Personal information

When Japanese meet someone for the first time it is common for them to reffer to themselves with their last name and the respectful "san" title. This is important!
(last name) desu. / (last name) to moshimasu (humble). = My name is (last name).
Personal information
Dochira kara, irasshaimashita ka. = Where are you from?
Kanada kara kimashita. = I am from Canada.
Okuni wa dochira desu ka. = Which country are you from?
Oumare wa dochira desu ka. = Where were you born?
Roma de umaremashita. = I was born in Rome.
Osumai wa dochira desu ka. = Where do you live?
Kanada desu. = I live in Canada.
Kakkon shite irasshaimasu ka. = Are you married?
Kekkon shite imasu. = I am married.
Dokushin desu. = I'm single.
Okosan ga irasshaimasu ka. = Do you have any children?
Oikutsu desu ka. = How old are you? (Another way of saying what I taught you a long time ago.)
Oshigoto wa. = What do you do?
Gakusei desu. = I am a student.
Kyoshi = teacher
Kyoju = professor
Shufu = housewife
Kaishain = office worker
Sarariman = office worker (for men only)
Hisho = secretary
Gijutsusha = engineer
Gunjin = in the military
Kaisha no shacho = company president
Kaisha no juyaku = company executive
Jitsugyoka = industrialist
Isha = doctor
Haisha = dentist
Kangofu = nurse
Yakuzaishi = pharmacist
Bengoshi = lawyer
Kaikeishi = accountant
Kenchikuka = architect
Ongakuka = musician
Geijutsuka = artist
Sakka = writer
Seijika = politician
Yakunin = government official
Komuin = government office worker
Janarisuto = jounalist
There's a nice list of professions for you! Sakka desu. I hope your day goes amazingly and maybe this will someday come in handy if you ever find yourself in Japan for some unknown reason and need to express the fact that you work in an office. Oh! One more thing I feel is necessary to say is: Disuko de, odoritai no desu ga! (I feel like dancing in a disco!)

Introductions

Japanese culture is something that they don't expect foreigners to ever fully understand, there are some things, however, which we can try and grasp. "Proper" intruductions are very important in their culture and although you can introduce yourself and will probably strike a fantasic conversation, it is better if a mutual friend or aquaintance does this with you.
Introducing yourself/Introductions
Ano kata wa, donata desu ka. = Who is that?
Ano kata ga donata ka, gozonji desu ka. = Do you know who that is?
Ano kata ni, aitai no desu ga. = I would like to meet him/her (literally, that person).
Ano kata ni shokai shite itadakemasu ka. = Would you introduce me to him/her (that person)?
A san, B san o goshokai shitai no desu ga. = Mr./Ms. A, may I introduce Mr./Ms. B?
Koko ni iru no wa, watakushi no _______ desu. = This is my _______.
Yujin = friend
Otto/Shujin = husband
Tsuma/Kanai = wife
Musuko = son
Musume = daughter
Chichi = father
Haha = mother
Hajimemashite. / Dozo yoroshiku. = How do you do?
Hajimemashite. / Kochira koso yoroshiku. = How do you do (reply).
Ome ni kakarete, koei desu. = I'm honored to meet you.
Ome ni kakarete, ureshii desu. = I'm glad to meet you.
Your name to moshimasu. = I'm your name.
Watakushi no namae wa, your name desu. = My name is your name.
I know that some of them are different ways of saying the same thing but I figure that you may make use of all of these phrases at some point or another. I hope you go and introduce yourself--or have someone else introduce you--to a new Japanese friend!

Days of the week, Months of the year

I'll find out when these are due... procrastination is a very real thing. Fortunately I get over it sometimes and get my work done on time!
Days of the week
In English we have Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The naming system is based off of the planets in our solar system, our "moon" and the sun itself:
Monday(Moon), Tuesday(Mars), Wednesday(Mercury), Thursday(Jupiter), Friday(Venus), Saturday(Saturn) and Sunday(Sun).
In the Japanese language, the days of the week are not based off of the--excluding Saturn--planets, though it does have moon and sun. Really, it is not all that different than ours, only in another language, in Japanese. The elements play a large role in the naming of the Japanese days of the week.
The word we use in English as "day" is similar to how they use "yobi".
Moon yobi
Fire yobi
Water yobi
Wood yobi
Gold yobi
Saturn yobi
Sun yobi 
In Japanese these words are:
Getsuyobi=Monday
Kayobi=Tuesday
Suiyobi=Wednesday
Mokuyobi=Thursday
Kinyobi=Friday
Doyobi=Saturday
Nichiyobi=Sunday
Months of the year
In Japanese, the months are defined by their number. January is the first month and is therefore the "first month" or "month one". Some of these numbers may be familiar to you if you have read the numbers entries. Some of the numbers are abbreviated for the months so keep that in mind if you become confused. "Ku is not a number!" No, but kyuu is.
Gatsu=month
Ichigatsu=January
Nigatsu=February
Sangatsu=March
Shigatsu=April
Gogatsu=May
Rokugatsu=June
Shichigatsu=July
Hachigatsu=August
Kugatsu=September
Juugatsu=October
Juuichigatsu=November
Juunigatsu=December
So, for example, November is "The eleventh month", as March is "The third month"
Relative months
Sengetsu=last month
Kongetsu=this month
Raigetsu=next month
Relative days
Ototoi=the day before yesterday
Kinou=yesterday
Kyou=today
Asu=tomorrow
Asatte=the day after tomorrow
Relative weeks
Shu=week
Senshu=last week
Konshu=this week
Raishu=next month
Reletive years
Kyonen=last year
Kotoshi=this year
Rainen=next year

Weather and the Seasons

Even though I changed the title of this blog entry I still want the world to know and realize that Alan Rickman is fabulous. Recently the weather has begun to be... less than appreciated by sun lovers like myself. So why not enter a blog about the weather and seasons of the year? The following are useful phrases and words which can be placed into them. Enjoy!

Vocabulary
Kisetsu-Season
Shiki-Four seasons
Haru-Spring
Sangatsu-March
Shigatsu-April
Gogatsu-May
Natsu-Summer
Rokugatsu-June
Shichigatsu-July
Hachigatsu-August
Aki-Fall
Kugatsu-September
Jugatsu-October
Juichigatsu-November
Fuyu-Winter
Junigatsu-December
Ichigatsu-January
Nigatsu-Febuary
Atatakai-Warm
Atsui-Hot
Mushiatsui-Hot and humid
Suzushii-Cool
Samui-Cold
Kanso shite iru-Dry
Shikke no oi-Humid
Kiko-Climate
Tenki-Weather
Hare-Clear (sky)
Kumori-Cloudy
Kaze-Wind
Kaze no tsuyoi-Windy
Ame-Rain
Gou-Heavy rain
Raiu-Thundershower
Yudachi-Shower
Kirisame-Drizzle
Tsuyu-Rainy season
Yuki-Snow
Mizore-Sleet
Arare-Hail
Kori-Ice
Shimo-Frost
Taifu-Typhoon

Phrases
Tsuyu wa, itsu hajimarimasu ka.-When does the rainy season begin?
Tsuyu wa, itsu owarimasu ka. -When does the rainy season end?
Sakura wa, itsu sakimasu ka.-When do the cherry blossoms bloom?
Koyo wa, itsu goro desu ka.-When do the Autum leaves begin?
Ii (o) tenki desu ne.-It's a nice day isn't it?
Iya na (o) tenki desu ne.-It's terrible weather isn't it?
Kyo wa, _____ desu ne.-It's _____ today, isn't it?
_____ desu.-It's ____.
Mojiki, yamu desho ka.-Will it stop snowing/raining soon?
Hareru to ii no desu ga.I hope it will clear up.
Ashita no tenki yoho wa do desu ka.What's tomorrow's weather forecast?
Taifu shizun wa itsu desu ka.-When if the typhoon season?
Taifu wa, kiso desu ka.Do you think a typhoon is coming?

Communication

Here is a very important section of this blog--communication. Remember; the biggest flaw with communication is the illusion that it has tacken place. Here I will list off some ways of clerifying and making sure you let people know if you understood or not ect. I haven't put work on here for awhile and now is when I start doing that, and it will be good work too! The phrases themselves are the most important part of this page so read and momorize.

New/Reminders
Hai. Yes.
Iie. No.
Wakarimashita. Understood.
Wakarimasu. Understand.
Eigo. English.
Nihongo. Japanese.
Kudasai. Please.
Sumimasen. Excuse me.

Communicating

Wakarimasu ka. Do you understand?
Hai, wakarimasu. Yes, I understand.
Iie, wakarimasen. No, I didn't understand.

Wakarimashita ka. Did you understand?
Hai, wakarimashita. Yes, I understood.
Iie, wakarimasen deshita. No, I didn't understand.

Eigo ga wakarimasu ka. Do you understand English?
Eigo ga hanasemasu ka. Can you speak English?
Nihongo ga sukoshi hanasemasu. I can speak a little Japanese.
Nihongo wa hotondo shirimasen. I know very little Japanese.
Nihongo wa wakarimasen. I don't understand Japanese.

Mo ichido, onegai shimasu. Could you repeat it, please?
Motto, yukkuri hanashite kudasai. Please speak slowly.
Kami ni kaite kudasai. Write it down on paper, please.
Dareka, eigo ga wakaru hito ga imasu ka. Is there anyone who understands English?
Eigo o hanashimasu ka. Do you speak English?
Eigo ga hanasemasu ka. Can you speak English?
Kore wa,nan to iimasu ka. What do you call this?
Kore wa, Nihongo ge, nan to iimasu ka. What's this called in Japanese?
Kore wa, eigo de nan to iimmasu ka. What's this called in English?
Kore wa desu ka. What is this? (Review)
Sumimasen ga, tasukete itadakemasu ka. Excuse me, could you help me, please?
Kono hon ni aru, tekisetsu na bun o yubisashite kudasai. Please point to the suitable phrase in this book.

Four day weekend! Particles.

At some point homework might be a good idea... or not? I guess it went with the "not" because it's Monday now and I should probably do this thing--I will not be (too) behind on Vocabulary blogs again! Hopefully. So someone I know named Josh is back from japan now and it looks like I could learn the language from him as well so that is cool. I still haven't seen him yet but it's been more than eight years, I can handle another week or so. Hmmm, it sure it Monday, I just spent three minutes thinking about writing this sentence. I feel like I'm straining myself by even existing outside of my house right now.

Okay so particles are like the base and structure of the Japanese language--they hold it all together much like an adhesive--and also indicate what the meaning of words they are between or are by. In these basics they will be just that, basics, but as we get further into the Japanese language particles will become more specific and much more complicated, or so I've been told. If I did understand them I would explain but because I don't know them I have to go by what other people say and write. Particles also work in a case by case sense, where they can mean one thing here and another there. Again, bear with me, we are learning this at the same time--I am seriously looking this up for this blog entry as we speak--but luckily we have already used some and this may come as more of a review than an entirely new concept.

Wa and Ga
Both wa and ga idicate subjects by coming after them but we can break it down further in a loose sense. Wa is a topic marker and ga a subject marker. This gets strange because, at times, the topic is the same as the subject because the topic can be anything the speaker wants to talk about like a grammatical element, object or location. In English this can be roughly associated with "Speaking of," or "As for,"

Examples:
Watashi wa gakusei desu.  I am a student. (As for me, I am a student.)
Hana wa kirei desu. As for flowers, (they) are pretty. (They is not said outright but sometimes wa can mean ga.)
Hana wa Snape-san ni agemashita. I gave Snape the flowers. (As for the flowers, I gave them to Snape.) Here the unstated topic it "I" and refers to the objects "flowers" directly.
Nihongo wa omoshiroi desu. Japanese is interesting. (Speaking of Japanese, it is interesting.)

It gets dark early in winter!

So as my title had bluntly stated, I need to catch up and I plan on doing this today(Which i didn't but two days is good enough!). Wish me luck! Four blog entries to complete now. On the plus side I'm tired, it's raining out and I have a wicked headache.
I'm better now but I hope you are ready for this Japanese vocabulary babble I'm about to force onto you unsuspecting readers!

Vocabulary (Verbs):

Nonde-Drink

Yonde-Read (Reading is yonde imasu)

Nete-Sleep

Asonde-play

Hataraite-work

Hatarakimasu

Hataraki-work/workings/ability

Asobimasu

Asobi-playing

Yomimasu-to read

Aruite-walk

Oyoide-swim

Kaite-write

Motte-hold

Mite-see

Kiite-hear

Suwatte-sit

Tatte-stand

Examples:
Watashi wa sono hon o yomimasu - I will read that book.
Watashi wa sono hon o yomimasen - I won't read that book.
Watashi wa hon o yonde imasu - I am reading that book.

Vocabulary (Family/people):

Shimai-daughters

Imouto-daughter

Otouto-son

Kyoudai-sons

Kodomo-children

Otona-adults

Gakusei-student

Vocabulary (Food/Liquid):

Juusu-juice

Tabete-eat

Mizu-water

Ocha-tea

Sandoicci-Sandwich

Koohii-Coffee

Vocabulary (Wear):

Haite-wear (on the legs)

Kite-wear (upper torso)

Kabutte-wear (head)

Vocabulary (Clothing):

Kootu-coat

Sukaato-skirt

Shatsu-shirt

T-shatsu-T-shirt

Wanpiisu-dress

Kutsu-shoes

Boushi-hat

Examples:

Onnanoko wa shiroi wanpiisu o kite imasu - The girl is wearing a white dress.

Otokono hito wa midori boushi o kabutte imasu - The man is wearing a green hat. 

Kutsu wa haite imasu ga, kutsushita wa haite imasen-Wearing shoes without socks.

Kutsu to kutsushita o haite imasu – Wearing shoes and socks

Kutsushita to kutsu o haite imasuka – Wearing shoes and socks?

Useful phrases (All around):

Itadakimasu-Let’s eat (Stated in thanks before a meal)

Gochisou sama deshita-Thank you for the meal

Onamae wa-What’s your name?

Kochira wa ___(name)___ san desu-This is _____

Ganbatte kudasai-Do your best

Daijoubu desu ka-Are you alright?

Daijoubu desu-I am fine

Douzo-Here you are (Can be used as both an offering or a favour)

Arigatou-Thanks

Douitashimashite-You are welcome

Gomenasai-I am sorry

Kore wa shite imasuka-What are you doing?

Hai-Yes

Eii-No

Ryourshite-Could you cook for me?

Vocabulary (Inanimate Objects):

Kuni-country

Machi-city

Hashi-bridge

Koen-park

Toori-street

Jitensha-Bicycle

Booru-Ball

Kusa-Grass

Hikoki-Airplane

Hana-Flower

Taiyou-Sun

Tsuki-Moon

Sora-Sky

Osara-plate

More Vocabulary:

Kore-this

Itsu-when

Dare-why

Chikaku-close

Tooku-far

Boku-I am (Masculine only)

Watashi-I am (Feminine)

Nan-what?

Ka-particle added to the end of a sentence to make it a question.

Dewa-What about

Arimasen-I don’t have/Isn’t

Okay, there's a load of info puke for you! Have fun memorizing those, I know I will (Sarcasm?). Oh and if you listen to music--and even if you don't--check out Buckethead and your mind will be blown so amazingly that it will implode into a blackhole and eat away at your mind and fill it with real music.

That's right,

Brooke.

   

Mwa ha ha halloween!

The rain pours down so heavily here on my little rock. I wonder why today of all days it decided to dampen everything? Oh well, I love it and so do the slugs so it's all fine and dandy!

Vocabulary (General):
Shigoto-work/employment

Itsu-When/how soon?

Doko-What place/where?

Nomimasu-drink

Nomimasuka-You drink?

Shimasu ka-You do?

Instead of putting a question mark at the end of their sentences, the Japanese say “ka”.

Vocabulary (Times of the day):

Asa-morning

Hiru-afternoon

Yuugata-evening

Yoru-night

Templates:

Doko de hataraite imasuka - Where do you work?

Watashi wa ______ hataraite imasu - I work at a/in the ______.

Itsu hataraite imasuka - When do you work?

Watashi wa ______  hataraite imasu - I work in the _______.

Vocabulary (People):

Keisatsukan-Police man or woman

Sensei-Teacher

Shougakusei-Student

Isha-Doctor

Oishasan-Doctor (Polite)

“O” is an honor prefix and “San” is an honor suffix.

Vocabulary (Places):

Kouen-Park

Gakkou-classroom

Byouin-doctors office

Resutoran-restaurant

Soto-outside

Okunai-inside

Example:
Watashiwa gakkou de hataraite imasu - I work in a classroom.

 

Vocabulary (Meals):

Yuugata-dinner

Hirugohan-lunch

Asagohan-breakfast

Tabemasu-to eat

Gohan-means both, meal and cooked rice

Templates (Meals):

Itsu _________ o tabemasu ka - When did you eat ___________?

Watashi wa shigoto no mae ni _________ o tabemasu- I ate __________ before work.

Itsu _________ o tabemasu ka - When did you eat __________?

Watashi wa shigoto no ato ni _________ o tabemasu - I ate _______ after work.

Examples (Meals):

Itsu asagohan o tabemasu ka - When did you eat breakfast?

Watashi wa shigoto no mae ni asagohan o tabemasu- I ate breakfast before work.

Itsu yuugohan o tabemasu ka - When did you eat dinner?

Watashi wa shigoto no ato ni yuugohan o tabemasu - I ate dinner after work.

More Examples:

Kazoku wa soto de asagohan o tabete imasu - The family eats breakfast outside.

Itsu koohii o nomimasu ka-When did you drink your coffee?

Watashi wa asa koohii on nomimase-I drank my coffee in the morning.

Doko de koohii o nomimasu ka-Where did you drink your coffee?

Watashi wa kafe de koohii o nomimasu-I drank my coffee in a café.

Okay so there you have it! I fed you a steady vocabulary and grammar lesson of meals and even seemingly unedible items! Hopefuly you are satisfied for the time being and I'll remember to feed you sometime again--maybe.

Oh and do you know what November the fifth waw? Guy Fawkes day! And just for the record I think he and the gunpowder plot were amazing--until it fell to pieces and he was hung along with several comrades, but that's not the point!

So Voila!

Brooke.

It's so foggy that I can't see the road... NUMBERS!

I appear to have a missing water bottle problem. The worst part though is that it doesn't even belong to me--I was borrowing it! Hopefully I can find it soon. I still need to catch up to be able to put stuff in these so my apologize on the delay, trust me, I don't want to be behind!
I found the water bottle! Don't worry; it is safe and cared for in the comfort of my kitchen. I don't like being tired and that's exactly what I am right now but when a job is unfinished it needs to be completed... and now seems to be the elusive "eventually" I've been speaking about for the last month. Of course it's at eleven o'clock at night, why get a healthy amount of sleep? No one seems to anyway these days.

Some numbers that I have already shown in entries previous have more than one name. Why do they have more than one name you ask? Well that's because each pronunciation is used in specific situations! Sometimes they go easy on you and either way is acceptable.

Rei or zero-zero
Shi or yon-four
Nana or shichi-seven
Kyuu or ku-nine

Vocabulary (Numbers):

Juu-ichi-11

Juu-ni-12

Juu-san-13

Juu-yon-14

Juu-go-15

Juu-roku-16

Juu-nana-17

Juu-hachi-18

Juu-kyuu-19

Notice how numbers from 11-19 are formed by putting the correct number after "ten" or "juu". Example:
14 is juu plus yon which makes is juuyon.

Vocabulary (Numbers):

Ni-juu-20

San-juu-30

Yon-juu-40

Go-juu-50

Roku-juu-60

Nana-juu-70

Hachi-juu-80

Kyuu-juu-90

There is a similarity in process here as there is in numbers 11-19 but instead of placing the correct numbers after, we are looking for the ones that go before juu.

Example:

70 is Nana plus juu or seven tens.

Vocabulary (Numbers):

Hyaku-100

Nihyaku-200

Sanbyaku-300

Yonhyaku-400

Gohyaku-500

Roppyaku-600

Nanahyaku-700

Happyaku-800

Kyuuhyaku-900

See how most of the hundreds are the base number plus a hundred with the exceptions of 300, 600 and 800. So this basic principal holds firm.

Example:

400 is yon plus hyaku or four hundreds.

Vocabulary (Even more numbers):

Sen-thousand

Man-ten thousand

Juu-man-Hundred thousand

Hyaku-man-Million

Sen-man-ten million

Oku-hundred million

It's kind of fun that they have "man" in their numbers, even if it's not translated to our version of man. I wonder if there's a Sen-woman or a juu-woman?

Templates:

___(number)___wa ___(lower number)___ no ato ni kimasu: _____ is after _____

___(number)____ wa ____(higher number)____ no mae ni kimasu: _____ is in front of _____

Nansai desu ka - How old are you?

Watashi wa ___(age)__sai desu - I am ___(age)____.

Examples:

Juugo(15) wa juuyon(14) no ato ni kimasu-Fifteen is after fourteen. (14, 15)

Juukyuu(19) wa nijuu(20) no mae ni kimasu-Ninteen is in front of twenty. (19, 20)

Remember that mae is translated to "front"

Ato ni refers to a specific point in time like at the end of an event--or in this case, sentence.

Or, a different way of putting it;
Mae ni - before something
Ato ni/Ato de - Ato ni: specific point in time after at event, Ato de: refers to a point after an event in general (These are interchangeable most of the time.)

Sai is added to a number when refering to age so when I say I am "kyuuhyaku-rokujuu-yonsai" that means I am "nine-hundered-sixty-four years old".

Hey, you never know; it is the internet after all!

Brooke.

Procrastina.... Where are you?

Apparently this month has 5 Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.... something that only happens every 823 years. There's your fun fact for the next 823 years folks! So this week has been devoted to me catching up with the work I have had six weeks to finish... well, it's almost done now. Procrastination is one of the most common... er, I'll have to come back to you on that.
Here's something fun and useful, let's talk about where things are. Okay well I can already tell that this is going to be a pretty one-sided conversation but I'll take what I can get! First I'll show you some country names which have been translated from English to Japanese.

Vocabulary (Countries):
Kanada-Canada
Rooma- Rome
Pari- Paris
Mosukuwa- Moscow
Nyuuyooku- New York
Furansu- France
Amerika- United States of America
Chuugoku- China
Roshia- Russia
Ejiputo- Egypt
Nihon- Japan
Burajiru- Brazil
Itaria-Italy

Imasu and Arimasu both mean "to exist", the only difference is that imasu is specific to animate things, such as people and animals, where as arimasu is specific to inanimate objects like houses, kunai, Greenland, robotic arms or magical wands.
Template for asking where a place or inanimate object is:
______ wa doko ni arimasu ka. (Where is _______?)
Template for asking where animite objects are located:
______ wa doko ni imasu ka. (Where is ________?)

Jin-Person (Added on at the end of the country you are from)
Kuni-country

More templates:
So as you may have seen already, doko is translated roughly to "where" and doko ni is translated to "at what location" which is similar to koko ni which is "at this location". Here's a cool causal saying you can use:
Doko e - Where to?

Doko ni sunde imasu ka - Where do you live?
Watashi wa ______ ni sunde imasu - I live in ______/I am living in _______
Doko no kuni no kata desu ka - What country are you from?(Slightly formal)
Watashi wa _______ jin desu - I am a(n) _________ person.
In the blanks, place the country you are from and there you go!

Example:
Doko no kuni no kata desu ka. (What country are you from?)
Watashi wa Kanada jin desu. (I am a Canadian person.)
Watashiwa no pan wa doko ni arimasu ka. (Where is my bread?)
Koko ni arimasu. (It's over here.)
 Vocabulary (Places):
Shita-under/bottom
Ue-on/top/above
Naka-inside/middle
Soto-outisde
Mae-front
Ushiro-back/behind
Yoko-along side/next to
Aida-between/interval
Mukou-beyond
Tonari-next door/neighboring
Hidari gawa-left side
Migi gawa-right side

Basic words to "left" and "right" side:
Migi-right
Hidari-left
Then followed by gawa makes ____ side.

Examples:
Inu wa doko ni imasu ka. (Where is the dog?)

Koko ni imasu. (It's over here.)
Soto ni imasu. (It's outside.)
Naka ni imasu. (It's inside.)
Kuruma no shita imasu. (It's under the car.)
Kuruma no ue imasu. (It's on the car.)
Kuruma no ushiro imasu. (It's behind the car.)

I wish if someone asked "Brooke-san wa doko ni imasu ka." I could reply "Brooke-san wa beddo ni imasu." but, alas, I still have stuff to do with an unfortunate amount of energy to back me up. Oyasuminasai! (I wish...)
Brooke.

Okay... It's been a month now....

Wow, so here we go it's been roughly a month since the beginning of this course and right now all I can think about is how much my finger hurts. Ow. It's funny because halfway through writing a sarcastic comment about you having to strain your brain to remember clothing from a blog ago I realized that I sapced out and forgot--completely--to put clothing in last week! Unfortunately for me that means that I have to do it now but it will help you to know what the heck I'm talking about if I have the proper translations here for you (after all, that is the point of this blog!).
Man, have I been scatterbrained lately! As much as I would like to think that it's just a phase that everyone goes through in their youth, sometimes I can't help but to wonder if the time I cracked my skull on the cement floor I might have gotten drain bamage.

Colours:
Purple = murasaki
Pink = pinku
Brown = chairo
Grey = haiiro
Orange = orenji

Hair colours:
Red hair = akage
Brown hair = chairo
Blond hair = kinpatsu
Grey hair = hakuhatsu
Black hair = kuroi
Template for hair colour referrals:  _________ no kami wa _______ desu.
Examples: Watashi no kami wa akage desu. (I have red hair.)
Karera no kami wa chairo desu. (They have brown hair.)

Hungry/Thirsty:
Hungry = suite
Template for "is hungry": _______ wa onaka ga suite imasu.
Thirsty = kawaite
Template for "is thirsty": _______ wa nodo ga kawaite imasu.

How you feel:
Sick = byouki
Template for "is sick": _________ wa byouki desu.
Tired = tsukarete
Template for "is tired": _________ wa tsukarete imasu.
Template for "is not tired": _________ wa tsukarete imasen.

Temperature:
Cold = samui
Hot = atsui
Template for "is hot/cold": _________ wa ________ desu.
Example: Onnanoko wa atsui desu. (The girl is hot.)
Otoko no hito wa samui desu. (The man is cold.)

Clothes:
Sweater = seeta
Jeans = jiinzu
Belt = beruto
Suit = suutsu
Socks = kutsushita
Necktie = nekutai


Height:
Short = hikui
Tall = takai

Short/Tall people wearing suits!:
Okay so I wanted to give examples of how to put height into sentences and this is what I've got.
Female: Se no _________    _________ wa ____ no _____ o kite imasu.
Example: Se no takai onnano hito wa kuroi no suutsu o kite imasu. (The tall woman is wearing a black suit.)
Male: Se no _________    _________ wa ____    _____ o kite imasu.
Example: Se no hikui otoko no hito wa kuroi suutsu o kite imasu. (The short man is wearing a black suit.)


Greetings/leavings for home:
I'm home = Tadaima
Welcome home = Okaerinasai
I'm leaving = Ittekimasu

How are you?:
In a greeting you might start out with konnichiwa or konbanwa--depending on the time of day--then move into the question of How are you?
It might play out like this:
"Konnichiwa, ogenki desu ka?" (Good afternoon, how are you?)
"Ogenki desu." (I'm fine.)
Or...
"Watashi wa guai ga warui desu." (I feel sick.)

Wow, editing sucks--especially when you are inspired to do it at twelve thirty at night! Well, it's like one o'clock now and some clothing translations are in here so I am satisfied. I am thinking of moving the Japanese words back before the English ones (Like how I had them in the first entry) so I may or may not remember to do that next week. Who knows, I may or may not even remember to do it the week after that as well!
I'm trying to think of something I've always wanted to end a paragraph but the spiders have returned to spinning webs around the stationary gears in my mind. Er, dearth....
Brooke.

Week Three Of a number too large to fit in this text box

Wow, I feel like I haven't slept in weeks--wait a second! I haven't! Funny how that happens. Okay so here we are in week three. Not much has happened in the sense that I am still trying to learn the language through Rosetta Stone and find a headset that doesn't reject my voice (You don't know how many awkward silences have followed me blurting out Japanese phrases in the middle of the day.). At least the headset problem isn't something that is solely mine, in fact the other three people I know taking this course all empathize. One of these days I will be struck by a bolt of tech-savvy lightening and everything will make sense.

Family:
Daughter = musumesan
Son = musukosan
Mother = okaasan
Father = otousan

People:
Girls = onnanoktachi
Boys = otokonoko
Men = otoko no hitotachi
Women = onna no hito
They = karera
Girls = kanojotachi
Friend = tomodachi

Numbers:
Zero = zero
One = ichi
Two = ni
Three = san
Four = yon
Five = go
Six = roku
Seven = shichi
Eight = hachi
Nine = kyuu
Ten = juu
Eleven = juuichi
Twelve = juuni

"How old are you?"
I will give you the template to this question but the only downer is that so far the ages to reply with are a little limited because I am only in unit two of the program but here we go!

Template:
Where the blank is is where kare or kanojo would be placed.
_______ wa nansai desuka.

Reply:
In this blank the number of choice would be placed.

________ desu.



Possible answers (Limited, yes I know.) :

Okay so as you can see the numbers here are different here than up there in writings previous but there's nothing I can really do about it. The numbers change yet again for other things but we'll just give you this example to start with.
One = issai
Two = nisai
Three = sansai
Four = yonsai
So here's the trick; they added sai to the end of the original number. Guess what five would be? Yeah, there you gosai (Bad joke...)!
Of course, it can never be quite that simple so there are some that are changed a little more than logic can help us newbies with.
Seven = nanasai
Eight = hassai

Examples:
Kanojo wa nansai desuka.
Yonsai desu.

Kare wa nansai desuka.
Hassai desu.


Okay I hope you can digest this week's lesson and I'll talk to you again in another seven days!
Bye for now!

KORE WA DESU KA!?

Oh here it is--Thursday! Oh to greet it is another fabulous entry of my exploration through the Japanese language. This week seemed to be more focused around the home so if you're looking for a theme, that would be it. Again, I am learning the language through the program Rosetta Stone as a grade eleven course. Without further ado, I present entry number two.

Housing and appliances:
Apartment = apaato
House = ie
Door = doa
Window = mado
Television = terebi
Radio = rajio
Computer = konpyuuta (applies to all forms)
Desk top computer = desukutoppu Konpyuuta
Laptop = nooto pasokon
Bed = shinshitsu
Toilet = toire
Sink = nagashi
Living room = ima
Kitchen = daidokoro
Bathroom = basuruumu
Dining room = daininguruumu




Family:
Family = kazuko
Grandfather = ojiisan
Grandmother = obaasan

Other:
Hug, embrace = daite
Kiss = kisushite

Fitting together sentences:
Imasu is used when talking about living things.
Arimasu is used when referring about nonliving things (Inanimate objects)
On top, above = ue
Under = shita
Inside = naka
Tamplate:
____ wa ___ no ___ ni arimasu/imasu.
Examples:
-Rajio wa teeburu no ue ni arimasu. (The radio is on top of the table.)
-Neko wa bouru no naka ni imasu. (The cat is inside of the bowl. [Just so you know, I don't understand why the cat is in a bowl either.])

Okay, so last week I provided you with the translations for big and small and no way to use them in a proper sentence so I'll help you though that now.
Template:
Kono ___ wa ___ desu.
Examples:
-Kono toire wa ookii desu (The toilet is big.)
-Kono doa wa chiisai desu.(The door is small.)

Okay that's is for this week, over and out!

My first week with Rosetta Stone

So here it is, Thursday, the day which I have become fond of by implying the end of the school week. Though the language of Japanese has never been taught to me it appears to be going moderately well in the sense that I haven't gone crazy... yet. I had tried teaching myself a small amount prior to this class but... well I'm starting to get it now. One thing that might prove to be a pain is the concept of particles (see http://www.guidetojapanese.org/learn/grammar/verbparticles for details)--which, by the way, don't exist in the English language--but I am sure that with more time I will understand it.
This week has provided me with a fair amount of things to add to my vocabulary list of somewhere near zero--in fact I have been able to incorporate them into my regular English sentences quite abruptly.
Colours:
-ao = blue
-aka = red
-kiiro = yellow
-kuro = black
-midori = green
-shiro = white
People (Gender):
-onnanoko = girl
-otokonoko = boy
-otoko no hito = man
 -onna no hito = woman
-kare = him
-kanojo = her
-anata = you (Non specific)
Greetings:
-ohayo gozaimasu = good morning
-konnichiwa = good afternoon
-konbanwa = good evening
-sayounara = so long
-sayonara = goodbye
Foods:
-tamago = egg
-ringo = apple
-pan = bread
Animals:
-inu = dog
-neko = cat
-uma = horse
-sakana = fish
Sizes:
-ookii = big, large
-chiisai = small, little

Forming different sentences:
If you were to say "This is red" in Japanese it would be translated like so,
-Sore wa akai desu
When referring to more than one object it is
-Sorera wa akai desu

What is this?
-Kore wa nan desu ka
Answer
-Sore wa ____  desu
Example: Sore wa neko desu (It's a cat)

Okay, wow, looking at it now it looks like I might have learned something this week after all. Great! I can't wait to see what turns up next week same time (well, hopefully not at 11:00 pm again...), same place. Thanks (domo in Japanese) for reading, bye for now!