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Need help writing a letter to my host family in Japanese. -
12-20-2008, 03:29 AM
Konbanwa,
I am a high school student, and I am going to be an exchange student this summer in Japan. Part of the application process is to write my future host family a letter (in Japanese). Problem is, I took Japanese two years ago for only a year at my school before my sensei moved. I have forgotten a lot, so I need some help. This is what I have so far: (PS- It's all in romaji because my computer is a Gateway and so it rejects all things foreign. I can't type or read East Asian characters on it... I'm planning to send this to my host family written in actual Japanese characters though. But still, since I can't read it, if you help can you write in romaji and not characters so I can read it? Thanks... And sorry if my romaji sucks, I'm too use to writing in characters.) Hosto fuamuri- he, Konnichiwa. Hajimemashite. Watashi wa (my name) desu. Douzoyoroshiku. Watashi wa juu nana sai desu. Amerika karakimashita. Watashi no uchi wa (my state) desu. Watashi no kichi wa chiisai desu [My city is small?]. Doko wa uchi desu ka. Koukou san nen sei desu [I am a high school junior?]. Do kushyo to ryokuu ga suki desu [I like reading and travelling?]. Watashi wa roku jin kazoku desu. Okaasan to otousan to oneesan to otouto to watashi desu. Oneesan wa juu hachi sai desu. Otouto wa juu yon sai desu. Shimaiga imasen [I have no sisters?]. Nan jin kazoku desu ka. Otouto to watashi hokke- ga suki desu [my little brother and I like hockey?]. Nani supo-tsu ga suki desu ka [what sports do you like?]. Petto ga imasu ka. Petto ga imasen. ----That's all I have so far. Things in [] are things I'm trying to say but I'm not sure about what I wrote. Things I still need to add (but don't quite know how to say in Japanese): -Culture questions. Any ideas about this one? Stuff like; "What is your city like?" "What holidays do you celebrate?" "What does your family like to do?"...I'm not really sure what to ask under that catagory... -Favorite school subjects. "My favorite subjects are my language classes." "I also like art classes." -Future plans. "I would like to go to college and study languages." -I must also thank them in advance for letting me stay there. Other than Arigatou gozaimasu, I don't know what to stay. "Thank you very much for hosting me." ...? Does that even make sense in English? -Also, if anything I wrote is culturally inappropriate, feel free to criticize. I would greatly appreciate any help at all. Even just ideas in English of what I can say. Really, thank you! 
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12-20-2008, 04:06 AM
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Too many "watashi". I suggest that you drop the ones I highlighted. kichi > machi Doko wa uchi desu ka > Sochira no ouchi wa dochira desuka Koukou san nen sei desu. <-- To the Japanese, this means you're in your final year of HS. HS is three years in Japan. Do kushyo = Dokushyo ryokuu > ryokou jin > nin okaasan > haha (You're too old to use 'okaasan', 'otoosan', etc. when you speak to others about them.) otoosan > chichi oneesan > ane Shimai ga imasen. ---> ??? You just said you had an older sister above! oneesan = older sis. Nan jin > Nan nin Otouto to watashi > Otouto to watashi ha Nani supo-tsu > Donna supo-tsu ga > ha Petto ga imasen. > Uchi wa petto ga imasen
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12-20-2008, 02:13 PM
Wow, thank you for all of your help! I have two questions though, instead of saying what year of high school I'm in, can I just say "Koukou nen sei desu."? Also, I don't have any sisters, doesn't oneesan mean older brother, and oniisan mean older sister? Or is it the other way around? Thank you so much for your help!
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12-20-2008, 02:20 PM
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You cannot just say "Koukou nen sei desu." That makes no sense. You can say "Koukousei desu = I'm a HS student." You could also say "Koukou 2 nen sei desu." because that is the Japanese equivalent of a HS junior in the U.S. In Japan, you go to junior high for three years, so that's where the difference comes from. Oneesan means older sister. Older brother is oniisan.
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12-21-2008, 07:17 AM
Correct me if I'm wrong, but you can say 兄弟がありません。 (kyoudai ga arimasen - I don't have any brothers or sisters)
Oh! I wish I was in the land of Ramen Otaku there are not downtrodden Kawaii! Kawaii! Kawaii, Desu Ne! MAXIMUM VIPER Defender of the Scholar, Scourge of the Otaku, Savior of Japan
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12-21-2008, 07:30 AM
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12-21-2008, 07:38 AM
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 Oh! I wish I was in the land of Ramen Otaku there are not downtrodden Kawaii! Kawaii! Kawaii, Desu Ne! MAXIMUM VIPER Defender of the Scholar, Scourge of the Otaku, Savior of Japan
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12-21-2008, 10:36 PM
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