In Japanese, most words have either particles or conjugation that follows them. These added parts give grammar and context to the words. Here are most of the particles:
は - (topic) Usually the focus of the sentence, though sometimes just the most important part.
ex. わたしはバカです。 I am an idiot.
わたしはえんぴつがある。 For me a pencil exists. (I have a pencil.)
が - Subject of the sentence, often replaced by は.
ex. わたしがいる。 I exist.
を - Object of the sentence, replacable by は.
ex. これをよむ。 Read this. (Statement, not a request.)
と - Other subjects of the sentence.
ex. ともだちとあそぶ。 Play with friends.
も - Topic with same situation as previous statement.
ex. わたしはいる。あなたもいる。 I exist. You also exist.
に - Where and when the action takes place.
ex. いえにはしる。 Run (to/at) home.
ごじにたべる。 Eat at six o'clock.
ともだちにはなす。 Talk to friends.
へ - Where the action takes place towards.
ex. いえへいく。 Go (towards) home.
で - How or where an action takes place.
ex.くるまでいく。Go by car.
みせでかう。 Buy at shop.
から - When or where the action begins.
ex. いえからはしる。 Run from home.
まで - When or where the action stops.
ex. ここまではしる。 Run until here.
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Kanji Introdction and Names
Officially there are about ten thousand kanji. Elementary students learn a thousand and six. You'll need more to understand written Japanese.
Kanji are simplified drawings of their meanings based on Chinese. They have changed over the years so that now they are only loosely connected. Meaning can be derived from appearance but reading requires furigana or context.
Kanji have two types of readings (pronunciations): the Japanese on reading used in names, simple nouns, adjectives and verbs (usually one kanji and many hiragana) and the Chinese kun reading for complex words (two or more kanji in a row).
I'll start with names. Many of these kanji are also common in everyday speech and usually a name is two kanji (usually four kana).
As stated above, use the kun reading (and many name specific kanji only have kun readings).
Bewear, the Japanese use euphonics in names. Sometimes in a name where a consonant has already appeared, or where it would be a little difficult to pronounce, they add " to the hard-to-pronounce kana. Hence kawa 川 and ta 田 are often pronounced gawa and da.
Most names are written with simple kanji, but there are also very complex kanji used only in names.
Also, remember that Japanese family names come before their given names, but they understand this is opposite as in the West.
Kanji are simplified drawings of their meanings based on Chinese. They have changed over the years so that now they are only loosely connected. Meaning can be derived from appearance but reading requires furigana or context.
Kanji have two types of readings (pronunciations): the Japanese on reading used in names, simple nouns, adjectives and verbs (usually one kanji and many hiragana) and the Chinese kun reading for complex words (two or more kanji in a row).
I'll start with names. Many of these kanji are also common in everyday speech and usually a name is two kanji (usually four kana).
As stated above, use the kun reading (and many name specific kanji only have kun readings).
Bewear, the Japanese use euphonics in names. Sometimes in a name where a consonant has already appeared, or where it would be a little difficult to pronounce, they add " to the hard-to-pronounce kana. Hence kawa 川 and ta 田 are often pronounced gawa and da.
Most names are written with simple kanji, but there are also very complex kanji used only in names.
Also, remember that Japanese family names come before their given names, but they understand this is opposite as in the West.
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