Japanese Language Questions? Ask Here.

Tu_triky wrote:Although the characters we are probably concerned with are kanji...but I would think the Kanji for Beijing differs from the characters for Peking.

Yeah, I thought maybe they might be kanji and if that were the case, my point wouldn't hold water, because it wouldn't have changed over time (I think).

Time to bring in the Nihon-go scholars to clear this up. :victory:

bmwracer wrote:
Yeah, I thought maybe they might be kanji and if that were the case, my point wouldn't hold water, because it wouldn't have changed over time (I think).

Time to bring in the Nihon-go scholars to clear this up. :victory:

Yeah there has got to be a reason for it...I'm sure a fluent speaker (aka scholar!) would shed some light on this question.

Well, I asked my wife why Japanese people say Peking instead of Beijing. She's Japanese and not Chinese, so she might be incorrect. But she says that Chinese people don't say Beijing ("Be - i- ji - n") either.

They say "Pe - ki - n".

So, the assumption is that Japanese people attempt to pronounce it the same way that Chinese people do.

Hanzo21 wrote:Well, I asked my wife why Japanese people say Peking instead of Beijing. She's Japanese and not Chinese, so she might be incorrect. But she says that Chinese people don't say Beijing ("Be - i- ji - n") either.

They say "Pe - ki - n".

So, the assumption is that Japanese people attempt to pronounce it the same way that Chinese people do.

That makes sense...this article seems to confirm that premise.

http://www.logoi.com/notes/peking-beijing.html

Tu_triky wrote:That makes sense...this article seems to confirm that premise.

http://www.logoi.com/notes/peking-beijing.html

Regardless, restaurants still call it Peking Duck, not Beijing Duck. :beaten:

bmwracer wrote:
Regardless, restaurants still call it Peking Duck, not Beijing Duck. :beaten:

:shakehead: :hehe: No argument there!

Shingu wrote:Hi, I want to learn Japanese and have been going on some websites...

The basics which I've learn has confused me a bit...

For example,

Watashi wa .... desu = My name is...

but I heard (from some Japanese series)

watashi (name)... = My name is?

Do they share the same meaning?? :crazy:

Actually, most particles in Japanese are (or can be) left out in casual conversation among friends.
In fact, using all the particles with friends actually sounds strange because it's so formal.

So hearing something like:

Atashi kinou Disneyland itta yo.
"Yesterday I went to Disneyland."

is perfectly fine. No hill-billy flavour here. :beaten:

HTH,

š‘‰¤

Tu_triky wrote:Although the characters we are probably concerned with are kanji...but I would think the Kanji for Beijing differs from the characters for Peking.

Just to muddle things even more, today on FCI News the announcer was definitely saying "Peking" but the kanji subtitle was –k@“Œ@which I would interpret as "northeast". Peking isn't northeast from Japan, it's northwest. WTF is going on??? :bonk: [/list:u]

gaijinmark wrote: Just to muddle things even more, today on FCI News the announcer was definitely saying "Peking" but the kanji subtitle was –k@“Œ@which I would interpret as "northeast". Peking isn't northeast from Japan, it's northwest. WTF is going on??? :bonk: [/list:u]

Haha..I see what you're saying based on the Chinese characters...I thought the characters for Peking were supposed to stand for Northern Capital. I'm not saying your wrong..I'm about as befuddled as you...given my limited knowledge of Chinese/Kanji.

Perhaps the direction you mention "Northeast" is determined from a different reference point. I dunno I'm just throwin' out guesses.

Actually, Beijing is written –k‹ž, pronounced peh-kin.

Hanzo21 wrote:Well, I asked my wife why Japanese people say Peking instead of Beijing. She's Japanese and not Chinese, so she might be incorrect. But she says that Chinese people don't say Beijing ("Be - i- ji - n") either.

They say "Pe - ki - n".

So, the assumption is that Japanese people attempt to pronounce it the same way that Chinese people do.

Actually, speakers of standard Mandarin would say Beijing today. I think the difference between "king" and "jing" is simply a reflection of changing pronunciation over time that happens in all languages. That may also explain the "pei" to "bei" change, although it's possible that the old romanization system developed by a British guy who used P to represent /b/ and P' to represent /p/. It's possible that this system was responsible for the /p/ /b/ confusion as well. :beaten:

In any case, after the revolution, the Chinese developed their own romanization system, and pushed for other countries to adopt the new system of spelling and the pronunciations that go along with them. (Guangzhou is no longer referred to as Canton anymore, for instance.)

As for why Japanese still say "Peikin", well, your guess is as good as mine. :mrgreen:

gaijinmark wrote: Just to muddle things even more, today on FCI News the announcer was definitely saying "Peking" but the kanji subtitle was –k@“Œ@which I would interpret as "northeast". Peking isn't northeast from Japan, it's northwest. WTF is going on??? :bonk: [/list:u]

You would interpret it that way, because the English norm is to say northeast, however, in Japanese and Chinese, East and West come first in those combinations, thus the northeast region of Japan is called touhoku “Œ–k. :mrgreen:

edit: And, as the previous poster noted, Beijing/Peiking is –k‹ž (no difference in kanji, just pronunciation), which does mean northern capital, not –k“Œ.

Alright... this may sound like a silly question. But I am really confuse...

What is the different between 'masu' and 'desu'? As in for example, when do I use 'ikimasu' and 'ikundesu'?


Arigato Gozaimasu!!

chokakoi wrote:Alright... this may sound like a silly question. But I am really confuse...

What is the different between 'masu' and 'desu'? As in for example, when do I use 'ikimasu' and 'ikundesu'?


Arigato Gozaimasu!!

They are 2 different things:
- The suffix "~ masu" is added to the dictionary form of Japanese verbs to make a sentence polite. Aside from changing the tone, it has no meaning.

- desu when in a sentence has the meaning of "is", "are" 'am" etc
eg "watashi wa amerika jin desu" - I am American

Anime Dad wrote:

They are 2 different things:
- The suffix "~ masu" is added to the dictionary form of Japanese verbs to make a sentence polite. Aside from changing the tone, it has no meaning.

- desu when in a sentence has the meaning of "is", "are" 'am" etc
eg "watashi wa amerika jin desu" - I am American

soo desu ne!! wakarimashita.

Arigato gozaimasu! :bow:

chokakoi wrote:


soo desu ne!! wakarimashita.

cool!!!

(but how do ya say that in english?) :sweat: (i'm really such a noob when it comes to this....ehehehe... :sweat: :bleh: :mrgreen:

ihvana_003 wrote:cool!!!

(but how do ya say that in english?) :sweat: (i'm really such a noob when it comes to this....ehehehe... :sweat: :bleh: :mrgreen:

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ihvana_003 wrote:

cool!!!

(but how do ya say that in english?) :sweat: (i'm really such a noob when it comes to this....ehehehe... :sweat: :bleh: :mrgreen:

u meant the line I just said?

it means "I see. I understand."

hey genma.. i'm new here.. do ye know the song of toma "gomen yo aishu?" what does that mean? i'm really eager to learn japanese language :crazy: :bonk: :woot:

Hello!
I am learning Japanese, but am really curious about this.

When you say "you", for example, "Do you speak Japanese?"

Apparently the closest translation is "Anata wa", however my teacher told me that this is rude to use, and if you even know somebody, don't.

I saw in dramas that I watched, that people mentioned the other's name, example (from Nodame Cantabile :P )

"Does Nodame speak Japanese"
Something along the lines of
"Nodame wa nihongo hanashimasu ka?" (excuse my poorness for now >_< )

What do the fluent speakers have to say about this?

Thanks!