The Derailing Thread

[Angel]

Hey! Are you calling me your girlfriend? That's what translates as Anata in my dictionary

 

[KevinK]

Hey! Are you calling me your girlfriend? That's what translates as Anata in my dictionary

No, no. Anata means "you". It can be used colloquially as a term of endearment towards someone you're close with.

 

[Angel]

Oh ok LOL

 

[KevinK]

Oh ok LOL

This is how wars get started.

 

[Angel]

This is how wars get started.

I know less than you so I'll probably say something stupid

 

[KevinK]

What does no and an no wa mean?

No has many meanings. In the first example Watashi no it is used as a possessive, turning me into mine. In the second example ichiban suki na no wa it has the meaning of "thing" or "one", so translates to "my favorite one is" etc. I used it in place of the word "movie" as the topic is already known to be about movies. Hence also I used the topic marker wa. It's all kind of interconnected, fascinating language.

 

[KevinK]

I know less than you so I'll probably say something stupid

Actually this is a good segue into one of the main difficulties in learning Japanese. The way you're taught in school is different from the way you actually speak in real life. But you have to learn the textbook way first as a foundation. If you just speak in proper Japanese everyone understands you, but they will look at you funny. (Fortunately I'm used to it.)

 

[Angel]

No has many meanings. In the first example Watashi no it is used as a possessive, turning me into mine. In the second example ichiban suki na no wa it has the meaning of "thing" or "one", so translates to "my favorite one is" etc. I used it in place of the word "movie" as the topic is already known to be about movies. Hence also I used the topic marker wa. It's all kind of interconnected, fascinating language.

I like how, when listening to people talk, i think I t sounds rhythmic, has a flow.

 

[Angel]

Actually this is a good segue into one of the main difficulties in learning Japanese. The way you're taught in school is different from the way you actually speak in real life. But you have to learn the textbook way first as a foundation. If you just speak in proper Japanese everyone understands you, but they will look at you funny. (Fortunately I'm used to it.)

Haha!
So you can be overly polite?

 

[KevinK]

I like how, when listening to people talk, i think I t sounds rhythmic, has a flow.

Exactly! Once you start to get good at it, it's sort of like surfing. It's fun.

 

[KevinK]

Haha!
So you can be overly polite?

Well, I would never say you could be overly polite in Japanese. Maybe overly proper.

 

[Angel]

What's your favorite word. For now mine is uma

 

[Angel]

Can I have some bata with my pan?

 

[KevinK]

Can I have some bata with my pan?

You can have all you want.

 

[Angel]

Haaaaaaaiiiii

 

[KevinK]

What's your favorite word. For now mine is uma

My favorite Japanese word is the one in my sigline. Contrary to popular notion, samurai does not mean "warrior" or "solider", it means "one who serves". Not such a foreign idea to good Christianity.

 

[Angel]

Thats pretty cool! It would be an awesome tattoo, if you're into that kinda thing.

 

[KevinK]

Listen to these girls who just took a JLPT. As soon as I heard them speak, I said to myself, "They're N2s". Indeed, they did just take the second-hardest level of the Japanese Language Proficiency Test (it goes easiest-to-hardest N5-N1).

 

[Angel]

That was fun to watch!
Where can you take these tests? How'd you hear about them?

 

[KevinK]

The JLPT is the standard international test for Japanese fluency for any non-native speakers of Japanese (inside or outside of Japan). You can check their website (http://www.jlpt.jp/e/index.cgi) for the test location closest to you (I took mine at SF State). Some countries give it twice a year; others, like the US, only give one once a year, in December. It's only about $60 to register. If you fail, like I'm sure I will this year if I take the N4, you can just take it again the following year.