Japanese Speech Help?

[masaegu]

Originally Posted by Sarugetchu

I changed this sentence to: メードの女性やホステスは自分の自立した生活ができるので現代的な女性を代表ですが、仕事で男性に従順であ ることが求められています

I haven't posted the corrected piece just yet as I have to remove all the blasted furigana so it formats correctly, but I'll do that later and post the English too so any learners can compare.

Oh, and I was just wondering... If I was to say "What do you think?" at the end of my speech, would 「皆さん、メード喫茶に関してどうだと思いますか？」 or would について　be more appropriate (not limiting it to personal feelings)?

女性を代表　＞　女性の代表

The difference between 関して and　ついて is minimal to non-existent. The former is a tad bit more formal. Problem is with だと: Drop it.

In the order of informality:
「皆さんはメード喫茶に関してどう思いますか。」
「皆さんはメード喫茶に関してどう思われますか。 」
「皆さんはメード喫茶に関してどう思われるでしょうか 。」

Second or third one recommended.

[Maxful]

Originally Posted by masaegu

This rule is actually quite simple and very useful as long as you study Japanese.

に： Only several stationary verbs take it. ある、いる、住む、泊まる, etc. and all the "compound + する" words denoting a form of existing or staying such as 滞在する、存在する, etc.　

で： All other verbs signifying an "action" or "active participation".　

This is so useful, do you mind elaborate a little bit more? A few examples for both に and で would be great. I assume that I should say "昨日東京に買い物しました" instead of "昨日東京で買い物しました"?

[masaegu]

Originally Posted by Maxful

This is so useful, do you mind elaborate a little bit more? A few examples for both に and で would be great. I assume that I should say "昨日東京に買い物しました" instead of "昨日東京で買い物しました"?

Right, "doing shopping" in Tokyo requires more active participation than "being" or "staying" in Tokyo.

に：
大阪に住んでいます。
東京タワーは東京にある。
三日前ニューヨークにいました。昨日はボストンにいま した。
今日は香港のホテルに泊まります。

で：
ハワイでギターを買った。
マサエグは去年原宿で車を盗んだ。今は刑務所にいる。刑務所 = jail
父は今日、京都でサッカーをしています。
私はあのレストランで晩ご飯を食べた。
ＪＦで日本語の勉強をするのは楽しい。

[Maxful]

Thanks for the detailed explanation, masaegu san.

[Maxful]

Translationsチェックしていただけませんか。 ありがとう。


1. 大阪に住んでいます。
I live in osaka


2. 東京タワーは東京にある。
Tokyo tower is located in Tokyo.


3. 三日前ニューヨークにいました。昨日はボストンにいま した。
I was in New York 3 days ago. I was in Boston yesterday.


4. 今日は香港のホテルに泊まります。
I will stay at Hong Kong hotel today.


5. ハワイでギターを買った。
I bought a guitar in Hawaii.


6. マサエグは去年原宿で車を盗んだ。今は刑務所にいる。
Masaegu san stole a car at harajuku last year. Currently he is in the jail.


7. 父は今日、京都でサッカーをしています。
My dad will be playing soccer in Kyoto today.


8. 私はあのレストランで晩ご飯を食べた。
I had my dinner over at that restaurant.


9. ＪＦで日本語の勉強をするのは楽しい。
It is fun to study Japanese at JF.


P.S. What are the differences between 楽しい vs. 楽しみ and 大きい vs. 大きな?

[Maxful]

There are two things I noticed while I was re-reading the sentences.

For sentence number 7, I was wondering if I can omit the comma before tokyo? To be honest, I am not sure when should I apply comma in Japanese sentences.

As for sentence number 9, I would like to know what is the difference between "ＪＦで日本語の勉強をするのは楽しい。" and ""ＪＦで日本語を勉強するのは楽しい。"？

[KyleGoetz]

Originally Posted by Maxful

P.S. What are the differences between 楽しい vs. 楽しみ and 大きい vs. 大きな?

楽しい is an adjective
楽しみ is a noun

大きい＝大きな, both are adjectives, mean exactly the same thing, but one is more standard than the other. From what I recall from my lessons, 大きい is "correct" but 大きな is becoming more popular. Something like that.

Basically, what you should take away from it is:
1. they mean the same thing
2. both are sort of considered correct
3. Kyle Goetz thinks 大きい is better than 大きな - so if you ever have me as a Japanese teacher...!

[masaegu]

@Maxful

You may have noticed this, but even though I said:

Originally Posted by masaegu

Right, "doing shopping" in Tokyo requires more active participation than "being" or "staying" in Tokyo.

I should have said "Wrong". I had read your question the other way around but I assure you that all of my example sentences using に and で are still correct.

Originally Posted by Maxful

Translationsチェックしていただけませんか。 ありがとう。

They are all correct.

In Japanese, you do not say ありがとう before someone has done something for you. We say よろしくお願いします.

Originally Posted by Maxful

There are two things I noticed while I was re-reading the sentences.

For sentence number 7, I was wondering if I can omit the comma before tokyo? To be honest, I am not sure when should I apply comma in Japanese sentences. I said "Kyoto".

As for sentence number 9, I would like to know what is the difference between "ＪＦで日本語の勉強をするのは楽しい。" and ""ＪＦで日本語を勉強するのは楽しい。"？

I deliberately placed a comma there in sentence #7 because it had two consecutive きょう's in it. You don't need a comma there. I was just reading it out loud in my head and thought that きょうきょうと might sound less than great. I wanted the readers to take a small pause there at the comma.

Unlike in English, where to use commas is pretty much left to each writer's discretion in Japanese. You use them wherever you feel would help the reader read your writing better.

Regarding your last question, there is no difference.

[Maxful]

KyleGoetzさんとマサエグさん、ありがとうございました。

Could you guys also teach me how to turn foreign names into katakana?

[KyleGoetz]

Originally Posted by Maxful

KyleGoetzさんとマサエグさん、ありがとうございました。

Could you guys also teach me how to turn foreign names into katakana?

1. look up a person with the name in wikipedia
2. click on 日本語 on the left-hand side
3. presto

for example:
John Smith - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
gives you
ジョン・スミス - Wikipedia
So the Japanese version of "John" is ジョン.

But the real way is just to write it how it sounds. You just have to learn by seeing enough.

Like the name "maxful." I'm guessing it sounds like the English "max full" so マックスフル. But if it's "max fool," then maybe マックスフール.

And pronunciation is key. The American name "Jean" would be ジーン, but the French name "Jean" would be ジャン.