Words, phrases or anything else wanted? Ask here!

[Dreams]

Yeah, "ore" is pretty butch/rough/etc for a girl to use. I can't say I've heard girls use it too often, although "boku" is pretty popular among girls now. But I guess anything goes today, depending on the image you want for yourself.

How to ask about voltage? O_o
I don't honestly know.

「あのこと」ために電圧は何ですか？
What's the voltage for [that thing]?
Maybe?

[Karin Rengu]

I thought 'ore' sounded pretty tough for girls but can it mean anything other than 'I'?

[Dreams]

No, 'ore' just means 'I/me'.
A variation you might hear is 'ora', but it's still used by guys.

[Karin Rengu]

hmm, well, I've heard other anime girls say it before too. Just a few though.

[Yuki~]

How to ask about voltage? O_o
I don't honestly know.

「あのこと」ために電圧は何ですか？
What's the voltage for [that thing]?
Maybe?

Hahaha thanks
It's a weird question XD But I'd better learn how to ask this before I go to Japan XD
Thanks anyway ^__^

Oh, one more question, how do I read this kanji: 電圧?

[Dreams]

電圧 = den'atsu (voltage)

[Karin Rengu]

Which way is more common when it comes to months in Japanese?
January- Ichigatsu 一月
or
January- Mutsuki 睦月
I think it's the first one but I'm not sure.

[Dreams]

To be honest, I've don't think I've ever come across 睦月... but it looks like there's a whole BUNCH of obsolete Japanese terms for the months. Lookit that. Crazy. I guess you learn something new every day! Ooh. I learned more. Japanese month meanings. This language is so broad, I'll never know it all...

But yes, the first term is more common... obviously, now. lol
The months are easy; you just count by the numbers 1-12 and add 'gatsu'.
Ichigatsu, nigatsu, sangatsu, shigatsu...

[Tomasu]

: o
Hello again dreams : 3
(I saw the whole "Ore/boku" thing and was like "hmm...", and now I have a question : 3)
I used to answer my phone with "Watashi wa Toma desu" (after hearing it in the sub version of Deathnote : 3) and when I used it, a friend told me, "Only girls use Watashi, Boys use 'Boku'" ...basically I was like "umm..really?"
But seeing this..makes me want to know what to use ><...

[Karin Rengu]

I think I can answer this one!
Watashi can be used by both boys and girls, boku/ore is for boys, and atashi/atai is for girls. However, as dreams has taught me, boku is being used by girls more often now. Then there's also watakushi which is super formal. (dreams taught me all of this!)

I'm SO glad to learn that you've never heard 睦月 these forms because when I found them I was thinking "crap...which do I use?" Then I started researching and found the 一月 form a lot more often so then I started to wonder "what is the purpose of the other names for the months?" and that brings me to asking it here and now I know! ^_^ Thanks!

[Dreams]

Well, they're sort of right about the 'watashi' thing. The problem is that it's a formal word, so you'd usually only hear it in formal situations. If a guy continues to use it all the time, he is considered a bit... feminine. But for some reason, girls have adapted it as the standard, although they also use a more informal version of it, 'atashi'.

You shouldn't be afraid to use 'watashi', though, especially on the phone. Phone calls are usually very polite in Japan, since there are no expressions or body language involved, etc. But if you know it's your friend or a family member calling, you can drop the 'watashi' and polite speech. Like Karin said, boys frequently use 'boku' (or the rougher 'ore') to refer to themselves. Remember that pronouns aren't always necessary, either, so you can avoid it altogether by saying 'Tomasu desu' if you want!

[Karin Rengu]

Can you use 'tsumetai' to describe the feeling of being cold?
Like, [boku wa] tsumetai da. Or is there another word for it?

[Dreams]

Well, 'tsumetai' is for describing a cold drink, something cold to the touch, a cold-hearted person, etc. 'Samui' is used to describe cold weather, but since it deals with the atmosphere, it's the one you'd use to say that you feel cold (since it's the air that's making you cold). If you were saying your skin was cold (ie, as if you were touching it and discovering this), you'd use 'tsumetai'.

The best way to say "I feel cold" is to use the special ~garu ending. It either replaces the I or NA of adjectives, and technically makes the word into a U verb. This can be attached to certain adjectives to give emotional expressions, or detailed description:

Boku wa samugaru desu yo! = I feel (so) cold!
Karin wa samugaru desu ne = Karin looks cold, doesn't she?

It doesn't attach to too many adjectives, so don't get too wild with it. Words like isogashii (busy), iya na (dislike), atsui (hot), itai (painful), fushigi na (mysterious), etc, work with it.

The ~garu ending can also be used as ~gari to show habitual action:

Boku wa samugari desu = I'm sensitive to the cold.

Or, ~ya can be tacked on to the end of ~gari to make ~gariya, which is just more emphasis on the habitual action:

Boku wa samugariya desu = I'm (very) sensitive to the cold.

[Karin Rengu]

Ok, so this is a special kind of adjective ending then? Ok, thanks!

[Karin Rengu]

Another question, this sounds dumb, but how do you answer the question 'Genki wa doko desu ka'?
Like, with words like 'good' and 'bad' or words like 'high' or 'low'?

[Dreams]

The Japanese doesn't make sense to me... do you just mean "Genki desu ka?" As in, "How are you?" You just answer 'good', 'bad', 'so-so', etc. Even though 'genki' literally refers to energy or strength, the phrase is a bit idiomatic.

Hai, genki desu (or) Hai, o-kage-sama de = I'm fine/good/etc.
(I like to use the second one ^^)

Yokunai desu = I'm not doing well.

Maa-maa desu = I'm so-so.

And so on.