I wish to learn Japanese.

[Nagoyankee]

Originally Posted by Policenaut

I'm learning Japanese on my own, currently learning Hiragana & Katakana.I'm progressing really slow because I have a little free time but summer is close so I will hopefully learn it and start learning kanji's then.I have question, if there are about 2000 kanji's to learn does it mean that Japanese language has about 2000 words?

No, not at all. No language would survive the modern age if it only has 2,000 words. 2,000 words would be the size of the vocabulary of a young child (I'm includng proper nouns).

Kanji are combined in an infinite number of ways to form compounds. Kanji are also combined with hiragana to form words.

Suppose you have just learned the kanji for 'mountain', which is　山. The only time you can use that kanji by itself is when you say 'mountain'. Some examples of compounds using 山 are:

山頂 = pinnacle
火山 = volcano
山脈 = Mountains (as in Rocky Mounrains)
登山 = mountain climbing
鉱山 = mine
山岳地帯 = mountaneous region
山小屋 = mountain cottage (for climbers)

And there are MANY MANY times more compounds using 山. This is the same with many of the kanji, too. If Japanese had only 2,000 words in it, no one would have much trouble learning it.

[Orodreth]

Aren't most of the characters that you will see in japan in Hiragana anyways?

[Nagoyankee]

Originally Posted by Orodreth

Aren't most of the characters that you will see in japan in Hiragana anyways?

LOL Nope. My country is named Japan, not Kiddieland.

[Lucyenn]

IT's so hard!

[KikiBunny23]

I'll be patient if only someone will teach me...though I don't know if this computer can recieve any characters other than the english language. I'd have to check up with my dad on that.

[Orodreth]

Originally Posted by Nagoyankee

LOL Nope. My country is named Japan, not Kiddieland.

^-^ Cute.

Sorry, I just thought that hiragana was the more predominant way things were written in Japan...

Originally Posted by KikiBunny23

I'll be patient if only someone will teach me...though I don't know if this computer can recieve any characters other than the english language. I'd have to check up with my dad on that.

If your computer doesnt, then you can always install a program to allow it I believe.

[Veespin]

Haha, your post made me laugh there Nagoyankee. To me, I find learning the kanji the most interesting and fun part of learning Japanese.

Nagoyankeeそのポストは俺を笑わせてきた。笑　　漢字を� �強するのはいちばん面白くて楽しいと思います。　漢� �がない文章は読みにくくなりますよね。；）

[KikiBunny23]

Originally Posted by Orodreth

If your computer doesnt, then you can always install a program to allow it I believe.

I'll have to check...I'm not sure we have the disc anymore though

[ChrisCaboose]

I'd love to learn Japanese too, if your willingly to help. ^^

[angie023]

Originally Posted by Orodreth

Does anyone here think they have the ability to teach me? If so, you will prob. need a lot of patience. If there IS someone who's willing to teach me the basics, and work with me, then PM me and I will give you my MSN or AIM.

i might b able 2... im also learning...