Japanese Vocab

Not sure of the correct Japanese word to use? Want another example of how to use a Japanese expression in context? Perhaps you would like to know more about regional differences. This is the place for you! You can browse the topics, do a search in the top right corner of this page, or start a new conversation. Don’t be shy!

Phone Call

If you were to call someone in Japan and they were not home and an answering maching answered how would you leave a message? __"This is (insert name) give me a call back."__ Please let me know what the formal way is to leave a call back me...

3 replies - Last post by Sayaka-Matsuura - August 21, 2008

arigatou and arigatō

In terms of spelling, one has a u at the end and the other has a macron over the o, which is right... arigatou or arigatō ??

1 reply - Last post by Sayaka-Matsuura - August 18, 2008

Karate

Hello I heard that *karate* actually means: _empty hand_ ie. no weapons. I recognize the *te* part to mean hand from the bonus lessons. But I thought *kara* meant: _from_ I am confused.

5 replies - Last post by Psymon - August 15, 2008

Why?

I would like to know the correct name for "why" are these both the same? Nande なんで and Naze なぜ ? If you were to ask some "why" which one would you use? Example: Question: The sky is blue....

3 replies - Last post by (deleted) - August 11, 2008

doshte

naze and doshte does the job of "why" "kenny san, doshte des ka?" doshte can also mean whats wrong as i have discovered by watching japanese movies.

1 reply - Last post by n_soufiani - August 11, 2008

Common Phrases?

Hi again Two Things that Kenni-san and Sayaka-san (you guys rock btw 8) ) say quite often... Just curious, does 'Mina-_san_' mean student? or learner? and what does 'Matte Iye Mashte ne' mean? :o

3 replies - Last post by Psymon - August 7, 2008

Name Suffixes (eg. -San)

Hi, I Just started the course, and am really enjoying it so far. Japanese is a beautiful language. :D I have only reached the end of audio lesson 1.2, and read the grammar newletters that go with them. So I understand that the -san suffix to a person...

2 replies - Last post by Psymon - August 7, 2008

imasu and Ikura desu ka?

2 questions here... What does imasu mean? like with Oishii o mise o shitte imasu or like with ganbatte imasu. also can you use Ikura desu ka? with other things like How much (something) is left...or can you only use it when asking how much yen somet...

5 replies - Last post by Sayaka-Matsuura - August 3, 2008

about lesson 1.2 "tea time".....

Up untill i found this program online, ive been teaching myself Japanese. Being fairly familiar with the early lessons i move on quickly and noticed something that kind of through me off... When Keni says: "Sumimasen, nani ka atatakai nomi mono o...

2 replies - Last post by (deleted) - July 28, 2008

a question regarding "doko" (where)

Hello there. I have a question regarding the word "doko" (where?) I have been playing a japanese game to improve my japanese listening skills and I noticed that when the main character asks "where is wan chai?" he sais "wan ...

3 replies - Last post by Sayaka-Matsuura - July 20, 2008

"kite"

Konnichiwa!! "kita" "kite" They sound very similar but have entirely different meanings. I know "kita" means hear but I do not know what "kite" means. i think in the audio course someone asks "o...

1 reply - Last post by Sayaka-Matsuura - July 20, 2008

the "when" phrase

I was just speaking japanese to myself to see how much I know (because i finished the excellent audio course)and I came across something... I dont know how to say "when" or "where" I think that when I go to Japan and get myself s...

1 reply - Last post by Sayaka-Matsuura - July 20, 2008

saying names

Hi I noticed when im watching japaense programs or something that someone would say: "ore wa sanada des" instead of "watashi no sanada des" I was just wondering what the difference between "ore" and "watashi&quo...

2 replies - Last post by n_soufiani - July 18, 2008

ANO...Excuse me...Er...

Perhaps you've heard that *Ano* is the Japanese equivalent of the English "_er..._" which one uses when looking for the right word. Well, it's true that it's merely used as a stopgap phrase. BUT :idea: , *Ano* is very often used consciou...

1 reply - Last post by n_soufiani - July 17, 2008

Nanda = What?

I'm not sure if this is a grammar or vocabulary issue. I have noticed when watching Anime that different words for "What?" are used. Sometimes it is "Nani", which I've heard in the lessons. Other times it sounds like "Nanda&...

1 reply - Last post by Sayaka-Matsuura - June 26, 2008

Bushu Kanji

Can you give me a good recommendation to ALL the Bushu (Radical) Kanji

7 replies - Last post by vyre22607 - June 22, 2008

Translation help!

Hey guys, I finished the course about a month ago and I've been trying to translate movies to improve my skill. The movie is Final Fantasy Advent Children, which is anime so I'm sure there is lots of slang and that it may even be rude, so my online dicti...

2 replies - Last post by Raedwolf - June 11, 2008

Fura-fura, bura-bura, do you know the difference?

Hello! Imagine asking your Japanese friend, "what did you do on the weekend?" and they answer, *"Uchide bura-bura shita" * And you've wondered, _bura-bura_? What's he/she been up to? :shock: Well...Japanese language is FULL of ...

0 replies - Last post by Sayaka-Matsuura - June 10, 2008

so des ne

I hear alot of japanese programs where people say "so des ne". I am under teh asumption that this means "thats right". Can anyone confirm this for me?

1 reply - Last post by Sayaka-Matsuura - May 14, 2008

Forbid

How does one say "It's forbidden", or "I can't" ?

5 replies - Last post by Zaina - March 12, 2008

shinsetsu

Does anyone know how to tell someone "you are very kind" , or "generous"? i found the word shinsetsu, but i was told it means "friendly", and i'm not sure it has the same connotation as the English "kind" or &quo...

1 reply - Last post by Sayaka-Matsuura - February 14, 2008

watashi mo vs watashi no

Hi. I just started this course, and was wondering what the difference was between watashi no and watashi mo. Probably a dumb question, but I just want to make sure I get it right.

4 replies - Last post by Sayaka-Matsuura - February 14, 2008

Verbs with ki

I have noticed that a lot of the verbs I have learned use ki. ikimasu: to go kimasu: to come kikimasu: I listen okimasu: to wake up kakimasu: I write Is that just a coincidence?

1 reply - Last post by Sayaka-Matsuura - January 13, 2008

Can You Speak Japanese?

Please explain why in the audio version of lesson 1.4 hanase masu is two words but in the Newsletter it is only one. Is that a typo or a very complicated Japanese grammar issue that I'm best not to notice?

2 replies - Last post by xicidis - January 9, 2008

aimashita ......

what does aimashita mean in the introduction..?

3 replies - Last post by Sayaka-Matsuura - December 13, 2007

tabeniikimasshou...

how do you tell the difference between ...shall i go eat .and shall we go eat...when you use the above phrase..???

2 replies - Last post by pdchapin - December 12, 2007

Oide

Does anyone know what "o ide" means?? and what does it mean when they add "na" at the end- as in " Oide na" ? Thanks

1 reply - Last post by Sayaka-Matsuura - December 2, 2007

Konbanwa

Hey, can anyone tell me what Konbanwa means? Not sure about the spelling sorry...

2 replies - Last post by Jack-Duncan - November 21, 2007

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