Which way is better?

[GoldCoinLover]

I've been trying to say the best way to 'i collect gold coins'. I have taken suggestions on this forum, but this other person who lives in korea and self taught him japanese told me this:
I'm sorry to hear that you were banned.

I think the verb you want here is "atsumeru," meaning "to collect."

Gold coin is "kinka."

Kinka wo atsumete imasu. collect gold coins. (Literally: I am collecting gold coins or I am in a continuing state of collecting gold coins.)


You don't have to say "watashi" all the time. You just it just when you really have to indicate that you are talking about yourself.

Kinka" means "gold coinage" or "gold currency." "Kin" is gold, "ka" refers to money or currency. I picked that out of my kanji dictionary to be sure.

Well, I know Shiroh will be able to read it. His Japanese is infinitely better than mine.

There are one or two other people, at least, who can read Japanese.

Does kinka mean gold coinage? And which way is better?

 

[epigene]

I think the verb you want here is "atsumeru," meaning "to collect."

Gold coin is "kinka."

Kinka wo atsumete imasu. collect gold coins. (Literally: I am collecting gold coins or I am in a continuing state of collecting gold coins.)

You don't have to say "watashi" all the time. You just it just when you really have to indicate that you are talking about yourself.

Kinka" means "gold coinage" or "gold currency." "Kin" is gold, "ka" refers to money or currency. I picked that out of my kanji dictionary to be sure.

Does kinka mean gold coinage? And which way is better?

That person's suggestion is correct--in a sense.

"Kinka wo atsumete imasu" is the closest translation of "I collect gold coins."

"Kinka" means gold coinage, too.

However, Japanese and English are different languages and there are no 100% equivalents (most of the time) because of the difference in approach that stems from culture and history.

"Kinka wo atsumete imasu" can mean "I collect gold coins (as a hobby)" AND "I am collecting coins (now--meaning you are physically gathering coins that may be scattered around where you're standing)." The interpretation depends on context of when and in what situation it is spoken.

"Kinka" can also be interpreted as "gold coins (as individual pieces)" and "coinage/currency in gold," also depending on context of usage.

In short, he is right, depending on situation.

Your signature "watashi no shumi wa kinka atsume desu" literally means "my hobby is collecting coins." You may not feel this is not exactly what you want, but this expression minimizes the chance of misinterpretation. So, I think your signature is OK.

As you advance in your Japanese language skill, you'll find that you should not expect "100% exact" translation of many sentences between English and Japanese.

Hope it helps!

 

[GoldCoinLover]

That person's suggestion is correct--in a sense.

"Kinka wo atsumete imasu" is the closest translation of "I collect gold coins."

"Kinka" means gold coinage, too.

However, Japanese and English are different languages and there are no 100% equivalents (most of the time) because of the difference in approach that stems from culture and history.

"Kinka wo atsumete imasu" can mean "I collect gold coins (as a hobby)" AND "I am collecting coins (now--meaning you are physically gathering coins that may be scattered around where you're standing)." The interpretation depends on context of when and in what situation it is spoken.

"Kinka" can also be interpreted as "gold coins (as individual pieces)" and "coinage/currency in gold," also depending on context of usage.

In short, he is right, depending on situation.

Your signature "watashi no shumi wa kinka atsume desu" literally means "my hobby is collecting coins." You may not feel this is not exactly what you want, but this expression minimizes the chance of misinterpretation. So, I think your signature is OK.

As you advance in your Japanese language skill, you'll find that you should not expect "100% exact" translation of many sentences between English and Japanese.

Hope it helps!

Thanks. Japanese is so interesting. Could you give me an exmaple of when you say the kinka phrase about you are collecting gold coins, and when you are phsically gathering them, and when to use each one?

 

[Elizabeth]

Thanks. Japanese is so interesting. Could you give me an exmaple of when you say the kinka phrase about you are collecting gold coins, and when you are physically gathering them, and when to use each one?

Epigene is saying that you can use the same phrase (Kinka wo atsumete imasu) for your hobby as well as well as when you are literally putting them together in a group (gathering or collecting them in a group). Which one you use depends what you're doing and what you want to imply although I think most listeners would understand it as "I collect gold coins" as a hobby.

If you want to be perfectly clear in using it to mean physically gathering together you may be able to change it to "kouka wo hiroiastumete iru" (拾い集めっている) which literally means picking up and putting together.

Also there's nothing wrong with "kin no koin" for gold coin.
After all, Isn't that how Mac translated it the first time around?

 

[epigene]

Thank you, Elizabeth!

I start rambling when my post becomes long and lose track of what I was trying to say in the first place...

Getting senile...

 

[GoldCoinLover]

Epigene is saying that you can use the same phrase (Kinka wo atsumete imasu) for your hobby as well as well as when you are literally putting them together in a group (gathering or collecting them in a group). Which one you use depends what you're doing and what you want to imply although I think most listeners would understand it as "I collect gold coins" as a hobby.

If you want to be perfectly clear in using it to mean physically gathering together you may be able to change it to "kouka wo hiroiastumete iru" (拾い集めっている) which literally means picking up and putting together.

Also there's nothing wrong with "kin no koin" for gold coin.
After all, Isn't that how Mac translated it the first time around?

yes, thank you Elizabeth san
How do i pronounce wo? i am ordering some Japanese books from the library, they dont have any right now