Tsukasa

Well, I just thought about sharing a basic and easy way to learn how to speak Japanese.

I have a lot of friends who are interested in learning how to speak the language. I think this will greatly help those people who want to learn Japanese.

Anyways, I will go through this lesson by lesson. So first up, a little bit of an introduction to the Study of Nippongo...

In the study of Nippongo, one must always remember that the language is very different from english in many aspects. For one, Nippongo has no article and no plural forms of nouns.

Another important difference is the use of particles Wa and Ga which do not have their counterparts in English. However, conjugation of verbs is similar to that of English Grammar.

To be able to speak Nippongo or Japanese, it is vital that the one learning the language, like any other foreign language, is geniunely interested, patient, and persevering.

With that said, let us begin...

Lesson I:

The Study of Wa and Ga:

Wa is used to indicate a subject while placing the emphasis on the predicate and Ga is used to emphasize the subject.

Examples:

1. Kore wa hon desu.
This is a book

2. Korera wa hon desu.
These are books.

Please note that the word hon in the above sentences can mean a book and books as well.

Imasu and Arimasu:

Imasu is used for persons and living things or animals and Arimasu is used for inanimate things.

Examples:

1. Otoko ga imasu.
There is a man.

2. Hon ga arimasu.
There is a book.

3. Jikan ga arimasu.
There is time.

Words for Study:

1. Wa - particle
2. Ga - particle
3. Desu - be-verb
4. Arimasu - there is
5. Imasu - there is
6. hon - book
7. san - Miss, Mr.,Mrs., or Messrs.
8. otoko - man
9. kore - this
10. sore - that

Sample Sentences:

1. Kore wa otoko desu
This is a man.

2. Kochira Maria san desu.
This is Maria.

3. Maria san wa koko ni imasu.
Maria is here.

4. Sore wa hon desu.
That is a book.

5. Sore wa isu desu.
That is a chair.

6. Kore wa hana desu
This is a flower.

7. Kore wa inu desu.
This is a dog.

8. Are a gakkoo desu.
That is the school.

9. Sore wa otoku desu.
That is a man.

10. Kore wa empitsu desu.
This is a pencil.

More words for study:

1. otoko - man
2. onna - woman
3. hon - book
4. isu - chair
5. inu - dog
6. gakkoo - school
7. empitsu - pencil
8. hana - flower
9. otoosan - father
10. okkasan - mother

Study of Common Expressions:

1. Ohayoo - Good morning
2. Konbanwa - Good evening
3. Konnichiwa - Good afternoon
4. Maiban - Every night or nightly
5. Mainichi - Every day or daily
6. Nanji desu ka - What time is it?
7. Mada ikanai de kudasai - Please don't go yet.
8. Kirai desu ka - Don't you like it?
9. Tokidoki - Sometimes
10. Ikura desu ka - How much is it?
11. Sumimasen - Please excuse me or pardon me
12. Nannimo naranai - Good for nothing
13. Wakarimasu ka - Do you understand?
14. Arigatou - Thank you
15. Ja ne - See you or See you later

__________________
Giving up is for losers, I don't want to be a loser so I won't give up no matter what.

Each of us have our own point of view, no matter what someone may tell you, never loose faith in yourself and in what you believe is true.

jinalyn

Nice info!
Heheh I only know konbanwa,konichiwa,and arigatou
My friend used to tell me "sayonara" before.. haha coz that's the only japanese word she knows.

__________________

Tsukasa

Well, that's just the first lesson...

so here's the update...

Lesson II:

Study of Sentences:

1. First, the subject
2. Second, the phrase and modifier
3. Third, the compliment
4. Fourth, the verb

Examples:

1. Kore wa hon desu.
1 2 3
This is a book.

2. Kore wa hana desu.
This is a flower.

3. Sore wa inu desu.
That is a dog.

4. Sono Shonen wa Jose san desu.
The boy is Jose.

5. Kore wa kodomo desu.
1 2 3
This is a child.

Study thoroughly the arrangement or order of the sentences to enable you to construct Nippongo sentences with ease.

Words for Study.

1. koer - this
2. sore - that
3. hana - flower
4. empitsu - pencil
5. hako - box
6. hata - flag
7. neko - cat
8. uchi - house
9. kodomo - child
10. to - door

Sample Sentences:

1. Kore wa hon desu.
This is a book.

2. Kore wa hana desu.
This is a flower.

3. Sore wa empitsu desu.
That is a pencil.

4. Sore wa isu desu.
That is a chair.

5. Kore wa kodomo desu.
This is a child.

6. Are wa gakko desu.
That is the school.

7. Kore wa hako desu.
This is a box.

8. Sore wa kogo desu.
That is a basket.

9. Sore wa uchi desu.
That is a house.

Study of Parts of the Body:

1. karada - body
2. atama - head
3. kao - face
4. hana - nose
5. kuchi - mouth
6. hoho - cheeks
7. hitai - forehead
8. me - eyes
9. ago - chin
10. mimi - ears
11. hifu - skin
12. hige - beard
13. mayuge - eyebrow
14. koshi - hips
15. ude - arms
16. ke - hair
17. te - hands
18. hiza - knees
19. kubi - neck
20. tekubi - wrist
21. ashi - legs
22. kata - shoulders
23. kuchibiru - lips
24. senaka - back
25. wakinoshita - armpit
26. shita - tongue
27. mune - chest
28. hara - stomach
29. ha - tooth
30. hone - bone
31. tsume - fingernails
32. shinzoo - heart
33. chichi - breast
34. kakato - heels
35. yubi - fingers
36. chi - blood
37. iki - breath
38. noo - brain
39. hai - lung
40. foot

That's all for the second lesson.

__________________
Giving up is for losers, I don't want to be a loser so I won't give up no matter what.

Each of us have our own point of view, no matter what someone may tell you, never loose faith in yourself and in what you believe is true.

rUshY

WOWWW!! I've always wanted to learn japanese! Konechewa to everyone!

Romanticguy18

Just to let you know Tsukasa I have read both your posts and have found them useful. More lessons would be very nice. Either posted or Pmed to me. I have wanted to learn jappanesse for a while, and now that It will help me get promoted quicker I have a good reason to practice it.

__________________

jinalyn

Cool! Tsukasa would love to teach you!

__________________

Tsukasa

Gomen, I didn't notice this post earlier on when I first checked in. As Jinalyn had said, I'd love to teach you. I'll be posting more lessons tomorrow since I have more free time then.

I'm glad that you found my posts useful, for that, Arigato!

__________________
Giving up is for losers, I don't want to be a loser so I won't give up no matter what.

Each of us have our own point of view, no matter what someone may tell you, never loose faith in yourself and in what you believe is true.

Tsukasa

Alright...Sorry if I haven't post in here for a while, I had been busy lately especially with the going-ons concerning my Uncle...

Anyhow, here's the 3rd lesson of Learning to Speak Japanese!

Lesson III

The Study of the Five (5) W's:

Who, what, where, when and why or the 5 W's in the English Language are used in asking questions. The same principles and uses are applied in asking questions in Nippongo and the ka is used in place of a question mark.

Examples:

1. Kore wa hon desu ka.
Is this a book?

2. Kore wa isu desu ka.
Is this a chair?

3. Kore wa hana desu ka.
Is this a flower?

4. Sore wa neko desu ka.
Is that a cat?

5. Sore wa Jose-san desu ka.
Is that Jose?

6. Sore wa kago desu ka.
Is that a basket?

7. Kore wa empitsu desu ka.
Is this a pencil?

8. Kore wa uchi desu ka.
Is this a house?

9. Sore wa kodomo desu ka.
Is that a child?

10. Sore wa shonen desu ka.
Is that a boy?

The Five (5) W's Translated to English:

1. dare - who
2. nani (nan) - what
3. doko - where
4. itsu - when
5. doshite (or) naze - why

Examples in Sentences:

1. Dare desu ka or Donata desu ka
Who are you?

2. Dare desu ka
Who is it?

3. Nan desu ka
What is it?

4. Nani ga arimasu ka
What is there (or) What have you?

5. Doko desu ka
Where is it?

6. Kare/Kanojo wa doko ni imasu ka
Where is he (or) Where is she?

7. Dooshite kimasu ka
Why do you come?

8. Itsu kimasu ka or Itsu ikimasu ka
When do you come (or) When do you go?

9. Dooshite kimasu ka
Why do you go (or) Why do you come?

10. Dooshite ikimasu ka
Why are you going?

Words for Study:

1. kago - basket
2. heya - room
3. kami - paper
4. ki - tree
5. kutsu - shoes
6. mizu - water
7. sensei - teacher
8. mado - window
9. mikan - orange
10. ringo - apple

Exercises:

1. Kore wa kago desu ka
Is this a basket?

2. Kore wa heya desu ka
Is this a room?

3. Kami wa doko ni arimasu ka
Where is the paper?

4. Ano hito wa Jose-san desu ka
Is he Jose?

5. Sore wa ki desu ka
Is that a tree?

6. Kutsu wa doko ni arimasu ka
Where are the shoes?

7. Okane ga arimasu ka
Do you have money?

8. Anata wa ikimasu ka
Do you go (or) Are you going?

9. Kore wa kami desu
This is paper.

10. Kore wa kami desu ka
Is this paper?

11. Kagami wa atarashi-i desu
The mirror is new.

12. Otoo-san wa gakkoo ni imasu
Father is in the school.

13. Inu wa niwa ni imasu
The dog is in the yard.

14. Sore wa hana sedu ka
Is that a flower?

15. Anata wa doko ni ikimasu ka
Where are you going?

16. Ano hito wa dare desu ka
Who is that man?

17. Seito wa gakkoo de asonde imasu
The pupils are playing.

18. Hon wa doko ni arimasu ka
Where are the books?

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

Tsukasa's Note:

That's about all of it today, the next lesson would be posted on friday after our exams. Hope that this new lesson helps all who are interested in learning the Japanese Language.

Please note that the word 'God' is not translated simply as 'kami' since if you say 'kami' that would mean 'paper'. For the word 'God' it is translated as 'Kami-sama'. Just like to clear that one up since it could get mixed up with later chapters.

__________________
Giving up is for losers, I don't want to be a loser so I won't give up no matter what.

Each of us have our own point of view, no matter what someone may tell you, never loose faith in yourself and in what you believe is true.

Tsukasa

Lesson IV
Study of Affirmative and Negative Forms of Verbs:

Affirmative

1. imasu - there is (for persons)
2. arimasu - there is (for things)
3. desu - be verb
4. arimasu - there is
5. imasu - there is/be verb
6. desu - be-verb

Negative
For negative, use masen

1. imasen - there is none
2. arimasen - there is none
3. dewa arimasen - is not
4. nai - there is none
5. inai - there is none
6. ja nai - is not

Note:
It is a peculiar way that Nippongo verbs and adjectives have their affirmative and negative forms.

Adjectives Affirmative

1. chiisai - small
2. wakai - young
3. negai - long
4. tooku - far
5. atsui - hot
6. warui - bad
7. karai - salty
8. takai - high
9. atarashi-i - new
10. hayai - fast

Adjectives Negative

1. chiisaku nai - not small
2. wakaku nai - not young
3. nagaku nai - not long
4. tooku nai - not far
5. atsu ku nai - not hot
6. waruku nai - not bad
7. karaku nai - not salty
8. takaku nai - not high
9. atarashiku nai - not new
10. hayaku nai - not fast

Words for Study:

1. chiisai - small
2. wakai - young
3. nagai - long
4. tooi - far
5. atsui - hot
6. hayai - fast
7. atarashi-i - new
8. takai - high
9. karai - salty
10. warui - bad

Exercises:
Affirmative:

1. Sore wa hon desu
That is a book.

2. Jose-san wa uchi ni imasu
Jose is in the house.

3. Kore wa hana desu
This is a flower

4. Sore wa nagai empitsu desu
That is a long pencil

5. Kodomo wa heya ni imasu
The child is in the room

6. Kore wa otoko desu
This is a man.

Negative

1. Sore wa hon dewa arimasen
That is not a book

2. Jose-san wa uchi ni imasen
Jose is not in the house.

3. Kore wa hana dewa arimasen
This is not a flower

4. Kono empitsu wa nagaku nai
The pencil is not long

5. Kodomo wa heya ni imasen
The child is not in the room




Well, that's all for today, if you have any questions/comments/suggestions feel free to ask.

__________________
Giving up is for losers, I don't want to be a loser so I won't give up no matter what.

Each of us have our own point of view, no matter what someone may tell you, never loose faith in yourself and in what you believe is true.