What do people think about your interest in Japan.

[Gorotsuki]

Most of my friends just say I am not japanese why am i learning it (actual am partly) and why do I want to live there. My father gets annoyed with it and my mother realy likes japan. Most people act me why I even like Japan.

[frostyg02uk]

LOl Ok next time ask them why do people learn english (or speak) when they are not even from england. There are alot of trolls that go to Japan for the wrong reasons but as long as your in for the right reasons ignore everyone else. When i told my parents i might be moving there my dad said he didnt want me going. I told him "im 18 now you wont control me" and that was the end of that. Obviously no one wants their kid to move so far away from home so try to understand your parents but only if they are willing to try and understand you and your ideals. Your friends on the other hand just sound like jerks who need to mature.

[KirinMan]

Most of my friends just say I am not japanese why am i learning it (actual am partly) and why do I want to live there. My father gets annoyed with it and my mother realy likes japan. Most people act me why I even like Japan.

Are any of your friends learning a foreign language? Are they the "same" nationality of the language they are learning?

Sorry to say this but to me it sounds like your friends at least dont understand or appreciate the value of learning a foreign language. More power to you. Dont let them hold you back.

One other thing having goals and dreams in ones life are very important, and even though your Dad may not appreciate it now in the future hopefully he will accept and understand your choice. It is your life.

[yukio_michael]

I phoned my ex gf a few weeks ago at work, I was on my cell phone, basically, I said, moshi moshi, maikeru desu kedo, ato denwa shite onegai shimasu... ja, ja ne, bai bai...

Basically, hi, this is michale (softened polite), call me later please, well, if its like that, bye bye."

A coworker said, "I don't know what you just said, but that was fXXXing awesome...." (my pronunciation is pretty strong, from being around Japanese nationals, so my speech sounds natural...)

Most people encourage my Japanese study and learning, I get the occasional wee bee with "yellow fever" who seems to know little about the culture of Japan who are impressed... but I try to stay away from them.

As for my father... I think he found it crazy I even moved to Japan.

[Gorotsuki]

My friends are learing other languages that arn't their own nationality. One of my friends is into japan so we study with eachother.

[bakaKanadajin]

Toronto is a place of multicultural celebration, so everyone I meet thinks its cool that I lived in Japan, picked up some of the language and that I'm continuing with it. Also, because I have Japanese blood in me I think to my close friends it seems like less of a hobby and more of a natural choice.

As yukio-michael pointed out, those who have had barely any exposure to Japan are often easily impressed with even the lightest forms of conversation because Japanese has a reputation for being incredibly difficult to learn. I sometimes encounter nearly the same situation, where someone overhears a phonecall(which to me is quite broken and riddled with grammatical errors on my part) but still go so far as to say 'wow so you're fluent now?', which couldn't be further from the truth unfortunately.

The mystique and coolness of Japanese culture, that mixture of ancient and futuristic, also gives it a certain trendiness which adds to the general acceptance of it. I get a lot of people saying 'wow I've always wanted to go there, I love anime, I've always wanted to learn the language, Japanese girls are pretty, Sushi is so healthy and delicious', or something to that effect. The Japanese have their own little pockets of fans and enthusiasts around the West it seems.

[Gorotsuki]

Ya, I see lots of people who have a very good interest in Japan. Although I am part japanese I do not quite look it so much which may be why I also get the responses I do...but even then they aren't justified.

[marsans]

Mostly when I tell people that I minor in Japanese, and possibly want to live there once I am able to, they are impressed. I think Japan is still very mysterious to many American, because it has such a different culture.

The only person who thinks its weird that I enjoy Japanese, and Japanese culture so much is my Grandpa, who had a hell of a time fighting the Japanese in the Philippines. Oh well, old grudges die hard I guess. :relief:

[Elizabeth]

I phoned my ex gf a few weeks ago at work, I was on my cell phone, basically, I said, moshi moshi, maikeru desu kedo, ato denwa shite onegai shimasu... ja, ja ne, bai bai...

Basically, hi, this is michale (softened polite), call me later please, well, if its like that, bye bye."
I'm sorry if this was a joke or an attempt to be polite in a funny sense but "Denwa shite onegai shimasu" is simply not grammatical Japanese. :blush:

Onegai shimasu may be added to "Denwa wo" or the name of the person being called but is never going to be found following the "te" form of a
command or a request for action. For that, there are an overflowing cornucopia of other goodies : 'kudasai' 'kurenai' moraranai...etc etc. ne...:wave:

[KirinMan]

Most of my friends just say I am not japanese why am i learning it (actual am partly) and why do I want to live there. My father gets annoyed with it and my mother realy likes japan. Most people act me why I even like Japan.Ya, I see lots of people who have a very good interest in Japan. Although I am part japanese I do not quite look it so much which may be why I also get the responses I do...but even then they aren't justified.

If you are part Japanese why in the world would your father get annoyed with you learning a part of your heritage?

Which side does your Japanese heritage come from? Let me guess your Mom's maybe?

[Gorotsuki]

Ya my mums side.:relief:

[yukio_michael]

I'm sorry if this was a joke or an attempt to be polite in a funny sense but "Denwa shite onegai shimasu" is simply not grammatical Japanese. :blush:
Onegai shimasu may be added to "Denwa wo" or the name of the person being called but is never going to be found following the "te" form of a
command or a request for action. For that, there are an overflowing cornucopia of other goodies : 'kudasai' 'kurenai' moraranai...etc etc. ne...:wave:Sometimes people never correct me, when they should... I suppose it works both ways... I have a habit of adding Onegai Shimasu, though kudasai is probably more apporpirate.... It's just lack of practice, and my love of saying OneGAI SHIma~~~su...

I wind up using more polite forms than is natural it seems.... something my ex always found amusing, so perhaps why she never corrects me.

[justin]

Most people think it's cool that I'm into Japan and others think it's dumb. Then there are the people who think I'm only trying to get a Japanese girlfriend.

I really don't care what anyone thinks outside my family and best friends.

[Kuro-Neko]

Usually when I tell people about my interest in Japan or how
I want to live there someday they don't take me seriously which
is understandable I guess but I am serious about it.

[Gorotsuki]

Just got off the phone with my friend and I acciently said something in Japanese (I do this a lot it just comes naturally). Then she starts going off about how I am in America and such and why am I learning Japanese and I should stop.

[a51ts4]

Most of my friends are close minded. So, they usualy joke around about my interest in Japan. I just shrugg it off, but sometimes it's irritating to listen to such false assumptions.
They also think it's funny how words are pronounced/said. Since English is their one and only language :P

[Gorotsuki]

Ya...half of my friends seriously annoy me when they joke/insult me or Japan.

[Elizabeth]

Sometimes people never correct me, when they should... I suppose it works both ways... I have a habit of adding Onegai Shimasu, though kudasai is probably more apporpirate.... It's just lack of practice, and my love of saying OneGAI SHIma~~~su...

I wind up using more polite forms than is natural it seems.... something my ex always found amusing, so perhaps why she never corrects me.
"Denwa shite ne", "denwa shite kurenai? (Won't you do me the favor of calling?)" are equally cute with the added advantage of also being understandable. I hope that isn't why the two of you aren't still together...:relief: You can always verify when necessary with a big, long "WaKARImashitaKAaa?" :p

[yukio_michael]

"Denwa shite ne", "denwa shite kurenai? (Won't you do me the favor of calling?)" are equally cute with the added advantage of also being understandable. I hope that isn't why the two of you aren't still together...:relief: You can always verify when necessary with a big, long "WaKARImashitaKAaa?" :pNo! It's definitely more complicated than that... thank god. Or oh I don't know... who am I thanking? What about choudai... to receive... in plain from...

yokkatara denwa choudai, kudasai...?

Does this work?

[Elizabeth]

No! It's definitely more complicated than that... thank god. Or oh I don't know... who am I thanking? What about choudai... to receive... in plain from...

yokkatara denwa choudai, kudasai...?

Does this work?
Yokattara and kudasai have a more formal flavour. besides kudasai overlaps in meaning with choudai, so you can drop those.

"Denwa (shite) choudai" carries an extremely familiar tone...a form used more by women and definately children.


I can't answer beyond that to your particular circumstance....I've rarely heard it to be honest but if you can do the accent right and no one gets hurt or offended in the process...:relief:

[epigene]

No! It's definitely more complicated than that... thank god. Or oh I don't know... who am I thanking? What about choudai... to receive... in plain from...

yokkatara denwa choudai, kudasai...?

Does this work?

Yes, both are OK.

Yokattara denwa choudai! (To a friend)
Yokattara denwa kudasai! (To anybody, even friends)
Yoroshikereba denwa kudasai. (Formal)

With "yokattara/yoroshikereba," you're giving the listener leeway to call you "if the listener is interested/willing." So, that's nice to add to "denwa choudai." :cool:

[Elizabeth]

Yes, both are OK.
Yokattara denwa choudai! (To a friend)
Yokattara denwa kudasai! (To anybody, even friends)
Yoroshikereba denwa kudasai. (Formal)
With "yokattara/yoroshikereba," you're giving the listener leeway to call you "if the listener is interested/willing." So, that's nice to add to "denwa choudai." :cool:
Once again...Epigene-san to the rescue !!! :wave:

So you would do the translation very straightforward : If you'd like, give me a call. Not 'gimme a call' like 'gimme money' or 'gimme a pizza' or along that tone like kids would use it, right?. :relief:

And I wasn't sure either about choudai for men, either. Is it pretty much genderless or still more a female phrase ? :?

[epigene]

Once again...Epigene-san to the rescue !!! :wave:
So you would do the translation very straightforward : If you'd like, give me a call. Not 'gimme a call' like 'gimme money' or 'gimme a pizza' or along that tone like kids would use it, right?. :relief:
And I wasn't sure either about choudai for men, either. Is it pretty much genderless or still more a female phrase ? :?
I don't think choudai is used predominantly by women, though I do hear a lot from women! (Probably because most men I know are business associates and women I know are friends... :relief:)

Seriously, my husband would use "choudai" with friends and subordinates. So, I don't think gender is important in this case. :-)

[misa.j]

Ya...half of my friends seriously annoy me when they joke/insult me or Japan.
Don't take them seriously. They might be just jealous of you having interests in something that's strange or unfamiliar to them. I'm sure you will find plenty of people whom you can talk about Japan in the future.

I've had a similar experience when I showed my interests in studying English, my father didn't understand why and thought I was wasting my time.

You got your mom on your side, so you should definitely follow your dream.

[Elizabeth]

I don't think choudai is used predominantly by women, though I do hear a lot from women! (Probably because most men I know are business associates and women I know are friends... :relief:)
Seriously, my husband would use "choudai" with friends and subordinates. So, I don't think gender is important in this case. :-)
OK, thanks again. Maybe it was from someone outside Kanto that I read that...:relief:

[bakaKanadajin]

I'm sorry if this was a joke or an attempt to be polite in a funny sense but "Denwa shite onegai shimasu" is simply not grammatical Japanese. :blush:

Onegai shimasu may be added to "Denwa wo" or the name of the person being called but is never going to be found following the "te" form of a
command or a request for action. For that, there are an overflowing cornucopia of other goodies : 'kudasai' 'kurenai' moraranai...etc etc. ne...:wave:

My Japanese is at an low/mid-intermediate level at best but I always tend to do something like this:

me: mata denwa shite kudasai
them: hai denwa shimasu
me: onegaishimaaaaasu

I use 'hai onegaishimasu' like that any time a person has said they'll do something as a result of my request, like when closing down the convo., getting something for me, etc. My feeling is that it confirms understanding and is a polite way to be like 'yes, please do it'. I usually threw it in after the waiter or waitress confirmed my order too. Would that be a correct usage?

[KirinMan]

Back on topic.......

Usually they are rather surprised to hear that I live here.:wave:

[epigene]

My Japanese is at an low/mid-intermediate level at best but I always tend to do something like this:
me: mata denwa shite kudasai
them: hai denwa shimasu
me: onegaishimaaaaasu
I use 'hai onegaishimasu' like that any time a person has said they'll do something as a result of my request, like when closing down the convo., getting something for me, etc. My feeling is that it confirms understanding and is a polite way to be like 'yes, please do it'. I usually threw it in after the waiter or waitress confirmed my order too. Would that be a correct usage?
Yes, absolutely the right thing to say! :cool:

My apologies for going off-topic again... :relief:

[Elizabeth]

Yes, absolutely the right thing to say! :cool:
My apologies for going off-topic again... :relief:
In person I also sometimes also repeat the phrase with a slight bow after I've been offered help and before leaving the interaction or the room.


Not commonly to wait help, though, since I don't view what they are doing as necessarily in the same light as someone doing me an honest favor. :relief:

[yukio_michael]

Thanks Elizabeth & Epigene! You both have come to my aid more than a few times. Thanks to both of you for clearing everything up... I save these pages and come back to them, when I have a lapse in memory, so your work is much appreciated!

-m.

ps. also sorry for throwing this thread off-topic.

[FrustratedDave]

My friends don't mind me speaking Japanese at all, in fact most of them want me to teach them some English.

When I want someone to call me back I usually say "mata, denwakurehenka?"
But that is kansai ben, so for all you hyoujyun goers, "mata, denwa shite" or "mata, denwa choudai" is fine. Also men say this just as much as women "mata, denwa choudai" .

[pika la]

In elementary all my friends/classmates teased me for liking Japan (god knows why..) and always called me an Asian-wannabe. Even though 60-70% of my school was Asians... and most of them had interest in anime.

Got to highschool and I was "so cool cause you speak fluent Japanese" (I was a mid level-beginner *sigh*)

Now... they don't care, are proud of me, think it's cool I live in Japan and most of my friends are attempting to learn Japanese. Family loves Japan and can't wait to come visit me in Autumn. ^^ Also helps that they always have 1 homestay Japanese student at home.

[yukio_michael]

In elementary all my friends/classmates teased me for liking Japan (god knows why..) and always called me an Asian-wannabe. Even though 60-70% of my school was Asians... and most of them had interest in anime.In modern Internet parlance, that is called a "weeaboo", or now more simply, a "wee bee". ;)

[Arch]

Most people are ignorant and I have no idea what the difference between Japan and China is. A few friends and family here in Japan often say I eat "weird" stuff and everything.

Of course the occassional joke that I eat dog aswell......(says it all doesn't it)

[KirinMan]

Most people are ignorant and I have no idea what the difference between Japan and China is. A few friends and family here in Japan often say I eat "weird" stuff and everything.
Of course the occassional joke that I eat dog aswell......(says it all doesn't it)

Might I suggest doing a bit of research on the internet to see the differences that you so indelicately pointed out here.

[Arch]

Might I suggest doing a bit of research on the internet to see the differences that you so indelicately pointed out here.

Wait a minute I completely and utterly screwd up my post.

I ment here in "Germany" many people don't know the difference between China and Japan. How some people think Japanese eat dog and such.

Sorry about the misunderstanding I was still asleep when I did it.

[Pachipro]

Personally I don't care what my friends or family think anymore as, since they have never lived there for the length of time I have, or even visited for that matter, they will never understand.

Most cannot understand why I lived there and why I will return permanently and do not even take the time to learn or understand and I cannot make them understand no matter how hard I try.

To them it is incomprehensible that I would desire to live in a foreign country and I say to them, although it may be fiction and exaggerated, watch again The Last Samurai, or Shogun, or Dances With Wolves or something similar and you may begin to understand. Still, I feel they never could. It is something that could never be explained.

[Gorotsuki]

I really like my family and I would like to be close to them. However I hate being in this country. The rest of my family does as well but don't move because of Family. I am not sure if I should move or not but I really want to. However I don't think I should stay in a place I despise for the rest of my life.