tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20625066118112504002024-02-07T12:28:19.155+08:00TODAY IS A GIFTYesterday is history. Tomorrow is a mystery. Today is a gift. That's why it is called the present.Tomohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06555635199951413688noreply@blogger.comBlogger138125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2062506611811250400.post-70176955066587410252016-06-09T15:31:00.000+08:002016-06-09T15:31:09.730+08:00A great website and Youtube channels to practice Japanese<div>
Do you remember me? It's been a while since I have announced the birth of my first child. My life has changed a lot. Frankly, I've been exhausted and I didn't have time (and energy) to write something on this blog. :/</div>
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Now my little monster is asleep, it's time to update my blog!</div>
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First of all, I'd like to introduce you a nice website where you can practice <b><a href="http://todayisagiftforme.blogspot.jp/p/japanese-particles.html" target="_blank">Japanese particles</a></b>. I got a comment from Ben Cann, who developped it. (Thank you Ben!)</div>
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<a href="http://www.jpdrills.com/drills.php">www.jpdrills.com/drills.php</a></div>
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There're many quizez for Japanese learners. It contains not only quizez of particles, but also contains quizez of other grammar rules, letters, vocabulary, words and phrases you need if you're living in Japan. Also, you can prepare for the JLPT exam.</div>
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And, I want to share you guys this video from Chika's Youtube channel "<b>Japanagos</b>".</div>
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<iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/N_LWZftoVAo/0.jpg" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/N_LWZftoVAo?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
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Wow, she came to Kanazawa! I didn't know that. She is a popular Youtuber, many Japanese people who's learning English subscribe her another channel "<b>Bilingirl Chika</b>".</div>
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You know, Kanazawa is my hometown. Check it out if you're interested. ;)</div>
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<a href="http://todayisagiftforme.blogspot.jp/p/travel-japan.html">http://todayisagiftforme.blogspot.jp/p/travel-japan.html</a></div>
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Well well well, my little monster woke up! I must go now. Thank you for visit my blog! Hopefully I can write again soon...!</div>
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Tomohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06555635199951413688noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2062506611811250400.post-45576432195786891012016-01-21T16:03:00.001+08:002016-01-21T16:03:23.516+08:00OH BOY!!I'm proud to announce my most precious gift, a bouncing boy! XD<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi25SBozIOEZdP9kGbBqfu7s0jzgEoMwQw1RSrW2kEpR2RxQfUGTnpavkRuZq-8hS1r0fUWloQMT2mOGKBzlnfsUbABRnuiiSMttMdfZuXHBR2U-2JjzZphWuFz7IJZwropVLBNyaGYGHE/s1600/FB_IMG_1453069945564.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi25SBozIOEZdP9kGbBqfu7s0jzgEoMwQw1RSrW2kEpR2RxQfUGTnpavkRuZq-8hS1r0fUWloQMT2mOGKBzlnfsUbABRnuiiSMttMdfZuXHBR2U-2JjzZphWuFz7IJZwropVLBNyaGYGHE/s320/FB_IMG_1453069945564.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />Tomohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06555635199951413688noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2062506611811250400.post-65535326151703380412016-01-15T15:59:00.000+08:002016-01-15T15:59:32.090+08:00What's the difference between らしい, そうだ, ぽい, ようだ and みたいだ??First post of 2016! How did you spend your winter holiday?<br />
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<b><u><a href="http://todayisagiftforme.blogspot.jp/2015/12/ive-heard-that.html" target="_blank">In my previous post</a></u></b>, I wrote about <span style="color: blue;">らしい</span> and <span style="color: blue;">そうだ</span>, which follows after information and indicates that the speaker is not sure about the truth. And <span style="color: blue;">らしい</span> also means "just like as something" or "typical" when it follows a noun.<br />
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<b>(1) [Information] + らしい (=そうだ)</b><br />
- The speaker heard it from others and he is not certain about the truth<br />
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<b>(2) [Person/Things] + らしい</b><br />
- It is just like what it is, or usual for someone</div>
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We also say <span style="color: blue;">~っぽい/...ppoi/</span> in casual conversations. It has the same meaning as <span style="color: blue;">らしい</span> and <span style="color: blue;">そうだ</span>, but it sounds very casual.<br />
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<span style="color: blue;">らしい</span> and <span style="color: blue;">そうだ</span> is usually used when the speaker got information from others, while <span style="color: blue;">っぽい</span> is also used when the speaker just came to the conclusion.<br />
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<span style="background-color: yellow;">山田(やまだ)さん、体調(たいちょう)が悪(わる)い<b>らしい</b>よ。</span><br />
/Yamada san, taichou ga warui rashii yo/<br />
<span style="background-color: yellow;">山田(やまだ)さん、体調(たいちょう)が悪(わる)い<b>そうだ</b>よ。</span><br />
/Yamada san, taichou ga warui souda yo/<br />
<b>I've heard</b> that Mr.Yamada is sick.<br />
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<span style="background-color: yellow;">山田(やまだ)さん、体調(たいちょう)が悪(わる)いっ<b>ぽい</b>よ。</span><br />
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/Yamada san, taichou ga warui ppoi yo/</div>
<b>I've heard/It seems</b> that Mr.Yamada is sick. (Perhaps the speaker heard about it, or just thought Mr.Yamada is sick because he saw Mr.Yamada coughing or something.)<br />
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<span style="color: blue;">ら</span><span style="color: blue;">しい</span> and <span style="color: blue;">ぽい</span> can also be translated as "-ish" or "-like".<br />
<span style="color: blue;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: #fce5cd;">なんだか風邪(かぜ)っ<b>ぽい</b>な。</span><br />
/nandaka kaze ppoi na/<br />
I think I'm coming down with a cold.<br />
*風邪(かぜ)っぽい:feel sick<br />
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<span style="background-color: #fce5cd;">熱(ねつ)っ<b>ぽい</b>時(とき)は休(やす)んだ方(ほう)がいい。</span><br />
/netsu ppoi toki wa yasunda hou ga ii/<br />
You'd better get some rest if you feel feverish.<br />
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<span style="color: blue;">女(おんな)らしい/女(おんな)っぽい</span> both mean "feminine". <span style="color: blue;">女らしい</span> is usually used to describe a woman who has ideal feminine traits, so <u>it won't be used for men</u>. <span style="color: blue;">男らしい</span>(manly, masculine) is used for men, not for women.<br />
On the other hand, <span style="color: blue;">女っぽい/男っぽい</span> can be used for both men and women who are feminine/masculine.<br />
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So <span style="color: blue;">ねこらしい</span> describes the typical and common traits of ねこ(cats), and <span style="color: blue;">ねこっぽい</span> describes something that is like cats. For example, my dog sometimes behaves like a cat. We say he has <span style="color: blue;">ねこっぽい性格(せいかく) "cat-like personality"</span>. We don't say <span style="color: blue;">ねこらしい性格</span> because he actually is a dog, not a cat. If I had a cat which has a typical cat's characteristics, then I would say she has <span style="color: blue;">ねこらしい性格</span>.<br />
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It might be confusing but let me add two more words, <span style="color: blue;">ようだ</span> and <span style="color: blue;">みたいだ</span>. They also indicate the speaker got information from others. <b><a href="http://todayisagiftforme.blogspot.jp/2014/05/it-will-be-found-out-soon.html" target="_blank">I've written about them before</a></b>, but let me introduce them again.<br />
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<span style="background-color: #cfe2f3;">(1) 今晩(こんばん)雪(ゆき)が降(ふ)る<b>らしい</b>。</span><br />
/konban yuki ga furu rashii/<br />
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<span style="background-color: #cfe2f3;">(2) 今晩(こんばん)雪(ゆき)が降(ふ)る<b>そうだ</b>。</span><br />
/konban yuki ga furu souda/<br />
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<span style="background-color: #cfe2f3;">(3) 今晩(こんばん)雪(ゆき)が降(ふ)る<b>ようだ</b>。</span><br />
/konban yuki ga furu youda/<br />
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<span style="background-color: #cfe2f3;">(4) 今晩(こんばん)雪(ゆき)が降(ふ)る<b>みたいだ</b>。</span><br />
/konban yuki ga furu mitaida/<br />
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<span style="color: blue;">※今晩(こんばん)/konban/</span> tonight</div>
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<span style="color: blue;">※雪(ゆき)/yuki/</span> snow</div>
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<span style="color: blue;">※降(ふ)る/furu/</span> to fall</div>
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So, what's the difference? I've already told you about (1)<span style="color: blue;">らしい</span> and (2)<span style="color: blue;">そうだ</span>. You've heard about it from someone else. To be specific, <u>(2)<span style="color: blue;">そうだ</span> sounds that the speaker is sure about the information, but (1)<span style="color: blue;">らしい</span> sounds unsure.</u></div>
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(3)<span style="color: blue;">ようだ</span> and (4)<span style="color: blue;">みたいだ</span> are the same. (4)<span style="color: blue;">みたいだ</span> is often used in a conversation. They are used to show the speaker's conclusion drawn from his experience or his sence.</div>
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<span style="background-color: #ead1dc;">あの二人(ふたり)はケンカ(けんか)した<b>そうだ(=らしい)</b>。</span></div>
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/ano futari wa kenka shita souda(rashii)/</div>
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I've heard that they had a falling out.</div>
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<span style="background-color: #ead1dc;">あの二人(ふたり)はケンカ(けんか)した<b>ようだ(=みたいだ)</b>。</span></div>
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/ano futari wa kenka shita youda(mitaida)/</div>
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It seems that they had a falling out.</div>
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I just remembered another meaning of <span style="color: blue;">そうだ</span>, but it would be too long, so I'll write about it next time! ;)</div>
Tomohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06555635199951413688noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2062506611811250400.post-90511495921970764912015-12-22T15:57:00.001+08:002015-12-22T15:57:25.946+08:00I've Heard That...The New Year's holidays are just around the courner! Last year I was in Taiwan, but I'm going to stay with my family in Japan this year. How will you spend your winter holidays?<br />
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As though it's already end of December, it's not so cold yet. We had snow last week but just a little. Today it's a pretty sunny day. I've heard that it won't be a cold winter this year.<br />
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<b><span style="color: orange;">*Japanese Word of the Day*</span></b><br />
<span style="background-color: yellow;"><b>今年(ことし)の冬(ふゆ)はあんまり寒(さむ)くならないらしいね。</b></span><br />
/kotoshi no fuyu wa anmari samuku naranai rashii ne/<br />
I've heard that it won't be so cold this winter.<br />
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<span style="color: blue;">*今年(ことし)/kotoshi/</span> this year<br />
<span style="color: blue;">*冬(ふゆ)/fuyu/</span> winter<br />
<span style="color: blue;">*あんまり /anmari/</span> so (casual spoken way of <span style="color: blue;">あまり/amari/</span>)<br />
It's usually used with negative form of verbs.<br />
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<span style="background-color: #fce5cd;">あんまりかわいくない。</span><br />
/anmari kawaiku nai/<br />
Not so cute.<br />
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<span style="background-color: #fce5cd;">あんまりおもしろくない。</span><br />
/anmari omoshiroku nai/<br />
Not so interesting.<br />
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<span style="background-color: #fce5cd;">あんまり好きじゃない。</span><br />
/anmari suki ja nai/<br />
Not so preferable. (I don't like it very much)<br />
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<span style="color: blue;">*寒(さむ)い /samui/</span> cold<br />
<span style="color: blue;">*ならない /naranai/</span> not become (the negative form of <span style="color: blue;">なる/naru/</span>)<br />
<span style="color: blue;">*...らしい /rashii/</span> it is said that..., it seems that..., it looks like...<br />
<span style="color: blue;">*ね /ne/</span> you know (<u><span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://todayisagiftforme.blogspot.tw/2014/12/do-you-know-difference-between-and-in.html" target="_blank">one of the sentence ending particles</a></span></u>)<br />
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I'd like to write more about the term <span style="color: blue;">らしい</span> in this post. I translated it as "I've heard that" in this sentence because <u><span style="color: blue;">らしい</span> <b>indicates that it is not based on the speaker's opinion</b></u>. Maybe he has heard it from his friend or read it on a book, on the internet, or something else. <u><b>The speaker isn't certain if it's true or false</b></u>.<br />
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<span style="color: blue;">そうだ</span> also has the same meaning, and you can replace <span style="color: blue;">らしい</span> with it. I think we use <span style="color: blue;">らしい</span> more in the conversation.<br />
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<span style="background-color: #fce5cd;">明日(あした)は雪(ゆき)が降(ふ)る らしい(そうだ)。</span><br />
/ashita wa yuki ga furu rashii(souda)/<br />
I've heard that it will snow tomorrow.<br />
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<span style="background-color: #fce5cd;">日本人(にほんじん)は英語(えいご)が話(はな)せない らしい(そうだ)。</span><br />
/nihonjin wa eigo ga hanasenai rashii(souda)/<br />
It is said that Japanese people can't speak English.<br />
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I've written about <span style="color: blue;">そうだ</span> before, so <u><span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://todayisagiftforme.blogspot.jp/2014/05/it-will-be-found-out-soon.html" target="_blank">please visit this post to check more example sentences of it</a></span></u>.<br />
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Now I tell you about another meaning of <span style="color: blue;">らしい</span>. See the example sentence below.<br />
<span style="background-color: #fce5cd;">アンナ(あんな)は男(おとこ)<b>らしい</b>人(ひと)が好(す)き<b>らしい</b>。</span><br />
/Anna wa otoko rashii hito ga suki rashii/<br />
I've heard that Anna likes a masculine man.<br />
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As you see, I wrote <span style="color: blue;">らしい</span> twice in this sentence. The one at the end of the sentence has the same meaning with what I explained above. It means that the speaker heard it from others.<br />
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What the former one means then? To put it simply, it means "just like something". <span style="color: blue;">男(おとこ)らしい/otoko rashii/</span> means "just like as a man", "typical of a man" or<br />
"manly". So <span style="color: blue;">女(おんな)らしい/onnna rashii/</span> is "feminine" or "womanly" as well.<br />
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<span style="background-color: #fce5cd;">こんなにおとなしいなんて、アンナらしくない。</span><br />
/konnani otonashii nante, Anna rashiku nai/<br />
It's not like Anna to be so quiet.<br />
<span style="color: blue;">*こんなに /konnani/</span> such, so<br />
<span style="color: blue;">*おとなしい /otonashii/</span> to be quiet, not active,<br />
<span style="color: blue;">らしくない</span> is a negative form of <span style="color: blue;">らしい</span>.<br />
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<span style="background-color: #fce5cd;">冬(ふゆ)らしい雰囲気(ふんいき)</span><br />
/fuyu rashii fun'iki/<br />
The wintery mood<br />
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<b><span style="color: orange;">*Wrap Up*</span></b><br />
<b>[Information] + らしい</b><br />
- The speaker heard it from others and he is not certain about the truth<br />
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<b>[Person/Things] + らしい</b><br />
- It is just like what it is, or usual for someone<br />
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That's all for today! Thank you for reading. I always welcome your comment or questions about Japanese language or culture! :) Hopefully, I can update my blog once again before this year-end.<br />
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Anyway, have a great holidays everybody!! :DTomohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06555635199951413688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2062506611811250400.post-91994352442081293002015-12-12T15:43:00.003+08:002015-12-12T15:43:29.998+08:00Having A Successful Language ExchangeThanks to the internet, we can access many resauces to learn a language, and it also enables us to connect with people from all over the world. Do you use Skype to talk with a native speaker of your target language?<br />
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Still, I do prefer meeting in person for language exchange. I found myself being easily distracted when I use the internet... :( I had been looking for a person whom I can practice with at a coffee shop or somewhere, and finally, I could find a nice conversation partner (Japanese<->English)! Yay! :D<br />
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I wish I can find someone who speaks Taiwanese, Persian or Dutch in my city, too!<br />
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So, I'm going to write about Language Exchange as today's post. I've written about this topic several times and you can read them <b><span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://todayisagiftforme.blogspot.jp/p/language-exchange.html" target="_blank">here</a></span></b>.<br />
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How to find a conversation partner</h2>
Let's take advantage of the internet technology! There're many websites which help you find a native speaker of your target language who's learning your language.<br />
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<li><b><a href="http://japan-guide.com/">japan-guide.com</a></b></li>
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I've introduced this website before in my blog, but their interface has changed.<br />
Top page > Forum > @Friends > Japan Penfriend<br />
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If you want to find a in-person conversation partner, select the <b>location</b> where you live. And I recommend you to choose "Language Exchange" <b>category</b>.<br />
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<li><b><a href="http://www.language-exchanges.org/ja/content/welcome-mixxer-language-exchanges-everyone" target="_blank">Mixxer</a></b></li>
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It's a very simple website to find a language exchange partner. I think there're many Japanese users, too.<br />
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<li><a href="http://meetup.com/">Meetup.com</a></li>
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This website is used for finding a local community. You may find a language exchange events in your city, too! I've joined the one before, and it was very interesting :)<br />
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<li><b><a href="http://www.hellotalk.com/Index/index/lan/en/hellotalk.html#en" target="_blank">HelloTalk</a></b></li>
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This is an app for language exchange. You can search people who live near you.</div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/diJNQXTDR1c/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/diJNQXTDR1c?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
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<li><a href="https://www.couchsurfing.com/" target="_blank"><b>CouchSurfing</b></a></li>
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It is mainly used for finding a free place to stay when you travel abroad, but you can also use it to find a native speaker who is interested in learning your language!</div>
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I often hear people say that they could find a person but it never last for long. Does it depend on your luck whether if you can find an ideal language exchange partner? Well, it could be a luck ーwe call this kind of luck <span style="color: blue;">縁(えん)/en/</span> by the wayー but I think at least there's something you can do to find a good partner and have a successful language exchange!<br />
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<h2>
Make it clear what you want and need</h2>
First of all, put an ad or fill in the profile page of those language exchange websites. Not only browsing other people's ads. It would be better to write what/how you want to do in the language exchange.<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><b>You and your partner's level</b></li>
</ul>
<br />
What is your level? Can you read or write in ひらがな/カタカナ? How about Kanji?<br />
Do you know basic grammar? If you're totally beginner, it would be easier for you to talk with people who are higher than elementary level in your language.<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><b>About schedule</b></li>
</ul>
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If you want to have a regular practice, let them know that you're a motivated learner! How often do you want to have a session? Are you looking for a person who can meet and have a face-to-face conversation? Do you want to voice chat or text chat? What time would be convenient for you?<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><b>What do you want to do?</b></li>
</ul>
<br />
Do you want to split time 50/50 like first 30 mins you guys can only speak in language A and the latter 30 mins switch to language B? Do you want to practice making sentences using your text book or talk about your daily life, or pick up several topics to talk about? Do you want him to correct your words as much as possible or is it okay if it makes sence and you can keep conversation?<br />
<br />
<h2>
During the conversation</h2>
These are the things that I felt it very helpful through language exchange, and I also keep them in my mind when I talk with my partners. To have a good language exchange, you also should be a good partner for them!<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><b>Talk speed and words</b></li>
</ul>
At first, I speak a little bit faster than they speak in Japanese (my native language = their target language). A little bit, though. This is because our speaking level is usually lower than comprehensive level. If it seems too fast to understand, I speak slower. If it takes a little while but she can understand what I say, I keep that speed in shorter and simpler sentences, unless she asks me to speak slower.<br />
<br />
It's so stressful if I couldn't catch any of words she spoke. I try to use very basic and frequent words and grammar if my partner is not at intermediate level yet.<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><b>Explain the word</b></li>
</ul>
<br />
I don't like to check a dictionary or translater instantly. Instead, I try to explain the word in other words as much as possible. Both in the case when I don't know the exact word I want to express, and when my partner doesn't know what the certain word means. So our conversation doesn't move on quickly but I think it is a good practice. And the words which I struggled with remain in my mind easily.<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><b>Be patient</b></li>
</ul>
You know, it takes time to make a sentence in a foreign language especially when it comes to speaking. I feel very disappointed if I'm always interrupted while I'm thinking and trying to construct a sentence. Sometimes I need a help but I want to try by myself.<br />
So I try not to interrupt her, too. Even if I found a mistakes in her speech or it wasn't natural sentence, I listen to her at first. I can tell her correct words or better expression after she finish saying that sentence. I don't have to rush her.<br />
Though it is hard to tell whether she is trying to say something or just thinking about what to talk, especially when I can't see her face. This is one of the reasons why I prefer face-to-face conversation.<br />
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<br />
<br />
Well, I hope you'll find a nice language exchange partner and have a good practice with him! :) That's all for today, thank you for reading. Feel free to leave your comments!<br />
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See you soon!<br />
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Tomohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06555635199951413688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2062506611811250400.post-44650768386883468252015-11-24T08:53:00.003+08:002015-11-24T08:53:18.130+08:00Seven, five, and three... What do these numbers mean? ーJapanese traditional ceremonyー<div dir="ltr">
Children's growth is all parents' wish. And each cultures has its own ways to celebrate or pray for it. In Japan, we also have several traditional ceremonies to wish children's healthy growth and their longlife.</div>
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Last weekend my family took my nephew to a shrine to celebrate his <b><span style="color: blue;">七五三(しちごさん)/shichigosan/</span></b>. It's one of traditional events to celebrate children's growth and pray for their future health and well-being.</div>
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<br /></div>
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If you've learned some basic Kanji already, you would have found that this celebration is named with 3 numbers --7, 5 and 3. It indicates children's age. This ceremony is for 3 and 5 year old boys, and 3 and 7 year old girls. My adorable nephew turned 3 this year :) He dressed up in Japanese traditional clothes and had a Shinto ritual.</div>
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<iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/kvB9DXEiOYc/0.jpg" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/kvB9DXEiOYc?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
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After <span style="color: blue;">七五三</span> ceremony, we went to our uncle's studio (he's a photographer!) and took commemorative pictures.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="color: orange;">*Japanese Word of the Day*</span></b></div>
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<b style="background-color: yellow;">ハイ(はい)、チーズ(ちーず)!</b></div>
<div dir="ltr">
/hai, chiizu/</div>
<div dir="ltr">
Say, cheese!</div>
Tomohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06555635199951413688noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2062506611811250400.post-15644342888650525762015-10-26T13:42:00.001+08:002015-10-26T13:42:20.509+08:00Fall is the best season for...?It's not hot and not so cold, it's been beautiful weather these days. We call a sunny day in fall <span style="color: blue;">秋(あき)晴(ば)れ /akibare/</span>, which literaly means "fall sunny". The sky is high, leaves turned red or yellow, we can enjoy a beautiful scenary in this season.<br />
<br />
I like fall not only because of its beauty, but also because there're bunch of yummy foods in this season! Have you ever heard of the word <span style="color: blue;">食欲(しょくよく)の秋(あき) /shokuyoku no aki/</span>? In fall, we have an increased <span style="color: blue;">食欲(しょくよく) /shokuyoku/ appetite</span> since it is the season of the harvest. So we say "Fall is the best season for eating". We also say <span style="color: blue;">読書(どくしょ)の秋(あき) /dokusho no aki/</span>, <span style="color: blue;">スポーツ(すぽーつ)の秋 /supootsu no aki/</span>, or <span style="color: blue;">芸術(げいじゅつ)の秋(あき) /geijutsu no aki/</span>.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: blue;">*読書(どくしょ) /dokusho/</span> reading<br />
<span style="color: blue;">*スポーツ(すぽーつ) /supootsu/</span> sports<br />
<span style="color: blue;">*芸術(げいじゅつ) /geijutsu/</span> arts<br />
<br />
Fall is the best season for...? What do you think? :)<br />
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<br />
This song is one of Japanese traditional songs for children ―<span style="color: blue;">ちいさい秋(あき)みつけた /chiisai aki mitsuketa/</span> (Found a Small Autumn). Here's its lyric and my translation of it.<br />
<br />
だれかさんが だれかさんが だれかさんが 見(み)つけた<br />
/darekasan ga darekasan ga darekasan ga mitsuketa/<br />
Somebody's, somebody's, somebody has found<br />
<br />
小(ちい)さい秋(あき) 小(ちい)さい秋(あき) 小(ちい)さい秋(あき) 見(み)つけた<br />
/chiisai aki chiisai aki chiisai aki mitsuketa/<br />
A small autumn, a small autumn, found an small autumn<br />
<br />
目(め)かくし 鬼(おに)さん 手(て)のなる方(ほう)へ<span style="color: purple;">※</span><br />
/mekakushi onisan te no naru hou e/<br />
Blindfold it, come to the sound of hands clapping<br />
<br />
すました お耳(みみ)に かすかにしみた<br />
/sumashita omimi ni kasukani shimita/<br />
The strained ears caught it slightly<br />
<br />
呼(よ)んでる 口笛(くちぶえ) もずの声(こえ)<br />
/yonderu kuchibue mozu no koe/<br />
The sound of whistle and the call of a butcherbird<br />
<br />
小(ちい)さい秋(あき) 小(ちい)さい秋(あき) 小(ちい)さい秋(あき) 見(み)つけた<br />
/chiisai aki chiisai aki chiisai aki mitsuketa/<br />
A small autumn, a small autumn, found an small autumn<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<span style="color: purple;">※ </span><span style="color: blue;">目(め)かくし鬼(おに) /mekakushi oni/</span> is a game in which one child ―the chosen child is called <span style="color: blue;">鬼(おに) /oni/</span>― chases the others. It's a bit different from the game tag, as <span style="color: blue;">鬼(おに) /oni/</span> has to blindfold. The other kids clap their hands, call or whistle to give it a hint where they are.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
This song reminds me of my grandma. She sang it for me when I was very small. :)</div>
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<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<span style="color: orange;"><b>*Japanese Word of the Day*</b></span></div>
<div>
<b style="background-color: yellow;">ちっちゃい</b></div>
<div>
/chicchai/</div>
<div>
small, short, tiny = <span style="color: blue;">小(ちい)さい /chiisai/</span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: blue;">ちっちゃい</span> sounds more casual and kinda cute. Sometimes it's used to emphasize how small it is.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I'd like to add one more word;</div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: yellow;"><b>ちょっと</b></span></div>
<div>
/chotto/</div>
<div>
a little, a bit, a kind of = <span style="color: blue;">少(すこ)し /sukoshi/</span></div>
<div>
As I wrote <u><span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://todayisagiftforme.blogspot.jp/2015/10/sushi-restaurant-in-japan.html" target="_blank">in my previous post</a></span></u>, it's often used when we want to tell something negative.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
You know what? I just found an interesting thing. <span style="color: blue;">ちっちゃい</span> is "کوچک<br />
" /<span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, 'Nimbus Sans L', Arial, 'Liberation Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 26.4px;">kʰuː<b>tʃʰ</b>ækʲ</span>/ in Persian, and <span style="color: blue;">ちょっと</span> can be translated as "beetje" /<span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, 'Nimbus Sans L', Arial, 'Liberation Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 26.4px;">beː<b>tj</b>ə</span>/ in Dutch. These pronunciations are not the exactly same, but for me, it seems to have a similar sound "<b>ch</b>". I wonder if it's just a coincidence.</div>
<div>
<br />
Speaking of which, it reminds me of an interesting study in linguistic. It said that we seemed to have a similar sense to attach sounds to shape, no matter what language we speak.<br />
<br />
<br />
Well, that's all for today! Thank you for reading, and feel free to leave your comment :) </div>
Tomohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06555635199951413688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2062506611811250400.post-87601774759784625182015-10-18T09:13:00.002+08:002015-10-18T09:13:51.267+08:00Sushi restaurant in Japan!!Frankly, I don't like fish. But you know, people in Japan love sushi. I guess I don't have to explain what sushi is, do I? Have you ever eaten it before? Do you like it?<br />
<br />
I went to a sushi restaurant with my parents yesterday, though I don't eat row fish. I mainly ate salada rolls, egg rolls and crub meats. They also have some fruits, soup, french fries and some side dishes. I love watching the small dishes with sushi passing by, since I was small. :)<br />
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This is the video I recorded yesterday. We can pick up the one which is on the rotating convayor belts or use a touch panel device. When you ordered with this device, an "express train" will bring you what you ordered. It's very funny! XD<br />
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Uh, Did I say that I was going to write about Japanese traditional gardens in my previous post? Oh well... Maybe next time? Or.. anyway, That's all for today! Thank you for reading! :)<br />
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<b><span style="color: orange;">*Japanese Word of the Day*</span></b><br />
<span style="background-color: yellow;"><b>実(じつ)は、生魚(なまざかな)はちょっと苦手(にがて)。</b></span><br />
/jitsuwa, namazakana wa chotto nigate/<br />
Frankly, raw fish isn't my favorite.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: blue;">*実(じつ)は /jitsuwa/</span> frankly speaking, to tell the truth, actually<br />
<span style="color: blue;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: blue;">*生魚(なまざかな) /namazakana/</span> raw fish<br />
― <span style="color: blue;">生(なま)</span> raw, fresh, real + <span style="color: blue;">魚(さかな)</span> fish → raw fish<br />
― <span style="color: blue;">生(なま)</span> + <span style="color: blue;">野菜(やさい) /yasai/</span> vegetables → raw vegetables<br />
<span style="color: blue;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: blue;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: blue;">*苦手(にがて) /nigate/</span> something that you're not good at<br />
⇔ <span style="color: blue;">得意(とくい) /tokui/</span> be good at<br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: #cfe2f3;">運動(うんどう)が苦手(にがて)です。</span><br />
/undou ga nigate desu/<br />
I'm not good at exercising.<br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: #cfe2f3;">計算(けいさん)が苦手(にがて)です。</span><br />
/suugaku ga nigate desu/<br />
I'm not good at calculating.<br />
<br />
You know Japanese people avoid telling things directly especially about negative things. We don't often say <span style="color: blue;">嫌(きら)い /kirai/</span> <span style="color: blue;">"don't like"</span> even if we do hate it. We'd rather often omit the word <span style="color: blue;">苦手(にがて)</span> and just say <span style="color: blue;">生魚はちょっと・・・</span>.<br />
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Let's say that you asked a girl out on a date and she said;<br />
<span style="background-color: #cfe2f3;">日曜日(にちようび)はちょっと。</span><br />
/nichiyoubi wa chotto/<br />
It's literally translated as "Sunday is a bit", but it means Sunday is not convenient for her (or she doesn't want to go...).<br />
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<br />
My Taiwanese friend often said that it's very bothering her that Japanese always use vague words and ambiguous expressions. haha What do you think?Tomohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06555635199951413688noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2062506611811250400.post-66846449728134165482015-10-15T20:06:00.002+08:002015-10-15T20:06:32.982+08:00Dialects in JapanHeyyy, I came back to Japan! :D Now I'm in my hometown,<a href="http://todayisagiftforme.blogspot.jp/p/travel-japan.html" target="_blank"> Kanazawa city</a>.<br />
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My parents came and picked me up at the airport yesterday. When we were talking in the car, I found myself speaking in Kanazawa dialect unconsciously. Though I never speak like that when I'm not in Kanazawa. It's not very different from the standard Japanese, but it has a bit western Japanese accent and characteristic ways of speaking.<br />
<br />
You know, there're many dialects in Japan. The most famous one might be <span style="color: blue;">関西弁(かんさいべん) /kansai ben/</span> Kansai dialect, which is spoken in Kansai region (Osaka, Kyoto are one of the prefectures in Kansai). I've heard many Taiwanese people go to <span style="color: blue;">関西弁</span> class besides the standard Japanese class. Many people say it sounds funny and humorous. I guess it is because we have a strong stereotype that people from Kansai (especially from Osaka) are all outgoing, love jokes, friendly and talkative.<br />
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<span style="color: orange;"><b>*Japanese Word of the Day*</b></span><br />
<b style="background-color: yellow;">なまってる</b><br />
/namatteru/<br />
to have a specific accent, to speak in a dialect<br />
<br />
<b style="background-color: yellow;">なまり</b><br />
/namari/<br />
a specific accent<br />
<br />
<b style="background-color: yellow;">方言(ほうげん)</b><br />
/hougen/<br />
a dialect<br />
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If you have a chance to visit cities except for Tokyo, try to listen how local people talk each other. Some young people tend not to speak their dialects, but I love the variousity of languages, even it is considered as "rural dialect". :-) What do you think?<br />
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That's all for today! I'll write about Japanese traditional gardens next time :-) See you soon!Tomohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06555635199951413688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2062506611811250400.post-73627763001555938712015-10-09T17:41:00.001+08:002015-10-09T17:41:53.554+08:00Keep Motivated / Start from ScratchYay! I'll be back in Japan in 5 days! :-D<br />
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Well, I should think about how to maintain my Chinese skill in the future. Now I hear people speaking in Chinese once I go out, or the ads in Chinese always pop up when I watch videos on Youtube. It's kind of an immersion environment, though I'm not motivated to study Chinese/Taiwanese these days...<br />
<br />
What to do if I don't have plans to come back again and lost the motivation to raise my language skill to the next level? Luckily, I found a great article written about this question!<br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.smartlanguagelearner.com/motivation-to-learning-language/" target="_blank">How to Keep Learning a Language when You No Longer HAVE to</a></span></b><br />
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Check it out if you have the same problem. ;-)<br />
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By the way I just started to learn Dutch from scratch! hehe<br />
(<a href="http://todayisagiftforme.blogspot.jp/2015/08/lets-start.html" target="_blank">Do you remember how to say "have started to learn" in Japanese?</a>)<br />
So what should I do first if I want to start learning a language without any backgound? Here's what I'm working on right now:<br />
<br />
(1) Find a Youtube video which introduces very basic phrases<br />
(2) Learn the alphabet and its pronunciation<br />
(3) Learn basic vocabulary (<a href="http://www.learndutch.org/online-dutch-course/" target="_blank">1000 most common words in Dutch</a>)<br />
(4) Learn basic grammar (<a href="http://dutch21.free.fr/dutch_c.html" target="_blank">Integral Dutch Course</a>)<br />
- basic verbs and its conjugation<br />
- the word order of question form<br />
- tenses of verbs (I've just learned past tense and presennt perfect!)<br />
(5) Try to make a sentence with words I learned<br />
- Send a message to a conversation partner on <b><a href="http://todayisagiftforme.blogspot.jp/2015/10/language-exchange-mobile-app.html" target="_blank">HelloTalk</a></b><br />
<br />
What I wrote to my friend yesterday was just an easy sentence "Vandaag leerde ik Nederlands (Today I learned Dutch)". haha I hope I can find more friends to talk with in Dutch so that I can practice more. It motivates me a lot to get a feedback.<br />
I appreciate any recommendations / advice! :D<br />
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<br />
Speaking of which, I thought about what about learning Japanese from scratch? How did do that at first? Or are you just interested in learning but not having taken the first step yet?<br />
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I think this website will help you a lot if you want to start from scratch, or if you want to review Japanese grammar!<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.guidetojapanese.org/learn/complete" target="_blank">Complete Guide to Japanese</a></span></b><br />
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And try to speak or write what you learned as much as possible! Find your language exchange partner who can practice with. (<a href="http://todayisagiftforme.blogspot.jp/p/language-exchange.html" target="_blank">Let's Language Exchange!</a>)<br />
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<b><span style="color: orange;">*Japanese Word of the Day*</span></b><br />
<span style="background-color: yellow;"><b>がんばって!</b></span><br />
/ganbatte/<br />
Good luck! / You can do it! / Keep it up! /<br />
<br />Tomohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06555635199951413688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2062506611811250400.post-7662970282746622382015-10-05T18:19:00.003+08:002015-10-05T18:19:53.079+08:00Language Exchange Mobile AppHey guys! I've found a nice app for<b><a href="http://todayisagiftforme.blogspot.tw/p/language-exchange.html" target="_blank"> <span style="color: blue;">language exchange</span></a></b>, which is called <b><a href="http://www.hellotalk.com/Index/index/lan/en/hellotalk.html#en" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">HelloTalk</span></a></b>.<br />
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Have you heard of it? You can not only search for conversation partners, but also send text/voice messages, use translator while you're chatting with people, draw images to explain what you want to say, and... and so on. I'm not sure because I've just registered. :P Please watch the video below to see a brief introduction of this app.<br />
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Well, I do prefer meeting in person rather than texting (frankly, I don't like texting very much), but I'm going to try it out anyway. :)<br />
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<b><span style="color: orange;">*Japanese Word of the Day*</span></b><br />
<b style="background-color: yellow;">ちょっとやってみようかな。</b><br />
/chotto yatte miyou kana/<br />
I'll give it a try.<br />
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<span style="color: blue;">*ちょっと </span>/chotto/ a little, a bit<br />
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<span style="background-color: #d0e0e3;">ちょっと待ってて。</span><br />
/chotto mattete/<br />
Hold on a minute.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: blue;">*やる /yaru/</span> to do something ― <span style="color: blue;">やって</span> is the te-form of <span style="color: blue;">やる</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: blue;">*~みる</span> </span><span style="color: blue;">/miru/ </span>to try doing something<br />
→ やる+みる=やってみる<br />
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Here, <span style="color: blue;">よう</span> represents an attempt. It's also used when we invite somebody to do something.<br />
→ やってみる+よう=やってみよう<br />
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<span style="color: blue;">食(た)べよう</span> : Let's eat. / I'm gonna eat. (I attempt to eat)<br />
<span style="color: blue;">行(い)こう</span> : Let's go. / I'm gonna go. (I attempt to go)<br />
<span style="color: blue;">食べてみよう</span> : Let's try to eat. / I'm gonna try to eat.<br />
<span style="color: blue;">行ってみよう</span> : Let's try to go. / I'm gonna try to go.<br />
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<span style="color: blue;">*かな /kana/</span> I wonder, I'm not sure (making a guess)<br />
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<span style="background-color: #cfe2f3;">そうかな?</span><br />
/soukana/<br />
Is that so? (I don't think so/I'm skeptical/I'm not sure)<br />
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That's all for today! :) By the way I'm going back to Japan next week!! Yay!Tomohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06555635199951413688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2062506611811250400.post-55380926044507962202015-09-19T20:58:00.000+08:002015-09-19T20:58:04.602+08:00Is Your Glass Half Empty or Half Full?Is the glass half empty or half full? You may have heard of this question. Though we see the same situation, how one expresses depends on one's point of view. Not only this expressions, half empty or half full, what we say conveys how we see the world.<br />
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Speaking of Japanese language, we can use both <span style="color: blue;">は </span>or <span style="color: blue;">が </span>to describe the same situation, but there's an implicit meaning in each sentence. I mean, which I use depends on what I focus on. (<u><a href="http://todayisagiftforme.blogspot.jp/p/japanese-particles.html" target="_blank">Check this page to see the difference between them!</a></u>)<br />
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I've been tried to explain about the nuance of meaning in terms of point of view (what the speaker focuses on or how it sounds to the listener), rather than just picking up grammar rules. Well, it might not a clear explanation as I'm not a teacher nor a kind of language specialist. :( So excuse me, and please feel free to ask me if my explanation doesn't make sense!<br />
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<b><span style="color: orange;">*Japanese Word of the Day*</span></b><br />
<b style="background-color: yellow;">1) コップ(こっぷ)に水(みず)が少(すこ)し残(のこ)っている。</b><br />
/koppu ni mizu ga sukoshi nokotte iru/<br />
<span style="background-color: yellow;"><b>2) コップ(こっぷ)に水(みず)が少(すこ)し<span style="color: red;">だけ</span>残(のこ)っている。</b></span><br />
/koppu ni mizu ga sukoshi dake nokotte iru/<br />
<span style="background-color: yellow;"><b>3) コップ(こっぷ)に水(みず)が少(すこ)し<span style="color: red;">しか</span>残(のこ)って<span style="color: red;">ない</span>。</b></span><br />
/koppu ni mizu ga sukoshi shika nokotte nai/<br />
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<span style="color: blue;">*コップ(こっぷ) /koppu/</span> a glass<br />
- I guess it's one of <a href="http://todayisagiftforme.blogspot.tw/2015/05/loan-words-in-japanese.html" target="_blank">外来語(loan words)</a>, from "a cup” in English. But <span style="color: blue;">コップ</span> usually means " a glass", and we say <span style="color: blue;">カップ(かっぷ)</span> as "a cup" in English.<br />
<span style="color: blue;">*水(みず) /mizu/</span> water<br />
<span style="color: blue;">*少(すこ)し /sukoshi/</span> a little, a bit<br />
<span style="color: blue;">*残(のこ)っている</span> /nokotte iru/ to remain, to be left<br />
- In daily conversation, we often omit <span style="color: blue;">い</span> and say <span style="color: blue;">残ってる</span>.<br />
- <span style="color: blue;">残って(い)ない</span> is the negative form of <span style="color: blue;">残って(い)る</span>.<br />
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All these three sentences can be translated as "A little water remained in the glass". As you guess, it reflects how the speaker feels. Let's have a closer look at each of these sentences.<br />
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<span style="background-color: yellow;">(1) コップ(こっぷ)に水(みず)が少(すこ)し残(のこ)っている。</span><br />
This sentence just describes the situation. There's a glass of water, which has a little water.<br />
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<span style="background-color: yellow;">(2) コップ(こっぷ)に水(みず)が少(すこ)し<span style="color: red;">だけ</span>残(のこ)っている。</span><br />
Here I added <span style="color: blue;">だけ</span> to emphasize there's <b>only a little</b> water in the glass. It focuses on the small amount of water.<br />
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<span style="background-color: #cfe2f3;">誕生日(たんじょうび)を覚(おぼ)えていてくれたのは彼(かれ)<span style="color: red;">だけ</span>だった。</span><br />
/tanjoubi wo oboeteite kureta nowa kare dake datta/<br />
It was <span style="color: red;">only</span> him who remembered my birthday.<br />
<span style="color: blue;">*くれた</span> (the past form of <span style="color: blue;">くれる</span>) indicates the speaker feels thankful. (<u><a href="http://todayisagiftforme.blogspot.tw/2015/05/who-gives-it-to-whom.html" target="_blank">Here's more detailed explanation about くれる</a></u>)<br />
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<span style="background-color: #cfe2f3;">からかった<span style="color: red;">だけ</span>だよ。</span><br />
/karakatta dake dayo/<br />
I was <span style="color: red;">just</span> teasing you.<br />
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<span style="background-color: yellow;">(3) コップ(こっぷ)に水(みず)が少(すこ)し<span style="color: red;">しか</span>残(のこ)って<span style="color: red;">ない</span>。</span><br />
It rather can be translated as "there's <b>little</b> water in the glass". <span style="color: blue;">しか</span> always makes the verb negative.<br />
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<span style="background-color: #cfe2f3;">この方法(ほうほう)<span style="color: red;">しかない</span>。</span><br />
/kono houhou shika nai/<br />
I have <span style="color: red;">no</span> choice <span style="color: red;">except</span> this way.<br />
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As you see, <b>it focuses on the negative aspect</b>. There's nothing but something. It's kinda like "half empty". Do you get the picture? :) Now I'd like to add one more sentence.<br />
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<span style="background-color: yellow;">(4) コップ(こっぷ)に水(みず)が少(すこ)し<span style="color: red;">だけ</span></span><span style="background-color: yellow; color: red;">しか</span><span style="background-color: yellow;">残(のこ)って</span><span style="background-color: yellow; color: red;">ない</span><span style="background-color: yellow;">。</span><br />
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Here, you see both <span style="color: blue;">だけ </span>and <span style="color: blue;">しか </span>in one sentence.The base of the sentence is (3), so the speaker thinks there's LITTLE water. It's not enough, or too little. He sees its negative aspect. And <span style="color: blue;">だけ </span>lays emphasis on the amount of water.<br />
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(1) 日本語(にほんご)を少(すこ)し<span style="color: red;">だけ</span>話(はな)せる。<br />
/nihongo wo sukoshi dake hanaseru/<br />
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(2) 日本語(にほんご)を少(すこ)し<span style="color: red;">しか</span>話(はな)せ<span style="color: red;">ない</span>。<br />
/nihongo wo sukoshi shika hanase nai/<br />
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(3) 日本語(にほんご)を少(すこ)し<span style="color: red;">だけしか</span>話(はな)せ<span style="color: red;">ない</span>。<br />
/nihongo wo sukoshi dake shika hanase nai/<br />
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Now you know what the nuance of these 3 sentences, do you?<br />
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That's all for today! Thank you for reading, and see you soon! ;)Tomohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06555635199951413688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2062506611811250400.post-48892911777346405722015-09-12T07:13:00.002+08:002015-09-12T07:13:48.894+08:00It Takes Time<u><a href="http://todayisagiftforme.blogspot.jp/2015/08/lets-start.html" target="_blank">In my previous post</a></u>, I wrote about transitive verbs and intransitive verbs.<br />
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- A transitive verb is a verb that takes objects, and it expresses <b>an action of its subject</b>. The particle <span style="color: blue;">を</span> comes after the object.<br />
- An intransitive verb, on the other hand, describes <b>the movement of its subject</b>. So you should use the particle <span style="color: blue;">は/が</span> which marks the subject of the sentence.<br />
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Which you should use, a transitive verb or an intransitive verb, depends on what you want to focus on.<br />
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Today I'm going to talk about the verb <span style="color: blue;">かける/かかる</span>. Guess which one is a transitive verb? <span style="color: blue;">かける/kakeru/</span> or <span style="color: blue;">かかる/kakaru/</span>?<br />
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Hint:<br />
<span style="color: blue;">開ける/ak<b>e</b>ru/</span> transitive verb <-> <span style="color: blue;">開く/aku/</span> intransitive verb (to open)<br />
<span style="color: blue;">閉める/shim<b>e</b>ru/</span> transitive verb <-> <span style="color: blue;">閉まる/shimaru/</span> intransitive verb (to close)<br />
<span style="color: blue;">つける/tsuk<b>e</b>ru/</span> transitive verb <-> <span style="color: blue;">つく/tsuku/</span> intransitive verb (to turn on)<br />
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Well, this pattern isn't applied to all transitive verbs, but it would be one clue to guess.<br />
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Answer:<br />
<span style="color: blue;">かける/kakeru/</span> transitive verb <-> <span style="color: blue;">かかる/kakaru/</span> intransitive verb<br />
It has several meanings, but I want to pick up one of them. I show you some example sentences to help you understand its meaning. (I believe it's much better to know how it is used in a sentence than just to see the word to word translation.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: blue;">かける/kakeru/</span> to spend time</span><br />
<span style="background-color: yellow;">1a) テスト(てすと)の見直(みなお)しに時間(じかん)を<b>かける</b>。</span><br />
/tesuto no minaoshi ni jikan wo kakeru/<br />
I spend plenty of time on reviewing the exam.<br />
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<span style="background-color: yellow;">2a) 妻(つま)はいつも時間(じかん)を<b>かけて</b>化粧(けしょう)をする。</span><br />
/tsuma wa itsumo jikan wo kakete keshou wo suru/<br />
My wife always takes time on putting makeup on.<br />
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<span style="background-color: yellow;">3a) 一週間(いっしゅうかん)<b>かけて</b>作品(さくひん)を完成(かんせい)させた。</span><br />
/isshuukan kakete sakuhin wo kansei saseta/<br />
I spent a week to complete my work.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: blue;">かかる/kakaru/</span> to take time</span><br />
<span style="background-color: yellow;">1b) テストの見直(みなお)しに時間(じかん)が<b>かかる</b>。</span><br />
/tesuto no minaoshi ni jikan ga kakaru/<br />
It takes time to review the exam.<br />
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<span style="background-color: yellow;">2b) 妻(つま)は化粧(けしょう)をするのにいつも時間(じかん)が<b>かかる</b>。</span><br />
/tsuma wa keshou wo suru noni itsumo jikan ga kakaru/<br />
My wife always takes time on putting makeup on.<br />
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<span style="background-color: yellow;">3b) 一週間(いっしゅうかん)<b>かかって</b>作品(さくひん)が完成(かんせい)した。</span><br />
It took a week to complete my work.<br />
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The sentence 1a and 1b, 2a and 2b, 3a and 3b are corresponding to each other. The meaning of the two sentences are very similar but not the same. What the speaker wants to tell, or how it sounds to listener is different. Let's take a closer look at each pair of sentences.<br />
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<span style="background-color: white;">1a) テスト(てすと)の見直(みなお)しに時間(じかん)を</span><b>かける</b><span style="background-color: white;">。</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;">1b) テストの見直(みなお)しに時間(じかん)が<b>かかる</b>。</span><br />
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<span style="color: blue;">*テスト /tesuto/</span> test, exam<br />
<span style="color: blue;">*見直(みなお)し /minaoshi/</span> review, recheck, double-check<br />
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Let's say you have finished the test but still had some time. If you're careful, you'd double check your answer. (If you're not, you still had better do it, though!) <u>You took time to check the answer on your own will</u>. And this is what the sentence 1a implies. On the other hand, <u>1b implies that the speaker feels bothered or has hard time to finish it</u>. Both 1a and 1b express the same situation (it takes time to do something) but it sounds different, isn't it?<br />
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<span style="background-color: white;">2a) 妻(つま)はいつも時間(じかん)を<b>かけて</b>化粧(けしょう)をする。</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;">2b) 妻(つま)は化粧(けしょう)をするのにいつも時間(じかん)が<b>かかる</b>。</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: blue;">*妻(つま) /tsuma/</span> wife</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: blue;">*化粧(けしょう) /keshou/</span> makeup</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: blue;">かける</span> is often used before the verb like <span style="color: blue;">時間をかけて〜する</span>, but we don't say 時間が</span><span style="background-color: white;">かかって〜する. If it's specific time like 30 minutes, two weeks or a day, besides if you're talking about the past or what you have done, then you can say <span style="color: blue;">かかって〜した</span>. It's usually used with <span style="color: blue;">やっと/ようやく/ついに</span>, which means finally, at last or after all.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: yellow;">2時間(にじかん)<b>かかって</b>ようやく書(か)き終(お)えた。</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;">/ni jikan kakatte youyaku kaki oeta/</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;">After all it took 2 hours to finish writing it.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: blue;">*書(か)く /kaku/</span> to write</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: blue;">*終(お)える /oeru/</span> to get something done</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;">---> <span style="color: blue;">書(か)き終(お)える</span> to finish writing</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white;">Let's get back on the track. As <span style="color: blue;">かける</span> intends the subject's own will, 2a implies that his wife takes time as long as she wants, and it's very slow. If he says <span style="color: blue;">時間がかかる</span> like 2b, it implies he thinks it's too long and feels bothered.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white;">3a) 一週間(いっしゅうかん)<b>かけて</b>作品(さくひん)を完成(かんせい)させた。</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;">3b) 一週間(いっしゅうかん)<b>かかって</b>作品(さくひん)が完成(かんせい)した。</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: blue;">*作品(さくひん) /sakuhin/</span> art work</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: blue;">*完成(かんせい) /kansei/</span> completion, accomplishment</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"> -><span style="color: blue;"> 完成する</span> to be finished or to be completed</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"> -> <span style="color: blue;">完成させる</span> to get something done, to complete or finish something</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white;">Okay, I'll give you a quiz. =)</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;">There's an artist who's working on a large painting. He never slack off on any works, and he always spends enough time until he's satisfied. Which sentence implies that he devoted himself to completing his work? 3a, or 3b?</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span>
That's all for today, thank you for reading! Please feel free to leave your comment ;-)Tomohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06555635199951413688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2062506611811250400.post-17385832806271921212015-08-28T18:44:00.000+08:002015-08-28T18:44:31.688+08:00Let's start!A few months ago, my father started to learn Chinese. He said he's really bad at studying and always got a terrible grade in a language class when he was a student (long long ages ago!!). So I introduced him a great teacher who can teach him step by step in a fun way, for free! Who's that? ...It's me!! XD<br />
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<b><span style="color: orange;">*Japanese Word of the Day*</span></b><br />
<b style="background-color: yellow;">外国語(がいこくご)の勉強(べんきょう)を始(はじ)めました。</b><br />
/gaikokugo no benkyou wo hajime mashita/<br />
I've started to learn a foreign language.<br />
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<span style="color: blue;">*外国語(がいこくご) /gaikokugo/</span> = 外国(foreign country) + 語(language)<br />
<span style="color: blue;">*勉強(べんきょう) /benkyou/</span> learning, study<br />
―<span style="color: blue;">勉強する /benkyou suru/</span> to learn, to study<br />
<span style="color: blue;">*始(はじ)める /hajimeru/</span> to start, to begin<br />
I added <span style="color: blue;">ました</span>(the past form of <span style="color: blue;">ます</span>) to make the sentence polite.<br />
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I've featured this verb <span style="color: blue;">始める</span> before <b><u><a href="http://todayisagiftforme.blogspot.tw/2014/08/its-been-year-since.html" target="_blank">in this post</a></u></b>.<br />
<span style="background-color: yellow;">ブログ(ぶろぐ)を<b>始(はじ)めて</b>1年(いちねん)になります。</span><br />
Please look at <u><a href="http://todayisagiftforme.blogspot.tw/2014/08/its-been-year-since.html" target="_blank">the original post</a></u> to see its translation and additional explanation. Now as you know, <span style="color: blue;">始めて/hajimete/</span> is so-called <b>te-form</b> of <span style="color: blue;">始める</span>. Japanese verbs end with <b>te</b>(or <b>de</b>) when it connect to the following words. I'm not going to explain about grammar in detail, but I picked it up again because I want to tell you about a confusing word, <span style="color: blue;">初(はじ)めて/hajimete/</span>. And this was a question from Arman. Thank you Arman! :)<br />
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Both <span style="color: blue;">始めて</span> and <span style="color: blue;">初めて</span> are pronounced as <span style="color: blue;">/hajimete/</span>, but they're totally different words. <span style="color: blue;">始めて</span> is a verb as I explained above, but <span style="color: blue;">初めて </span>is an adverb. It means "<span style="color: blue;">for the first time</span>".<br />
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<span style="background-color: yellow;"><b>初(はじ)めて</b>すしを食(た)べた感想(かんそう)は?</span><br />
/hajimete sushi wo tabeta kansou wa/<br />
How did you feel when you <b>first</b> ate Sushi?<br />
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<span style="background-color: yellow;"><b>初(はじ)めて</b>彼(かれ)が笑(わら)っているのを見(み)た。</span><br />
/hajimete kare ga waratteiru no wo mita/<br />
I saw he lauging <b>for the first time</b>.<br />
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Speaking of which, "for the first time" cannot always be translated as <span style="color: blue;">初めて</span>. Please check out <u><b><a href="http://todayisagiftforme.blogspot.tw/2014/02/for-first-time-in-forever.html" target="_blank">this post</a></b></u> to see how we say it in Japanese.<br />
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Now I want to introduce another verb which is closely related to <span style="color: blue;">始める</span>. Let's see an example sentence to begin with.<br />
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<span style="background-color: yellow;">もうすぐ新学期(しんがっき)が<b>始(はじ)まる</b>。</span><br />
/mousugu shingakki ga hajimaru/<br />
The new semester will start soon.<br />
<span style="color: blue;">*もうすぐ /mousugu/</span> soon, before long<br />
<span style="color: blue;">*新学期(しんがっき)</span>new semester<br />
<span style="color: blue;">*始(はじ)まる /hajimaru/</span> to start, to begin<br />
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It's confusing, I know. <span style="color: blue;">始める</span> and <span style="color: blue;">始める</span>, and they're both translated as "to start" in English. Though we never say 勉強を<b>始まる</b> or 新学期が<b>始める</b>. What's the difference?<br />
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These verbs are usually explained as (1)<u>transitive verbs</u> and (2)in<u>transitive verbs</u>. Well, I won't (can't!) give you a detailed grammatical explanation but you'll find a lot of website and Youtube videos if you want to know more about it. :P<br />
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I give you some example sentences and its simple explanation!<br />
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<b>(1)transitive verb ―勉強を始める</b><br />
It is a verb which has an object. <span style="color: blue;">を</span> is a particular which comes after the object.<br />
<span style="color: blue;">ドア(どあ)を開(あ)ける /doa wo akeru/</span> open the door<br />
<span style="color: blue;">予定(よてい)を決(き)める /yotei wo kimeru/</span> decide the plan<br />
<span style="color: blue;">成績(せいせき)を上(あ)げる /seiseki wo ageru/</span> improve the grade<br />
<span style="color: blue;">声(こえ)を出(だ)す /koe wo dasu/</span> utter a voice<br />
All of these sentences omit the subjects, but <u>it's talking about the action</u> what the subject does.<br />
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<b>(2)intransitive verb ―新学期が始まる</b><br />
It just describes a situation. It usually implies that the occurance or movement is not intended.<br />
<span style="color: blue;">ドア(どあ)が開(あ)く /doa ga aku/</span><br />
―The door opens but the one who opens the door isn't the speaker, or the speaker doesn't intend to open the door but it does.<br />
<span style="color: blue;">予定(よてい)が決(き)まる /yotei ga kimaru/</span><br />
―It doesn't matter who decided the plan but the speaker is talking about what happened on the plan.<br />
<span style="color: blue;">成績(せいせき)が上(あ)がる /seiseki ga agaru/</span><br />
<span style="color: blue;">声(こえ)が出(で)る /koe ga deru/</span><br />
―This sentence implies that the voice comes out <u>without intention</u>.<br />
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Let's recap the point:<br />
- A transitive verb has an object, and the particular <span style="color: blue;">を</span> is following after the object. It's talking about the action.<br />
- An intransitive verb sometimes imply that it happened by itself or it's not intended by the speaker. It's talking about the situation.<br />
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<table border="1" cellpadding="5">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td align="center">transitive verb</td>
<td align="center">intransitive verb</td>
</tr>
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<td align="center">(〜を)始める</td>
<td align="center">始まる</td>
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<td align="center">(〜を)開ける</td>
<td align="center">開く</td>
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<td align="center">(〜を)決める</td>
<td align="center">決まる</td>
</tr>
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<td align="center">(〜を)上げる</td>
<td align="center">上がる</td>
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<td align="center">(〜を)出す</td>
<td align="center">出る</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
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<b><span style="color: orange;"><< Quiz >></span></b><br />
Let's say that you're a teacher and going to start the class. Which sentence is correct?<br />
1) 授業(じゅぎょう)を始(はじ)める。<br />
2) 授業(じゅぎょう)が始(はじ)まる。<br />
<span style="color: blue;">*授業 /jugyou/</span> class, lesson<br />
Incidentally, from students' point of view, which sentence is more appropriate?<br />
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You're watching a movie and it was so heart warming that impressed you a lot. You found that a tear's running down your cheek. Which sentence is more appropreate?<br />
1) 涙(なみだ)を出した。<br />
2) 涙(なみだ)が出た。<br />
<span style="color: blue;">*涙 /namida/</span> tears<br />
*出した(past form)=出す // 出た(past form)=出る<br />
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That's all for today! If you have any questions please feel free to leave a comment! Thank you for reading. :)Tomohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06555635199951413688noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2062506611811250400.post-57424898852945125042015-08-19T17:39:00.000+08:002015-08-19T17:39:58.568+08:00Never Stand Someone Up!!Do you think you are forgetful?<div>
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I am a very forgetful person, indeed. I usually write a memo so as not to miss appointments, but the other day I even forgot to review the memo and I stood my friend up! X( I feel bad. I should have set a reminder.</div>
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<b><span style="color: orange;">*Japanese Word of the Day*</span></b></div>
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<b style="background-color: yellow;">約束(やくそく)をすっぽかしてしまった。</b></div>
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/yakusoku wo suppokashite shimatta/</div>
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<span style="color: blue;">*約束(やくそく) /yakusoku/</span> an appointment, an agreement, a promise</div>
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<span style="color: blue;">*すっぽかす /suppokasu/</span> to blow someone off, to stand someone up, to miss an appointment</div>
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―<span style="color: blue;">すっぽかされる</span> is its passive form</div>
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<span style="color: blue;">*しまった /shimatta/</span> is the past form of <span style="color: blue;">しまう /shimau/</span></div>
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We add this word after verbs to show that we did something bad or cannot help doing things that actually we shouldn't have done.</div>
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<span style="background-color: yellow;">あの人(ひと)の顔(かお)を見(み)ると笑(わら)って<b>しまう</b>。</span></div>
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/ano hito no kao wo miruto waratte shimau/</div>
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(I know I shouldn't but) I can't help laughing when I see that person.</div>
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<span style="background-color: yellow;">水(みず)をこぼしてしまった。</span></div>
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/mizu wo koboshite shimatta/</div>
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(I feel bad because) I spilled water.</div>
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So you can indicate that you feel bad by adding <span style="color: blue;">しまう/しまった</span> after the verb!</div>
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Here's one more expression which means "to get stood up", <span style="color: blue;">すっぽかされる</span>;</div>
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<b style="background-color: yellow;">待(ま)ちぼうけを食(く)らう</b> or <span style="background-color: yellow;"><b>待ちぼうけを食う</b></span></div>
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/machibouke wo kurau/ or /machibouke wo kuu/</div>
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Speaking of which, it was a heavy snowy day when I got stood up by my boyfriend. I was waiting outside in snow for an hour... Did he finally show up or did I give up waiting and left? I don't remember.</div>
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<span style="background-color: yellow;">雪(ゆき)の中(なか)、1時間(いちじかん)待ちぼうけを食(く)らった。</span></div>
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/yuki no naka, ichi jikan no machibouke wo kuratta/</div>
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I got stood up for an hour in snow.</div>
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Have you ever got stood up?</div>
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That's all for today. Be careful not to miss any appointments! (I will!) Thank you for reading and please feel free to leave your comment. :)</div>
Tomohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06555635199951413688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2062506611811250400.post-48056756890270820772015-08-12T13:40:00.002+08:002015-08-12T13:40:55.857+08:00Don't see my feet!!Well, when did I write my blog last time? July 1st? I have been <b><a href="http://todayisagiftforme.blogspot.tw/2015/01/flip-book-animation.html" target="_blank">slacking off</a></b> for a month...<br />
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The reader might have been gone away. :'( I wish you guys will come and read my blog again.</div>
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It's not an excuse but I really haven't been feeling well these months. Now I feel better, so I'd like to start learning languages which I've held off for a while: Mandarin Chinese, Taiwanese, Persian and English.</div>
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I just found Pontia's blog<i> <a href="http://www.mypersiancorner.com/" target="_blank">My Persian Courner</a></i> has updated. Her blog introduces Persian culture, language and beautiful places in Iran. She also shares some Persian musics with its lyrics and English translations. I love it! :)</div>
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Today I learned a new word <a href="http://www.mypersiancorner.com/2015/08/a-tochal-inspired-persian-word-of-day.html" target="_blank">from her latest post</a> which means something is more expensive than it should be. (Visit her blog if you want to know how to say it in Persian!) In Japanese, we say it as <b><span style="color: blue;">ぼったくり /bottakuri/</span></b>.</div>
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<span style="background-color: yellow;"><b>それって、<span style="color: blue;">ぼったくり</span>じゃない?</b></span></div>
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/sorette bottakuri ja nai?/</div>
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Isn't it a rip-off?</div>
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Here's one more expression which is related to this word.</div>
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<span style="background-color: yellow;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: yellow;"><b>足元(あしもと)を見(み)る</b></span></div>
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/ashimoto wo miru/</div>
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<span style="color: blue;">足(あし)/ashi/</span> means "leg" or "foot", and the meaning of <span style="color: blue;">足元(あしもと)/ashimoto/</span> ranges over "step" and "underfoot". <span style="color: blue;">見(み)る /miru/</span> is a verb "to see" or "to watch". So it literally means "to see one's feet".</div>
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If I said <span style="color: blue;">足元を見られた</span>, it means that <u>I was taken advantage of my helpless condition</u>. Let's say I was walking on my way home from shopping. I carried a big shopping bag full of fruit and vegetables but I was still a long way from home. I was exhausted but there was hardly any taxi. Fortunately, I found a taxi and hailed it. The taxi driver said it's 3000 yen, but I (<b>and the driver</b>) knew it was much more expensive than it should be. But I had no choice but to accept it because I was too tired to walk home. The driver "saw my feet".</div>
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Have you ever had <span style="color: blue;">足元を見られた</span> experience?</div>
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That's all for today! thank you for reading and feel free to leave your comment! :)<br />
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Tomohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06555635199951413688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2062506611811250400.post-40150350075638616782015-07-01T18:41:00.000+08:002015-07-01T18:41:06.547+08:00Feeling Sluggish in SummerI found an interesting video on Youtube! :D<br />
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<iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/6HZbBLl4FA0/0.jpg" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/6HZbBLl4FA0?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
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I don't feel like doing anything because of the summer heat... *sigh* Actually, I'm still <span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://todayisagiftforme.blogspot.tw/2015/06/somethings-wrong-with.html" target="_blank">体調が悪い</a></span> these days. Well, but I have to cheer myself up!<br />
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<b><span style="color: orange;">*Japanese Word of the Day*</span></b><br />
<b style="background-color: yellow;">夏(なつ)バテで、体(からだ)がだるい。</b><br />
/natsubate de karada ga darui/<br />
The summer heat got me feel sluggish and unenergetic.<br />
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<span style="color: blue;">*夏バテ /natsubate/ </span>suffering from the summer heat, getting exhausted from summer heat<br />
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Do you feel unenergetic, tired and worn out during summer? Or if you're losing your appetite because of the summer heat, that must be <span style="color: blue;">夏バテ</span>!!<br />
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<span style="color: blue;">夏 /natsu/</span> summer + <span style="color: blue;">バテる/bateru/</span> (to be worn out) = <span style="color: blue;">夏バテ</span><br />
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<span style="color: blue;">*体 /karada/ body</span><br />
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<span style="color: blue;">*だるい /darui/</span> to feel sluggish, to feel heavy<br />
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That's all for today! Thank you for reading!Tomohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06555635199951413688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2062506611811250400.post-76093113920703045892015-06-21T20:27:00.001+08:002015-06-21T20:27:18.585+08:00Something's wrong with...?I think summer is the coldest season in Taiwan. It's indeed boiling hot outside, BUT, once you get on a bus or train, you will understand what I mean. It's freezing cold!!! Guess what will happen if you're exposed to the extreme temperature swings everyday? Well, I feel sick...<br />
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So, today I'm going to tell you about how to say "not feeling well" in Japanese.<br />
These are the 3 most common expressions.<br />
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(1) <span style="background-color: #fff2cc;"><b>具合(ぐあい)</b>が悪(わる)い。/guai ga warui/</span><br />
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(2) <span style="background-color: #fff2cc;"><b>調子(ちょうし)</b>が悪い。/choushi ga warui/</span><br />
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(3) <span style="background-color: #fff2cc;"><b>体調(たいちょう)</b>が悪い。/taichou ga warui/</span><br />
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All these phrases can be translated as "I'm not feeling well". Let's see their nuances of meaning.<br />
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<b>(1) 具合 and 調子 can also be used for machines but 体調 can't.</b><br />
<span style="color: blue;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: blue;">体調</span> is only used when we talk about health or body condition, as it has <span style="color: blue;">体 (=body)</span> in its word. <span style="color: blue;">調</span> of <span style="color: blue;">体調</span> is of <span style="color: blue;">調子</span>, which simply means "condition".<br />
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体調 = 体(body)+ 調子(condition)<br />
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<b>(2) We use 調子 when we're talking about its performance.</b><br />
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Then what's the difference between <span style="color: blue;">具合</span> and <span style="color: blue;">調子</span>? It's just my opinion, but I guess <span style="color: blue;">調子</span> also means "performance" as well. I couldn't find the dictionary which says it means "performance", though.<br />
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Let's say, you are good at playing tennis. One day you're palying with your friend but you can't play as good as you usually do. Your friend would ask you:<br />
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<span style="background-color: #cfe2f3;">どうしたの?今日(きょう)は<b>調子(ちょうし)</b>が悪(わる)いね。</span><br />
/doushita no? kyou wa choushi ga warui ne/<br />
What's wrong? You are not yourself today.<br />
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Since he's talking about your performance, it can't be <span style="color: blue;">具合</span> in this case.<br />
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Or, if you play very well in your match, your tennis coach would say:<br />
<span style="background-color: #cfe2f3;">その<b>調子(ちょうし)</b>!!</span><br />
/sono choushi/<br />
Way to go!!<br />
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You cannot say その具合(ぐあい). It sounds very strange.<br />
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<b>(3) 具合 sees its condition. </b><br />
<b><br /></b>It basically means "condition". We often use it with other verbs.<br />
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<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;">仕事(しごと)の進(すす)み</span><b style="background-color: #d9ead3;">具合(ぐあい)</b><span style="background-color: #d9ead3;">はどう?</span><br />
/shigoto no susumi guai wa dou/<br />
How's your work coming along?<br />
<span style="color: blue;">進む(go ahead)</span>+ <span style="color: blue;">具合</span> = how it goes, the degree of progress<br />
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;">肉(にく)の焼(や)け<b>具合(ぐあい)</b>がちょうどいい。</span><br />
/niku no yake guai ga choudo ii/<br />
The meat cooked just right.<br />
<span style="color: blue;">焼く(grill, bake, fire, roast)</span>+ <span style="color: blue;">具合</span> = how it cooked, the degree of doneness<br />
You can also say <span style="background-color: #d9ead3;">いい<b>具合(ぐあい)</b>に焼けている。</span><br />
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<span style="color: blue;">具合(ぐあい)がいい / 具合(ぐあい)が悪い</span> also mean "convenient / inconvenient".<br />
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;">今(いま)その話(はなし)をされると<b>具合(ぐあい)</b>が悪(わる)い。</span><br />
/ima sono hanashi wo sareru to guai ga warui/<br />
It's inconvenient for me to talk about it right now.<br />
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I think the key of the meaning of <span style="color: blue;">具合</span> would be <span style="color: blue;">合 (=to fit, to suit, to adjust, to match)</span>. <span style="color: blue;">具合が悪い</span> indicates that it doesn't <b>fit</b> what you want. You don't feel as well as you usually do. Or the schedule dosen't <b>suit</b> you.<br />
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Well, that's all for today. Thank you for reading!Tomohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06555635199951413688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2062506611811250400.post-39029008137500341492015-05-28T17:43:00.002+08:002015-05-28T17:43:15.498+08:00Loan Words in Japanese<b><span style="color: orange;">*Japanese word of the day*</span></b><br />
<b style="background-color: yellow;">外来語(がいらいご)</b><br />
/gairaigo/<br />
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Guess what this word means! As you see, it consists of 3 Kanji characters: <span style="color: blue;">外(がい) + 来(らい) + 語(ご)</span>. Perhaps you've learnt each Kanji of it. <span style="color: blue;">外</span>, which is also read as /soto/, means "outside".<br />
You know the verb <span style="color: blue;">来(く)る</span> /kuru/, "to come", don't you? And the last Kanji <span style="color: blue;">語</span>, it means "words" or "language". <span style="color: blue;">日本語(にほんご) Japanese, 英語(えいご) English, 中国語(ちゅうごくご) Chinese</span>...<br />
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The words came from outside? Yes, <span style="color: blue;">外来語</span> means "loan words"!<br />
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There're many <span style="color: blue;">外来語</span> in Japanese. Most of them are from English words. Here're some tips to make good use of them to build your vocabulary!<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">(1) They're written in Katakana</span></b><br />
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<span style="background-color: yellow;">新(あたら)しくオープンしたカフェで、ランチセットをオーダーした。</span><br />
/atarashiku oopun shita kafe de, ranchi setto wo oodaa shita./<br />
I ordered lunch set in the newly opened cafe.<br />
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<span style="color: blue;">オープン(おーぷん)</span> /o-pun/ open<br />
<span style="color: blue;">カフェ(かふぇ)</span> /kafe/ cafe<br />
<span style="color: blue;">ランチセット(らんちせっと)</span> /ranchi setto/ lunch set<br />
<span style="color: blue;">オーダー(おーだー)</span> /oodaa/ order<br />
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I do recommend you to learn Katakana since it is written everywhere!<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">(2) Just add vowels</span></b><br />
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In Japanese, consonants aren't pronounced independently. That's why all sylabbles in Japanese , except 5 vowels <span style="color: blue;">あ/a/ い/i/ う/u/ え/e/ お/o/</span> and <span style="color: blue;">ん/n/</span>, are consist of a consonant and a vowel. You'll get it if you see 50 sounds table!<br />
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<span style="background-color: yellow;">スマイル(すまいる)はプライスレス(ぷらいすれす)!</span><br />
/sumairu wa puraisu resu/<br />
Smile is priceless!<br />
<br />
<span style="color: blue;">スマイル(すまいる)</span> /sumairu/ smile<br />
<span style="color: blue;">プライスレス(ぷらいすれす)</span> /puraisu resu/ priceless<br />
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It seems that if the first syllable of the word is sequence of consonants, like "smile" or "price", we tend to add the vowel sound "u". The pronounciation of "s" of "smile" becomes /su/, and "p" of "price" becomes /pu/. Isn't it? :D<br />
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Also, when a consonant ends a word, we have to add a vowel to pronounce it. The word "lunch" ends with "ch", but we pronounce it as /ranchi/. Let's see other loan words that end in "ch" or "tch".<br />
<br />
<span style="color: blue;">ビーチ(びーち)</span>/biichi/ beach<br />
<span style="color: blue;">キャッチ(きゃっち)</span> /kyacchi/ catch<br />
<span style="color: blue;">コーチ(こーち)</span>/koochi/ coach<br />
<span style="color: blue;">スクラッチ(すくらっち)</span>/sukuracchi/ scratch<br />
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Now I found that the pronunciation of "ch" wich is at the end of the word is usually changes into <span style="color: blue;">チ/chi/</span> in Japanese.<br />
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How about the words ending in "t"?<br />
<span style="color: blue;">ポリグロット(ぽりぐろっと)</span>/porigurotto/ polyglot<br />
<span style="color: blue;">リスト(りすと)</span>/risuto/ list<br />
<span style="color: blue;">ホット(ほっと)</span>/hotto/ hot<br />
<span style="color: blue;">カット(かっと)</span>/katto/ cut<br />
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And the words ending in "s" or "x"?<br />
<span style="color: blue;">サーカス(さーかす)</span>/saakasu/ circus<br />
<span style="color: blue;">ミックス(みっくす)</span>/mikkusu/ mix<br />
<span style="color: blue;">リラックス(りらっくす)</span>/rirakkusu/ relax<br />
<span style="color: blue;">ワックス(わっくす)</span>/wakkusu/ wax<br />
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Yeah, there must be some patterns!<br />
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The words ending in "l".<br />
<span style="color: blue;">コントロール(こんとろーる)</span>/kontorooru/ controll<br />
<span style="color: blue;">ルール(るーる)</span>/ruuru/ rule<br />
<span style="color: blue;">ショッピングモール(しょっぴんぐもーる)</span>/shoppingu mooru/ shopping mall<br />
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The syllable <span style="color: blue;">ん/n/</span> is kind of speciall. It's a consonant without vowels but you can use it at the end of the word.<br />
<span style="color: blue;">カン(かん)</span>/kan/ can<br />
<span style="color: blue;">トーン(とーん)</span>/toon/ tone<br />
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If the original word ends in "ng", it will be <span style="color: blue;">ん/n/</span> or <span style="color: blue;">んぐ/ngu/</span>.<br />
<span style="color: blue;">バン!(ばん)</span>/ban/ bang!<br />
<span style="color: blue;">ピンポン(ぴんぽん)</span>/pinpon/ pingpong<br />
<span style="color: blue;">ホンコン(ほんこん)</span>/honkon/ Hongkong<br />
<span style="color: blue;">キングコング(きんぐこんぐ)</span>/kingu kongu/ king kong<br />
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And "m" inside the word is also pronounced as <span style="color: blue;">ん/n/</span>.<br />
<span style="color: blue;">ハンバーガー(はんばーがー)</span>/hanbaagaa/ hamburger<br />
<span style="color: blue;">コンプレックス(こんぷれっくす)</span>/konpurekkusu/ complex<br />
*In Japanese <span style="color: blue;">コンプレックス</span> usually indicates "inferiority complex"<br />
<span style="color: blue;">コンピューター(こんぴゅーたー)</span>/konpyuutaa/ computer<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">*QUIZ*</span></b><br />
How do you pronounce these words as loan words in Japanese?<br />
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<span style="color: red;">(1) Princess</span><br />
<span style="color: red;">(2) Camp</span><br />
<span style="color: red;">(3) Punch</span><br />
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That's all for today! Thank you for reading my blog. I hope you like this post! Please try the quize and feel free to leave a comment. See you again ; )<br />
<br />Tomohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06555635199951413688noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2062506611811250400.post-64235017766723282442015-05-02T10:09:00.001+08:002015-05-02T10:09:40.769+08:00Who Gives It To Whom?<b>*Japanese Word of the Day*</b><br />
<b style="background-color: yellow;">教(おし)えてくれてありがとう!</b><br />
/oshiete kurete arigatou/<br />
Thank you for letting me know!<br />
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The other day, my friend asked me that what <span style="color: blue;">くれて</span> in this sentence means.<br />
I think it's a very good question, so I'd like to share my answer with you guys. ;)<br />
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You know <span style="color: blue;">ありがとう/arigatou/</span> means "thank you", and <span style="color: blue;">教(おし)える/oshieru/</span> means "to teach" or "to tell". This phrase can be translated as "thank you for teaching me" or "I appreciate your advice".<br />
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<span style="color: blue;">教えてくれて</span> is consist of two verbs, <span style="color: blue;">教える</span> and <span style="color: blue;">くれる</span>.<br />
Let me show you some example sentences to see what the verb <span style="color: blue;">くれる/kureru/ </span>means when it is used alone.<br />
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<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;">おじいちゃんはいつもお菓子(かし)を<b>くれる</b>。</span><br />
/ojiichan wa itsumo okashi wo kureru/<br />
Grandpa always <b>gives</b> me some snacks.<br />
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<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;">彼氏(かれし)がプレゼント(ぷれぜんと)を<b>くれた</b>。</span><br />
/kareshi ga purezento wo kureta/<br />
My boyfriend <b>gave</b> me a present.<br />
*Here, <span style="color: blue;">くれた</span> is the past tense of <span style="color: blue;">くれる</span>.<br />
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<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;">母がおこづかいを<b>くれた</b>。</span><br />
/haha ga okozukai wo kureta/<br />
My mother <b>gave</b> me some allowance.<br />
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<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;">早(はや)く水(みず)を<b>くれ</b>!!</span><br />
/hayaku mizu wo kure/<br />
<b>Give </b>me water quickly!!<br />
*<span style="color: blue;">くれ</span> is the imperative (command) form of <span style="color: blue;">くれる</span>. It sounds very rude. If you want something, you'd better to use the polite form of it, <span style="color: blue;">ください</span>.<br />
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<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;">レシートを<b>ください</b>。</span><br />
/reshiito wo kudasai/<br />
Please <b>give</b> me a receipt.<br />
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<br />
Now, did you notice that <u>the object of <span style="color: blue;">くれる</span> is always "me"?</u><br />
Grandpa gives <b>me</b> blablabla, my boyfriend gave <b>me</b> blablabla, please give <b>me</b> blablabla... You don't have to add <span style="color: blue;">私に/watasi ni/ "to me"</span> when you use <span style="color: blue;">くれる</span> because I know <u><span style="color: blue;">くれる</span> always indicates that the speaker is the one who's given something</u>.<br />
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But, in the other words, <u><span style="color: blue;">くれる</span> basically cannot be used when the object is not yourself.</u> It sounds a bit strange if you say <span style="color: blue;">母が妹におこづかいを<b>くれた</b></span>. Sometimes we'd say like this but it implies another meaning.<br />
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Well, then how should I say "to give something to someone else"?<br />
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In this case, you should use <span style="color: blue;">あげる/ageru/</span> instead.</div>
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<span style="background-color: #fce5cd;">母(はは)が妹(いもうと)におこづかいを<b>あげた</b>。</span><br />
/haha ga imouto ni okozukai wo ageta/<br />
My mother gave my sister some allowance.<br />
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Both <span style="color: blue;">くれる</span> and <span style="color: blue;">あげる</span> mean "to give", but the point of view is totally different. Let's look at some example sentences of <span style="color: blue;">あげる</span>.</div>
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<span style="background-color: #fce5cd;">後(あと)で<b>あげる</b>ね。</span><br />
/ato de ageru ne/<br />
I'll <b>give </b>it to you later.<br />
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<span style="background-color: #fce5cd;">犬(いぬ)に玉(たま)ねぎを<b>あげて</b>はいけない</span>。<br />
/inu ni tamanegi wo agete wa ikenai/<br />
You must not <b>give </b>a dog onions.<br />
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<span style="background-color: #fce5cd;">窓(まど)からパン(ぱん)くずを<b>あげた</b>。</span><br />
/mado kara pankuzu wo ageta/<br />
I <b>gave </b>(fed) crumbs through the window.<br />
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You know, Japanese language often omit the subject of the sentence. So it might be "<b>I</b> gave crumbs through the window" or "An old lady gave crumbs through the window" or somebody else did. It depends on the context. Also, this sentence doesn't mention that to whom I (or somebody else) gave crumbs.<br />
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Please have a look at the sentence below.<br />
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<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;">窓(まど)からパン(ぱん)くずを<b>くれた</b>。</span><br />
/mado kara pankuzu wo kureta/<br />
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Now I changed the verb of the sentence (<span style="color: blue;">あげた</span> → <span style="color: blue;">くれた</span>). You still don't know the subject of the sentence, but you can guess who got crumbs. It's <b>me</b> (the speaker of the sentence)! As I said, <span style="color: blue;">くれる</span> suggests that the speaker is the one who gets something.<br />
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<u>We won't say <span style="color: blue;">あげる</span> when the speaker is the one who gets something. </u>So <span style="color: blue;">彼氏が私にプレゼントをあげる</span> sounds unnatural.<br />
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And one more important property of this verb―<b>gratitude</b>! :)<br />
When I say <span style="color: blue;">パンくずを<b>くれた</b></span>, it implies that I appreciate the one who gave me crumbs. Maybe I was too hungry? Or I love crumbs? Who cares! XD Anyway, <u>this verb <span style="color: blue;">くれる</span> shows that you feel thankful, or you are happy to get something.</u><br />
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What to say when you're not happy to get something? Or you don't want to use the words which contain gratitude? For example, your dad gave you a thick math book for your birthday. If you love math (do you?!), then you can say:<br />
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<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;">父(ちち)が誕生日(たんじょうび)に数学(すうがく)の本(ほん)を<b>くれた</b>。</span><br />
/chichi ga tanjoubi ni suugaku no hon wo kureta/<br />
My father gave me a thick math book. (and I'm happy to get it)<br />
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But if you don't like math and you're not happy at all to get such a present, you should say like this:<br />
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<span style="background-color: #fff2cc;">父(ちち)<b>から</b>誕生日(たんじょうび)に数学(すうがく)の本(ほん)を<b>もらった</b>。</span><br />
/chichi kara tanjoubi ni suugaku no hon wo moratta/<br />
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<span style="color: blue;">もらう/morau/</span> is a verb which means "to get" or "to receive". So the subject of this sentence is "I", but I just omitted it. The full sentence is: <span style="background-color: #fff2cc;">私(わたし)は父(ちち)</span><b>から</b><span style="background-color: #fff2cc;">誕生日(たんじょうび)に数学(すうがく)の本(ほん)を</span><span style="background-color: #fce5cd;"><b>もらった</b>。</span> You can say <span style="color: blue;">父<b>に</b>もらう</span> or<span style="color: blue;"> 父<b>から</b>もらう</span>. Here I used <span style="color: blue;">から</span> to avoid repetition of <span style="color: blue;">に</span> (父<b>に</b>誕生日<b>に...</b>).<br />
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→ <a href="http://todayisagiftforme.blogspot.tw/2014/04/how-can-i-call-you.html" target="_blank">See more explanation of から!</a><br />
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By the way, I guess you've learnt <span style="color: blue;">ください</span> as "please". Yes, it means "please" when it's used with other verbs. You can also use <span style="color: blue;">くれ</span> to ask someone to do something, but it sounds arrogant.<br />
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<span style="background-color: #cfe2f3;">窓(まど)を閉(し)めて<b>ください</b>。</span><br />
/mado wo shimete kudasai/<br />
Please close the window.<br />
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<span style="background-color: #cfe2f3;">一緒(いっしょ)に来(き)て<b>ください</b>。</span><br />
/issho ni kite kudasai/<br />
Please come with me.<br />
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<span style="background-color: #cfe2f3;">ほっといて<b>くれ</b>。</span><br />
/hottoite kure/<br />
Leave me alone, please.<br />
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OK, now let's look at the first sentence <span style="color: blue;">教えてくれてありがとう</span>. What <span style="color: blue;">くれる</span> of <span style="color: blue;">教えてくれる</span> means? The role of <span style="color: blue;">くれる</span> isn't same as <span style="color: blue;">ください</span> in above sentences, I think.<br />
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Let's compare two sentences.<br />
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<span style="background-color: white;">(1) </span><span style="background-color: #d9ead3;">友達(ともだち)が私(わたし)におもしろいゲーム(げーむ)を教(おし)えた。</span><br />
/tomodachi ga watashi ni omoshiroi geemu wo oshiete kureta/<br />
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<span style="background-color: white;">(2) </span><span style="background-color: #d9ead3;">友達(ともだち)がおもしろいゲーム(げーむ)を教(おし)えて<b>くれた</b>。</span><br />
/tomodachi ga omoshiroi geemu wo oshiete kureta/<br />
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Both can be translated as "My friend told me about an interesting game." What are the differences between them? I want you to remember that <span style="color: blue;">くれる</span> implies the speaker feel thankful about it. You can see that the speaker of (2) probably feels happy to know about the game. Or, he thinks what his <span style="color: blue;">友達</span> did was good for him.<br />
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Do you get the picture? :)<br />
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<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;">姉(あね)が一緒(いっしょ)に来(き)て<b>くれた</b></span><span style="background-color: #d9ead3;">。</span><br />
/ane ga issho ni kite kureta/<br />
My sister came with me. (And I appreciate about it)<br />
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<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;">彼(かれ)はいつも私(わたし)に話(はな)しかけて<b>くれる</b>。</span><br />
/kare wa itsumo watashi ni hanashi kakete kureru/<br />
He always speaks to me. (And I think he's very kind)<br />
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<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;">来(き)て<b>くれて</b>嬉(うれ)しいよ。</span><br />
/kite kurete ureshii yo/<br />
I'm glad you came.<br />
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<u>We often use it with other verbs when we ask something casually.</u><br />
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<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;">ちょっと窓(まど)を開(あ)けて<b>くれる</b>?</span><br />
/chotto mado wo akete kureru/<br />
Can you open the window? (And I'd be appreciate if you'd do that)<br />
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<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;">この文章(ぶんしょう)を直(なお)して<b>くれる</b>?</span><br />
/kono bunshou wo naoshite kureru/<br />
Can you correct these sentences for me? (And it'd be very helpful if you could)<br />
<br />
Sometimes it sounds a biiiiit arrogant. So we tend to use <span style="color: blue;">くれない</span>, which is the negative form of <span style="color: blue;">くれる</span>. If you want to make it more polite, you can say <span style="color: blue;">くれますか</span> instead of <span style="color: blue;">くれる</span>. And also, <span style="color: blue;">くれませんか</span> sounds more soft.<br />
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Agh, I know it's confusing though...<br />
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<span style="color: blue;">くれる?</span> < <span style="color: blue;">くれない?</span> < <span style="color: blue;">くれますか </span>< <span style="color: blue;">くれませんか?</span><br />
Casual -----------------------------> Polite<br />
Which should I use? Well, it depends on how close you guys are. :P<br />
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<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;">今度(らいしゅう)の日曜(にちよう)、僕(ぼく)とデート(でーと)して<b>くれませんか</b>?</span><br />
/raishuu no nichiyou, boku to deeto shite kuremasen ka/<br />
Will you please go on a date with me?<br />
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<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;">忙(いそが)しいから、また今度(こんど)にして<b>くれない</b>?</span><br />
/isogashii kara, mata kondo ni shite kurenai/<br />
I'm busy, can't it be at some other time?<br />
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By the way, when Japanese people say <span style="color: blue;">また今度</span> "maybe next time", most of the time it implies that she doesn't want to go. :(<br />
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Ohh, I wrote a lot! I did it! haha<br />
I hope it would be of your help. :) Please let me know if you have any questions or if you want more examples. Thank you for reading,<span style="color: blue;"> 読(よ)んでくれてありがとう</span>!;)<br />
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See ya!</div>
Tomohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06555635199951413688noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2062506611811250400.post-67114498397887795962015-04-27T11:15:00.000+08:002015-04-27T11:15:18.704+08:00Hooked On!!<b><span style="color: orange;">*Japanese Word of the Day*</span></b><br />
<span style="background-color: yellow;"><b>最近(さいきん)、絵(え)を描(か)くのにハマ(はま)ってるんだよね。</b></span><br />
/saikin, e wo kaku no ni hamatterun dayone/<br />
I'm recently hooked on painting a picture!!<br />
<br />
<span style="color: blue;">*最近(さいきん) /saikin/</span> recently, these days<br />
<span style="color: blue;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: blue;">*絵(え) /e/</span> a drawing, a painting, a sketch, a illustration<br />
― <span style="color: blue;">絵(え)を描(か)く /e wo kaku/ </span>to draw/paint a picture<br />
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<span style="color: blue;">*~にハマ(はま)って<b>い</b>る /...ni hamatte <b>i</b>ru/</span> to be hooked on, to be into<br />
When we speak, this <span style="color: blue;">い</span> is often omitted.<br />
<br />
You may thought what <span style="color: blue;"><b>の</b></span> between <span style="color: blue;">絵を描く</span> and <span style="color: blue;">ハマってる</span> means. It's one of the particles! It's added after a verb to change it into a noun. Sometimes we use <span style="color: blue;">こと</span> instead of <span style="color: blue;">の</span>. (Or, we use <span style="color: blue;">の</span> instead of <span style="color: blue;">こと </span>sometimes?? I'm not sure...)<br />
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<span style="color: purple;">◎ 絵を描く の にハマってる。</span><br />
<span style="color: purple;">◎ 絵を描く こと にハマってる。</span><br />
<span style="color: purple;">× 絵を描く に ハマってる。</span><br />
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Read this post to know the other usage of <b><span style="color: blue;">の</span></b>. :)<br />
→ <span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://todayisagiftforme.blogspot.tw/2014/11/of.html" target="_blank">の=of ?</a></span><br />
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Actually, I'm into painting with oil pastels! I recently upload some of my paintings on <b><a href="https://jp.pinterest.com/tomoebb/" target="_blank">Pinterest</a></b>. Please visit my page if you're interested. :3<br />
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And I want to add one more phrase today.<br />
<b style="background-color: yellow;">最近(さいきん)、ハマっていることはありますか?</b><br />
Guess what it means, and let me know your answer! haha<br />
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By the way, I found a very interesting blog post!!<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><a href="http://www.iwillteachyoualanguage.com/how-to-write-in-japanese/" target="_blank">How to Write in Japanese - A Beginner's Guide</a></b></span><br />
This is a step-by-step guide to reading and writing Japanese, Kana and Kanji.<br />
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<br />
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That's all for today! Thank you for reading. See you next time! :)<br />
<br />
Related post:<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://todayisagiftforme.blogspot.tw/2014/05/kanji-lesson.html" target="_blank">Kanji Lesson</a></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://todayisagiftforme.blogspot.tw/2014/05/japanese-is-easier-than-you-think.html" target="_blank">Japanese is easier than you think!</a></span>Tomohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06555635199951413688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2062506611811250400.post-75934524282408770422015-04-16T12:30:00.002+08:002015-04-16T12:30:11.975+08:00How long do you stay?<b><span style="color: orange;">*Japanese Word of the Day*</span></b><br />
<b style="background-color: yellow;">何泊(なんはく/なんぱく)する予定(よてい)?</b><br />
/nanhaku(nanpaku) suru yotei?/<br />
How many nights do you plan to stay?<br />
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<span style="background-color: yellow;"><b>三泊(さんぱく)四日(よっか)だよ。</b></span><br />
/sanpaku-yokka dayo/<br />
For 4 days and 3 nights.<br />
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You can say only <span style="color: blue;">三泊(3 nights)</span> instead of <span style="color: blue;">三泊四日(4 days and 3 nights)</span>, but we usually say the latter. <span style="color: blue;">泊 </span>means "to stay" and it's pronounced as <span style="color: blue;">はく/haku/</span> or <span style="color: blue;">ぱく/paku/</span>.<br />
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<span style="color: blue;">・一泊(いっ<b>ぱ</b>く)二日(ふつか)</span> 2 days and 1 night<br />
<span style="color: blue;">・二泊(にはく)三日(みっか)</span> 3 days and 2 nights<br />
<span style="color: blue;">・三泊(さん<b>ぱ</b>く)四日(よっか)</span> 4 days and 3 nights<br />
<span style="color: blue;">・四泊(よんはく/よん<b>ぱ</b>く)五日(いつか)</span> 5 days and 4 nights<br />
<span style="color: blue;">・五泊(ごはく)六日(むいか)</span> 6 days and 5 nights<br />
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<span style="color: blue;">*</span><span style="color: blue;">~泊する/...haku(paku) suru/</span> to stay ... nights<br />
<span style="color: blue;">・一泊(いっぱく)する</span><br />
<span style="color: blue;">・二泊(にはく)する</span><br />
<span style="color: blue;">・三泊(さんぱく)する</span><br />
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<span style="color: blue;">*予定(よてい)/yotei/ a plan</span><br />
<span style="color: blue;">*~する予定 /...suru yotei/ I'm going to ...</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #fce5cd;">今週(こんしゅう)の日曜日(にちようび)何(なに)か予定(よてい)ある?</span><br />
/konshuu no nichi-youbi nanika yotei aru?/<br />
Do you have any plans for this Sunday?<br />
<span style="background-color: #fce5cd;">明日(あした)は友(とも)だちと遊(あそ)びに行(い)く予定(よてい)。</span><br />
I'm going to hang out with my friends.<br />
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I took a trip to Matsu Island, which is one of the small islands in Taiwan. It was a 4-day trip (<span style="color: blue;">三泊四日</span>). I stayed in a pretty village, Chinbe Village, which has a beach right in front of it.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNeaowWsVC6ddpv3oIDPi_-ncJ7E3grAWWNjaKDs726hIW9SbXLvhtNnUeeE-xn03YqZOW6TAH24vK1Qf5_my0lCAx90Uid_Oa2AaNCYV3vw3bXrIbH-XG8yrmbzWFCWTJ9APMFWNulYc/s1600/FullSizeRender+(4).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNeaowWsVC6ddpv3oIDPi_-ncJ7E3grAWWNjaKDs726hIW9SbXLvhtNnUeeE-xn03YqZOW6TAH24vK1Qf5_my0lCAx90Uid_Oa2AaNCYV3vw3bXrIbH-XG8yrmbzWFCWTJ9APMFWNulYc/s1600/FullSizeRender+(4).jpg" height="239" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chinbe Village</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHogFG2gt7n7WpeRJcz5-cG2UkKttbVBC5nDHcWHHZSYiBPSDlJG1GxRoLoD6HbJ12uiYFqFDwL3oACz8OtLrj77E-1yDud9ym9xrTnm7LO569PbVEnxb0K_3NHw36qmLLWqESZf2fLbk/s1600/FullSizeRender+(7).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHogFG2gt7n7WpeRJcz5-cG2UkKttbVBC5nDHcWHHZSYiBPSDlJG1GxRoLoD6HbJ12uiYFqFDwL3oACz8OtLrj77E-1yDud9ym9xrTnm7LO569PbVEnxb0K_3NHw36qmLLWqESZf2fLbk/s1600/FullSizeRender+(7).jpg" height="239" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The hotel I stayed</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
It was foggy on the last day. All flights cancelled due to dense fog, so I tried to get a ferry ticket instead. It would take 7 hours from the island by ferry but it was the only way to go back. There were a lot of people in the small port. It was exhausting and stressful... I couldn't buy a ticket after all. They ran just one ferry a day, and they were close the next day.<br />
<br />
I heard that there was another route to go back to Taiwan: Take a ferry to China first, and then take a plane to Taiwan. So I tried anything I could do. It was hard but a great practice speaking Chinese! :'D Unfortunately, the ferry also cancelled. I had to wait until the fog was cleared. I ended up staying 2 more days!<br />
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Anyway, it was a nice trip.<br />
<br />Tomohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06555635199951413688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2062506611811250400.post-81493388182156377582015-03-30T17:05:00.003+08:002015-03-30T17:05:19.900+08:00Learn From Mistakes<span style="background-color: yellow;"><b>失敗(しっぱい)は成功(せいこう)のもと</b></span><br />
/shippai wa seikou no moto/<br />
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This is a Japanese proverb, which means "<b>Every failure is a stepping stone to success</b>".<br />
Do you have the same proverb in your native language? :)<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2dTd2cgP1SF0O-Hw6QbT2wwK6DiRIdX9iuuGgNui2m2zL02OTAOkpvAKcNu27NLCNVZEDVCMUwlltGSQnL5xwcMjRHOMqMaF2fuz1oab7NEDIGp5tckregkBMiMKAfA2yC_tYfLc2lX4/s1600/cats.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2dTd2cgP1SF0O-Hw6QbT2wwK6DiRIdX9iuuGgNui2m2zL02OTAOkpvAKcNu27NLCNVZEDVCMUwlltGSQnL5xwcMjRHOMqMaF2fuz1oab7NEDIGp5tckregkBMiMKAfA2yC_tYfLc2lX4/s1600/cats.jpg" height="289" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br />
<a href="http://todayisagiftforme.blogspot.tw/2014/05/dont-be-embarrassed-to-make-mistakes.html" target="_blank">Making a mistake isn't bad at all</a>. You can learn through mistakes. Not only your own mistakes, but also other people's mistakes. I found an interesting blog post which explains how to learn pronunciation/grammar/native-like communication skill while speaking your native language, by observing other people's mistakes.<br />
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<b><a href="http://www.fluentin3months.com/pronunciation/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">Learn Better Pronunciation While Speaking Your Native Language</span></a></b><br />
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It also mentions about Japanese language/people.<br />
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
My Japanese friends add extra syllables to words. “McDonald’s” becomes “Macu Donarudosu.” It’s useful as you can instantly speak hundreds of words of English origin in Japanese simply by sticking to the consonant-vowel pattern in the Japanese syllabary.</blockquote>
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It reminds me of our English teacher in junior high school. He got angry when we speak English with strong Japanese accent like "あい あむ あ すとぅーでんと" (can you guess what it means?). XD<br />
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Japanese speakers will say “foreign country people,” an awkward way of saying “people from other countries.” The direct translation from Japanese causes this — gaikokujin — literally, foreign country people. Remembering the direct Japanese translation into English actually helps me remember the word in Japanese.</blockquote>
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Speaking of which, some Japanese students often make the same kind of mistake, like "I am like dogs", when they should say "I like dogs." It's funny, huh? I guess it is because they're taught that be-verbs are translated as "<span style="color: blue;">~は・・・です</span>". "A is B" becomes "<span style="color: blue;">AはBです</span>". They directly translate Japanese sentence "<span style="color: blue;">私は犬が好きです </span>(= I like dogs)" into English. :(<br />
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Actually, "<span style="color: blue;">~は・・・です</span>" is not a be-verb. We add <span style="color: blue;">です </span>at the end of the sentence to make the sentence polite.<b><u> <a href="http://todayisagiftforme.blogspot.tw/2014/09/japanese-grammar-tips-particles-1.html" target="_blank">は is so called the particle which shows the topic of the sentence</a></u></b>.<br />
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Also, the word order in Japanese is really different from English!<u> </u><a href="http://todayisagiftforme.blogspot.tw/2014/01/the-word-order.html" target="_blank"><b>I've written about the difference between the Japanese word order and the English word order.</b> </a>Here's the example sentence I wrote.<br />
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<span style="background-color: yellow;">昨日 / 公園で / 父が / 寝ているのを / 見た。</span><br />
I saw my father sleeping at the park yesterday.<br />
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Japanese speakers describe things from circumference, while English speakers center its subject and its verb.<br />
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
When I speak Spanish, I don’t hesitate to jump into conversation quickly. However, when I speak Japanese, I allow a bit more room to breathe between speakers.</blockquote>
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
I simply used the fillers I had picked up from observing Japanese conversation — “so, so, so” to agree and “ehhh?” to show surprise.</blockquote>
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It's considered as rude to jump into conversation or interrupt when someone else is speaking, but we give <span style="color: blue;">あいづち</span> frequently during conversation to show that we pay attention. <u><a href="http://todayisagiftforme.blogspot.tw/2014/08/giving-responses-in-japanese.html" target="_blank">Here's the post I wrote about it!</a></u><br />
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You can find a lot of "interesting mistakes" in <b><a href="http://lang-8.com/" target="_blank">lang-8</a></b>, where many language learners post an entry in their target language to get corrections from native speakers. <u><a href="http://todayisagiftforme.blogspot.tw/2014/11/of.html" target="_blank">I've written about common mistakes in Japanese which I found through correcting my friends' entries</a></u>.<br />
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That's all for today! Thank you for reading. :)<br />
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<b><span style="color: orange;">*Japanese Word of the Day*</span></b><br />
<span style="background-color: yellow;"><b>大丈夫(だいじょうぶ)!</b></span><br />
/daijoubu/<br />
It's okay! No worries! No problems!<br />
<br />Tomohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06555635199951413688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2062506611811250400.post-91857990130050845652015-03-19T18:21:00.005+08:002015-03-19T18:21:54.053+08:00Vocabulary!!<b>Vocabulary!</b> When we learn a foreign language, it would be the most important (and daunting!) part of learning. A language teacher can teach you some words, but they cannot memorize them in your place. We all have to learn it by ourselves.<br />
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So, how do you remember words? Maybe the most efficient way is to review the words when you're about to forget. Have you seen this graph before? It's so called <b>the Ebbinghaus's Forgetting Curve</b>.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi76LpQJqy8nUFHMR0NQvvxBiPEbJm2JivFeQAJAX8jNSLBIVqhULWBSN8jqGRO0HufsDeU0S5T2JSQqUMXZml4G2uS9RgS5NGQ5GXgXbaMFCPFHyrZnhkVenPvh0lYoHQMlnVy0RY31O4/s1600/ForgettingCurve.svg.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi76LpQJqy8nUFHMR0NQvvxBiPEbJm2JivFeQAJAX8jNSLBIVqhULWBSN8jqGRO0HufsDeU0S5T2JSQqUMXZml4G2uS9RgS5NGQ5GXgXbaMFCPFHyrZnhkVenPvh0lYoHQMlnVy0RY31O4/s1600/ForgettingCurve.svg.png" height="273" width="320" /></a></div>
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The red line shows how information lost over time. As you see, if we don't attempt to review the words that we learned, it'd be lost in a couple of days! But as the green lines show, more we review it, the more stronger we make the memory, the longer we can remember it.<br />
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I found a nice infographic that explains about <b>the Forgetting Curve</b>.<br />
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<a href="http://elearninginfographics.com/memory-retention-and-the-forgetting-curve-infographic/" title="Memory Retention and the Forgetting Curve Infographic"><img alt="Memory-Retention-and-the-Forgetting-Curve-Infographic" class="attachment-progression-single-uncropped wp-post-image" src="http://elearninginfographics.com/wp-content/uploads/Memory-Retention-and-the-Forgetting-Curve-Infographic.png" height="1201" width="800" /></a><br />
<small>Find more <a href="http://elearninginfographics.com/" title="The No.1 Source for the Best Education Infographics">education infographics</a> on e-Learning Infographics</small>
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I used to write words down on loose leaf paper and review it when I have time. As time went by, the number of sheets of paper got increased. I removed some paper which had words I already remembered on it. If there were words that I still didn't remembered yet, I wrote them again on the new sheet of paper.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj133Jp15VHghUBvj_Wba2qOLzbjlvEgJdzdVjEBU_2LEcI7ULSM5TyhjFroqz8pxrmlonSSk_NLshmxNexbhBgM4FpI2Z_QjCmR7wNz65P7b5sQOAKz5NRFYqZDGbsd9p49h9QFUv4F-E/s1600/P3190001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj133Jp15VHghUBvj_Wba2qOLzbjlvEgJdzdVjEBU_2LEcI7ULSM5TyhjFroqz8pxrmlonSSk_NLshmxNexbhBgM4FpI2Z_QjCmR7wNz65P7b5sQOAKz5NRFYqZDGbsd9p49h9QFUv4F-E/s1600/P3190001.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My Chinese and Persian notebooks!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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I first wrote the word that I wanted to remember with red pen, and added a couple of sentences which included the word. I didn't write Japanese translation of it, but the example sentences helped me to remember the meaning of it. Sometimes I drew pictures, or some related words.<br />
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It was my best way to remember words. Well, it WAS. Now I use an app on my tablet! My husband bought it for me! Yay! XD<br />
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The app I'm using now is <b><span style="color: red;">Anki</span></b>. Maybe you know it already? Anki is one of the flash cards apps, which is based on the Forgetting Curve. I put new words by desktop app and review them on tablet. <a href="http://ankisrs.net/" target="_blank">Here's its website!</a> Check it out if you haven't tried!<br />
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By the way, I found a funny quiz! :)<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.gotoquiz.com/how_japanese_are_you" target="_blank">How Japanese Are You?</a></span></b><br />
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I was "50% Japanese"! haha What's the other half?<br />
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<b><span style="color: orange;">*Japanese Word of the Day*</span></b><br />
<b style="background-color: yellow;">ピンポーン!!(ぴんぽーん)</b><br />
/pinpoon/<br />
Bingo! That's it! Exactly!<br />
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*It's also the sound of door bell "ding dong".Tomohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06555635199951413688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2062506611811250400.post-75204771070512772012015-03-09T12:20:00.000+08:002015-03-19T16:47:42.693+08:00How I Study a LanguageToday I'm going to write about how I study Chinese through language exchange. I've been studied it for almost 2 years, since I moved to Taiwan. And it was my first challenge to learn a language <b>without taking any classes</b>.<br />
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I found that all successful language learners (like Benny of <a href="http://www.fluentin3months.com/" target="_blank">FI3M</a>, Olly of <a href="http://www.iwillteachyoualanguage.com/" target="_blank">IWTYAL</a>, Timothy of <a href="https://m.facebook.com/polyglotpal?refsrc=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com.tw%2F&_rdr" target="_blank">Polyglotpal</a>, and many other wondeful polyglots!!) learn languages by theirselves. They inspired me a lot, and made me notice that I also love languages. The most impressive word they gave me was:<br />
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="color: orange;">Languages cannot to be taught, they can only be learnt.</span></blockquote>
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So, if you're going to start learning Japanese or any other languages but you can't find appropreate classes near your house, don't feel disappointed. It's OK, you can learn it by yourself! :)<br />
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<h4>
Before Language Exchange</h4>
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I said I started to learn Chinese since I moved to Taiwan, but actually I had 3 weeks before coming. I went to a libruary and borrowed the simplest book which introduces very basic Chinese grammer and phrases. I know some people would say that it's no good to start from learning grammer, but it worked for me. It was interesting to me to know how Chinese language is composed.<br />
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Simultaneously, I subscribed some Youtube channels which provide free lessons for beginners. I recommend Yangyang's lessons if you also want to start learning Chinese. ;)<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/2fFYObYJG1k/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/2fFYObYJG1k?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
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I listened to an audio phrase book before sleep, and while sleeping. It helped me a lot to get used to the rythm of Chinese language. You know, it's really important to know how it sounds because Chinese is a "tone language". "Ma" with high pitched voice and "Ma" with low pitched voice have totally different meanings!<br />
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I found a website that you can download free audio files. I downloaded Persian from this website by the way. It's pretty nice. :)<br />
→ <a href="http://www.50languages.com/" target="_blank">50 Languages</a><br />
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Japanese language is not so severe about pronunciation compared to Chinese, though some words are bit hard for foreigners to distinguish. (<a href="http://todayisagiftforme.blogspot.tw/2013/08/excuse-me-maam.html" target="_blank">おばさん/obasan/ and おばあさん/obaasan/ are the totally different words!</a>)<br />
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<h4>
Found a Language Exchange Partner</h4>
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→ <a href="http://todayisagiftforme.blogspot.tw/2014/01/find-language-exchange-partner.html" target="_blank">How to find a language exchange partner</a><br />
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You have to speak it if you want to be able to speak a language. It's true. Though I listened to the audio files almost everyday, my pronunciation was awfully terrible. I tried to speak the words I learnt but it always didn't make sense to my language exchange partner. She was patient and severe (in a good way!), so that I could train myself to improve my pronunciation.<br />
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If you want to learn a language by yourself, it'd be better to have someone who lets you output what you've learnt and corrects it. I've heard a lot of Japanese people say "I'll find someone to talk with... after I became good enough to speak". That's why they still can't speak it, and they'd never became "good enough". You know what I mean?<br />
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<h4>
The First Step For Language Exchange</h4>
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When we learn a language, we'd start with greetings and self-introduction.<br />
→ <a href="http://todayisagiftforme.blogspot.tw/2014/09/self-introduction-in-japanese.html" target="_blank">Self introduction in Japanese</a><br />
OK, then what should I talk though I don't have enough words in my vocabulary? Well, in my case, I tried to use the words and phrases that I learnt from a book or a Youtube lesson. So my "<b>input</b>" was always for "<b>output</b>". I mean, I was always thinking what to talk by using those new words when I study.<br />
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I tried to speak in Chinese as much as possible. It is my policy not to use English even if it takes a long time to tell her what I want to say. The more I struggle with, the more unforgettable it becomes. I hardly forget the words I learnt in that situation. (<a href="http://todayisagiftforme.blogspot.tw/2014/03/struggle-to-speak-foreign-language.html" target="_blank">I never forget the word "towel" in Chinese!</a>)<br />
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Here's some Japanese phrases for the first step language exchange! :)<br />
→ <a href="http://todayisagiftforme.blogspot.tw/2014/04/japanese-phrases-for-language-exchange.html" target="_blank">Basic phrases for language exchange</a><br />
→ <a href="http://todayisagiftforme.blogspot.tw/2014/08/japanese-phrases-for-language-exchange-2.html" target="_blank">Basic phrases for language exchange (2)</a><br />
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<h4>
Start Practice Writing</h4>
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After I knew how to type Chinese on my laptop, I started to post some entries on <a href="http://lang-8.com/">Lang-8.com</a>. I wrote things that related to myself, not just boring example sentences with the words I learnt. I got many corrections, and I used these corrected sentences when I talked with my language exchange partners. I also wrote about what I talked in language exchange. So I wrote/spoke/read the same words and phrases again and again.<br />
Fortunately, I had more than one partner, so I could practice speaking same things more than once. :)<br />
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Here's the post I wrote about <a href="http://lang-8.com/" target="_blank">Lang-8</a> and how to type Japanese on your laptop.<br />
→<a href="http://todayisagiftforme.blogspot.tw/2014/05/japanese-is-easier-than-you-think.html" target="_blank"> How to type Japanese</a><br />
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<h4>
How It Went?</h4>
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I took an exam called TOCFL (Taiwan's national standardized test) last year. It was a bit hard to read a long sentences, but I could pass it at B2 level. Thanks to my all language exchange partners, I could reach upper-intermidiate level in a year. It's not as cool as those famous polyglots who get B2 level within half a year, but it meant a lot to me. :)<br />
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Now I still keep in touch with these language exchange partners. They're my best friends!<br />
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Well, that's all for today! I want to know how you study languages. :)<br />
Please let me know by leaving a comment!<br />
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<b><span style="color: orange;">*Japanese Word of the Day*</span></b><br />
<b style="background-color: yellow;">言語(げんご)交換(こうかん)のパートナー募集(ぼしゅう)中(ちゅう)!</b><br />
/gengo-koukan no paatonaa boshuu-chuu/<br />
Looking for a language exchange partner!<br />
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<span style="color: blue;">*言語(げんご)/gengo/</span> a language<br />
<span style="color: blue;">*交換(こうかん)/koukan/</span> exchanging<br />
→ <span style="color: blue;">交換する/koukan suru/ </span>to exchange<br />
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<span style="background-color: #fce5cd;">ポイント(ぽいんと)を景品(けいひん)と交換(こうかん)した。</span><br />
/pointo wo keihin to koukan shita/<br />
I redeemed my points for some rewards.<br />
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<span style="color: blue;">*ポイント(ぽいんと) /pointo/</span> a point<br />
<span style="color: blue;">*景品(けいひん)/keihin/</span> a reward<br />
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<span style="color: blue;">*パートナー(ぱーとなー)/paatonaa/</span> a partner<br />
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<span style="color: blue;">*募集(ぼしゅう)/boshuu/</span> an invitation, an advertisement, a recruitment<br />
→ <span style="color: blue;">募集する /boshuu suru/</span> to recruit, to look for<br />
→ <span style="color: blue;">募集中(ぼしゅうちゅう)/boshuu chuu/</span> now hiring, looking for<br />
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<span style="background-color: #fce5cd;">恋人(こいびと)募集中(ぼしゅうちゅう)です。</span><br />
/koibito boshuu-chuu desu/<br />
I'm available. I'm looking for a girlfriend/boyfriend.<br />
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<br />Tomohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06555635199951413688noreply@blogger.com4