Free Japanese Lesson

Kanji lesson3

2008-10-29T16:24:00.002-07:00

This kanji means alcohol. We pronounce it sake in Japanese.
Have you ever tried the Japanese sake? It's a lot different taste from beer.

When we say sake in Japanese, it means not only alcohol but also salmon.
That's right, we call sake for the salmon too.

That's why kanji is important, above kanji means alcohol, but we use a different kanji for salmon.

Both pronunciation of salmon and alcohol is the same.
But the kanji is different so the meaning is also different.

kanji lesson2

2008-10-28T14:53:00.004-07:00

Some of the Japanese kanji and the Chinese kanji are exactly same.
Above kanji means star.
We pronounce hoshi in Japanese.
It is very easy to pronounce but difficult to write in Japanese kanji.

Kanji lesson1

2008-10-27T17:58:00.005-07:00

Japanese language, Kanji

Kanji is the Chinese character that are used in the modern Japanese logographic writing system.
Kanji is more complicated, difficult, but beautiful and fascinating.

Kanji is getting very popular in Western countries these days.
Western people use Kanji for tattoo on their skin, kanji T-shirts and Kanji accessories.

Katakana lesson3

2008-10-27T17:55:00.003-07:00

These are combination of katakana.
As you see, there are 3 letters in one word. They are like 3 letters of hiragana.
Again, the pronunciation is a little difficult but you will get better as you practice more.

These 3 letters katakana are also often used in Japanese conversation.

Katakana lesson2

2008-10-27T17:51:00.002-07:00

These are Japanese katakana language.
You will read the same way as Japanese hiragana.

Let's start.

a i u e o
ka ki ku ke ko
ga gi gu ge go
continue....

Katakana lesson1

2008-10-27T17:50:00.002-07:00

Katakana

Katakana is mainly used for foreign words such as names and words that have been borrowed from other languages such as "spu--n" (spoon).

The Japanese language does not have as many sounds as the English language so, when creating a name in Katakana for instance, the name must be sound out to the closest Japanese equivalent. Katakana, Hiragana, and Furigana (when Hiragana is written small next to a Kanji or Katakana character to show how that character is read) are collectively known as Kana.

Hiragana lesson3

2008-10-27T17:46:00.002-07:00

These are still considered as hiragana, however, as you can see, there are 3 letters in one word.

They seem to be very complicated but they are also used often in Japanese conversation.

The pronunciation is a little difficult but it will be easier as you practice more.

HIRAGANA lesson2

2008-10-27T17:17:00.005-07:00

This is an example of Japanese language, hiragana.

You will read from left top to right top.
example, a i u e o

Then you will real second left top to second right top.
example, ka ki ku ke ko

Next, read third from left top to straight right.
example, ga gi gu ge go

You will continue reading like that.

This chart is a very basic Japanese language, hiragana.
It's like a, b, c, in English.

HIRAGANA lesson1

2008-10-27T16:58:00.009-07:00

Hiragana

The first step is to learn the alphabet in the Japanese language. There are absolutely no "tones" like other Asian language.

The characters listed below are called Hiragana.
It is the main Japanese alphabet.
The Japanese language also consists of Chinese characters (Kanji) and another alphabet, Katakana, which is mainly used for foreign words.

There are 5 vowels in the Japanese language. (a), pronounced "ahh", (i), pronounced like "e" in "eat", (u), pronounced like "oo" in "soon", (e), pronounced like "e" in "elk", and (o), pronounced "ohh".
All Hiragana characters end with one of these vowels, with the exception of (n). The only consonant that does not resemble that of English is the Japanese "r". It is slightly "rolled" as if it were a combination of a "d", "r", and "l".