#nutcracker nihongo

[corvid-language-library]

A lot of my colleagues comment on how good my Japanese is because I can use interjections pretty well despite the fact my actual speaking is garbage. I always know when to say "えっ" and "やばい" and "え〜そうなの" and "いえいえいえ" and "そっか" and "そうだね" and every single time they're like "wow! You're like a native speaker!" and I'm like okay but I can't form an actual sentence that's more than 4 words long and if you make me use grammar my brain will catch fire

[maziijapanese]

Discover the Best Resources for Learning Japanese

Learning Japanese can be a rewarding and enriching experience, but finding the right resources can make all the difference. Whether you're a beginner just starting out or an intermediate learner looking to deepen your knowledge, having access to the right materials and tools is essential. This guide will introduce you to some of the best resources available to help you on your journey to mastering Japanese.

1. Dive into Japanese Pop Culture

One of the most enjoyable ways to learn Japanese is through immersion in the country's rich pop culture. Watching movies, anime, reading manga, and listening to Japanese music allows you to learn the language naturally while staying entertained. Here are some specific recommendations to get you started:

Movies: Films like "Spirited Away," "Your Name," and "My Neighbor Totoro" are not only visually stunning but also offer rich language exposure. Watching these films with Japanese audio and subtitles can help you pick up new vocabulary, understand sentence structures, and appreciate the nuances of spoken Japanese.

Anime: Popular series such as "Naruto," "Attack on Titan," and "My Hero Academia" are excellent choices for improving your listening skills and comprehension. Anime often features casual, conversational Japanese, making it a great tool for learning how people speak in everyday situations.

Manga: For those who prefer reading, manga like "One Piece," "Demon Slayer," and "Tokyo Ghoul" provide engaging stories that can enhance your reading skills. Manga often includes furigana (small kana characters above kanji), making it accessible even if you're still learning kanji.

2. YouTube Videos

YouTube is a treasure trove of Japanese language learning content. From street interviews and tutorials by native speakers to personal vlogs, YouTube offers a plethora of opportunities to hear authentic speech. This can help you improve your listening skills, expand your vocabulary, and grasp sentence structures. Here are some channels to check out:

JapanesePod101: This channel offers lessons for all levels, covering grammar, vocabulary, and cultural tips. With its structured approach, JapanesePod101 can help you progress methodically while providing cultural insights that enrich your learning experience.

That Japanese Man Yuta: Yuta’s channel features street interviews and discussions about Japanese culture and language. These real-life conversations give you a glimpse into how Japanese is spoken in different contexts, helping you understand colloquial expressions and natural speech patterns.

KemushiChan ロレッタ: Loretta shares her personal experiences, language learning tips, and cultural insights as a native English speaker living in Japan. Her content is relatable and encouraging, making it an excellent resource for learners navigating the challenges of studying Japanese.

3. Video Games

If you enjoy gaming, why not play video games in Japanese? Many popular games offer Japanese language options, and experiencing them in their original language can enhance your reading and listening abilities. Whether you’re battling monsters in Honkai Impact or exploring the fantastical world of Genshin Impact, playing games in Japanese can make learning feel less like studying and more like an adventure. Additionally, exploring genres like otome games, which often involve character interactions and dialogue-heavy scenarios, can provide a fun and immersive way to practice your Japanese.

4. Utilize Learning Apps

Language learning apps have revolutionized the way people study languages, offering a more interactive and enjoyable approach to mastering Japanese. Whether you're a beginner or an advanced learner, there are apps tailored to your level that can help you improve your skills at your own pace.

Using these apps consistently can significantly boost your Japanese skills, as they allow you to learn in a way that’s both flexible and tailored to your individual needs. The combination of structured lessons, interactive exercises, and real-life practice makes these apps powerful tools in your language learning arsenal.

5. Study with Textbooks

Textbooks provide structured learning and comprehensive coverage of grammar, vocabulary, and kanji. They are essential for learners who prefer a more traditional approach to studying Japanese. Some highly recommended textbooks include:

Genki: Perfect for beginners, covering basic grammar, vocabulary, and kanji. The Genki series is widely regarded as one of the best resources for starting your Japanese journey, offering clear explanations, exercises, and audio materials to help you develop your language skills.

Minna no Nihongo: This textbook offers extensive practice in reading, writing, listening, and speaking. It’s particularly popular among language schools in Japan and is known for its thorough approach to teaching Japanese, making it a great choice for learners aiming to build a strong foundation.

Tobira: Ideal for intermediate learners aiming to advance their skills. Tobira bridges the gap between beginner and advanced levels, introducing more complex grammar points and providing ample opportunities for reading and listening practice.

Conclusion

There are numerous engaging and effective resources available for learning Japanese. Whether you’re passionate about pop culture, gaming, using apps, or studying with textbooks, there’s something to suit every learning style. By exploring these resources, you can create a diverse and dynamic study plan that keeps you motivated and helps you make steady progress. So why not try something new today and take your Japanese skills to the next level?

[corvid-language-library]

I'm pretty sure I've reblogged this before but I'm reblogging again because I want to add that in FF7 they refer to "the planet" as 星

Did you know that the english word “star” and the japanese word 星（ほし）don’t actually mean the same thing?

Language does not simply name pre-existing categories; categories do not exist in 'the world'

— Daniel Chandler, Semiotics for Beginners

I read this quote a few years ago, but I don’t think I truly understood it until one day, when I was looking at the wikipedia article for “star” and I thought to check the Japanese article, see if I could get some Japanese reading practice in. I was surprised to find that the article was not titled 「星」, but 「恒星」, a word I’d never seen before. I’d always learnt that 星 was the direct translation for “star” (I knew the japanese also contained meanings the english didn’t, like “dot” or “bullseye”, but I thought these were just auxiliary definitions in addition to the direct translation of “star” as in "a celestial body made of hydrogen and helium plasma").

To try and clear things up for myself, I searched japanese wikipedia for 星. It was a disambiguation page, with the main links pointing to the articles for 天体 (astronomical object) and スター（記号）(star symbol). There was no article just called 「星」.

It’s an easy difference to miss, because in everyday conversation, 星 and star are equivalent. They both describe the shining lights in the night sky. They both describe this symbol: ★. They even both describe those enormous celestial objects made of plasma.

But they are different - different enough to not share a wikipedia article. 星 is used to describe any kind of celestial body, especially if it appears shiny and bright in the night sky. “Star” can be used this way too (like Venus being called the “morning star”), but it’s generally considered inaccurate to use the word like this, whereas there is no such inaccuracy with 星. You can say “oh that’s not actually a star, it’s a planet”, but you CAN’T say 「実はそれは星ではなく惑星だよ」 (TL: that’s not actually a hoshi, it’s a planet). A planet IS a 星.

星 is a very common word, essentially equivalent to “star”, but its meaning is closer to “celestial body”. I haven’t looked into the etymology/history but it’s almost like both english and japanese started out with a simple, common word for the lights in the sky - star/星 , but as we found out more about what these lights actually were, english doubled down on using the common word for the specific scientific concept, while japanese kept the common word generic and instead came up with a new word for the more specific concept. If this is actually what happened, I’d guess that kanji probably had something to do with it - 星 as a component kanji exists inside the word for planet, 惑星, and in the word for comet, 彗星, and in the scientific word for “star”, 恒星, so it makes sense that it would indicate a more general concept when used standalone.

This discovery helped me understand that quote - categories don’t exist in the world, we are the ones who create them. I thought that the concept of “star” was something that would be consistent across all languages, but it’s not, because the concept of “star” is not pre-existing. Each language had to decide how to name each of those similar star-like concepts (the ★ symbol, hot balls of gas, twinkling lights in the sky, planets, comets, etc), and obviously not every language is going to group those concepts under the same words with the same nuance.

Knowing this, one might be tempted to say that 恒星（こうせい） is the direct translation for “star”. But this isn’t true either. In most of the contexts that the word “star” is used in english, the equivalent japanese will be simply 星. Despite the meanings not lining up exactly, 星 will still be the best translation for “star” most of the time. This is the art of translation - knowing when the particulars are less important than the vibe or feel of a word. For any word, there will never be an exact perfect translation with all the same nuances and meanings. Translation is about finding the best solution to an unsolvable problem. That's why I love it.

[lonelypond]

Tiger By The Tail, Chapter One

Love Live, NicoMaki, NozoEli, 2.6K, 1/?

Summary: Nishikino Maki is escaping family expectation by wintering in the Nishikino's summer haven, while allowing her childhood friend, Kousaka Honoka to use the family camp as a bed and breakfast. Their friend, Minami Kotori, met Sonada Umi during a design internship in Tokyo and has convinced Umi that her Lily White management group and their primary client, rising social media star Yazawa Nico, should travel to America to help launch Kotori's debut design line. Local Eli Ayase is interested in the new visitors.

Notes: Note about language: I am not going to attempt English to Japanese translation very often and when I use Japanese phrases, I will try to make the intention clear. But if the Japanese natives are alone together, assume they are speaking Japanese although I will have typed English.

Tiger By The Tail, Chapter One

Honoka was back. And with company she’d apparently met at the door.

Nishikino Maki could have stayed out of it. Arguably, she should have stayed out of it. But her ears had perked up at the flow of perfectly spoken Japanese and something about the shrill indignation of the speaker...Maki glanced over the couch. A tiny, almost miniscule woman completely swaddled in a parka was gesturing wildly at a much more buxom specimen, wearing only a fair isle sweater and a scarf over her regular clothes. Honoka was looking very confused.

Honoka, rubbed her head nervously but her smile remained bright, “I’m sorry. Is there a problem?”

The taller woman shook her head and spoke in only slightly accented English. “Pardon the intrusion. Are you Kosaka Honoka?”

“Just call me Honoka.”

“Honoka.” A smile, but Maki was mostly watching the shorter woman fussily unwrap two yards of scarf and continue to mutter. It fascinated.

“Is your friend all right?” Honoka the ever helpful wondered as she unpacked groceries from their totes.

At that there was a stomp. And a “Nico Nico Ni” and some kind of hand gesture. Was this a Japanese form of exorcism? Maki would have to take notes. Eli would be entertained.

“Nico was just expecting…” a hesitation from the taller. A snort from ‘Nico.’ Was her name actually a demand for a smile? Because Maki thought that seemed more foreign to her demeanor than English.

And perhaps Maki really should have minded her own business. But... “The short one has put a curse on us for being a rustic backwater she’s being forced to slum in. Apparently, we are about to contaminate her perfectly crafted image.”

The shorter one spun, almost faster than Maki could blink, strangely dangerous red eyes narrowed and locked on. Maki felt struck by the accusation in the gaze.

“Shitsurei na hito desu ne.” Nico snarled

Yes, Maki was being rude, but so was insulting the host in a language Honoka didn’t understand. If Maki was giving up her Christmas solitude, she was certainly not going to let her friends be run over by Little Miss Misanthrope. Maki decided her best response was a shrug and an eye roll. Match attitude for attitude.

“Hello.” The taller woman spoke slowly. “I am Tojo Nozomi. Please forgive Nico. Jet lag is difficult.”

Nico obviously spoke enough English to be unhappy at the apology on her behalf but chose not to speak.

“Konnichiwa. ” Maki was still stretched out, leaning on the arm of the couch, enjoying the show.

“Nihongo jyouzu desu ne, doko de naratta no desu ka?” Nozomi’s turquoise eyes brightened with curiosity.

“Watashi wa Tōkyō ni sunde imasu.” Maki had lived in Japan and had dual citizenship, at least until her 22nd birthday, although she’d been based in New York City for high school and college.

“Interesting.” Nozomi inclined her head, “May I have your name?”

“Oh, that’s Maki. She’s…” Honoka had put the groceries away and stepped around Nico.

Maki hopped up, interrupting Honoka, “Let’s get them settled in their room. The double upstairs?”

“ummm...I’m not sure, there were...” Honoka scrunched up her face, trying to remember details.

Nozomi clarified. “Two more people are due. They had to wait for some of the luggage to clear customs.”

“That’s right, there were 4 of you. And two rooms.” Honoka bopped herself on the side of the head.

The tiny woman had stopped glaring at Maki and stepped forward. “Take Nico to her room. Now.” She did speak English. Fairly smoothly.

Nozomi seemed uncomfortable and made a half bow. “Nico is tired and would appreciate privacy.”

“Upstairs?” Maki asked, searching for a bag but Nico had the handle of her rolling suitcase clutched in a hanging off the side of a cliff from a sapling grip.

Rapid fire Japanese from the shorter woman and then a reluctant translation. “Nico agreed to the master suite.”

“That’s my room.” Maki was startled. When she’d agreed to let Honoka run the Nishikino family camp as a bed and breakfast, she insisted Honoka keep the master suite unbooked.

Nico’s arms were crossed and she was glaring.

“Nico has certain expectations of privacy.” Nozomi offered smoothly.

“No.” Maki snapped.

Honoka turned to Maki, blue eyes pleading. “There’s two rooms. Your parents are in Japan…I figured it wouldn’t be a problem.”

“The bathroom’s shared.” Maki hissed, coming around the island and dragging Honoka down the hall towards the door.

“Maki…” Honoka whined, Maki hated it when Honoka whined. “Kotori asked us as a favor.”

Kotori had asked for a favor. Said these were friends of hers. Maki should have obviously asked for more details.

“This is your problem, Honoka. Put her in the garage.”

“That’s my room.”

Maki glared at Honoka.

“It’s a tiny loft.” Honoka had both hands out, pleading. Maki tried not to think of the clutter that Honoka had probably buried her bed in.

Maki’s hand flashed out, pointing back to their guests. “She’s tiny.”

“Maki....” more whining.

Glances were exchanged between the guests and Nozomi stepped forward, “Is there a problem?”

“No, no, not a problem…”Honoka had started waving her arms, “just a hiccup, but Maki’s really nice and it’ll all be okay, right, Maki?” Honoka had one of Maki’s arms in a not so friendly vise.

Maki closed her eyes, humming a darker patch of the Nutcracker, then grimaced at Honoka, “I’m going to Eli’s. NO ONE goes into my bedroom.”

“Nobody wants to...” Honoka almost sagged with relief but still clung.

“Oh, just be quiet, Honoka.” Maki shook off her friend, and grabbed her coat, tossing her hair back and pulling her watch cap over the curls. She could rant at Eli and then be back after jet lag had knocked out the problems. Good strategy.

“See you later.” Nozomi called out. “Thank you for your hospitable greeting.”

Nico snorted.

Maki growled.

###

“I can’t believe Honoka would do that.” Maki was pacing, she’d already done a dozen circuits of Eli’s tiny storefront office.

Eli looked down at her friend, reaching out to grab the pine swags that Maki was thrashing the air with. Eli took some care hanging them off nails, “It’s Honoka. What did you expect. You agreed to let her run a B and B out of your family’s camp. Even if you only did it to annoy your parents, you still did it.”

Maki blew her bangs out of her eyes, “I didn’t do it to annoy my parents. Honoka needs some actual experience. I wanted to help.”

“I know.” Eli paused, debating if the swag was level enough that customers wouldn’t think the Christmas decorations had been hung by elves drunk on nog. Then she swatted Maki with a spare pine branch. “Plus, bonus, if it annoys your parents…”

“Eli…” Maki’s voice held a note of warning.

“Sorry.” Eli laughed and climbed down, folding up the step ladder, and being a good friend, changed the subject, “Japanese friends of Kotori, huh. Bet they were stylish.”

Maki shrugged, “The tiny one was mostly wrapped up in a puffer jacket that she could have rolled down Cadillac Mountain in.”

“I’ll have to stop by. How long are they staying? You should invite them to the Nutcracker.”

Maki turned her back on Eli, appreciating the seasonal touches Eli had scattered around her office, a pair of antique snowshoes, skiing pictures, white and blue knit hats with Bibi and a snowflake embroidered on the brim, “Talk to Honoka.”

“I will.” Eli bounded behind her desk, chin propped on hand, “We need to meet more people. This is a very dead town in the winter.”

“I’m fine.”

“They’ll go back to Japan, you can try out flirting with no consequences.” Eli winked.

Maki raised a judge-y eyebrow at Eli, “Flirting always has consequences.”

“Not for the forthright.” Eli leaned back, the picture of smug, blonde charisma.

“Good luck with that.” Maki kicked a rug while Eli preened, “Can I borrow a snowmobile sometime?”

Eli leaned forward, looking at the printout on her desk. “Sure. Have a rental party tomorrow, but anytime after that. Need a guide?”

Maki shook her head.

“Where are you headed?”

Hands in her pocket, Maki sighed, “Just out.”

“Harasho.”

Maki had had enough polite conversation. It was time to move this to Eli’s garage/ballet studio and the upright Maki slummed on when Eli needed live music. “Let’s practice.”

“Go warm up. I’ll be right there.”

Maki nodded.

###

Very nice space, Nozomi decided, as she looked around the clean, bright wood of the walls, large framed photographs of rural rice paddy, bamboo, and temple scenes blending nicely into the natural feel. Nozomi wondered if there was a Shinto shrine or temple anywhere close. New Year’s would be strange without visiting one.

Nico frowned, “Why aren’t we in New York City?”

“Because Umi’s designer friend is amazing, based here, and we’ve been invited as guests…” Nozomi nudged Nico as she curled up in a chair, looking miserable, “Plus, the scenery is quite lovely.”

Nico glared at her manager, “You're not talking about the snow are you?”

“Why not have some fun?” Nozomi bounce sat on the bed, trying out its springiness.

“Nico is working.”

“Nico is always working.”

“Yes.” Nico was taking in every detail of the room and there weren’t nearly enough.

“Nico should take a break. Ask a girl out. Get a private tour…” Nozomi’s go to look was a leer and it infected her voice.

“Nico isn’t interested.”

“It’ll be a long, cold three weeks then.” Nozomi flopped back on the bed. She hoped the upstairs mattresses were this comfy.

“Nico will stay close to the fire.”

Nozomi sat up. “Women are warmer.”

“Nico doesn’t need entanglements.”

“I wouldn’t mind being tangled in…” Nozomi ended her teasing, for the moment, at Nico’s fierce glare.

“Leave Nico alone.”

Nozomi bowed, giggling, “Yes, your majesty. Maybe I’ll go see if that snappy, sassy redhead is back and we bond can over your bad habits.”

Nico looked for something to throw as Nozomi hustled out the door.

###

The music always helped. Maki had gotten another stern email from her parents suggesting she enter Columbia to start her MBA studies, since she had decided not to pursue medical school. As a pre med, she’d been able to sneak through college with a music major, taking the required science courses for her planned out future. But that had just made the thought of so many hours in school not in front of any kind of keyboard unbearable. So she’d fled to Maine and looked up her summer childhood friends, including Honoka.

After she’d finished at Eli’s, Maki had just walked straight into the music room she’d turned the walkout basement into, to continue practicing the Tchaikovsky pieces that Eli had decided on, and the March that Honoka had chosen for their latest video, with Maki playing as seriously as possible and Honoka cracking as many nuts as she could in the costumes that Kotori had come up with. They were filming that tomorrow, if Honoka remembered.

When Maki next looked at a clock it was after 2 a.m. Too late. But she was barely sleepy. Time to curl up with milk and cookies and a Christmas cartoon? Stretching her arms out in front of her, Maki stepped out, the snow crunching under her unlaced boots, stars distant but bright in the cold, clear night. Bracing. Maki should have just taken the stairs. Stomping through the snow while humming a very fast March, Maki found herself even more alert, shaking off the cold as she switched to slippers and strolled into the kitchen. Quick warm up some milk with cinnamon, Maki glanced over her shoulder, Honoka had left the fire going. Maki would have to talk to her about that...wait, was someone on the couch?

“Hello?”

Sharp red eyes glowered above a scowl.

Maki wondered if somehow Nico had heard the piano, even through the soundproofing, “I’m sorry, did I wake you up?”

A shrug, or more accurately the blanket Honoka’s Japanese guest had swaddled around herself moved slightly up, then down.

“I haven’t been sleeping so I’m hoping some warm milk and cookies will fix that.” Maki considered measures as she poured out a pint into the pot, “Would you like some?”

“Arigato.”

Maki poured more milk into the pot, took out the cinnamon, and turned on the flame. Humming Elligton’s Sugar Rum Cherry take, Maki started stirring.

“Why so quiet?” A voice grumped next to her.

Maki jumped slightly, managing to squelch a squeal and only splatter a third of the milk.

“I’m not quiet. I’m humming.” Maki turned to Nico, squaring her shoulders back to loom slightly. Nico’s glance paused briefly as she looked straight ahead, then ticked up to meet Maki’s.

“Not you.” Nico spun, waving both hands in a broad gesture that took in all the windows. “Here.”

Maki scratched her cheek, “It’s supposed to be quiet. It’s the woods.”

Nico hmmpphed. “Too quiet to sleep.”

“How can it be too quiet to sleep?” Maki was genuinely puzzled and found herself watching to see what Nico was going do next.

Nico sighed, started to say something, then her eyes went wide just as Maki’s nostrils flinched at an acridly sweet burning odor, and Nico shoved forward, pushing Maki to the side, using the blanket to snatch the pot off the stove by its handle, “Baka.”

“Just let me…” Maki reached for the pot, but Nico slapped her hand down.

“Sit.” Nico pointed to the front room.

“This is my…”

Nico shoved the pot under Maki’s nose and Maki stepped back, gagging, “Sit.”

Grumbling, Maki moved to the counter, leaning. Nico, with swift, sure movements, took a quick tour of every cabinet and assembled a new batch of ingredients. Maki tried to get a good look through the constantly shifting speedster but Nico was moving so fast it was hard to focus on what she had in her hands.

“Is that chocolate? I’m not…”

Nico turned, raised a finger to her lips, and shushed Maki, who decided slumping morosely in one of the stools was the right mood. But she just couldn’t keep her frown when the smell of cinnamon and chocolate with just the slightest hint of some heated spice started to warm her.

Maki, twirling a curl, was staring out the window, when a box of shortbread and a mug of meltingly dark hot chocolate landed in front of her. Nico had already shuffled past, rewrapping herself in the blanket, and claiming the far end of the couch.

“Arigato.” Maki said as she picked up the offerings and followed. Nico was staring expectantly. Maki cleared her throat nervously, “I was planning to watch some Christmas cartoons…”

Nico seemed bored, and shrugged, staring ahead into the fire, suddenly disinterested in Maki.

“Did Honoka leave the fire?” Maki asked quietly.

“Nico knows how to make fire.” Nico shivered, “wanted warmer.”

Maki jumped up, hurried to her bedroom and came back with the queen sized wool ‘Good Medicine’ blanket off her bed, leaning over the back of the couch to wrap it around Nico, “you can borrow this while you’re here. If Honoka’s only given you a comforter, it might help.”

Another period of staring while Maki watched the fire and wondered what notes the flares of yellow and orange would translate too if she were scoring the backdrop to a winter’s night.

“Jet lag Nico. You?” Nico broke the silence.

The chocolate was richer and sweeter than Maki was used to, with the slightest bite of what might be a hot pepper. “Never sleep.”

Nico grunted, “bad for skin.”

Maki drew in a hugely dramatic puff of air and patted her chest over her heart, “Harsh.”

Nico giggled.

Mood eased, Maki ventured a question. “Talking snowman or talking reindeer?”

Nico tapped her mug, then her lip quirked up into what looked like a smirk from the side, “Grinch.”

Maki grabbed the remote.

A/N: Well, here we go again. Buckle in for the winter holidays, this story will cover Christmas, New Year's, and the Lunar New Year, a holiday very meaningful to me. There will probably be more romance than the main two, but I'm still working out the details.

I have had the most stressful of Autumns and I wasn't sure if I was going to be able to get in the mood for a holiday jam. But I know I'd miss it too much. I'll be continuing the werewolf shenanigans of Midnight Apocalypse Dance Party as this goes on. And at some point, Can't Get Started will finish...probably. I blame the title.

This title is because I suddenly did math and decided Maki and Rin were born in the Year of The Tiger, the third years in the Year Of The Rat, the rest in Ox and that seems to work. So I'm going with it,Thank you everyone who keeps reading these. Knowing Love Live still connects us has been a bright spot. I appreciate your support.

[corvid-language-library]

I asked my supervisor - who has lived in Japan for 17 years, speaks fluent Japanese and reads Japanese documents/emails on a daily basis for work/general life (including helping us with complicated official paperwork) - how to read a fairly basic word (人物 - じんぶつ). He stared at it for a moment and was like, yeah I'm not actually 100% sure.

It's an N3 word btw, but those kanji are N5/N4.

If someone who's fluent in Japanese and has lived in Japan for 17 years and is generally pretty interested in languages doesn't always remember how to read N3 vocab then you really don't need to kick yourself for not remembering all the kanji readings all the time.

[corvid-language-library]

和製英語（わせいえいご）

Japanese word constructed of elements from one or more English terms; pseudo-English word or phrase coined in Japan

和 = Japan, Japanese style (also: harmony, peace, soften)

製 = made in...; manufacture

英 = England, English (also: hero, outstanding, calyx)

語 = language, word, speech

Examples

A non-exhaustive list. Please feel free to reblog and add more!

サラリーマン (salaryman) white-collar worker

オフィスレーディー (office lady) female version of "salaryman"

フライドポテト (fried potato) fries

スーパーボール (super ball) rubber ball, bouncy ball

ガソリンスタンド (gasoline stand) petrol/gas station

サイン (sign) signature

マンション (mansion) apartment block

ツインテール (twin tail) pigtails, bunches

ソフトクリーム (soft cream) soft-scoop ice cream

ホットケーキ (hot cake) pancake

タッチ (touch) high five (does also mean "touch" apparently)

キーホルダー (keyholder) keyring

ブラインドタッチ (blind touch) touch typing

シャープペンシル (sharp pencil) mechanical pencil

シール (seal) sticker

アメリカンドッグ (American dog) corndog

バイキング (viking) buffet

ワンピース (one piece) dress

ビーチサンダル (beach sandal) flip-flops

[corvid-language-library]

This evening's study: annotating a Nutrition magazine with Japanese FF7 Rebirth Let's Play as background noise.

It's been a good weekend so far 😊

[corvid-language-library]

Have I mentioned that I love Japanese recently? Because I love it! Some things are just more fun or natural to express in Japanese! Kanji are super cool and beautiful and interesting! It sounds so animated and alive! I love it I love it I love it!

[corvid-language-library]

Today's kanji that I fucking hate is 改. I keep trying to stick it to my brain and like a cheap post-it note that has somehow already acquired too much cat hair and floor lint it keeps falling off again

[corvid-language-library]

I might not be good at reading longer passages in Japanese yet BUT I'm pretty good at reading signs these days, and when I get letters from my housing company I can pick out what it's related to even if I don't understand the full letter.

[corvid-language-library]

お邪魔します！

邪魔（じゃま）= hindrance, obstacle, nuisance, disturbance, interruption, interference

I just learned this phrase the other day. It's used when entering someone's house and kinda means "please excuse the intrusion!" or "I'm coming in!" (Or, literally: "I'm being a nuisance!" How very Japanese 😅)

Or, if you're an anime/video game bad boy, you can say: "邪魔するぞと"

[corvid-language-library]

My Japanese is definitely getting better. It's still a far cry from being good, but I'm making progress. I can read the kanji for all the nearby cities and towns. I can guess the reading of words with familiar kanji. A lot of kanji is familiar. I can navigate simple daily interactions with ease. I often understand what the kids are asking me, and sometimes I understand their conversations. Sometimes I'll overhear a snippet of conversation and understand without having to think about it at all. Often I can understand train announcements enough to know when there is a problem and what the problem is. I try to talk, even though I have to pause a lot and often get it wrong or can only express myself in very simple terms. My confidence is at a point where I'm willing to try more and more often. It's been a long journey and the road ahead seems to stretch into infinity, but the start line's gradually disappearing into the distance and I've grown comfortable with the knowledge that I'll be here for a while.

[corvid-language-library]

Just rewatching FFVII Remake with Japanese voice/subs and I noticed something about the kanji on the mako reactors in the intro sequence. A lot of the time, Arabic numerals (1, 2, 3, 4 etc) are used for numbers in Japanese, but if not, you typically see the following kanji to represent them.

一 (1) 二 (2) 三 (3) 四 (4) 五 (5) 六 (6) 七 (7) 八 (8) 九 (9) 十 (10)

BUT. If you look at the mako reactors here, you'll see very different kanji used! In this shot here, you can see mako reactors 1, 2 and 3 use the respective kanji: 壱; 弐; 参.

I looked them up, and it turns out these are called 大字 (だいじ). They're a set of numerals used in formal Japanese, and you can actually see them on bank notes too (which I use every day but have never properly looked at, I guess).

Behold: an 壱万円 note.

You can read more about them here!

[corvid-language-library]

Love seeing kanji in the wild and being like oh, I don't know that word, but I can guess how it's pronounced and what it means. Then looking it up at home and being right on both counts :D

[corvid-language-library]

5 Japanese words I keep encountering that apparently do not like staying in my brain

運命（うんめい）fate, destiny, lot

そこから運命は大きく動きだす

離れる（はなれる）to be separated, to be apart, to be distant

俺が離れるな

無事（ぶじ）safety, security, peace, quiet; safely, without incident, successfully

お母さん、無事でいてくれ

しばらく（しばらく）for a moment, for a minute; for the time being, for now

しばらくは一緒に行こう

様々（さまざま・さまざま）various, varied, diverse, all sorts of

世界中を冒険しながら、様々な依頼をこなしてもらいます

All sample sentences taken from FFVII Rebirth. Green/orange colouring indicates pitch accent.

[corvid-language-library]

Kanji really is so fucking useful honestly. The romaji of my location today was "Wakabayashi" and I kept being like ??? Wakayabi? Washikaba? Wayashiba? Wabayashika? Saw the kanji: 若林. "Oh right yeah okay I've got it"