JLPT results for Dec 13 is out!

Hi Folks,

Results of JLPT are available online!

To check, please ensure that you have the follow:
15-digit registration number (available on your examine slip)
8-digit password (available on your examine slip)

Click here to access to the login page for your results!

Snail mail should be coming to Singapore around mid Feb to late Feb.

皆さんの試験結果が如何か。

恥ずかしくて、JLPT N3について二度もおちちゃった。

New Year Greetings in Japanese

Hi Folks,

Happy New Year!!!
良いお年を?

明けましておめでとうございます?

Guess what? I was been told by my sensei that I had been using the WRONG phrase to wish people "Happy New Year" for quite a few years... >.<

Confused? Let me explain.

Both of them are commonly by Japanese to their loved ones for well wishes into the New Year.
However,

良いお年を
(Yoi otoshi wo) - May you have a good year ahead.
You will use this phrase BEFORE New Year starts

明けましておめでとうございます
(Akemashite Omedetou Gozaimasu) - Congratulation to a new start.
You will use this phrase AFTER New Year starts

So do remember to use the corrected phrase to avoid confusion and embarrassment!

Now is still 9pm @ Singapore +8pmt so let me wish everyone again :

Happy New Year!!!
良いお年を~

Hatsuyume 初夢

（Credits : www.japanlover.me / Source: https://www.facebook.com/JapanLoverMe）

Hatsuyume (初夢) is the first dream a person will have in the new year. It is a traditional Japanese belief that the dream will foretell the future/luck that awaits the dreamer in the coming year~! 

ヽ(^。^)丿

It is also believed that having a hatsuyume involving the following shall bring good luck to the dreamer:
1. Mount Fuji (high position)
2. Hawk (cleverness and strength)
3. Eggplant (nasu 成す - achieve something great)

～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～

What will you be dreaming tonight?

JLPT results for Dec 12 is out!

Hi Folks,

Results of JLPT are available online!

To check, please ensure that you have the follow:
15-digit registration number (available on your examine slip)
8-digit password (available on your examine slip)

Click here to access to the login page for your results!

Snail mail should be coming to Singapore around mid Feb to late Feb.

皆さんの試験結果が如何か。

恥ずかしくて、JLPT N3について二度もおちちゃった。

あけおめ！

皆さんへ、
明けましておめでとうございます！！！
来週クラスをやりなおします。

Everyone,
Happy New Year!
Lesson shall resume from next week ^^

メリークリスマスー

皆さんへ、

メリークリスマスーお目出度うご座います。

Everyone,

Merry Xmas to all!

Current JLPT scoring system (from 2010)

JLPT scoring system from 2010

Level	Total score		Scores by Scoring Sections
			Language Knowledge （Vocabulary/Grammar）		Reading		Listening
	Range of scores	Overall pass marks	Range of scores	Sectional pass marks	Range of scores	Sectional pass marks	Range of scores	Sectional pass marks
N1	0～180 points	100 points	0～60 points	19 points	0～60 points	19 points	0～60 points	19 points
N2	0～180 points	90 points	0～60 points	19 points	0～60 points	19 points	0～60 points	19 points
N3	0～180 points	95 points	0～60 points	19 points	0～60 points	19 points	0～60 points	19 points

Level	Total score		Scores by Scoring Sections
			Language Knowledge （Vocabulary/Grammar）・Reading		Listening
	Range of scores	Overall pass marks	Range of scores	Sectional pass marks	Range of scores	Sectional pass marks
N4	0～180 points	90 points	0～120 points	38 points	0～60 points	19 points
N5	0～180 points	80 points	0～120 points	38 points	0～60 points	19 points

Just a side note that one is not required to score well on each sectional pass as compared to previous format of JLPT. Previous format requires examine to achieve at least 50% passing grade per section. However the examine MUST pass the overall pass marks and sectional pass marks requirement for each paper.

Meaning if one might be weak in reading and managed to scrape through the sectional pass for language knowledge but very strong in listening and ace the listening section, one can still pass the JLPT exams.

Do you know...

• Singapore and Tokyo are 5,320km apart?

• Singapore and Tokyo are not in the same time zone? Singapore is GMT +8  while Tokyo is GMT +9.

• flying from Singapore to Tokyo takes around 7 hours while flying from Tokyo to Singapore takes around 8 hours?

• Singapore have tropical rainforest climate while Japan have temperate climate of 4 seasons?

• Singapore's tallest hill is Bukit Timah hill (164m) while Japan's tallest mountain is Mt. Fuji (3,776.24m) ?

Japanese Poetry

Waka (Japanese poetry) originally encompassed a veriety of forms, such as choka, tanka and sedoka, but tanka gradually become the predominant form until, from Heian Era (late 8th centuy), the term waka came to be considered synonymous with tanka.

Tanka is one form of waka, consisting of five lines of 5, 7, 5, 7 and 7 syllables. It is said that for a Japanese, this is the most natural length for a lyric poem poem expressing emotion. The first three lines of 5, 7 and 5 syllables are known as kami no ku (upper poem" and the remaining two lines of 7 and 7 syllables are known as shimo no ku (lower poem).

As a short form of lyric poetry, tanka stress the beauty of life and nature, and a feeling of yearning is an important element of tanka. What is sought within this simple form is to express the essence of the yearning with a depth in which all the emotions are intermingled. The vivid expression of that which has touched the heart has the power to evoke a wealth of associations. This allusive feeling contained in these 31 syllables is referred to as yojo. In content, tanka poem should include this yojo.

An example of tanka

難波津 (和歌)

難波津に          na ni wa tsu ni
咲くやこの花    sa ku ya ko no ha na
冬ごもり            fu yu go mo ri
今は春べと      i ma ha ha ru be to
咲くやこの花    sa ku ya ko no ha na

Aside from Tanka, there's also Haiku which is a fixed shorter verse form of seventeen syllables arranged in a 5-7-5 pattern.

Basho Matsuo, in the middle of the Edo period (late 17th century), give independent life to the hokku (opening verse) of the haikairenga (linked verse), and establised it as an art form dealing with life and nature, using aesthetic values such as austere elegance called, sabi, shiori, in which there is natural expression of delivate beauty, and karumi, which seeks a refined interest in plain everyday material.

General use of the name "haiku" for this form began with Shiki Masaoka, in the 3rd decade of Meiji Era (end 19th century).

A feature of haiku is inclusion of a "season word" referring to an animal, plant, event or custom of the season. For example, the season word sumireso (violets) will bring to mind the warmth of spring and violets in bloom along a mountain path. Thus, breadth and depth is given to haiku, the shortest of poems. Haiku give an obhetive, fleeting picture of its subject. As it is impossible to depict an actual scene in detail, it is necessary to abbreviate to the essentials, and the season word is one such abbreciation.


An example of haiku

古池 (俳句)

古池や       fu ru i ke ya

蛙飛込む   ka wa tsu to bi ko mu

水の音       mi zu no o to

One famous and traditional anthology style of compiling Japanese waka poetry is actually Hyakunin isshu. Hyakunin isshu (百人一首) is a where each contributor writes one poem for the anthology. Literally, it translates to "one hundred people, one poem [each]". It also refers to the card game of uta-garuta, which uses a deck composed of poems from one such anthology.

The most famous hyakunin isshu, often referred to as "the" Hyakunin Isshu because no other one compares to its notability, is the Ogura Hyakunin Isshu, compiled by Fujiwara no Teika (or Sadaie, 1162 – 1241) while he lived in the Ogura district of Kyoto. Teika's anthology is the basis for the card game of karuta, which has been popular since the Edo period.

Learning How to Wear a Yukata

How to Wear Yukata

Hi Folks, it's summer and alot of places in and out of Japan are having summer festival, commonly known as natsu matsuri. With that in mind, it's time for YUKATA! That's right! YUKATA is really something that is associated with SUMMER! So I decided to share my yukata manual for you! 

In case you cannot read off the blog pic, please click them instead. The pictures are in pretty sharp resolution as individual.

Names of Yukata Parts:

Wearing Yukata Part 1:

Wearing Yukata Part 2:

Wearing Yukata Part 3:

Typing Obi Part1:

Typing Obi Part 2:

Gestaltzerfall of Kanji

Gestaltzerfall refers to a psychological phenomenon where delays in recognition are observed when a kanji character is stared at for a while. A study has shown that delays are most significant when the characters are of the same size. When characters to recognize are of different sizes, delays are observed only when they are of different patterns

 Extracted from Wikipedia : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gestaltzerfall

I was talking to my friend over msn when he give me this term along with the meaning on this website: koohi forum topic. In short, this is actually a form of recongised mental blockage due to excessive expourse to a particular kanji. It is quite common among people who is learning Japanese and Chinese. Have you ever suffer from this before? Care to share?

Introducing my editor/fellow author for article contribution.

I just realised that I'm a pretty ungrateful person as I have totally left credits for my cousin's handiwork for editing out my stuff and inputing her ideas for this blog. ^^,)//

So let's welcome Jiali san! \(^-^)/

List of numbers without counters

0　     -　零 (ぜろ・れい)・〇(まる)
1　     -　一 (いち・ひと[つ])
2　     -　二 (に・ふた[つ])
3　     -　三 (さん・み[っつ])
4　     -　四 (よん・よ[っつ]・し)
5　     -　五 (ご・いつ[つ])
6　     -　六 (ろく・む[っつ])
7　     -　七 (なな[つ]・しち)
8　     -　八 (はち・や[っつ])
9　     -　九 (きゅう・く・ここの[つ]）
~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.
10　   -　十 (じゅう・とお）  
20　   -　二十 (にじゅう)
30　   -　三十 (さんじゅう)
40　   -　四十 (よんじゅう)
50　   -　五十 (ごじゅう)
60　   -　六十 (ろくじゅう)
70　   -　七十 (ななじゅう)
80　   -　八十 (はちじゅう)
90　   -　九十 (きゅうじゅう)
 ~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.
100　  -　百 (ひゃく)
300*　 -　三百 (さんびゃく)
600*　 -　六百 (ろっぴゃく)
800*　 -　八百 (はっぴゃく)
1,000 　-　千 (せん)
3,000*　-　三千 (さんぜん)
8,000*　-　八千 (はっせん)
10,000　-　一万 (いちまん)
100,000,000　-　億 (おく)
*Special pronunciation.
 ~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.
So how to I read numeric value?
For numbers 1-10, just read the 1st hiragana pronunciation in the bracket - ichi,ni,san,yon,go,roku,nana,hachi,kyuu,jyuu....

For numbers that is in between 1-999,999,999, you just need to read according to their value.
For example
341,758,629 - 三億四千百七十五万八千六百二十九
(さんおく　よんせん　ひゃく　ななじゅう　ごまん　はっせん　ろっぴゃく　にじゅう　きゅう)

Special Pronunciation
1) 百、千、億
 For 100, 1,000 and 100,000,000, we will omit out 1(ichi) digit in front.
However, one should take note that for 10,000, it is pronounced as 一万(いちまん).


2) 四、七、九
Usually, one would just pronounce 4,7,9 as よん、なな、きゅう as modern Japanese way of reading. This is to avoid using the pronunciation of し、しち and they can also mean death (死、死地) and pronunciation of く also means suffering(苦).
However, one would use the old reading style for calender date and time.
For example, April, July and September are pronounced as 四月(しがつ)、七月(しちがつ)、九月(くがつ).


3) 三、六、八
This is perhaps some of the most confusing numerical that most non native Japanese learners will have problem memorising. The changing of sounds in 3,6,8 are due to rendaku. It's pretty hard to explain at elementary level by itself.
Sad to say, I can only offer one advise: forced memorisation.


4) 零 or 〇
Both are accepted in modern Japanese speaking. But sometimes, in quick pronunciation by native Japanese for numerical terms, one may use 〇 instead of 零.
However, in written context, only 零 is used.


What is つ?
That's a counter usage. However, there's quite a few counters in Japanese so we will touch on this topic in another post soon :)

Inner Elbow

Once during our elementary lesson where we are learning body parts, one of my classmate ask Sensei on the proper term of inner elbow. Sensei could not give a proper term for this (>.<)|||

Interesting enough, I search Yahoo answers and post the question there.

And soon enough someone managed to fill me up with an answer  :

While, 肘(ひじ) hiji means elbow. There was an old term for inner elbow call 肘窩(ちゅか) chuka. Modern way of say inner elbow will be 肘の内側(ひじのうちがわ) hiji no uchigawa.

Interesting, isn't it?

JLPT - Japanese Language Proficiency Test! 日本語能力試験 !

Hi Folks! Its been an interesting and wearying week for me!

Just 2 days ago, I had taken my JLPT N3 @ Singapore exam centre hosted at Singapore Management University (SMU).

So what is JLPT and what does its certification means? 
JLPT means Japanese Language Proficiency Test or 日本語能力試験(にほんごのうりょくしけん). It is to assess non Japanese native speakers on their level of proficiency in Japanese.

How hard is JLPT?
Currently, there's 5 levels as compared to 4 levels in 2010. Beginners will take N5 and slowly progress to N1. Which is considered harder than native level. An extra level N3 was inserted in 2010 ( the level that I took 2 days ago) to form the bridge between N4 and N2. JLPT2 (N2) also had the highest failure rates.

As for me, to pass JLPT N1 has been my personal goal. So far, I can say learning Japanese isn't easy as it takes tonnes of practice along with appreciation of Japanese culture to understand the beauty of the language.

How many papers are there in JLPT?
Generally, all JLPTs have 1 listening paper. Lower levels JLPT N5-N3 have 1 vocabulary  and 1 grammar paper while higher level JLPT N2-N1 have only 1 paper which combines both vocabulary and grammar together.

How frequent is JLPT examinations conducted?
Generally, it is conducted twice a year - early July and early Dec. However, some overseas exam centres might only conduct it annually.

So it is compulsory to take JLPT?
Nope, it is purely optional but one can take the test at a nominal fees (around SGD50 per level in Singapore but I heard that it is around SGD200 in Japan!). It is highly encouraged for one to take up at least JLPT if they are enrolled in Japanese language school so as to assess their language proficiency.

Is JLPT qualification recognisable?
Yes! Most Japanese companies and some universities accept JLPT certifications. However, some stricter Japanese universities require students to pass EJU (Examination for Japanese University Admission) which are written based tests which is much harder as compared to JLPT (multiple choice questions test)

Beside JLPT and EJU, is there other test that assess Japanese language ability?
Yes, there's another Japanese test which is recognised by Japanese companies and universities known as BJT (Business Japanese Test) or BJTビジネス日本語能力テスト(BJTびじねすにほんごのうりょくてすと). However, it is a pity that Singapore does not conduct this test.

Hope that this mini explanation of JLPT helps in clarifying your doubts on Japanese language international test. I also enclosed links for JLPT, EJU and BJT for anyone who is interested in reading for more information ie exams structures, fees and application procedures.

For more information on JLPT:
JLPT Official Site
JLPT - Singapore based centre for registration
Wikipedia - JLPT
Other site on JLPT and information
EJU Official Site
BJT Official Site

Basic Job Title

Japanese Emperor -　天皇 (てんのう)


Japanese Empress -　皇后 (こうごう)


Japanese Crown Prince -　皇太子 (こうたいし）


Japanese Prince/Princess -　親王 (しんのう）


Japanese Prime Minister -　内閣総理大臣 (ないかくそうりだいじん）


King -　国王 (こくおう)・王様 (おうさま)


Queen -　女王 (じょおう)・王后 (おうこう)


Prince -　王子・皇子 (おうじ)


Princess -　王女・皇女 (おうじょ)・妃 (ひ)・妃殿下 (ひでんか)・姫 (ひめ)


President (State) -　大統領(だいとうりょう)


Prime Minister -　首相 (しゅしょう)


President (Co) -　社長 (しゃちょう)


President (Society) -　会長 (かいちょう)


Head of Department -　部長 (ぶちょう)


Office Worker -　会社員 (かいしゃいん)


Shop Manager -　店長 (てんちょう)


Shopkeeper/Shop Attendant -　店員(てんいん)


Doctor -　医者 (いしゃ)


Nurse -　看護士 (かんごし)・看護婦 (かんごふ) 
- 看護婦 is used for female nurse only.


Singer -　歌手 (かしゅ)


Actor -　役者 (やくしゃ)・芸人 (げいにん)・女優 (じょゆう)・男優 (だんゆう) 
- 女優 is used for actress only while 男優 is used for male actor only


Writer -　作家 (さっか)


Manga Writer -　漫画家 (まんがか)


Designer -　デザイナー (でざいなー)


Lifeguard -　監視員 (かんしいん)


Farmer -　農家 (のうか)


Gardener -　庭師 (にわし)・園丁(えんてい)


Maid -　メイド (めいど)


Butler -　執事 (シツジ)


Housewife -　主婦 (しゅふ)


Teacher -　教師 (きょうし)


Student -　学生 (がくせい)


PS : Sensei - 先生(せんせい) are used to address people that is considered skilled in a particular field as a form of respect. For example, doctors and politicians are also addressed as Sensei as a form of respect so don't get confused when a doctor is called Sensei instead!

When visiting a Japanese Shrine/temple...

When one visits a Japanese Shrine/Temple, there's a few things to keep in mind.
Temples are generally for Buddhism while Shinto Shrines enshrine Kami-sama (deities) from various elements.

• When walking up the stairs, try to avoid walking up on the main flight of staircase (Seichuu), as they are meant for the Buddha/Kami-sama's use.

• Before entering the main hall, cleanse your hands/mouth with the purification fountain nearby the entrance starting with your right hand then left hand. Do not touch the ladle with your mouth. Pour the water from the ladle onto your hand before cleansing your mouth. However, this is purely optional.

• When praying for basic respect, the procedure is call 二礼二拍手一礼:

1. Bow twice
2. Clap twice
3. Final bow

• For coin offering to the Buddha/Kami-sama, the procedure is:

1. Ring the gong (if available) so that Kami-sama can hear you.
2. Toss in the coin offering into the donation box
3. Bow twice
4. Clap twice
5. Praying your wish
6. Final bow.

Do you know that Japanese welcome the fumes from the incense pot as a form of blessing from Buddha? 
You may want to do the same while at a temple but do not use 2 hands!


How much value should I throw into the donation box?
Generally, the more the better. Nevertheless, Japanese believe that throwing 5yen or 5円 is the best as it means good fate in Japanese - 御縁(ごえん) 
However, avoid throwing 10yen or 10円 as Japanese believes it means end of fate in Japanese - 死縁 (しえん). If you do not have 5yen and only have 10yen, throw 2pcs of 10yen instead to avoid the loss of fate.


How to differentiate a Temple and a Shrine in Japan?

A typical Shinto Shrine:

1) One always enter a Shinto shrine through a Torii gate. 

2) A pair of guardian dogs or lions or foxes, called shisa or komainu or kitsune , often sit on each side of the entrance to a Shinto Shrine.

3) Usually a Shinto Shrine usually have suffix of the following:

・神宮 (じんぐう)
・神社 (じんじゃ)

・社 (やしろ)

Example: Fushimi Inari Shrine @ Kyoto

A typical Buddhist Temple:
1) A Buddhist temple always houses an image of the Buddha.

2) A large incense burner is usually that the front of a temple.

3) There is often a pagoda on the premises of a Buddhist temple.

Usually a Temple usually have suffix of the following:

・寺 (じ)
・寺 ( てら )
・寺院 ( じいん )

Example: Kiyomizu-dera @ Kyoto

It is interesting to note that some of the temples and shrines co-exist side by side. Kiyomizu-dera is a fine example, by itself, house a lot of smaller Shinto Shrines within its temple grounds. 

Updates!

Hi Folks,

I had posted up quite a few vocab list and along with a documentary for Samurai swords and "How to eat cold soba".

Hope everyone enjoy the stuff that me and my cousin (who helps me in editing out my stuff) are putting up.

Btw, I also add quite a few links under Otaku's favourite and a link : 絵本ナビ Ehon Navi under More Japanese Learning Link. Strongly recommend folks with good hiragana and basic kanji to try out this Ehonnavi as this is a website in 100% Japanese for picture books.

More post coming soon!

How to eat cold soba....

(Courtesty of Shinbashi Soba)

I was in Shinbashi Soba store when I saw this detailed explanation of eating cold soba.

This is pretty detailed on its own so I took a piece with permission from the store and decided to scan and share with you all.

Hope you guys enjoy eating cold soba as much as I do!

Basic Country List

Country List
 Japan - 日本 (にほん・にっぽん)


China - 中国 (ちゅうごく)


S.Korea - 韓国 (かんこく)


Singapore - 新嘉坡・シンガポール (しんがぽーる) Usually written in katakana


 Malaysia - マレーシア (まれーしあ)


 Indonesia - インドネシア (いんどねしあ)


Russia - 露西亜・ロシア (ろしあ) Usually written in katakana


 Germany - 独逸・ドイツ (どいつ) Usually written in katakana


 Italy - 伊太利・イタリア (いたりあ) Usually written in katakana


 France - 仏蘭西・フランス (ふらんす) Usually written in katakana


 Britian - 英吉利・イギリス (いぎりす) Usually written in katakana


 Spain - 西班牙・スペイン (すぺいん) Usually written in katakana


 Portugal - 葡萄牙・ポルトガル (ぽるとがる) Usually written in katakana


 Greece - 希臘・ギリシア (ぎりしあ) Usually written in katakana


 Turkey - 土耳古・トルコ (とるこ ) Usually written in katakana


 Eygpt - 埃及・エジプト (えじぷと) Usually written in katakana


 Australia - 豪太剌利・オーストラリア (おーすとらぃあ) Usually written in katakana


 New Zealand - 新西蘭・ニュージーランド (にゅうじいらんど)


 U.S.A - 米国 (べいこく)


 Canada - 加奈陀・カナダ (かなだ) Usually written in katakana


 Mexico - 墨西哥・メキシコ (めきしこ) Usually written in katakana


 Brazil - 伯剌西爾・ブラジル (ぶらじる) Usually written in katakana

Continent List
Africa - 阿弗利加・アフリカ (あふりか) Usually written in katakana


Asia - 亜細亜・アジア (あじあ) Usually written in katakana


America - 亜米利加・アメリカ (あめりか) Usually written in katakana


Australia - 濠州 (ごうしゅう）　


Europe - 欧州 (おうしゅう)

How to add Nationality to a country?
One can say their nationality by adding "人(じん)" as suffix.
For example,
I am a Singaporean.
私　　は　　シンガポール　人　です。
わたし　は　しんがぽーる　じん　です。