Comments on: Sprechen the Japanese? http://4000milesnorth.wordpress.com/2007/07/26/sprechen-the-japanese/ A photojournal about Japan Sun, 20 Dec 2009 03:59:53 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: Apple Pie http://4000milesnorth.wordpress.com/2007/07/26/sprechen-the-japanese/#comment-856 Apple Pie Wed, 26 Nov 2008 09:58:09 +0000 http://4000milesnorth.wordpress.com/2007/07/26/sprechen-the-japanese/#comment-856 This is just a correction of the info from Tony just in case anyone decides to count in Japan, haha: hitori = one PERSON (or alone) fuTAri = 2 people sannin = 3 people yonnin = 4 people hitoTSU = one item futTATSU = 2 items mittsu = 3 items yotsu = 4 items and ~tsu is what is used to count general objects This is just a correction of the info from Tony just in case anyone decides to count in Japan, haha:

hitori = one PERSON (or alone)
fuTAri = 2 people
sannin = 3 people
yonnin = 4 people

hitoTSU = one item
futTATSU = 2 items
mittsu = 3 items
yotsu = 4 items

and ~tsu is what is used to count general objects

]]> By: Pegasus http://4000milesnorth.wordpress.com/2007/07/26/sprechen-the-japanese/#comment-295 Pegasus Thu, 02 Aug 2007 23:02:19 +0000 http://4000milesnorth.wordpress.com/2007/07/26/sprechen-the-japanese/#comment-295 Punning Opportunities !! Fantastic! English has so many, but to try in another language would be a great challenge. That's another reason to visit Japan - or do I have to have N months of Japanese immersion before I can pun. Great post - well done. Punning Opportunities !! Fantastic! English has so many, but to try in another language would be a great challenge. That’s another reason to visit Japan – or do I have to have N months of Japanese immersion before I can pun.

Great post – well done.

]]> By: Davina http://4000milesnorth.wordpress.com/2007/07/26/sprechen-the-japanese/#comment-221 Davina Fri, 27 Jul 2007 08:30:44 +0000 http://4000milesnorth.wordpress.com/2007/07/26/sprechen-the-japanese/#comment-221 Ahhh the memories. :) I always found it easier to learn the various Kanji - before I stopped studying it I think I would have known over 1000. Ahhh the memories. :) I always found it easier to learn the various Kanji – before I stopped studying it I think I would have known over 1000.

]]> By: Suave http://4000milesnorth.wordpress.com/2007/07/26/sprechen-the-japanese/#comment-218 Suave Fri, 27 Jul 2007 06:02:00 +0000 http://4000milesnorth.wordpress.com/2007/07/26/sprechen-the-japanese/#comment-218 A very good review of the ups and downs of the Japanese language sir. It brings back horrible memories of learning Japanese in high school :( The Kanji was always the part I dreaded the most. Thankfully they never went into all the different counting words - never heard of that before! Good idea phasing it out of school. A very good review of the ups and downs of the Japanese language sir. It brings back horrible memories of learning Japanese in high school :( The Kanji was always the part I dreaded the most. Thankfully they never went into all the different counting words – never heard of that before! Good idea phasing it out of school.

]]> By: Joel http://4000milesnorth.wordpress.com/2007/07/26/sprechen-the-japanese/#comment-216 Joel Thu, 26 Jul 2007 12:04:34 +0000 http://4000milesnorth.wordpress.com/2007/07/26/sprechen-the-japanese/#comment-216 I'm completely disillusioned - I thought this was a PHOTOjournal! Where can I complain about this flagrantly false advertising? [ You know, I actually had that same thought just after I posted this. "But", I thought to myself, "no-one would be pedantic enough to care, would they?" Once again, you prove me wrong sir. Bravo! ] I’m completely disillusioned – I thought this was a PHOTOjournal! Where can I complain about this flagrantly false advertising?

[ You know, I actually had that same thought just after I posted this. "But", I thought to myself, "no-one would be pedantic enough to care, would they?" Once again, you prove me wrong sir. Bravo! ]

]]> By: Tony http://4000milesnorth.wordpress.com/2007/07/26/sprechen-the-japanese/#comment-215 Tony Thu, 26 Jul 2007 09:50:16 +0000 http://4000milesnorth.wordpress.com/2007/07/26/sprechen-the-japanese/#comment-215 Great post mate. But please, please, tell me you are kidding about the different numerals depending on the shape of the object. Do conversations just stop awkwardly when you have to count something that is both flat *and* long and thin??? Sounds like a recipe for sectarian violence. The brutal war between "Clan Planks Flat" and "Clan Planks Long and Thin" must be mere days away. [ I found that people are pretty forgiving when you makes mistakes, but particularly so with numbers. People have told me you pretty much spend two solid years in primary school just learning how to count. I didn't go into the exact horrors of counting, but here's some examples: base numbers: one: ichi two: ni three: san four: yon or shi (which one? Depends on the situation.) thin and long things (e.g. chopsticks, trees): one: ippon two: nihon three: sanbon four: yonbon (not shibon) generic things (useful when ordering food): one: hitori two: futori three: mittsu four: yottsu I guess you could say it's similar that we have one, two, three and first, second, third、which don't sound related. But much worse, applied across lots of categories. I also found out that Japanese kids today apparently aren't learning this stuff anymore - they just use the base numbers and "ko" as a generic counting word. I decided I'm doing that.] Great post mate. But please, please, tell me you are kidding about the different numerals depending on the shape of the object. Do conversations just stop awkwardly when you have to count something that is both flat *and* long and thin??? Sounds like a recipe for sectarian violence. The brutal war between “Clan Planks Flat” and “Clan Planks Long and Thin” must be mere days away.

[ I found that people are pretty forgiving when you makes mistakes, but particularly so with numbers. People have told me you pretty much spend two solid years in primary school just learning how to count. I didn't go into the exact horrors of counting, but here's some examples:

base numbers:

one: ichi
two: ni
three: san
four: yon or shi (which one? Depends on the situation.)

thin and long things (e.g. chopsticks, trees):

one: ippon
two: nihon
three: sanbon
four: yonbon (not shibon)

generic things (useful when ordering food):

one: hitori
two: futori
three: mittsu
four: yottsu

I guess you could say it's similar that we have one, two, three and first, second, third、which don't sound related. But much worse, applied across lots of categories.

I also found out that Japanese kids today apparently aren't learning this stuff anymore - they just use the base numbers and "ko" as a generic counting word. I decided I'm doing that.]

]]> By: MDB http://4000milesnorth.wordpress.com/2007/07/26/sprechen-the-japanese/#comment-214 MDB Thu, 26 Jul 2007 04:24:50 +0000 http://4000milesnorth.wordpress.com/2007/07/26/sprechen-the-japanese/#comment-214 Your blog has changed. I'm confused and scared. Oh, wait, am I allowed to use the word 'blog' on a wordpress page? See how confused I am?! I recently saw a list of really bad icecream flavours. No surprise japan topped the list with such gems as fish icecream, beetroot icecream, squid icecream and chunky horseflesh icecream. Mmmm, horseflesh.... They make up for it with their games though :) [ Yeah, I've been messing with the skin. A lot of them have stylish yet tiny fonts, which make it pretty hard to read. I'd like to run the skin modestly titled <a href="http://www.informationarchitects.jp/the-ideal-website" rel="nofollow">The Ideal Website</a>, but that means I'd have to run Wordpress on my own hosting, which would require work, which I have moral objections to. Interesting side note - the guys who made that theme were trying to sell it for $1,500, but gave it out for free when no-one bought it. I should have put bets on that. Oh yes, and the games here are teh awesome. I could be playing the new Zelda DS game right now while you have to wait three more months. Uh, if I could read Japanese. So to qualify: the games are most likely teh awesome, if I was able to play them. ] Your blog has changed. I’m confused and scared.

Oh, wait, am I allowed to use the word ‘blog’ on a wordpress page? See how confused I am?!

I recently saw a list of really bad icecream flavours. No surprise japan topped the list with such gems as fish icecream, beetroot icecream, squid icecream and chunky horseflesh icecream. Mmmm, horseflesh….

They make up for it with their games though :)

[ Yeah, I've been messing with the skin. A lot of them have stylish yet tiny fonts, which make it pretty hard to read. I'd like to run the skin modestly titled The Ideal Website, but that means I'd have to run WordPress on my own hosting, which would require work, which I have moral objections to.

Interesting side note - the guys who made that theme were trying to sell it for $1,500, but gave it out for free when no-one bought it. I should have put bets on that.

Oh yes, and the games here are teh awesome. I could be playing the new Zelda DS game right now while you have to wait three more months. Uh, if I could read Japanese. So to qualify: the games are most likely teh awesome, if I was able to play them. ]

]]> By: Leanne http://4000milesnorth.wordpress.com/2007/07/26/sprechen-the-japanese/#comment-212 Leanne Wed, 25 Jul 2007 23:50:38 +0000 http://4000milesnorth.wordpress.com/2007/07/26/sprechen-the-japanese/#comment-212 *brain explodes* Question though. If you are illiterate and mute, how do you ask "So, how's stuff?" [ Nod and smile. And the best thing is, it's universally understood. Except for those places where they do it the other way around.] *brain explodes*

Question though. If you are illiterate and mute, how do you ask “So, how’s stuff?”

[ Nod and smile. And the best thing is, it's universally understood. Except for those places where they do it the other way around.]

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