jappermon

Japanese follows IPA

2008-08-30T14:06:00.000-07:00

Pa Pi Pu Pe Po

ha goes to ba
ha goes to pa

ha-->ba-->pa

2008-07-31T14:35:00.000-07:00

Learn Japanese Now! by Makurasuki Sensei

#17 in a 25 part series aimed at overcoming second language acquisition
obstacles and barriers by using effective memorization. Click Here!

Memory techniques applying tried and true techniques that are
effective in mastering an SL and in particular improving Our Ural Altaic progeny ~
Learn Japanese Now!A useful Grammar, Vocabulary, and Conversation e-course
With emphasis on long term retention through effective memorization.
The best language acquisition e-course on the net!
Japanese Edition. http://squidoo.com/ghettogrammar109

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)
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)
a. to put a verb into the TA form when the verb has a vowel stem simply add ta

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!
memory

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?
qmpower!

Japanese Grammar - Afterburn

2008-05-27T15:30:00.000-07:00

Japanese Plug and Play Ghetto Grammar #109
JPPGG #109 - Three Ways of Saying, '...After... verb(ing') in Japanese.

After, After, and hopefully, happy ever... After...
There are 3 easy ways to say after or "after verbing” in Japanese -

1. verb (base TE) + KARA verb (base て) + から
2. verb (base TA) + ATO DE verb (base た) + あとで後 = (あと)
3. verb (base TA) + NOCHI NI verb (base た) + のちに後 = あと(ato),
or 後= のちに (nochi ni)

By themselves KARA (から), ATO DE (あとで) and NOCHI NI (のちに) indicate the English term "after". Put verbs in base TE then add kara to create phrases of doing something after doing something else. Put verbs in base TA then add either ato de or nochi ni to create sentences or phrases that tell us what will happen after we verb.

***So how do I plug and play? Let me explain: First go learn as many verbs as you can and even a couple of nouns if you like, but ghetto grammar or JPPGG consists mainly of knowing how to manipulate verbs. Before you can manupulate verbs you need to memorize the word and also know how to pronounce it correctly. What are you talking about when you say plug and play Japanese Grammar? Preposterous! Its real simple. Japanese Plug and Play Ghetto Grammar works like this:

1. Study hard your vocabulary, or list of Japanese words,
a. Set a goal to memorize 15 new words every two days. This is my best recommendation for learning to speak in Japanese as quickly as humanly possible.
b. Drill and kill your tango lists. ( I have plenty of vocabulary lists or tango lists for you to study, print out or do what you... at http://squidoo.com/japanesevocabulary.)

2. Memorize all types of Japanese words and phrases. For the purposes of being able to start speaking Japanese fast, you are going to have to pay particular attention to verbs. This is what I would suggest. Start learning as many basic verbs as you can, and keep them tucked away under your belt, memorized and ready to go so that we can use them effectively to communicate later in Japanese. We can construct almost any type of meaningful communication as long as we know a few key Japanese verbs. ( Find the fiirst 100 essential Japanese vocabulary words here at http://squidoo.com/essentialjapanesewords)

3. Take your solidly retained, and newly memorized verbs from your tango lists and start plugging them into the JPPGG system or the Ghetto Grammar Constructions found in lessons 77 - 119).
To see the full index of JPPGG grammar construction pages go to http://squidoo.com/ghettogrammarindex or just ghettogrammar to start your plugging.

4. Play with the construction. Creat wonderfully original Japanese sentances, by plugging the verbs you have learned into the grammar constructions. Play, play play.

It is really a lot of fun learning how to speak Japanese. Japanese is such a cool language, terribly challenging, but the rewards are well worth the effort.
As always, Ganbatte Ne!
Makurasuki , 5..25.2008

I can't emphasize what I feel to be one of the main components to learning Japanese. The one main component that is integral to your study and will help you learn and master a language faster than any other methods. It may surprise you, but it is a very well kept secret that in order to get good at Japanese or any foreign langauge for that matter, you must drill and kill yourself to death if you are to see any positive results that happen like in a few weeks. Try as you may any other way and it may take you 17 years to do what rhote memorization and repetition drilling will do for you language skills. I also duly not my opinion that when we translate our words, studying them, drilling and killing them, tyring in whatever way we can to memorize the words, it is important to say at this point that we should be able to translate in both directions. Until you can say the word both in English and Japanese, 2 way lateral translating to yourself then that particular mode of study will not be sufficient towards mastery. It is not good enough just to be able to translate one way. An earnest Japanese language student will be desirous of possessing the capabilites and skills required to translate words from English to Japanese, and also from Japanese to English.

Below is some examples of how these constructions are used, now all you need to do is gather as many verbs as you can and start practicing speaking Japanese. The more you speak out loud, the more comfortable you become with the Japanese words that come into your mouth. in Japanese the faster will be the path to Japanese fluency.

To say that you will do something after doing something else in Japanese, use the following grammar constructions:

1. Verb (Base TE) + KARA ‐ after verb’ing

Take verbs and put them into base TE.

In the set of Japanese regular verbs :

- Verbs ending in KU become - - -> ITE
- Verbs ending in GU become - - - > IDE
- Verbs ending in U, TSU, or RU - - - > TTE
- Verbs ending in BU, MU or NU - - - > NDE

again that is to say

- Verbs ending in KU (く) become - - -> ITE (いて)

- Verbs ending in GU (ぐ) become - - - > IDE (いで)

- Verbs ending in U (う), TSU (つ), or RU (る) - - - > TTE (って)

- Verbs ending in BU (ぶ), MU (む), or NU (ぬ) - - - > NDE (んで)

In the set of Japanese irregular verbs:

-Verbs ending in SU (す) become - - - > SHITE (して)

The verb suru is irregular and it is irregular regularly. That is a little jodan. A joke of sorts but its true. You will be using irregular Japanese verbs all the time. So don't shy away from irregular verbs. Just because they don't conform like all the rest of the entire Japanese language. We musn't let those words get us down. After using them in our parlayance, and hearing native Japanese speakers use the irregular verbs we will come to understand,. These good little nuggetts of confusion we be our ally in the future if we can learn how to manipulate them. One advantage Japanese as a langauge that can be studied versus English, is that irregular verbs have consistent irregular rules. Don't let anything get you discouraged or take away your high and lofty goals for mastering the Japanese langauge and speaking it today!

You must ganbaru - v. to do your best. Hang tough and remember... there aren't many rules that exist but that there also exists an exception for every rule created for the sake of langauge learning.. You shouldn't let the fact that sometimes, there is no clean and clear explanation as to why Japanese grammar is the way it is.

add + KARA (after) - から

JPPGG #109 - Verb (base TE) + KARA = after verb, I verbed (or was verbing, or even had to verb etc.)

HANASU (話す) - (v. to speak) - HANASHITE (話して)

CHOTTO HANASHITE KARA IKIMASHO^ - ちょっと話してから行きましょう.
Let's go after we talk a little, shall we?

YOMU (読む) - (v. to speak) YONDE (読んで)

HON O YONDE KARA NERU TO OMOIMASU. - 本を読んでから寝ると思います.
I think I'll sleep after reading a book or I think I'll go to bed after I read this book.

TABERU (食べる) - (v. to eat) - TABETE (食べて)

TABETE KARA SHUKUDAI O SURU ‐ 食べてから宿題をする.
After I eat, I'm going to do homework.

UNDO^ (運動) - (v to exercise) - Undo^ shite (運動して)

UNDO^ WO SHITE KARA SHAWA O SURU KOTO GA SUKI DESU -
運動をしてからシャーワーをすることが好きです - I like to shower after I exercise.

2. Verb (Base TA) + ATO DE - after verb’ing

Take verbs and put them into base TA

NOMU (飲む) - (v. to drink) NONDA (飲んだ)

NOMU (飲む) - (Base TA) NONDA
Verb ending in either BU, MU or NU ta - - - >nda

NOMU (飲む) in base TA (た) is NONDA (飲んだ)

SAKE O NONDA ATO DE NEMUKUNATTA ‐さけを飲んだ後で眠くなった
I got sleepy after drinking some* sake.

*NOCHI NI (後に) = ATO DE, NOCHI DE

3.Verb ( base TA) + NOCHI NI - after verb’ing

Sorekara - thereafter, or after that...

SAKE O NONDA NOCHI NI IE NI KAETTA ‐酒を飲んだ後に家に帰えた
I returned home after drinking some SAKE.

SAKE O NONDA NOCHI NI INU O SAMPO SHI NI ITTA ‐
酒を飲んだ後に散歩しに行った
(After I drank some sake I took the dog for a walk.)

As you can see from these examples, there are two sides with two verbs comprising this construction. (Predicates and the like.)

Verb 1 in base TE + KARA and Verb 2

Verb 2 can be past, present, negative or positive, but Verb 1 must be in base TE.

As Always,
Ganbatte Ne! 頑張ってね! - Do Your Best!
Makurasuki Sensei マクラスキー先生

nomu

Sugiru or in excess - Japanese Grammar

2008-05-27T15:24:00.000-07:00

In Excess – too much
When enough, is ENOUGH!
Verb (base II) + sugiru

Do you overeat? Are there things which you indulge upon which others consider to be excessive. Gambling, money, sex, watching too much T.V.?

To say that you verb too much in Japanese, use the following construct:

Verb (base II) + SUGIRU

Any verb put into Base II can be added unto, with sugiru.

Example 1. yarisugi da ne – you over do it man!

Example .2. oso^sugi – used with adjectives becoming – “its too late”, hayasugi (too
early), nagasugi ( too long), okiisugi (too big).

Example.3. ~tai of base II forming to want to endings becomes

Verb(Base II) + tasugi- even tai which is a form of the verb tagaru acts as adjectivial end meaning to desire the verb excessively

Japanese Language Learning Going on here

2008-05-27T15:05:00.000-07:00

By adding the syllable mo (inclusive particle) to The following supplement will help you increase your Japanese vocabulary by showing how to branch off known words to make many new ones. First, memorize the question words. Who, what, where ,when, how many, Have fun!

Question word + mo with + positive verb with – negative verb
dare + mo anyone nobody
nani +mo anything nothing
doko + mo everywhere, anywhere nowhere
itsu + mo all the time, always none of the time, never
nannin + mo many people, a bunch of people not many people

The participle mo represents inclusiveness. The English equivalent being the words also or too.

Table1
100 Japanese Verbs Romaji English
園芸する engei suru to be amused
なかす nakasu to cause to cry
支持する shitai suru to expect
うごかす ugokasu to physically move something
うごく ugoku to move, to make motion or movement
そなえる to prepare, to provide
穂門する senmon suru sen is wrong
年とる toshi o toru to age
混乱する konran suru to be confusing
頼る tayoru to rely, to depend
区別する kubetsu suru to separate, to distinguish
結婚する kekkon suru to marry
とこにすく toko ni suku old way of saying to go to bed
あずける azukeru same as azukaru intrasitive
拒む ayumu to apologize
あわれる awareru to appear
たずねる tazuneru to ask
うかがう ukagau to ask, or visit
たたかう tatakau to attack
できる dekiru to be able, can
もしあげる moshiageru to be called
みちる michiru to be filled with
込む fukumu to be included
欠く fuku to be insufficient, to lack
暴れる abareru to be jittery unstable, to act up
節足する fusoku suru to be unsatisfactory, to be not enough
しんじる shinjiru to believe
炊く fuku to blow
増す fukuramasu to blow up
ふかす fukasu to blow up (baloon)
励ます fukuramasu to blow up(balloon) to fill up with
かりる kariru to borrow
かう kau to buy
はこぶ hakobu to carry
祝う iwau to celebrate
変化する henka suru to change shape, transform
かえる kaeru to change, to return
閉める shimeru to close
くらべる kuraberu to compare
文句する monku suru to complain
確かめる tashikameru to confirm
正す tadasu to correct
なく naku to cry
減る heru to decrease
希望する kibou suru to desire
うつす utsusu to develop( film), to get on print
死ぬ shinu to die
握る horu to dig
みわける miwakeru to distinguish, tell apart
わる waru to divide, to break in half
離婚する rikon suru to divorce
まねする mane o suru to do an impression of
やる yaru to do, to play
運転する unten suru to drive
まわる mawaru to encircle, to go around in a circle
はげます hagemasu to encourage
終わる owaru to end
はいる hairu to enter, to go in
定める sadameru to establish
攻める sadameru to establish
運動する undou suru to exercise
説明する setsumei suru to explain
爆発する bakuhatsu suru to explode
ふる furu to fall,
みつける mitsukeru to find
したがう shitagau to follow
正解する seikai suru to get something right
もしわけする moshiwake suru to give an excuse
かえす kaesu to give back
産む umu to give birth
あげる ageru to give, to bring to boil
はげる hageru to go bald
つりする tsuri suru to go fishing
壊れる abareru to go hog wild, to get out of hand
嫌う kirau to hate
揉む awaremu to have mercy
満足する manzoku suru to have plenty of, to be satisfied
たすける tasukeru to help
持つ motsu to hold
頂く itadaku to humbly partake
急ぐ isogu to hurry
つもる tsumoru to intend, to pile up, to plug
蹴る keru to kick
ころす Korosu to kill
みちびく michibiku to lead
預かる azukaru to leave with someone
あずかる azukaru to leave with someone, to entrust
かす kasu to lend
しらせる shiraseru to let know
好む konomu to like
負ける makeru to lose
失う ushinau to lose something
愛する ai suru to love
たてかける tatekakeru to make
たてる tateru to make
失敗する shippai suru to make a mistake
蜜tめる tashikameru to make certain, to double check
イジケル ijikeru to make fun of
もたらす motarasu to make someone hold something
まじわる majiwau to mix
おこる okoru to occur, to happen
開ける akeru to open
圧倒する atto suru to overwhelm
参加する sanka suru to participate
はらう harau to pay
なぜる nazeru to pet (the cat)
ひろう hirou to pick up, to gather
えらぶ　 erabu to pick, to choose
おく oku to place
指す sasu to point
指差す yubisasu to point with finger
簡便する junbi suru to prepare
備える sonaeru to prepare
保存する honzai suru to preserve
さまたげる samategeru to prevent
禁止する kinshi suru to prohibit
引く hiku to pull
押す osu to push
たよる tayoru to rely on
のこる nokoru to remain
再婚する saikon suru to re-marry
尊敬する sonkei suru to respect
子劇する sonkei suru to respect
復習する fukushuu suru to review
上がる agaru to rise, to go up
さがす sagasu to search, to seek
相談する soudan suru to seek advice, to consult
うる uru to sell
はなれる hanareru to separate
離れる hanareru to separate, to tear
分かち合う wakachiau to share
しめす shimesu to show
閉まる shimaru to shut
ねる neru to sleep
ニコニコする nikoniko suru to smile
そなえる sonaeru to sound
話す hanasu to speak
あまえる amaeru to spoil ( a kid)
ひろがる hirogaru to spread across, to widen
立つ tatsu to stand
始める hajimeru to start
はじめる hajimeru to start, to begin
成功する sieko suru to succeed
足りる tariru to suffice
たりる tariru to suffice, to have enough
狙う nerau to take aim
語る kataru to talk about
あじわる ajiwaru to taste
つたえる tsutaeru to tell
伝える tsutaeru to tell
見分ける miwakeru to tell apart
差別するe sabetsu suru to tell the difference
証する akashi suru to testify
かんがえる kangaeru to think
つや区する tsuuyaku suru to translate from written text to written text
動力する douryoku to try
尽くす tsukusu to use completely, exhaust
待つ matsu to wait
おこす okosu to wake up, to cause to get up
歩く aruku to walk
欲しがる hoshigaru to want
あたためる atatameru to warm up(food)
ひろげる hirogeru to widen, to spread out
かつ katsu to win
願う negau to wish, to plead to beg
願う negau to wish, to want
書く kaku to write

Abunai

2008-05-01T21:08:00.000-07:00

Japanese Vocabulary Blaster #38
15 Words every 2 days.
Learn, Memorize, Study, Get quizzed, GO!

1. abunai - dangerous
2. dame – no good
3. jama – bothersome, a bugaloo
4. ganbaru – to do your best
5. mendoukusai – troublesome, tedious
6. butai – the stage
7. kaki - persimmon
8. kiken – extremely dangerous
9. kuchibeni - lipstick
10. zettai – for sure
11. awabi – shell fish
12. momo – peach
13. momo - thighs
14. *chigau yo! – Nope! I beg to differ!
15. sakusen - strategy

As Always,
Ganbatte Ne!
Do Your Best!
Makurasuki Sensei

to see the list of the last 15 words you should have already memorized go to Japanese Vocabulary 37 or go on to memorize your next 15 here at

Japanese Vocabulary 39

Not easily translated Japanese

2008-05-01T19:43:00.000-07:00

Many words in Japanese don’t have exact, equivalent translations in English. The same situations just don’t often happen exactly the same in both countries. Japan has a very old national history dating back to at least 600 A.D. Our Americanized English simply hasn’t developed in the same way. We simply don’t have the same circumstances in both countries. Customs and traditions are different and unique to each country’s environment and history.

(御) お- 世話様でした – O-SEWA SAMA DESHITA – You did a terribly awfully nice favor for me and I am completely grateful and you really helped a lot.

御苦労様でした - GO-KURO^ SAMA DESHITA – You worked very hard today and we pay thee much respect and thanks for your hard efforts, it must have been a lot of hard work but good going and thanks. (My extended translation)

余計なお-世話だ! - YOKEI NA O-SEWA DA! – It’s None Of Your (Darn) Business!

おりこさん- ORIKO SAN – He is such a good kid, or she is so well behaved.
じゃね - JA NE – see ya, later, adios, ciao, lates, see you on the flipside, peace out

でわまた- Dewa Mata – until next time, see you later, talk at you soon, peace out

2008-05-01T18:59:00.001-07:00

Hazu my what...?

2008-05-01T18:57:00.000-07:00

Japanese Plug and Play Ghetto Grammar JPPGG©#103
Verb in Plain Form (P.F.) + HAZU DESU - You ought to . . .
How to say you ought to (_some verb_), in Japanese.
Ought to – HAZU

In Japanese, to say that something is expected to happen, or that something ought to happen, use the following grammar constructions:

Verb in Plain Form (P.F) + HAZU DESU
Verb (P.F.) + HAZU GA ARU
Verb in (P.F.) GA NAI

Both past and present tense cases are present. So all you have to do is plug in some Japanese verb that sounds appropriate and listen to what kind of reactions words get with the native Japanese. You see, you have to test a lot of words out to see if some of the ones you have been learning are even still in use. For as such may occasion be that the word has changed in its colloquial setting or you may find that you don’t yet have a firm and complete understanding of some words. Use this grammar principle next time you want to test out new ways of saying things. Listen to how your words are responded to and with what kinds of words.

Verb(Base TA) + HAZU GA ARU

Examples:

1. IKU HAZU GA NAI DESU *– (He) ought to have left (went) There is no reason for him to go.

2. AYAMARU HAZU GA NAI DESU* – He shouldn’t have to apologize

3. TANOSHIKU NARU HAZU DA[1] – It ought to start getting fun, it ought to be fun. It ought to get better from here on out.

4. ARU JA NAI? Don’t you have one?

5. ARU HAZU YO! – I should have one, or, “It ought to be there”

5a. A little KAIWA to learn by –

Tanakasan (to Miurasan):
“DENTO^ ARU?” –
{Do you have a flashlight?}

Miurasan:”DOKKA MITA YO!
DOKKA NI ARU HAZU DESU.”
{I saw them somewhere!)
(It’s here somewhere for sure}

Other possible inflections of translation for
DOKKA MITA YO!
DOKKA NI ARU HAZU DESU might be -

(“I saw them sitting somewhere) or
(They are here somewhere.)
(They've got to be here. They ought to be here)

Lets end last with a good solid definition of HAZU – Not to be confused with the goby fish or haze because those are some fine tasting fish quite delicious when dipped from tempura batter and fried like shrimp dipped in batter ~ barioishii!
Hazu – suppose to, ought to, the expectation of

* About nai desu vs. arimasen -

Which of the two phrases nai desu or arimasen is a more polite way of saying that there isn’t such a thing or that none exists? Both are used quite interchangeably but arguably, arimasen is the better choice. Avoiding the plain form of verbs and cheating its elegance of verb formation as in the MASEN of ARU in base II versus a fake and cheap desu ending, although it is a polite form of the verb -to be- makes it a worse choice between the two. Nai is still plain form and aru has been verbalized and conjugates out into arimasen,

* About Osaka Ben or the Dialect of Osaka –

Sometimes you may hear words that instead of masen will say mahen. This is purposefully done to any polite and is Osaka ben. Many people use Osaka ben. It is one of the largest cities in the world. Going 60 km., it would still take you over three hours to get to the heart of the city or downtown to the outskirts. Osaka has a central alley that young people and many interesting things are going on in downtown Osaka. Has a rich reggae fan population as well as surfers in Osaka.

[1] Da is plain form type which substitutes for the copular verb de aru, de ariumasu, de gozaimasu or desu

Travel the world ... even on Delta....

2008-05-01T18:56:00.000-07:00

Traveling outside the country
Tips on a safe Journey

Have you ever dreamed of traveling abroad? The world is filled with fabulous places for you to visit. Palaces, Kingdoms, Temples, Springs, Forests, Caverns, Plateaus, Vistas, Mountains, Lakes, Rivers, and even some Peninsulas to name a few are all waiting for curious explorers to come and partake of their beauty. Those people who must work while traveling can’t really enjoy as much or take in as plentiful an experience as the simple tourist/traveler. It behooves people to become somewhat cultured through world travel. Whatever the purpose of your journey into adventure, travelling abroad is by and large a wholesome, educational, and eye-opening trip. There are a few things to keep in mind to keep your traveling abroad safe and sound. The following are tips can be followed to help in preventing any unforeseen troubles or hassles and will show you some of the ways to be prepared for anything that may come your way, during your entire trip.

Keep these tips in mind so as to prevent any hardships that might be encountered during your excursions. These tips will help make your trip safe and sound ensuring that you will be experiencing nothing but a fun and exciting adventure, one where you will experience pure culture.

Tips for a safe and sound Journey Abroad

· See to it that you have signed the right passport and visa, double check everything for these are the most important things you have to secure before anything else. And be sure to fill in the information required on the emergency page.
· More readings would definitely help you out. Get to know the country you want to visit. The Consular information sheets would surely be very essential as a reading material. You really have to get to know the country you choose to go
· As you are in the other country, of course, you have to be under the rules and law of the country you are paying a visit at. When in Rome do as the Romans do. For it would surely decide your total stay there. Stay out of the hassles and troubles by being and keeping informed.
· Be aware of their customs as well. Do not get yourself that feeling of being an outcast or do not hurt others just because you have gone against their usual beliefs and their usual acts. When you know the culture and the custom, the more you sow seeds of respect to the place and its people the more you will be respected.
· Make additional copies of your important travel papers, itineraries, etc.
· Keep a list of emergency contact numbers of the nearest US Embassies and other offices that will be of help to you.

These are the reminders you have to carry with you whenever you go around and see the world. Traveling is indeed fun but you could turn it into a disaster if you do not how to handle and enjoy it with the right steps, information and guide.

As you visit places and meet people, make this as your guide. This would definitely lead you to the places you more than dreamed of.

strange words

2008-05-01T18:54:00.001-07:00

nagara -to do while verbing

2008-04-01T17:10:00.000-07:00

Ghetto Grammar - Japanese Bunpo lesson #106Today’s lesson focuses in on the ghetto grammar principle:Verb (base II) + nagara - to do while 'verb'ing.You are able to express past tense and current tenses with this bunpo. After reading the following examples, plug in your favorite Japanese verbs and play, it makes learning Japanese fun!Example.1. Sara o arainagara, kuchibue o fuku. – While doing the dishes, I whistle.Example 2. Enka o kikinagara, sake o nomu – While listening to an enka(Japanese folk song), I drink sake.Ghetto Grammar Formulation Breakdown –1. Put verb in base IIa. ex 1. The verb arau (to wash) with direct object sara (dishes) is sara o arau - to do the dishes.b. arau in base II becomes arai.2. Fuse arai and nagara to make arainagara, or the phrase while washing… Plugged And played.Past tense, non-polite (familiar), plain-form ending –Ex. 1. Sara o arainagara kuchibue of fuita. I whistled while doing the dishes.Past tense, polite ending –Ex. 1.Sara o arainagara, kuchibue of fukimashita. – While doing the dishes, I (politely) whistled.Past tense, non-polite (familiar), plain-form ending –Ex.2. Enka o kikinagara, sake o nonda. While listening to a Japanese Folk Song, I drank sake.Past tense, polite ending –Ex.2. Enka o kikinagara, sake o nomimashita. While listening to a Japanese Folk Song, I (politely) drank sake.Ex. 3. Famicon or yarinagara shukudai ga dekiru. I can play nintendo while I'm doing my homework.Ex. 4. Gamu o kaminagara kuchibue mo dekiru. I can chew gum while I'm whistling.Ex. 5 Nenagara jishin ga atta. While I was sleeping there was an earthquake. Do your best! Ganbatte Ne! Makurasuki sensei Yori.
About the Author:
makurasuki Sensei has enjoyed teaching for a majority of his life whether it be music or Japanese. He says He Likes Japanese and Music but not necessarily Japanese music. If you like what he has done in this article please visit his other web pages which are well made for Beginning to advance learners of Japanese at http://squidoo.com/ghettogrammar

The tradition of the Genkan

2008-03-01T01:52:00.000-08:00

A Brief History of the tradition of the Japanese Genkan.
By Makurasuki Sensei,
Brett McCluskey

During my first stay in Japan, I used to get embarrassed because my American friend’s feet would give off the most putrid of odors, and for long distances too. The smell of his feet could cut through a stable full of horses and cattle chewing their cud. It was hard not to gag on occasion. I mean his feet stunk. I can’t really tell you if the odor emanated from his feet, or his socks, because, well it didn’t matter; they both stunk. I would be embarrassed for him and me, because I thought that I could control the way things smelled on other people or something, but alas I couldn’t.
Can you imagine eating at the dinner table or trying to have candid conversation with some new friends you just met only to find out the friend you had brought didn’t have control on his feet hygiene and the odor most unbearable. How atrocious! How outrageous! I thought to myself, be-gone you foul beast at once! Come back when you can be more civilized, or at least when your feet aren't noticeable to the olfactory senses at the distance of 6 feet.
Let’s imagine we are in Japan at a small gathering of some friends. Because it can get pretty chilly in the winter, are all gathered around a nice, warm, and fluffy kotatsu ((quilted) electric blanket \ table), to play the card game buta no shippo (Pig’s tail) Oh no! Not that smells again. Like incense rising up from the depths of odor hell, your friend subjugates everyone to that wretched, didn’t mean to know you, go home! Take a bath! Wash your feet! That wretched friendly scent of your friend’s sweaty polyester, fibrous odor drip that is by now smelling all too familiar.
In America, we wouldn’t have this problem because Americans go everywhere in their shoes, and it doesn’t matter, because you never have to take them off. You can keep your shoes on all day in America. Not in Japan. Before you step foot inside a Japanese dwelling you must take off your shoes. I am full blooded American and can remember as a kid going to sleep in my shoes a couple of times. They wouldn’t have had that in Japan. Also I remember accidentally stepping on some doggy doo and accidentally walking all over my mom’s carpets and then jumping on my bed. Well that sort of thing wouldn’t happen in Japan. Shoes are great, but in Japan, shoes can become cumbersome due to the limitations on living spaces, but more importantly the act of taking off one’s shoes before entering a home or dwelling is a tradition. A good custom as you shall see.
Like other countries of the East, the Japanese take off their shoes before entering houses, dwellings, apartments, condo’s, etc. When I first got to Japan it was awkward at first to take off my shoes, because I had shoes with laces and it was mendoukusai (tedious) when I left to tie my shoes up again after just un-tying them when I arrived. I followed the custom at first only because every one else was doing it. Yes! This was one of those times that if the whole Japanese country were going to jump off the cliff I was going to jump too. *When in Rome, Do as the Romans Do!* There were places I thought were abnormal for taking off my shoes like kindergartens, eating establishments, bowling alleys, karaoke rooms, lots of weird places you wouldn’t even think of taking your shoes off at in America, even the bathroom at bars and weirder places yet.
I had one friend who was so particular about this custom, he would insist on me taking off my shoes before getting into his car. I was obliged to follow the tradition. *When in Rome Do as the Romans Do!* This friend was a little more gung-ho than your average Akira, but it shows you just how far this tradition extends itself into everyday life. He was a little overly devout or passionate about keeping his car clean but at the same time did it for other beneficial, even religious type reasons which we will explore in the coming paragraphs.
Why do the Japanese take off their shoes before entering a home or other things including cars? Why is it considered rude to stand on a chair, or a table or a sofa or seat etc. with your shoes on? In this lense I am going to share my experiences with the custom of taking off your shoes before entering a house and the traditions of the genkan (place where you place your shoes before stepping into a house.) And we will talk a little bit about the way the genkan has been extended in use in modern Japanese society. We are going to try to answer the reasons behind this strange custom and why this genkan thing exists. Also after relaying as much as I can about this custom, we will continue our JPPGG© or Japanese plug and play ghetto grammar sessions so that you will add one more grammar principle to your growing list of Japanese language weapons.

I’m not prejudice nor am I generalizing that all Americans have stinky feet, but, I know that even my feet have a tendency to get stinky when I sweat, run or wear keep my shoes on for too long to wear my shoes everywhere and anywhere in any situation at all times, even to bed, even jumping on the bed, even standing on chairs, cars, wherever on whatever, it didn’t matter. I, being an American having no background in Japanese customs and not having any tradition similar to taking my shoes off before entering the house, I felt quite comfortable doing as I always had done. It wasn’t until I saw the expression of horror, surprise and shear shock of my Japanese friend that I ever began to take seriously the Japanese tradition of taking off my shoes before entering places. I saw on a man’s face as I simply stood upon a chair to change a light bulb, mind you, I had my shoes on, but he gasped in horror and made me instantly get down from the chair. What on Earth could I have possibly done to make him gasp in horror? All I did was stand on a chair and was attempting to change a light bulb. I thought so what gives

So the tradition of taking off shoes before entering a dwelling has many roots in Buddhism.

Japanese Joy maybe bunpo kamoshirenai

2008-03-01T01:45:00.000-08:00

Japanese Plug and Play Ghetto Grammar (JPPGG) #109
PLAIN FORM + KAMOSHIRENAI - to probably verb

In Japanese, to say that something will most likely happen in the future or to say that something has probably already occurred, we use the word ~kamoshirenai. Both Japanese nouns and Japanese verbs in plain form (i.e. Base III) can be used to which we can attach one of three variable endings which vary in politeness.
When used after nouns, or verbs in plain form, KAMOSHIREMASEN means: maybe noun, maybe verb, might have been noun, might have verb'ed, or probably noun, or probably verb etc. Although by definition, KAMO, by itself, is the word for duck, the origin or roots of the word KAMOSHIREMASEN come mainly from the verb to know, or, SHIRU. In this case, SHIRENAI means unable to know. The KA and the MO pose even more uncertainty when put together because KA is the question mark (?) particle, and MO is the also particle.
KAMO without SHIRENAI or SHIREMASEN is less polite but still understood. To use KAMO by itself is permissible when speaking with close friends or acquaintances. However, since saying just KAMO is less polite, beginners should avoid saying it. Its best to always use the most polite form KAMOSHIREMASEN, but it's ok to say KAMOSHIRENAI when you are in company of close friends etc.
If you were to listen to 10 minutes of any random Japanese conversation, you would most likely or probably (pun intended) hear the word KAMOSHIRENAI within that time. KAMOSHIRENAI is always used in Japanese conversation. Verbs in base III are equivalent to what is known as plain form, of the verb, sometimes designated in JPPGG© Ghetto Grammar as P.F.
P.F. Verb+ KAMOSHIRENAI - most common, but less polite
P.F. Verb+ KAMOSHIREMASEN - more polite
P.F. Verb+ KAMO - least polite and funny to the ear

1. TORARETA KAMOSHIREMASEN
It might have been stolen

2. SOTSUGYO SHISO?
SURU KAMOSHIRENAI
Are you going to graduate?
It's possible! (Maybe!)

3. ARE WA KAMO KAMO
It's a duck, probably.-or-
It's most likely a duck.-or-
It's probably a duck.-etc.

4. OISHII KAMO NE!
Its probably tastes pretty good! (Doesn't it?)
(Tasty duck hunh)

As always, Ganbatte Ne!
Do your Best!
Makurasuki Sensei.
for more on Japanese Grammar please see http://squidoo.com/japanesegrammar89

Brett McCluskey Enjoys sharing his knowledge of Japanese grammar with those serious about second language acquistion. See more of his unorthodox learning methods at http://www.jappermon.com/ or http://squidoo.com/japanesejoy further Japanese grammar study can be found at How to count in Japanese - http://squidoo.com/ichinisan

They speak Japanese like this still somewhere in Japan

2008-03-01T01:26:00.000-08:00

This is JPPGG© bunpo principle #87.
Japanese Plug and Play Ghetto Grammar Japanese Language Learning
By Makurasuki Sensei, Brett McCluskey
Towards better Japanese Mastery.

To say in Japanese that you used to ~ verb, (at fairly regular intervals and at some point in the past) use the following construction:

I. (I/You/He/She/They/We/It) used to ~ verb.

I. yoku verb(base TA) mono desu.

The following examples will help you grasp today’s JPPGG construction. After you get a feel for how this grammar is made, just keep plugging new verbs into the verb area in Base TA and then continue playing by making your own unique and interesting sentences. And don’t forget to practice saying all your newly created sentences out-loud. Drilling and killing, or plugging and playing words into the constructions in this way is bound to improve your Japanese conversation skills quickly. You’ll be adding yet another grammar principle to your Japanese language arsenal, for your benefit and use at any time you see fit. Keep plugging and playing until your friends tell you they can’t stand how much you practice your Japanese or until they say stop. But even if you start bugging people because you practice too much just keep telling yourself that the practice that I am doing will surely cause me to improve. Just keep practicing the grammar constructions and saying to yourself new sentences of your own creation until your friends or you go to sleep, whichever comes first. You want to get better at Japanese, don’t you? Well don’t bicker…do quicker! Here are some nice examples with an occasional ghetto phrase sprinkled in here or there to spice up the flavorful fun, so that you can have a good time studying Japanese.

1. When I was younger, I used to ride my bike to school.

Watakushi ga motto wakai koro, jitensha de yoku gakko ni itta mono desu.
{As for I, in the more young time, by bike often school went thing is.}1[1]

2. He used to cheat, but the teacher busted him, and now he is a good boy.

Kare wa mae yoku kanningu[2] shita mono desu keredomo sensei ni barete shimatte ima orikosan desu.

3. I used to play there a lot.

Watakushi wa soko de yoku asonda mono da. [3]

G.A.B. or the Ghetto After Blast – One point advice
The Japanese verb nareru means, “To get used to” which is similar to the used to that you have been getting used to in this bunpo. Nareru is a really cool word, and you will hear it a lot in Japanese conversation.

Ex.1 He is used to that job.
Kare wa sono shigoto ni narete imasu.[4]

As Always, Do your Best! Ganbatte Ne!
Makurasuki Sensei.

[1] Given here in its’ literal translation; its easy to see why not to translate literally as can be seen from the corruption madness of its form and sound.
[2] From the English adjective cunning.
[3] Non-polite plain form of the copula desu = da)

[4] See JPPGG© Ghetto Grammar #88: ‘Verbing’ –verb (base TE) + iru or the Japanese Gerund.

How to use word association to master Japanese in your sleep!

2008-02-22T04:45:00.000-08:00

How to Use Word Association to Master Japanese

A good goal when learning another language is to try to remember words so that you won’t ever forget them. That last sentence contains quite a lofty goal. You make absurd associations that are meaningful to you and in this way by making absurd associations between something that reminds you of the meaning of the word in Japanese but sounds like something you can relate to in English. The more absurd the associations, the less likely you are to forget them, unless you forget the association related to the words you are memorizing. Take the following for example: tanjo^bi = birthday, anchovies have birthdays too or tan Jo be chilling cuz it’s her birthday yo wassup! Mentally picture a tan person named Jo talking ghetto cuz she be this and be that! Go berserk on absurd.
I know what you are saying. This method is nutz, and you are correct but whatever it take to memorize a word quicker and will help you retain that word so that you might use it sometime later on down the line, then more power to it, non? Hopefully you are catching my drift about this style of word, phrase memorization but through another example or two you’ll catch on. You know what I’m saying. Get down and ghetto you can speak Japanese fluently only if you try. So this tan girl or guy named Jo be hunh? She be what? Who cares! As long as you can relate meaning to sound in a way that helps you remember the word until you reach the plateau of usefulness. Once a word that is new to you in another language is used, from the very first time to the 50th time, you get better with each use of the word.
Another good method I have found that when you are practicing your conversation skills, replace during the day any word that you would want and set aside 2 hours where you speak only in the target language at all costs. In all situations I find that even with minimal to limited vocabulary knowledge, speaking words in the target language is so critical to developing fluency I can’t bear not to scream in the language, and that wasn’t too good but it helped me. I found that sometimes I didn’t have to say or gesture a thing and everything that I wanted communicated was comprehended. Through gestures too someway or another you can always get your meaning across.
You have got to have an earnest desire, and a disciplined method of study, but I find that methods like these, albeit ludicrous or seemingly absurd techniques for learning a second language work wonders for my Japanese language progression.

So now what? Simple!
Let’s say you learned the word for paper that day, or you learned the phrase ha o migaku, to brush your teeth, do you

Tell your mom or your roommates or whoever you live with that you are going to brush your teeth?
You say to them in Japanese and to all who will listen and put up with your intense desire to speak fluently the Japanese language, IIE HA O MIGAKIMASU or something to that effect?

Japanese Word Association Examples

SURU – Suru was the guy who would take over the ship in Star Trek if Captain Kirk couldn’t be there, and he was a busy guy. Suru was the guy who always was doing something. Make an association between the verb to do, and the guy named Suru on Star Trek. You’ll never forget words if they are associated in a meaningful way to you. SURU in Japanese is the verb to do.

NEKO – imagine Cleopatra with a long neck and her long neck cat called necko or neko for short etc.

MIMI – the little girl whose ears were so cute you would always grab her by the ears O-mimi with the honorific prefix means the honorable ears, the ones affixed to your head.

DENKI – the electric light is so very tiny & dinky in Japan image etc.

Tofu can fly = TOBU means to fly, jump etc.

MUHO^SHU^ moo + hoe +shoe = free service, the cow said moo you ho, shoe get out of here this ain’t no free service – thus was born the word meaning free service - muho^shu

Young children often KURAI in the dark, I mean cry in the dark!

To sneeze is easy, in Japanese it sounds more like what we actually do than the English word to sneeze. In Japanese to sneeze is KURAKUSHON SURU.

The word for paint is already absurdly similar to the Japanese word Penki

Sometimes you as a language learner will succumb to certain idioms or language ideas that are too strong to shake. One example I know for me and a lot of other gaijin living in Japan was the word morau – which means, to get. So When speaking to other gaijin in Japan we would speak all English until some phrase came up where we said we got something from somebody or somewhere as in

I morau’d a nice silk tie from him. Or you’re always morau’ing some good stuff!

One of the first Japanese phrases I remember learning was the Japanese phrase for don’t mention it or You’re Welcome - the don’t touch my mustache or do itashimashite principle. I was told then that the way to remember how to say,” You’re welcome" was Don’t Touch My Mustache, which is basically the same as do itashimashite with a little effort put in.

Now don’t go overboard with the associations. Don’t be going hidari maki on us. There must be a point at which you can enter back into real study mode to pull out the real words you are after and not just what they sound like. Why would you do this? Because there will come a time when your speaking skills will not get any better until you start your journey into the Kanji. Ooh scary stuff. Just kidding, don’t let it scare you! Kanji is actually quite bitchin’ and rad!

As Always, Ganbatte Ne! Do Your Best!
Makurasuki Sensei

http://squidoo.com/japanesevocabulary15

http://squidoo.com/japaneselearn

http://squidoo.com/ghettogrammar112

Japanese Grammar lesson - You aren't too old to learn neither! Come sit relax and learn.

2008-02-22T03:04:00.000-08:00

Japanese Plug and Play Ghetto Grammar or JPPGG©
Lesson #101: Verb (base TE) + Oku – To verb for later
By Makurasuki Sensei, Brett McCluskey

When translating from Japanese to English, whether text or spoken conversation, there are times when it is quite impossible to extract an exact equivalent or expression having the same meaning in both languages. Today’s lesson is will focus on one such grammar principle. This particular bunpo will take a little more time for westerners to absorb than some of the easier Japanese grammar.

Today’s bunpo uses the verb oku. Knowing the meaning of this verb and how it is used by itself will help in understanding the meanings of the sentences and phrases we can make with today’s grammar construction, however as I have said before this particular grammar has nuances and meaning which cannot be expressed with an exact equivalent. As Always, Do Your Best. Ganbatte Ne!

Verb (base TE) + Oku - To verb for later

Oku means to put, place; lay down, leave (it as it is), or the biggie in relation to how we will use it in today’s bunpo is to pawn. Oku, the verb, in and of itself, is easy to understand. For example, to say,

“I will place the cup on the table” you could say, “Te^buru no ue ni kappu o oku”, or “Te^buru no ue ni kappu o okimasu.” Polite version

Here is another example of using oku the verb.

“Please put it over there.” or, “Asoko ni oite* kudasai”.

*If you need a refresher of how to put verbs into base TE, please see. http://ezinearticles.com/?Learn-Japanese-Grammar-To-The-Tune-Of-Silver-Bells&id=493900. In general the verb oku means to place an object somewhere or to put something in its place, or spot etc. However, when sentences are constructed using the verb (base TE) + oku bunpo, the meanings of the possible sentences are not so easily derived. When a verb is put into base TE followed by oku the meaning extract to pawn. Let us go over in our minds how we ue the word pawn in English. We pawn jewelry at the pawn shop etc. People use other people as pawns in their grand scheme. Pawning means in the base Te + oku sense to give something to someone to hold as a sort of ransom for return later on. I hope you get my drift, or wakaru? (See http://squidoo.com/japponics/

Ex. 1. Sara o aratte okimasu – (I, he, she, it etc.) will do the dishes (so that I will have clean ones to use later on) for later.

Ex. 2. Te^buru no ue ni kappu o oite okimasu – I’ll set the cup on the table for later (just in case). This uses the verb oku inside of the verb (base TE) + oku bunpo. Yes lot’s of interesting ways to use this bunpo. Oku in base TE is oite + oku = oite okimasu

Ex. 3. Azukatte okimasho^ ka? Shall I hold this for you for later? Shall I take this in my care and hold it for you until you come back?

Ex. 4 Shitokan to akan yo! *see http://squidoo.com/ghettogrammar/ – You better frikkin' do this or things ain’t going to be good later on! This is an abbreviated version of what should be shite okanai to ikemasen in Hakata Dialect, but is often heard in that region.

Safety first when travelling.

2008-02-22T02:51:00.000-08:00

How to say goodbye...

2008-02-22T02:46:00.000-08:00

Ghetto Grammar supplement #95
How to say good bye in Japanese

There are many different ways to say goodbye in English. Same in Japanese, there are many different ways of saying sayo^nara. It’s strange because of all the expressions used by the Japanese, which could be considered equivalent ways of the saying the same thing, phrase matches etc., for the understanding communication that I am leaving now and will not see you for a while. That is to say goodbye;

I would do a literal translation of the phrase and compare with modern day terminology to determine a more equivalent terminology to express some same meaningful word. Sayo^nara has meaning of So long for a long time, or farewell for a couple of seasons. Sayo^nara is the ancient form and way of saying the so yu form of the a yu ko yu etc. Because A sayo^ de gozaimasu would be the super equivalent of the honorific form of the same phrase as above the In the time I have spent in Japan only on rare occasions(and I mean super rare occasions, {besides Karaoke of course}), have I ever heard the traditional term for goodbye, ‘sayonara’.
Sayo^nara differs from English’s goodbye in a direct translation also because sayo^ is to say “so” versus the English’s term good;The conditional subject marker “nara” has not changed its shape since around 600 A.D. (western reckoning). For nara is still nara of modern Japanese and still functions the same way. However the sayo^ part is much older and more traditionally Japnanese.

The words sayonara and goodbye both have a y in them. That in itself could be a coincidence but I think it proves that at some point in our languages past, but they have similiarities too.
I also remember being a kid in an American elementary school growing up in Southern California and pretending to be asian, I would pull my eyes to make them appear slanted and having the look of an oriental person I would go around saying A so, A so, A so. It wasn’t until I actually visited Japan, that I realized that somehow the phrase or nuance given from the words A so is actually meaningful in the same way as it is mocked. When the Japanese inquire, “A so …?”, they are implying , “Is that right?”, or, “. . . is that so?” It is a short abbreviated way of saying the complete phrase of , “A so^ desu ka? Desu ka is, as you know, is the question mark phrase ending form of the verb, to be, and so^ is of the form –(a yu) , (ko^ yu) , and (so^ yu ), where a – placement over there, ko^ is placement over here and so^ yu is placement there.
So the main point I’m trying to make is, and hopefully show some real life examples of how we say goodbye in both languages.
In English we might say something like the following to signal to another that we are leaving for now and may or may not see them at some point in the future:
Ways of saying – goodbye-- in English
Later dude!
See ya (spoken best when chewed, as in bubble-gum)
See ya later @lligator!
Late my Peeps!
Peace Out!!
Adios - We even say adios taken from the Spanish
If we were elegant we might periventure say
Adieux (…to you and you and you) with a French nasality but we are talking English here, and modern tech English at that. . .
So Long…
Farewell, old chap…
Hit the road! Jack! And don’t you come back no more no more no more
Till next time (…America) gross – Maury P.
Til’ we meet again…
Bye now…
B’ Bye because goodbye takes too long to say anyway.
You say Hello but I say b’bye
Later on Holmes depending on whether you are of latin or Spanish, Conquistadores, Azteca, or Mayan descent
I’m Outta’ here
I’m Splittin’
Tell ‘so and so’ I said hi!
If you all will excuse me, I surely must get going.
Thanks for your hospitality.
Cheerio
Come along now.
See you on the flipside…
Catcha tomorrow
Til den –
I Ketchup wif y’all later ,or, (on the flipside.)
Get outta here
Move it or lose it.
Good Bye

Instead of going back through this great list of ways to say good-bye in English I’m just going to throw out at you instead some similar types of ways to say sayo^nara In Japanese, because languages don’t grow from the alphabet or the symbolic transference of meaning to ink, or written forms of communication; but that it comes from the environment in which the communicators find themselves. So although very similar type ways of saying goodbye exist, they are only rough estimations, playing themselves like a tennis ball bounced from racket to racket, volleying to and fro acting as a feedback mechanism upon which colloquial speech thrives in real time with real meanings backing these distinct phrases and the words which compose them in both languages.

Ways of saying Sayo^nara in Japanese
1. ja ne!
2. ja mata!
3. ja mata ne!
4. Sore Dewa!
5. Go- Chiso Sama Deshita
6. Dewa Mata!
7. Kashikomarimashita
8. Hai Wakarimashita
9. Shitsurei Shimasu
10. Mata O- tanoshimi ni shite imasu
11. Gokuro^ sama deshita
12. Shitsurei Itashimasu
13. Ja mata kondo!
14. Ii desu
15. Kekko Desu
16. Sayo na
17. Kondo ne!
18. Sono toki ni ne!
19. H~~~~ai
20. Wakatta
21. Bow – lowering of the head and exiting
22. Osu
23. Heikai itashimasu
24. Sore ja!
25. Goo buy
26. Dete ike!
27. ii kara
28. ki o tsukete ne
29. buy buy

And that’s a rap, stay tuned for more crazy linguistics, as the world of languages shrinks around us merging as it may into one eventual world tongue.
As always,
Ganbatte Ne! Do your Best

Makurasuki Sensei

Brett McCluskey

2008-02-22T01:51:00.000-08:00

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.