Let's Learn Japanese - I

Hi there!!^_^

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

1. “Hiragana” - This script is used to write any word that has Japanese origins. Like, “tamago”(egg). 
2. “Katakana” - This script is used to write any word that has foreign origins. Like, “Pascon” (Personal Computer) 
3. “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. 
4. “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

Thankyou,

Nia Dutta.