Puzzle: 10 ants = 39

[falcone88]

Hey everyone!

My Japanese teacher put up this "japanese language grammar puzzle" (or something like that) on the blackboard today, and wanted to see if anyone could figure it out.

I don't even know what we're supposed to "figure out," but I assume it's some sort of pun or something.

I'm probably nowhere near, but what I've come up with so far are just a few bits here and there.

- 10 (insects) is "juppiki"
- ant is "ari"
- 39 (do i even need to put this?) is "sanjuukyuu"

I get the feeling this is way off and perhaps unrelated, but I thought I'd put down the only things I could come up with since I'm asking for help.

Any ideas? I'm dying to know what the heck this is all about >_<;

[Harisenbon]

What part exactly did she write on the board? It's hard to get a sense of what the puzzle is if it's not written the same way.

１０
あり
３６

?

by the way 36 is　さんじゅうろく，not さんじゅうきゅう

[falcone88]

ahhh gomen, i keep doing that >_< it's supposed to be 39 *goes to edit the post*

here's exactly how it was written:

10 ANTS = 39

but he said that ANTS being capitalized didn't matter

[Harisenbon]

Got it

ありが　とう　＝　さん　きゅう

ありがとう = Thank you

OOh.. that was a good one. I like that. I had a good one with kanji. If I remember it, I'll post it here.

[falcone88]

well jeez XD I had "sankyuu" written in a notepad thing i closed, as well as "too," and i was thinking about using ga somehow... but i was trying to make a full sentance!

Thanks for your help, i feel better now, nowing the answer ^__^

[Harisenbon]

There was one that I saw like this.. Let's see if I can remember all of it

日　口　一
田　口　十r
？　口　古

What goes in the ?

[Kates]

固　ですか?　XD

わあ、すごく面白いよ!　蟻が?　(ハハハ)

[Harisenbon]

Indeed indeed, that is correct.

I saw more complicated ones where you had to translate the kanji into hiragana, remove one stroke, and then write the new word as kanji to get the correct answer. It was insane.

I watch Japanese IQ quiz shows for fun. Shoot me now. :p

[Tessen]

Harisenbon wrote:

I watch Japanese IQ quiz shows for fun. Shoot me now. :p

i know that show! IQサプリ　i think.
when that guy sings IQ都道府県 i just crack up

nice puzzles lol

[Harisenbon]

You mean Hanawa? Yeah, he's really funny. If you like him, he also does the ending bit oエンターの神様 on Satrudays(?) at 10

[Daichi]

Not exactly a puzzle, but how about a Japanese tounge-twister?

Say ten times quickly: 9 Coconuts

I hope I got this right, otherwise I shall look rather foolish....

[Kates]

Isn't　バスガス爆発（ばくはつ）　a tounge twister (早口言葉/はやくちことば） as well?
And: 黄パジャマ、赤パジャマ、茶パジャマ?
And: なま麦なま米なま卵　（むぎ/こめ/たまご）?

^_^ Though, I find all of these pretty easy to say... Is it because I'm not a native Japanese, or do I just have stellar Japanese skills? XD

[Harisenbon]

I find the バスガス爆発 to be really easy too. My wife has a crazy hard time with it. I think that it's just a matter of what we're used to, pronunciation-wise. My students have a really easy time with she sells sea shells by the sea shore, and that's one that drives me nuts every time.