bmwracer wrote:

Um, not to be a stick in the mud, but isn't this sorta insensitive to African-Americans...? Just my two pennies.

Wasn't meant to be. Just using basic examples of how their slangs sound like so that people who don't know the term "ebonics" now have an idea.
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ahochaude wrote:

Wasn't meant to be. Just using basic examples of how their slangs sound like so that people who don't know the term "ebonics" now have an idea.

Okay.

When should one start learning to read and write the Kana and Kanji?

vibius wrote:

Well that's an oops... Gokurousama is like "good job". Maybe you want "gochisousama" = "thanks for the food". gochisousama is often said after meals or if someone hands you some food/drink (I have seen it in a few dramas after someone hands someone a soda from a vending machine for instance).

Well, er... ah...

Or in the words of Oda Nobunaga: "De aru ka."
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- Douglas

How would I say I love ____. (in Romaji and Kanji) For example I love Matsushima Nanako.

IkematsuSosuke wrote:

How would I say I love ____. (in Romaji and Kanji) For example I love Matsushima Nanako.

See here

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watashiwa mastushima nanako o aishiteimasu
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Thanks guys or girls!

ive heard osoku natta and okureta... which one is more commonly used?

also ive also been taught in class that both denwa kakeru and denwa suru can be used to say "to call (phone)". However ive never heard denwa kakeru being used in any of the dramas and movies ive watched, so is denwa kakeru not commonly used anymore?

Yukke wrote:

ive heard osoku natta and okureta... which one is more commonly used?

In what respect?

Yukke wrote:

also ive also been taught in class that both denwa kakeru and denwa suru can be used to say "to call (phone)". However ive never heard denwa kakeru being used in any of the dramas and movies ive watched, so is denwa kakeru not commonly used anymore?

Not much nowadays. You'll hear the older folk using the term "kakeru" more than the younger generation.
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But I do think that "denwa kakeru" is often read in books, and if said, it's not weird.

"Osoku naru" and "Okureru" are both commonly, and used as often as "Chikoku suru."

The only difference I find in use is that people apologize with
"Osoku natte, gomen nasai" = Sorry I'm late...
"Gomen nasai, osoku natte..." = Sorry I'm late...

"Okureru" = to be running behind/running late........is to generally say one is running behind, so will be a little late. I don't hear people apologize with this verb so much at all.....

"Chikoku suru" = to be late/arrive late......normally heard with, "hayaku, chikoku suru yo!" (hurry up, you'll be late [for school]!). Though I am sure it is used in other contexts.

I hope that isn't too confusing. I just realized too that there are so many..hahaha

Hope

Umm.. Hm, I was wondering -- how long did it take most of you to get to the point where you can listen to j-music or watch j-dramas and understand what's being said without subtitles? I'm curious as to how long it took y'all. I've been studying for a few months (not offered at school, and the class locally is already halfway through the year, so I missed out on a lot..), and I feel that the pace is slow. I dunno, maybe it's natural for someone teaching themselves, but I'm eager to be able to hear music or watch a show and understand stuff.

Thanks for any input.

meowxxmix wrote:

Umm.. Hm, I was wondering -- how long did it take most of you to get to the point where you can listen to j-music or watch j-dramas and understand what's being said without subtitles? I'm curious as to how long it took y'all. I've been studying for a few months (not offered at school, and the class locally is already halfway through the year, so I missed out on a lot..), and I feel that the pace is slow. I dunno, maybe it's natural for someone teaching themselves, but I'm eager to be able to hear music or watch a show and understand stuff. Thanks for any input.

you forgot to mention what is the frequency you watch it. if you are in JPN and the only hting you can watch IS JPN TV, then you would be able to pick it up a lot faster than most of us who DL and watch it whenever we can.
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meowxxmix wrote:

Umm.. Hm, I was wondering -- how long did it take most of you to get to the point where you can listen to j-music or watch j-dramas and understand what's being said without subtitles? I'm curious as to how long it took y'all. I've been studying for a few months (not offered at school, and the class locally is already halfway through the year, so I missed out on a lot..), and I feel that the pace is slow. I dunno, maybe it's natural for someone teaching themselves, but I'm eager to be able to hear music or watch a show and understand stuff. Thanks for any input.

Basically it all goes back to how much you want to learn the language.
As Niko said, the frequency you view the shows/listen to music and situation counts. It's best to watch Japanese TV rather than listening to music because regardless if you have subtitles or not, you can see the whole picture of what's going on, why things are said, and in what situation you would be able to apply what you've picked up.
It will take a while. Things like this don't happen overnight. Not only does your "dedication" play a role, but how fast you can learn and pick up things are a big factor in this as well. So I won't put a timeframe in here. It just depends on you.
What I've done was whenever I learned a new word, I'd practice saying it over and over again until the pronounciation sounded "right". I'd say it in the shower, while I was taking a dump, whenever I could. If you know anyone who speaks Japanese, practice speaking to them in Japanese. The more you use it, the more it'll stick with you.
Another helpful hint I've learned is that do not translate the Japanese to English in your head. You should learn the Japanese word/sentence for what it is. Like if I seen a dog, I would automatically think Inu rather than dog=inu.
In any case, I hope I gave you some helpful hints. It's worked wonders for me.
Good luck and don't give up.
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niko2x wrote:

you forgot to mention what is the frequency you watch it. if you are in JPN and the only hting you can watch IS JPN TV, then you would be able to pick it up a lot faster than most of us who DL and watch it whenever we can.

I download and I watch more Japanese programs than I would if I was in Japan.

If I was in Japan I'd be limited to whatever happened to be on the TV - and if there was nothing good on I'd end up reading a book. As it is I'm downloading faster than I'm watching. :mrgreen:

PaulTB wrote:

I download and I watch more Japanese programs than I would if I was in Japan. If I was in Japan I'd be limited to whatever happened to be on the TV - and if there was nothing good on I'd end up reading a book. As it is I'm downloading faster than I'm watching.

but sensei, we all know you are fluent and you're watching it for entertainment value, and not for educational purposes.

But you are right tho about d/l'ing moretht you can watch. i still got maybe 6 or 7 series i haven't touched yet.
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Now I feel SUPER Old School 'cause I don't DL any dramas. I just watch 'em on good ol' VHS.

Man, I gotta start getting into this computer stuff....
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niko2x wrote:

but sensei, we all know you are fluent and you're watching it for entertainment value, and not for educational purposes. ;)

Hah! I'm no sensei.

But you may just have a point about the 'educational purposes'.

fast question....my dictionary has a million entries for "subtitle." what is the word most commonly used in japan in terms of the subtitles that appear on the bottom of ur tv screen? thanks

kazuichikun wrote:

fast question....my dictionary has a million entries for "subtitle." what is the word most commonly used in japan in terms of the subtitles that appear on the bottom of ur tv screen? thanks

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