Japanese (日本語) Learning Thread

[Avarice]

Rebirth of this thread from MT, because it was really helpful and motivational. Plus, I wanted to start learning again, because tons of stuff evaded my memory.

I'll be on Yahoo Messenger more? So yay?

Feel free to post questions or answers to questions or just talk about the most random things in Japanese. Because that helps retain information a lot ._.

Firstly, you'll probably want your computer to be able to read the language. I forget how to set it up on XP, and I'm on Vista now, so pah.

I'm still a complete noob at Japanese, but meh. One of the prevailing questions that I forgot (not including the how many kanji and vocabulary that I already lacked), was the difference between the える (eru) form of a verb and ことができる (koto ga dekiru) which came after the verb. I always assumed both meant =can do= to some extent, although I forget the differences. Like in...

日本語が話せます。[(I) can speak Japanese =correct translation?=)

and

日本語が話すことができる。[(I) can speak Japanese =correct translation?=)

Answer if possible, questions can be freely asked, AND START RANDOM TOPIC YES?

Helpful Links:
Ajax IME: Web-based Japanese Input Method

If you're too lazy or just don't feel like setting your keyboard to Japanese, you can use this. Click IME On/Off to make it light blue when on and white when off. If it's on, type in romaji and ta-da! It comes as Hiragana, and then work from there.

If you're unfamiliar with it, after every word or phrase, you can press space to see a dropdown box of what you want the text to actually appear as, kanji/hiragana/katakana wise. The katakana is usually the last option at the bottom, and the top ones are the most relevant or the ones that it thinks you're trying to say. I usually do it after every word if I know I want some of the words to be kanji, that way it can be more accurate and precise with what kanji you want.

Thread GO!

I hope it doesn't die ._.

[Shnao]

Umm... so I just type stuff out in romaji form and it'll come out as kanji? o_o Kinda new to this so no offense but how will this help us learn Japanese? D:

[Avarice]

To help with hiragana, katakana, and kanji recognition. First you have to learn those alphabets first; the thread isn't about that IME. It's about learning in general.

I started on TheJapanesePage.com, I still go to it mostly.

[Kokoro]

I took Japanese a few years ago but I've forgotten a *lot* of it ._.

The hiragana and katakana charts are a good place to start.

Anyway, here's a list of Japanese online resources which I compiled for my scanlation group:

:: Grammar ::
U-biq
Nihongo Resources
Jgram

:: Online Dictionaries ::
Jim Breen's WWWJDIC interface
Space-Alc
Sanseido's EXCEED JE/EJ
Kenkyusha's New College Japanese English Dictionary
Sanseido's daily concise dictionary
Jeffrey's J>E Dictionary
A mini dictionary of (user submitted) slang for "young people".
Popjiyso
The "underground" J-E dictionary
Mahou Dictionary
Slang & Colloquial Expressions

:: Kanji ::
Kanji Search Tool
Jim Breen's Kanji Dictionary

:: Dictionary Programs ::
JWPce
JquickTrans

I also used to have links for vocab and kanji lists but I can't seem to find them ~.~

[Avarice]

Originally Posted by Kokoro

I took Japanese a few years ago but I've forgotten a *lot* of it ._.

The hiragana and katakana charts are a good place to start.

Anyway, here's a list of Japanese online resources which I compiled for my scanlation group:



I also used to have links for vocab and kanji lists but I can't seem to find them ~.~

Thanks. Especially for the dictionaries, because my vocabulary is so limited x_x.

Although honestly, I never thought learning katakana was a priority. In fact, I still don't know a bunch of it, because I've rarely had to use it so far.

[meowmatchy]

the dictionary is great! thanks for the compiling

[Avarice]

http://www.gwu.edu/~eall/vjg/vjghomepage/vjghome.htm

I found this. You probably want to know basic knowledge of the language, hiragana, katakana, some kanji, some vocabulary, etc. But it's 66 flash files helping with grammar.

So far my question about -eru and -koto ga dekiru is still unanswered D:

[Avarice]

Thank you so much, . And yeah, 日本語ができます is probably better, but it's just weird for me saying "I Can Japanese!"

My head is still in english mode right now Q_Q

[Joon]

I just want to know how to write one thing in japanese.
"White People Can't Read this"
Just bored.

[SpinSpinBunny]

I wanted to post on this thread on MT but never got the time. I plan on learning Japanese at an early age, so I can get to know it better ^w^. I kinda understand it @_@.

[ChaosReaper]

Originally Posted by Joon

I just want to know how to write one thing in japanese.
"White People Can't Read this"
Just bored.

Lol.....thats kinda tough to translate. Since translated, it might mean:

White(colored) people can't read this.
これは,白い人を読むことができない.
OR

Foreigners cant read this.
これは,外人を読むことができない.

Dunno if thats correct though.

[Azusa]

これは米国人には読めない。

が、訳されるかも。