
(o-naka ga suita)
How do you say "wassup dawg?" in Japanese?
(oi genki?)
How to say "I ain’t your dawg, beeyotch!" in Japanese?
(nan kono baka yaro genki nantte ja ne yaro ya baka yaro ga omae ora)
March 1, 2017
Japanese ooh lala
November 23, 2008
Japanese adjectives
Japanese Adjectives –
Grammar construction for It seems like adjective What is known as descriptive noun gives some detail as to the noun in question.
D.N. + SO^ DESU = seems like adjective
Kawaiso^ ni = pitifully, shamefully.
Shiawase so^ na = happily, seemingly happy
Seems to have this form adjective + So^ na
Isogashiiso^ na furi o shite
忙しいそうな振りをして...– faking like he is busy
Kawai可愛いis the d.n. for cute. Intesified with the so marker and it becomes a different word.
September 20, 2008
On African Americans in Japan - The Shock Factor
Here is a question about racism in Japan, and here are the way. Are Japanese People racist against black people? I plan to go to Japan, so I want to know. I don't want to have a bad time you know (Please - I don't want to offend any Japanese people so I am sorry If I offend anyone of you.)
The Japanese are not racist in general. All Japanese people are not racist like the kkk would be in America. They pretty much are a changed nation since they got atomicized in two of their major cities. The thing is, is that kokujin are rare, extremely rare in Japan, and you may be looked at as an oddity, or rarity. You are for sure going to get special care because you are so rare. They will marvel at you. For in Japan you guys aren't born there naturally. Even me a white guy from america is pretty rare so I was always looked upon in amazement because my nose is so tall, and my eyes are so round, and I am generally taller because I ate more potatoes than rice and fruit loops than miso soup etc.
Gaijin as a whole are stereotyped and are poked fun of usually but it is all in jest with no serious racial prejudices against anybody. Gaijin is any foreigner that is not Japanese. Kokujin is the rare type of gaijin that has different features yet so they are going to be shocked.
If you plan on going to Japan and you are an African American be prepared to shock the Japanese people. You are basically going to shock at least a few people that you will come across. But the Japanese people are a modern peaceful nation, some of the Japanese may have never seen kokujin so they are naturally going to be shocked that there are other types of the same brothers of the human race than they.
Take heart you are going to love their treatment of you, you are rare, so live it up and soak all that extra attention in without getting upset because you like me are still just gaijin and xenophobia does exist that is my words for you.
August 8, 2008
Japanese grammar
How to say, “You should…” in Japanese.
Japanese Grammar Lesson Ho^ ga ii desu 方がいいです
Ho^ or Hou (方 ) (Pronounced like a Santa’s chuckle …ho, ho, ho…) is the focus of today’s Japanese grammar lesson. I always associated the Japanese word Hou (方 ) to the English word, “way” or “the way”. The kanji for hou (The Chinese character printed next to the word) looks as if it were indicating some direction or person offering a path or showing the way. I also associated Hou to another Japanese word Houhou (方法)which means method or the way of doing things. When we say in English that you ought to lean this way or that way, I could replace them straight way with the Japanese words kono hou or sono hou.
Today’s grammar uses hou after a verb in base TA (た) to help form sentences that indicate that you should, or shouldn’t do something. This isn’t a way of telling someone that they must do something, but only that they should do something.
To say that you should do something in Japanese, use the following Japanese grammar plug and play construction to make your own interesting Japanese sentences:
Verb TA (た) + hou ga ii desu (方がいいです) – …should verb…
First, put a Japanese verb into base TA then add + hou ga ii desu (方がいいです)
Example –
Dasu (出す) – v. to send
Dasu (出す) in base TA = dashita (出した)
Add + hou ga ii desu (方がいいです)
And presto… a new interesting sentence has been born.
You should send that letter. – ano tegami o deshita hou ga ii desuあの手紙を出した方がいいです
To say that you should not do something in Japanese, use the following Japanese grammar plug and play construction to make your own interesting Japanese sentences:
Verb base I+nai (ない) + hou ga ii desu (方がいいです)- …shouldn’t verb…
Example –
Dasu (出す) – v. to send
Dasu (出す) in base I + nai (ない) = dasanai (出さない)
Add + hou ga ii desu (方がいいです)
And presto… a new interesting sentence has been born.
In the negative construction, you first put a verb into base I, add nai (ない), then add hou ga ii desu (方がいいです)
1.Ume o tabeta hou ga ii desu. 梅を食べたほうがいいです – “You** should eat a Japanese plum.” (ume 梅 - plum)
2.Byo^in ni itta hou ga ii desu. 病院に行ったほうがいいです “You should go to the hospital.” or “You better get yourself to a hospital.”
3.Nakanai hou ga ii desu. 泣かないほうがいいです “It is better not to cry.”, or “You shouldn’t cry.”
4.Konai hou ga ii desu. 来ないほうがいいです “You shouldn’t come.”
**In English, subject pronouns are rarely omitted during the discourse of a two way conversation. In Japanese, however, the subject is usually, omitted. In Japanese, it is more common to omit the subject than to say specifically who, or what was doing the action in a sentence. Unless you get specific, there is no need to say as for me, or as for you, or as for them etc. The Japanese usually omit subject pronouns, since it is generally understood in the course of a Japanese conversation, who or what is doing the action in a Japanese sentence.
As always,
Ganbatte Ne!
Do Your Best!
Makurasuki まくらすき,
July 25, 2008
To pretend to verb in Japanese
Verb (p.f.) + to shimasho^ - to feign as if you would
Meaning –
To pretend as if
We (Any pronoun: I, He,She,We,Us,Them,They)
verb or
Let’s say we were to
verb.
1. Iku to shimasho^- 行くとしましょう –
Let’s pretend like we are going to go. Let’s say we are going
Iku (行く) = verb to go
2. Hanbun datta to shite mo – 半分だったとしても
Even if it was only half
Suru in base TE = Shite
Shite mo = Although I do (suru)
In example 2, the verb before to suru is the copula de aru in past tense de atta (で あった) or abbreviated d’atta (だった). Hanbun (半分) is the Japanese word for half. There are two grammar points here. VerbTE + Mo is discussed in another lesson and it constructs, - Even though I verb - (TE)て”, in this example the verb is suru in base TE (て)or shite (して) and then the mo (も) particle is added meaning although, or even though.
3. Mizu ga chikyu^ kara nakunatta to shimasho^ -
水が地球から亡くなったとしましょう
Number 3 above contains two smaller bunpo; one nestled inside the other. At the end of the construction, we have to shimasho^ (としましょう) - which implies that we will be doing this together, “Shall we do this thing of pretending together? Where do this thing is any verb in base TE It could mean something like, “Let’s just say we did, since did is the past tense of the verb to do.” etc.
Anata dake shika chikyu^ ni inakatta to shimasho^ -
貴方だけしか 地球に いなかったとしましょう
Let’s say you were the last person on earth or
Let’s just say you were the only person on the face of the Earth… etc.
4. Okane wa mondai nai to shimasho^ -
お金は問題ないとしましょう (としましょう) - lets pretend that the money wouldn’t present a problem, or Let’s just say that money isn’t a problem.
Lets pretend we can speak Japanese

Verb (p.f.) + to shimasho^ - to feign as if you would
Meaning –
To pretend as if
We (Any pronoun: I, He,She,We,Us,Them,They)
verb or
Let’s say we were to
verb.
1. Iku to shimasho^- 行くとしましょう –
Let’s pretend like we are going to go. Let’s say we are going
Iku (行く) = verb to go
2. Hanbun datta to shite mo – 半分だったとしても
Even if it was only half
Suru in base TE = Shite
Shite mo = Although I do (suru)
In example 2, the verb before to suru is the copula de aru in past tense de atta (で あった) or abbreviated d’atta (だった). Hanbun (半分) is the Japanese word for half. There are two grammar points here. VerbTE + Mo is discussed in another lesson and it constructs, - Even though I verb - (TE)て”, in this example the verb is suru in base TE (て)or shite (して) and then the mo (も) particle is added meaning although, or even though.
3. Mizu ga chikyu^ kara nakunatta to shimasho^ -
水が地球から亡くなったとしましょう
Number 3 above contains two smaller bunpo; one nestled inside the other. At the end of the construction, we have to shimasho^ (としましょう) - which implies that we will be doing this together, “Shall we do this thing of pretending together? Where do this thing is any verb in base TE It could mean something like, “Let’s just say we did, since did is the past tense of the verb to do.” etc.
Anata dake shika chikyu^ ni inakatta to shimasho^ -
貴方だけしか 地球に いなかったとしましょう
Let’s say you were the last person on earth or
Let’s just say you were the only person on the face of the Earth… etc.
4. Okane wa mondai nai to shimasho^ -
お金は問題ないとしましょう (としましょう) - lets pretend that the money wouldn’t present a problem, or Let’s just say that money isn’t a problem.
July 10, 2008
Making Japanese Grammar Learning simple
Japanese Grammar Made Easy – Base TE-て
By Brett McCluskey
Lesson #18 Insights on learning how to use the Base TE-て form of the verb.
Remembering how verbs are put into base te can be a challenging part of Japanese Grammar, but by singing the following syllables in the following order to the music of Silver Bells will help you better remember which verb ending syllable goes with what te ending.
(To be done to the music of Silver Bells, Bing Crosby’s version works well)
BU MU NU NDE
U TSU RU TTE
KU ITE
GU IDE
That’s the way we put verbs in base te ------
(Play it again Sam) repeat
*Verbs ending in BU, MU, or NU become NDE. Verbs ending in U, TSU, RU become TTE or. Verbs ending in KU become ITE and verbs ending in GU become IDE.
Verbs ending in these syllables
Become these base Te endings
BU, MU, NU
NDE
U, TSU, RU
TTE
KU
ITE
GU
IDE
Here are a few examples of putting a verb into base te. The first example, asobu ends in bu so you can either use the above chart or sing the song!
Ex. 1. asobu - to play – becomes asonde
1. asonde iru = playing
2. asonde kudasai = please play
3. asonde wa naranai = you can’t play here, its against the rules to play
Ex. 2. kamu – to chew – becomes kande
1. kande iru – chewing
2. kande kudasai – please chew
3. kande wa naranai – you mustn’t chew
Ex. 3. shinu - to die – becomes shinde
1. shinde iru – dying
2. shinde kudasai – please die
3. shinde wa naranai – you mustn’t die
Ex 4. harau – to pay - becomes haratte
1. haratte iru – paying
2. haratte kudasai – please pay
3. haratte wa naranai – you had better not pay.
Ex 5. inoru – to pray – becomes inotte
1. inotte iru – praying
2. inotte kudasai – please pray
3. inotte wa naranai – its bad to pray here
Ex 6. utsu – to hit becomes utte
1. utte iru – hitting
2. utte kudasai – please hit
3. utte wa naranai - its bad to hit here
Ex 7. hataraku – to work – becomes hataraite
1. hataraite iru – working
2. hataraite kudasai – please work
3. hataraite wa naranai – it is forbidden for you to work.
Ex 8. oyogu – to swim – becomes oyoide
1. oyoide iru – swimming
2. oyoide kudasai – please swim
3. oyoide wa naranai – you shouldn’t swim around here
Ganbatte ne! Do your best
Makuarsuki Sensei yori,
http://www.japanetics.blogspot.com/
http://squidoo.com/japanesevocabulary29
Japanese Grammar about Hoshii + Bonus learning
Letting Others Know What You Want... In Japanese
Japanese Plug and Play Ghetto Grammar #107 JPPGG
by Makurasuki Sensei &
Brought to you in part by the Japanese Language Learner Assistance League and The San Brettskerino Japanetic Enthusiasts of America club. International.
Let's say that one day, while visiting Japan, you find yourself wanting to get someone to do you a favor. We must tell them that we need them to do us a favor and the more specific we are, the better . . . I mean . . . you're probably notgoing to want just any old thing, I mean... watcha wa... what do you really want?! What in the world could YOU possibly want? If the sushi is not up to your liking and you find yourself wanting instead some good ol'fashioned American Apple Pie, then you've got to get some Japanese language skills. In some parts of the ghetto they're called skillz!
This article will help us acquire those skillz. We'll learn how to rap in Japanese, and learn how to say this kind of stuff in Japanese . . . "but you're getting so much more" . . . "and more" . . . (steps back)," And More!" Furthermore. . . this system is simple. All you have to do is plug words, usually verbs, into the JPPGG Japanese Plug and play Ghetto Grammar constructions. (49 grammar lessons numbered from JPPGG70 to JPPGG119. If you would like, when your are done with JPPGG and the system that helps in the acquisition of Japanese as a second language ou can take your ghetto grammar over to the east side . Even unto a deluxe apartment in the sky. Here we are sure that everyone's Japanese skills is moving on up!
Ok so where was I... Oh yeah . . . about you wanting things done, favors you may ask, or things you may need to get done, finished, accomplished, completed. During my stay in Japan I sometimes felt 'homesick'. I would want to see a good ol American movie. I wasn't happy unless I got to see a real American Movie. Not a Chinese movie starring Jackie Chan overdubbed in Japanese for my viewing pleasure... oh no...I wanted something specific and I wouldn't be satisfied unless I got to watch my favorite American movies starring James Dean or Harrison Ford? (They comprise what are the only movies available in English and rentable in Japanese video stores.) Yepper's, not much of a selection. . . but, Look on the btight side, I can recite the dialogue of the movie, Rebel Without A Cause from memory
This article is about to show you via my simple JL System's Japanese Plug & Play Ghetto Grammar or Japanese to the P squared G squared JPPGG® method, how to say that you want something or that you want something done (by someone or something else).
The Japanese word around which we are basing today's Ghetto Grammar is hoshii. Hoshii is a Japanese adjective and its meaning according to Sanseido's Daily Concise Japanese English Dictionary is a want, or a wish for. Its kanji is made up of two radicals which resemble the words for tani (valley) and ketsu (lack, or missing, but is also in words related to thirst and throat) and together inside of the kanji for this word hoshii, it makes me think of somebody out in the middle of Death Valley California having no water but really, really wishing that they had something to drink. That is a wish or a want for something.
The Japanese construction for the equivalent English phrase of
--- I want noun - noun ga hoshii desu or emphatic no desu
Ex. a.) I want an apple! - Ringo ga hoshii desu!
Ex. b.) I want it now! - Ima hoshii! Etc.
--- I want you to verb - Verb (base TE) hoshii desu. Polite form
Plain form would be verb (base TE) hoshii without any copula, or by adding the emphatic all purpose sentence ending ...no da. This is less polite.
Super polite form would be - verb (base TE) hoshuu gozaimasu. This may be a little too polite for any circumstance. Because you are in the personal realms anyway you are relaying to someone else your wishes for somebody to do something. This bunpo will work when asked questions such as the following:
Ex. 1) What do you want done? Nani shite hoshii desu ka? Or, simply Nani o shite hoshii? (Not as polite - What do you want me to do?)
Putting hoshii into its negative present form you can get sentences that mean I don't want you to do something as in Ex. 2
Ex. 2. I don't want anything done. Nanimo shite hoshikunai desu! (Without the copula)
Ex. 3. I want you to see a television show that I like. Suki na terebi no bangumi o mite hoshii desu!
Since this adjective serves as an auxiliary, you can also put hoshii into the past or past negative as in Ex.4
Ex. 4. Kite hoshikatta kedo konakatta - I wanted you to come but you never came. (This little phrase turns out to be quite the alliterative tongue-a-twisty. Say it 5 times fast! I dare you!)
Or
Ex. 5) Kurisumasu puresento o akeru no o matte hoshikatta, ammari akete hoshikunakatta no desu, zannen... Mou, shikata ga nai . I wanted you to wait before you opened the Christmas presents, I really didn't want you to open them at all. Too bad and so sad but I guess there is nothing we can do about it now...
Hoshii can be made into a verb by adding dropping the final i, forming the plain form stem hoshi and adding ku adjective linker adding the verb, "to become" or, naru (One of the most used verbs in all Japanese). Hoshi-i naru becomes hoshikunaru.
Another way of saying the same thing would be by dropping the final i of hoshii and adding garu becoming hoshigaru (v. to wish for, want).
A common mistake made in Japanese is to mis-pronounce double vowels as single vowels. Two ii together in Japanese needs to be pronounced like two different i's. Actually you re-utter the second i. A lot of times double vowels will sound like the same vowels just drawn out.
Here is a good example of which witch is which. Don't mistake hoshii, the adjective for wanting, with hoshi, the noun for the word star. The former being having its final vowel sound i held twice as long.
***BONUS SENTENCE - Not available in any text book anywhere! ***
***Zutto mae kara kanojo o hoshigatte iru no ja nai to desu ka? Didn't you want to make her your girlfriend like forever now? Or, "You have been wanting that chick for a while now haven't you?"
This concludes today's Japanese Plug and Play Ghetto Grammar bunpo method JPPGG© for the month of July. Stay tuned for more incredible methods to help improve your Japanese language skills.
What about a articlee on the middle school teenager girl who died because she was 1-2 minutes late to school and the gate closed in on her. Japan is strict on things like school and stuff yo! No joke about that. Conform! Conform! Conform! Conform! ... Just kidding.
Ganbatte ne! Do your Best! Makurasuki Sensei.
July 7, 2008
Japanese grammar lesson
Japanese Plug and Play Ghetto Grammar
JPPGG #95
Base TE + Miru – To see about verb’ing, verb and see.
Putting verbs into base te
Bu mu nu nde
U tsu ru tte
Ku ite
Gu ide
Irregular
Suru shite
Hanashite miru – I’ll try talking to him, (Talk to him and see.) Hanasu – v. to speak (with)
Itte miru – I’ll go check it out (Go and see) Iku – v. to go
Tabete miyo^ ka? -Shall we try it? Let’s eat and see. Taberu – v. to eat
Nonde mitara – What if you tried to drink it, go ahead see what it tastes like. (Drink and see) Nomu – v. to drink
Monku o iute mitara ..?– What about voicing your complaints? (Complain and see) Monku o iu – v. to complain, to say a ‘monku’.
Yonde mireba…? – Why don’t you read it and see? Try reading it for yourself. Yomu – v. to read
Tanonde miru - Ask and see. Tanomu – v. to request, ask a favor, to ask
Yatte miru – Try it and see. Yaru – v. to do, to try.
Mite mitara – Look and see. Miru – v. to see.
Til lates,
Ganbatte Ne!
Makurasuki
Japanese grammar lesson focus on Base TE miru
Japanese Plug and Play Ghetto Grammar
JPPGG #95
Base TE + Miru – To see about verb’ing, verb and see.
Putting verbs into base te
Bu mu nu nde
U tsu ru tte
Ku ite
Gu ide
Irregular
Suru shite
Hanashite miru – I’ll try talking to him, (Talk to him and see.) Hanasu – v. to speak (with)
Itte miru – I’ll go check it out (Go and see) Iku – v. to go
Tabete miyo^ ka? -Shall we try it? Let’s eat and see. Taberu – v. to eat
Nonde mitara – What if you tried to drink it, go ahead see what it tastes like. (Drink and see) Nomu – v. to drink
Monku o iute mitara ..?– What about voicing your complaints? (Complain and see) Monku o iu – v. to complain, to say a ‘monku’.
Yonde mireba…? – Why don’t you read it and see? Try reading it for yourself. Yomu – v. to read
Tanonde miru - Ask and see. Tanomu – v. to request, ask a favor, to ask
Yatte miru – Try it and see. Yaru – v. to do, to try.
Mite mitara – Look and see. Miru – v. to see.
Til lates,
Ganbatte Ne!
Makurasuki

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Japanese Grammar Lesson focus on Hoshii
Letting Others Know What You Want... In Japanese
Japanese Plug and Play Ghetto Grammar #107 JPPGG
by Makurasuki Sensei &
Brought to you in part by the Japanese Language Learner Assistance League and The San Brettskerino Japanetic Enthusiasts of America club. International.
Let's say that one day, while visiting Japan, you find yourself wanting to get someone to do you a favor. We must tell them that we need them to do us a favor and the more specific we are, the better . . . I mean . . . you're probably notgoing to want just any old thing, I mean... watcha wa... what do you really want?! What in the world could YOU possibly want? If the sushi is not up to your liking and you find yourself wanting instead some good ol'fashioned American Apple Pie, then you've got to get some Japanese language skills. In some parts of the ghetto they're called skillz!
This article will help us acquire those skillz. We'll learn how to rap in Japanese, and learn how to say this kind of stuff in Japanese . . . "but you're getting so much more" . . . "and more" . . . (steps back)," And More!" Furthermore. . . this system is simple. All you have to do is plug words, usually verbs, into the JPPGG Japanese Plug and play Ghetto Grammar constructions. (49 grammar lessons numbered from JPPGG70 to JPPGG119. If you would like, when your are done with JPPGG and the system that helps in the acquisition of Japanese as a second language ou can take your ghetto grammar over to the east side . Even unto a deluxe apartment in the sky. Here we are sure that everyone's Japanese skills is moving on up!
Ok so where was I... Oh yeah . . . about you wanting things done, favors you may ask, or things you may need to get done, finished, accomplished, completed. During my stay in Japan I sometimes felt 'homesick'. I would want to see a good ol American movie. I wasn't happy unless I got to see a real American Movie. Not a Chinese movie starring Jackie Chan overdubbed in Japanese for my viewing pleasure... oh no...I wanted something specific and I wouldn't be satisfied unless I got to watch my favorite American movies starring James Dean or Harrison Ford? (They comprise what are the only movies available in English and rentable in Japanese video stores.) Yepper's, not much of a selection. . . but, Look on the btight side, I can recite the dialogue of the movie, Rebel Without A Cause from memory
This article is about to show you via my simple JL System's Japanese Plug & Play Ghetto Grammar or Japanese to the P squared G squared JPPGG® method, how to say that you want something or that you want something done (by someone or something else).
The Japanese word around which we are basing today's Ghetto Grammar is hoshii. Hoshii is a Japanese adjective and its meaning according to Sanseido's Daily Concise Japanese English Dictionary is a want, or a wish for. Its kanji is made up of two radicals which resemble the words for tani (valley) and ketsu (lack, or missing, but is also in words related to thirst and throat) and together inside of the kanji for this word hoshii, it makes me think of somebody out in the middle of Death Valley California having no water but really, really wishing that they had something to drink. That is a wish or a want for something.
The Japanese construction for the equivalent English phrase of
--- I want noun - noun ga hoshii desu or emphatic no desu
Ex. a.) I want an apple! - Ringo ga hoshii desu!
Ex. b.) I want it now! - Ima hoshii! Etc.
--- I want you to verb - Verb (base TE) hoshii desu. Polite form
Plain form would be verb (base TE) hoshii without any copula, or by adding the emphatic all purpose sentence ending ...no da. This is less polite.
Super polite form would be - verb (base TE) hoshuu gozaimasu. This may be a little too polite for any circumstance. Because you are in the personal realms anyway you are relaying to someone else your wishes for somebody to do something. This bunpo will work when asked questions such as the following:
Ex. 1) What do you want done? Nani shite hoshii desu ka? Or, simply Nani o shite hoshii? (Not as polite - What do you want me to do?)
Putting hoshii into its negative present form you can get sentences that mean I don't want you to do something as in Ex. 2
Ex. 2. I don't want anything done. Nanimo shite hoshikunai desu! (Without the copula)
Ex. 3. I want you to see a television show that I like. Suki na terebi no bangumi o mite hoshii desu!
Since this adjective serves as an auxiliary, you can also put hoshii into the past or past negative as in Ex.4
Ex. 4. Kite hoshikatta kedo konakatta - I wanted you to come but you never came. (This little phrase turns out to be quite the alliterative tongue-a-twisty. Say it 5 times fast! I dare you!)
Or
Ex. 5) Kurisumasu puresento o akeru no o matte hoshikatta, ammari akete hoshikunakatta no desu, zannen... Mou, shikata ga nai . I wanted you to wait before you opened the Christmas presents, I really didn't want you to open them at all. Too bad and so sad but I guess there is nothing we can do about it now...
Hoshii can be made into a verb by adding dropping the final i, forming the plain form stem hoshi and adding ku adjective linker adding the verb, "to become" or, naru (One of the most used verbs in all Japanese). Hoshi-i naru becomes hoshikunaru.
Another way of saying the same thing would be by dropping the final i of hoshii and adding garu becoming hoshigaru (v. to wish for, want).
A common mistake made in Japanese is to mis-pronounce double vowels as single vowels. Two ii together in Japanese needs to be pronounced like two different i's. Actually you re-utter the second i. A lot of times double vowels will sound like the same vowels just drawn out.
Here is a good example of which witch is which. Don't mistake hoshii, the adjective for wanting, with hoshi, the noun for the word star. The former being having its final vowel sound i held twice as long.
***BONUS SENTENCE - Not available in any text book anywhere! ***
***Zutto mae kara kanojo o hoshigatte iru no ja nai to desu ka? Didn't you want to make her your girlfriend like forever now? Or, "You have been wanting that chick for a while now haven't you?"
This concludes today's Japanese Plug and Play Ghetto Grammar bunpo method JPPGG© for the month of July. Stay tuned for more incredible methods to help improve your Japanese language skills.
What about a articlee on the middle school teenager girl who died because she was 1-2 minutes late to school and the gate closed in on her. Japan is strict on things like school and stuff yo! No joke about that. Conform! Conform! Conform! Conform! ... Just kidding.
Ganbatte ne! Do your Best! Makurasuki Sensei.
Japanese lesson on Bakari grammar
Verb (base TA) + bakari desu - to just 'verb'
First putting some verbs into base TA like -
iku --> itta
dasu --> dashita
suru --> shita
kuru --> kita
umu --> unda
deru --> detta
tatsu --> tatta
abiru --> abita
suwaru --> suwatta
umareru --> umareta
etc.
then adding the polite sentence ending desu to bakari (just)
verb (base TA) + bakari desu - to just 'verb"
ex.1 suwatta bakari desu. I just sat down
ex.2 deta bakari da! He just left.
ex.3. umareta bakari desu
As Always,
Ganbatte Ne!
Do Your Best!
Makurasuki
Useful Japanese Grammar SO construction
Here is yet another grammar construction that you can use plug and play style. What I mean by this is that you stick verbs into the construction and you can make sentences that make sense. Practice speaking Japanese by inserting in the place of To say that someone seems ‘about to’ verb in Japanese, use the following construction:
Japanese Grammar construction #109 Verb (Base II) + So^ desu.
This one is an easily constructed grammar principle. First take a Japanese verb of our choosing then transform it or put it into base II. It is a pre-requisite for learners just beginning their study of the Japanese language to know thoroughly the concepts surrounding verb conjugation and how to put verbs into bases. There are five bases which correspond to the first five syllables (also called mora) of the Japanese language.. If you want to start using this grammar today however, I can cheat for you just this once so that you can start speaking today without even knowing anything about verb bases and Japanese verb conjugation. But… I might get reprimanded and other teachers may call me ghetto. Oh thats righ… this is ghetto grammar…it is JPPGG or Japanese Plug and Play Ghetto Grammar … I forgot….
Don’t delay too long, the study of the Japanese verb bases and how to use them and what they do etc. However, just today, I’ll make it easy for anybody to start speaking Japanese with the verbs you choose from a dictionary you might have or online. All you need is a dictionary or have in your possession or knowledge Japanese verbs. (I hate any Japanese dictionary that allows you to read it in Roman letters (Romaji), but for today’s purpose of getting you to be able to speak in the Japanese language quickly, we will bypass a few things, cut corners and proceed without too much hassle. Today I’ll even let you use the despised Romaji EI-WA dictionary.)
Use any verbs or action words you like at all. Some examples might be
Go – IKU
Leave – DERU
Love – AI SURU
To be absent - SHUSSEKI SURU
I’ll explain to you how to put verbs into base II, but first let me briefly state a few ke points to keep in mind about Japanese verbs. All Japanese verbs will end in some sort of consonant + u combination. U itself is an ending as are the following. (Please refer to a katakana chart or hiragana chart to find the middle row that contains the syllables that end in u)our letter the u (pronounced ooh in Japanese), and it also may end with 9 other possible consonant combinations.
Instructions for putting regular Japanese verbs into base II:
Look in your English Japanese dictionary for the verb you want to use.
Put your chosen verb into base II
(In order to use the JPPGG (Japanese Plug and Play Ghetto Grammar) system, you’ll really need to know how to we put Japanese verbs into their various bases. I admonish you to begin your study now if you intend on having any degree of skill speaking in the Japanese language.)
I can tell you that all verbs listed in the dictionary are in a form know as plain form. All verbs will end in one of the following syllabic combination
ku,
su,
tsu,
nu,
h, (no fu line)
mu,
y, (no yu line)
ru,
and u
Instrutions: Take the dictionary form and decide which type of verb it is, whether it be an ichidan or a yodan verb. This distinction will determine how to make it base II.
I’ll bet you didn’t know that in Japanese grammar, there is an I before E except after C type rule. Now you should realize the two types of Japanese verbs. Verbs ending in eru or iru are called ICHIDAN verbs. The other type of verbs, that is, any verb that doesn’t end with the three roman letters of eru or iru, are called Yo^dan verbs.
With each of the these verbs comes distinctly separate rules or ways to form them, or put them into base II. Today’s grammar construction says to put the verb into base II then add + so^ desu. If we can form this construction, we will then be able to makes sentences that make sense and convey meanings to other speakers of Japanese. So First we must learn how to put verbs into base II.
Rule #1
Putting ICHIDAN verbs into base II:
Drop the final syllable of the verb, “ru”, so that only either i or e remain.
Here is an example of putting an ichidan verb into base II. Ochiru ends in iru making it an ICHIDIAN verb, we drop the ru and leave the i., so that
ochiru – ru = ochi
ochiru in base II is ochi
OCHIRU (落ちる) - to fall - Ochiru (base II) = OCHI
Ochi would be considered the stem before putting the verb into any base, as is the case with ichidan verbs. It is often referred to as the stem.
Rule #2
Putting Yodan verbs into base II is to drop u and change u into an i with whatever consonant may have preceded it.
Possible outcomes -
If verb ends in ku then the verb in base II will end in ki,
If verb ends in gu then the verb in base II will end in gu,
If verb ends in bu then the verb in base II will end in bi,
If verb ends in pu then the verb in base II will end in pi,
If verb ends in su then the verb in base II will end in shi,
If verb ends in tsu then the verb in base II will end in chi,
If verb ends in nu then the verb in base II will end in ni,
If verb ends in mu then the verb in base II will end in mi,
If verb ends in ru then the verb in base II will end in ri.
Hopefully you are gaining a handle on this base II stuff. Ganbatte Ne. Do your best!
All we have left to do for this grammar construction and start making sentences that make senses is to add the + SO^ DESU to our verbs in base II. Simple. For IRU and ERU ending verbs (i.e. ichidan verbs) simply drop off the last syllable ru and add + SO^ DESU. For all other verbs put into i ending of the consonant combination that precedes the u and and add + SO^ DESU
When you practice pronouncing the sentences that you create by using the above construction remember the double vowels, to hold them longer on the So^ desu. Note the ^ symbol stands for the double vowel sound so So^ is sounded Sou ,or so with a long o.
HANASU (話す) - to speak -
Hanasu (base II) = HANASHI
NAKU ( 泣く) - to cry
NAKU (base II) = NAKI
By adding So^ + desu to a Japanese verb in base II, the verb takes on a nuance that the verb in question the action word is about to take place. It could also be interpreted to mean , “ It look like (seems, appears as if etc.) that they (he, she, it, them , us , we, her, my granddad etc) are going to verb soon. I find it unnecessary to think of the sentences I construct in this way as - seems ‘about to’ verb. On the verge of verb’ing
HANASHI SO^ DESU (話しそう)
HANASHISO^ DESU - It seems he is about to speak
OCHI SO^ DESU (落ちそう です)
OCHISO^ DESU - looks like they are about to fall down
As always, Ganbatte Ne!
Do your best!Makurasuki Sensei
http://feeds.feedburner.com/blogspot/Ahsh
A special thanks to NJ Japanese word processor which concocted the following _
話す - 話し -
落ちる- 落ち -
泣く - 泣き - 泣きそう
出席する
行く
愛 する
July 3, 2008
Donna Ni Japanese grammar
Here…There… And Everywhere
JPPGG supplement # 92
Japanese Kinfolk to the Demonstrative Pronoun
Notice in the following that
Interrogatives (questions) tend toward à D
here proximity à K
there proximity à S
over there proximity à A
Donna ni okii desu – How Big
Konna ni okii desu - About this big
Sonna ni okii desu – About that big
Anna ni okii desu – about that big (over there).
Dore gurai? About how much do you think?
Kore gurai! About this much!
Sore gurai ! About that much!
Are gurai! About (over there) that much
Dochi? –which one?
Kochi – this one
Sochi –that one
Achi – that one (over there)
Doko? – Where?
Koko – here
Soko – there
Muko – over there
Dokora – where abouts?
Kokora – around here
Sokora –around there
** Bonus Ghetto Word Section**
please don’t even dare thinking about using the following words
Dare? –
Koitsu! – This mofo, or this dude, or this guy, or this person!
Soitsu! - That dude! Or that bonehead there!
Aitsu! – That person over there!
Learn these useful words that all begin with mai or every
毎- まい - Mai – Every
毎日 - まいにち - Mainichi –Every Day
毎晩 - まいばん - Maiban – Every night
毎週 - まいしゅう - Maishu^ - Every week
毎月 - まいつき - Maitsuki – Every Month
毎年 - まいとし - Maitoshi – Every year
毎年 - まいねん - Mainen - Every year
毎度 - まいど - Maido – Every time
毎朝 - まいあさ Maiasa – Every morning
As always,
Ganbatte Ne!
Do Your Best!
Makurasuki
Base Ta Japanese Grammar
Learn Japanese Now! by Makurasuki Sensei
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Lesson #17 – Putting verbs into the TA –form た-form
The abilitiy to put Japanese verbs into the various bases quickly without pause is a pre-requisite for speaking fluently and being perceived as being a capable conversationalist. Of all the verbs Bases (I, II, III, IV , V, TA, and TE) the TA form ranks high in usage as one of the top three most used bases for verbs only after TE-てand Base-III or root form. I am focusing on it now in order to prepare you for the quick powerful grammar secrets that employ Base TA verbs which will catapult your Japanese speaking ability through the roof. I’ll be discussing many grammar rules that use the verb in Base TA. One of the main things you should know about the TA form of a verb is that it is used to put verbs into past tense plain form. A verb in base TA form is equivalent to English’s have done or past tense perfect. The TA form of a verb has evolved from the classical form tari and it still has many uses (see lesson #23 and #19)
Tip #17 How to put a verb in Base TA
1. Vowel Stemmed verbs (i.e. those ending in either eru or iru)
a. to put a verb into the TA form when the verb has a vowel stem simply add ta
Base III
Dictionary form Stem Base Ta Meaning
kanjiru
oboeru
kangaeru
deru
iru
kanji
oboe
kangae
de
i kanjita
oboeta
kangaeta
deta
ita To feel becomes to have felt.
To remember becomes to have remembered.
To think becomes to have thought.
To leave becomes to have left.
To be becomes to have been. (was, were)
Try putting your favorite verb ending in iru or eru into the TA form today and get your Nihongo more Jozu!
And remember…
MORE WORDS MEMORIZED = HIGHER RATE of FLUENCY.
Want more information on how you can use your memory and the laws of attraction to master any language you so choose!
Click Here!
Until next time. Ganbatte ne! Do your best!
Makurasuki Sensei
Looking for more ways to be successful in all that you do including mastering a language?
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Japanese Pronunciation
Table 1 - The 46 Syllables of the Japanese Syllabary (romanized)
a ka sa ta na ha ma ya ra wa n
i ki shi chi ni hi mi ri
u ku su tsu nu fu mu yu ru
e ke se te ne he me re
o ko so to no ho mo yo ro wo
Table 2 - The 46 Syllables of the Japanese Syllabary called the gojuon or 50 sounds (Hiragana)
あ か さ た な は ま や ら わ ん
い き し ち に ひ み り
う く す つ ぬ ふ む ゆ る
え け せ て ね へ め れ
お こ そ と の ほ も よ ろ を
When the tsu syllable is added before the syllables beginning with k,p, and t (ie. the consonants sounds of k,p, or t), a hardened double consonant sound is produced. You literally spit out the sounds or, as I like to put it, smack the consonants. To better understand where I am coming from, imagine two billiard balls sitting on a pool table. One of the balls is a word that contains a single consonant sound like k, the other ball is the syllable tsu. Now shoot the k ball with your cue ball and when they hit upon impact kk sound. when the consonant sounds are doubled. This doubled consonant phenomenon can be likened to the English word bookkeeper. In bookkeeper the sound of the consonant k is doubled, adding the syllable tsu to ka, ki, ku, ke, ko, ta chi, tsu, te, to or, pa,pi,pu,pe,or po doubles the consonant sound of the consonant sound of the syllable immediately following it.
Japanese pronunciation rule #1 - A small つ(tsu) doubles the consonant sound that immediately follows it.
Examples:
makka – deep red, completely red
jikken – experiment or test
shuppan – publish , shuppatsu – departure
zettai – absoluteness
tokkyo – patent (not the city toukyou which has the elongated
happi – the English word happy in katakana
gakkou – school
chotto – a little bit, a dink
appuru - apple
When n is not connected to a vowel (ie. usage of the last syllable of the Japanese syllabary or ん(n) , it is like a syllable unto itself. It receives a full count if language were a music it would receive the same amount of time that a 2 lettered syllable receives., and is denoted by the apostrophe ‘. For example:
1. Kin’en this is Japanese for no smoking not kinen or the word for anniversary.
so it has 4 syllables and the word for anniversary has 3.
To get a better feel of how the Japanese say words that begin with ra, ri, ru, re, or ro, do this: First, say to yourself in English the word Eddy then, make sure the tip of your tongue is touching delicately behind the upper front teeth and say it again Pronouncing it with just the right amount of lightness of tongue and a flicking forward of the tongue in this manner, you will come close to an acceptable pronunciation of the Japanese word for eri or collar.
Doko in Japanese
They say that the average American spends 17 hours per week inside their car. That is 884 hours per year or Living in Japan. There are a few words and key phrases in Japanese that, as a tourist in the Land of the Rising Sun, you would think that I could at least learn how to say the time. Since in Japan they use military time on occasion, more frequently than military time is used in America. , had I been acquainted with earlier on, would have saved me a lot of time, and prevented some of the confusion and disorientation for me upon my first adventures in Japan. In Japan, a lot of a persons life is spent at an Eki or train station spent getting on and off at the wrong train stations. Inevitably, tourists in Japan will have to use public transportation. So It would be very convenient to know at least the basic words related to how to get around in Japan if you are going to spend any amount of time touring Japan. Some are quite easy for they are gairaigo or foreign borrowed terms which are usually English based (although a certain percentage can be French, Portuguese, Spanish, German, and Dutch.) Some are more difficult to get a handle on but are essential to your adventures in Japan. Because one way or another you'll soon see how the Japanese Rail systems are more part of their culture and the Japanese way of life than we might be accustomed to here in America.
First, let’s learn the words for major transportation hubs like: bus stop, train station, airport, and subway.
basu tei - bus stop
eki - train station
ku^ko^ - airport
I remember getting on a bus and not knowing much Japanese other than how to say, "what time is it?" and feeling so embarrassed about not knowing where the heck I was going. Trying to get around in a foreign country on limited language skills can be difficult. But you can be reassured that in Japan the locals are always happy to talk with you and help you. You see in Japan they honk their horns when they are thankful to you for doing something good for them, not that you are an a-hole for cutting someone off. The Japanese are eager to help you, the gaijin, to get to their destinations, so don’t worry about traveling and losing your way too much, the Japanese are a great big loving family on the whole and are always there to help. * at least that is my experience anyway.
To say “Where is the ______” say ______ wa Doko desu ka?
Example 1. Where is the bank? – Ginko wa doko desu ka?
Example 2. Where is the Park? Koen wa doko desu ka? Etc.
As always,
Ganbatte Ne!
Do Your Best
Makurasuki
June 1, 2008
Sleepy Japanese study methods techniques
In the majority of known languages there seems to exist within each of their forms of communication a division of it into one that is uttered with a spoken language and its converse skill of listening and comprehending (interpreting the meaning, understanding of the message that is being sent. written language.
In Japanese the need arose in around the year 600 A.D. or so that a system of writing be established to more unitize the many warlords who were scattered across the various districts of Japan. Kanji (plural Kanji) are pictographs, borrowed from the chinese scripts and borrowed their system of writing to an exten. Kanji are capable of relaying and expressing much more meaning than can be gained through description of an idea or object with the phoenician alphabet. Westerners grow up in a world where our writing system is now such that we write our words alphabetically.
Purely due to each kanji's graphical nature, and evolution a much deeper meaning contained within each one. It is usually difficult for westerners to comprehend such a a writing system wherein the words are still more ideographic than Much different than what us who are stifled by the alphabet. Kanji can be written in as many as 1 to 100 strokes of the pen of the stenographer. The simplest kanji are 1 stroke and there are six kanji that can be written in as few as 1 stroke(s)We can see the meaning of things inside the kanji. Therefore from the get go, we should try to ween ouselves from the temptation to look up words in romaji to decipher meaning. We should use a dictionary like sanseidos daily concise.
Week 1 verbs - Drink, Sleep,Eat, go hataraku. Put verbs in all bases. Nouns:coffee;tea;milk; water,coca cola,sake,aquarius,beer,juice.
Adjectives - oishii, sutekina, benri na, okiim nagai samui, atsui, chisaii, mijikai. Grammer masu, masen, masen deshita etc, BII +tai desu = I want to. polite form, lets = BII+masho long o etc
Adjectives- are fun to play with Practice putting the adjectives in front of a noun etc
Some especially useful words.
100 Japanes Verbs Romaji English ID Field2
戦況する 116
結審する 165
いきだす ikidasu 90
式する 98
唱える 100
ふめる 104
背t名する 80
のかす nokasu 114
園芸する engei suru 79
量る 124
妥協 130
壊す 136
背減する 142
感激する 143
祖損する 145
なかす nakasu 112
支持する 17
しょりする shori suru 3
支持する 4
結審する 5
うごかす ugokasu 6
うごく ugoku 7
みたす 85
兼用する 11
そなえる to prepare, to provide 101
伴奏する 18
第ひ湯する 19
穂門する 26
紺とろるする 46
年とる 66
混乱する konran suru 78
簿駅する 8
頼る 181
込む 167
乱す 199
区別する kubetsu suru 197
捻る 188
抛る 180
結婚する kekkon suru to marry 57
とこにすく toko ni suku old way of saying to go to bed 93
あずける azukeru same as azukaru intrasitive 84
拒む ayumu to apologize 135
あわれる awareru to appear 62
たずねる tazuneru to ask 25
うかがう ukagau to ask, or visit 24
たたかう tatakau to attack 77
できる dekiru to be able, can 32
もしあげる moshiageru to be called 33
みちる michiru to be filled with 86
込む fukumu to be included 179
欠く fuku to be insufficient, to lack 191
暴れる abareru to be jittery unstable, to act up 151
節足する fusoku suru to be unsatisfactory, to be not enough 184
しんじる shinjiru to believe 14
炊く fuku to blow 175
増す fukuramasu to blow up 117
ふかす fukasu to blow up (baloon) 103
励ます fukuramasu to blow up(balloon) to fill up with 138
かりる kariru to borrow 50
かう kau to buy 9
はこぶ hakobu to carry 106
祝う iwau to celebrate 156
変化する henka suru to change shape, transform 157
かえる kaeru to change, to return 52
閉める shimeru to close 160
くらべる kuraberu to compare 20
文句する monku suru to complain 30
確かめる tashikameru to confirm 194
正す tadasu to correct 192
なく naku to cry 111
減る heru to decrease 118
希望する kibou suru to desire 120
うつす utsusu to develop( film), to get on print 31
死ぬ shinu to die 82
握る horu to dig 125
みわける miwakeru to distinguish, tell apart 15
わる waru to divide, to break in half 42
離婚すsる rikon suru to divorce 56
まね する mane o suru to do an impression of 158
やる yaru to do, to play 153
運転する unten suru to drive 107
まわる mawaru to encircle, to go around in a circle 43
はげます hagemasu to encourage 123
終わる owaru to end 177
はいる hairu to enter, to go in 58
定める sadameru to establish 195
攻める sadameru to establish 171
運動する undou suru to exercise 63
説明する setsumei suru to explain 146
爆発する bakuhatsu suru to explode 152
ふる furu to fall, 49
みつける mitsukeru to find 64
したがう shitagau to follow 23
正解する seikai suru to get something right 163
もしわけする moshiwake suru to give an excuse 47
かえす kaesu to give back 53
産む umu to give birth 119
あげる ageru to give, to bring to boil 2
はげる hageru to go bald 65
つりする tsuri suru to go fishing 108
壊れる abareru to go hog wild 137
嫌う kirau to hate 168
揉む awaremu to have mercy 149
満足する to have plenty of, to be satisfied 185
たすける tasukeru to help 81
持つ motsu to hold 193
頂く itadaku to humbly partake 174
急ぐ isogu to hurry 176
つもる tsumoru to intend, to pile up, to plug 48
蹴る keru to kick 134
ころす Korosu to kill 97
みちびく michibiku to lead 95
預かる azukaru to leave with someone 173
あずかる azukaru to leave with someone, to entrust 83
かす kasu to lend 51
しらせる shiraseru to let know 12
好む konomu to like 169
負ける makeru to lose 109
失う ushinau to lose something 161
愛する ai suru to love 166
たてかける tatekakeru to make 22
たてる tateru to make 41
失敗する shippai suru to make a mistake 162
蜜tめる tashikameru to make certain, to double check 132
イジケル ijikeru to make fun of 133
もたらす motarasu to make someone hold something 89
まじわる majiwau to mix 54
おこる okoru to occur, to happen 68
開ける akeru to open 159
圧倒する atto suru to overwhelm 144
参加する sanka suru to participate 88
はらう harau to pay 96
なぜる nazeru to pet (the cat) 21
ひろう hirou to pick up, to gather 71
えらぶ erabu to pick, to choose 76
おく oku to place 70
指す sasu to point 127
指差す yubisasu to point with finger 128
簡便する junbi suru to prepare 45
備える sonaeru to prepare 164
保存する honzai suru to preserve 75
さまたげる samategeru to prevent 59
禁止する kinshi suru to prohibit 39
引く hiku to pull 140
押す osu to push 141
たよる tayoru to rely on 1
のこる nokoru to remain 113
再婚する saikon suru to re-marry 55
尊敬する sonkei suru to respect 150
子劇する sonkei suru to respect 38
復習する fukushuu suru to review 102
上がる agaru to rise, to go up 131
さがす sagasu to search, to seek 67
相談する soudan suru to seek advice, to consult 105
うる uru to sell 87
はなれる hanareru to separate 40
離れる hanareru to separate, to tear 196
分かち合う wakachiau to share 122
しめす shimesu to show 61
閉まる shimaru to shut 172
ねる neru to sleep 92
ニコニコする nikoniko suru to smile 91
そなえる sonaeru to sound 10
話す hanasu to speak 147
あまえる amaeru to spoil ( a kid) 36
ひろがる hirogaru to spread across, to widen 35
立つ tatsu to stand 154
始める hajimeru to start 178
はじめる hajimeru to start, to begin 27
成功する sieko suru to succeed 44
足りる tariru to suffice 186
たりる tariru to suffice, to have enough 72
狙う nerau to take aim 170
語る kataru to talk about 148
あじわる ajiwaru to taste 37
つたえる tsutaeru to tell 29
伝える tsutaeru to tell 189
見分ける miwakeru to tell apart 198
差別する sabetsu suru to tell the difference 129
証する akashi suru to testify 99
かんがえる kangaeru to think 73
つや区する tsuuyaku suru to translate from written text to written text 94
動力する douryoku to try 60
尽くす tsukusu to use completely, exhaust 182
待つ matsu to wait 155
おこす okosu to wake up, to cause to get up 69
歩く aruku to walk 187
欲しがる hoshigaru to want 126
あたためる atatameru to warm up(food) 16
ひろげる hirogeru to widen, to spread out 34
かつ katsu to win 110
願う negau to wish, to plead to beg 200
願う negau to wish, to want 121
書く kaku to write 139
Bad pronunciation is no excuse! EVER!
When I hear badly pronounced Japanese, it’s like hearing fingernails scraping against a chalkboard. I have been known to turn red in embarrassment for the person committing the foul pronunciation. Why is pronunciation such a big deal? There are many reasons why language learners should practice pronouncing their words correctly. In this article I I’ll touch on a few topics I feel are important concerning learning, studying and practicing pronunciation in Japanese.
In speaking another language, the main goal is to try to get your message across, unless you are looking for some chit chat. You need to understand how important it is to be understood quickly, and, clearly. When your pronunciation isn’t very good, then that means it isn’t very legible, audible, excusable nor is it understandable. The time wasted correcting badly pronounced communication doensn’t outweigh the benefits of learning first to pronounce correctly before ever learning any of the tango. Even if the sentences had perfect grammar and style. What are the words by beginners who feel the topic of ‘pronunciation’ shouldn’t be treated as a ritual. If we are to be understood, we must use correct pronunciation. There is no way other way for communication to take place efficiently with more words understood per /1000 than can otherwise be had.
If you want to be a well liked and a well respected speaker of Japanese then put pronunciation practice at the top of your priority list for things you need to study. Bad pronunciation is not cool. It is simply irresponsible for a beginning Japanese language learner to continue learning Japanese without making attempts to improve upon their own particular pronunciation situation. A good steward of SLA makes sure that he/she is pronouncing the words they use in conversation correctly. A learner of the Japanese language must never neglect pronunciation in their studies. The art or skill of the lips the teeth and the tip of the tongue can spell the difference between effective communication, or, utter confusion. A tongue defines the soul and character from which tribes are made. How words are communicated amongst individuals also shows clearly to foreign outsiders trying to take a peek through the Japanese window, to find themselves in an onsen at Unzen. And it defines the type of people they represent; The Japanese have a very long heritage and lineage of traditions, festivals, and ceremonies that have been passed down through the generations. I mean Santa Claus is one thing but, carrying the big butsudan all through town in a thong, at those types of butsuri.
Giving a little extra effort in your practice of correct pronunciation displays a sincere desire to understand the people and culture through the words of their mouth. Words of a language were not just some accident. Or were they?
Japanese pronunciation is probably one of the easier aspects of the language to learn yet it is often put aside due to the seemingly lack of similarities between the two languages.
Japanese vs. English.
I use to think that if I just copied the way native speakers spoke then I should be ok, right? Well, in retrospect I do believe it is a good thing to copy speak when it comes to simple pronunciation of words, but be careful not to copy speak grammar or sentence structure because that can turn out to give you trouble later on. Mimicking native speakers is good as long as you aren’t copying their bad habits also. Men should never copy the speech of women.
Copy pronunciation, but stay very far from women’s nuances, sentence endings, and their use of certain words if done in like manner could portray an overzealous Japanese SL male learner as an okama or gay. If you don't want to be considered an OKAMA, you must pay attention to the way men use the words for you and I. And be careful of sentence ending particles like na no, no da, or sa, or za, or ze, or soi, zoi, kusa, unaccompanied particles can be quite rude in the mouth of a Gaijin. That’s harsh and if you don't know what okama is, look it up in the Sanseido Wa-Ei and if you don't have one go to my lens http://squidoo.com/japponics wherein is a link to the Sanseido publishing company. It is so important to have a dictionary as an aid for studying Japanese it goes without saying. So get one if you don't already have one.
If you are going to learn to speak Japanese please try to speak with correct pronunciation. It shows bad manners, and lack of commitment. It also sends a message of disgrace for your native country. It is important also while in Japan to show that you love your country. They are quite accepting of many gaijins in this respect. Especially since you'll usually be the only gaijin within a couple of hundred miles so make your pronunciation count.
One cool thing about Japanese pronunciation is that vowels do not vary as they do in English. They stay straight. English uses the 5 letters a e i o u to make around 20 vowel sounds. In English you find words that elide ( and do other crazy things. Dipthongs are a thing which should be carefully studied. Take a note to discuss dipthongs in Japanese, just on Sake Talkie. The are many English vowel sounds that Japanese just doesn't have. It is for this reason I find it easier to find the pronunciation of any foreign difficult word like words in the Bible Deuteronomy that you'll never figure out or philosophical names and the like, if you read those foreign difficult name type words in Japanese it comes out closer than attempts I have made in English. Actually using both your native tongue and Japanese together you can come up with the pronunciation of any difficult biblical term. Let me give you one example: In Japanese, there are 5 vowels, and 5 vowel sounds. Learning languages couldn’t be easier.
The order is a little different so that might be the first thing to look at. The first 5 syllables in the Japanese syllabary are a i u e and o. It has to be said that if you were to gather a Japanese ensemble and make a choir out of them, oh how satisfied the director would be. Because they only use 5 vowels and they are pure. International phonetics could straightway use Japanese for these vowels written in Romaji as a i u e o. Or Hiragana as あ,い,う,えand お.
