This section will give you an overview on how to speak, write and read the Japanese language. This segment is added to help and aid those who would love to learn the language and are unable to join professional courses due to lack of time for proper class or other reasons, for those who would like to get a feel of the Language and would be motivated to join proper classes later on.
I would also try my level best in helping out those of you who’ve already been taking classes and are about to or will be taking the JLPT exams. However, before we begin, one needs to understand that the best way to learn is always to find a professional teacher who has attained a degree in the language and as a teacher. Since I have neither, I hope you understand that my knowledge is limited.^^”. You are always welcome to share your views, ask questions when in doubt and I will do my best to answer as fast as I can.>o<. With that, let us begin! ^o^
FACTS That you will need to know :
The Japanese language is called “nihongo”in Japanese, where Nihon means Japan and “go” means language. :)
The Japanese language has three scripts, viz
“Hiragana” - This script is used to write any word that has Japanese origins. Like, “tamago”(egg).
“Katakana” - This script is used to write any word that has foreign origins. Like, “Pascon” (Personal Computer)
“Kanji” - This script is used to pictorially depict any word. The Japanese language has many similar sounding words but different Kanji to explain the difference in meaning. Kanji might sound like a curse, but as you slowly learn to be at home with the language you will start to appriciate the benifits of having Kanji.
“Romaji” is the term used when Japanese is written using the Roman/Latin script. I will be using Romaji along with the other three scripts, using each at appropriate places. If all goes well, you too will be able to read and undersand all four soon. :)
Unlike any of the tutorials on the net, I want to teach you guys how to write and read along with how to speak. ^_^. After all, wouldn’t you just love to be able to stare at those Japanese alphabets you see while watching anime and exclaim “HEY,I KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS!!!”? During my initial days of learning, every time I could recogonise a Kanji, it used to give me a thrill! :D. So while learning, let's learn it properly!
Pronunciation of alphabets
The Japanese language has 46 basic alphabets, 25 modified alphabets and a few combined alphabets. This is true for both Hiragana and Katakana script. However, these are very easy to learn and remember. So, let us begin. ^o^
Basic alphabets:
a
i
u
e
o
ka
ki
ku
ke
ko
sa
shi
su
se
so
ta
chi
tsu
te
to
na
ni
nu
ne
no
ha
hi
fu
he
ho
ma
mi
mu
me
mo
ya
yu
yo
ra
ri
ru
re
ro
wa
wo
n
Modified alphabets:
ga
gi
gu
ge
go
za
ji
zu
ze
zo
da
ji
zu
de
do
ba
bi
bu
be
bo
pa
pi
pu
pe
po
The combined alphabets are made adding “ya, yu and yo” to the “ki, gi, shi, ji, chi, ji, ni, hi, bi, pi, mi and ri” alphabets. This will look and feel easier after you’ve practiced a fair few times. Don’t be afraid and give it a try.
Combined alphabets:
kya
kyu
kyo
gya
gyu
gyo
sha
shu
sho
jya
jyu
jyo
chya
chyu
chyo
jya
jyu
jyo
nya
nyu
nyo
hya
hyu
hyo
bya
byu
byo
pya
pyu
pyo
mya
my
myo
rya
ryu
ryo
Here are the Japanese counterparts of the above, In both Hiragana and Katakana.
Now, you need to know that Japanese language has five vowels “a,i,u,e,o” and the remaining alphabets barring “n” are consonants that have been combined with the five vowels. “n” is a standalone consonant and sometimes its pronunciation changes to “m”. However, at all times, the written form remains “n”.
How to write:
Today on how to write, we we learn how to correctly write the first five alphabets in the Hiragana script. The five vowels. Please note the stroke orders as it is important to follow the strokes at all times. Just press play to begin ^^.
That was easy enough wasn’t it?^_^
Some new words:
Let us learn some words in Japanese.^__^. Later, I will also teach you how to form simple sentences using these words.
n.b. - “ou” is to stress on the elongation of “o”.
(Press the button to listen to the pronunciations.:)
VEGETABLES
yasai
FRUITS
kudamono
ANIMALS
doubutsu
PLANTS
shokubutsu
BIRDS
tori
YEAR
toshi, nen
MONTH
getsu, gatsu
DAY
hi, bi, nichi
SUPERMARKET
suppa
APARTMENT
apaato
I know at this point you are all thinking “boring words” but stocking up your vocabulary on these words will come in handy later on.^_^.
This is all for this tutorial. In the next one, We will be learning how to form simple sentences and Japanese greetings, so till then, practice hard, ne!^__^.
I hope you found this tutorial helpful, fun and easy to learn. I didn’t know how best to teach so I took a lot of references from how my sensei teaches in class. Many thanks to Ruma sensei.:3
To be honest, Mini Meets are basically arranged for the members to enjoy an outing. Anime screening, continuous anime discussion or sharing doesn't happen since the meets happen either at Amusement Parks, Cinema Halls or similar venues. On that note, KAC’s 5th (which was a Durga Puja outing), 6th ( an outing to Nicco Park), 7th ( Tintin movie meet), 8th (visiting a Japanese Cultural Program at Rabindra Okakura Bhaban) Meets were mini meets, so far.
...................................................................................... 5th Mini Meet (6.10.2011):
Durga Puja Outing-
(From Left: Krishna, Nia, Sayanee and Abhishek)
(From Left: Nia, Sayanee, Abhishek & Kaushik)
(The Phuchka Competition)
It was primarily arranged for Kaushik Mizu since he was new
to Kolkata & never enjoyed the pujas of South Kolkata. The meet was
announced at a very short notice & happened a week after the 4th Meet. Thus, a lot of the members didn’t have time to
adjust their schedules to make it to the meet & on the day of the meet only 5 of
us managed to gather together (Nia, Abhishek, Sayanee, Kaushik & Krishna). First, we gathered at South City mall & planned to visit the puja pandals
of Jodhpur Park, Selimpore Palli, Babubagan & Deshpriya Park (if we had
enough time). Since it was Dashami (the last day of the pujas), the pandals
were relatively empty & we could take photos of the idol & surrounding
properly. After visiting Babubagan, we had a Phuchka (Panipuri) eating competition
on which all of us participated. Nia withdrew from the competition after eating
6, Sayanee followed her after eating 14, Krishna forfeited after eating 17. Then the competition was entirely between
Abhishek & Kaushik. After having 35, Abhishek withdrew. Kaushik stopped
only after 50. The vendor was literally scared of us! When the competition
ended, Nia & Abhishek had to return to their homes. Thus, the outing came
to an end after dollops of fun and food.
(From left: Kaushik, Bibhas, Promit, Sayanee, Aesha, Aditi & Ayanti. Pratyay at the front)
The idea of this meet solely arose from the fact that members had demanded an outing to an amusement park. Thus, a date was fixed and Nicco Park was the location chosen (Aquatica was voted out since winter was approaching). The
time allotted was 10.30am, but thanks to of our usual laziness, most of
us gathered around 11.30am. Kaushik (Approx 2pm) was the second latest to arrive
& Promit was the last (around 2.30 pm). Finally, the headcount was- Aditi,
Ayanti, Pratyay, Sayanee, Aesha, Bibhas, Kaushik and Promit. Aesha was a new
member at the meet. First, the attendees tried their hands at target
shooting/throwing games and then, the ride- Moon Raker was raided by us which
had small seats & we barely managed to fit those in pairs. Then, we
decided to ride the Cyclone (Biggest Roller Coaster in Kolkata), after waiting
almost 45 minutes on the queue, finally our turn came & we again divided
ourselves among pairs. The ride was worth remembering for a lifetime! We
couldn’t visit the Scary House as it was under maintenance. The last ride we
tried was the Striking Cars. Then it was eating time (as usual). Sayanee & Bibhas
left after that & the rest enjoyed the toy train ride before parting ways.
November 2011was probably the busiest month for KAC, as we
were having meets on every alternative Sunday. Yet another meet was held on the
second last Sunday of November when our member Aesha invited us a day before
saying that the institute where she is studying Japanese (ROB) is hosting a
Japanese cultural event. Abhishek, Sayantan, Sayanee, Aesha, Pratyay, Ayanti,
Bibhas, Suplab, Promit, Kaushik & Nikhil (who was extremely late) attended
the meet under such short notice. We tried our hands at origami, calligraphy & tasted Japanese
delicacies. The meet started at 6 and around 8pm, Abhishek & Sayanee had to
leave and were escorted by Sayantan. Nikhil joined the gang after that and all
of them enjoyed the vibrant dance program which was the last event of the day.
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