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[funwithjapanese]

Japanese learning tip for the new year: I highly recommend learning with a native Japanese speaker. As someone who is self-taught in Japanese, I used to just study with textbooks and online notes. While my Japanese was understandable, I was often told it sounded stiff and academic. It wasn't until I started regularly practicing with native speakers that people commented on how much more natural my Japanese sounded. So if you have the time and some extra pocket money, invest those extra hours spent at home this year in lessons with native speakers! My favorite tutoring site is italki.com, and my favorite teacher there is Elly, a native speaker from Kumamoto with years of experience teaching foreign residents in Japan. (All of the teachers on italki are wonderful, but please especially check out Elly because she's awesome!!!!)

Please leave me any comments or messages if you have questions about online Japanese learning!

[funwithjapanese]

Hi! I'm a beginner in japanese, and I'd like to know your opinion about studying with online courses. I'm thinking about using japanesepod101 but now I'm not really sure if it's the best choice... And japanese textbooks are really expensive in my country (no amazon here), so I'm searching other ways to study. Tysm for everything 💫✨

Hi, Anon!  Thanks for the question.  I totally understand not wanting to pay for textbooks (I’ve rarely used textbooks during my 10 years of studying).  They’re so expensive!  While I’ve never used japanesepod101 and therefore don’t have an opinion on it, what I think matters the most is pairing what you’re studying with real-life experiences.  So the material in textbooks, japanesepod101, duolingo, and whatever other resources you might use are absolutely valuable, but what will give you that extra motivation and help you contextualize what you’re studying is authentic material.  

While watching a full movie without subtitles is difficult at the beginner stage, you can start with listening to songs or short anime (little kids shows aren’t that necessary because you can find some simple dialogue in slice of life anime, too, depending on the content), trying to pick out the words or phrases you know.  This is excellent for authentic input.

I also highly recommend trying to have conversations with native speakers right away.  When I was a beginner, I used the Japanese virtual world Ameba Pigg to play games with other online users and have simple conversations.  I struggled a lot and was slow to respond, having to go back to my dictionary every time I wanted to say something, but it got me communicating right away.  In addition to Japanese sites, there are also great language exchange sites and apps like italki.com or HelloTalk where you can message or call native speakers.

　

Sorry for the long response!  To make my answer more concise, I think that free study materials for Japanese are excellent, but they become more excellent when used alongside authentic attempts to communicate in the language.  Have fun with it, and がんばってね！

[funwithjapanese]

[funwithjapanese]

Apps Master post

Hey guys, this is my first -ever- master post (cause I have never made one before hehe) Just recently i resumed learning Korean (as well as other subjects) and i wanted to share some apps that would be (hopefully) helpful to you guys.

Korean

Eggbun- Chat to Learn Korean

Learn Korean- 50 Languages

Learn Korean Like a Native

Learn Korean. Speak Korean

HiNative- Learn Languages  (works with other languages as well)

Hangul - Korean Alphabet

암기고래 - 말해주는 단어장! (영어,중국어 등)

Learn Korean Phrasebook

Learn Korean Grammar

Learn Korean 6000 Words

Learn Korean Words And Test

PopPopping Korean

Poppopping Korean–Conversation

Korean Dictionary & Translate

Korean Grammar Haja

Korean Alphabet Tracing

똑똑한 영단어(영어 단어 암기 & 테스트)

Korean Conversation Courses 

SNU LEI – Hangeul 

Learn Speak Korean Flashcards 

Korean Vocab 

Learn Korean

Chinese

Read Chinese, Learn Chinese

iKnow (Chinese, Japanese and English)

Learn Chinese. Speak Chinese

Learn Chinese - ChineseSkill

Learn Chinese Mandarin Words

Moki Chinese Class: For Kids (GREAT FOR BEGINNERS)

Learn Chinese Mandarin Phrases

Learn Chinese - 50 Languages

Fun Chinese Language Learning

Kids Learn Mandarin Chinese (just for fun)

Learn Chinese Mandarin Phrases

차이나탄 - 가장 쉬운 중국어(Free 단어장, 뉴스)

왕기초 중국어 – 깔아두기만 하면 중국어로 말하게 됨 

Learn Chinese 6,000 Words

Learn Chinese Words Free

Learn Chinese - HelloChinese (VERY HELPFUL)

Japanese

Learn Japanese 1000 Sentences

Japanese Kanji Study

NHK Easy Japanese News

Learn Japanese. Speak Japanese

Learn Japanese - Minna NoNihongo

Learning Japanese

JA Sensei - Learn Japanese

Learn Japanese 6,000 Words

Learn Japanese Word and Test

Learn Japanese Phrasebook

Learning Japanese

Obenkyo

Anime Japanese

Kanji Study

Kanji - Read and Write

Moe Moe Japanese  

French

Learn French. Speak French

French Dictionary - Offline

Learn French

Learn French Phrasebook

French English Dictionary

Learn French 6,000 Words

Learn French - Speak French

Learn French with Babbel

French Verbs

French Test

Learn French with Le Monde 

Learn French for Beginners

French Grammar

Learn French 

News in Slow French

French Conversation Courses

Learn French Vocabulary Free

Le Conjugueur

Oxford French Dictionary

French Interactive Readings

Learn French Easy | Le Bon Mot

French - English offline dict

iTalk French

Learn French by listening 

Radios France

French conjugations 

Learn French Quickly

Améliorez votre français !

Spanish

Learn Spanish with SpeakTribe

Learn Spanish

Spanish-English offline dict. 

Learn Spanish - Español

Spanish Phrases 

Learn Spanish Phrasebook

Spanish Dictionary - Offline 

Learn Spanish with Babbel

Learn Spanish. Speak Spanish

Learn Spanish 6,000 Words

Spanish English Translator 

Conjugate Spanish Verbs

Spanish Grammar 

Speak Spanish Free

Spanish Conversation Courses

Learn Spanish - Speak Spanish 

Endless Spanish

Learn Spanish Words Free

Learn Spanish Quickly 

Spanish Newspapers 

Spanish Translator     

English-Spanish Dictionary

Learn Spanish Free 

Learn Spanish with Lingorami 

Learn Spanish - 50 languages

if you have any requests or questions, please feel free to ask/ message me :)

[funwithjapanese]

「人生はワンチャンス！」Day Four:  手のひらサイズの幸せ

手のひらサイズの幸せ (te no hira saizu no shiawase) = palm-sized happiness

首相 (shushou) = Prime Minister

徹底 (tettei) = completeness, thoroughness

政策 (seisaku) = political measures, policy

経済 (keizai) = economy, finance, business

復興 (fukkou) = revival, reconstruction

不屈 (fukutsu) = persistence, fortitude

信念 (shinnen) = faith, conviction

持ち主 (mochinushi) = owner, proprietor

激務 (gekimu) = exhausting/hard work

役人 (yakunin) = government worker

驚く (odoroku) = to be surprised

秘書 (hisho) = secretary

制する (seisuru) = to hold back, reign in, control

予算書 (yosansho) = budget form

紛争 (funsou) = dispute, trouble

兵士 (heishi) = soldier

犠牲になる (gisei ni naru) = to be sacrificed, fall victim to

遺族 (izoku) = bereaved family

謝罪 (shazai) = apology

慰め (nagusame) = comfort, consolation

身近 (midjika) = familiar, close to oneself

政治家 (seijika) = politician

国民 (kokumin) = nation, people, citizens

導ける (michibikeru) = to lead, guide

[funwithjapanese]

Sorry!

To those of you who might have noticed that I am not posting every day/every other day on this blog and my Korean blog, I just wanted to let you know that I am currently taking a three-week intensive learning course at my school and have had almost no free time to concentrate on languages.  I will definitely try to get back in a study routine after the class ends next week!

[funwithjapanese]

[funwithjapanese]

「人生はワンチャンス！」Day Three:  時々、都会とサヨナラしよう

時々、都会とサヨナラしよう (tokidoki tokai to sayonara shiyou) = Sometimes, we need to say goodbye to the city.  (The book’s translation is, “Escape from urban life from time to time.”)

社創業者 (shasougyousha) = the founder of a company

期間 (kikan) = period of time

別荘 (bessou) = villa

囲まれる (kakomareru) = to be surrounded

邪魔される　(jama sareru) = to be bothered by

自然 (shizen) = nature

事業 (jigyou) = business

構想 (kousou) = vision, idea, conception

得る (eru) = to obtain

思い切って (omoikitte) = to dare to do something, be bold

飛び込む (tobikomu) = to dive in

新たな (aratana) = new, fresh

発見 (hakken) = discovery

思いもよらない (omoimoyoranai) = inconceivable, unexpected, unforeseen

判断 (handan) = judgment 

休息 (kyuusoku) = rest, relaxation, relief

術 (jutsu) = art, means of, way

[funwithjapanese]

「人生はワンチャンス！」Day Two:  自分らしさをなくさない

自分らしさをなくさない (jibun rashisa wo nakusanai) = Don’t lose your sense of self.  (The book’s translation is, “Don’t forget who you are.”)

不動 (fudou) = immobile, steadfast

地位 (chii) = position, status

築く (kizuku) = to build, pile up, amass

孤児院 (kojiin) = orphanage

簡素な (kanzona) = simple, plain

周囲 (shuui) = environment, circumstances

丈 (take) = length, measure (e.g. skirt length)

詰める (tsumeru) = to take in, reduce, shorten, stuff in

襟元 (erimoto) = collar

蝶結び (choumusubi) = bowtie

工夫 (kufuu) = scheme, device, figuring out

さり気ない (sarigenai) = nonchalant, unconcerned

厳格な (genkakuna) = strict, severe, rigid, austere

修道女 (shuudoujo) = Catholic nun

つつも (tsutsumo) = even though, despite ...

魅力的な (mitryokutekina) = charming, fascinating, glamorous, attractive

環境 (kankyou) = environment, circumstance

喪失 (soushitsu) = loss, forfeit

哲学者 (tetsugakusha) = philosopher

勝利 (shouri) = victory, success

他人 (tanin) = another person, others

欠点 (ketten) = faults, defects, weakness

女優 (joyuu) = female actress

精神 (seishin) = mind, spirit, heart, intention

[funwithjapanese]

Reblogging this from my Korean blog as an explanation for why I’ll only be uploading 「人生はワンチャンス！」vocabulary every other day.

New Project Announcement!

Yesterday I started a new literacy project on my Japanese blog, funwithjapanese, where I am creating vocabulary lists for each page of the book 「人生はワンチャンス！」(Only One Chance at Life) that I am currently reading.  My goal was to read one page of the book each day, but I recently ordered a Korean poetry book that I want to work on too.  So, I have decided to alternate each day between the Japanese and Korean vocabulary lists!

First of all, I’m so sorry for not updating this blog lately.  I’ve been incredibly busy with school and slacking off on my language studies.  Recently, I got into the Korean drama 도깨비 (Goblin) anddddd apparently the poetry book that Eun Tak gives Kim Shin is real!  It’s called “어쩌면 별들이 너의 슬픔을 가져갈지도 몰라” (Perhaps the Stars Will Take Away Your Sadness) and I haven’t gotten around to reading it yet.

Every other day, I will try to read a poem and upload key vocabulary words for it.  I definitely recommend buying the book (you can find it on Amazon), but even if you don’t have the poems these will be helpful vocabulary sheets anyway!

Let’s have fun studying together!

[funwithjapanese]

「人生はワンチャンス！」Day One:  基本を制する者は世界を制する

基本を制する者は世界を制する (kihon wo sei suru mono wa sekai wo sei suru) = Those who control the basics control the world.  (The book’s translation is, “It’s all about the basics.”)

Vocabulary:

芸術家 (geijutsuka) = artist

創始者 (soushisha) = originator, founder

構図 (kouzu) = composition

落書き (rakugaki) = scribbles

幼少期 (youshouki) = early childhood

絵画 (kaiga) = picture, painting

基礎 (kiso) = foundation, basis

猛練習 (mourenshuu) = hard training

薪 (maki) = firewood, kindling

越せる (koseru) = transcend

逸話 (itsuwa) = anecdote 

称賛 (shousan) = praise, admiration

土台 (dodai) = foundation, basis

積み重ねる (tsumikasaneru) = pile up, accumulate

偉人 (ijin) = great person

名言 (meigen) = wise saying, famous saying

集大成 (shuutaisei) = compilation

優秀 (yuushuu) = superiority, excellence

行為 (koui) = act, deed

弟子 (deshi) = pupil, disciple, apprentice

秘訣 (hiketsu) = secret (of a trick, art form, method, etc.), key to success

平凡 (heibon) = commonplace, ordinary, mediocre

非凡 (hibon) = rare, extraordinary, unique

[funwithjapanese]

New Project Announcement!

Hi everyone!  お久しぶりです。長い間何も書かなくてごめんなさい！

I have been extremely busy with school and have not had time to study Japanese on a regular basis.  Fortunately I have continued to practice conversational Japanese with friends, but my reading and writing skills have gone way downhill.

Now that summer vacation has started, I decided to create a new study project for myself to hopefully improve my reading (especially kanji) and vocabulary.  Last year, my professor gave me a book called 「人生はワンチャンス！」(Only One Chance at Life) by Mizuno Keiya (水野敬也) and Naganuma Naoki (長沼直樹) (>>please correct me if I’m reading their names wrong) with one-page anecdotes about how to live a better life.  I will be creating a study set with key vocabulary words from each story, and hopefully I will stick with it every day!  (If I don’t post for a while, seriously, feel free to pester me about it until I do.)

These vocabulary words are going to be more intermediate or advanced than what I usually post, so I apologize to the beginning learners who are following me (but these vocabulary words would still be good for you to know!)

Anyway, over the next couple of months I will narrate my progress with each page of the book and provide a short vocabulary study guide for you all.  「人生はワンチャンス！」is a super cute book (and it has puppies!), and its short stories are good to study when you don’t have a lot of time.

[funwithjapanese]

快適 (kaiteki) -- comfortable, pleasant

**This is a “na” adjective**

女の人は快適なベッドで寝ています。(onna no hito ha kaiteki na beddo de neteimasu)

The woman is sleeping in a comfortable bed.

[funwithjapanese]

迷信深い (meishinbukai) -- superstitious 

[funwithjapanese]

is there a difference between べき, はず, and the conditionals when used to mean "should"? sorry if that made no sense

As you mention conditionals, I assume you are thinking of ‘should’ in the sense of “Should you have any problems, please get in touch.”, where you can replace the ‘should’ with ‘if’.

べき isn’t be used in this way, it’s used to mean ‘should’ in the ‘I should go shopping because there is no food in the fridge.’ kind of way.  

はず also isn’t used in this way. It expresses a kind of conviction that you have, “This film should be good.” A common phrase is 「そんなはずがない」or 「そんなはずない」 which is “It shouldn’t be like that.” or “That can’t be right/true.” Otherwise, はず expresses some sort of plan or expectation. “She got on the plane this morning and should arrive at 4pm this afternoon.” 

If I’ve misunderstood your question, please let me know!

[funwithjapanese]

春 (haru) -- spring

[funwithjapanese]

青空 (aozora) -- blue sky

青い (aoi) is "blue" and 空 (sora) is "sky"