The Japanese Thread

Level 4 isn't worth it. It costs 5,500yen (Around 55-60$ish?) to take the exam, and Level 4 isn't really worth anything? So I personally would say it's a waste of money. Even Level 3 isn't really worth much (But it's worth a lot more than 4 :/). I'd suggest waiting even longer and taking it when you're ready for the higher levels or need the certificate for credentials etc.

Originally Posted by subpain

Level 4 isn't worth it. It costs 5,500yen (Around 55-60$ish?) to take the exam, and Level 4 isn't really worth anything? So I personally would say it's a waste of money. Even Level 3 isn't really worth much (But it's worth a lot more than 4 :/). I'd suggest waiting even longer and taking it when you're ready for the higher levels or need the certificate for credentials etc.

So you are saying that I could completely skip it? That might be a better idea then. I deffinitely cannot do level 1 or 2. They look so scary

There's not much point in doing it unless you need to. Most people use it for finding jobs that require proficiency or for entering Japanese universities, but a Level 4 won't do much for either I don't think. And no, I'm still not up to Level 1 standard. I'd say I could just pass Level 2 if I studied my arse off for it kanji-wise.

Originally Posted by subpain

There's not much point in doing it unless you need to. Most people use it for finding jobs that require proficiency or for entering Japanese universities, but a Level 4 won't do much for either I don't think. And no, I'm still not up to Level 1 standard. I'd say I could just pass Level 2 if I studied my arse off for it kanji-wise.

Well I would like to go to a Japanese University when I am older. Yes, it is the Kanji; too many that look the same. Though, I do find that I can memorize kanji really well, at least the ones I have studied so far.
I was just wondering, in your opinion, what is the best way to studied Japanese? How do you study the Kanji? The Grammar? And even vocabulary?
I might have the chance to take Japanese at school next year, but I don't want to wait. I've learned some on my own, but what can I do to get better?

I'd prefer a specific answer over a vague one. Not the typical athelete one: You need to Practice to get better at football! But what do I need to practice, and how?

I find kanji are easier to learn if you try and memorize them by radical. That is take the symbol for sound "oto"音　This one is composed of two radicals one for stand 立 and one for day 日｡ I also find it amusing to find the literal meaning of the Kanji, that is when there is more than one of them together. Using oto as another example 音楽(music)。 I'm pretty sure that 楽 in itself mean music, but when I think of this word when I'm writing it I think of tanoshii(enjoyable). So it is an enjoyable sound. These little things help me, I don't know what good they'll do you. As far as grammar goes all you really can do is practice it. Go out and get a work book and try it out, you can only learn that part of the language by doing it.

Originally Posted by squall24

I find kanji are easier to learn if you try and memorize them by radical. That is take the symbol for sound "oto"音　This one is composed of two radicals one for stand 立 and one for day 日｡ I also find it amusing to find the literal meaning of the Kanji, that is when there is more than one of them together. Using oto as another example 音楽(music)。 I'm pretty sure that 楽 in itself mean music, but when I think of this word when I'm writing it I think of tanoshii(enjoyable). So it is an enjoyable sound. These little things help me, I don't know what good they'll do you. As far as grammar goes all you really can do is practice it. Go out and get a work book and try it out, you can only learn that part of the language by doing it.

Surprisingly that is what I do too, I completely break it apart then put it together. I do what you do to some degree. Certain Kanji I just immediately relate to what they are. 雨 looks like rain, 目looks like an eye, ect.

I was reading that you should learn how to write a Kanji and know its meaning before you learn to read it. Or as they called it "the Chinese way of learning Japanese". It said Chinese already know what a Kanji means and how to write, they just need to know the Japanese way of pronouncing it. Whereas the English speaker goes from (ie.) Ball-->たま-->玉; Chinese go 玉-->たま
So I was thinking that I should take that approach, or because I'm still a kid, I can use repitition. I learn by association, visualization, and repitition. I have a work book that I can use, but I kind of want another one. Do you have a recomendation for a good workbook?
The other thing that really gets me are Double Consonants. While listening to Japanese music I noticed that different singers will pronounce them differently. ie. Some will pronounce "nemutteru" like this: ne-mut-te-ru
Other like this: Ne-mu-ut-te-ru. Can you help me?

*楽, On: ガク ラク ゴウ, Kun: たのしい; たのしむ; このむ; music; comfort; ease;
This is a Level three Kanji. Wait...Major memory jog. I saw this Kanji today when I was reviewing stroke order, it used it as the example: The Inside then the Outside.

I'm in Japanese one right now and tanoshii was one of our words, we didn't have to learn the Kanji for it, but it was a very easy one IMO. The textbook we use is Nakama 1, it also has a work book you can purchase seperatley. I find it helpful with learning how to use particles and basic sentence structure etc. I guess it also helps that my teacher is Japanese though if something doesn't make sense.

Originally Posted by squall24

I'm in Japanese one right now and tanoshii was one of our words, we didn't have to learn the Kanji for it, but it was a very easy one IMO. The textbook we use is Nakama 1, it also has a work book you can purchase seperatley. I find it helpful with learning how to use particles and basic sentence structure etc. I guess it also helps that my teacher is Japanese though if something doesn't make sense.

If I can get my school to change Japanese I from 1st Hour to a different hour, then I can take it. I'm a band student, and High School Symphonic and Wind Ensemble is during 1st hour. (It is during first hour because she has to rotate between the other High Schools in our district...) I'm going to need to A LOT of talking to my Band teacher, the Sensei, and the counselors. *ugh* The Japanese teacher is Japanese which is a good thing.

I'm only studing out of a book called Japanese in Mangaland. I find it very helpful and it is fun because it uses manga. I just found out they have a workbook that goes along with their studies book, so I might buy that.
I know particles (excluding end of sentence particles): Wa, Ga, No, Ni, De, O, E, and To. Ni and De are what confuse me the most though.

The Kanji for Tanoshii 楽 is Shiroi (white) and Ki (tree) right? Plus the frilly things off to the side. It means enjoyable... I'm seeing White Christmas. White+tree, and I find it enjoyable to have a White Christmas. XD I will remember this one forever >_>

Ni and de have a couple if different meanings which might make them a little harder to understand, but they still are pretty simple. If you read actual Japanese manga or at least try to you should pick up some new language as well.

Originally Posted by squall24

Ni and de have a couple if different meanings which might make them a little harder to understand, but they still are pretty simple. If you read actual Japanese manga or at least try to you should pick up some new language as well.

I'm trying to find a manga that will help me. I have a few volumes Naruto, Konjiki no Gash Bell, Bobobo, Nodame Cantabile, and Zelda in Japanese. I probably should start reading something sooner or later.
I just find that ni and de can easily get mixed up. Also, I probably should know a little more about English to help me with Japanese. Sometimes I have to look up some english grammar words because I haven't learned them in school.

Those manga should be good(learning-wise, I only like Zelda and bobobo out of those). As long as they're shounen they should be good. I just ordered my first sienen and have no idea how I will be able to read it(Monster vol 1 for anyone that cares, so many medical terms in the beginning). How are you confusing ni and de, I might be able to help, but I don't know where you're problem areas are.

I would recommend One Piece but I'm not sure how helpful reading it will be.

I guess anything can be helpful if you go into it with an open mind. Just understand everything in those books isn't proper speach. I've looked through manga for awhile and it helped a lot with kanji recognition and even some basic speach. I can't comment on one piece, as not being a huge fan, but it seems like a series where the text should be simple enough for a beginner to understand.

Originally Posted by squall24

Those manga should be good(learning-wise, I only like Zelda and bobobo out of those). As long as they're shounen they should be good. I just ordered my first sienen and have no idea how I will be able to read it(Monster vol 1 for anyone that cares, so many medical terms in the beginning). How are you confusing ni and de, I might be able to help, but I don't know where you're problem areas are.

Okay, well I like Naruto, but yeah I'll continue reading. I find that Gash Bell is helpful with Katakana, because the book during fighting scenes is almost all Katakana. I have Nodame Cantabile which is a Shoujou manga, but I cannot read everything in it--16 and up book. Though even though I couldn't pronounce the Kanji at this one part, I figure out that this one guy was gay. I was so happy.
Here is an example of when I'd confuse ni and de:
Koko ni inu ga iru.
Toshokan de benkyou suru.

I just always forget that ni is used with verbs that mean existence, and de does not.

Originally Posted by mafoofoo

I would recommend One Piece but I'm not sure how helpful reading it will be.

One Piece scares me >_>

de can be used to show where an activity is being done, ior by what means you do omething. Ni has a couple of different meanings. It could show that you are going somewhere. For example "toshokan ni ikimasu".