What about learning Japanese gives you trouble?

[DoctorP]

My brain seems slow to switch between the languages, which can cause problems when I am communicating with someone. I can read Japanese pretty well, and I understand it quite well also, (at least enough to understand what is being talked about). My problem lies with trying to get my mouth to speak the words that I am thinking. Sometimes I just can't switch over.


What parts of the language give you problems?

[dk]

I'm in the same position as you. I can read hiragana and katakana perfectly and kanji at probably a first grade level (embarrassing), and I can generally get the gist of a conversation. Especially if I'm drinking. I just have trouble verbally stringing a sentence together. When I was actively trying to learn the language, I had no trouble managing to put a sentence together on paper, but I couldn't do it out loud.

Now my main problem is that I just don't have a need to know Japanese. I don't go out. I don't really hang out with anybody anymore (kid/home takes up all of my time after hours), and I've got this attitude problem now where I'm not even really interested in sparking up conversation with a Japanese person in Japanese for the sole reason of practicing the language. I just don't have the energy. Our Japanese friends don't come over all that much lately as my wife's very busy/tired all the time from taking care of the baby. So, basically, the hardest part for me now is I just don't have a reason to learn.

But as far as something about learning Japanese that actually gives me trouble, I'd say it's just the complexity of kanji and wrapping my brain around the way Japanese sentences are strung together compared to English sentences.

[TheNoNamedOne]

At this point it is mostly about increasing vocabulary, which I don't actively apply myself to doing. I have most of the grammar tenses down, and the particles are no longer a major stumbling block, as neither is the SOV word order (or preposition phrases), or that the S is often deleted.

Of course idioms go by me unless it is one that is used quite often.

Kanji, ... well, you know... to me after getting to 6th grade level (possibly junior high) I decided to not persue it anymore. Needless to say, I have not retained all those I once knew.

Keigo and son-keigo will throw me for a loop if I am not expecting it, or if I just don't feel like applying myself to get the full meaning. Actually this is one of my gripes with people in Japan, who DON'T really expect foreignors to learn their language, and who themselves basically all admit that these honorific and humble forms are difficult for even them, they friggin still sometimes insert them into their conversations with foreignors.

It drives me crazy when they do that, especially when they refuse to change to regular speech after seeing me struggle to try and understand what they are saying.

[dk]

I'd like to eat your brain Prosecutor. I wish I had that much knowledge of the Japanese language.

[TheNoNamedOne]

Aha! One of the zombie hordes looking for brain meat!

I don't think my Japanese is that good, dk. Now stay away from my brain. Don't you know that eating brains can lead to Creutzfeld Jacob disease and kuru (http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2003/04/0410_030410_cannibal.html). Try going vegetarian!

------------------

Another thing that slows me down in Japanese is slang, which I am sure slows anyone down in any target language learning. But, look at the slang word:

choberigu

Cho = very

beri = very

gu = good

Just means "very very good." But, if my wife had never broke it down for me, I think I never would have caught it.

[xxzjxx]

that is only okinawas word

[xxzjxx]

Okinawa ben is so country

[dk]

Well duh. This is like the boondocks of Japan. lol.

I've heard other prefectures in Japan have thier own outlandish dialects too though.

[xxzjxx]

Well duh. This is like the boondocks of Japan. lol.

I've heard other prefectures in Japan have thier own outlandish dialects too though.

Yea dude, in Saga, instead of saying Metcha, they say Gaba. its so wierd.. like "Gaba sukidesu"
have you ever heard somebody say "Mechakucha"?

[dk]

Yeah, I've heard mechakucha here and there.

Now Gaba I've never heard. That's brand new to me. I might start using that at Okinawan bars just to throw people off if I get bored.

[xxzjxx]

Dude it will very much, just tell them its Saga-ben HAHAH
they will prolly think you are so country though.

Hey I forgot to say, actual "choberigu" is not okinawa-ben, its actually all over Japan, and old. I never came across it myself, but she says its from around WWII. And she says if you use it, people will think you are learning from an ancient Japanese book. Young Japanese are embarrassed by its use.

[TheNoNamedOne]

Hey I forgot to say, actual "choberigu" is not okinawa-ben, its actually all over Japan, and old. I never came across it myself, but she says its from around WWII. And she says if you use it, people will think you are learning from an ancient Japanese book. Young Japanese are embarrassed by its use.

"Choberigu" was quite popular 2 to 5 years ago. If you had watched Japanese variety shows then, you would have heard it used by many young people.

[xxzjxx]

"Choberigu" was quite popular 2 to 5 years ago. If you had watched Japanese variety shows then, you would have heard it used by many young people.

Must have came back as a fad in Okinawa. I've been in japan over that time, and I never heard it on TV. My wife says its not withing the last 20 years at all.

[TheNoNamedOne]

Must have came back as a fad in Okinawa. I've been in japan over that time, and I never heard it on TV. My wife says its not withing the last 20 years at all.

Google it, and you will see your wife is wrong.

[swindland]

I'd like to eat your brain Prosecutor. I wish I had that much knowledge of the Japanese language.

eating brains like sylar from heroes. LOL.. save the cheerleader save the world!!!

[Cathleen_38]

Ogenki desu Ka? translation: how are you?
Doitashimashita! Translation: you're Welcome
wakaranai- I don't know.
Gomen Nasai- pardon
Gomen susimasen-(sorry), pardon me
Domo Arigato- Thank you
Sayonara- Goodbye
Tadaime-I'm Leaving
otomodachi-Friend
kudasai-please
banjo- bathroom
ginko- a bank
pantsu-underwear
taco- octopus
kuso- D_mn you
bakaeru-F_ck you
shinnai' -Dear (beloved)
seisen-teacher
skoshi-"little" bit
chisai- a cute "little"girl (big difference between these two words!)
ano- say
kono-here
sono-there
ano ne- i love you
matta ne- (see you later)
Ohayo gozaimasu- Good Morning
Konnichi wa- Good afternoon
Koban wa-Goodnight


Hope this helps.

[OCanadaOurHomeAndNativeLand]

Yo C_38!

You may want to go back and check your work...

[happily_married_1206]

everything ive been in japan such a long time and i can only pick up so much... ive learned a lot more in the past year but im still trying to pick up little things, i still cant (after almost 12 yrs in japan) have a full conversation with anyone who speaks japanese and not english... its sad! :'(

[hankypanky]

yeah, i think C-38 needs to check a couple of her words/translations. they are a bit on the strong side. I had a dude in the bar last night form osaka and his hogan was.........couldn't understand a damn thing he was saying. Okinawan japanese and mainland are like night and day. Good thing i live in oki, the intonation of mainland japanese is somewhat different.

[OCanadaOurHomeAndNativeLand]

Doitashimashita! Translation: you're Welcome --->douitashimashite
Tadaime-I'm Leaving ---> tadaima - I'm home
banjo- bathroom --->benjou. "Otearai" or "toire" is standard
kuso- D_mn you --->something like "shit!" is closer
bakaeru-F_ck you --->something like "idiot!" or "loser!" is closer
shinnai' -Dear (beloved) ---shinai. only used for writing (letters)
seisen-teacher --->sensei
chisai- a cute "little"girl --->"small"
ano- say --->"there" (away from both speaker and listener)
ano ne- i love you --->"say"/"I say there"
Koban wa-Goodnight --->konbanwa

[okisteve]

I think she's been away for a while... doing OK considering (considering my own memory!) But isn't she right about:
ano- say --->"there" (away from both speaker and listener)

Maybe it's actually anou, used as an interjection like, umm..

[OCanadaOurHomeAndNativeLand]

...isn't she right about:


Maybe it's actually anou, used as an interjection like, umm..
Sure, anou is used as "excuse me" to attract someone's attention...あのう、ちょっとすみません。酒屋はどこですか。 Or, as "er" or "well"...ほら、あのう、こないだ買ったポルノ、あれ見せて。

[TheNoNamedOne]

Eel, shouldn't that be "konoaida"?

[OCanadaOurHomeAndNativeLand]

Eel, shouldn't that be "konoaida"?
Depends on the level of formality you want. Your way would be more polite.

[TheNoNamedOne]

Of course. That is right.