Thursday, August 11, 2011
Please correct my Japanese?
It's great that you are trying to learn Japanese. A lot of the learning of a language is learning the culture as well. Not only because it is interesting, but because respect for culture should translate to respect for people. Respect is important because people are more apt to help you if they feel respect from you. Having said this, I recommend that you go back to the beginning of the book and learn the polite forms of words, and always use the polite forms, especially when you are asking for help. But generally always use the polite forms. If you do, things will go a lot better for you. For example, anta is an extremely rude form of you. You would generally use it when you plan to fight someone! Anata is a nicer form of you, but hopefully you have learned that Japanese people even consider anata to be less than polite. Their preference is to use the persons name. If you can generally avoid the use of you, you'll be better off. Okay, just the subject of "you" in Japanese could be it's own book. Notice how it's naturally left out in a simple question: Sumimasen, empitsu ga arimasu ka? This brings up the next point. To assure your intent to be polite, always start the sentence in the most polite way you can think of: Konnichiwa, watashi wa Nihongo wo benkyo shitte imasu. Nihon wa totemo omoshiroi desu. Gomenasai, kono shitsumon wa tabun shItsurei, demo Nihon Jin to, Nihon go wo hanashitai desu. Domo arigato. Dozo yoroshiku. It might seem inefficient to use so many extra words. It's okay, there is always time for respect and politeness in Japan.
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