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[louis89]

Finally got my first job in Japan! I'm translating and localising for an app development company in Shibuya. We're making a fantasy RPG, so I pick up a lot of cool words - 殺戮

I'm not used to using keigo for that length of time and it takes real effort for me to actually use です and ます consistently. In my normal life I hang around with university students all the time and basically never use them. Feels kind of uncomfortable. I don't feel like I'm really socialising with someone unless I'm using regular speech. :x

 

[DMG-01]

I just found this site not too long ago and I figured that some of you guys might be interested in it:

http://www.lltvg.com/wiki/Main_Page

It's a wiki with game text in both Japanese and English from a handful of mostly older games. It's a pretty small site currently, but it still has a few thousand sentences to mine if you're into that like I am.

 

[RoyalFool]

Thanks for the suggestions, they both look pretty good! Midori seems awesome for advanced learners, but I prefer to have a lesson structure to guide me, I'll download both tonight and give them a go (Japanese lessons and phrases is on sale right now btw).

If anyone else has any other suggestion they'd be welcomed

It sounds like you want to try 'Human Japanese' - it's expensive but for beginners it's really good.

 

[Count Dookkake]

A on final; A in class!

 

[otmane]

It sounds like you want to try 'Human Japanese' - it's expensive but for beginners it's really good.

Thanks I like the approach of human Japanese even though it's a little too detailed for my needs ( as I already have some knowledge ) but with that and japanese phrases and lessons I can get back to my level and improve upon it...

 

[LeroyPantwether]

thank you so much so far Japanese gaf! I need one simple phrase for my final partner skit. "Tell me more about yourself". Is there a common phrase or expression used . context: interested female speaking to man shes met for the first time

 

[Kilrogg]

thank you so much so far Japanese gaf! I need one simple phrase for my final partner skit. "Tell me more about yourself". Is there a common phrase or expression used . context: interested female speaking to man shes met for the first time

Well, I don't know if it sounds natural in Japanese, but I guess something like あなたのことをもっと教えてください would work. Although I must say it doesn't even sound natural in English to me (or, in my case, French). It just sounds like a typical corny line in a movie, not something you actually ask in real life.

 

[LeroyPantwether]

Well, I don't know if it sounds natural in Japanese, but I guess something like あなたのことをもっと教えてください would work. Although I must say it doesn't even sound natural in English to me (or, in my case, French). It just sounds like a typical corny line in a movie, not something you actually ask in real life.

very well. ive left it out and transitioned my coversation differently. I appreciate the help as always.

 

[LeroyPantwether]

Sorry for posting twice in a row...I wrote an email to a new conversation exchange partner . It is a basic email explaining basic information about my personal life (when i work, when i study, what i like to do on weekends ect ect). Before I send this mail I was hoping someone could perhaps take a look to see if it even makes any sense at all. I really dont want to embarass myself by sounding like a stupid idiot in the email. Honestly though I am not sure if anything I wrote even makes any sense. Not to mention the fact that writing about yourself in any language can be a bit embarassing.

-context: the person I am writing to is a lady who is slightly younger.... we are only barely familiar with eachother, and we are using detailed emails to get to know eachother better in between skype sessions...


.....こんにちはよろしくお願いします。こちらパトリックです。この手紙を書くのは難しいです。私は頑張ります。....

私はアリゾナ州フェニックスにすんています。3年前ここに来ました。もともとウィスコンシン州ミルウォーキーから。フェニックスで多くをします。毎朝学校があります。いまは大学で日本語を勉強をします。外国語を勉強をするのが大好き。私は毎晩仕事をします。私のしごとは午後5じから午前1じまでです。忙しいスケジュールです...でない…私の夏はひまです。

私の週末は楽しです。土曜日に映画を見るのが大好き。私はときどき日本の映画をみます。宮崎の映画 「火垂るの墓」と「千と千尋の神隠し」がすきです。土曜日の夜に友達に会うのが大好き。私達はボーリングに行きます。スノーボードをします。コンサートにいきます。私は日曜日に何もしません。ひまです …いいです。

 

[Cheesemeister]

.....こんにちはよろしくお願いします。こちらパトリックです。この手紙を書くのは難しいです。私は頑張ります。....

こんにちは and よろしくお願いします are two separate sentences, the latter usually going at the conclusion of your self-intro. こちらは is used to introduce another person. To introduce yourself, use 私の名前は.

私はアリゾナ州フェニックスにすんています。3年前ここに来ました。もともとウィスコンシン州ミルウォーキーから。フェニックスで多くをします。毎朝学校があります。いまは大学で日本語を勉強をします。外国語を勉強をするのが大好き。私は毎晩仕事をします。私のしごとは午後5じから午前1じまでです。忙しいスケジュールです...でない…私の夏はひまです。

フェニックス市、ミルウォーキー市
For 多くをします, you're trying to say たくさんやります or more fittingly, 色々します/やります.
します is the infinitive form of the verb "to do." For continual action of "am doing," use している. 外国語を勉強をする has a redundant を. Use 勉強する. What do you mean by でない?

私の週末は楽しです。土曜日に映画を見るのが大好き。私はときどき日本の映画をみます。宮崎の映画 「火垂るの墓」と「千と千尋の神隠し」がすきです。土曜日の夜に友達に会うのが大好き。私達はボーリングに行きます。スノーボードをします。コンサートにいきます。私は日曜日に何もしません。ひまです …いいです。

楽しい
Think about using です in written text at the end of sentences that you end with 好き.
友達と会う
Consider using the particle も instead of を to indicate things that you also do in addition to the first thing you mention. いいです is often used to refuse something; you want to use 良かったです.

 

[LeroyPantwether]

@cheesemeister

thanks a ton!... i meant to use でない as a way of saying something similar to the English Interjection "but". but reading it over again that makes no sense even to me. i will likely just delete that part. In the future how does "but" work.....is it だけど？ for example if i said...昨日はさむかったです…だけど…今日は暑いです。As for your other corrections they made perfect sense and I am very very grateful. Thanks

 

[Cheesemeister]

@cheesemeister

thanks a ton!... i meant to use でない as a way of saying something similar to the English Interjection "but". but reading it over again that makes no sense even to me. i will likely just delete that part. In the future how does "but" work.....is it だけど？ for example if i said...昨日はさむかったです…だけど…今日は暑いです。As for your other corrections they made perfect sense and I am very very grateful. Thanks

ですだけど is redundant. Use ですけど or だけど.

 

[Zoe]

It's すんでいます, not すんています.

Also Grave of the Fireflies is it a Miyazaki film

 

[Gacha-pin]

From your writing, I can see that you are not a native japanese speaker. But the sentences totally make sense. You don't have to worry about it
I think only thing you need to do is read a lot, listen a lot, use a lot.

I have few tips so that your Japanese will be getting more natural.
(How long have you been studying Japanese? If it's for months or something, you don't have to take my tips for now. )

1. You can (or should) omit subject (and object) from a sentence if they are obvious to listeners.

2. There are a few ways to end a sentence in Japanese like です・ます or だ. You have to stick to the way you start the fittest sentence.

Ex1)
私は5年ぐらい前にgafに登録しました。しかし定期的に訪問するようになったのは、1年前からです。gafで「日本がまた何かやらかした」的なスレッドを閲覧するのが大好きです。

Ex2)
私は5年ぐらい前にgafに登録した。しかし定期的に訪問するようになったのは、1年前からだ。gafで「日本がまた何かやらかした」的なスレッドを閲覧するのが大好き。

Bad ex)
私は5年ぐらい前にgafに登録した。しかし定期的に訪問するようになったのは、1年前からです。gafで「日本がまた何かやらかした」的なスレッドを閲覧するのが大好きだ。

 

[Kilrogg]

ですだけど is redundant. Use ですけど or だけど.

I think that what's getting him confused is that the Japanese do use だけど at the beginning of sentences too (anyone who watches a lot of anime has heard that multiple times). This leads to beginners thinking that だけど as a whole means "but". I know I did back then.

LeroyPantwether, だけど is actually the verb です in the plain form (&#12384 + けど (which actually means "but"). It's fine to use it as is at the beginning of a sentence, but as Cheesemeister told you, it's actually redundant to write another です on top of だけど inside a sentence, because だけど already contains a verb (&#12384. Always use けど preceded by whatever verb you used.

 

[Adamm]

Quick question for any of you's who used Genki.

At the start of each lesson did you learn the whole list of vocabulary before looking at the grammer & practice? (As in spend a few hours/days repeating it & getting it stuck in your brain)
Or do you try to learn the vocabulary as you go through the practice?

I know it sounds like im asking "How do i learn stuff?" but since each lesson should take around 6 hours im worried most of that time seems to be taken up by learning the vocabulary - is that normal?

 

[KtSlime]

Quick question for any of you's who used Genki.

At the start of each lesson did you learn the whole list of vocabulary before looking at the grammer & practice? (As in spend a few hours/days repeating it & getting it stuck in your brain)
Or do you try to learn the vocabulary as you go through the practice?

I know it sounds like im asking "How do i learn stuff?" but since each lesson should take around 6 hours im worried most of that time seems to be taken up by learning the vocabulary - is that normal?

While I learned my rudimentary Japanese education from JSL, I'd say it's probably wise to take an approach such as this:
Observe the video/audio, look over the vocab, play the video/audio again, learn the grammar from the lesson, play the video/audio again, look to see if there are any parts of the example that you don't understand how they go from the Japanese to the English translation, review that grammar, do the drills, review vocab again.

The more vocabulary you learn the more at home you will probably feel in the language. Don't get me wrong, grammar is very important, but knowing vocabulary can give you a foundation and give you a good idea of when you are getting the grammar correct.

Vocabulary makes up the majority of all languages, it's only natural that it is going to require the majority of your time.

Good luck!

 

[LeroyPantwether]

thanks a ton Japanese gaf. I hope someday I can return the favor for all the help all of you have given me..as a side question... if i want to ask Yae when she is available for skype do i simply use. "八重さんはいつSkypeで話すことができますか.". is something like that ok. or is there a better way to ask when someone can skype????

 

[Cheesemeister]

thanks a ton Japanese gaf. I hope someday I can return the favor for all the help all of you have given me..as a side question... if i want to ask Yae when she is available for skype do i simply use. "八重さんはいつSkypeで話すことができますか.". is something like that ok. or is there a better way to ask when someone can skype????

Yes, that's perfectly fine. There are lots of various way you could say the same thing, of course. If it were me, I'd put Skype in Katakana (スカイ&#12503 and use 話せます instead of 話すことができます in this particular case. But again, it's fine as-is.

 

[shanshan310]

Finally got my first job in Japan! I'm translating and localising for an app development company in Shibuya. We're making a fantasy RPG, so I pick up a lot of cool words - 殺戮

I'm not used to using keigo for that length of time and it takes real effort for me to actually use です and ます consistently. In my normal life I hang around with university students all the time and basically never use them. Feels kind of uncomfortable. I don't feel like I'm really socialising with someone unless I'm using regular speech. :x

Damn louis, I am so jealous. Congrats, really

Keigo sucks for me too. I got so used to just speaking it with friends, so I tend to freak out if a Japanese lecturer/ older person approaches me. You've probably gotten used to it by now though

 

[Etrian Oddity]

Has anyone here had success in pen pal programs? I'm looking into Japan-Guide and want to know about peoples' experience. I want a Japanese pen pal so I can practice over summer and not get rusty, as well as learn further

 

[Adamm]

While I learned my rudimentary Japanese education from JSL, I'd say it's probably wise to take an approach such as this:
Observe the video/audio, look over the vocab, play the video/audio again, learn the grammar from the lesson, play the video/audio again, look to see if there are any parts of the example that you don't understand how they go from the Japanese to the English translation, review that grammar, do the drills, review vocab again.

The more vocabulary you learn the more at home you will probably feel in the language. Don't get me wrong, grammar is very important, but knowing vocabulary can give you a foundation and give you a good idea of when you are getting the grammar correct.

Vocabulary makes up the majority of all languages, it's only natural that it is going to require the majority of your time.

Good luck!

Thanks for the advice!

 

[Arctic Feather]

Has anyone here had success in pen pal programs? I'm looking into Japan-Guide and want to know about peoples' experience. I want a Japanese pen pal so I can practice over summer and not get rusty, as well as learn further

I tend to find penpals start off well, but then the emails become less frequent and shorter.

I've had better luck with language exchanges on Skype just using text chat.

 

[LeroyPantwether]

Has anyone here had success in pen pal programs? I'm looking into Japan-Guide and want to know about peoples' experience. I want a Japanese pen pal so I can practice over summer and not get rusty, as well as learn further

For what it is worth I have had great luck with conversationexchange.com

found the site easy to navigate, there are tons of people (depending where you live maybe even some near you), and people seem pretty serious about wanting to practice.

 

[Synth_floyd]

LOL I just skimmed the letter but 興奮 is often used in the context of "I'm horny." 楽しみ or　わくわく is better to say "I'm excited."

Edit: Actually maybe you can use koufun but I've been seeing it used as "horny" a lot recently.

 

[Gacha-pin]

こんにちはみんなさん。  アドバイスをください。
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



こんにちはやえさん。 メッセージありがとう。アドバイスありがとうございます。やえさんはお元気ですか?先週末が何をしましたか? 私の先週末はつまらなかったです。私の車を洗ました。日本の車があります。本田の車です。土曜日の夜にメールを書きました。私はペンパルを持っているような。日本語で書くはむずかしですけど。…先週の日曜日は、私は、夏のクラスにサインアップ。社会学と心理学を勉強をしている。要件です。……この週末はいいです。私達はスカイプで反します。興奮しています！

！！やえさんは大阪にすんでいます。……それは面白いです。大阪は賑やかですね？たくさんの人がいます。私は日本に行きたいです。やさんは大阪に楽しいで何をしますか？ときどきどこに行きますか?。たくさんの行くものがあります。そうですね⁇

日本の食べ物は、私は余り食べません。食べたいですけど。日本のお菓子は美味しいですね。日本のラーメンや寿司を食べたいです。私の家の近くに日本のスーパーがあります。何を買いますか? アドバイスをください。

私もバスケットボールのような。高等学校にバスケットボールをしました。よくなかったです。たのしかったですけど。NBAをみますか?

今は…ヨガやジョギングをするのがだいすきです。泳ぐのが大好きです。裏庭のなかにプールがありますから。
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Another Letter to Yae. Some context. We have plans to talk on skype this weekend. (in her prior email) She asked if I ate Japanese food. And she brought up the fact that she likes sports. She lives in Osaka.

There are a few sentences I can't make out.
1. 私はペンパルを持っているような。
2. 要件です。
3. 私もバスケットボールのような。

There are also some sentences that sound a little strange, but why don't you ask Yae san to help you out


>日本の食べ物は、私は余り食べません。食べたいですけど。日本のお菓子は美味しいですね。日本のラーメンや寿司を食べたいです。私の家の近くに日本のスーパーが あります。何を買いますか? アドバイスをください。

Off topic. I recommend Armond Pokcy. It's super yummy. You should try it!!
最近発売されたピーナッツポッキーとアーモンドポッキーのアーモンドポッキーが方が激旨ヘビーローテ中。見つけたら速攻買うべし。



興奮 is a bit strong for the context. If you are actually excited to have a skpye with her like the people in Diablo thread, then I think 興奮 is OK.

 

[shanshan310]

興奮 is a bit strong for the context. If you are actually excited to have a skpye with her like the people in Diablo thread, then I think 興奮 is OK.

lol!

 

[LeroyPantwether]

@gachapin, thanks as always,, I will of course have Yae make corrections.

- side note. as for 興奮.....how emabarassing, I used the phrase a few times last semeseter with my teacher! .!!! ...secretly I think that rather than correct me , she just likes to hear me say silly things ....ughhhhh

 

[Gacha-pin]

It's not embarrassed at all. It's just used with those meanings sometimes. But It's also used in a normal(?) way.

ロスタイムでスコアは1点差。観客の興奮は絶頂に達しています。
興奮したイングランドサポーターが街に繰り出し暴れています。

 

[Cheesemeister]

Alternatively, you can use 盛り上がる instead of 興奮する in cases when the group is getting worked up.

 

[Kilrogg]

@gachapin, thanks as always,, I will of course have Yae make corrections.

- side note. as for 興奮.....how emabarassing, I used the phrase a few times last semeseter with my teacher! .!!! ...secretly I think that rather than correct me , she just likes to hear me say silly things ....ughhhhh

Or maybe she likes to imagine you're actually getting horny and it makes HER horny.

 

[LeroyPantwether]

Hello I am writing more emails and I have a question.... How do I talk about how long I do ( I've done) something for... is it 間。 for example.....

-私は二年間アリゾナにすんでしています
-I have been living in Arizona for 2 years.

- 私は毎日に三時間日本語を勉強します。
- I study Japanese for 3 hours everyday.

-私は友達と二日間カナダに行きました。
- I went to Canada for 2 days with my friend.

^^^^Are those correct?,,,Do I need a special counter for hours and days? Is there a better way to talk about how long I do (I've done) something for? Do I need a particle after 間 ... Also I am curious, How do I ask how long some one has done something. ** For example..... How long will you be in New York for? or. How long have you been playing tennis?

 

[Lavalamp1138]

Learning the basics right now and I'm stumped on what seems to be some sort of pronunciation rule. The hiragana for hana is はな, right, but when the particle は 'wa' is added as a topic marker (so it reads はな&#12399, it's pronounced differently. The は in hana is pronounced 'ha', but then the same character as a particle は is pronounced 'wa.' Why is that? Are there more of these sort of characters with multiple pronunciations that I should look out for?

 

[louis89]

Hello I am writing more emails and I have a question.... How do I talk about how long I do ( I've done) something for... is it 間。 for example.....

-私は二年間アリゾナにすんでしています
-I have been living in Arizona for 2 years.

- 私は毎日に三時間日本語を勉強します。
- I study Japanese for 3 hours everyday.

-私は友達と二日間カナダに行きました。
- I went to Canada for 2 days with my friend.

^^^^Are those correct?,,,Do I need a special counter for hours and days? Is there a better way to talk about how long I do (I've done) something for? Do I need a particle after 間 ... Also I am curious, How do I ask how long some one has done something. ** For example..... How long will you be in New York for? or. How long have you been playing tennis?

私は二年間アリゾナにすんでしています -> 2年アリゾナ州に住んでいます (don't think 間 is necessary here)

私は毎日に三時間日本語を勉強します -> 毎日３時間日本語を勉強します (have to use 間 for hours)

私は友達と二日間カナダに行きました -> 友達と２泊のカナダ旅行に行きました (this would be worded differently in Japanese. ２泊 = two nights, カナダ旅行 = a trip to Canada)

You don't need to say 私は all the time if it's obvious you're talking about yourself.

どれぐらいニューヨークにいますか？
How long will you be in New York for?

いつからテニスをやっていますか？
How long have you been playing tennis? (Since when have you been playing tennis?)

 

[Jintor]

Learning the basics right now and I'm stumped on what seems to be some sort of pronunciation rule. The hiragana for hana is はな, right, but when the particle は 'wa' is added as a topic marker (so it reads はな&#12399, it's pronounced differently. The は in hana is pronounced 'ha', but then the same character as a particle は is pronounced 'wa.' Why is that? Are there more of these sort of characters with multiple pronunciations that I should look out for?

As far as I know 'wa' is just weird like that. Makes for a hell of time when you're reading entirely in hirigana, but perversely when you start learning kanji it'll probably be easier.

 

[LeroyPantwether]

Learning the basics right now and I'm stumped on what seems to be some sort of pronunciation rule. The hiragana for hana is はな, right, but when the particle は 'wa' is added as a topic marker (so it reads はな&#12399, it's pronounced differently. The は in hana is pronounced 'ha', but then the same character as a particle は is pronounced 'wa.' Why is that? Are there more of these sort of characters with multiple pronunciations that I should look out for?

as for your quetion of other characters with multiple uses .....according to my textbook....just remember..

- 'O' when used as a particle is written を not お

- 'E' when used as a particle is written へ not え

- 'WA' when used as a particle is written は not わ

-------------------------------

#Advice/Corrections

thank you thank you thank you

---------------------------------

- Sidenote,,,, I had my first video chat with Yae, my penpal...... !!

 

[Kilrogg]

Learning the basics right now and I'm stumped on what seems to be some sort of pronunciation rule. The hiragana for hana is はな, right, but when the particle は 'wa' is added as a topic marker (so it reads はな&#12399, it's pronounced differently. The は in hana is pronounced 'ha', but then the same character as a particle は is pronounced 'wa.' Why is that? Are there more of these sort of characters with multiple pronunciations that I should look out for?

LeroyPantwether pretty much covered it in his reply:

as for your quetion of other characters with multiple uses .....according to my textbook....just remember..

- 'O' when used as a particle is written を not お

- 'E' when used as a particle is written へ not え

- 'WA' when used as a particle is written は not わ

The only other case I can think of, which you will rarely encounter at your level (if ever) is old style writing. Decades ago あ　い　う　え　お didn't actually exist, and は　ひ　ふ　へ　ほ were used instead (but would be pronounced あいうえお anyway). For instance there's this Ghibli movie that's called 「おもひでぽろぽろ」 which you should actually pronounce 「おもいでぽろぽろ」, but I suppose they chose the old spelling for style. You needn't worry about this stuff though, it's very rare. Just thought it'd be a nice tidbit for you. Kana spelling has evolved a bit over the years.

 

[LeroyPantwether]

another letter... tried to keep it very very simple. Also, tried to keep all my subjects together. I will have my partner make corrections. But, if anyone has any tips or advice that would be great! As always, I dont want to seem like a dumb idiot..Truly appreciate the help, I am learning a lot...I think..

=========================================================

やえさんこんにちは。お元気ですか? 週末はどうでしたか?

スカイプで八重さんに会うのはよかったです。やえさんは面白くていいです。 …あなたの英語はとても上手です。毎週の日曜日が話しましょう。

私達の会話ののちは、私はバーに行きました。音楽のコンサートをみました。ブルースバンドがありましたから。余りバーにいきません。余り酒を飲みません。だけど........コカ·コーラを飲むのが大好きです。甘くて美味しいですね。

私は六月間日本語を勉強していました。一つの大学の学期を勉強しました。日本語会話クラスでした。  (.. it was a japanese conversation class.) 。 やえさんは九年間英語を勉強しましたか？本当ですか？

来年の夏はニューヨークにいきますか？いつ行きますか。そこに何をしますか？誰と行きますか？ニューヨークに旅行をするのはいいです。私は何年のまえニューヨークに行きました。楽しんでください

よく外国に行きますか? 韓国に行きましたか? 中国に行きましたか? とおくないですね？私は余り外国に行きませんでした。八年のまえメキシコにいきました。ビーチにいきました。海に泳ぎました。.........。日本や韓国やフランスに行きたいです。飛行機で行くのは楽しいです。

ときどき日本のビデオゲームを遊びます。すきなは 任天堂です。やえさんは遊びますか？

スポーツがすきです。でも、ハンドボールがわかりません。説明をするをください。楽しいですか？


クラスはどうでしたか？あなたの大学は小さくないですね？たくさんの学生がありますか。にぎやかですか⁇
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[Zoe]

やえさんは面白くていいです。
She's a good what? You could say something like 面白くていい人 here, but just saying いい feels awkward to me.

韓国に行きましたか? 中国に行きましたか?
It would probably be more appropriate to use 行ったことがありますか? here.

It seems odd to me to use the kanji for あまり. Technically it's correct, but it doesn't really get used that much, especially when you consider the other words that you're writing in hiragana but are usually are written in kanji.

 

[LeroyPantwether]

やえさんは面白くていいです。
She's a good what? You could say something like 面白くていい人 here, but just saying いい feels awkward to me.

韓国に行きましたか? 中国に行きましたか?
It would probably be more appropriate to use 行ったことがありますか? here.

It seems odd to me to use the kanji for あまり. Technically it's correct, but it doesn't really get used that much, especially when you consider the other words that you're writing in hiragana but are usually are written in kanji.

-thanks for the help, i will switch some kanji and hiragana around,,,, i type on an ipad and the japanese predictive keyboard is a little crazy....that and i dont totally know what im doing ...

- i certainly was not sure on the first part either but, いい人 does make more sense.## ...what are some other compliments that are common amongst Japanese people?

- and as for 行ったことがありますか.. how do i then handle each subject(place)? is it 韓国は行ったことがありますか？ or. 韓国に行ったことがありますか？ or is the particle を 、or is no particle necessary after 韓国？

 

[louis89]

Personally I would rewrite the whole thing in plain form. It's weird to used です and ます and さん and all that stuff all over the place if she's not like 50 years old or something.

 

[Zoe]

- and as for 行ったことがありますか.. how do i then handle each subject(place)? is it 韓国は行ったことがありますか？ or. 韓国に行ったことがありますか？ or is the particle を 、or is no particle necessary after 韓国？

'ni' fits best.

(sorry, no Japanese on here)

Personally I would rewrite the whole thing in plain form. It's weird to used です and ます and さん and all that stuff all over the place if she's not like 50 years old or something.

It's better to practice being polite than to form a habit of always using plain and then insulting someone. It could also mess with his performance in class.

 

[Gacha-pin]

LeroyPantwether pretty much covered it in his reply:



The only other case I can think of, which you will rarely encounter at your level (if ever) is old style writing. Decades ago あ　い　う　え　お didn't actually exist, and は　ひ　ふ　へ　ほ were used instead (but would be pronounced あいうえお anyway). For instance there's this Ghibli movie that's called 「おもひでぽろぽろ」 which you should actually pronounce 「おもいでぽろぽろ」, but I suppose they chose the old spelling for style. You needn't worry about this stuff though, it's very rare. Just thought it'd be a nice tidbit for you. Kana spelling has evolved a bit over the years.

いつも思ってたけどkilroggはすごい博識だね。あいうえおが存在しなかったって知らなかったよ。
少し話が違うけど、「ヴ」って字は書き言葉ではこの字が使われることがあるけど、実際に「ヴ」を「ヴ」と発音する日本人はほとんどいない。

 

[Kilrogg]

いつも思ってたけどkilroggはすごい博識だね。あいうえおが存在しなかったって知らなかったよ。
少し話が違うけど、「ヴ」って字は書き言葉ではこの字が使われることがあるけど、実際に「ヴ」を「ヴ」と発音する日本人はほとんどいない。

いやぁ、大学で日本語を専攻すれば誰でもこんなことを勉強してしまうからねｗ。具体的にはそんなに役に立たないけど。「存在しなかったって知らなかったよ」って言われると、なんか急に自身がなくなる・・・「あ」だけが存在してたっけ。忘れちゃった。でも「い」とかは絶対なかったよ、昔は。

「ヴ」って「ｖ」のことでしょう？確かに発音が難しいね。日本人はつらいなぁ。

 

[Lavalamp1138]

as for your quetion of other characters with multiple uses .....according to my textbook....just remember..

- 'O' when used as a particle is written を not お

- 'E' when used as a particle is written へ not え

- 'WA' when used as a particle is written は not わ

Oh wow, I didn't notice those other characters also had pronunciation changes with particles. Thanks Jintor, Leroy, and Kilrogg!

 

[KidA Seven]

What is the difference between 電光 and 電? Or are they interchangeable?

 

[Cheesemeister]

What is the difference between 電光 and 電? Or are they interchangeable?

We generally use 雷 for lightning. If you want inazuma, it's typically written 稲妻 or in Katakana.

 

[louis89]

It's better to practice being polite than to form a habit of always using plain and then insulting someone. It could also mess with his performance in class.

It doesn't really matter for now, but I think that one of the most common mistakes that people make is being way too polite. I have fellow study abroad students who call me あなた and put さん on my name. It's really weird. I think that the whole "you must be polite and use keigo all the time otherwise it's rude" thing is way overemphasised in Japanese classes. keigo is for talking to your superiors. I basically never use keigo outside of work, class, and talking to strangers. I think that's pretty normal.

My friend said that the way gaijin overuse keigo all the time is cute though ;p

 

[Kilrogg]

It doesn't really matter for now, but I think that one of the most common mistakes that people make is being way too polite. I have fellow study abroad students who call me あなた and put さん on my name. It's really weird. I think that the whole "you must be polite and use keigo all the time otherwise it's rude" thing is way overemphasised in Japanese classes. keigo is for talking to your superiors. I basically never use keigo outside of work, class, and talking to strangers. I think that's pretty normal.

My friend said that the way gaijin overuse keigo all the time is cute though ;p

I suspect あなた has more to with them not knowing that you can actually use people's names like you would use "you" and/or not knowing stuff like そっち. From my experience the Japanese almost never use あなた except when they don't know your name. Sadly you won't learn that kind of stuff in a classroom, I don't know why.

The point is not to tell people to use the polite form because they should be using it, but precisely because it's much less common and natural than the plain form. Consequently, it's much easier to switch from polite to plain than plain to polite.

 

[Lord Ghirahim]

Sadly you won't learn that kind of stuff in a classroom, I don't know why.

Not a class you should be attending then.