Posts from July 2009

Confusing Japanese Counters

Posted by Ginny No Comments
Jul 10 2009

This list contains some counters that have the same pronunciation but different uses. Even though the counters sound the same, the kanji will be different, so look out for that as well.

dai (代) – used for generations or time period of a reigning monarch

dai (台) – This dai is used for machinery like cars, tv’s etc.

ka (日) – used for certain days of the month

ka (課) – used for lessons

ban (晩) – used for nights

ban (番) – used for sports matches (it can also be attached to numerals. Ex: ichiban (いちばん) = first

hai (杯) – for cups, glasses

hai (敗) – for losses in sports matches

ji (時) – for the hours of the day

ji (児) – for children

ji (字) – for character letters (used a lot in reference to kanji)

kai (階) – number of floors

kai (回) – number of times or occurences

koo (行) – for banks

koo (校) – for schools

ko (戸) – used for houses

ko (個…) – used for general measure words when there is no counter (other kanji’s can fall under this general measure counter)

 

 

 

List of Professions

Posted by Ginny 1 Comment
Jul 7 2009

In an effort to get you guys to use more Japanese vocabulary, here’s a list of professions or occupations:

doctor – isha (いしゃ)

chef – shefu (シェフ)

lawyer – bengoshi (べんごし)

author – sakka (さっか)

teacher – sensee (せんせい)

secretary – hisho (ひしょ)

student – gakusee (がくせい)

police officer – kesatsukan (けいさつかん)

housewife – shufu (しゅふ)

soldier – gunjin (ぐんじん)

office worker – kaishain (かいしゃいん)

athlete – undoonsenshu (うんどうせんしゅ)

engineer – enjinia (エンジニア)

scientist – kagakusha (かがくしゃ)

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Japanese Colors

Posted by Ginny No Comments
Jul 7 2009

I’m going to list the colors in Japanese. I’ll also list them in the kanji and hiragana/katakana.

black – Kuro (くろ)(黒)

blue – Ao (あお)(青)

light blue – mizuiro (みずいろ)(水色)

brown – Chairo (ちゃいろ)(茶色)

golden – kiniro (きんいろ)(金色)

red – Aka (あか)(赤)

white – Shiro (しろ)(白)

pink – Momoiro (ももいろ)(桃色)

pink – pinku (ピンク)

orange – daidaiiro (だいだいいろ)(橙色)

green – midori (みどり)(緑)

light green – kimidori (黄緑)

yellow – kiiro (きいろ)(黄色)

purple – murasaki (むらさき)(紫)

grey – haiiro (はいいろ)(灰色)

grey – nezu (ねず)

 

 

 

 

Pickled Food

Posted by Ginny 1 Comment
Jul 4 2009

Matsumaezuke (松前漬け) is a pickled dish consisting of surume (するめ) or squid and konbu (こんぶ) or seaweed. Other ingredients include kazunoko (かずのこ), which is a type of fish. Some carrots (にんじん) or ninjin, along with sake (さけ), soy sauce (しょうゆ) and mirin (みりん) are mixed together. Mirin (みりん) is a type of rice wine with low alcohol content. Mirin (みりん) is used a lot in Japanese food.

Bettarazuke (べったら漬) is a pickled daikon (だいこん) or radish. This is a common side dish served in the homes of Tookyoo (とうきょう) residents. Bettarazuke (べったら漬) includes sugar, salt, and some sake (さけ). The taste of bettarazuke (べったら漬) is sweet and somewhat crisp when fresh.

 

Fukujinzuke (福神漬) includes radish, eggplant (なす) or nasu, lotus root (れんこん) or renkon and cucumber (きゅうり) or kyuuri. Other ingredients include soy sauce, shiitake (しいたけ) mushrooms, and sesame seeds or goma (ごま).

 

Narazuke (ならずけ) is a dish of pickled vegetables or yasai (やさい) and sliced melon (メロン). Sometimes watermelon rind is used. The fish or sakana (さかな) version of narazuke (ならずけ) includes sake and soy sauce. The fish is cut into square or rectangular pieces. The fish is either raw or grilled. It tates quite sweet, but the smell of the fish can be very strong.

Restaurant Food Vocabulary

Posted by Ginny No Comments
Jul 1 2009

You may some of these items on a menyuu (メニュー) or menu dining in a Japanese restaurant.

スパゲッテイ – (supagetti) spaghetti

カレー – (karee) curry

そば – (soba) buck wheat noodles (usually served cold)

うどん – (udon) thick white noodles (usually served ward)

サンドイッチ – (sandoicchi) sandwich

アイスクリーム – (aisukuriimu) ice cream

ラーメン – (raamen) ramen noodles

ハンバーガー – (hanbaagaa) hamburger

コーヒー – (koohii) coffee

コーラ – (coora) cola

サラダ – (sarada) salad

おちゃ – (ocha) tea

ジュース – (juusu) juice

ミルク – (miruku) milk

 

 

 

 

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