learning japanese

[dimitri_can]

http://www.guidetojapanese.org/

http://study.u-biq.org/english.html

http://nihongo.j-talk.com/parser/index.php

Good place to learn pronounciation
http://www.veoh.com/search.html?type=v&searchId=97278596628525203&search=ainori

http://japanese.meetup.com/7/messages/boards/thread/5211513

どんなときどう使う日本語表現文型200 初・中級 (ISBN: 9784757401747)
実力アップ！日本語能力試験 ４級入門総まとめ文法・漢字・語彙(ISBN:4896894545)
All About Particles (ISBN: 9784770027818)
Basic Connections Making Your Japanese Flow (ISBN:9784770028600)

 

[ahmahippo]

thanks

tml me going kino to buy the books.

 

[Ah_keong]

oh ok wonder what books you want to intro me can get from kino?

can get from kino... if u keen, i can meet u to show u the book see if u like it... then u can decide whther u wanna get it...

 

[Ah_keong]

I have not studied French before but I would say for Japanese, if you're not living in Japan, unless you're a natural linguist or study intensively supplementing your studies with radio/tv programs or have a Japanese partner, you're not going to be able to master the language that quickly. French, Spanish and German are all Germanic/Latin based languages so their gramatical structure and vocabulary are rather similar. Japanese on the other hand has a completely different gramatical structure and honorary language embedded into it. Unless you've studied Korean before the latter isn't going to be easy to understand at all. Furthermore the honorary language often resembles passive gramatical structures so it's easy to get confused between the two unless you've had some guidance. Also regular speech in Japanese resembles nothing like the stuff you learn in textbooks (just like how in Singapore we use Singlish). Japanese is classified by US educators as the most difficult language to learn for English speakers, whereas Spanish and French are classified as one of the easiest. Do take that into account before you start investing your time in the language Having said that though, if you're more into purely reading, you'll probably be able to manage in two years to read books decently (albeit slowly) with an aid of a dictionary.

Note: then again, English must be very difficult for non-native speakers to master if they only start learning it in their late teens later with its many exceptions to grammar rules and spellings.

agree X 10000 man... 1 way is stay in Japan for 2 years...

 

[ahmahippo]

can get from kino... if u keen, i can meet u to show u the book see if u like it... then u can decide whther u wanna get it...

wow... ok

 

[Ah_keong]

wow... ok

ok, u know where is IKOMA?? i meet u at the building 1st level at 8pm...

 

[QJPtheSE]

I have not studied French before but I would say for Japanese, if you're not living in Japan, unless you're a natural linguist or study intensively supplementing your studies with radio/tv programs or have a Japanese partner, you're not going to be able to master the language that quickly. French, Spanish and German are all Germanic/Latin based languages so their gramatical structure and vocabulary are rather similar. Japanese on the other hand has a completely different gramatical structure and honorary language embedded into it. Unless you've studied Korean before the latter isn't going to be easy to understand at all. Furthermore the honorary language often resembles passive gramatical structures so it's easy to get confused between the two unless you've had some guidance. Also regular speech in Japanese resembles nothing like the stuff you learn in textbooks (just like how in Singapore we use Singlish). Japanese is classified by US educators as the most difficult language to learn for English speakers, whereas Spanish and French are classified as one of the easiest. Do take that into account before you start investing your time in the language Having said that though, if you're more into purely reading, you'll probably be able to manage in two years to read books decently (albeit slowly) with an aid of a dictionary.

Note: then again, English must be very difficult for non-native speakers to master if they only start learning it in their late teens later with its many exceptions to grammar rules and spellings.

But I thought that if I have a very good foundation in Chinese, there will be little problem in learning Japanese? (I have taken A level Higher Chinese and have obtain level 10 for HSK) When I am studying French, about 50% of the vocabulary are the same or similar to English. Therefore, I can spend more time on pronunciation and grammar, while not slowed down by vocabulary. Isn't it the same case between Chinese and Japanese?

 

[Niaoson]

But I thought that if I have a very good foundation in Chinese, there will be little problem in learning Japanese? (I have taken A level Higher Chinese and have obtain level 10 for HSK) When I am studying French, about 50% of the vocabulary are the same or similar to English. Therefore, I can spend more time on pronunciation and grammar, while not slowed down by vocabulary. Isn't it the same case between Chinese and Japanese?

on the surface only. okay take a look at this word and tell me what u think is the meaning:

感謝する

now take a look at thsi word and tell me what u think is the meaning:

謝る

will wait for ur answer before i post the correct answers. don't bluff urself by using an online translator!

 

[QJPtheSE]

on the surface only. okay take a look at this word and tell me what u think is the meaning:

感謝する

now take a look at thsi word and tell me what u think is the meaning:

謝る

will wait for ur answer before i post the correct answers. don't bluff urself by using an online translator!

1st: 感恩

2nd: 谢谢

(I replied in Chinese)

 

[Niaoson]

ur answer for the first one is correct - to be grateful.

but for the second one it means to apologise.

see what i mean? some of them may look the same, and the meaning the same (i.e. chinese and japanese meaning) but u also have those that look the same and the meaning totally different like in this case.

 

[QJPtheSE]

I see. It seems like there is a lot to be learned even if I do not have to struggle with the writing....

 

[barrin]

i think having studied chinese still provides a wee bit of advantage at least you will not be overwhelmed by the need to write kanji characters. I had a Malay 'classmate' once but disappeared within 1,2 lessons. I think maybe too overwhelming for them.

 

[dimitri_can]

Generally it takes about 2-3 yrs to reach to a considerable standard.

 

[kjaskk]

I also noticed that kanji are written differently from the chinese character. You may not notice it if you look superficially. I got myself wrong many times. Thanks to my Sensei who corrected me.

 

[Ah_keong]

But I thought that if I have a very good foundation in Chinese, there will be little problem in learning Japanese? (I have taken A level Higher Chinese and have obtain level 10 for HSK) When I am studying French, about 50% of the vocabulary are the same or similar to English. Therefore, I can spend more time on pronunciation and grammar, while not slowed down by vocabulary. Isn't it the same case between Chinese and Japanese?

wow... thats very very different sia...
some are similar while some are totally different story...

 

[Ah_keong]

I also noticed that kanji are written differently from the chinese character. You may not notice it if you look superficially. I got myself wrong many times. Thanks to my Sensei who corrected me.

me too, i remember my 1st kanji i wrote 海 and i wrote the chinese way

was marked wrong and i stared at the word for like 5 mins wondering where went wrong till the sensei come and tell me the difference...

 

[Ah_keong]

Generally it takes about 2-3 yrs to reach to a considerable standard.

must see 1 subjectively...

for stupid students like me, may take 7 - 10 years?

 

[ahmahippo]

one word i know the kanji and chinese character the same.

Love.


I am smart lol... jk
need to get self study books asap...

 

[Niaoson]

love is also not the same. 愛 vs 爱

 

[nyawne]

I see. It seems like there is a lot to be learned even if I do not have to struggle with the writing....

Actually, judging from your language background, learning all those germanic languages and having no problems with classical chinese, I do believe you can pick up Japanese quickly too within 1-2 years.

Personally, I've learnt French for 2 years and supposedly reached quite an advanced level, but I've never quite gotten to speaking it fluently. Then I started learning Japanese and I found it easier because I'm much more comfortable with Chinese than English.

There are of course also the faux amis between Japanese and Chinese, as with French and English, and the pronunciation is different, and there are new grammar structures and patterns to learn too. But if you learn Japanese through Chinese, it is definitely a better option than through English in my opinion, due to the closer cultural links, so the connotations and subtle meanings are easier to understand. Of course, after the initial stage, you're supposed to learn Japanese through Japanese only, like how I was told to throw away my English-French dictionary and use a pure French one.

Japanese is probably harder to learn than the Germanic languages for pure English speakers, but for someone with a strong background in Chinese, I don't think Japanese is harder. Just go in with an open mind, expose yourself to lots of readily available Japanese media (including written text) and appreciate the new ideas in language and culture, and I believe you can pick it up pretty quickly. To me, the idea of keigo (敬語) in Japanese is only as shocking as the idea of conjugating every single verb, or the idea of liaison and not pronouncing the last consonant, or the idea of imparfait vs past tense, or the idea of using 'on' to mean me, us, them, or whoever everywhere, or trying to tell the differences between pendant/depuis/pour in French. Sufficient practice and exposure can definitely bring you far in a short time.

Good luck and have fun learning another language!