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Post by Ayumi on Jul 30, 2005 23:45:58 GMT -5
Lesson 1 "~ san" is a title of respect added to a name. It can be used with both male and female names, and with either surnames or given names. It can also be attached to the name of occupations and titles.Sur name [/b] Yamada-san ~ Mr. Yamada Given name[/b] Yoko-san ~ Miss. Yoko Occupationhonya-san ~ bookseller sakanaya-san ~ fishmonger Title Shicho-san ~ Mayor Oisha-san ~ Doctor Bengoshi-san ~ Lawyer "~ kun" is used to address men who are younger or the same age as the speaker. A male might address female inferiors by "~ kun," usually in schools or companies. It can be attached to both surnames and given names. It is less polite than "~ san." It isn't used between women or when addressing one's superiors."~ chan" is often attached to children's names when calling them by their given names. It can also be attached to kinship terms in a childish language.Mika-chan ~ Mika Ojii-chan ~ Grandpa Obaa-chan ~ Grandma Oji-chan ~ Uncle "~sama" Intead of using 'san', they use 'sama', for someone higher, for example:Kami-sama ~ GodTo make things easier, here you go:Kun and Chan- are used to adress some aquaintance to a close friend or such. Kun is mostly used on males, and Chan on females. San- is a bit honorific(the japanese term justifies) then the former. It is used to adress someone who has a higher rank than you. Dono- though not used anymore, is mostly used in the feudal era(is this right?) to address a LandLord or Daimyo. Sama- is the most honorific word. Of course, it denotes very very high acquaintance on somebody.
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Post by Ayumi on Aug 1, 2005 16:55:33 GMT -5
Lesson 2 Relatives ((I'll add more info later)) Onee-chan- Elder sister OtherSan, sama- Mr, Mrs, Miss Dono- Sir, Madam Kyou- Lord, Lady, Dame In everyday life, "san" is the most common suffix. "-chan" is a more affectionate term, used mainly with friends, family members and children. "-tan" is a kind of slang version. "-kun" is usually reserved for boys or young men, but can sometimes be used for girls or young women too. There is also "-shi", which is an intermediary form between "san" and "sama" in terms of politeness, and is mostly used for professionals like engineers or lawyers.
Then comes "sensei", which is used for anybody with a knowledge superior to ours. It is most common for doctors, teachers and professors, but can also be used for politicians, martial arts masters, etc. Contrarily to other suffixes so far, "sensei" can be used alone, without a name before it, just like "doctor" or "professor" in English. So, one can say "Nomura-sensei" or just "Sensei", like one could say in English "Professor Nomura" or "Professor".
"Sempai" æ”y is another very common way of addressing someone with more experience or a hierarchical superior. It can be used alone or after a name, like "sensei". Flexible politenessIt is possible in Japanese to change the suffix, and politeness level attached to it, you use with one particular person. That means that "politeness" in Japanese is situational and not a fixed status given to someone like in most European languages. You could call a friend or relative alterning the suffix "-chan", "-kun", "-san", "-sama", or even "sensei" if that person is in a position of greater knowledge than you in that situation and teaching you something. A husband teaching his wife how to drive a car or use a computer could be called "sensei" by her at that particular time. She could very well change suffix in the course of the same conversation. Impolite suffixesOther less polite suffixes also exist. Their intensity depend a lot on the intonation and context, like "-baka" ”nŽ, or the ever ruder "-yarou" –ì˜Y (and combination "bakayarou", which is however normally used alone as an insult). So, "kyaku-yarou" would be a very impolite way of talking about a customer someone strongly dislikes. These can also be used individually, like in "ano yarou !" ("this a*shole !") or "baka !" ("mor@n" !)
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Post by Ayumi on Aug 1, 2005 17:19:51 GMT -5
Lesson 3 -To, -do, -fu, -ken are all suffixes used for prefectures -Gun is the suffix used to represent a county -Shi is the suffix used for a city -Cho is the suffix used to identify a town -Mura or -son are the suffixes used to denote a village -Ku represents a ward -Chome often represents a block or area number -Ban can be translated to mean number
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Post by +!Dori!+ on Aug 1, 2005 19:28:36 GMT -5
And I thought German was confusing.....@.@
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Post by Ayumi on Aug 1, 2005 19:35:21 GMT -5
Yeah, I know and Momiji speaks German
Momiji- Guten Tag!!!!
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Post by +!Dori!+ on Aug 1, 2005 20:01:39 GMT -5
COOL!!!!!
Me: Guten Tag.....Wie heist Du?
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Post by Ayumi on Aug 1, 2005 22:46:06 GMT -5
Lol.........
Momiji: ^0^ *Hands lolipop to Dori* Ye?
Me: *Slaps forhead*
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Post by +!Dori!+ on Aug 2, 2005 8:06:45 GMT -5
Me: Owww.....*takes lollipop* Danke!
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Post by Ayumi on Aug 2, 2005 11:56:56 GMT -5
Momiji: No problem!!!!! ^0^ I got to go to school before Haru recks everything again! BYE!!!
Me: Yeeeeeeeeah.... Bye...
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Post by +!Dori!+ on Aug 2, 2005 12:00:58 GMT -5
Me: Kay...SEE YA MOMIJI!!!!
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Post by Ayumi on Aug 2, 2005 15:17:24 GMT -5
Momiji: BYE!!!! Me: ''' Gwack.........
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Post by +!Dori!+ on Aug 2, 2005 17:45:22 GMT -5
Me: He does realizie today is Saturday. Right?
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Post by Ayumi on Aug 10, 2005 15:18:28 GMT -5
Me: I don't think he does.... ''
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Post by +!Dori!+ on Aug 10, 2005 15:26:04 GMT -5
Me: *giggles and eats a pound of chocolate*
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Post by Ayumi on Aug 10, 2005 15:30:08 GMT -5
Me: ''' Meep... Akira: *Tackles me* CAKE!!! Lucid: I really need to buy a leash..... -_-''
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Post by +!Dori!+ on Aug 10, 2005 15:32:03 GMT -5
Me: Lucid? When did you get here? *gazes at him and his long, flowy hair*
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Post by Ayumi on Aug 10, 2005 15:36:38 GMT -5
Me: ^__^''' Mine! *Grabs Lucid's legs, trying to becareful not to hug him*
Lucid: *Rolls eyes*
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Post by +!Dori!+ on Aug 10, 2005 15:38:04 GMT -5
Me: But....but... why? *said in whining voice!*
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Post by Ayumi on Aug 10, 2005 15:41:01 GMT -5
Lucid: Take a picture, it'll last longer... Or look at the avatar instead... *Swooshes foot around so I can let go*
Me: @_@''
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Post by +!Dori!+ on Aug 10, 2005 15:43:11 GMT -5
Me: *whips camare out and snaps like crazy* Yes. Yes! YES!
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