Think there was a post somewhere around which went something like 'how do we use "janakute" and "janai". I think ahochaude did explain it, like Sono koto Janai.. means that's not it? right?

So... I was listening in to a J song, and it went something like, "Hitori Janai"... so what does that mean? if i'm not wrong, 'hitori' means one person... is that right...

v_ice

hitori janai = not alone...??

HI guys!

I also want to learn Japanese...Could you include me with your Japanese teaching session if there is one I'd like to learn.

kook05 wrote:

hitori janai = not alone...??

sou.. i'm not by myself.. not alone..

not really sure about this but i *guess* janakute is used when you want to say something in addition after janakute in the sentence, and vice versa for janai?

So... are you guys saying that 'janai' is a negative term...? what i mean is, does it denote negative sentences? Like in the above examples,

Sono koto janai -- that's not it.
Hitori Janai -- not alone...

I notice both are negative sentences...
i'm still abit confused about this 'janai' thingy. anybody care to enlighten me further? More examples, if possible... and do explain if we can use them just about ANYTIME, anywhere. Thanks!!!

v_ice

sorry, double post. what's happening.. when i click post i don't get a confirmation message... instead i get an error message. but the post still shows up...

erhh... mods plz delete this.

not really sure about this but i *guess* janakute is used when you want to say something in addition after janakute in the sentence, and vice versa for janai?

velvet_ice wrote:

So... are you guys saying that 'janai' is a negative term...? what i mean is, does it denote negative sentences? Like in the above examples, Sono koto janai -- that's not it. Hitori Janai -- not alone... I notice both are negative sentences... i'm still abit confused about this 'janai' thingy. anybody care to enlighten me further? More examples, if possible... and do explain if we can use them just about ANYTIME, anywhere. Thanks!!! v_ice

"Janai" is a negative term. Take my username for example. Ahochaude. In Kansai-ben, it means I'm not an idiot/fool etc. Normally it would be "Ahojanai" (I'm not a idiot/fool)
If I had to put it in a way, I would say that "Janai" means "not".
One more example is "Ii janai" (Why not).


* "Tada janai" (It's not free)
* "Kanojo janai" (That's not my girlfriend)
* "AV janai" (It's not porn)
* "Sukebe janai" (I'm not a perv.)
* "Jyosei janai" (That's not a woman)

ahochaude wrote:

"Janai" is a negative term. Take my username for example. Ahochaude. In Kansai-ben, it means I'm not an idiot/fool etc. Normally it would be "Ahojanai" (I'm not a idiot/fool) If I had to put it in a way, I would say that "Janai" means "not". One more example is "Ii janai" (Why not). * "Tada janai" (It's not free) * "Kanojo janai" (That's not my girlfriend) * "AV janai" (It's not porn) * "Sukebe janai" (I'm not a perv.) * "Jyosei janai" (That's not a woman)

ah i c.... thanks for your help!

velvet_ice wrote:

ah i c.... thanks for your help!

Sorry, I fogot that there are some cases in which you may need to apply the "nai" in differently. Anything thing that ends with "i" or "ii", you'll need to substitute "ku" in place of the "ja" before the "nai".

Example : "Samukunai" (It's not cold) *"Samui"- "Cold"

"Sabishiikunai" (Not lonely) *"Sabishii"- "Lonely"
"Hoshikunai" (I don't want) *"Hoshii"- "Want"
"Shitakunai" (I don't want to do) *"Shitai"- "Want to do"
"Yaritakunai" (I don't want to do) *"Yaru"- "Do"
"Atsukunai" (It's not hot) *"Atsui"- "Hot"
"Urusakunai" (It's not loud/irritating) *"Urusai"- "Loud/irritating


These are the cases in which the adjectives end in "i" or "ii" where you would put "ku" before the "nai" to create a negative sentence.

In the cases of verbs, you also apply the same rule ("ku" before "nai")

"Tabetakunai" (I don't want to eat)
"Nomitakunai" (I don't want to drink)
"Kikitakunai" (I don't want to listen/hear)
"Ikitakunai" (I don't want to go)
"Yomitakunai" (I don't want to read)
"Okitakunai" (I don't want to wake up)
"Mitakunai" (I don't want to see)

Pretty much in anything else, you may use the "janai" spoken of earlier.

Note: In dramas you'll probably hear something like "Mitakunee" or "Tabetakunee" etc. This is slang. (Ikebukuro West Gate Park especially) Just remember the basic rule of "nai" and when you hear "nee", you'll immediatley be able to understand what the speaker is trying to say. Slang or not.

I hope this extends your understanding on the topic a little bit more.

hey ahochaude.. if you have the time, why don't you have japanese lessons on a certain of the week.. then we can learn more from you too..

arashinokoto wrote:

hey ahochaude.. if you have the time, why don't you have japanese lessons on a certain of the week.. then we can learn more from you too..

Thanks ahochaude. I agree with arashinokoto. If you can spare the time that is. I feel really embarassed posting so many questions, and I'm kinda lost now ... dunno where to start learning. Guess I should start from scratch

1 more thing. Notice how the verbs mentioned above all have "ta" before the "kunai"? In short, the "ta" is a shortened version of "shitai" (want to). When you put the verb in a negative form expressing the desire of not wanting to....*blah*........ then you apply the "ta" for the "shitai".
The "kunai" makes it negative. Without the "kunai", you would say things like.......

"Tabetai" -I want to eat.
"Nomitai"- I want to drink.
"Kikitai"- I want to hear.
"Ikitai"- I want to go.
"Kaeritai"- I want to go home.

With the "kunai" please refer to the above examples.

Hope I explained this part clear enough for comprehension. I don't have much time to "think and type clearly". Sorry. Anyone let me know if you can't understand. I'll explain in detail later time and circumstance permitting.

arashinokoto wrote:

hey ahochaude.. if you have the time, why don't you have japanese lessons on a certain of the week.. then we can learn more from you too..

I'd love to help you guys out with lessons and all. But I don't think I can squeeze in the time for a lesson once a week. Besides, if I had the floor all to myself, I don't think that I would know where to begin and what to go over. Sorry! But I'll be happy to answer questions posted as I am doing now! I'm glad to see that I'm helping some of you out with your Japanese language comprehension.

velvet_ice wrote:

Thanks ahochaude. I agree with arashinokoto. If you can spare the time that is. I feel really embarassed posting so many questions, and I'm kinda lost now ... dunno where to start learning. Guess I should start from scratch

Don't feel embarassed posting questions. How else will you learn? You may be posting the same thing that someone else may be wondering. Only thing is that you have the "balls" to do it. Keep going at it and don't give up! Learn the things that you want to learn first. That way you won't lose your interest in learning the language. If you go by someone else's criteria, you may end up losing interest as I have in the past. I found that when I learn what I want to when I want to, it's more fun!

Ganbare yo! Don't give up!

Dark^3nforc3r wrote:

and for aiSHITERU...wat does the shiteru means? need more help...

more polite expression for aisiteru is aisiteiru.
--siteru is shortened word of --siteiru

example: yonderu <-- yondeiru (reading) / miteru <-- miteiru (seeing/watching) / tabeteru <-- tabeteiru (eating)
/ nagameteru <-- nagameteiru (watching) / neteru <-- neteiru (sleeping)

This thread really helps a lot !!! Domo arigatou !

Can somebody tell me wad Gakkou means ?
as if in Gakkou no Sensei. I've search thru the dictionary and find nothing..

ocha wrote:

This thread really helps a lot !!! Domo arigatou ! Can somebody tell me wad Gakkou means ? as if in Gakkou no Sensei. I've search thru the dictionary and find nothing..

gakkou = school.
so gakkou no sensei should means teacher of the school.

I hope that helps.

Hi People,

I wonder if there is anyone who can enlighten me on this area. Recently I was taught on the existence of 2 types of verb jidoushi and tadoushi. However I still get really confused when I should use them.

These are what I know about them:
tadoushi is used with an object (particle 'wo' is used). It is needed when there is an intention on the action (like opening a door, etc). But I still cant get a full picture of its usage. Example, when a traffic police stop you, and you will have to stop your car, do you use tomaru or tomeru ??

In addition, jidoushi is attached to ~te imasu and tadoushi is attached to ~te arimasu. what about verbs which do not come in pairs, like aku/ akeru, how do I know when to use ~te arimasu or ~te imasu?

thanks in advance.