Food for FAQ

[Infidel]

I just thought I'd create a thread for FAQ suggestions. Some questions really do get asked a lot and it would be nice to just point to a Japanese FAQ instead of answering, "How do I say, "I love you" in Japanese query #1435245

Please only submit stuff that really is asked a lot, not stuff that should be asked a lot, but isn't.

"How do I say,
"I love you"
"I Miss you"
"You are Beatiful/pretty"

Please explain ON and kun readings. I don't get it.
I've MASTERED hiragana and katakana, what next? (The use of the word "Mastered" really kills me)
Do I really have to learn Kanji?
Where can I learn Japanese for free?
Would you translate something for me?
Will you do my homework for me?
How do I show Japanese characters?
How do I write Japanese characters?
Is anyone here really Japanese?
What's your favorite Anime/manga/hentipedorapevideo?
What is a good textbook?
What are the rules for writing Kanji?
I want to study Japanese, what should I learn first?

[b4d0m3n]

I'll give this a go right here.

Where can I learn Japanese for free?

Right here, actually. There is also a virtual ton of websites specifically dedicated to this subject. Also, read books. Libraries are free and awesome.

I want to study Japanese, what should I learn first?

Hiragana first. It is the absolute basic thing to learn. It's easy enough to understand and utilise within a week or so and it goes very far to help you understand Japanese. Katakana next is usually the next step. Katakana phonetically spells out foreign words in Japanese. Both alphabets have the same sounds, but different characters. After that, it's a hop and a skip away to grammar and kanji.

Do I really have to learn Kanji?

If you want to be able to read and write passably in Japanese, yes. Kanji aren't difficult, just fiddly. They're a feature, not a bug. Learn to love them early on and it will make your learning swifter and far more pleasant.

Would you translate something for me?

The Forums will help you out.

Will you do my homework for me?

No.

What's your favorite Anime/manga/hentipedorapevideo?

Personally I enjoy Trigun, Evangelion and stuff like that. I'm also partial to Cardcaptors, because deep inside the hairy man which is me there is a tiny, maladjusted girl scratching at my ribs, screaming to get out. But that's not really a FAQ kind of question.

[Shibakoen]

Questions about using the IME abound.

[keatonatron]

Where/how can I learn Japanese for free?

I personally recommend Tae Kim's Guide to Japanese. But more importantly, START WITH THE BASICS. Before you post any advanced grammar topics, finish the entire guide. If you have questions about what it says in the guide, go ahead and ask, but if it's a question about some random thing you've seen finish the guide before asking. Otherwise you most likely won't understand the explanation. There are too many posts like "I can't find sasete morau in the dictionary. Is it a name?", and once someone tries to explain we find out the poster doesn't even understand the -te form!

I personally "grew up" on Kim's site. That probably shows how short of a time I've been doing this

[coco]

What is the Romanji?
Which is correct こんにちは or こんにちわ?
Translate this song, please!!
Does anyone have sushi recipes?
How do you type ゐ ゑ ヰ ヱ?
--------
What is the coolest kanj? (I'm going to get a tattoo! B))
What is the Google? (I've never heard it before. )
Why should I learn Japanese?
Where is the The Japanese page com?
Where can I read FAQ?
------No offense. 冗談です:D

[colind]

hahaha very good coco!
that gave me a little bit of a laugh~

[aKuMu]

i think this tread should be pinned somewhere so that it can easily be seen and doesnt disapear when new threads are made
good thing though

[coco]

ちょっとメモ替わりに使わせてくださいね。＾＾
文法以外のものをここにくっつけておきます。
The word "Japan"
・コスプレ＋ヘンタイ系質問
・天皇制に関する質問
・司法制度に関する質問
・ＪＥＴに関する質問
・旅行先に関する質問（お勧め/費用）
・国籍取得+滞在許可に関する質問

[Mukade]

How do I know when to us は and when to use わ?

Use は as a particle to denote the subject of a sentence. Pronounce it 'wa' in that instance. For every other time you say 'ha,' use は and for 'wa,' use わ.

Can you help me understand/create a kanji tattoo?

No.

[randomperson]

theres already a FAQ that covers most of the questions.http://www.thejapanesepage.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=1041

[Oracle]

coco wrote:
ちょっとメモ替わりに使わせてくださいね。＾＾
文法以外のものをここにくっつけておきます。
The word "Japan"
・コスプレ＋ヘンタイ系質問
・天皇制に関する質問
・司法制度に関する質問
・ＪＥＴに関する質問
・旅行先に関する質問（お勧め/費用）
・国籍取得+滞在許可に関する質問

日本語初心者から「外人という言葉は差別用語ですか？」というお約束の投稿はどのカテゴリーに入るでしょう　＾＾

[coco]

Oracleさん。こんにちは。
おっしゃる通り、それもお約束の質問でした＾＾
・ 「外人という言葉は差別用語ですか？」（japって差別用語?　とワンセット）
・ヤクザって今でもいるの?　／怖い？
・妖怪と幽霊はどう違う?

文法のFAQではなく、語彙そのものだと
・一人称 (僕、俺、私、あたし) 二人称( キミ、アナタ お前)
語尾、方言にまで広げるとかりな増えることになりそうです。

「手紙の書き方」っていうのも、説明があるといいかもしれません。
新しいサーバーに移転してwagawiki(仮称) が機狽ｵたら、
このサイトがますます充実すると思いますので、その節はよろしくお願いします。:)

p.s.ワールドカップ、初戦でオーストラリアに当たっちゃいましたね＾＾;

[coco]

日本語初心者から「外人という言葉は差別用語ですか？」というお約束の投稿

外人　vs. 外国人
外人?
How not to be a Gaijin?!?
the right kind of gaijin?
Does Japan hate me?
Offensive Term?

Please read before
Asking questions

Thank you.
編集: offensive Term をこっそり追加＾＾;

[coco]

keatonatron wrote: Posted on 26-06-2006 02:59

THE CORRECT WAY TO LEARN JAPANESE:
Join a class or buy a do-it-yourself textbook. Read. Think. Learn. When you have questions, search for the answers or ask for them on the internet. Learn Hiragana and Katakana first thing, then move onto grammar. Don't worry about difficult phrases until you have enough knowledge to attempt to translate them yourself.

THE HORRIBLY HORRIBLY WRONG WAY TO LEARN JAPANESE:
Never learn Hiragana, and always write in (incorrect) romaji. Don't spend any time learning proper grammar, and go straight to the internet to throw a bunch of random-ass phrases at Japanese speakers to try and understand how to say random-ass phrases in Japanese.

NOW, which method are you using to learn Japanese?

Quoted from "American English to Japanese" thread.

このアドバイスは秀逸ですね。
インターネット時代(苦笑)の語学系掲示板のすべてに通用する警句だと思います。
埋もれるのは惜しいので転記させていただきました。

[punkgrl326]

Awesome thread Some of those questions were stupid, even for beginners,
(Will you do my homework for me?) lol