Japanese vocabulary has been heavily influenced by loans from other languages. A vast number of words were borrowed from Chinese, or created from Chinese models, over a period of at least 1,500 years. Japanese lessons consisting of a transcript, English translation, vocabulary lists, grammatical explanations, cultural explanations and exercises are the best way to learn the language. Hirigana and katakana lessons should also be used. Japanese language is a popular choice for students of today. There are many cultural exchange programs, scholarships to study abroad in Japan, and career opportunities available to all sorts of students taking Japanese.
Japanese has a well-defined structure of syllables; words end with a vowel or n (futon, judo, ninja, kimono, shogun, sumo, tofu, and so on). The distinction between long and short vowels affects meaning (long ones are usually indicated by a macron, or line over the letter). Japanese cartoons and video games are very popular throughout the world, and many people, especially young ones, enjoy reading and playing them. There are numerous video games that do not reach the western countries, and in order to play them you would need to understand the language. Japanese also shares considerable similarities with the languages of the Ryukyu Islands, within which Okinawa is located, although the Ryukyu languages and Japanese are both mutually unintelligible.
Japanese exhibits a degree of agglutination. In an agglutinative language, different linguistic elements, each of which exists separately and has a fixed meaning, are often joined to form one word. Japanese students learn about 2000 kanji until the end of junior high school and continue to learn more until the end of their school careers The two writing scripts, hiragana and katakana (together about 100 signs), however, can be memorized within a short period of time.
Japanese love to import foreign words from other languages and especially English. Today's katakana is almost entirely used to write out a foreign word and to help Japanese more easily pronounce it. Japan's long standing rivalries and enmities with virtually all of its neighbors make the study of linguistic connection particularly fraught with political tensions.
Japanese is not closely related to any other language, though a distant genetic kinship to Korean is now thought probable by some scholars, and an even more remote relationship to the Altaic languages is possible. Japanese does have a distinct intonation pattern. Their intonation pattern can be heard not only in individual words, but also in whole sentences.
Japanese language courses are the gateway to a range of unique cultural adventures, such as calligraphy and Zen philosophy, popular culture, anime films, sushi making, and much more. Japan is the second largest consumer of IT services. Learning Japanese is crucial for any kind of business interactions with Japan. Japanese actually has four different ways of addressing people. One example is "kun," which is used for a younger man or a man of lower rank.
Japanese is a relative of other Asian languages. This theory maintains that Japanese split from - or had large influences from - other East Asian languages such as Korean (and possibly the Sino-Tibetan languages). Japanese consists of evenly stressed syllables, each of which ends with a vowel. Most also begin with a consonant.
Cooking is not my first strength--not even my 58th strength. I've been married since I was 20 and, according to our agreed-upon division of labor, my wife has done all of the cooking. This is to her benefit as she enjoys the creative aspects of cooking and wants to avoid the unintentional damage I might do to the family by preparing meals. I've often had to work long hours and I can't tell you how much I appreciate walking through the door to a hot meal that is both delicious and nutritious.
Having said all of that, I'm not your typical outdoor grill and barbecue kind of guy. That's not my niche. But I have found that I thoroughly enjoy Chinese cooking. I'm a guy, so I'm always looking for any excuse to buy a new tool. Maybe it is the exotic cutlery of oriental cooking that adds that extra zing to the experience. Maybe it's the fresh vegetables. Whatever it is, I enjoy it and also found I like to write about it.
Why do they Cook That Way?
Without making this a history lesson, I learned something of the history of Chinese cooking that added to my experience. I discovered that, since wood and source materials for a fire were rare, the Chinese spent much more time on food preparation than on cooking. Thus, lots of fresh vegetables and small amounts of meat were diced and sliced into little chunks that would cook quickly. To conserve scarce firewood, all of the food was cooked in one pot. Usually the bits of vegetables and meat were thrown into hot grease and prepared as stir-fry. Steaming was also used to cook food in one pot and to conserve the critical nutritious elements of the food. The method of cooking is important, but so is the approach.
Precision in Preparation
The careful and deliberate steps that one must take to prepare before actually cooking hold some attraction to me. It reminds me a bit of the way I used to have to rebuild a carburetor (when I couldn't afford to buy a new one): laying out each piece and meticulously ensuring each part is clean and ready for assembly. So, here are some things that must be done before cooking:
Wash your hands Wash all of the vegetables to remove dirt, chemicals,
Wash all uncooked meat under cold water
Position a good cutting board near the center of the action
Assemble knives, cleavers and all utensils you will use
Locate pot holders close to help with the hot stuff
Get that fire extinguisher close--very important in my case
Rice Equals Food
Rice is such a common staple for the average Chinese family that it is often eaten three times a day. In fact, the Chinese word for rice--fan--is synonymous to food. Because of its central role in all Chinese cooking, I'm going to focus on fried rice for this article. It's my favorite. Prepared well, fried rice can stand on its own as an entire meal. It not only tastes great, it is very easy to prepare. I love it.
I use the following ingredients:
4 cups cooked cold long-grain rice
3 T. vegetable oil
2 eggs, beaten
1/2 cup chopped onion
2 T. soy sauce
Follow these steps:
Loosen and separate the grains of cooked rice (use a fork)
Place a large skillet or wok on high heat
Add 2 T. oil and get it hot
Fry the onion to light golden brown then remove to a plate
Add the remaining 1 T. oil to the skillet
Add eggs and stir-fry until done
Add rice to the pan
Stir in the soy sauce
Add the onion, mix thoroughly, and continue warming until hot
The above recipe is basic. I like to mix in cooked vegetables such as peas, sugar peas, bamboo shoots, chopped cabbage and a bit of meat if I have some around. I prefer chicken or pork.
All together, this should take 25-30 minutes for some good eating. Doesn't keep me in the kitchen too long, is easy to clean up and very enjoyable.
About the Author
I'm a college teacher with a wide range of interests and hobbies to include success coaching, cooking, nutrition, and fitness. Maybe I enjoy Chinese cooking above other kinds of food preparation because of the exotic cleavers and knives. So come take a look at one of my latest interests: the history and use of a vegetable cleaver.
Learn Chinese Symbols for Kitchen & Bathroom : How to Write "Knife" & "Fork" in Chinese
Should I Depend on Other People’s Reviews When Selecting Used Japanese Cars to Buy?
It really depends on the person reading the review about used Japanese cars whether he should believe what is said about them. Reviews come in two major categories: either the review about Japanese used cars (and perhaps the preferred Japanese used car exporter of the reviewer) was made by someone knowledgeable about what to look for in a Japanese used car for sale, or the review is simply a comment from someone who does not know much about Japanese used cars. So, like opinions expressed by people in any industry, you should always take the content of reviews with a grain of salt (meaning, be cautious and skeptical until the review has been proven correct.)
Some people may create reviews about the inner workings of engines of the Japanese used cars, with emphasis on cars made by a particular manufacturer. For example, if you know quite a lot about the engines of Toyota models from years past to consider yourself an authority on the subject, then you might be able to create a legitimate and credible review about what people should look for in engines of Toyota-branded used Japanese cars. You could then expand your scope to comparing how engines from one car manufacturer rate against the performance of engines from other car manufacturers. Other reviewers might choose to focus their opinions about the external design of used Japanese cars instead. Using the same manufacturer as our example, perhaps you could make a comparative analysis of why the Toyota model for one year has a much better design than the Toyota models for succeeding years. You could say this Toyota model has a much more streamlined design that reduces drag and fosters fuel efficiency while boosting speed, while others that succeeded it are actually fuel guzzlers due to their inefficient design. In the same manner as an engine reviewer, you could then expand your range of topics to comparing designs from one manufacturer to those made by another manufacturer. These are just some ways reviews could be written though actually the potential for finding great topics to write about are practically unlimited.
Who takes reviews seriously? Why, people who don’t know much about buying Japanese used cars, of course, because they need someone who can guide them through the maze of technical information that will meet them once they start comparing used Japanese cars to choose from. And, there might also be actual experts on Japanese used cars, such as your friendly Japanese used car exporter, who might be interested in what you have to say. Of course, if you say something that departs from conventional knowledge, you will have to be able to defend yourself with facts and examples that would support those facts. Anything said in print is actually quite damning to the author if he is proven to have used incorrect facts deliberately.
So whether you are someone who just reads reviews about some Japanese used car for sale on the Internet, or are actually someone who writes reviews, the rule of thumb to be followed is truth above all else.
About the Author
Sadayoshi Miyakuni, CEO of M's Crew Co., Ltd. who runs www.auctiondirectjapan.com. AuctionDirectJapan.com is A Japan Car Dealer in Japan, selling and exporting Japanese Used Cars and New Cars from Japan to the world. We supply Quality Used Japanese Cars of TOYOTA, NISSAN, HONDA, SUBARU, ISUZU, etc.
Learn to Read and Write Japanese - Kantan Kana lesson 3
Learning Japanese Language can be easy and fun. Today in our time and technology, there are several methods to learn Japanese. You can enroll in any language centers in your local area or you can have it at a formal school. In the US, learning a foreign language is part of the General Education period of the students.
However, if you are done with education and had skipped learning Japanese at that time, the Japanese language school is the best option. They have teachers who shall guide the students in every step of learning. Part of their Japanese lessons is understanding the Japanese Alphabet, which includes Hiragana and Katakana as well as learning Kanji, the Japanese grammar, Japanese phrases, Japanese characters and sentence structure. You can also select conversational Japanese.
The third way to learn Japanese is when you have a Japanese friend or someone who speaks Japanese fluently. If your friend is a Japanese who is not fluent in English, it is the best time to make a deal with her or him to teach each other of your native languages. You can teach your friend the English language while she or he can teach you the Japanese. Together you can practice Japanese and English.
The fourth way in learning Japanese is to have Japanese language software that you can download on your laptop or computer. There are also comprehensive Japanese lessons from Japanese Language software. Often, this language software also has other feature such as Japanese translation. It also offers other language courses such as learning German, learning French and learning Italian.
The final way to learn Japanese is to have online Japanese courses. Some websites offer free Japanese lessons including Japanese translation, Japanese writing and Japanese words. If you will avail these Japanese language online courses, you shall also get comprehensive Japanese lessons like those given on Japanese language schools.
The first Japanese lessons are the Introductory. This is the basic lesson to speak Japanese. Frequently, the introductory part is divided into several lessons, which can go as far as 12 lessons. To this phase belongs the Basic Japanese pronunciation, the characteristics of Japanese grammar, the three Japanese writing systems, Japanese vocabulary and relevant Japanese education system.
Included in the pronunciation is learning the Japanese vowels. In their language system, there are five vowels. These are a, which is pronounced as Ah. i, which is pronounces as We. u, which is pronounced as soon. e, which is pronounced as Get and o, which is pronounced as old.
Greetings and daily expressions are part of Learning Japanese language. This is especially important when you go on a trip to Japan or when you plan to attend a Japanese event, eat at Japanese restaurant or simply being fluent to speak Japanese.
Expressions such as "I am sorry", "excuse me", "thank you", "you are welcome" and "pardon me" are common, and so are "Good morning", "Good evening", "Good afternoon". To learn Japanese also includes learning the proper way to address someone particularly when it is their first time of meeting.
Japanese culture is unique, just like every nation. Learning Japanese language is also learning their rich history and tradition. Generally, tradition outlines ethics and manners. It is helpful when you also know which gestures are proper and which expressions are not.
Learning Japanese Language can be easy and fun. Today in our time and technology, there are several methods to learn Japanese. You can enroll in any language centers in your local area or you can have it at a formal school. In the US, learning a foreign language is part of the General Education period of the students.
However, if you are done with education and had skipped learning Japanese at that time, the Japanese language school is the best option. They have teachers who shall guide the students in every step of learning. Part of their Japanese lessons is understanding the Japanese Alphabet, which includes Hiragana and Katakana as well as learning Kanji, the Japanese grammar, Japanese phrases, Japanese characters and sentence structure. You can also select conversational Japanese.
The third way to learn Japanese is when you have a Japanese friend or someone who speaks Japanese fluently. If your friend is a Japanese who is not fluent in English, it is the best time to make a deal with her or him to teach each other of your native languages. You can teach your friend the English language while she or he can teach you the Japanese. Together you can practice Japanese and English.
The fourth way in learning Japanese is to have Japanese language software that you can download on your laptop or computer. There are also comprehensive Japanese lessons from Japanese Language software. Often, this language software also has other feature such as Japanese translation. It also offers other language courses such as learning German, learning French and learning Italian.
The final way to learn Japanese is to have online Japanese courses. Some websites offer free Japanese lessons including Japanese translation, Japanese writing and Japanese words. If you will avail these Japanese language online courses, you shall also get comprehensive Japanese lessons like those given on Japanese language schools.
The first Japanese lessons are the Introductory. This is the basic lesson to speak Japanese. Frequently, the introductory part is divided into several lessons, which can go as far as 12 lessons. To this phase belongs the Basic Japanese pronunciation, the characteristics of Japanese grammar, the three Japanese writing systems, Japanese vocabulary and relevant Japanese education system.
Included in the pronunciation is learning the Japanese vowels. In their language system, there are five vowels. These are a, which is pronounced as Ah. i, which is pronounces as We. u, which is pronounced as soon. e, which is pronounced as Get and o, which is pronounced as old.
Greetings and daily expressions are part of Learning Japanese language. This is especially important when you go on a trip to Japan or when you plan to attend a Japanese event, eat at Japanese restaurant or simply being fluent to speak Japanese.
Expressions such as "I am sorry", "excuse me", "thank you", "you are welcome" and "pardon me" are common, and so are "Good morning", "Good evening", "Good afternoon". To learn Japanese also includes learning the proper way to address someone particularly when it is their first time of meeting.
Japanese culture is unique, just like every nation. Learning Japanese language is also learning their rich history and tradition. Generally, tradition outlines ethics and manners. It is helpful when you also know which gestures are proper and which expressions are not.
About the Author
Get some more exciting information on learning Japanese. You can read lots of helpful information about the Japanese language at our site. We provide several articles related to assorted Japanese learning methods. Go to Learn Japanese Free We make learning Japanese as easy as we can so come to our site at http://thejapanesepage.com .
Learn Japanese Kanji - Kanji That'll Make You Bright~!!
Many of us have at one time or another fantasized about becoming fluent in a foreign language. In this now, most people take the road to the half-hearted attempts at learning, but never to master. Meanwhile, a courageous commitment and really few true. What makes people choose the second option when undertake several studies, occasional moments of shame, and uncertainty of success?
My way to mastering a foreign language - Japanese - began in college. It was tough going at first, but over the next 15 years more or less have achieved a high level of competence in the language: I have given lectures at Japanese universities, college essays criticized Japanese students, and translated books English to Japanese. And along the way, I have come to believe in the inherent value of learning and mastering a foreign language.
Here are 5 reasons why you should consider learning a foreign language:
Reason # 1: Expand your social network: The act of studying a foreign language can help to bond with peers travel along the same path. And once you become proficient in language, social network of potential contacts and acquaintances will be increased by the thousands or millions as they can communicate with a new population of people.
Reason # 2: Gives you sense of accomplishment: The sense of achievement felt by becoming a domain of a foreign language is directly proportional to how difficult it is to learn. Like anything else in life, acquire a sense of confidence and satisfaction when we overcome challenges. Because languages are so multi-dimensional, learning a language really means stretching us mentally and emotionally. There are few better feelings in the world that the first Once a meaningful exchange with a native speaker of the language you are studying.
Reason # 3: Provides new ways to make money: The world is declining, but not everyone speaks your language. Learning a foreign language opens up a world of opportunities both abroad and at home. Banks, technology companies, consulting firms, international trading companies and educational institutions around the world are always looking to give good-paying jobs for people who speak a language foreign.
Reason # 4: Expand your consciousness: When I speak or write Japanese, immediately switch to a different mode of consciousness. You will also find that as you become proficient in the language they are studying, can not fail to see the world a little different: almost like having two sets of lenses through which to view reality itself.
Reason # 5: makes you more aware of the world: When studying a foreign language inevitably be exposed to culture, history and sociology of regions or countries with which it is associated language. With current environmental challenges, global trade and regional conflicts, increasing global awareness can be a essential part of survival in the 21st century.
The reasons why one should learn a foreign language are many. Whether you intend to expand their consciousness, achieve a deeper understanding of yourself or simply to increase its market value, learning a foreign language can be one of the best investments you can make.
About the Author
Jumpstart your language learning today with world-class software from Rosetta Stone, now available with a 100% Six-Month Money Back Guarantee and FREE, two-day shipping. You can order it right here at: www.Big-Time-Success.com
Japanese Pronunciation Vs. KatakanaAs a native English speaker hearing non-natives (especially Asians) trying to speak the English language I sometimes can't help but chuckle, or cry, over the way they slaughter the words. As I presently reside in Japan and understand the japanese writing system I have come to understand, in one word, why they tear apart the English language... Katakana!
Katakana is one of the four Japanese writing systems. The other systems being Kanji (the characters ((not cartoon)) you see on tattoos), Hiragana, and Romaji (the Roman alphabet). The early Japanese written language came from China. This system is called Kanji. Through the development of the Japanese language it became necessary to implement Hiragana which is used for words of Japanese origin and Katakana to help in the pronunciation of Kanji.
Still further into the evolution of the Japanese written language, Katakana started being used to help Japanese people pronounce borrowed words from other languages. At this time, the language which has the most borrowed words transcribed into Japanese is English. It is important to note that the Japanese language does not contain the sounds "L", "R", "V", "Si" (as in "See"), "Hu" (as in "Hoop"), "Th" (as in "Thank"), and "Zi" (as in Zebra). There are a few other phonetic sounds that are not originally contained in the Japanese language, but through the further development of the Katakana writing system the Japanese people are able to pronounce the foreign sounds almost like a native speaker.
Another point worth noting is that the Japanese system phonetically combines two of our English sounds per character with the exception of the "N" sound. As an example of this let's take my name "Scott" and assault it with the Katakana system. "Su Ko Tto" is the basic end result of my name in Japanese. You can see the extra "U" and "O" have been added because of the two sounds per character from the Katakana writing system. Actually if I am to say my name as it should be pronounced the Japanese perceive it as the word "Skirt". Yes, many young children have had their fun with my name in this respect.
You may think that the Romaji system would save the Japanese from needlessly abusing the English language but it does not. Though Japanese children are taught the Roman alphabet at a fairly young age, their school teachers almost always teach them the alphabet's pronunciation utilizing Katakana because 1: it is easier to teach the children that way and 2: the Japanese teachers are not able to make the correct distinction and pronunciation themselves.
As children grow up without knowing the correct phonetic pronunciation of the English words they gradually lose the ability to hear and differentiate between them. Soon enough words like "Rice" and "Lice", "Sip" and "Ship", "Than" and "Dan", become the same to the Japanese ear. Though the famous tongue twister may be difficult for us, hearing a Japanese person saying "She shells she shells by the she shore" over and over again (and thinking they are saying it properly) is quite humorous.
What should we do about this? Put an end to English words being transcribed by the Katakana writing system. Have well qualified and preferably native English speakers teach Japanese children the actual sounds of the Roman alphabet. If we work together we may just be able to put a stop to the Japanese abuse of the English language.
Japanese tattoos are a very popular request in the tattoo studios, as they are a style of body art that's rich with symbolism and has links to ancient traditions. The majority of Japanese tattoos consist heavily of written symbols which can be divided into three main categories.
1) Kanji
Of the three types of Japanese tattoo symbols; Kanji is the most popular because it is so expressive and artistic. Each different Kanji symbol (of which there are reported to be more than 40,000) represents a specific idea or meaning. So by combining a number of different Kanji symbols in your tattoo design it's possible to create a stylish and unique tattoo that expresses an unlimited number of ideas and messages.
2) Hiragana
Unlike Kanji, Hiragana is a style of writing that's used in everyday Japanese life. You'll find it used in media such as newspapers and magazines, so it's much more amenable to literal translation than Kanji.
In terms of design, the hiragana characters are more rounded than Kanji symbols, which is worth bearing in mind depending upon your artistic tastes. Hiragana writing is also known as cursive, so don't get confused if you hear someone speaking about a cursive tattoo.
3) Katakana
The system of Katakana is similar to Hiragana. Together they're known as Kana and were originally based on the Kanji symbols which existed more than one thousand years ago. Since than they've developed into their present form and both Hiragana and Katakana each have their own set of 46 symbols with which to form their words.
The system of Katakana symbols is used almost exclusively to represent words that are non Japanese in origin. These symbols are similar to the system of hiragana with the main difference being that words in Katakana have sharper edges and are much more angular in appearance.
And that concludes the three types of Japanese tattoo symbols that are available. However, there's no rule that says you have to choose one style and stick to it. You could have your tattoo designed so that it includes more than one of these styles. For example, you could have a sentence written using Hiragana that includes various Kanji symbols to enrich it with greater meaning.
But whatever option you select, it's important to take one additional safety precaution before you go anywhere near a tattoo studio with your design. As you can see from this brief explanation of different character types, the system of Japanese writing is extremely complicated and subtle.
If you don't speak Japanese fluently, it's vital to get an accurate translation of your design from a Japanese language expert.
It's also a good idea to make sure that you find a tattoo artist who has experience forming the various Japanese characters and symbols.
Ultimately, the tattoos that people are most pleased with are those that have deep personal meaning or significance.
About the Author
Fran Rimrod is a Website Content Manager. Her current project is the popular Australian Dating Community http://www.adultsonly.com.au
Best Way to Learn Japanese - it All Started at the Movies
My quest to learn how to speak Japanese began with the Anime movies, Spirited Away and Princess Mononoke, by the renowned Japanese director Hayao Miyazaki. These amazing movies were the catalyst that propelled my interest in the Japanese culture and hence, my desire to learn Japanese fast but in the most proficient way possible.
I was determined to learn a language that most of my fellow North Americans either have no interest in or find it too challenging. Japanese not only sounds significantly different from English but the Japanese letters (Hiragana), that represent the sounds that make up the Japanese language and is central to the japanese writing system, are very different. Because of this, I was even hesitant to learn basic Japanese but I put my fears aside and proceeded to find the best way to learn Japanese. After weeks of researching the Internet and networking by word of mouth, I found an amazing course that teaches you to speak Japanese online. So, here's a brief overview of this course to help you in your goal to learn Japanese easily.
First, there is a 31-lesson Interactive Audio Course that covers everything that you need to know to learn Japanese quickly and to become part of a Japanese community.
Second, their software: the vocabulary software is a word building game designed to help you learn about 1000 Japanese words and to cover 20 different topics. You can also use this game indefinitely because it allows you to add your own images. The audio software will help you overcome the most difficult aspect of learning Japanese and that is the comprehension. The Hiragana Software learning game helps you to easily recognize and memorize the Hiragana character set used in the Japanese writing and pronunciation system.
Third, there are the Grammar Newsletter Series that provides you with 31 illustrated Grammar Lessons and examples. These are invaluable cultural informational tools with explanations of written Japanese and of popular Japanese grammar. The visual tools of this series are unique to this product and their value is priceless as a learning resource.
Finally, there is also access to a Learner's Forum and Support system that is staffed with fellow students, natives and Japanese teachers. This provides you with extra free resources to further assist you on your quest to learn to speak fluent Japanese.
I am pleased to say that I am able to watch Miyazaki’s movies in their original Japanese and I look forward to visiting Japan one day. Thank you, Hayao Miyazaki for opening up the door for me to experience, acknowledge and respect the Japanese culture.
About the Author
Paul Brown is a marketing consultant and life-long learner with a passion for languages.
Skeptics Guide to the Japanese Writing System - 02
RSS
US $5.99
![Kanji Cards Volume 3 With 16 Page Index Booklet] NEW](http://www.writeelement.com/images/e/130389333862_0.jpg)
![Beginners Japanese With 2 CDs] NEW by Joanne Redmond](http://www.writeelement.com/images/e/130389394671_0.jpg)
![Japanese Text The men loved Firippina Hardcover]](http://www.writeelement.com/images/e/390234923643_0.jpg)
