Can you speak or understand the Japanese language?

Philippines
May 3, 2009 7:45pm CST
I wish I can but I really can't. I am an illiterate when it comes to Japanese langauge. I don't understand a word. This discussion came to my interest since my husband is now undergoing a two-month Japanese langauage training. According to him, it is really very difficult to understand the Hiragana. he is studying so much but still, it's difficult for him (and for his other classmates) to get to understand it. I just wish him the best of luck that he may pass and learn the Japanese language. Do you have any interest in learning the Japanese language? or Have you tried to study their langauage?
5 people like this
13 responses
@cahyorini (315)
• Indonesia
8 May 09
I have once work at Japanese company, but only for 6 month. So i haven't mastered yet Japanese Language. "Konbanwa!!, Hajimemaste, Watashiwa Rini desu, Watashiwa ex PSI member desu" LOL
@19ewf84 (461)
• Austria
11 May 09
Konbanwa -- "Good evening" Hajimemaste -- you say that when u meet someone for the 1st time.. Watashi wa Rini desu -- "I'm Rini" Wakari-masu-ka? (^.^)
• Philippines
13 May 09
I love that. . . Thanks for the translation.
• Philippines
8 May 09
Good for you to understand Japanese. it is good to have even a little vocabulary. I don't know all those words you have written. I hope you can make a translation. Thanks.
@dpk262006 (58673)
• Delhi, India
5 May 09
I cannot understand or speak the Japanese Language. One of my cousins, who has stayed in Tokya told me that it is one of the most difficult languagues to learn, however, if one has to survice in Japan, one will have to learn it, otherwise, there will be a languauge problem. Hope your hubby will learn it sooner than later, our best wishes are with him.
• Philippines
8 May 09
My husband is really trying very hard to learn the language. In fact, he has failed in some of his quizzes. He has to learn the langauge, otherwise, he will not be able to understand the Japanese people when he will go to Japan.
@dpk262006 (58673)
• Delhi, India
8 May 09
Best of luck to your hubby!
• Philippines
8 May 09
Thanks.
@zed_k4 (17589)
• Singapore
4 May 09
I love to learn foreign languages and if possible, I would love to master Japanese, Chinese, French, Spanish and many more. I admire all linguists in the world and truly in awe of how they can master so many languages. I suppose its hard work plus intelligence. Don't worry, I'm sure your husband will master the gorgeous Japanese language soon. He'll be there in no time. Learning is the hardest. But once he masters it, he'll be the best pro ever. Mark my words.
• Philippines
8 May 09
I'm sure he will try his best to learn it especially that he will soon be going to Japan. Thanks for responding.
@zed_k4 (17589)
• Singapore
9 May 09
Welcome..., I'm sure he will succeed.
@sinokirin (900)
• China
5 May 09
I havent the interests in learning japanese language,coz i dislike the language.Studying japanese is so difficult? maybe not,i think it is more easier than studying English,and in fact it would be really to me.
@19ewf84 (461)
• Austria
11 May 09
English is not my 1st language and I'm far from saying "I'm perfect in it". But one thing you learn very fast is - that english is one of the easiest languages which people nowadays speak, write,... Probably also because you get in touch with it very soon - most countries show american television shows, now the www,... it's very common to find english written books and such in book stores.. and and and... EY, this is a topic ppl can fight about hahaha :) I'm learning japanese.. and it is difficult. Hiragana, Katakana and of c. Kanji... It starts to be difficult because you have to learn different character and not Romaji... I sometimes feel like someone who has to learn the alphabet again... bc it is like that in some way.
• Philippines
8 May 09
Why do you dislike the Japanese language Sinokirin? Yeah, it is very difficult to learn that language but I find it amusing and interesting to learn. English is easy to learn.
• Malaysia
1 Aug 09
I only know a few words that are commonly used like 'arigato', 'sayonara' and a few others. I do have a plan to study Japanese. Actually, not only this language, but also others like Spanish and Korean. They will be very useful as my work line is in tourism. I think it will be much easier to become familiar with foreign languages by listening and sing to their songs and also watch their movies with subtitles.
• Philippines
1 Aug 09
Learning the japanese langauage will really help you in assiting the needs of Japanese nationals visiting your country. I wish you all the luck to learn the said langauge. Have a nice day.
@busky5 (3164)
• Thailand
1 Aug 09
I don't like to learn Japanese language.I think i am old and my brain is bad to remember.When you go to Japan,you can ask the working Japannese.
• Philippines
1 Aug 09
Even if I am not that old, I also have difficulties remembering and memorizing the Japanese characters. .. . LOL . .. I hope I can soon learn even a little before I go to Japan next year.
@carolbee (16230)
• United States
4 May 09
Much success to your husband. My first language is English. I can understand a little bit of Spanish since a foreign language was required in school. That was many years ago so I am rusty. Don't know if I would have an interest in learning Japanese. It sounds difficult.
• Philippines
8 May 09
Japanese langauge is really very difficult and I don't understand a word everytime I hear Japanese people talking to each other. I understand a little Spanish too and I wish to learn more about that langauge. It is a lot more itneresting for me to learn Spanish.
@lkbooi (16070)
• Malaysia
11 May 09
Hi dorisday, it’s so nice to speak and understand more languages. I don’t understand Japanese as well. But I know a few simple words like goodbye, thank you, cherry blossom and etc Yeah, I learn this when watching Japanese movies or listening to Japanese songs. More over some Japanese words are exactly the same as Chinese characters and with the similar meaning as well. Yeah, they are different in pronunciation. I believe where there is a will, there is always a way. I wish your husband and his classmates could manage to master the Japanese language well and fluently after completing the two months Japanese course. Happy posting and have a nice day.
• Philippines
13 May 09
Thank you. I just wish that when my husband will be in Japan, he will not be lost anymore as I expect him to read the directions or postings.
@carpenter5 (6782)
• United States
4 May 09
I would love to speak another language! My daughter is fluent in Spanish as well as English. My sister in law and brother in law are learning Chinese as they are moving to China to work in January of next year. My best friend grew up on the mission field in the Philippines, so she speaks some dialects from there. I know nothiing about Japanese, but think it is a beautiful language!
• Philippines
4 May 09
I also would like to learn the Japanese language but I will try to learn the Spanish first. I can undertand few Spanish words but "no habla Español". Maybe I will learn those languages in the internet.
@lazeebee (5461)
• Malaysia
4 May 09
Hi, I can't speak or understand Japanese either. Years before, I've attended a few lessons; I found it difficult to remember. Moreover, there was no conducive environment for me to practise speaking or listening outside of the classroom. So I gave up totally on the language.
• Philippines
5 May 09
It is really very difficult to learn the japanese language.
@Porcospino (31367)
• Denmark
26 Jul 09
12 years ago I went to Danish/Japanese school here in Denmark. Most of the students were Japanese, but there were also a few Danes. The Danish students studied the Japanese language and the Japanese students studied the Danish language. I think that school was a great way to learn something about the Japanese language and culture. I don't speak much Japanese, I am only a beginnner, but I enjoyed the lessons very much. The Japanese students helped me learn their language, and I helped them study the Danish language. I made many friends from Japan and I hope to visit them one day.
• Philippines
27 Jul 09
That's interesting to learn other langauage other than your own native tongue. . .. My husband is in Japan now and the Japanese langauge helped him.
@wanpisu (207)
• Malaysia
31 Jul 09
I don't speak Japanese language, but I can only understand a few words. I got them from watching Japanese anime like One Piece, Naruto, Bleach, Gintama, D.Grayman and the latest one Canaan. About Japanese character I can read Hiragana and Katakana but Kanji is really difficult to memorize or understand. I can only read number in Kanji.
• Philippines
1 Aug 09
The japanese anime is a great way to learn the japanese language. the japanese terms in those TV anime shows familiarize us with the words. . . t is really difficult to memorize the Hiragan and Katakana characters. I also tried to learn it but to no avail.
@ggsxyz (6)
10 May 09
Hai! Wakkateru. XDD Or uh, just kidding. That was my failed attempt at "Yes, I understand!" I wouldn't really call the bits and pieces of conversational(and probably pretty rude conversational) japanese I've picked up in two years of watching anime "speaking or understanding" japanese. I probably get enough to understand basic shonen anime like Naruto and Bleach in their conversational parts, but as soon as any character even launches into a semi detailed explanation, I'm pretty much out. From anime, I've actually tried to teach myself some. I've tried at one point to pay attention to the uncommon vocabulary, make myself a list of what they are, and try to memorize the list, but its been pretty ineffective. Lesser vocabulary like "tsuki" for moon, "hana" for flower, "sora" for sky, and such, I picked up from listening to the patterns they're used in. I've also blown through wiki's explanation on "keigo", or that infuriating(ahem) aspect of japanese language where they apparently have to conjugate verbs differently based on the social standing of themselves and the person they are speaking to/speaking of. And I *think* I can spot and recognize that stuff a bit. Haven't tried to learn any of the writing, given that there's like 8 bajillion different systems for the characters/symbols, and the prospect itself is driving me nuts. Overall, I think me picking up on japanese is probably aided by the fact that I was born in China, and raised on that as my first language(living in US now). One last thing!: an attempt at translating respondent #8's japanese phrases ^^; 1. Good evening 2. Nice to meet you(more literally "first time meeting you?") 3. I am Rini/my name is Rini 4. I am an ex PSI member. hehehe Would this be right?
• Philippines
13 May 09
I should do what you did, teach myself the Japanese language too. At least, if I will come to hear some japanese words, I would understand a little. Thank you very much for giving much time to respond and to translate the japanese words given by one of my responders. A BR for you.