Jdrama and the Japanese Language

Posted: Tue Jun 03, 2008 1:19 am Post subject: Post Rating: 0

You can read about a popular Japanese test. The highest level is crazy.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kanji_kentei

You have the first 2000 kanji that will make up all the words you will ever need.
Anything above that is names, special words, historical kanji and other stuff that is rarely used.

Posted: Tue Jun 03, 2008 2:05 am Post subject: Post Rating: 0

As I said, for most people, all you really need to do is to be able to read the kanji.

I suspect that a lot of people will pass lvl 2 and many pre lvl 1 if they don't have to worry about the writing part.

Here I am guessing: but If you can read the basic set of 1945 kanji your Japanese vocabulary will probably jump to over 5,000 easily, if not 10,000. Since each kanji is a word, you know at least 2000 words (at the low ball estimate), and then you'll know or at least be able to guess the meaning of the compound words.

Which is a ton, considering that the often quoted number for the size of English language vocabulary of a college educated person is around 20,000-25,000!

Posted: Tue Jun 03, 2008 2:42 am Post subject: Post Rating: 0

I definitely believe I'm one of those people who would learn Japanese simply for the sake of being able to watch any and all J-dramas I want, the second the RAW comes out. I totally appreciate what all the fansub groups are doing and they are doing a tremendous job considering the countless number of j-dramas I've seen and continue to see. However, I am aware that If I were to learn the language it would come in handy in more ways than just my own leisure.

I am considering taking Japanese I next semester in college. Yet, I've heard horror stories about how terrible it can be(at least at my college). I am confident in my vocab and speaking to a certain extent due to all my drama and movie experience, however the idea of learning all the kanji seems quite intimidating. Does anyone have insight onto whether learning Kanji in a college level Japanese I class is that terrible? Also if anyone knows any easy methods to mastering kanji?

Posted: Sat Jun 07, 2008 6:59 pm Post subject: Post Rating: 0

Started learning nihongo for my interest in jdramas. But it ain't easy to learn since i prefer to put more time into watching jdramas than learning the kanas.

Posted: Tue Jun 10, 2008 11:36 pm Post subject: Post Rating: 0

Posted: Wed Jun 11, 2008 9:06 pm Post subject: Post Rating: 0

I think that the easiest way to learn kanji aside from taking lessons like I do, is to get the raw of your favorite manga or try to read newspapers, magazines, etc. You have to make it fun and simple. For example when my Japanese teacher taugh tus how to write onna(woman) "女" she said to write it as ku-no-ichi which is a female ninja. Suffice to say that was the kanji that everyone who doesnt study kanji like I do remembers most lol. Another one is otoko(man) ”男” which combines that kanji for rice field and power respectively. Just find a way to make it fun and intersting and you will be suprised at how much kanji you will memorize. By making it fun, I have memorized over 150+ kanji and I have still have loads and loads more to learn but im learning new ones everyday. So keep at it and it will come Smile

P.S this is a good website to get started http://japanese.about.com/library/blkodarchives.htm
Start at grade one and move from there. がんばって下さい　：）

Posted: Thu Jun 12, 2008 1:04 pm Post subject: Post Rating: 0

anyways,do you know where i can download free japanese manga (with kanji)??

i think,mangas will really help me a lot... Smile

Posted: Thu Jun 12, 2008 2:39 pm Post subject: Post Rating: 0

I am also learning Japanese, my goal being to move to Japan when I'm done with University.
An added bonus from learning the language is definitely being able to watch Japanese shows/movies without subtitles--I'm not quite that far yet, although I do understand a lot more with each day I study.
In the least, watching JDramas definitely insures that I'll always remember words like "Tadaima!" and "Itadakimasu!" lol

Posted: Sat Jun 14, 2008 5:22 pm Post subject: Post Rating: 0

A place to get manga in its RAW format(no translation) is www.mangahelpers.com