Uki Uki mini 2

March 30, 2016
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Language Lesson past event

Q1 from NaturalTwentyGames: How to say, “Hey, what’s up?”

Here are some examples.
よ、元気?(Yo, genki?)
どう、最近?(Dou, saikin?) or just どう?(Dou?)
元気してる?(Genki shiteru?)

Q2 from Sissou: When to write numbers using Kanji

Generally speaking, people in Japan write numbers just like people in the western culture do (123…). But if you’re writing in a more traditional Japanese style, numbers may be written in Kanji, e.g. idioms like 一石二鳥 (isseki nichou) and 百発百中 (hyappatsu hyakuchuu), as well as vertical writing. 五月十四日、今日は一日中雨だった。(Gogatsu juuyokka. Kyou wa ichinichijuu ame datta.) “May 14th. It rained all day.”

Q3 from Zaru-7t-10: Do people with different dialects understand each other?

There are so many different dialects spoken throughout Japan. You learn the “standard” Japanese in class, and it’s the variety spoken in the Tokyo and surrounding prefectures. But almost everywhere else, people speak their own dialect, as well as the standard Japanese so we can still understand each other regardless of where they’re from.

An example of a dialect difference:
standard “thank you” : ありがとうございます (Arigatou gozaimasu)
Kansai dialect (used in Osaka, Kyoto, etc.): おおきに (Ookini)

Some phrases are more similar.
Casual "What, is that true?" : えー、それ、ほんと? (Ee, sore, honto?)
Kansai dialect: えー、それ、ほんま?" (Ee, sore, honma?)

Q4 from G.Lopapeysa: Reaction words to use in a conversation

Response words, called あいづち (aizuchi), are introduced in Lesson 7 and 8 Uki Uki videos:
Lesson 7: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5V6fn…
Lesson 8: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a8MXN…

Here are some short ones.
When impressed: へえ~ (hee)
When greatly impressed: おお~ (oo)
When amuzed: ふうーん (fuun)
When jealous: いいな~ (iinaa) or politely: いいですね (ii desune)

  • March 30, 2016 – March 30, 2016