Acknowledge (ね, ねえ and よ)

Below here I want to give an example when answering a question and at the same time you want to acknowledge them to agree with your statement, simply put 'yo' (ょ) at the end of sentence

東京(とうきょう)  は  どこ  ですか
where is Tokyo?


ここ  は  東京  ですよ
this is Tokyo you know




While if you give a statement that urges people to agree with you, you can use 'ね' like below


東京  は   面白い(おもしろい)  ですね
Tokyo is interesting, isn't it?




but don't get confused between 'ね' and 'ねえ' which 'ねえ' also can used as ! in English, for example


面白い  ですねえ
It is interesting!

But (でも)

でも (demo) means but or however. Can be found between two sentences
example:
今日  (は)  寒い  です。でも、昨日  (は)  暑い  です
Kyou (wa) samui desu. demo, kinou (wa) atsuidesu
Today is cold but yesterday is hot

スパゲッティ  (が)  好き  です。でも、ハンバーガー  (が)  嫌い  です
Supagetti (ga) suki desu. Demo, hanbaagaa (ga) kirai desu
I love spaghetti but I hate burger

Famous kanji

Kanji is a Chinese set character which 1 character represent 1 word, and yes there have a thousands of them (maybe more than six thousand I think). It is impossible to memorise all of them and sometimes you will find it not useful with your lessons. But it is essential to master them if you wish to master Japanese, and once you can recognize them it is easier for you to understand meaning of a word without read through the all sentence.


How does it sounds? That was good question, basically Japanese kanji comprise 2 sounds that called onyoumi and kunyomi. Onyomi is sound that take from original Chinese kanji sound while kunyomi is sound that develop by Japanese themselves (thats what I think...hehehe, but you can Google them to make sure of it). This mean that one kanji can have two or more sounds and it is difficult to choose which one we have to use. The easiest method to determine which sound we should use is by look at kanji position itself. If a kanji is written together with hiragana or a single kanji, usually we use kunyomi sound and if a kanji is written together with other kanji (without hiragana) then onyomi is used


example: 
一時：ICHIJI (onyomi) pronunciation of the 時 is ji (chinese reading)

子どもの時 KODOMO no TOKI (kunyomi) pronunciation of the 時 is toki (japanese reading)




100 Famous kanji


1. 日 sun
2. 一 one
3. 大 big
4. 年 year
5. 中 middle
6. 会 to meet
7. 人 human being, people
8. 本 book
9. 月 moon, month
10. 長 long
11. 国 country
12. 出 to go out
13. 上 up, top
14. 十 ten
15. 生 life
16. 子 child
17. 分 minute
18. 東 east
19. 三 three
20. 行 to go
21. 同 same
22. 今 now
23. 高 high, expensive
24. 金 money, gold
25. 時 time
26. 手 hand
27. 見 to see, to look
28. 市 city
29. 力 power
30. 米 rice
31. 自 oneself
32. 前 before
33. 円 Yen (Japanese currency)
34. 合 to combine
35. 立 to stand
36. 内 inside
37. 二 two
38. 事 affair, matter
39. 社 company, society
40. 者 person
41. 地 ground, place
42. 京 capital
43. 間 interval, between
44. 田 rice field
45. 体 body
46. 学 to study
47. 下 down, under
48. 目 eye
49. 五 five
50. 後 after
51. 新 new
52. 明 bright, clear
53. 方 direction
54. 部 section
55. 女 woman
56. 八 eight
57. 心 heart
58. 四 four
59. 民 people, nation
60. 対 opposite
61. 主 main, master
62. 正 right, correct
63. 代 to substitute, generation
64. 言 to say
65. 九 nine
66. 小 small
67. 思 to think
68. 七 seven
69. 山 mountain
70. 実 real
71. 入 to enter
72. 回 to turn around, time
73. 場 place
74. 野 field
75. 開 to open
76. 万 ten thousand
77. 全 whole
78. 定 to fix
79. 家 house
80. 北 north
81. 六 six
82. 問 question
83. 話 to speak
84. 文 letter, writings
85. 動 to move
86. 度 degree, time
87. 県 prefecture
88. 水 water
89. 安 inexpensive, peaceful
90. 氏 courtesy name (Mr., Mister)
91. 和 harmonious, peace
92. 政 government, politics
93. 保 to maintain, to keep
94. 表 to express, surface
95. 道 way
96. 相 phase, mutual
97. 意 mind, meaning
98. 発 to start, to emit
99. 不 not, un~, in~
100. 党 political party

Address people

If you talk with Japanese, it is polite to address him or her by using his name; for example 'Takako san', 'Hirasawa san' and many more. The word 'さん' (san) at the end of a name can be translated as Mr. or Mrs. and 'さん' also not represent gender. Sometimes, you also can hear other addresses like 'kun' (くん) and 'chan' (ちゃん) which kun is used for young boy and chan used for cute person or cute things.

Ask people to do something

Long ago, I talk with one of my Japanese customer. His English was fine and we don't have any communication problem until I told him to write down something. I try my best to ask him to write what I'm going to tell but he couldn't understand that, so I say to him "書いてください" (Kaite kudasai) means please write. He looks suprised then laughed a lot, and conversation end well.


Back to our lessons, 書く/かく (kaku) means write. In Japanese, base form for verbs end with vowel 'u'. If base form convert to 'te' form, then it become a command for example かく convert to かいて a meaning of WRITE become PLEASE WRITE. However this is sound quite rude for Japanese, so we need to add 'kudasai' at the back so it sound more polite. I'll give more example below


食べる (eat)     become       食べてください (please eat)

taberu                                                            tabete kudasai


歩く (aruku/walk)          歩いてください (aruite kudasai)


見る (miru/watch)         見てください (mite kudasai)




However, verbs conjugation depends on its base form which means different word will results in different 'te' form after conjugate.

• For all verbs ending in ぶ (bu), む (mu), or ぬ (nu); the ぶ (bu), む (mu), or ぬ (nu) becomes んで (nde). [example: yomu (to read become yonde (Please read)]

•  For all verbs ending in う (u), つ (tsu), or る (ru); the う (u), つ (tsu), or る (ru) becomes って (tte) in the "te" form and った (tta) in the "ta" form. [ex. katsu (to win) -> katte (please win)]

• For all verbs ending in く (ku), the く (ku) becomes いて (ite) in the "te" form. [example like above: aruku (to walk) become aruite (Please walk)] The only exception to this rule is for the verb iku (to go) which becomes いって(itte)

• For all verbs ending in ぐ (gu), the ぐ (gu) becomes いで (ide) in the "te" form. [example: oyogu (to swim) becomes oyoide (Please swim)]

• For all verbs ending in す (su), the す (su) becomes して (shite) in the "te" form. [example: hanasu (to talk) becomes hanashite (Please say)]

• For all verbs ending in  いる(iru) or える(eru), simply take off the "ru" and add a "te" in the "te" form. [example 食べる (taberu) become 食べて (tabete) and見る (miru) become 見て (mite)]

• Exception for  来る (kuru) and  する (suru), "kuru" become "kite" and "suru" become "shite"

Please do self study...hehehe (if u like), any interesting example please share inside a comment.

How to ask a question?

In previous chapter we learn about function of 'kore', 'sore' and 'are'. We also learned how to construct basic sentences and simple reply. Today I would like to give example from basic conversation that contain all of element learned before with additional new information. Before that, I want to teach you how to convert basic sentence into basic question. We can  convert basic sentence into basic question by simply add 'ka' at the end of sentences

これ   (は)   [お]寿司   です       this is sushi

kore    (wa)    [o]sushi    desu

これ   (は)   [お]寿司   ですか       is this sushi?

kore    (wa)    [o]sushi    desuka

お is placed in front of nouns like food or drink to make them more polite, since Japanese is very polite we have to be careful to pick a words that suitable with degree of politeness required.

roy     : それ   (は)   何   ですか

ken    : これ   (は)   私   (の)    バッグ   です。この   なか   (に)

           本   (が)   あります

roy     : えんぴつ   (は)   ありますか

ken    :  いいえ,   えんぴつ   (は)   ありません

in above conversation, ken is reply with negative statement. If ken reply with a positive statement, it should be like this: 'はい, えんぴつ   (は)   あります'. 'あります' ('ありません' for negative) is translated as a 'have' (don't have for negative) but only applicable for non-move non-living thing, for moved living thing we replace 'あります' into 'います' ('いません' for negative).

私   (は)   母   (が)    い ます          I have a mother

watashi     (wa)    haha    (ga)    imasu

OK, see you in the next post and don't forget to comment

Basic sentences

Hi, thanks for visiting my blog again. Today, we will learn to construct a basic sentences. Like mentioned in my previous post 'Perkenal diriku ini', the basic statement sentence form is:


(SUBJECT) wa (ADVERBS/NAME/ADJECTIVES) desu


example
ここ   (は)   日本   で す       This is Japan
koko    (wa)    Nihon    desu


サッカー   (は)   面白い   です             Soccer is interesting
sakka    (wa)    omoshiroi    desu



While for negative statement, simply change 'desu' into 'dewa arimasen' (ではありません). example:

ここ   (は)   日本   ではありません    This is not Japan
koko    (wa)    Nihon    dewa arimasen


サッカー   (は)   面白い   ではありません    Soccer is not interesting

sakka    (wa)    omoshiroi    dewa arimasen




For negative statement, alternatively we also can use 'ja arimasen' (じゃありません) instead of 'dewa arimasen'. Any queries, please give a comment

Simple reply (part 2)

Today, I will share some important words that might be useful for daily conversation, maybe I will use them a little in my next posts

ありがとう (Arigatou) Thank you

ありがとうございました (Arigatou gozaimasu) Thank you (formal)

おはようございます (Ohayou gozaimasu) Good morning

こんばんは (Konbanwa) Good evening 

お元気ですか (Ogenkidesuka) How are you

こんにちわ (Konnichiwa) Hello

おやすみ (Oyasumi) Good night 

はじめまして (Hajimemashite) Nice to meet you 

よろしく お願いします (Yoroshiku Onegaishimasu) Pleased to meet you

すみません (Sumimasen) I'm sorry

ごめんなさい (Gomen'nasai) I'm sorry

待ってください (Mattekudasai) Please wait

頑張ってください (Gambatte kudasai) Good Luck

さよなら (Sayonara) Goodbye

どういたしまして (Douitashimashite) You're welcome

何 (Nani) What

誰 (Dare) Who

どこ (Doko) Where

なぜ (Naze) Why

どれ (Dore) Which

If you mind to share something more, please give a comment

Simple reply (part 1)

Hi again, I think its time for us to learn about new words. How do Japanese say 'yes' and 'no'? Japanese say はい (hai) for yes and ない (nai) or いいえ (iie). But don't confuse with reply いいよ (iiyo) means okay! While this and there for Japanese is quite different with other language.

If I talk with Mr. Suarez with ball in my hand, and I want to tell him that what I have is a ball, I should say  "これ  (は)  ボール  です" (Kore (wa) booru desu) means 'this is a ball'. But If Mr Suarez have a ball and I want to say what he have is a ball is by saying "それ (は) ボール です" (Sore (wa) booru desu) means 'that (near you) is a ball'. If the ball is far from both me and Mr. Suarez, replace 'Sore' to 'Are' "あれ (は) ボール です".

If this and there is a location or place, 'これ' will become 'ここ' (koko). 'それ' will become 'そこ' (soko) and 'あれ' will become 'あそこ' (asoko). For example 'そこ  (は)  眠り  (の)  森' (Soko (wa) nemuri (no) mori) means 'there is a sleeping forest'. As a conclusion this and there is determine by speaker side or listener side.

Japanese particle (last part)

Particle 'de' (で)  is used in sentences that involve movement or location, one of its common used is to show what kind of vehicle used to reach destination


電車   (で)   東京   (へ)   行きます
Densha    (de)    Toukyou    (e )    ikimasu          [I go to Tokyo by train]

Another usage is used to show location of an event
デパート   (で)   シャツ   (を)   買います
Depaato    (de)    shatsu    (o)    kau              [Buy a shirt at a department store]



 While particle 'to' (と) is used exactly same as 'and' in English

私   (は)   寿司   (と)   卵   (が)   好き   です
Watashi    (wa)    sushi    (to)    tamago    (ga)    suki   desu      [I like sushi and egg]


Particle 'ya' (や) also have a same function like partile 'to' but particle 'to' is used more frequently than particle 'ya'. However there still many other particle in Japanese but I won't explain them yet because

those particle used as a preposition or verbs in other language. Any additional info please give me a comment :)

Japanese particle (part 2)

Particle 'wo' used as an object marker, while particle 'ni' used to emphasis time or location. Particle ni also can be use to describe purpose. For example in a sentence 'Mr. Mario gives a letter to Mrs. Maria' it is written as 'マリオさん (は) マリアさん (に) 手紙 (を) 送る'. Below is more example involving particle 'wo' and 'ni', you can do self study by detrmine the meaning of sentence below through identifying the particle.

京子さん (は) 日本語 (を) 勉強します

kyoko san         (wa)       nihongo        (wo)         benkyoshimasu

賢治さん (は) 東京 (に) 行きます

kenji san        (wa)         toukyou          (wo)        ikimasu

Particle 'no' means 'of' for example 'テニス   の   王子' means prince of tennis or 'John Carter of Virginia' is written as 'Virginia no John Carter' in Japanese. 'スペード   の   キング' means 'king of spade'. Particle 'no' also could bring posession for example you want to mention that something is yours. I give you one example:

これ (は) 私 (の) 車 です

  kore    (wa)   watashi    (no)    kuruma    desu  

Particle 'へ' pronounced as 'e' is used after a things that being transfered or moved. Alternatively we also can apply particle 'ni' instead of particle 'e'.

東京 (へ) 行きます

  toukyou    (e)    ikimasu

東京 (に) 行きます

  toukyou     (ni)    ikimasu

Other particle will be discuss in the next chapter. Any additional info or correction please give a comment, please 

Japanese particle (part 1)

Hello again, konnichiwa. We will learn about particle for today which this element doesn't exist in all languages I know. Some languages have a term of active and passive sentences, that determine that who is a topic marker in a sentences. But in Japanese they use particle to determine that. Here are some example of particle that can be found easily in a sentences: は が を へ に の で and many more. And particle is located at the end of a word or subject.

Particle "wa" (は) marks the topic of the sentence and the particle "ga" (が) marks the subject of the sentence. I'll give you one example:

"私  (は)  アニメ  (が)  大好き" (watashi wa anime ga daisuki)

example above means "I love anime", 私 is watashi (I) while アニメ  is anime that is written in katakana because anime is a foreign word (short form of animation) and 大好き is daisuki means love. particle "wo" (or "o") marks the direct object of a Japanese sentence.

私 (は) 本 (を) 三冊 読んだ (watashi wa hon o sansatsu yonda)

本= book, 三冊= three books and 読んだ= read. Other particle will be discuss in next chapter, if you have more example for above particle please put a comment, thank you.

Additional info

For additional information, vowel pronunciation for Japanese is quite different from English. For example た (ta) is pronounce as “ta” in tart. While ち(chi) is like “chi” in cheese. ふ (fu) is pronounce as foo in English but softer, sounds more like blowing a candle sound. れ (re) is pronounce as ray in English. Lastly ほ (ho) is pronounce as hoe in English. Most Asian country pronounce vowel exactly the same way like Japanese did, so they don't have problem to learn Japanese pronunciation.

However for particle を and は, it is pronounced as “o” and “wa” instead of “wo” and “ha”. One more thing that forget to mention before, One day is called ichi nichi, two days is futsuka, then mikka, yokka, itsuka, muika, nanoka, youka, kokonoka, and touka for ten days. Weird isn't it, any additional info please give a comment. :)

Self introduction

How to introduce yourself in japanese? Actually, there have many way to do so but I prefer the easiest one and commonly used. You can try like this:

"watashi wa ______ desu."

For example I want to introduce to others with name Wak, I would say "watashi wa Wak desu". watashi means "I" (formal form), "wa" is a particle (which I will elaborate it later) while desu is "is". Don't be suprise because japanese use verbs at the end of sentences. Below is a nouns that mostly used in Japanese

watashi (I)

わたし

私

formal

ore (I)

おれ

俺

very informal (sound rude if used to strangers)

boku (I)

ぼく

僕

informal (usually used by male only)

atashi (I)

あたし

informal (usually used by female only)

anata (you)

あなた

貴方, 貴男, 貴女

formal/informal (sometimes used by lover)

omae (you)

おまえ

お前

very informal (sound rude if used to strangers)

kimi (you)

きみ

君

informal

kare (he)

かれ

彼

formal (neutral) and informal (boyfriend)

kanojo (she)

かのじょ

彼女

formal (neutral) and informal (girlfriend)

To say a nouns that represents many people usually add tachi 達 (たち) at the back. For example 私達 watashi-tachi (we), あなた達 anata-tachi (you many), 彼女たち kanojo-tachi (they female), 君たち kimi-tachi (you many) and many more. If you have more example, don't bother to give a comment.