Some feedback wanted and a chance for others to learn too

[Indiana Gardener]

It's been a while since I've posted. I have to say that I've not really become more fluent, but perhaps more resourceful. I have learned to use online kanji dictionaries and, together with j-talk, put things into somewhat of an order that is somewhat like a sentence. LOL

The following is something I translated from a seed packet on my desk.

I thought I would post it here for some feedback and if nothing else, it will help others to learn from my mistakes.

It shows what can be done (either good or bad? LOL) with a little work in looking things up.

Is it correct or incorrect?

The depth of sowing is 0.6cm. (or, Sow at the depth of 0.6 cm. -?)
16ºC - 21ºC
morning sun
afternoon shade

０.６cmの深みは蒔くです。
16ºC - 21ºC
朝日
午後日陰

Thanks.

 

[nekojita]

深さ, I think, rather than 深み, because you're talking about measuring the depth. (The two have slightly different meanings.)

As 蒔く is a verb, you can't use that AはBです pattern with the verb in position B.

You could do something like:
蒔く深さは0.6cmです。 (Or 植える深さ? Not sure which would be natural).

Your photographs are impressive!

 

[Aurura]

I have learned to use online kanji dictionaries and... put things into somewhat of an order that is somewhat like a sentence. LOL

Just wanted to say, Yeah, that's about where I am too! We'll get better, though!

Ganbarimashou~!

- Aurura

 

[Indiana Gardener]

I also notice that the 0.6cm goes at the other end of the sentence. I always get that backwards.

Thanks for the help and I will try to make that rule stick in my mind.

Thanks also about the photos.

>Just wanted to say, Yeah, that's about where I am too! We'll get better, though!>

I hope I do.

 

[nekojita]

AはBです = A is B.
A here is 蒔く深さ, where the verb modifies the following noun (so = depth of sowing, sowing depth, something like that).

Another way might be:
0.6cmの深さで蒔く
= Sow at a depth of 0.6cm, where で marks the location of the action.

Another good thing to do is look for Japanese gardening sites, and see how they give the information!

e.g. I went to one called sakataseed (refusing to let me link, search for サカタのタネ and it should come up)
I opened up the info for a random flower, and it included the line:
タネを1cmほどの深さでまきます
まきます == 蒔く

Good words to look for (nouns):
タネまき = sowing seeds
植えつけ = planting

If you want to look up the Japanese word for a particular plant, try going to the English wikipedia page for it and then see if there's a Japanese version of the same page (should be a link labelled '日本語' on the left if there is).

 

[Indiana Gardener]

So で can mark an action verb the way は marks nouns/subjects?

That is a nice site. Odd that it won't let it be linked though.

Another good way I have found to find things is to type in the english for it in an advanced search on google and use the, only search Japanese sites option. The kanja and/or, more often, katakana will often be included with the romaji.

Looks like they have a lot of things there, but no brugmansia. I read that it is rare in Japan. I checked into it and commercially cleaned, inspected, and processed seeds can be shipped worldwide legally. I read that someone who gardens in Japan has only seen two brugmansia plants there in the past 40 yrs. So I found some triple flowering brugmansia seeds as a gift. A friend there turns 89 next month and I know that she likes to garden and has the space for it (rare there!). So I hope she will like these, supposedly, rare seeds.

As long as she, or her daughter who helps her out, can understand it, that's all that counts. Though I do want to learn things proper too.

Someone sent me a huge book on learning Japanese. I have been reading through it, but it's so much to get my mind round. A little at a time.

I haven't gotten to any of the stuff like this though. So thanks so much for the good tips!