Discussion The Japanese Study Thread

[cmertb]

You always need a dictionary when translating, no matter how well you know the two languages. But if you're just reading, you don't necessarily need one, even if you don't know every single word. I think you can start reading average manga without a dictionary around N2 level.

 

[Ominae]

I've been reading RAW manga for about 7 years now and I still use a dictionary regularly. I wouldn't suggest thinking that that is something your going to grow out of any time soon. Sure, you might go 10 pages without looking up a word, but it's still necessary.

I do use paper dictionaries, since no dictionary has everything you need, but my main dictionary is a software one that I bought a long time ago, and it's freeware now. Here is a link, if your interested: JQuickTrans I recommend typing in Kana and disabling Romanji conversion, it will filter out a lot of garbage results.

I don't have my paper dictionary with me right now, so this may be the next best thing for me. Thanks, I'll go have a look around.

I guess being schooled in a Catholic school with Mandarin Chinese-based curriculum is still helpful after all these years. XD

 

[Utsune]

I don't have my paper dictionary with me right now, so this may be the next best thing for me. Thanks, I'll go have a look around.

I guess being schooled in a Catholic school with Mandarin Chinese-based curriculum is still helpful after all these years. XD

Over the time you would realise Chinese is much more similar to Japanese than you might think at first
Especially kanji... For example,
in Mandarin pinyin, jing = 鏡 京 境 競 經 景 敬 警, xing = 型 興 形,
Cantonese ging = 京 境 競 經 景 敬 警, hing = 興 輕 慶 兄 卿, ying = 型 形
while in Japanese, kyou = 鏡 京 境 競 興 兄, kei = 経 景 敬 型 形 警 軽 慶 兄 卿.

A lot of the sounds are very similar, and fall into the same 'category' of pronunciation. In effect, you can make a very accurate educated guess of the on'yomi for many Japanese kanji if you have a good knowledge in Chinese, and vice versa

 

[benelori]

I don't have my paper dictionary with me right now, so this may be the next best thing for me. Thanks, I'll go have a look around.

I guess being schooled in a Catholic school with Mandarin Chinese-based curriculum is still helpful after all these years. XD

I use tangorin as an online dictionary, and it never failed me in translating manga or just reading the raws

 

[Ominae]

Thanks for the suggestion. I'll look at that too when my day isn't hectic ever since my dad's not making me head back to uni (I have a community college degree) in order to make me work. ;

 

[RinGO321227]

Hi, guys! Recently, I received an electronic dictionary (SHARP BRAIN PW-G5300-W) and since it's all in Japanese, I dont know how to use it. It sucks, I know. So does anyone here knows how to use an e-dictionary?

 

[mikkih]

Hi, guys! Recently, I received an electronic dictionary (SHARP BRAIN PW-G5300-W) and since it's all in Japanese, I dont know how to use it. It sucks, I know. So does anyone here knows how to use an e-dictionary?

It looks like a very nice e-dictionary.
The quick guide: pdf format [ link ] (2 pages) is what you need to read. If you have any specific questions, it may be easier for other members to answer your question.

はじめてお使いになるときは　　７．　　<---　First time set up: I hope you made a correct selection at least. It's after you set your date&time. Select "アルカリ乾電池" alkaline battery　if you put the enclosed batteries.

Maybe other members use the same model as yours. Good luck.

 

[Ominae]

Alrighty folks.

Old man decided to put me (thanks to mom's advice) in a Japanese language center in Manila to brush on whatever elementary-based Japanese I have before I could go to Waseda for more Japanese language training.

I'm reviewing the hiragana/katakana stuff for assessment. Anything else to take note?

If you got something that can be useful via link, post it here. I may be missing something since I only have the hiragana/katakana charts and I don't have the study guide with me from Vancouver.

 

[mikkih]

If you got something that can be useful via link, post it here.

You may like some sites listed in the Useful Links Thread.

 

[Ominae]

Busted my ass off and I failed the simulated test. Back to Elementary Japanese again.

Least it can help refresh whatever Japanese is left in me brain.

 

[vicious001]

Re: Japanese Learning Resources

ok, can someone help me, about this "nandayo", "ndayo", "nodayo" thing, it is kind of confusing

 

[Darjaille]

Re: Japanese Learning Resources

ok, can someone help me, about this "nandayo", "ndayo", "nodayo" thing, it is kind of confusing

I assume you know what da yo means (the verb of existence? being? plus particle of emhpasis).
No, n, nan, nano (well, only "no" really) in this place of the sentence means explanatory tone. If it's a declarative sentence/answer, it carries the nuances of "I'm explaining" or maybe confirming. In a question, you're asking someone to explain/confirm. If you're attaching "no" to a noun or na-adj you have to add a "na" making it "nano". And in speech, the "no" gets shortened to "n" often as it's easier to pronounce. You also don't have to add the "desu"/"da" at the end, in declarative sentence not using "da" does sound kind of feminine.

明日は水曜日なの。 (Ashita wa suiyobi na no - Tomorrow it's wednesday! [feminine explanatory undertone])
明日は水曜日なんだよ。(Ashita wa suiyobi nan da yo - Tomorrow it's wednesday! [normal explanatory undertone])
外は寒いの。 (Soto wa samui no - It's cold outside [feminine explanatory])
外は寒いんですよ。 (Soto wa samui n da yo - It's cold outside [normal explanatory undertone])

I feel in many cases it doesn't really matter whether you use it or not, I mean saying
この先食べに行くんだよ。(Kono saki tabe ni iku n da yo - After this ends I'm going to go eat [explanatory tone])
or
この先食べに行くよ。 (Kono saki tabe ni iku yo - Same but without explanatory particle, just announcing)

- it doesn't really matter too much, it depends on the person who's saying it. If the person wants to add the nuance of "I'm explaining this to you!" then they will add it. In a polite question, it does hold the nuance of "please explain this", but in casual questions, "no" is actually used only to imply the question itself.

明日試合を見に行くんですか。(Ashita shiai wo mi ni iku n desu ka - Are you going to watch the match tomorrow? [polite inquiry, "ka" is the question marker])

明日試合を見に来るの？ (Ashita shiai wo mi ni kuru no? - Coming to watch the match tomorrow? [casual question, "no" makes the question instead of "ka")


I'm sorry if I wrote something wrong or unclear

 

[mikkih]

Re: Japanese Learning Resources

ok, can someone help me, about this "nandayo", "ndayo", "nodayo" thing, it is kind of confusing

Verb/Adj + no/n + da/desu.

When you want to use verbs or most adjectives followed by da/desu, you add "no (or colloquial n)."

The last "yo" does not mean much, but it softens the tone of voice.

Edit/Add:

When you use nouns, add na before no/n + da/desu.

 

[Ominae]

Something to share it's related.

I found it weird that I was headhunted by a company for a Japanese language position despite my certification for N5 last year. I was told that salary is 25K pesos in Manila or 562 American dollars.

I need to make a decision later since I relocated to Manila from Vancouver with no job in sight, it's my first job offer. Of course, I'll be assessed on how far my N5 studies go. Probably will need to ask on how the company's going to help me improve my Japanese skills if I decide to take the offer.

 

[mikkih]

Something to share it's related.

I found it weird that I was headhunted by a company for a Japanese language position despite my certification for N5 last year. I was told that salary is 25K pesos in Manila or 562 American dollars.

I need to make a decision later since I relocated to Manila from Vancouver with no job in sight, it's my first job offer. Of course, I'll be assessed on how far my N5 studies go. Probably will need to ask on how the company's going to help me improve my Japanese skills if I decide to take the offer.

How much does it cost to live in Manila per month? Can you live with $562/month (before or after tax?) ? Can you find any overseas English instructor jobs that might pay you more?

 

[YumaKuga]

Does anyone know a good japanese dictionary of kanji? I use an old Kodansha dictionary, but kinda think its outdated.

 

[Leoat12]

Does anyone know a good japanese dictionary of kanji? I use an old Kodansha dictionary, but kinda think its outdated.

This article presents three Kanji dictionaries and how they work so that you are able to choose the most suitable for you. It is an interesting reading and, obviously, may answer your question: http://www.tofugu.com/guides/how-to-use-a-kanji-dictionary/

 

[Saithan]

Re: [JP] The Official Kanji Ask-for-Help Thread

I couldn't really figure out where to post this question regarding translating, so here goes

How long does it take a translator to write the sentences in japanese word processor before doing the translation of a chapter ?

I have always just done the translation in notepad, but now I'm working on a chapter of a seinen manga, and as you know there aren't any furigana which makes the kanji recognition and writing a lot harder.

 

[cmertb]

Re: [JP] The Official Kanji Ask-for-Help Thread

I used to do that only when I was a beginner. I don't see the need to retype jp text anymore. As for how long, it depends entirely on how many unknown words and kanji are there. If you know all of them, it'll take you as long as it would take to retype English text. Basically, if you feel like it's taking too much time, improve your vocab.

 

[Saithan]

Good point, and quite a few of the kanjis are basic so I need to learn them. Perhaps this is just a beginners challenge. The kanjis I learned are more or less all from when I studied japanese, and for some reason the kanjis were quite easy to memorize back then. I think this was due to the kanjis being used in simple ways and everyday use that made it easy to recognize later on.

thanks for the advice though.