Alright, I Know NOTHING About Japanese....

[Bueller_007]

Hey there guyz,

but i've only recently subscribed to jpod101... but still glad to do so....

Hope some1 can help me out still... onegaishimasu(?)!

I've noticed there's like 2 writing systems...

one's with chinese characters and one's all jap characters...

do I learn them simultaneously OR does one come after the other?

plus... in normal everyday japanese.... which *system* do they use? as in the writing system...

plz bare with my noobness =D

regards

First learn katakana (the blockish-looking syllabary).
Then learn hiragana (the curly syllabary).
Then learn kanji (Chinese ideograms).

Everyday Japanese uses all of them: kanji is used to give words their meaning, hiragana is used for particles and inflection of kanji-based words, katakana is used for foreign words. It's more complicated that that, but that's it, basically.

P.S. You shouldn't use the word "jap", even if it's just a well-intentioned abbreviation. I know a teacher who got fired for this.

[Jason]

I've noticed there's like 2 writing systems...

one's with chinese characters and one's all jap characters...

do I learn them simultaneously OR does one come after the other?

Actually there are 3. The non-Chinese characters are broken into 2 groups: hiragana and katakana (collectively called "kana"). You should definitely learn hiragana first, then katakana, and then really dig into kanji (the Chinese characters). You'll be learning kanji for a quite a long time, so make sure you have kana down really well first.

[Tiduas]

I learned Hiragana first, then after i got them to stuck in my head, i learned Katakana. And after that i waited some time before i started to learn some Kanji, this i am doing really slowly but, i want to make it all get stuck.

[LBRapid]

www.guidetojapanese.org is a very good resource, but can be a little daunting for a beginner

i'd also be sure to check out the lessons at http://nihongoresources.com/grammar/grammar.htm
and
http://nihongoresources.com/lessons/lessons.htm

the best online resource i have found (besides jpod101) is www.yesjapan.com It does have a monthly fee though.


for all my collected resources you can view them at http://del.icio.us/loudboy/japanese/

[zest]

I don't get it guys...

How come sometimes when u say "this"... its either kono or kore?

Aren't they both "this?"

Whats the reason for variation?

regards =)

[Bueller_007]

I don't get it guys...

How come sometimes when u say "this"... its either kono or kore?

Aren't they both "this?"

Whats the reason for variation?

regards =)

Very, very easy.
これ、それ、あれ are nouns.
この、その、あの are adjectives.

[LBRapid]

どれ、これ、それ、あれ(dore,kore,sore,are) are used only by themselves and not with an object.

どの、この、その、あの(dono,kono,sono,ano) are used with an object similar to an adjective

Here are some examples:
くるまはどれですか。(kuruma wa dore desu ka.) Which one is the car?
くるまはそれです。 (kuruma wa sore desu.) That one is the car.

このくるまはあなたのですか。(kono kuruma wa anata no desu ka.) Is this car yours?
いいえ、そのくるまはかれのです。(iie, sono kuruma wa kare no desu.) No, that car is his.



Well, I hope that helps you out. I also hope that I explained that correctly.

[Jason]

Very, very easy.
これ、それ、あれ are nouns.
この、その、あの are adjectives.

Technically, they're demonstrative (ie. pointing someting out) nouns and adjectives.

[Bueller_007]

Very, very easy.
これ、それ、あれ are nouns.
この、その、あの are adjectives.

Technically, they're demonstrative (ie. pointing someting out) nouns and adjectives.

Actually, if you want to get technical, they are demonstrative PRONOUNS and adjectives.

[Jason]

Very, very easy.
これ、それ、あれ are nouns.
この、その、あの are adjectives.

Technically, they're demonstrative (ie. pointing someting out) nouns and adjectives.

Actually, if you want to get technical, they are demonstrative PRONOUNS and adjectives.

Gah! You got me. X_X

[zest]

Thanks guys...ur really helping me out here....

kore...kono...think i'm starting to get it here....

think it was easier for me to understand... that... explanation... where KORE is more used by itself.. (generally i guess)..and kono with an object... heeh

arigatou gozaimasu
=D

[Ulver_684]

Here's another vital tip:
NEVER, EVER USE ROMAJI.

Use it only as long as it takes to learn hiragana and katakana and then abandon it forever. It becomes too much of a crutch and will drag you down.

(Sorry, but I find romaji to be very disagreeable )

Brody-san!

I learn Romaji first then Hiragana and Katakana and kanji so please more respect to romaji because first learners like him should used first OK!!!

[QuackingShoe]

The last post here was three years ago o.0