i want to learn as much as you know

[Sorceress of Dreams]

hey i don't really know anything 'cept geek and sexy freak lol 'cause i asked but still you can tell me what you know!!

[asdfsdf]

hey i don't really know anything 'cept geek and sexy freak lol 'cause i asked but still you can tell me what you know!!

Now...let's get this straight

Knowing a language is not only knowing random words, as most people on this site do. Knowing a language is being able to mechanize and formulate sentences that are coherent.

As for me, I know quite a bit of Japanese, but not near knowing the real language. I'm getting there though, in another year or so, I'll be there. :\

[Ryukon]

hey i don't really know anything 'cept geek and sexy freak lol 'cause i asked but still you can tell me what you know!!

Like Darkbear-san said, it's not really an easy thing to learn. Especially if it's mostly just us here or learning it online (not saying there's anything wrong with learing a few things from the people who knows here) since sometimes putting it out there in the real world is important. If you make mistakes, then you can learn from them, and sometimes learn how to formulate the subject in a different way (and maybe easier).

I could teach you a few things, but I'm no where near half-adequate and acceptable as I should be in my Japanese class.

[Sorceress of Dreams]

well one of my friends just taught me how to count to 12!!

[rens_mine132]

All I know is 'hi' 'master' 'friend' and 'kun'(forgot what kun means)

[Ryukon]

All I know is 'hi' 'master' 'friend' and 'kun'(forgot what kun means)

"-kun" is a type of honorific at the end of someone's name that's on a more personal level than the polite "-san"(Mr./Ms.), preferably for guys. Although girls are starting to be called "-kun" on a few occasions too nowadays...

[Ayame_Kodoku]

ditto. I'll try to teach what I know, but I'm a student as well. I'm learning more everyday but let's get off to the basics.

I = watashi (ga or wa) those are both particles.

you = pronoun-anata, anata-tachi, anatagata.
( my sensei never explained what the other forms are for )

me = pronoun-watashi (o/ni particles) with me = watashi to

with you would be anata to

us = watashitachi (o/ni) (combination of I and you) or ware-ware (o/ni)

with us = watashitachi to issho ni

Issho ni also can be attached to me as well.

Numbers-

1-ichi
2-ni
3-san
4-yon
5-go
6-roku
7-nana
8-hachi
9-kyu
10-jyu
11-juichi (heh)
12-juni
13-jusan
14-juyon
15-jugo
16-juroku
17-junana
18-juhachi
19-jukyu
20-nijyu

chan- hon, sweetie. More for young children or someone you're sweet on.

san- customary, not too formal just about everybody will be san.

kun-mostly for guys, guys you're friendly with.

sama- very respectful, ur boss or someone you admire.

dono-lord or lady, hardly ever used

sensei- teacher, someone you admire I.E. Chan-sensei and actor would call Jackie san that.

Kind of self-explanatory. Also, when your writing the numbers in romanji, jyu and kyu, the u's have dashes over them. Anything I didn't cover?

[Ryukon]

you = pronoun-anata, anata-tachi, anatagata.
( my sensei never explained what the other forms are for )

Polite forms:
Anata wa*

(* = note that using "anata" without the "wa" would come off as strange to most. "Anata" is more so reserved for your other half in a relationship. Basically using "anata" is calling someone your "sweetheart" if you don't include that "wa". If you put the "-tachi" or "-gata" though, it's okay)

Informal(or Rude) forms:
Anta
Omae
Temae

(These are usually used towards the ones that are in your personal circle. Either that, or you really do want to come off as a rude, abrasive person. This can also be used at the ones you hate/dislike and of the sort.)

There's two more I believe, but I think it's barely used so I won't include it.

[Ayame_Kodoku]

Thank you, Ryukon-sensei for correcting me. ^^

[Ryukon]

If I was a sensei, the world would end.



I'm serious though. I'm no where near a sensei. I might consider taking up translating at the airports as a arubaito but that's it. I'm not that good.

As for that "anata" thing, usually people don't know that little tid-bit. My sensei didn't say a thing about it so I didn't know about it until I started a new year in high school, so don't worry. You weren't the only one.

[Ayame_Kodoku]

Sensei can be used in the sense of anyone who teaches you something. Someone more skilled than you in one thing. That's what I meant, ^^

[Ryukon]

Yes, I know that too. But in my opinion, I don't think the "sensei" title is going to do me any good. You probably know about more things than me in some way or some form of another.

However, this is you afterall, and you do what you will. But, I am just a regular person that is no better than you or anyone else.

[Ayame_Kodoku]

lol, very well then. It'll just be 'san' then let's get back to the Japanese though shall we? ^^

Good Morning- ohayo gozaimasu

Good afternoon- kon'nichi wa

Good evening- konban wa

Good Night- Oyasuminasai

Hello- Konnichi wa (greeting) moshi-moshi (answering the telephone)

sun- taiyo (the star) nikko (sunshine)

moon-Tsuki

star-Hoshi (heavenly body [w/e] or asterisk) suta (celebrity)

cloud- kumo

rain- ame (noun form) ame ga furu (verb[IE it's gonna rain])

wind- kaze (noun form) kaze ni ateru (verb form)

It oughta do for awhile

[Ryukon]

Hm...maybe I should include different forms of "me/I"

Polite forms:
Watashi
Watakushi

Male form:
Boku

Female form:
Atashi

Other forms:
Ore
Ware/wara

There's also some others, but I'm not sure what exactly they're used for.

[Ayame_Kodoku]

Here are some commonplace names, err pronouns.

mother - haha, okasan

father- chichi, otosan, papa

sister- shimai, ane, onesan or aneki (big sis) imoto (younger sis)

brother- kyodai, ani, oniisan (older brother) ototo (younger brother)

grandmother- sobo, obasan

grandfather sofu, ojiisan

grandparents- sofubo

parents- ryoshin

parent- kataoya

grandson- magomusuko

granddaughter-I forgot...

mother-in-law- gibo, shutome

father-in-law-gifu

that about marks my knowledge of the Japanese language. When I learn more I might come back. Sorceress of Dreams, I hope that my..uh..teachings have been useful. ^^

[Ryukon]

Here are some commonplace names, err pronouns.

mother - haha, okasan

father- chichi, otosan, papa

sister- shimai, ane, onesan or aneki (big sis) imoto (younger sis)

brother- kyodai, ani, oniisan (older brother) ototo (younger brother)

grandmother- sobo, obasan

grandfather sofu, ojiisan

grandparents- sofubo

parents- ryoshin

parent- kataoya

grandson- magomusuko

granddaughter-I forgot...

mother-in-law- gibo, shutome

father-in-law-gifu

Totemo ii.

Family references:

" - " These are used when having a conversation about your own family. One must be humble themselves in speaking about them so these are to be used

" * " These are used when you're referring to someone else's family member other than yours. These are also used with calling to each other when you're together. The use for the "O"s at the beginning is putting the other person's family higher than yours in order to be polite and humble yourself even further. I'll elaborate more if need be.

- Family = Kazoku
- Grandfather = Sofu
- Grandmother = Sobo
- Uncle = Oji
- Aunt = Oba
- Father = Chichi
- Mother = Haha
- Brother(older) = Ani
- Brother(younger) = Ototo
- Sister(older) = Ane
- Sister(younger) = Imoto
- Granddaughter = Magomusume
- Grandson = magomusuko
- Mother-in-law = Gibo
- Father-in-law = Gifu

* Family = Gokazoku
* Grandfather = Ojii-san
* Grandmother = Obaa-san
* Uncle = Oji-san
* Aunt = Oba-san
* Father = Otoo-san
* Mother = Okaa-san
* Brother(older) = Onii-san
* Brother(younger) = Ototo-san
* Sister(older) = Onee-san
* Sister(younger) = Imoto-san

...for the rest, I guess you can put the "O" in front of it and then the "-san" at the end to make it proper.

On a side note, if you're listing who's in your family, it would be father, mother, oldest to youngest children.

For the closer names like "Papa" or "Mama" or "Kaa-chan", I'm pretty sure we have a general idea where they go.