June 2009Archive

The order of words in a sentence is totally different.

Since I speak Japanese and English, I can tell that learning Japanese is not easy for English speakers.

First of all, the order of words in a sentence is totally different.
In English you say "I will go to school today", but in Japanese you have to say "I today to school will go".

Let's say I ask you "Won't you go to school today?"
What would your answer be?
Probably, your answer is "Yes, I will" or " No, I won't".
But Japanese people answer like "Yes, I won't" or "No, I will".

I think that this cause is a difference of the culture.
I explained this on "What's Japanese for YES".
Refer to it, please.

Well, look at the example.

English	Japanese
Are you Mr.Satou?	あなたは佐藤さんですか？ anata wa Satou sann desuka?
No, I'm not.	いいえ、違います。 iie, chigaimasu.
You speak French don't you?	君はフランス語を話せるんだよね？ kimi wa furannsugo wo hanaserun dayone?
Wrong. I don't speak it at all.	いいえ、僕は全然話せません。 iie, boku wa zennzenn hanase masen.
Mr. Suzuki is a dentist, isn't he?	鈴木さんは歯医者さんだよね？ suzuki sann wa haisya san dayone?
That's not right. He is a physician.	いや、違うよ。彼は内科医だよ。 iya, chigauyo. kare wa naikai dayo.
Your intelligence quotient seems to have about 200.	君の知能指数は２００ぐらいありそうだね。 kimi no chinou shisuu wa ni-hyaku gurai arisou dane.
Never !!	まさか！違うよ！ masaka! chigauyo!
Let's go to Karaoke !	カラオケに行こうよ！ karaoke ni ikou yo!
No way! I have to finish this work today!	ムリ！ 今日中にこの仕事を終わらせなきゃないから。 tonndemo nai ! kyou jyuu ni kono shigoto wo owarase nakya naikara
I don't like noisy music.	私は騒がしい音楽って好きじゃないんですよ。 watashi wa sawagashii onngakutte sukijya nainndesuyo.
Me, neither.	僕も好きじゃないな。 boku mo suki jyanai na.
Who ate up the my SUSHI ?	私の寿司を全部食べたの誰 !? watashi no SUSHI wo zennbu tabetano dare?
Not me !	俺じゃないよ! ore ja naiyo !
Have you been to China?	中国に行ったことある？ shuugoku ni itta koto aru?
No, never.	いや、一度もないよ。 iya, ichido mo naiyo.
Do you still smoke?	今もまだタバコ吸ってる？ imamo mada tabako sutteru?
Not anymore. I quit.	いや、もうやめた。 iya, mou yameta.
Would you like some more coffee?	No, thank you.
No, thank you.	いえ、もういいです。 ie, mou ii desu.

 

The Japanese has strange peculiar virtue

Well, did you feel anything by having seen the above-mentioned conversation?
No in English is "いいえ(iie)." when translating literally into Japanese.
But, we (the Japanese) hardly use the word "いいえ(iie)".

The Japanese hates to answer originally, "No".
Perhaps, many people think that Japanese are so humble and shy that they can't say no for a favor or a business proposal.
But it is not true.

A Japanese country is an island nation, and 100 million people live there.
It is difficult to live in this island nation without "Cooperation in the interpersonal relationship".
We (Japanese people) are taught "Cooperation in the interpersonal relationship" between from infancy to youth.

• I must not deny others' opinions.
• I should not draw a conclusion in a hurry.
• I must do the effort to concede.
• After hearing others' opinions, I should think again.
• I must not take the action that stands out in the group.
• I must worry about others.

We (Japanese) always unconsciously have such an idea to keep harmonizing.
And, the idea of the Japanese seems to be very strange speech and behavior for the American and the European, etc.

 

Vague answer of Japanese that gives you expectation

Even with the conclusion of "No", the Japanese doesn't actually immediately say the conclusion.
It is not "The Japanese doesn't say the answer of No." but it is "The Japanese cannot say the answer of No." in reality.

Moreover, it is "Troublesome Japanese people's virtue".
It is a cause of the trouble in the business meeting with the foreigner though this "Virtue" is general on the Japanese business.
Business meetings is that the Japanese cannot or will not take a decision on the spot, so the Japanese will say, "we will look into it".
English people will naturally expect a positive conclusion.
But, the Japanese often has a conclusion for this case in reality.

Are you feel it strange, aren't you?.
That's true.
They do say no in many other ways which does not include a negative word.
It is because a guilty conscience is felt.
It is "Guilty conscience" in a meaning different from "Virtue".

If you are said by the Japanese "we will look into it.", you should give it up.
You will lose your valuable time if you wait for their answers.

A Japanese saying no is not direct but you need to know a certain subtleties in the language to correctly interpret.

 

By Hararie

 

"YES" is variously expressed by the scene.

There is variously affirmative answer also in Japanese as well as the affirmative answer's there in English variously.

1. はい(hai) [=yes]

2. ええ(ee) [=yes]

3. そうです(soudesu) [=yes]

　-These three are basic and it is polite "Yes".

4. うん(un) [=yes]

5. そうだね(soudane) [=yes]

　-These are an expression of "Yes" to the friend and the family.

6. たぶん(tabun) [=maybe/perhaps]

　-This is a word "Maybe or perhaps".

 

If you learn these 6 word, your yes might be effective in most scenes.

あなたは弁護士さんですか？ anata wa benngoshi-san desuka? "そうです" or "ええ" or "はい" "soudesu" or "ee" or "hai"	Are you a lawyer? Yes, I am.
あなたは東京にお住まいですよね？ anata wa Tokyo ni osumai desuyone? "そうです" or "ええ" or "はい" "soudesu" or "ee" or "hai"	You live in Tokyo, don't you ? Right.
ものすごく疲れたよ。 monosugoku tsukaretayo. "私（僕）も" or "そうだね" "watashi ( boku ) mo" or "soudane"	I'm very tired. Me, too.
タクシーを呼んでもらえませんか？ takusii wo yonnde moraemasenka? "いいですよ" "ii desuyo"	Please call a taxi. Certainly.
This expresses the agreement will. 一緒に映画に行かない？ issho ni eiga ni ikanai ? "いいよ" or "うん、行く" "iiyo" or "un iku"	Don't you go to the movie with me? Sure.
アイツはホントにケチなヤツだなあ。 aitsu wa honto ni kechi na yatsu dana. "そうだね" or "ホント" "soudane" or "honto"	He is a really stingy man. Absolutely.
君が探してるCDってこれ？ kimi ga sagasiteru CDtte kore? それ！どこで見つけた？ sore! doko de mitsuketa?	Is CD which you are looking for this? That's it ! Where did you find it ?
このダイヤモンド、本物かなあ？ kono daiamonndo, honnmono kanaa? たぶん、そうじゃない？ tabunn, soujanai?	This diamond, is it real ? I bet.
その仕事、明日までにできる？ sono shigoto, ashita madeni dekiru ? はい、たぶん hai, tabun.	Can you finish the work by tomorrow? Yes, I think so.

 

By Hararie

 

Role of Okurigana.

 

What is Okurigana?

Okurigana indicates the Hiragana appended to kanji in Japanese written words.
Present Okurigana is universally almost written by the katakana though Okurigana had been written by katakana in the past.

And, generally okurigana used to inflect an adjective or verb.
"Affirmative or negative meaning, or grammatical politeness" in the Japanese sentence is shown by Okurigana.

Look at the image, please.
A red character is the Okurigana.

Okurigna changes when object of act is different even if it is a verb for which same kanji is used.

 

 

Example for which Okurigana is used.

Then, please look at the example.
I use left Japanese sentence as an example.

The meaning of the verb changes variously by okurigna.
You see these sentences, the importance of okurigana will be able to be understood.

[I delimited each part of speech of the Japanese sentence so that you can easily understand the pronunciation of words in Japanese.]

English	Japanese
He learns English.	彼 は 英語 を 学ぶ。 kare wa eigo wo mana-bu.
He learned English.	彼 は 英語 を 学んだ。 kare wa eigo wo mana-nda.
He has learned English.
He had learned English.
He may learns English.	彼 は 英語 を 学ぶ かもしれない。 kare wa eigo wo mana-bu kamoshirenai.
He will learns English.	彼 は 英語 を 学ぶ だろう。 kare wa eigo wo mana-bu darou.
He will be learning English.
He is learning English.	彼 は 英語 を 学んで いる。 kare wa eigo wo mana-nde iru.
He has been learning English.
He was learning English.	彼 は 英語 を 学んで いた。 kare wa eigo wo mana-nde ita.
He had been learning English.	彼 は 英語 を 学び 続けて いた。 kare wa eigo wo mana-bi tsudukete ita.
He will have been learning English.	彼 は 英語 を 学び続ける だろう。 kare wa eigo wo mana-bi tsudukeru darou.

Thus, tense and result by kanji of the verb changes by Okurigana.

[Part of speech that is not okurigna is included in an orange-character if it says strictly.
But, I gave priority to your easy understanding of the change in the verb by Okurigana.]

An additional use of okurigana are to disambiguate kanji that may have multiple readings.
In addition, okurigana accompanies Kunyomi-kanji in many cases.

 

By Hararie

 

 

What is Hiragana?

 

Hiragana is one of three character sets(Kanji, Hiragana, Katakana) used in the Japanese language, and it is the basic Japanese phonetic alphabet.
Hiragana is used widely to form a sentence.

Each Hiragana letter represents particular syllable, and it represents every sound in the Japanese language.
Therefore, you can theoretically write everything in Hiragana.

All sentences written by the hiragana will create nearly indecipherable text though you can theoretically write everything in Hiragana.
It is because Japanese is written with no spaces.

 

click the image

 

Hiragana syllables developed from Chinese characters, and it was developed in the 8-10th century by simplifying the form of particular Kanji symbols.
(Compared to Katakana, Hiragana letters have more curved lines.)

Hiragana were originally called onnade or women's hand as were used mainly by women, - men wrote in kanji and katakana.
By the 10th century, hiragana were used by everybody.

The present orthography of hiragana was codified by the Japanese government in 1946.

 

Japanese Hiragana's number of letters

In modern Japanese, there are 46 basic Hiragana letters.
In addition to these 46 basic letters called goju-on, there are modified forms to describe more sounds - 20 dakuon, 5 handakuon, 36 yoo-on, 1 sokuon and 6 additional letters.

Check out the Hiragana Chart.

 

*Annotation

Words	Kanji	Hiragana	Meaning
Gojuu-on	五十音	ごじゅうおん	Japanese syllabary
Dakuon	濁音	だくおん	Voiced sound
Handakuon	半濁音	はんだくおん	Semi-voiced
Youon	拗音	ようおん
	Youon (contracted word or diphthong) is a feature of the Japanese language in which a mora is formed with an added sound. Youon are represented in hiragana using a kana ending in i, such asき(ki), plus a smaller-than-usual version of one of the three y kana, ya, yu or yo. For example kyo-, "today", is writtenきょう, using a small version of the yo kana,よ. Contrast this with kiyo-, "skillful", which is writtenきよう, with a full-sized yo kana. In the past, in historical kana usage, yo-on were not distinguished with the smaller kana, and had to be guessed by context.
Sokuon	促音	そくおん	Double consonant

 

Hararie

 

There are many how to say "I" in japanese.

 

There are many how to say "I" in japanese.

I supplemented it only a little because a very appropriate explanation had been written in a certain website.

私[Watash] :

The most commonly known way to say "I".
Many would think that this is the only way.
Far from it, I assure you.

While it's true that watashi closely reassembles the English "I", it bears much more meaning then one might think.
If spoken by a man, watashi sounds formal, so as to show respect to the person you are talking to.

Although you might think to use it to talk to a friend would be appropriate, watashi might sound like you don't consider this person a close friend, more like an acquaintance.

The opposite also holds true, would you use a normal common formal word to speak to a high ranking superior?
Unless you don't care about etiquette, I'd say no.

So how can you use watashi?
Use it to talk to someone of similar rank whom you do not know much about, to show him your honour, while not lowering yourself too much.

In Rokugan watashi would be commonly used by all, a Phoenix meeting a minor crane delegate would most probably use it.
A Crab trying to sound polite might use it to talk to a superior of an other clan....

More

The content written in this website is very adequate though there are some error margins.
The existence of such a website is very useful for me that English is unskilled.

 

I prepared the table of the content of the web page.

Oneself
私 [ わたし/わたくし ] watashi/watakushi	Watashi: Watashi is the most general, gender neutral term. It can also be pronounced "watakushi," which is slightly more polite. If spoken by a man, watashi sounds formal, so as to show respect to the person you are talking to. Watashi used by a woman isn't considered as polite. Although you might think to use it to talk to a friend would be appropriate, watashi might sound like you don't consider this person a close friend, more like an acquaintance.   Watakushi: Simply put, it is a more formal, if not the most formal, way to say "I". Used by politicians, courtiers and such when speaking to an elder, a person of higher rank and royalty. Watakushi brings with it a feeling of a true gentleman, a person who knows when and how to show respect. In a business meeting it would be wise to use it, but in an informal conversation one would get many strange looks for it is much to polite to use elsewhere then in very formal conversation.
俺 [ おれ ] ore	Ore: Yet again, a man only word. The most casual way to talk to a friends, but ore is very masculine, and slightly rude/egotistical. To use ore in a conversation shows that this conversation is very relaxed, and that the person you are talking to is a good friend.
僕 [ ぼく ] boku	Boku: Boku is more masculine. It is polite and casual at the same time and should be used only in such situations. One would not use boku in a very formal meeting, as boku is too kind for such meetings. Also one would not use boku in a very casual conversation with close friends or with one's wife. Use it with people of similar status as for you to sound polite yet friendly, and not to elevate yourself over your peers. An other use for this word is by little boys (or when talking to them). Boku has a little bit of a "mama's boy" sound to it for that reason it is a very common way for boys to say "I" and also explains why you shouldn't use it in very polite meetings.
あたし atashi	Atashi: A woman only word (though also used by gay men). Probably the most commonly used "I" for women. Atashi is more feminine and casual. For a woman to use it with you would means that she considers you a friend and that this conversation in no way is business related.
うち uchi	Uchi: Uchi is a word in the Kansai area in Japan, this is a word that the woman uses. Uchi isn't considered very polite.
わし washi	Washi: This one is reserved for the elderly. There is a Japanese young person who uncommonly uses washi. They are men in the Kansai south of Japan. In a formal business situation one would still use the more polite "I" covered previously.
拙者 [ せっしゃ ] sessha	Sessha: The "I" of the samurai. Just by saying sessha you imply that you are a man of war, a warrior. This often would be used by Samurai, Ninja and such. The very pronunciation of this word brings an atmosphere of battle and war.
小生 [ しょうせい ] shousei	Shousei: The most polite and serious way there is to say "I". Almost too polite and almost only used by man. As the word implies, when you say Shosei you are stating that what you are saying is your opinion but that your life is small compare to the person you are talking to, so what you say may not be as wise as his/her honourable long life. Lowering yourself to show the greatest of respect to your guess. As one can imagine, use this world carefully, never to an equal unless you want them to think their honour is above yours.

Hararie

 

Formal expression and informal expression(familiar expression).

My name is Rie Hara. ( I'm Rie Hara.)
私の名前は原利恵です。（原利恵です。）

私[watashi] の[no] 名前[namae9 は[wa] 原利恵[hararie] です[desu]。

This is the most typical type taught at the school in Japan.
But, this is an expression of the type not so used in an actual conversation.
The following expressions are used in an actual conversation.

Do you think that the above-mentioned English is a general expression?
The above-mentioned Japanese sentence is not a general expression, too.

The following expression is a general expression.
Of each has a polite expression and an informal expression.

My name is [your name] 私は［Your name］です。 watashi-wa-[Your name]-desu.
I'm Rie Hara.	Formal expression	原利恵と申します。 hararie-to-moushimasu. 私は原利恵です。 watashi-wa-hararie-desu.
	Simple expression	原利恵です。 hara-rie-desu. 原です。 hara desu.
I'm Cameron Diaz.	Formal expression	キャメロン・ディアスと申します。 kyameron dhiasu-to-moushimasu. 私はキャメロン・ディアスです。 watashi-wa-kyameron diasu-desu.
	Simple expression	キャメロン・ディアスです。 kyameron diasu-desu. ディアスです。 diasu-desu.
I'm kimu jonwiru.	.Formal expression	金正日と申します。 kimu jonwiru-to-moushimasu. 僕は金正日です。 boku-wa-kimu jonwiru-desu.
	Simple expression	金正日です。 kimu jonwiru-desu. 金です。 kimu desu

It might be difficult for you to use "Formal expression" and "Simple expression" properly.
Then, I instruct you in "Convenient method that can be used by all scenes".

Form: "です[DESU] -Form" is the easiest and is convenient.

"[YOUR LAST NAME] + DESU"

This is the best.

 

By Hararie

 

Expression that you ask one's name.

• General question type is the most general.
• Friendly question type is an expression for a person who is younger than the friend and you of you.
  
• Polite question type is used for senior.

But, if you are not Japanese, the Japanese will not request common sense like the above-mentioned from you.
Because the Japanese is very generous to the foreigner.

May I have your name please?
Polite question typer	お名前をきかせていただけますか？ onamae-wo-kikasete-itadakemasuka?
	お名前をうかがってもよろしいでしょうか？ onamae-wo-ukagattemo-yoroshiidesyouka?
General question type	あなたのお名前は？ anata-no-oname-wa?
	名前はなんですか？ namae-wa-nandesuka?
Friendly question type	名前はなんていうの？ namae-wa-nannte-iuno?
	名前は？ namae-wa?

 

Sound files page

<Notes>

• Audio files are the wav file format. Please listen to these sounds in the environment which can play wav files.
• Wav Player - Free software downloads page

WinAmp

Windows Media Player

RealOne Player

Apple - QuickTime

 

Katakana which is one of the basic element symbols of Japan.

The katakana is used when chiefly following.

 

1. Difficult loan word to translate into Japanese.
2. Loanword that has been established as Japanese.
3. Japanized English.
4. Emphasis of word in advertising media.
   

The Katakana syllabary PDF file which you can download for free.

Katakana syllabary.pdf

 

Easily view, print, and collaborate on PDF files with free Adobe Reader 9 softwar.

 

 

To learn the katakana

ALL ABOUT KATAKANA

Product Description:

Katakana should be the easiest way to approach the Japanese written language since it is used to write all kinds of loanwords that the reader is already familiar with. However, until recently katakana has been taught as if students of the language were all Japanese kindergarten or elementary school kids--ready, more-or-less willing, and having the time and motivation to learn the traditional katakana chart by rote.

With the present book, as soon as individual characters are introduced, they are immediately used to form actual, commonplace, everyday words. Thus, from the very first page of Lesson 1, the reader of this book is able not only to read and write two characters, but to read several words formed with those characters. Each succeeding lesson adds to the number of katakana that one can read and write, and as a matter of course to the student's functional vocabulary. With the dual Japanese-English and English-Japanese glossaries at the end of the book, the reader has more than a thousand words at his or her command. Quizzes are included for those who wish to test their progress and reinforce what they have learned. Thanks to All About Katakana, katakana is now a snap.

 

 

 

 

The katakana is Script as basic as the hiragana.

How is training for writing a katakana?

As well as the hiragana, the number of fundamental katakana scripts is 50 in all.

When growing up to seven years old, we enter the school.
And we learns Hiragana and Katakana first.

And as well as the hiragana we usually do reading perpendicularly, when reading a katakana table.

　"a, i, u, e, o
　　(ア,イ,ウ,エ,オ)"

　"ka, ki, ku, ku,ke, ko
　　(カ,キ,ク,ケ,コ)"

　"sa, shi, su, se, so
　　(サ,シ,ス,セ,ソ)".......

Did you notice it?
The pronunciation is the same though the hiragana and the katakana are different shape.

Therefore, if you have already acquired the pronunciation of the hiragana, you don't have to learn the pronunciation of the katakana.
You will only have to learn only the shape of the katakana.

As well as the hiragana, we usually do writing perpendicularly, when writing a hiragana table.
The script row of this length is called "gyo".
Can you see the number on each big katakana ?
It is the stroke order of writing the katakana.

 

 

Let's write slowly noting the number and the arrow.

I prepared the PDF version of the stroke order of each "GYO".
Figure below is it.
Please use it to training of your writing the katakana script.

Katakana is easier than hiragana.
However, if you do not write the katakana many times, you will not be able to acquire the katakana.

It expands when you click this image.

 

Download: Training sheet to write katakana script.

gyo name	Each katakana script training seat
ア行 [a gyo]	ア、イ a-i.pdf	ウ、エ u-e.pdf	オ o.pdf
カ行 [ka gyo]	カ、キ ka-ki.pdf	ク、ケ ku-ke.pdf	コ ko.pdf
サ行 [sa gyo]	サ、シ sa-shi.pdf	ス、セ su-se.pdf	ソ so.pdf
タ行 [ta gyo]	タ、チ ta-chi.pdf	ツ、テ tsu-te.pdf	ト to.pdf
ナ行 [na gyo]	ナ、ニ na-ni.pdf	ヌ、ネ nu-ne.pdf	ノ no.pdf
ハ行 [ha gyo]	ハ、ヒ ha-hi.pdf	フ、ヘ fu-he.pdf	ホ ho.pdf
マ行 [ma gyo]	マ、ミ ma-mi.pdf	ム、メ mu-me.pdf	モ mo.pdf
ヤ行 [ya gyo]	ヤ、ユ ya-yu.pdf	ヨ yo.pdf	-----
ラ行 [ra gyo]	ラ、リ ra-ri.pdf	ル、レ ru-re.pdf	ロ ro.pdf
ワ行 [wa gyo]	ワ、ヲ wa-wo.pdf	ン n.pdf	-----

Easily view, print, and collaborate on PDF files with free Adobe Reader 9 software.

 

 

How is training for writing a hiragana? 

The number of fundamental hiragana scripts is 50 in all.

When growing up to seven years old, we enter the school.
And we learns Hiragana and Katakana first.

We usually do reading perpendicularly, when reading a Hiragana table.

　"a, i, u, e, o
　　(あ,い,う,え,お)"

　"ka, ki, ku, ku,ke, ko
　　(か,き,く,け,こ)"

　"sa, shi, su, se, so
　　(さ,し,す,せ,そ)".......

And we usually do writing perpendicularly, when writing a hiragana table.
The script row of this length is called "gyo."
Can you see the number on each big Hiragana ?
It is the stroke order of writing the Hiragana.

 

 

Let's write slowly noting the number and the arrow.

There are some hiraganas with complex stroke order.
I prepared the PDF version of the stroke order of each "GYO".
Figure below is it.
Please use it to training of your writing the hiragana script.
I think that it is not easy to acquisition the other language.
It is important that you write a hiragana script repeatedly.

 

It expands when you click this image.

 

Download：Training sheet to write hiragana script.

gyo name	Each hiragana script training seat
あ行 [a gyo]	あ、い a-i.pdf	う、え u-e.pdf	お o.pdf
か行 [ka gyo]	か、き ka-ki.pdf	く、け ku-ke.pdf	こ ko.pdf
さ行 [sa gyo]	さ、し sa-shi.pdf	す、せ su-se.pdf	そ so.pdf
た行 [ta gyo]	た、ち ta-chi.pdf	つ、て tsu-te.pdf	と to.pdf
な行 [na gyo]	な、に na-ni.pdf	ぬ、ね nu-ne.pdf	の no.pdf
は行 [ha gyo]	は、ひ ha-hi.pdf	ふ、へ fu-he.pdf	ほ ho.pdf
ま行 [ma gyo]	ま、み ma-mi.pdf	む、め mu-me.pdf	も mo.pdf
や行 [ya gyo]	や、ゆ ya-yu.pdf	よ yo.pdf	-----
ら行 [ra gyo]	ら、り ra-ri.pdf	る、れ ru-re.pdf	ろ ro.pdf
わ行 [wa gyo]	わ、を wa-wo.pdf	ん n.pdf	-----

Easily view, print, and collaborate on PDF files with free Adobe Reader 9 software.

 

 

What is the Hiragana syllabary?

This syllabary consists of 48 syllables and is mainly used to write word endings (okurigana), in places where kanji is not normally used (such as some adverbs, adjectives, words with obscure or rare kanji), and sometimes used to indicate the reading of certain kanji.

There are 46 Hiragana to learn.
In addition to those 46 hiragana there are some hiragana with different pronunciation.

Japanese hiragana chart: Free download　The Hiragana syllabary.pdf

Hararie

 

Kanji was introduced to Japan from ancient China in about the third century in B.C.

Introduction of Kanji

Kanji was introduced until Japan from ancient China in the age when Japan did not have the language.
It is said that it is about the 5-6th century at B.C..

But, it has not been clarified yet whether the language existed in Japan of the 5-6th century at B.C..

The 5-6th century at B.C; Kanji was introduced by ancient China ; Japan at that time is an age that was called "Jomon and Yayoi".

"Jomon period" and "Yayoi period" are the primitive ages of Japan.

"The bronze bells of Yayoi" and "Jomon pottery" is a simple picture or symbol, was painted like a coat of arms.

At present, the theory "At that time, the character did not exist" is strong.

 

And as for "漢字[kanji]" and "漢文(kan-bun[Chinese writing])" "論語(Rongo)" and "千字文(Senji-mon[1000-kanji character sentence ])" were introduced to Japanese "応神天皇(oujin-tennou[Emperor Oujin]) from Chinese "百済(kudara)" in A.D.285.

About kanji having been introduced to Japan in front of about 2000 years, "the thing with which kanji was written" was discovered and proved it in the Kyushu district in Japan.

 

 

The age when an ancient Japanese people began to use kanji. 

Japanese people began to use kanji for the Japanese notation.

The first book to which the Japanese wrote the history of Japan with kanji is "天皇記[Tennou-ki: Emperor record]" and "国記[kokki: Country record] ".

These books were edited for 620 years by "聖徳太子[Shoutoku-Taishi: Prince Shotoku]" and "蘇我馬子[Soga-no-Umako]".

Unfortunately, as for these, the details are unclear because neither exists.

Afterward, "万葉仮名[manyo-gana]" was devised.
This is a thing used to writing kanji with Japanese sound.
Manyou-gana was mainly used by the woman.

Before long, the hiragana that the "草書体（SOUSHOTAI[cursive]）" of kanji becomes an origin was devised at the Heian era, and it was designed based on a part of kanji.

 

Well, ancient Japanese felt fear to these characters [=kanji].
Ancient Japanese were believing in the god named "八百万(Yaoyorozu)."

"Precept of Yaoyorozu" is the idea "Words is numen".

 

--"If the word is written, it becomes a reality."--

This is exactly thought of Yaoyorozu.
kanji which can record the dead's name and words" was a character of fear to the Yamato race which believes this idea.

[Note -- Japanese people of those days is called the "大和民族(Yamato minzoku)."]

Their idea for softening fear was the wisdom that only the sound of kanji is used, and the meaning of kanji is disregarded.

Their idea for softening fear was the wisdom that only the sound of kanji is used, and the meaning of kanji is disregarded.

That method is called "当て字(ate-ji)" now.

For such a reason, many "words in which one word has some kanji" exists.

Incidentally, "God of Yaoyorozu" appears in the Miyazaki animation of Japan "千と千尋の神隠し[Sento chihirono Kamikakush]."

 

CHIHIRO who is the heroine of this movie was stolen her own name and her parents.
She went to the mysterious world to get back them.
There is a public bath for gods of Yaoyorozu in that world.

She learns a lot of things while working there.

Look at the video of this movie, please.

My talk has wandered from the movie from kanji.
However, "the deep wonder of Japan" is expressed on this movie.

 

By Hararie