Thread: Japanese language learning.

No problem Ray. Just helping out in the thread ^ ^

I got that information from Wikipedia, incase you didn't notice. There are also free japanese lessons on itunes in the podcasts section. That is where I'm getting my info from for my own personal use. It's very helpful. If you don't have an iPod, or do not have iTunes downloaded, Japanese Online is another great site. But they changed many things on that site, and now its confusing...

Originally Posted by The White Wolf

@Blue_Rebel: Ah, I think it's alright for members to post random questions on this thread, as long as it pertains to 'japanese language learning', which they do, from what i've read!

Well, information: Common honorific titles in Japan


Information available here

Sugoi! Thats really worked... thanks The White Wolf....

Heh. I just get tired from explaining a lot. And I don't feel satisfied if I don't explain everything, see.

Originally Posted by blue_rebel

Gosh, I'm sure it's somewhere around on one of the pages, but I just can't find it. Anyway.

Chan is what you use when you're fondly addressing someone you're close to, or someone younger than you.

San is what you use when you're addressing people out of respect (teachers, doctors, strangers, etc). In some situations, i.e. formal events, people you would normally address with chan might be addressed as san, using their surname instead of first name. For example, if you had a friend named Yoneda Ami whom you normally call "Ami-chan", if you both were attending some kind of conference you might refer to her as "Yoneda-san" when talking to other people.

Oh o.k, I understand... I only have one more question, I'm going to use "Bleach" as an example. Kon refers to Kukichi Rukia as "Nee-San". I understand "now" that the "San" is formal; but where does the "Nee" come from. Her name is Rukia Kukichi or Kukichi Rukia (however you refer to her) "Nee" is nowhere in her name so where does that come from? I also noticed Inoue referring to Ichigo as Kurosaki-Kun. Now is "Kun" used in the same manner as "Chan"? (addressing someone you're close to?) I don't mean to be a bother, I just don't want to address someone the wrong way (I am learning for a reason you know)

Don't worry about it.

Nee-san means "sister". It's used in the same way Korean girls call male strangers obbah (brother), and Chinese people call female strangers xiao jie (little miss). It's like, if you're a CD-seller and you see some lady you want to sell your wares to, you can't just yell at her, "Oi, kimi!" (Hey, you!) You'd rather address her as onee-san or onee-chan.

You're right in that kun may be used in the same manner as chan... but kun can also be used in the same manner as san. Notice how older people in anime refer to the younger male characters as Something-kun? Kun is generally used for men/boys, but it is something used for women/girls in a more formal context - for example, a class teacher may call a female student Ichinose-kun.

Oooooh. Thanks blue_rebel, you've been a big help! I finally have the cash to buy Rosetta Stone, and I will be ordering it in the beginning of march. That's "really" going to be my main source of study. So I'll be that much closer to learning the language! Anywho, I'll keep "experimenting" in this thread so I'll see ya when I see ya... Oregato!!!

Douitashimashite! Hope that book helps. Oh, and it's arigato, by the way.