日本語を分かる者へ

[kuroisaiyajin]

It's not that I think it's unimportant, I just feel that it's something I'll end up learning during my advanced studies, and I have tons of other questions that I need to be focusing on first.

[CherryMillkieWay]

ya, ur sposed to learn hirigana first right?

[MMM]

Originally Posted by kuroisaiyajin

It's not that I think it's unimportant, I just feel that it's something I'll end up learning during my advanced studies, and I have tons of other questions that I need to be focusing on first.

read what I said. If you don't care now, then I am not going to waste my time trying to teach you.

I am here for dedicated students that need help...

[kuroisaiyajin]

I answered my own question when a friend of mine was helping me study.

Basically, my question was in japanese, can more than one sentence carry the same meaning like in english, and not just using the same verb stems with different forms, i.e. ~て、～たい、～ます、 or ～おう。. Using your earlier example of why it's difficult to learn english:

Originally Posted by MMM

"Let's meet up." "Let's get together." "Let's catch up." "Let's hang out."

All those lead to the basic idea of "Let's spend time together." Can the Japanese language do that exact thing? I've already gotten one point of view, not including my own, but I'd like to get another P.O.V., if possible.

[MMM]

Originally Posted by CherryMillkieWay

ya, ur sposed to learn hirigana first right?

That's the general practice...and what I would recommend.

[MMM]

Originally Posted by kuroisaiyajin

I answered my own question when a friend of mine was helping me study.

Basically, my question was in japanese, can more than one sentence carry the same meaning like in english, and not just using the same verb stems with different forms, i.e. ~て、～たい、～ます、 or ～おう。. Using your earlier example of why it's difficult to learn english:

All those lead to the basic idea of "Let's spend time together." Can the Japanese language do that exact thing? I've already gotten one point of view, not including my own, but I'd like to get another P.O.V., if possible.

Sure. Japanese doesn't have slang in the SAME way that English does, but except for the most basic sentences, there are always more than one way to say something. This goes beyond the different dialects (which you don't need to worry about yet) and the different levels of politeness (which you should worry about).

Textbook Japanese can sometimes make it sound like there is one way and one way only to say something, but language study is more like art than math, especially when you get beyond the basics.

[kuroisaiyajin]

After four years of learning nothing but textbook Japanese and not talking to too many Japanese people it's kind of hard to find some of the hidden "tricks" to speak by. But maybe that'll help me out on the proficiency test...

[LittleSpoon]

僕はさ、大学では日本語が専門だったけど、卒業してか ら仕事を見つけるには能力が足りないと思うけど。あれ 、なんか、もう夜遅くても、先の分、だらけばかりなん じゃないっすかね。まぁ、もういいじゃん！

[samokan]

Originally Posted by MMM

There are so many posts asking for "translation to romaji" and I am kind of wondering all your feelings on this.

I basically come here to lend a hand to legit people who are trying to learn Japanese, and understand we have all levels of learners, more beginners than advanced, but that is OK.

But I am started to feel aprehensive about translating or helping into romaji. Something about it seems...well, unhelpful. Japanese people don't use romaji to write Japanese (except in commercials, shop signs, etc.) so I am questioning if it is a good idea here...and that's why I am soliciting your opinions.

ローマジで教えてもいいですかね、それか、ちゃんとひ らがな（プラス漢字）でした方が助かるんですかね。

よろしく。

I don't mind putting it to romaji if and only if they have a reason for it like maybe their computer can't read japanese characters yet.. but unfortunately most of the current post on Language section are asking just for translation to make them look cool or something not really for any studying..

その時は答えません。私翻訳ソフトウェアではないから 。だから面白いな質問だけ返事しています、他は構いま せん。
はい。平仮名とカタカナで一番良いと思うけど

[MMM]

賛成です。なんのためにローマジでお願いしているでし ょうか。発音を分からないと意味ない。