eric-learns-japanese

[eric-learns-japanese]

Japanese 30day challenge

On today’s episode of “WTF Japan”, we join Eric as he stumbles upon some odd words.

“Why do words like this exist?”, he wonders.

What did he find? Let’s take a look...

Katakana:Day 11/30

(バーコード人) This word can roughly be translated to “Barcode Men”. What this is referring to is men who are balding and attempt to combover what little hair they have, resulting in what looks like a barcode on top their head.

(キープ君) In not so many words, this is a boyfriend that you “keep” until someone better comes along!

(クリスマスケーキ) Single women over the age of 25 are seen in Japan the same way a Christmas Cake is seen in December, both lose value after the 25th.

(パラサイトシングル) This is a term used to describe an adult that is fully capable of living on their own, but chooses to continue living at their parents house. Basically a way of saying that they leech off their parents just as a parasite would.

(バックシャン) Have you ever seen a woman who looks absolutely gorgeous from behind, but isn’t good looking at all when viewed from the front? Well, Japan has a word for just that!

[eric-learns-japanese]

N4 verb list

会う (あう)- to meet

合う (あう)- to fit, to suit

上がる (あがる)- to go up

開く (あく)- to open

空く (あく)- empty, with space

開ける (あける)- to open

あげる- to give

上げる (あげる)- to rise

遊ぶ (あそぶ)- to play

浴びる (あびる)- to take a shower

洗う (あらう)- to wash

有る (ある)- to be, to exist

ある- to possess

歩く (あるく)- to walk

言う (いう)- to say, to tell

行く (いく)- to go

いる- need, must have, be required

いる- to exist

入れる (いれる)- to insert, to put in

歌う (うたう)- to sing

生まれる (うまれる)- to be born

売る (うる)- to sell

起きる (おきる)- to get up, to stand up

置く (おく)- to put

送る (おくる)- to send

押す (おす)- to push

覚える (おぼえる)- to memorize, to remember

泳ぐ (およぐ)- to swim

降りる (おりる)- to get off

終わる (おわる)- to end

買う (かう)- to buy

返す (かえす)- to return an object

帰る (かえる)- to return home

掛かる (かかる)- to take time or money

書く (かく)- to write

かける- to wear

かける- to make a phone call

貸す (かす)- to lend

冠る (かぶる)- to put on a hat

借りる (かりる)- to borrow

聞こえる (きこえる)- to hear, can hear, be audible

消える (きえる)- to go out, to vanish

決まる (きまる)- to be decided

決める (きめる)- to decide

聞く (きく)- to listen

切る (きる)- to cut

着る (きる)- to wear, to put on

来る (くる)- to come

くださる- to give (to me) respectful

比べる (くらべる)- to compare

暮れる (くれる)- to get dark

くれる- to give (me) simple form

消す (けす)- to turn off, to switch off

答える (こたえる)- to answer

困る (こまる)- to be in trouble

込む (こむ)- to be crowded

壊す (こわす)- to break

壊れる (こわれる)- to be broken

咲く (さく)- to blossom

探す (さがす)- to look for, to search

さす- to open an umbrella

下がる (さがる)- to get down

下げる (さげる)- to lower

差し上げる (さしあげる)- to give (respectful)

騒ぐ (さわぐ)- to make noise, to be excited

触る (さわる)- to touch

叱る (しかる)- to scold

知らせる (しらせる)- to notify

調べる (しらべる)- to investigate

死ぬ (しぬ)- to die, to pass away

閉まる (しまる)- to close

閉める (しめる)- to close

締める (しめる)- to fasten a belt

知る (しる)- to know

知らせる (しらせる)- to notify

調べる (しらべる)- to investigate

過ぎる (すぎる)- to exceed

進む (すすむ)- to make progress

捨てる (すてる)- to throw away

滑る (すべる)- to slide, to slip

吸う (すう)- to breath, to smoke

住む (すむ)- to live, to reside somewhere

済む (すむ)- to finish

する- to do

座る (すわる)- to sit

育てる (そだてる)- to rear, to bring up

出す (だす)- to take out, hand in

立つ (たつ)- to stand

倒れる (たおれる)- to break down

足す (たす)- to add a number

訪ねる (たずねる)- to visit

尋ねる (たずねる)- to ask

建てる (たてる)- to build

立てる (たてる)- to stand up, to put up

楽しむ (たのしむ)- to enjoy

足りる (たりる)- to be sufficient

頼む (たのむ)- to ask, to request

食べる (たべる)- to eat

違う (ちがう)- to be different

使う (つかう)- to use

疲れる (つかれる)- to get tired

着く (つく)- to arrive

作る (つくる)- to make, to produce

捕まえる (つかまえる)- to seize

付く (つく)- to be attached

漬ける (つける)- to soak, to pickle

伝える (つたえる)- to report

続く (つづく)- to continue, to last

続ける (つづける)- to continue, go on

包む (つつむ)- to wrap

釣る (つる)- to fish

連れる (つれる)- to lead

点ける (つける)- to turn on

勤める (つとめる)- to work for someone

出かける (でかける)- to go out

出来る (できる)- can do, to be able to do

出る (でる)- to leave

手伝う (てつだう)- to assist

飛ぶ (とぶ)- to fly

止まる (とまる)- to stop

取る (とる)- to take

通る (とおる)- to go through

届ける (とどける)- to reach

泊まる (とまる)- to lodge at

止める (とめる)- to stop

取り替える (とりかえる)- to exchange

撮る (とる)- to take a photo

直す (なおす)- to fix, to repair

直る (なおる)- to be fixed, repaired

治る (なおる)- to be cured, to heal

泣く (なく)- to cry

無くなる (なくなる)- to disappear, to get lost

亡くなる (なくなる)- to die

投げる (なげる)- to throw away

なさる- to do (respectful)

慣れる (なれる)- to grow accustomed to

並ぶ (ならぶ)- to form a line

並べる (ならべる)- to line up

なる- to become

逃げる (にげる)- to escape

似る (にる)- to be similar

脱ぐ (ぬぐ)- to take off clothes

盗む (ぬすむ)- to steal

塗る (ぬる)- to paint, lacquer

濡れる (ぬれる)- to get wet

寝る (ねる)- to sleep

眠る (ねむる)- to sleep

登る (のぼる)- to climb up

飲む (のむ)- to drink

残る (のこる)- to remain

乗り換える (のりかえる)- to take off clothes

乗る (のる)- to take, to ride

入る (はいる)- to enter

履く (はく)- to put on shoes

運ぶ (はこぶ)- to transport

始まる (はじまる)- to begin, to start

始める (はじめる)- to begin

走る (はしる)- to run

働く (はたらく)- to work

話す (はなす)- to talk, to speak, to tell

張る (はる)- to put something on, to stick

払う (はらう)- to pay

晴れる (はれる)- to clear up

引く (ひく)- to pull

冷える (ひえる)- to get cold, to feel chilly

光る (ひかる)- to shine

引き出す (ひきだす)- to draw out

弾く (ひく)- to play an instrument

引っ越す (ひっこす)- to move (house)

開く (ひらく)- to open an event

拾う (ひろう)- to pick up, to gather

吹くふくfukuto blow (wind)

増える (ふえる)- to increase

太る (ふとる)- to grow fat

踏む (ふむ)- to step on

降り出す (ふりだす)- to start to rain

降る (ふる)- to fall (rain, snow)

褒める (ほめる)- to praise

曲がる (まがる)- to turn

参る (まいる)- to go, to come (humble)

負ける (まける)- to lose

間違える (まちがえる)- to make a mistake

間に合う (まにあう)- to be in time for

回る (まわる)- to go around

待つ (まつ)- to wait

見える (みえる)- to be visible, to be seen

磨く (みがく)- to polish, to brush

見つかる (みつかる)- to be discovered

見つける (みつける)- to discover

見せる (みせる)- to show

見る (みる)- to see, to watch

向かう (むかう)- to face

迎える (むかえる)- to go to meet

召し上がる (めしあがる)- to eat (respectful)

持つ (もつ)- to have, to own

申し上げる (もうしあげる)- to say, to tell (respectful)

申す (もうす)- to be called, to say (respectful)

戻る (もどる)- to return, to go back

貰う (もらう)- to receive

休む (やすむ)- to rest

焼く (やく)- to bake, to grill

役に立つ (やくにたつ)- to be helpful

痩せる (やせる)- to become thin

止む (やむ)- to stop

止める (やめる)- to stop

やる- to do

ゆれる- to shake, to sway

呼ぶ (よぶ)- to call

読む (よむ)- to read

汚れる (よごれる)- to get dirty

寄る (よる)- to visit

喜ぶ (よろこぶ)- to be delighted

沸かす (わかす)- to boil, to heat

別れる (わかれる)- to separate

分かる (わかる)- to know, to understand

沸く (わく)- to boil, to grow hot

笑う (わらう)- to laugh, to smile

割れる (われる)- to break

忘る (わすれる)- to forget

渡す (わたす)- to hand over

渡る (わたる)- to cross

N5 verbs | Japanese vocabulary | buy me a coffee

[eric-learns-japanese]

Question to fellow learners

A few weeks ago I started a class to learn Japanese. I thought it might be a good idea to get a more formal educational setting, but I’m not sure how I feel about it...

I mean, am I learning things? Yeah, but nothing I couldn’t or haven’t already learned by myself. We have a book and we learn sentence structure and practice reading out loud, but that’s it. Now that I own the book I could do the exact same thing for free at home. I’m beginning to wonder if the teacher is teaching me, or if the book is!

So I guess my questions to everyone who reads this are:

What is your opinion on “formal/ in classroom” classes for language learning?

Do you feel classes actually help at the beginner level, or are best left to intermediate and advanced levels?

Am I being too hard on this class, or am I justified in my thinking that I could learn just as much on my own at the beginner level, with the aid of the book and a few apps?

[eric-learns-japanese]

なぁ！私です！ (Hey! It’s me!)

I may only be what fellow learners call “Absolute Beginner”, but I’m willing to help anyone with whatever I can!

Thank you for the mention, it means a lot to me!

ありがとうございます🙏

do you have any active langblrs (preferably studying japanese, but any works!) that you would recommend? i’m trying to find some, but it seems the ones i follow haven’t been active in months (besides you and a couple others). thank you!

Hello friend! Sorry I’m only now getting to this, but I’ve only gotten back home a few days ago, and also tumblr did that thing where it doesn’t show you that you’ve received any messages.

Going through the blogs I’m following rn, I’m loving @goro-goro-studies, @foreverlostintokyo, @kawausolang, @eric-learns-japanese, @pigonhhae, @aki-no-arashi, @manablr, @kickasstudies, @aubergine-study, @kusetsu, @intellectae, @studyingsian, @honey-studiess, @rystudy, @jibunstudies, @hinodestudies and everyone else listed under “friends” in the right hand side of my blog!

[eric-learns-japanese]

Japanese 30day challenge

Today’s challenge is more reading practices, and the things we will be trying to read are cities in North America.

Katakana:Day 10/30

Japanese words

アメリカ

ニューヨーク

ロサンゼルス

シカゴ

ヒューストン

フィニックス

フィラデルフィア

サンアントニオ

サンディエゴ

カナダ

トロント

モントリオール

バンクーバー

カルガリー

オタワ

エドモントン

ウィニペグ

ハリファックス

メキシコ

メキシコシティ

グアダラハラ

フアレス

ティフアナ

レオン

モンテレイ

サポパン

ナウカルパン

English translations

America

New York

Los Angeles

Chicago

Houston

Phoenix

Philadelphia

San Antonio

San Diego

Canada

Toronto

Montreal

Vancouver

Calgary

Ottawa

Edmonton

Winnipeg

Halifax

Mexico

Mexico City

Guadalajara

Juárez

Tijuana

León

Monterrey

Zapopan

Naucalpan

[eric-learns-japanese]

What should I learn?

When you look at how wide the area of languages are, you can get lost quite fast. This post will help you to decide which topics you should cover. Let’s look at this diagram and decide what is necessary.

The Basics

The basics are sectors which you will need in everyday life, at your job and overall to survive. Here are some very important points:

Restaurant

Food/nutrition

Asking for the way/explaining the way

Job (For example office language)

Shop

Numbers

Animals

Furniture

Explaining one’s thoughts

Personal interests

The personal interest section covers what you do in your freetime or what you like. 

Sports

Music

Favourite x/y

Characteristics

Other hobbies

Overall interests

Occasional

The section “Occasional” covers topics which might be a topic somewhen, like if you go to a shrine from time to time, it might be helpful to know the vocab for it.

Occasional events like marriage

Trending topics

Grammar

Of course the grammar is included in all of those sectors. Trust me you’re going to need all the tenses to express your thoughts as clear as possible. The more grammar rules you have in your brain, the more tools you have to create wonderful houses. 

[eric-learns-japanese]

Months in Japanese

一月 - january (ichigatsu)

二月 - february (nigatsu)

三月 - march (sangatsu)

四月 - april (shigatsu)

五月 - may (gogatsu)

六月 - june (rokugatsu)

七月 - july (shichigatsu)

八月 - august (hachigatsu)

九月 - september (kugatsu)

十月 - october (juugatsu)

十一月 - november (juuichigatsu)

十二月 - december (juunigatsu)

[eric-learns-japanese]

Japanese 30day challenge

I personally hate sports, but that fact never stops people from talking about them to me! I might as well learn katakana words about sports so I can at least pretend I care about them...

Katakana:Day 9/30

Japanese words

スポーツ

チーム

ボール

テニス

ゴルフ

レスリング

ボクシング

ダンクシュートする

English translations

Sports

Team

Ball

Tennis

Golf

Wrestling

Boxing

To slam dunk (verb)

Sentence Practice

やった！ 私のチームは試合に勝ちました！ (Yippie! My team won the match!)

レスリングとボクシングは等しいですか (Are wrestling and boxing similar?)

明日マリアさんはテニスを遣ります (Tomorrow Maria will play tennis.)

へえ？ ゴルフはスポーツですか (Really? Golf is a sport?)

彼はボールをダンクシュートします (He will slam dunk the ball.)

[eric-learns-japanese]

Japanese 30day challenge

We buy them, we wear them....what are they? Clothes! Yep, that’s today’s subject.

Katakana:Day 8/30

Japanese words

サンダル

ジーンズ

スーツ

ネクタイ

パジャマ

ウェディングドレス

Tシャツ

フォーマルウェア

パンティ

セクシー

English translations

Sandals

Jeans

Suit

Tie

Pajamas

Wedding dress

T-shirt

Formal wear

Panties

Sexy

Sentence Practice

スーツとネクタイはフォーマルウェアですか (Are a suit and tie formal wear?)

それらパンティはセクシーですね (These panties are sexy, aren’t they?)

昨日、 高いウェディングドレスを買いました (Yesterday I bought an expensive wedding dress.)

このTシャツはとても窮屈です！ (This T-shirt is very tight!)

日本でジーンズとサンダルを着ます (I will wear jeans and sandals in Japan.)

ひろしさんは家でパジャマを着ません (Hiroshi doesn’t wear pajamas at home.)

[eric-learns-japanese]

Giant Freaking Japanese Color List

This list’s intention is to give quite a few common-ish colors a home together in one post for learning purposes and spicing up one’s color vocabulary. For color names that don’t match their English equivalents, I’ve given what I feel is the most accurate translation of the name, plus the literal meaning of the Japanese name for the color. I’ve mostly excluded color names like 

真っ黒（まっくろ）pure black

墨色（すみいろ）inky black (literally ink color)

濡れ羽色（ぬればいろ）jet black (literally wet wing color)

烏羽色（からすばいろ) glossy black (literally crow wing black)

鈍色（にぶいろ）dark, dull grey (literally dull color)

鉛色（なまりいろ）lead color (livid)

鼠色（ねずみいろ) darkish grey, like rat fur (literally rat color)

鋼色（はがねいろ）steel color (steel blue, blueish-gray)

桜色（さくらいろ）pale pink (literally cherry blossom color)

桃色（ももいろ）light pink (literally (Japanese) peach color)

岩礁色（がんしょういろ）coral reef color (darkish pink)

真っ赤（まっか）pure red

紅梅色（こうばいいろ）red Japanese plum color

紅色（べにいろ）crimson

鉄色（てついろ）reddish-black (literally iron color)

橙色（だいだいいろ）orange

茜色（あかねいろ）deep reddish-orange (like that of a sunset) (literally madder red)

柿色（かきいろ）reddish-brown (literally persimmon color)

朱色（しゅいろ）vermillion/ cinnabar

緋色（ひいろ）vermillion (often translated as scarlet)

鳥の子色（とりのこいろ）eggshell color (literally bird’s egg color)

玉子色（たまごいろ）light yellowish (literally egg color)

山吹色（やまぶきいろ）bright, golden yellow (literally mountain blow color (wish I knew about this one for my previous color post..))

黄土色（おうどいろ）yellow ochre

琥珀色（こはくいろ）amber color

萌黄色 (もえぎいろ) yellowish-green (literally sprouting yellow color)

柳色（やなぎいろ）pea green (literally willow green)

鶯色(うぐいいろ）similar to olive green, perhaps slightly lighter (literally Japanese nightingale green)

苔色（こけいろ）moss green

若草色（わかくさいろ）chartreuse, lime grren (literally young grass color)

翡翠色（ひすいいろ）jade green

千歳緑 (ちとせみどり）evergreen (literally 1,000 year green)

仙斎茶 or千歳茶 (せんさいちゃ）dark brownish-green (literally 1,000 year tea)

鴨の羽色（かもの��いろ）teal (literally duck wing color)

青緑色 or 青緑（せいりょくしょく or あおみどり)   turquoise/ aqua (literally blue-green color)

碧色（へきしょく）greenish-blue (sorta that sea water blue color)

真っ青（まっさお）pure blue

白殺しor 藍白 (しろころし or あいじろ）very light whitish blue (literally white killing or indigo white)

瓶覗色（かめのぞきいろ）lightish blue (literally water jug peek color)

水色（みずいろ）light blue (literally water color)

空色（そらいろ）sky blue

浅葱色（あさぎいろ）dark cyan (literally pale leek color.. ??)

縹色（はなだいろ）light blue

瑠璃色（るりいろ）cobalt blue

紺碧（こんぺき）azure

紺色（こんいろ）navy blue

勝つ色（かついろ）dark, blackish indigo (literally victory color)

藍色（あいいろ) indigo

藤色（ふじいろ）lavender (literally wisteria color)

ライラック lilac

菫色（すみれいろ）violet

葡萄色（えびいろ or ぶどういろ）dark purple, maroon (literally shrimp color or grape color respectively)

ベージュ色（ベージュいろ）beige

肌色（はだいろ）skin color

茶色（ちゃいろ）tawny brown, lightish brown (literally tea color)

狐色（きつねいろ）light brown, orangish-brown (literally fox color)

褐色（かっしょく）brown

鳶色（とびいろ）auburn (literally black kite color (a type of bird))

焦げ茶色（こげちゃいろ）dark brown (literally burnt tea brown)

銅色（あかがねいろ）copper

青銅色（せいどういろ）bronze (that sort of greenish rusted bronze) (literally blue copper/bronze color)

—-these last few are just color-related terms—-

蛍光（けいこう）fluorescent

透明（とうめい）clear

メタリック（metallic)

Alright, that about covers everything I wanted to put in this post. I shied away from including colors that are loanwords (like オリーブ色）because they are usually pretty self-explanatory. feel free to correct me if I made any errors, or add other colors you find important which I may have missed. If people make enough additions to add other advanced colors, I may end up making a part 2 for this post. Thanks for reading.

[eric-learns-japanese]

[eric-learns-japanese]

Japanese 30day challenge

For today I’ll be working with katakana vehicle words and place they can go?!?

Bonus word:

乗り物/ のりもの (vehicle)

Katakana:Day 7/30

Japanese words

バス

タクシー

ヘリコプター

フェリー

スペースシャトル

カナダ

パン屋

ブティック

フィジー

ピンク

English translations

Bus

Taxi

Helicopter

Ferry

Space shuttle

Canada

Bakery

Boutique

Fiji

Pink

Sentence Practice

今日、 ジョンさんはヘリコプターでカナダに行きます。 (Today John will go to Canada by helicopter.)

明日、 アダムさんはパン屋に来ますか (Will Adam be coming to the bakery tomorrow?)

どのバスがブティックに行きますか (Which bus is going to the boutique?)

すみません、 ピンクのタクシーはどこですか (Excuse me, where is the pink taxi?)

わあ！そのスペースシャトルは巨大です！ (Wow! That space shuttle is huge!)

昨日、 マリアさんはちなみさんとフェリーでフィジーに行きました (Yesterday Maria went with Chinami to Fiji on a ferry.)

[eric-learns-japanese]

Japanese 30day challenge

Not everyday has to be about lists of vocabulary and sentences; sometimes I can sit back a little and laugh at the Japanese language. How you may ask? Allow me to show you a few katakana words I find amusing!

Katakana:Day 6/30

アメリカンドッグ (Corn dog)

It’s literally “American dog” as in, Americanized version of the hot dog. They’re not wrong I guess... the corn dog is a hot dog that has been bastardized by Americans.

バックミラー (Rear-view mirror)

It’s a mirror you use to see behind you in a car, a “back mirror”. I feel they took the action of what it does and said “Yes, that’ll be the word!”

ベビーカー (Stroller)

What is a stroller in the most literal sense? It’s a mini car that you carry a baby in, a “baby car”

マジックテープ (Velcro)

Velcro is two pieces of material that hook together without the need for an adhesive. It could be described as almost magical, it’s like a “magic tape” of sorts.

オートバイ (Motorcycle)

Pedaling a bike is making it move manually, right? So if that bike had a motor and didn’t require pedaling, it would be automatic? It’d be an “auto bike”

ウィンカー (Turn signal)

Have you ever walked to the front of your car after turning on one of your turn signals? Doesn’t it kinda look like your car is winking at you? I know what you are going to say, but it’s a blinker. No, blinking is when you move both your eyes together, this is one eye! It’s a “winker”

テレビゲーム (Video game)

Wanna help make a new word? Ok let’s associate games with there location. 1. Games played on a board? Got it, board game! 2. Games played in a video format? Hmm, so like on a television? How about “television game”

フリーダイアル (Toll free call)

How much is a toll free call? That’s easy, they are “free to dial”

フロントガラス (Windshield)

Where is the windshield usually located on a car? The front. What’s it made of? Glass. So it’s the car’s “front glass”

チェリーボーイ (Male virgin)

Oh how I’ve saved the best for last! This one is literally the worst katakana word I’ve found yet! Went you lose your virginity, it’s said that you’ve popped your cherry. So if you are still a virgin you would have a whole cherry? Now, be a man who still has his virginity, you’d be a “Cherry boy”

[eric-learns-japanese]

How to say hello in Japanese! 👋 

Want to learn Japanese? Get started by downloading our FREE PDF Japanese cheat sheets here: https://www.japanesepod101.com/?src=social_hello_062118

[eric-learns-japanese]

japanese vocab: fruit ♡  

果物 • くだもの • kuda mono • fruit

林檎 • りんご / リンゴ • ringo • apple

西瓜 • すいか / スイカ • suika • watermelon

梨 • なし • nashi • pear

苺 • いちご / イチゴ • ichigo • strawberry

桃 • もも / モモ • momo • peach

オレンジ • orenji • orange

バナナ • banana • banana

マンゴー • mango- • mango

パイナップル • painappuru • pineapple

サクランボ • sakuranbo • cherry 

檸檬 • レモン • remon • lemon

葡萄 • ぶどう • budou • grape

キウイ • kiui • kiwi

ココナッツ • kokonattsu • coconut

アボカド • abokado • avocado

ライム • raimu • lime

feel free to correct me if anything is wrong ~☆

[eric-learns-japanese]

Gudetama ! If you’re learning Japanese (I’m not rn), this is something cute and short (only 1 min) that you can learn from

[eric-learns-japanese]

Japanese 30day challenge

There are quite a few places I’ve found that are written in katakana. Some of them are buildings and some are countries.

Katakana:Day 5/30

Japanese words

デパート

スーパー

レストラン

パーティー

コンビニ

ホテル

コンサート

アメリカ

イギリス

��シア

English translations

Department store

Supermarket

Restaurant

Party

Convenient store

Hotel

Concert

America

England

Russia

Sentence Practice

このパーティーがすごいですね (This party is amazing, isn’t it?)

あなたはアメリカからですか。 イギリスからですか。 (Are you from America or England?)

ジョンさんはロシアにホテルに行きました (John went to a hotel in Russia.)

コンサートはいくらですか (How much does the concert cost?)

あっ！このレストランが高いです！(Ahh! This restaurant is expensive!)

スーパーで果物を買いません (I don’t buy fruit at the supermarket.)

このコンビニが汚いです、 けどそのデパートが胡散臭いです！ (This convenient store is dirty, but that department store is shady looking!)