ahochaude wrote:

Pretty much the same thing. "Ne" and "Na" are kind of like an English "Yeah?!" at the end of the sentence. If you're worried about the way you'll sound, stick with "Ne". "Na" can come off as being a bit rough. But nothing's wrong with it. Oh yeah, chicks use "Ne". "Na" would be rough for a chick (in normal circumstances)

Yeah, but sometimes "na" comes up and girls use it, but it flies right past ya and doesn't seem rough. But it isn't as often that girls who aren't rough use it. But it's usually different circumstances and not necessarily used as a substitute for "ne" for average girls.

If you are a girl, stick to "ne". If you are a guy, "ne" is ok too. This is only my opinion, but if you are a male gaijin, I wouldn't use "na" a *whole* lot (as a complete substitute for "ne"). To me it's more acceptable in that situation if you're in the Kansai region and/or are REALLY good at Japanese. Just my opinion....I kinda think a gaijin guy who's newbie at Japanese using "na" a whole lot looks dumb, like trying too hard (if that makes any sense to anyone here at all). That's of course among other things that annoy me, LOL. Just my take on those kinda things....

KouSeiya315 wrote:

Itazura ichiban wrote: What is the difference between "ne" and "na" at the end of a sentence? Is there a difference in meaning or does it depend on situation (politeness, gender etc)? This is only my opinion, but if you are a male gaijin, I wouldn't use "na" a *whole* lot (as a complete substitute for "ne"). To me it's more acceptable in that situation if you're in the Kansai region and/or are REALLY good at Japanese. Just my opinion....I kinda think a gaijin guy who's newbie at Japanese using "na" a whole lot looks dumb, like trying too hard (if that makes any sense to anyone here at all).

not just you, it would sound like a gaijin trying to sound too cool, so cool it would sound dumb. kinda like FOB asians tring to learn 'ebonics'.

niko2x wrote:

kinda like FOB asians tring to learn 'ebonics'.

Oh man, I think that's a bit worse than what we're talking about.
But back to the point, yeah, it doesn't suit a gaikokujin who has just started out on learning the language.
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niko2x wrote:

not just you, it would sound like a gaijin trying to sound too cool, so cool it would sound dumb. kinda like FOB asians tring to learn 'ebonics'.

um..whats ebonics?

I see. I got into that trouble speaking French in France; my accent is so good that people started prattling at my assuming I was more fluent than I am....

Yeah, and it's offensive seeing somebody "tryin'". On the other hand, most of my Japanese is for the amusment of my woman.
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'Nother one:
On the dorama shows (especially Kochira) a character would say "thank you for your hard work!" This seems to be formula to say to someone who works with you. What is the Japanese (Romanji) phrase?
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Itazura ichiban wrote:

a character would say "thank you for your hard work!" This seems to be formula to say to someone who works with you. What is the Japanese (Romanji) phrase?

I think ...

gokurousama is used for thanking someone for their work/efforts/going to the trouble of doing something.

otsukaresama is used for thanking someone for tiring/laborious work (i.e. hard work), and it is often said at the end of a workday, because work tires ya out!

vibius wrote:

gokurousama is used for thanking someone for their work/efforts/going to the trouble of doing something. otsukaresama is used for thanking someone for tiring/laborious work (i.e. hard work), and it is often said at the end of a workday, because work tires ya out!

gokurousama is often used to thank people like delivery men etc.
otsukaresama is, generally, more polite - I suspect there are occasions when using 'gokurousama' instead of 'otsukaresama' would cause offense.

PaulTB wrote:

I suspect there are occasions when using 'gokurousama' instead of 'otsukaresama' would cause offense.

Yeah, when I first was learning Japanese, I didn't know what they were saying. So I listened to the boss as he was saying "gokurousama" to the other employees and then when I said "gokurousama" to him, I got a slap from another employee telling me I'm a dumb shit for saying something like that. Heh, so I was lucky 'cause it could've been worse.
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solidsonya wrote:

um..whats ebonics?

Ebonics translator:
BTW, i think next time, it'll be better if you just google it.

solidsonya wrote:

um..whats ebonics?

In layman's terms..... "Blackcent" (black + cent).

examples:
bathroom = bafroom
ask = ax
What's your problem? = Man, why you trippin'?
Cool = Dope/Fly
Hang out = Chill

I can just picture my good friend right about now.
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ahochaude wrote:

I can just picture my good friend right about now.

it's bad enough that some white trash talk like that, its another if an asian WITH A THICK asian accent doing that.

niko2x wrote:

it's bad enough that some white trash talk like that, its another if an asian WITH A THICK asian accent doing that.

Yeah, but my gf is facsinated with that slang. She always tries to listen to my friend when he talks but she can hardly pick up what he's saying. Hehehehe. Not meant for Asians.
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ahochaude wrote:

Yeah, but my gf is facsinated with that slang. She always tries to listen to my friend when he talks but she can hardly pick up what he's saying. Hehehehe. Not meant for Asians.

mine too. at first she REALLY didn't understand and was asking me if that was actually another language. now, she understands it is english, but still has a harder time keeping up with it.

niko2x wrote:

mine too. at first she REALLY didn't understand and was asking me if that was actually another language. now, she understands it is english, but still has a harder time keeping up with it.

Yeah, these Japanese chicks nowadays are really facsinated by
"Blackcent". I guess 'cause it's something that they've never heard before and it sounds cooler than the redneck accent!
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ahochaude wrote:

Yeah, these Japanese chicks nowadays are really facsinated by "Blackcent". I guess 'cause it's something that they've never heard before and it sounds cooler than the redneck accent!

i guess it's just whatever's available in the media. A lot more Jay-Z's stuff out there than jeff foxworthy.

vibius wrote:

I think ... gokurousama is used for thanking someone for their work/efforts/going to the trouble of doing something. otsukaresama is used for thanking someone for tiring/laborious work (i.e. hard work), and it is often said at the end of a workday, because work tires ya out!

Thanks! I say gokorosama at the end of a meal, at my wife's suggestion. I didn't know it applied to other things.
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- Douglas

Itazura ichiban wrote:

Thanks! I say gokorosama at the end of a meal, at my wife's suggestion. I didn't know it applied to other things.

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).

niko2x wrote:

Ebonics translator: BTW, i think next time, it'll be better if you just google it.

ahochaude wrote:

In layman's terms..... "Blackcent" (black + cent). examples: bathroom = bafroom ask = ax What's your problem? = Man, why you trippin'? Cool = Dope/Fly Hang out = Chill

hehe thanks, everything is so much clearer

ahochaude wrote:

In layman's terms..... "Blackcent" (black + cent). examples: bathroom = bafroom ask = ax What's your problem? = Man, why you trippin'? Cool = Dope/Fly Hang out = Chill I can just picture my good friend right about now.

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

Just my two pennies.