Japanese is so damn hard (1 Viewer)

[Rickboy]

What in Hades have I gotten myself into.

OK, so those that know me know my lovely wife, Miyako is Japanese. Back in the 90s the US Army saw fit to station me at a base just 40 miles south of Tokyo. I was there for two years and like some dumb redneck, I didn't learn much Japanese beyond Konnichiwa, Domo Arigato Gozaimasu, and perhaps a few more words. Fast forward to 2005, when last visited Japan and I was totally helpless. I had only learned a few more words and couldn't read/write at all.

So Miyako and I decided to go back to Japan this fall. I happily send Miyako back to Japan all the time to see her family but this time I want to see them and tour the country a bit. Only this time I decided to take communication a bit more seriously. So for the last few months I've been studying Japanese. I can actually read and write Hiragana, Katakana, and some Kanji but really I'm still at an elementary level. BTW, did you catch that? Yea. Japan has THREE WAYS OF WRITING. Hiragana for Japanese words, Katakana for foreign words, and Kanji which are symbols basically adopted from China a few thousand years ago. Oh, another BTW, there are over 46 Hiragana symbols, over 46 Katakana symbols, and somewhere over 50000 KANJI..

So after a couple months, I've got Hiragana and Katakana mostly memorized. I know maybe 20 Kanji. Oh and the sentence structure is totally screwy. One nice thing though, no pronouns. You just have to figure any implied word gender out on your own. I could rant for a year on this confounding language. Again, what in Hades have I gotten myself into?

I'm using iphone apps, books, more books, and putting a lot of time into this. This week, I'm doing more immersion with Miyako, only speaking in Japanese. She must think she's raising a toddler at this point. I'm literally putting a couple hours a day into this. Even on weekends...

I guess It'll be worth it to see the shock on my in-laws faces when I start speaking to them in something that isn't redneck English.

If you're wondering, Miyako speaks PERFECT English. She's even developed a southern drawl. My neighbors thought she was born somewhere in the US. They were kinda shocked when she mentioned she was from Tokyo. Heck, she can sound like a full on Louisiana Redneck whenever she wants. It's amazing she's put up with me for 30 years.

Anyways, I've been studying for three hours today and felt the need to rant. Seriously, I think Japanese was created solely to embarrass any gaijin that try to learn it. If I become even moderately fluent, I'm going to try something easier like translating languages from the aliens living in Area 51.

Oh, for our trip. We're going to spend a few nights in Tokyo and Yokohama before flying up to Sapporo to visit Oka-san and Ota-san for a few days. Then we'll fly down to Kyoto and spend the next two weeks making our way back to Tokyo where we'll visit my Sister in-law and her family. On the way we're stopping in Nagoya to visit Gihbi Park to get my Totoro fix (IFKYK) then take the shinkansen back to Tokyo. There will be many shrine and museum visits along the way. At least two pairs of sneakers will be worn out from all the walking. Much Japanese food will be consumed. Oh yes, it will be devoured..

 

[guidomerkinsrules]

The lack of stressing syllables is very confusing as well

I’m sure your in laws will appreciate the efforts

Completely jealous about your visit to Ghibli park

 

[Mr. Blue Sky]

I came to Thailand, both last year and now this year- knowing exactly three phrases: “Sawadee-krap” (Hello).. “Kap khun krap” (Thank you) and “Hong Nam” (bathroom).. Thai is supposed to be an exceptionally difficult language to learn, and i am still all foreign-languaged-out from having to take Francais classes all the way from 1st grade thru college.. so ill hold tight for now, but i suppose if i stay permanently , or at least semi-permanently - i will eventually pick up more … btw if you’ve ever seen the movie ‘Hachi A Dogs Tale’ it’s one of my favorite films and id love to check out the Hachiko statue near Tokyo.. it was a little far from Narita on my layover, but please post some pics if y’all make it there, and if you haven’t seen the movie then maybe give it a watch .

 

[Rickboy]

I came to Thailand, both last year and now this year- knowing exactly three phrases: “Sawadee-krap” (Hello).. “Kap khun krap” (Thank you) and “Hong Nam” (bathroom).. Thai is supposed to be an exceptionally difficult language to learn, and i am still all foreign-languaged-out from having to take Francais classes all the way from 1st grade thru college.. so ill hold tight for now, but i suppose if i stay permanently , or at least semi-permanently - i will eventually pick up more … btw if you’ve ever seen the movie ‘Hachi A Dogs Tale’ it’s one of my favorite films and id love to check out the Hachiko statue near Tokyo.. it was a little far from Narita on my layover, but please post some pics if y’all make it there, and if you haven’t seen the movie then maybe give it a watch .

I’ve already been there once. We’re going to Shibuya, so we’ll likely pass it again.

I’m really looking forward to seeing the autumn leaves. They’re pretty spectacular in November.

 

[superchuck500]

Duolingo bruh












(this is a joke btw)

 

[Rickboy]

Duolingo bruh












(this is a joke btw)

I've actually been using it. While it has its limitations, it was really good in helping me learn hiragana and katakana.
That said, I'm slowly rolling off it.

 

[guidomerkinsrules]

I've actually been using it. While it has its limitations, it was really good in helping me learn hiragana and katakana.
That said, I'm slowly rolling off it.

Actually my youngest is doing Duolingo/Japanese bc he’s heavy into anime
He’s liking the Duolingo

 

[zeetes]

i've been using duolingo to learn german

 

[guidomerkinsrules]

i've been using duolingo to learn german

Warum?

 

[zeetes]

Warum?

woman

in the 200+ days of using it, i have learned a lot. owl is eule.

 

[Rickboy]

Example of frustration with Japanese.
Use of ‘wa’ and ‘ga’…..

Wa - a particle that places emphasis on the TOPIC of a sentence.
Ga - a particle that places emphasis on the SUBJECT of a sentence.

WTH!?!?! Subject and Topic of a sentence are the same dang thing.

It took another half hour of reading to get the gist of how they work. If your curious, don’t be. It’s not worth your brain exploding in frustration.

 

[BarBar]

woman

in the 200+ days of using it, i have learned a lot. owl is eule.

I have been living in Germany for 7 years and I only just now have a functional level. I guess I am intermediate now, finally.

I can't even imagine trying to learn Japanese....my engineering degree was much easier than learning German(which is likely pretty simple compared to Japanese). I just seem to have no aptitude for languages.

Complex math sheet, integrals and differential equations...no problem.

Der Die Das plus dative/akkusative/nominative/genative.....duuuuhhhhh no clue after years of study and living here.

 

[guidomerkinsrules]

I have been living in Germany for 7 years and I only just now have a functional level. I guess I am intermediate now, finally.

I can't even imagine trying to learn Japanese....my engineering degree was much easier than learning German(which is likely pretty simple compared to Japanese). I just seem to have no aptitude for languages.

Complex math sheet, integrals and differential equations...no problem.

Der Die Das plus dative/akkusative/nominative/genative.....duuuuhhhhh no clue after years of study and living here.

Had 3 years in HS and minored in German in college- aside from not using it much after graduating, my biggest challenge speaking German in Germany was German Ms refusing (politely) to speak in anything but English

 

[zeetes]

Der Die Das plus dative/akkusative/nominative/genative.....duuuuhhhhh no clue after years of study and living here.

THIS. i can't figure this out at all. nein verstehen.

this site has helped me a good bit, but i still don't understand:

Are You Learning Der Die Das Wrong?

ARE YOU LOOKING FOR A CHART LIKE THIS?IF SO, YOU'RE LEARNING IT WRONG.

germanwithlaura.com

 

[BarBar]

Had 3 years in HS and minored in German in college- aside from not using it much after graduating, my biggest challenge speaking German in Germany was German Ms refusing (politely) to speak in anything but English

Same here. My wife is American. My job is all in English. My degree was taught in English. I have no German friends.... only other expats who speak English. . I live in Germany but I rarely, if ever, actually speak German.