New Japanese language learner

[nakano]

i wanna learn japanese and make friends with u all.....

 

[cacawate]

Hajimemashite, nakano-san. I hope you get all the help you need here. Feel free to ask questions.

-Jeff

 

[nakano]

thanx...but i'm not good at english..just wanna chat and learn some useful japanese expressions..lol~

 

[Buntaro]

What expression would you like to learn?

 

[nakano]

i hope that i can use japanese to communicate with japanese...not so difficult..that's OK

 

[Sinspawne]

I'm also studying japanese Independently, well... now and then anyway
I started 2 months ago and I really don't want to pop your bubble, but to speak japanese is a little harder than you may think. (judging from your posts)

You will need to study hard you know, Ganbatte kudasai

 

[Buntaro]

Nakano-san,


"I hope that I can use Japanese to communicate with Japanese people."
=
Watashi wa Nihonjin to hanasu tame ni, Nihonogo o tsukaeru koto o nozonde imasu.

"I hope it is not so difficult" = Sonna ni muzukashikunai to nozonde imasu.

"That's OK" = Daijoubu desu.

~~~

Give us another English phrase, and we will give you the Japanese translation.

 

[Elizabeth]

Nakano-san,


"I hope that I can use Japanese to communicate with Japanese people."
=
Watashi wa Nihonjin to hanasu tame ni, Nihonogo o tsukaeru koto o nozonde imasu.

"I hope it is not so difficult" = Sonna ni muzukashikunai to nozonde imasu.

Although I've rarely heard nozonde in nichijoukaiwa.

「そんなに難しくなければいい」がよいかもしれません。

 

[Buntaro]

Elizabeth,

Yeah, I was wondering about sticking "nozomu" in there, but it was the best word I could come up with.

 

[Elizabeth]

Nozonde is closer to hope or expectation in English, hope but without necessarily any confidence or belief that something will actually turn out. Kare ra ga mada ikite iru to iu nozomi wa hotondo nai desu. There's little chance they are still alive.

So for a literal translation of the first one, I'd probably go with something like :

Nihonjin to hanasu tame ni, Nihonogo wo tsukaetai to omotte imasu.
Nihonjin to hanasu tame ni, Nihonogo ga tsukaeru you ni naritai to omotte imasu.

 

[Buntaro]

Shibui desu! Thanks, Elizabeth.

 

[Buntaro]

Elizabeth,

Thanks for the idea that "I hope to ~~" translates as " ~~ no tame ni ~~ no you ni naritai desu."

 

[Elizabeth]

Elizabeth,

Thanks for the idea that "I hope to ~~" translates as " ~~ no tame ni ~~ no you ni naritai desu."

At least that one is grammatically accurate to boot, although a truer English rendering would be "I want to get to the point that I'm able to use Japanese to speak with Japanese people." The second one below is closer to 'hope'/'it would be good if XXX...."

日本人と話すために「日本語が使えるようになりたい」
→これが一番いいです。
日本人と話すために「日本語が使えるようになるといいんです」
→その次がこれです。「日本語が使えるようになるといいんですが」にすると、これも良いです。
日本人と話すために「日本語を使えたいと思っています」
→使えたいとは間違った使い方です。

 

[Buntaro]

Motto shibui desu!

I really appreciate the help. I lived in Japan for years, but now my chance to speak Japanese is almost zero. I find it really helpful to be able to bounce these questions off of people who are using "real" Japanese everyday.