japanwords

[japanwords]

Do you know the meaning of these 10 emojis?

How many of the following emojis can you identify?

1. 🍱

2. 🏩

3. 🎑

4. 🙈🙉🙊

5. 🅰️🅱️🆎🅾️

6. 👺

7. 📛

8. 💢

9. 🆗🆖

10. 🈲

Emojis originally come from Japan. Find out more in my Medium article below.

If you don't have a Medium subscription, you can read it for free on my website here.

#japan #japanese culture #japanese #japanese langblr #emoji

[japanwords]

臥虎藏龍 Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon

This is a Chinese idiom which describes a place that is full of talented or extraordinary people who remain hidden and undiscovered.

It's also the name of the 2000 Chinese martial arts movie starring the amazing Michelle Yeoh.

#書道 #calligraphy #kanji

[japanwords]

まこ "Mako"

(image by client)

I was very honoured to receive a commission to create this artwork. "Mako" is the name of the client's beloved cat.

I love cats >^^<

The name "Mako" is the nickname of the Japanese actor Makoto Iwamatsu. Because it is a Japanese name, I decided to render it in hiragana.

Hiragana is one of Japan's three writing systems. It contains about 50 elegant, round characters, and is a syllabary, meaning that each character represents a phonetic sound rather than (in the case of kanji) a meaning.

Hiragana is used for:

Short versions of names (such as "Mako" above).

2. Writing a word that you have forgotten the kanji for (common with children and foreigners!).

For example, "cat" in kanji is 猫. You can also write it phonetically in hiragana: ねこ.

3. Verb conjugations. The kanji represents the verb, and the hiragana that comes after it changes depending on whether it's affirmative, negative, present tense, past tense, etc.

Example:

食べる = eat (present/future)

食べた = ate (past)

(食 is the kanji for "to eat", and the characters after it are hiragana).

4. Adjective conjugations. In Japanese, adjectives conjugate too, in a similar way to verbs.

If you're interested in owning your own custom-made calligraphy artwork, please feel free to get in touch. More details here.

#japanese language #japan #japanese culture #書道 #japanese #japanese calligraphy #japanese art #calligraphy #kanji #japanese langblr

[japanwords]

Japanese Apps instead of Duolingo

Beelinguapp

Bluebird

Bunpo

Busuu

Clozemaster

Drops

HeyJapan

Hiragana Quest

Infinite Japanese

kawaiiDungeon

Ling

Lingodeer

Lingopie

Lingvist

LingQ

LyricsTraining

Mango

Mondly

Oyomi Japanese Reader

renshuu

Takoboto Japanese Dictionary

Todaii

Qlango

Write It! Japanese

#japanese apps #japanese #japaneselangblr #japanese language

[japanwords]

桜梅桃李 (o-bai-to-ri) “never compare yourself to others”

This yo-ji-juku-go (Japanese 4-character idiom) is comprised of 4 beloved Japanese trees. They are:

桜 = cherry (sakura)

梅 = apricot (ume)

桃 = peach (momo)

李 = plum (sumomo)

Each of these iconic trees blossoms in its own time and in its own unique way.

桜 (sakura) are of course the cherry blossom trees famous for blooming spectacularly and incredibly briefly once a year, usually in April. Sakura trees in full bloom is an annual event, and people go to their local park to see them, take photos, and have picnics underneath them. It's such a big deal that it's reported on the weather forecast, with reporters commenting on how quickly the "sakura front" is moving northwards across the country.

梅 (ume) is the "ume" in umeshu! This is a sweet liqueur which is made from soaking ume in sake. It tastes amazing, and is one of the things I miss most about Japan. Japanese learners will no doubt recognise "ume" as usually being translated as "plum", however it is technically closer to the Western apricot.

桃 (momo) is one of the best-loved fruits in Japan. There is even a fairy story called "Momo-taro" about a little boy who comes from inside a peach. He grows up to be a great hero, of course, and saves everyone from a demon. "Momo" is also a fairly common girls' name.

李 (sumomo) are known as "Japanese plums" or "Asian plums". The trees are famous for their delicate white flowers. They usually bloom just before the sakura. Whilst not as famous or as showy as sakura, they are well-loved for their elegance, and for being a sign of spring.

This one-off calligraphy artwork is available on my Etsy shop here:

#japan #japanese #japanese langugage #japanese langblr #japanese learning #kanji #japanese flower #sakura #umeshu #japanese idioms #japanese art #japanese quotes #asian art #japanese calligraphy #asian calligraphy #inspiring quotes #inspriation #motivation #書道 #spring #flowers

[japanwords]

Do you Really Need to Learn Kanji for a Short Trip to Japan?

My latest article is available on Medium here.

It's also available on my website, free for everyone to read (no paywall).

#japanese language #japanese culture #japan #japanese #kanji #japanese langblr

[japanwords]

卯月(uzuki) "April" (archaic)

Like many countries, Japan uses a 12-month calendar. The names are very simple. January is literally "Month one" 一月, February is "Month two" 二月, etc.

However, before the Meiji Restoration (mid-1800s) it was common to use an older 12-month system. These months’ names referenced the weather and the seasons (similar to the French Revolutionary calendar).

April is 卯月. Japanese learners will recognise the kanji 月 as "moon" or "month". The first kanji is less common. It is most often used to represent the Sign of the Rabbit in East Asian Horoscopes, and the Year of the Rabbit uses this sign too.

So what is the connection between April and rabbits? Perhaps nothing. It is thought that 卯 was originally 植, which has the same sound. 植 is the kanji for "planting". This refers to rice planning, which is carried out every spring throughout Japan.

#japanese language #japan #japanese culture #書道 #japanese #japanese calligraphy #japanese art #calligraphy #kanji #japanese langblr

[japanwords]

Some important stuff here

The 6 Differences Between は and が

DIFFERENCE 1

The important fact is AFTER は

• この犬は私のベットです。This dog is my pet.

You want to emphasize that this is not a stray dog. It is not someone else's pet dog. It is MY PET. So anything comes after は is the main part you want the listener to pay attention to.

The important fact is BEFORE が

• この犬が私のベットです。This dog is my pet.

You want to emphasize that THIS IS THE DOG that is my pet. Not other dogs. Imagine you're at a park and there are 3, 4 other dogs playing together with your dog and you want to tell your friend that THIS DOG is the one that is your pet dog, other dogs are not yours. So, what comes before が is the main part you want to tell the listener.

More examples:

• このケーキはおいしいです。This cake is DELICIOUS! (You want to tell your friend that this cake is indeed very good. Your emphasis falls on おいしい, so you use は, because the important fact is AFTER は.

• このケーキがおいしいです。THIS CAKE is delicious. (You want to tell your friend that among all the cakes on the buffet table, this particular cake you are pointing to is the most delicious one. Others are not good.) Your emphasis falls on このケーキ (THIS CAKE), so you use が, because the important fact is BEFORE が.

DIFFERENCE 2

New information and things that you mention for the first time, use が. Old information or topics that have been mentioned earlier but is now repeated again, use は.

• 学校にマイクという男がいます。There is boy named Mike in my school.

You started the conversation with your friend by saying there's a new student named Mike in the school. That is the first time you mentioned Mike. It is new information, therefore use が.

• マイクはアメリカ出身です。Mike is from America.

You mention Mike the 2nd time now and it is no longer a new information. It is considered old information, therefore use は.

DIFFERENCE 3

Stating facts without adding your personal opinion or judgment use が. By adding your own opinion or judgment, use は.

• 外に猫がいます。There is a cat outside.

You are just merely stating a fact that there is a cat outside. This sentence doesn't include your description about the cat. No personal opinion or judgment about the cat.

• あの猫は白いです。The cat is white in colour.

You are putting your description, your judgment into the sentence about the cat. When you are adding your own thoughts, opinion, description about something, use は.

• 日本の料理はおいしいです。Japanese food is tasty.

You are putting your opinion/judgment about Japanese food in your sentence, therefore, use は.

DIFFERENCE 4

When you make comparison, use は. When you eliminate other options, use が.

• お茶は好きですが、コーヒーは好きじゃありません。I like tea but I don't like coffee.

DIFFERENCE 5

If two actions are done by the same person, use は. If two actions are done by two different persons, use が first, then use は for the second action.

• 私はごはんを食べるとき、テレビを見ます。I have my meal and I am watching TV.

• 私がごはんを食べるとき、父はテレビを見ます。When I have my meal, my father watches TV.

DIFFERENCE 6

To modify a phrase into a noun, use が.

• これは彼女が作ってくれたケーキです。

What cake is this? This is the cake that is baked by my girlfriend. The phrase 「彼女が作ってくれた」 is to modify the cake, to describe about the cake.

Quiz Time

• 部屋は広いです。

• 部屋が広いです。

In English, both sentences mean "The room is spacious." But what is the difference?

In 部屋は広いです, it shows a comparison contrast nuance (read DIFFERENCE 4). If you say this, the listener will believe that you are making a comparison of this room with all the other rooms in the house. You want to say this room is spacious, whereas the other rooms are smaller in size.

In 部屋が広いです, you are merely stating a general fact about this room being spacious (read DIFFERENCE 3). You are not making any comparison. Your sentence has no added personal judgement or opinion. You are stating a fact about the room being spacious.

#japanese language #japan #japanese #japanese langblr

[japanwords]

I feel seen.

OKAY YES this is absolutely asinine and I know it, but also it made me literally whoop out loud and scare my dog so here you go!

The fucking Toden, baby! Why yes, I AM an adorable tram(p) that roams suburban Arakawa, hurtling back and forth between Rocco's Pizza in Oji and my beloved dinky shitamachi neighborhood at mindbending speeds in excess of 13 km/h! I miss those days! I miss the incessant dinging noise. I miss the elderly passengers and their tiny overstimulated grandchildren and all the advertisements for enka singers and medical clinics. Constantly getting passed by mamacharis and loving every minute.

#Japan #trains

[japanwords]

春分 (shun-bun) "Spring Equinox" (21st March)

In Japan, Spring Equinox is a national holiday. Happy Spring Equinox!

#japanese culture #japanese language #japanese art #japanesecalligraphy #書道 #書道アート #japaneselangblr

[japanwords]

関 (seki) "barrier, connection"

This kanji character is rarely used on its own, but is often found combined with other characters.

For example, 関西 (Kansai) and 関東 (Kanto).

Since ancient times there has been a road from Tokyo (the current capital) to Kyoto (the former capital). At the mid-way point there used to be a large gate. This led to people thinking of places in Japan as being either "West of the barrier" 関西 (Kansai), or "East of the barrier" 関東 (Kanto). To this day, the distinction still exists, and there is still a fair amount of good-natured East-side/West-side rivalry.

Although this character refers to a barrier, it is found in words related to "connection" such as 関係 "relationship" and 関心 "concern/interest".

It seems as if, as far as the Japanese language is concerned, a boundary is not only something that can form a barrier between two things, but also something which can connect two previously unrelated things.

#japanese language #japanese culture #japan #書道 #japanese #japanese calligraphy #japanese art #calligraphy #kanji #japanese langblr #kansai #kanto

[japanwords]

Request to Japanese language learners

About 6 years ago I was studying Japanese with a teacher who got me to buy a Japanese language textbook.

I really liked it.

I want to recommend it to other Japanese learners and teachers but I cannot remember what it was called.

It wasn’t Genki.

It wasn’t Minna no Nihongo.

It wasn’t Japanese for Busy People.

The only things I remember:

- it had a darkish blue cover

- near the beginning there was a short article about Einstein which explained why he was sticking his tongue out in that famous photo

Anyone know what I’m talking about?

#learning japanese #japanese #japanese langblr #japanese study #study japanese #japanese studyblr #japanese language #japan #please tell me I didn’t dream it

[japanwords]

Which Japanese Camera Company is Named after the Buddhist Goddess of Mercy?

The culture behind the names of five famous Japanese companies

My latest Medium article for Japonica publication.

Read it on Medium here.

Read it for free on my website here.

 The inspiration for the name of a famous camera company. Image by ftanuki from Pixabay.

#japanese culture #japan #japanese #japanese history #japanese companies

[japanwords]

An interesting reply to my article.

100% agree that there is no "right" way to study Japanese. I would argue that the "right" way is whatever works for you. Don't listen to YouTube polyglots telling you that they have found the Holy Grail of language learning, the ONE way that will make you fluent in a week. Go your own way, forge your own path, experiment, and find what works for you.

Three Mindset Shifts that will Fast-Track your Japanese Language Learning

image by andsproject from pixabay

Read the article for free here.

The above is my latest Medium article for the publication Japonica.

I love Medium but I don't love the paywall, so I'm making all my articles available on my website here.

You can read this article on Medium here.

#japanese language #japanese langblr #langblr

[japanwords]

弥生 (yayoi) "March" (archaic)

Like many countries, Japan uses a 12-month calendar. The names are very simple. January is literally "Month one", February is "Month two", etc.

However, before the Meiji Restoration (mid-1800s) it was common to use an older 12-month system. These months’ names referenced the weather and the seasons (similar to the French Revolutionary calendar).

The month 弥生 (yayoi) "March" means "the month with increasing new life".

This old system is based on a lunar calendar with exactly 28 days in each month, beginning and ending on the new moon. An obvious disadvantage to this system is that the months don’t fit into a year exactly, and so the months will get earlier and earlier each year and there won't actually be any new life during "the month with increasing new life". So every so often the calendar had to be adjusted a little.

This is also first name of the artist 彌生草間 (Yayoi Kusama). Her name uses the older, more complex version of the 弥 kanji - 彌.

#japanese language #japanese culture #japan #書道 #japanese #japanese calligraphy #japanese art #calligraphy #kanji #japanese langblr #japanese history

[japanwords]

偶然 (gū-zen) "coincidence"

A calligraphy commission for a friend who very much believes in fate.

#japanese language #japanese culture #japan #書道 #japanese #japanese calligraphy #japanese art #calligraphy #kanji #japanese langblr

[japanwords]

More shady kanji

reading about romaji on japanese wikipedia and came across another fucked up looking kanji

撥ねる

why's it so spikey. looks like a fricken cactus.

it has a few meanings but one of them (the one it meant in the context i saw it in) was "to pronounce as a syllabic nasal". wtf

#langblr #japanese #japanese language #learning japanese #language learning #language acquisition #kanji