Learn Japanese FAQ http://learnjapanesefaq.com Ask a question about learning Japanese Tue, 15 May 2012 05:17:30 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 en hourly 1 LearnJapaneseFaqhttp://feedburner.google.com Is google translate any good for translating Japanese? http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/LearnJapaneseFaq/~3/tGHTcv3YHu0/ http://learnjapanesefaq.com/is-google-translate-any-good-for-translating-japanese/#comments Tue, 15 May 2012 05:17:30 +0000 Richard http://learnjapanesefaq.com/?p=1116 Q: If there’s a word in Japanese that you don’t know, and you don’t have a Japanese dictonary, should you use Google Translate? I heard it doesn’t translate that well. – Natsumi

A: Hi Natsumi,

If it’s just a word then sure, Google Translate should help.   Don’t take the translation as being 100% truth as context plays a big part in the meaning of a word.  But in general if it’s just one word it should help you out as well as any dictionary.

You can also use it to help translate Japanese phrases that you don’t understand into English.  It won’t be 100% and will produce some strange English but it should help if you are stuck.

The only way you shouldn’t really use it is to translate English into Japanese. Because if the other person doesn’t know it’s been done on a computer they’ll  think it sounds very strange indeed!

Be genki,

Richard



]]> http://learnjapanesefaq.com/is-google-translate-any-good-for-translating-japanese/feed/ 0 http://learnjapanesefaq.com/is-google-translate-any-good-for-translating-japanese/ Does Japanese have an alphabetical order? http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/LearnJapaneseFaq/~3/GjFn8LYOb8Y/ http://learnjapanesefaq.com/does-japanese-have-an-alphabetical-order/#comments Thu, 10 May 2012 05:40:20 +0000 Richard http://learnjapanesefaq.com/?p=1072 Q: Konnichiwa, Richard! I have kind of an odd question for you. How do people file things in Japan?? Obviously in America we use alphabetical order, or A through Z. Do the Japanese have an alphabetical order? Thanks!! :) Dewa mata! ~Stephanie

A: Hi Stephanie,

Very good question this!  There is indeed a Japanese order of filing.  It’s simply based on the あいうえお order that you learn hiragana or katakana in. (Remembering, of course, that you read the hiragana/katakana table from right to left!)

So for example if you had files for Mr Tanaka, Mr Watanabe and Mrs Ono, you’d file them under ta, wa, and o.

Once you get the hang of it it’s pretty similar to what we use!

Be genki,

Richard


]]> http://learnjapanesefaq.com/does-japanese-have-an-alphabetical-order/feed/ 0 http://learnjapanesefaq.com/does-japanese-have-an-alphabetical-order/ New Calendar for May & Katakana Song on Youtube http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/LearnJapaneseFaq/~3/jk-nt6dNbd0/ http://learnjapanesefaq.com/new-calendar-for-may-katakana-song-on-youtube/#comments Fri, 04 May 2012 00:37:36 +0000 Richard http://learnjapanesefaq.com/?p=1113 Here’s your calendar for May: May 5th is Children’s Day and houses with sons are decorated with the “Koi nobori” flags.

If you like it, “like it” and I’ll see what I can do for next month!

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Genki-English-GenkiJapanNet/113660822021121

And there’s also an HD version of the Katakana Song on Youtube!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mri5USM_6dY


]]> http://learnjapanesefaq.com/new-calendar-for-may-katakana-song-on-youtube/feed/ 0 http://learnjapanesefaq.com/new-calendar-for-may-katakana-song-on-youtube/ Can I use Moshi-moshi when I chat with my friend?? http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/LearnJapaneseFaq/~3/CCaO8RPcY5w/ http://learnjapanesefaq.com/can-i-use-moshi-moshi-when-i-chat-with-my-friend/#comments Fri, 27 Apr 2012 03:41:15 +0000 Richard http://learnjapanesefaq.com/?p=1065 Q: Can I use Moshi-moshi when I chat with my friend?? – Lyneixyum

A: Usually not, it’s just used for answering the phone.   The only exception is if your friend is zoning out and not paying attention, then you could say “moshi moshi” and wave your hand in front of their eyes to bring them back!



]]> http://learnjapanesefaq.com/can-i-use-moshi-moshi-when-i-chat-with-my-friend/feed/ 0 http://learnjapanesefaq.com/can-i-use-moshi-moshi-when-i-chat-with-my-friend/ How much money to bring to Japan? http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/LearnJapaneseFaq/~3/gdzr0Spu0LQ/ http://learnjapanesefaq.com/how-much-money-to-bring-to-japan/#comments Fri, 20 Apr 2012 03:26:30 +0000 Richard http://learnjapanesefaq.com/?p=1059 Q: How much money should I bring for 3 weeks for japan? And how much did you bring? And thanks for the videos they are really helpful. – Jeffrey

A: Hi Jeffrey,

Good question, and one that is tough to answer.  If you were super, super careful with your money, stayed in the cheapest places, ate really cheap lunches and didn’t travel you could get away with $100 a day or a touch less.  Of course if you’re not careful you could easily spend thousands of dollars.

More realistically a medium level touristy hotel will probably be between 6,000 and 12,000 per person per night ( remember it’s per person here, not per room!)  and a really good lunch could be 1,000 yen.  Dinner is always more expensive but if you eat in cheap places 1,000 or 2,000 should be OK.   Travel is the real killer, it’s $100 from Kyoto to Hiroshima on the bullet train and obviously much more from Tokyo.

I came on the JET programme so just had bring enough money to survive till my first pay check.  But setting up a house, welcome parties etc. quickly chewed through $2000+ !

I’m not sure if that helps at all?


]]> http://learnjapanesefaq.com/how-much-money-to-bring-to-japan/feed/ 0 http://learnjapanesefaq.com/how-much-money-to-bring-to-japan/ Lit Up Cherry Blossoms! http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/LearnJapaneseFaq/~3/mmWSguXLlV8/ http://learnjapanesefaq.com/lit-up-cherry-blossoms/#comments Sun, 08 Apr 2012 11:19:52 +0000 Richard http://learnjapanesefaq.com/?p=1103 Wow, just look at this, all the cherry blossoms lit up!

Pretty cool eh?

(Click here if you are on email and can’t see the video)

Hope you liked them!

Be genki,

Richard

P.S. Just as a heads up, my “Get Fluent in Japanese MP3 and Workbook/Poster Pack”  goes up in price this evening, grab it if you can!

http://genkienglish.net/genkijapan/download.htm


]]> http://learnjapanesefaq.com/lit-up-cherry-blossoms/feed/ 4 http://learnjapanesefaq.com/lit-up-cherry-blossoms/ Anime Style Calendar For April http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/LearnJapaneseFaq/~3/wYktkkXcf8M/ http://learnjapanesefaq.com/anime-style-calendar-for-april/#comments Thu, 05 Apr 2012 02:35:47 +0000 Richard http://learnjapanesefaq.com/?p=1099 Here’s your anime calendar for April! (Do “like” it if you like it!)

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Genki-English-GenkiJapanNet/113660822021121

Now, is April “shigatstu” or “yongatsu”?

P.S. Didn’t get to the Sakura light up yesterday (typhoon!) but will hopefully get there tonight!

P.P.S. If you want more posters like this, my learn Japanese MP3 & Poster Pack goes up in price on Sunday, so right now would be a great time to pick it up! http://www.genkienglish.net/genkijapan/download.htm


]]> http://learnjapanesefaq.com/anime-style-calendar-for-april/feed/ 0 http://learnjapanesefaq.com/anime-style-calendar-for-april/ I’m OK! & More Cherry Blossoms in Full Bloom http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/LearnJapaneseFaq/~3/1XC4rznsYpQ/ http://learnjapanesefaq.com/im-ok-more-cherry-blossoms-in-full-bloom/#comments Tue, 03 Apr 2012 03:16:45 +0000 Richard http://learnjapanesefaq.com/?p=1095 Thanks for all the comments about the video from the other day!

Just have a check of the date I posted it and you might see why there was a car flying through the air! :)

Hope it gave you a smile.

And today we’re back down to proper hanami – Cherry Blossom Viewing – with all the petals in full bloom!

(Click here if you are on email and can’t see the video!)

P.S. Anime April calendar coming soon on the Facebook page – “like” the page and I think it will pop up in your newsfeed when it’s ready!


]]> http://learnjapanesefaq.com/im-ok-more-cherry-blossoms-in-full-bloom/feed/ 0 http://learnjapanesefaq.com/im-ok-more-cherry-blossoms-in-full-bloom/ First Cherry Blossoms & a Very Lucky Escape! http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/LearnJapaneseFaq/~3/Ismr324-O-E/ http://learnjapanesefaq.com/first-cherry-blossoms-a-very-lucky-escape/#comments Sat, 31 Mar 2012 15:01:13 +0000 Richard http://learnjapanesefaq.com/?p=1091 Hello,

I was out filming the early Cherry Blossoms for you and just look what happened!

(Click here if you are on email and can’t see the video)

Talk about a lucky escape!


]]> http://learnjapanesefaq.com/first-cherry-blossoms-a-very-lucky-escape/feed/ 6 http://learnjapanesefaq.com/first-cherry-blossoms-a-very-lucky-escape/ Traditional Calendar for April – Enjoy! http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/LearnJapaneseFaq/~3/SnJtdhN0i8w/ http://learnjapanesefaq.com/traditional-calendar-for-april-enjoy/#comments Thu, 29 Mar 2012 09:25:17 +0000 Richard http://learnjapanesefaq.com/?p=1088 Wow, thank you for all the likes on the March calendar.  Sometimes I just can’t imagine that 16,000 people get these emails, so it was great to hear from everyone!

As we are very close to Sakura Cherry Blossom season, here is your traditional calendar for April:

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=324476477606220&set=a.321733314547203.80024.113660822021121&type=1&theater

Please do keep the likes coming (If you do like it of course!)

And keep checking back, I’ll hopefully have the anime version up over the weekend.

Be genki,

Richard


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