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| Total Votes : 6 |
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 Posted: Wed Nov 12, 2008 5:22 pm
Has anyone ever wondered where the english speakers got the word 'Japan' when the Japanese call themselves 'Nihon-jin'? For some of you that may seem a silly question, but isn't just as silly to take Nihon and turn it into Japan?
Just something I had to ask. ^^;
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Posted: Thu Nov 13, 2008 6:49 pm
From Wikipedia:
The English word for Japan came to the West from early trade routes. The early Mandarin or possibly Wu Chinese (呉語) word for Japan was recorded by Marco Polo as Cipangu. In modern Shanghainese, a Wu dialect, the pronunciation of characters 日本 'Japan' is Zeppen [zəʔpən]; in Wu, the character 日 has two pronunciations, informal (白讀) [niʔ] and formal (文讀) [zəʔ]. (In some southern Wu dialects, 日本 is pronounced [niʔpən], similar to its pronunciation in Japanese.) The old Malay word for Japan, Jepang (now spelled Jepun in Malaysia, though still spelled Jepang in Indonesia), was borrowed from a Chinese language, and this Malay word was encountered by Portuguese traders in Malacca in the 16th century. It is thought the Portuguese traders were the first to bring the word to Europe. It was first recorded in English in a 1565 letter spelled Giapan.
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Posted: Fri Nov 14, 2008 2:58 pm
Wow, that is really awesome, I didn't know that. Thank you very much for sharing that. ^^ I've always wondered how people type japanese on their computers. Would you mind telling me? ^^' I always figured it was a silly question... so never really asked.
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Posted: Sun Dec 07, 2008 2:36 pm
I don't have a lot of confidence when I speak Japanese. I am very determined to learn the language, but everytime I go to talk to someone, I just... freeze up. I forget what to say. Then I end up trying to make it up. I am pretty softspoken, and I am not all that well learned like I should be.
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Posted: Mon Dec 08, 2008 9:56 pm
Yuzu-chan!
To type Japanese on your computer (Pc? Mac?) you need a language pack. If you use PC go to Microsoft website and look for the Asian Language Pack OR go to the control panel on your PC and try to add it. I believe it will give you steps after that to help you (or you can find lots of tips from other Asian language users online).
I PERSONALLY use that on my desktop and the KITSUNE add-on via Firefox. If you use Firefox do a search on it. It is experimental so you have to log in to download it. I have had no problems thus far.
https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/8575
It is pretty simple to use but you have to do it all word by word which may seem tedious.
On another topic-- don't be timid/shy about your Japanese abilities. Mess up a lot so people can correct you and you learn. Never back down because of your currently inabilities. No more freezing up or making stuff up. Just say, "My Japanese isn't that great--please help me." Go from there. Speak Japanese to yourself so you are comfortable with it. Whenever I go shopping or get excited I, at first, unconsciously switch over into Japanese. I don't care that anyone hears me or can't understand because 9 out of 10 times I am not talking to them anywayz!
Practice, practice, Renshuu! Let us know if the Firefox add works for you.
X
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Posted: Tue Dec 09, 2008 6:15 pm
Arigato XianKai-san. I will do my best to be more outspoken. Also thank you for explaining to me how to type Japanese on my computer. I have a PC. I will try that.
Sometimes I too find myself speaking random Japanese. Often I even dream in Japanese... it is very strange. You understand yourself, but you don't at the same time.
^^
Yuzora
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Posted: Thu Dec 11, 2008 5:48 pm
It is SO hard to find time to study! >.< I study maybe once a week now. I'm so caught up in trying to find a job, and getting into college. I still do my best to learn something knew everyday.
For those of you who have just as little time to study; here are some good ways to work on your skills:
1. If you have a white board or some other surface you write on; make it a habit to write on it a daily word. Write it in kanji and everytime you walk by it try and remember what it is. Say it aloud if you can.
For example: Today's word is "long"/Nagai/長い I even put it in romaji on my fridge. I use it in sentences whenever I can and everytime I walk by it I think of how to write it in Kanij, Hiragana, Katakana, and say it.
2. On that same board I also write a phrase once a week.
3. Speak in Japanese at random points in the day. It is fun to make people do this: 0_o Como say what?
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Posted: Sat Dec 13, 2008 3:50 pm
Todays word is:蜂はちIt means Bee.
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Posted: Sun Dec 14, 2008 10:19 pm
Today's Word is: 雄鳥Ondoric**k
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Posted: Sun Dec 14, 2008 10:32 pm
This Week's phrase is something my old choir teacher said to me everyday. Mind you I was already in every choir I could be in. I'd have to be a boy to be in the other. JOIN CHOIR合唱隊 は 接ぐ.がっしょうたい は つぐGasshoutai ha tsugu.
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Posted: Tue Dec 16, 2008 7:01 pm
Today's Word is:IkariAngerいかり怒
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Posted: Wed Dec 17, 2008 9:49 am
Your lessons are great and I love the pic you choose!
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Posted: Wed Dec 17, 2008 11:08 pm
XianKai Your lessons are great and I love the pic you choose! ^^ Feel free to add your own. I'm am glad you like them. ^^
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Posted: Wed Dec 17, 2008 11:18 pm
Today's word is:
Yuka
Floor
ゆか
床
(Sorry, no picture. The first picture was too big so I tried editing it, but Gaia won't let me edit it right now.) Gomen nasai!
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Posted: Mon Dec 22, 2008 7:11 pm
Today's Kanji is:巣すSuNest
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