Japanese to English Questions

why is it that some words are different in Kanji than in Katakana when read. For example –Ø (ki) and ‚à‚­ (moku) mean tree yet its not like both are read ki or moku

shiroi_tora wrote:why is it that some words are different in Kanji than in Katakana when read. For example –Ø (ki) and ‚à‚­ (moku) mean tree yet its not like both are read ki or moku

Because there are up to three ways to read certain kanji:

onyomi: aka "Chinese reading". You usually read certain kanji this way when you see them use as compounds with other kanji.

kunyomi: aka "Japanese reading". Used when you see the kanji and some hiragana written after it.

nanori: aka "name reading". On top of the two other readings, there are special ways to read certain kanji when it pertains to people's names.

I would have posted some examples but I don't have access to a Japanese IME right now. :(

Until the cavalry (kokuou) arrives I'll try and provide an example:[/list:u] The character for "new" V@as used in this sentence: ‚»‚́@V‚µ‚¢@V•·@‚Í ‚¨‚à‚µ‚ë‚¢@‚Å‚· (sono atarashii shinbun wa omoshiroi desu) That new newspaper is interesting. [/list:u] The first time the character appears it's pronounced the kunyomi way, atarashii, which means "new". The character is by itself so it's pronounced the kunyomi way. [/list:u] The second time it comes with another kanji character •·@(bun) which means "to hear" Shin=new, bun= to hear, together they form "shinbun" or newspaper. These two characters are together, so they're pronounced the onyomi way. I hope this explanation helps :sweat:[/list:u]Edit: Just as a follow up, this rule works MOST of the time, but like all languages, there are exceptions, that's where the hard part comes in! :beaten:

gaijinmark wrote:Until the cavalry (kokuou) arrives I'll try and provide an example:[/list:u] The character for "new" V@as used in this sentence: ‚»‚́@V‚µ‚¢@V•·@‚Í ‚¨‚à‚µ‚ë‚¢@‚Å‚· (sono atarashii shinbun wa omoshiroi desu) That newspaper is interesting. [/list:u] The first time the character appears it's pronounced the kunyomi way, atarashii, which means "new". The character is by itself so it's pronounced the kunyomi way. [/list:u] The second time it comes with another kanji character •·@(bun) which means "to hear" Shin=new, bun= to hear, together they form "shinbun" or newspaper. These two characters are together, so they're pronounced the onyomi way. I hope this explanation helps :sweat:

cavalry not needed. :applaud:

kenjilina wrote:

cavalry not needed. :applaud:

Awww... :puppydog:
I suppose I'm not needed anymore :shamefulcry:






PSCYH! :hehe:
You think you guys are gonna get rid of me that easily? THINK AGAIN! lol

š‘‰¤

kokuou wrote:

Awww... :puppydog:
I suppose I'm not needed anymore :shamefulcry:

You will ALWAYS be our Senpai!!! :bow: [/list:u]

kokuou wrote:

Awww... :puppydog:
I suppose I'm not needed anymore :shamefulcry:






PSCYH! :hehe:
You think you guys are gonna get rid of me that easily? THINK AGAIN! lol

š‘‰¤

of course you're needed. you're a great help to us all. :mrgreen:

What does "sai" mean....for example 18sai (nightmare track)

shiroi_tora wrote:What does "sai" mean....for example 18sai (nightmare track)

I learnt that sai - age. For example Nan sai desuka? How old are you. And 18sai should mean 18 years old. But since you put (nightmare track) Im not sure :headscratch:

*waiting for senpais*

chiba wrote:

I learnt that sai - age. For example Nan sai desuka? How old are you. And 18sai should mean 18 years old. But since you put (nightmare track) Im not sure :headscratch:

*waiting for senpais*

Yeah, it means "18 years old."
I have know idea what 'nightmare track' is referring to, though. :crazy:

š‘‰¤

Nightmare is a visual kei band

a-nesuto wrote:Nightmare is a visual kei band

correct...on their latest cd theWORLD ruler there is a song called 18sai

what does kizuna mean??

celeron wrote:what does kizuna mean??

'tie' as in a 'bond' between friends.

chiba wrote:
For example Nan sai desuka? How old are you.

In my japanese class that i took, my sensei taught us to how to ask someone how old they are differently

"Ikura desu ka?"

hopefully my memory is working right for me.


Kokuou san, is this right?

KT-kun, that would normally be used to ask how much something cost, for example... but I guess it could be used for age as well...

Anime Dad wrote:KT-kun, that would normally be used to ask how much something cost, for example... but I guess it could be used for age as well...

Ya i remember that.

Its just funny how i don't hear anyone using Nan sai desu ka when ask someone for their age.....

K.T.Tran wrote:


Ya i remember that.

Its just funny how i don't hear anyone using Nan sai desu ka when ask someone for their age.....

you can also say 'toshi wa nan desu ka?' to ask about age.

Didn't know that one :)

Damn, I wish my Japanese was better. I'm getting near the end of my Pimsleur course, and it's getting curly :) I have trouble remembering things i've learnt if I don't get the chance to use them :(

K.T.Tran wrote:


In my japanese class that i took, my sensei taught us to how to ask someone how old they are differently

"Ikura desu ka?"

hopefully my memory is working right for me.


Kokuou san, is this right?

Almost :victory:

It's actually:

(‚¨)‚¢‚­‚‚ł·‚©H
[(O)-ikutsu desu ka?]

It literally means "How much (is your age)?"
If you're talking to someone older (or higher in rank) than you, you need the "o" at the beginning.

HTH,
š‘‰¤