Focal an lae

luckat

So-dess-ne? - That's right... isn't it.... you never said a truer word... (general expression of agreement)

Lantis

Um...

"sou desu ne"

OFDM

Lantis wrote:

Um...

"sou desu ne"

sou = sō ???

Cake Fiend

Jaysus, we're going to get into all sorts of trouble with pronunciations and spelling...

The most popular way of writing japanese with roman characters is the Hepburn system. This is the method Lantis has used above. There is a modified form of the Hepburn system that is also very popular, using 'macrons' ( ¯ ) to elongate vowels, as OFDM has used.


Hiragana: そうですね
Standard Hepburn: Sou desu ne
Modified Hepburn: Sō desu ne
Approximate pronunciation: So-dess-ne

Lantis

I'd use macrons, but I've no idea how to use them without whichever program I'm using seizing up on me and either not displaying them or making them regular letters.
So, standard Hepburn is what I use instead.

luckat

Sumimasemm - I'm functionally illiterate here - I'm learning with the Pimsleur course, which is purely aural. (Su-mee-mah-semm = excuse me)

So any focal an lae I post is going to be purely phonetic. But other, more experienced, speakers might like to offer words that are better spelled, with rough phonetic spellings added for the help of beginners like me?

By the way, I suppose everyone knows that there's a Japanese-English language exchange on Saturdays (I think it is) in the Ilac library?

Jah-mataa! (slán)

Lantis

"Sumimasen"
"Ja mata"

Might as well keep doing this.

Cake Fiend

AFAIK that should be 'jaa mata' using the Hepburn system

[/nitpick]

Luckat, I recommend making an attempt at learning to read (and write) in Japanese as well if you have the time. To start yourself off, have a look in the 'Learning the kana' sticky at the top of the forum. This way you may have a better idea of how words are constructed, verbs are declined, words are pronounced, etc.

Ganbatte

luckat

Sico, I really haven't the time - this is just something I'm doing while I'm in the car on my way to dog-walks and the like. (I'm just happy if people understand what I'm saying.) Good fun, though! But I'd be grateful if you can correct my "pronunciation" and spelling.

Koko - here
Asoko - there

dammit, can't remember - where?

simu

where = doko

luckat

Doko! **heels forehead** - Thanks, Simu!

http://renku.home.att.net/500ESWd.html - Five Hundred Essential Japanese Season Words.

Anyone know the word for Moon Viewing Day, which it is today?

ApeXaviour

/me doesn't mind keeping this up if nobody else wanna.

Hajimemash-ite -romaji
ハジメマシテ　 -katakana
はじめまして -hiragana

- Nice to meet you / how do you do


Edit: please ignore the hyphen, it was necessary to stop boards automatically ***ing out part of the word..

nachos

Gambatte kudasai!

Used as a form of encouragment, literally means Keep your chin up:-)

Lantis

Politeness levels, depends on the situation, blah, blah, different forms:
Ganbatte kudasai -> Ganbatte -> Ganbare

First for most times.
Second if it's not formal or still getting to know someone.
Third if it's a close friend or family member, or if you're just plain outspoken and don't care who knows.

Edit: And it literally means "put out your stubbornness/firmness".

nachos

i guess that's what i get for being a smartarse!

ApeXaviour

tomodachi - friend/mate
tomonari - developing friend(ship)

ApeXaviour

しつれいします
shi'tsurei shimasu

"Excuse me" - as in when entering or leaving a room. Can be used as a "may I come in" or as a polite "goodbye" to someone venerable ie a college professor etc.

Lantis

Need to nitpick...need to nitpick...

Er, the apostrophe isn't necessary.
That's all I got.

ApeXaviour

Actually it is necessary. Otherwise boards bleeps it out..
Watch: ****surei

I figured the apostrophe was the least invasive or ambiguous.

simu

tamago = egg!

Lantis

ApeXaviour wrote:

Actually it is necessary. Otherwise boards bleeps it out..
Watch: ****surei

Pwned by the system.

の/no - particle of ownership.
A の B - A's B, B of A.

Seemed fitting.

ApeXaviour

せんもん
Senmon

"Major", as in what you study..

Example in a sentance:
わたし　の　せんもん　は　びつり　です。
Watashi no senmon wa bitsuri desu.

"My major is in physics."

ApeXaviour

でんわばんごう

Denwa bango
"Telephone number"

In a sentance:
あなた　の いもと　の　でんわばんごう　は　なん　です　か？

Anata no imoto no denwabango wa nan desu ka?
"What is your sister's telephone number?"

ApeXaviour

これ

kore
"This"

In a sentance
これ　は　わたし　の　ペン　です

kore wa watashi no pen desu
"This is my pen"

Cake Fiend

I'll jump in here and add a related word:

この

kono
"this" in a context of specification, as in:


この　りんご　は　いくら　です　か

How much is this apple?

Another note while I'm here - Japanese is normally written without these spaces between words, ApeXaviour and I are typing the above way so inexperienced readers can distinguish between words.