Japanese Language Discussions - Warrior Pages Martial Arts Society

Kana to Romaji

2010-09-16T18:00:57.645Z

While going through Japanese discussion boards and looking up words and phrases in dictionaries that I have, I have noticed that there seem to be many different ways to write out the syllables. For instance, I might see ありがとう written as arigato, arigatô, and arigatoo, but almost never as arigatou, which is how the kana are pronounced. It seems to me that this might cause confusion with people that don't really know how to pronounce the words as they might see "arigatoo" and pronounce it "ah-ree-ga-two" or something along those lines. After it's decided how to write it out using English letters, how are the spaces decided? I see some compounds written as one "word" while others are broken apart into two separate "words" For example, 空手 is generally written as karate and おはようございます is generally written as ohayou gozaimasu. So how do each of you write your romaji and decide where your spaces go?

Personally, I prefer writing out the kana how each one is pronounced (for example, I write ありがとう as "arigatou") and I generally keep compounds together as one word and the verb conjugations as one word.

Confusion on negatives.

2010-09-15T13:35:39.776Z

I have just started studying Japanese, and already I am extremly confused. In the negatives lesson, it seemed like they had a different negative for every noun available, which leads to the following questions:

Boku wa- when do you use it and what does it mean?

Do you split up Otokonoko when referring to children?

Sega-when do you use?

Imasen vrs. Imasu-when do you use?

Toshi wo totte-what is it and when do you use?

They used arimasen when referring to " I am not rich, I am poor."Was that a mistake? I thought that you used arimasen when referring to animate object and imasen when referring to inanemete objects.

I'm learning from Livemocha. Is that a credible website?

How to apologize in Japoneese?

2009-11-11T13:27:48.032Z

Sensei Forrester, I just saw you on the other topic, and remembered that this is the place to ask questions...

I would like to know how to apologize properly to one who is your "very" superior in karate... Actually, I don't know how to put it well, maybe it would be easier to describe the situation. Late summer, we were on a Gasshuku with several Japanese teachers invited. One of them (he must have had 7 Dan, as I remember) put out his hand to show me how high to kick, and I accidentally kicked his hand (I guess I wasn't supposed to) and also a bit harder than I expected (lack of control, well, I'm only a beginner). He didn't get angry with me, or anything, but I felt that I had to apologize - only I didn't know how! I was afraid to say "Gomen nasai", as I understood that this is a somehow informal expression, so, I wasn't able to to anything but bowing, and saying "oss" - which I know it wasn't proper. So - better late, than never - oh, and who knows, might happen again - tell me please, what expression is to be used in a similar situation?

Questions about several words in the Japanese Karate terminology

2009-09-15T20:06:19.351Z

I am currently studying Japanese as a language and I noticed certain things about the Karate terminology that didn't make sense and I was hoping that I would be able to find answers here.

I was looking through several of the dictionaries that I have and I could not find any kanji that reads だち(dachi) though I did find a compound specific to martial arts stance (構え) which reads かまえ (kamae) and saw that the nanori reading for 構 was とち(tochi) Is that where "dachi" comes from or is there a compound that I missed?

I also saw the word for elbow being 臂 reading ひじ(hiji) and then for protruding elbow (as in a strike) changing to 猿臂 reading えんぴ(enpi).

And lastly, I could not find any kanji compounds that create "shuri" as in shuri-ryuu. Is there a compound?

Thank you,
Casey Odell

Kanban (Japanese Signboard)

2009-04-23T14:54:24.619Z

If your dojo (or a certain room in your house or even at your office) needs a Kanban - please let me know. I can make custom signs for you.

This is an example of a Kanban that I made for Hanshi Abele which reads: Kokusai Shurite Yudansha Kai (International Shurite Black Belt Association).

This particular kanban is 5.5 inches wide X 4 feet long.

Wood can be Oak or Cedar with natural orange oil finishing.

Prices start at $40 (plus shipping) I don't charge handling fees, because I'm handling them all the time - LOL!

Naihanchi - Naifunchin - Tekki

2009-04-13T20:38:46.160Z

Mr. Holbrook asked the question - "Naihanchi or Naifunchin? What are each term's origination?"

That's a tough one which you could only answer clearly if:
1. It was written down
2. You were there

We certainly call it Naihanchi which consists of three parts (Sho, Ni, and San) or O'Naihanchi when you put them together - so does Shorin-ryu, Isshin-ryu and others. Although Isshin-ryu only has Naihanchi Sho - it does not have Naihanchi Ni or Naihanchi San in it's system. Naihanchi translates as Missing Enemy form (probably due to the fact that there is no one attacking you from behind).

I have heard it called Naifunchin - which loosely translates as "Battle in a Horse Stance" but I'm not sure where it comes from. It may be a mis-pronuncication of
"Mafuchin" (Chinese meaning "battle in horse stance") which would make the most sense.

Tekki - Japanese meaning Enemy is another name for the kata

They call it Chulgi in Korea though I don't know what the Korean translation is.

The kata is Chinese in origin - and is probably the oldest kata practiced in Okinawa. There are legends and stories, but since karate was taught in secret, there are no written records to verify anything.

Good question - wish I had a definite answer for you

Your Name in Katakana

2008-12-14T19:47:46.986Z

First of all, let's take a look at how the Japanese language integrates different writing systems into their language.

Kanji - Kanji (literally translated - Kan Dynasty Characters). These are the Chinese characters which were "borrowed" from the Chinese around 750 AD. I have seen some American names which were "translated" into Kanji - but the name is only a close phonetic approximation only - it is not really a "translation".
Hiragana and Katakana - These are the 2 Japanese alphabets. Historically, one was used by women (Hiragana) and the other one was used by men (Katakana). However, after WW II, Hiragana is used for Japanese words while the Katakana is used for foreign words which have been introduced into the Japanese language. This includes foreign names like Sonie, Dale, Bill, Robert, Chris, etc. Let's take a look at these a little closer.

For example:

Sonie Lasker (since she asked me about it initially) -

First symbol - So
Second symbol - Ni = Sonie

First symbol - Ra (there is no "L" sound in the Japanese language)
Second symbol - Shi
Third symbol - Ka
Last symbol means to hold the sound for an extra beat making it a long sound Kaa

So we have the name Sonie Lasker - which is as close as we can get it in Japanese. You would not use Katakana if you have a Japanese name, as it would utilize the Hiragana because it is Japanese.

My name is basically an adopted Japanese name. It is not actually translated.

Forrester (English meaning, Keeper of the Forest) - translates as Mori (Forest) since Mori is a common Japanese name. The first character is three trees in a triangle, the Kanji for forest.

One of my Japanese friends knew of my love of Japanese samurai cinema and they started calling me Musashi after the famous 16th century swordsman Miyamoto Musashi. So my Japanese name is Mori Musashi. In Japan, your family name comes first, then your given name. Musashi can also be pronounced Takezo. the first character means "warrior", the second character means "storehouse". Note that I did not try to translate Jonathan (originally meaning Gift of God) - I thought that was a bit much....

Is this as clear as mud? If you have some other questions or need your name in Katakana, just let me know but I hope this answers some of the initial questions of "How do I get my name translated into Japanese". You should be asking, how do you phonetically spell my name in Japanese?

Te-Gatana / Te-Katana / Te-Kata-Na - - Which one is it?

2008-11-20T21:53:32.750Z

Lots of people ask this as it is written in The Pinnacle three different ways. So I wanted to sort of explain it to you in relatively simple terms.

It's hard to explain - there, how's that? Not what you wanted? OK follow closely then.

There are sound changes in the Japanese language. It usually occurs when counting things, but also happens when two kanji come together to form a new word. To explain, let me take the simple term that everyone knows: Mitsubishi

I have an ecllipse - 2006 - Silver - very nice....

Now back to the discussion. The symbol for Mitsubishi is three diamonds. The name Mitsubishi actually means - - - you guessed it - three diamonds. So how exactly do you count diamonds? With the counter "Hishi".

"Wait a minute you say - "That's not the way it's spelled - the counter should be Bishi." Ah Grasshopper - you have a very firm grasp of the obvious. Let me explain the subtlties of counting in Japanese to you.

Hitotsu - One
Futatsu - Two
Mitsu - Three
Yottsu - Four
Itsutsu - Five
Muttsu - Six
Nanatsu - Seven
Yattsu - Eight
Kokonotsu - Nine
Tou - Ten

"Wait a minute" - you almost scream it. "That's not the way to count to ten!!!!"

Oh - you didn't know there were two ways to count to ten? Surprise! We don't usually use it in the dojo - makes things too hard. After all, we want you to know the difference between a Shuto, a Haito, and a Seiruto. Why do you need to count to ten in two ways? So now that you have it - I can finish the discussion.

We take the Counter Hishi when counting diamonds (or rhomboid shaped things...)

Then we take the number and the counter and put them together.

Mitsu - Hishi - - but it becomes Mitsubishi. Why you ask? Because it rolls off the tongue easier. Try it. Mitsu Hishi - Mitsu Hishi - - - Mitsu Bishi - Mitsu Bishi. Doesn't that sound better?

But there's others too - sound changes usually occur on:
1 - H changes to a P
3 - H changes to a B
6 - H changes to a P
10 - H changes to a P

So with our example and the rules above: Mitsu-bishi - Three diamonds

**************

Now that you understand the counting example we will take on the subject at hand. The second way for a sound change would be to put two kanji together. So we take Te (hand) and Katana (sword). There are certain sounds that are considered pairs in the Japanese syllabery (their version of a phonetic alphabet).
K and G are one such pair.
Pronounce Ka (Kah)
Then Pronounce Ga (Gah)
The difference in sounds is that the K is generated with a breath (the tongue stops the air and then lets it out). G does basically the same thing but is easier to do when air is already escaping the lungs.

Don't understand? Try this. Ka Ka Ka Ka Ka then try Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga
(and hope that no one is listening to you - they'll think you're a loon)

Anyway that is better than a Japanese can explain it to you. They just know the sound changes and do it automatically. They don't give it a second thought. It took me a long time to be able to do it instinctively and I still mess up sometimes.

So
Te-Katana should be pronounced Te-Gatana.

Te-Kata-Na is a bad spelling of the same thing. It is not different. It is easier to do in Japanese - using their alphabet. Tu and Tsu are the same sound, the only difference is that the way someone has spelled it. Both are correct, but someone who studies Japanese will always pronounce it "tsu" - why - because there is no Tu (too) sound in their alphabet.

There - if you don't totally understand it, at least you're better off in knowledge than you were. And a plus - you can ask questions.

Regards - Forrester Sensei

Kekomi & Keage

2008-11-13T17:59:09.465Z

Hi Jonathan,
I'm updating the Kanji on Warrior Pages and a couple of questions have come up. First off, is it yoko geri kekomi, or yoko kekomi geri? Same for keage?

Also, I've been unable to find Tuite or Arigato Gozaimashita. Are these terms correct?

As always, thanks for your help, and I'm sure I'll have more.

Terminology

2008-09-09T22:00:01.674Z

Terminology is currently listed under Content (look at the menu above) I will be updating it as soon as I can.

Please be patient and if you have a question about something that isn't there, ask anyway.