Learn Japanese w/ Manga Sensei

How to Attach Directional Particles to Verbs

“It’s on your right side.” I go over directions like North and South. Where to find the location of an item like a remote, or cell phone.

Directional Basics

In this episode I talk about before something happens and after something happens. Both before you and after you, or in front of you and behind you.

Basic Overview of Directions

Many things in Japanese are often temporal as they are physical, and we’re talking about how this pertains to directions. I go over various types of travel from one place to another.

Question Particle, Male and Female Speech

Today I talk more about formality and how men and women speak differently. Men tend to be less polite when talking versus when women speak.

Kanji

Kanji can often be a detriment if learned early, which is why I’ve chosen to talk about it later in this podcast. It’s better to get used to the language before trying to learn to understand and read Kanji.

Conje

Teh Base

I go more into the different forms of “But.” I talk about “Even though,” and various other words like But.

Te Base

Formality and Being Polite

Today we’re diving a little deeper into how we use formality and why we use Des, Dah, Mas, and the plain form noun.

Vector Verbs Part 5

This is the last episode in the vector verb series. Today I go over some of the confusing things between the different vector verbs and make some clarifications.

Vector Verbs Part 4

Today we are talking about the last verb when it comes to the three major vector verbs, Morau. This one is the easiest version of the three.

Vector Verbs Part 3

I talk about the word Kureru, which goes along with the word Agheru. I talk about going from party B to party A and give some examples.

Vector Verbs Part 2

The first group of vector verbs where it comes from the speaker’s area of information to the listener’s area of information. I will talk about the word Agheru.

Vector Verbs Part 1, Movement of an Object

There are a number of different types of verbs in Japanese. Some are implied to have more than one meaning. Some are meant to communicate movement. We also have reciprocal verbs and stative verbs. Today and over the next 4 days I’ll be talking about these different types of verbs.

The Humble and Polite Form

I explain how to talk in this form by improving and increasing the level of diction. The difference between talking to your family members, friends, and business associates.

The Particle Zutsu

This particle indicates equal distribution of quantity. Like when passing out a piece of candy, you give one piece of candy to each friend.

5 of the Main Japanese Bases

Ah ih oo eh oh. I briefly explain the 5 bases or vowels in Japanese and when these are used.

Toki and the Optional Particle Ni

Ni usually needs to go with a verb and is used for an emphasis as to what happens “when.” I talk about what role Toki plays with the word Ni.

Using Time More Efficiently

Today we are talking about time. There are various symbols and words to use for time, such as “Toki”, which I go over in this episode.

The Limiter Shkuh

The Limiter Shka

This is exclusively used with negative words. It’s like Bakari, but only used with words that have negative meanings.

The Limiter Shika

Dakeh and Bakari

Dakeh is used to say things like “Only.” Bakari is more like “Nothing but.” I give examples of the differences between the words.

Dake and Bakari

The Japanese Particle, Demo

In today's episode, John Sensei teaches us about demo. Demo means "however" or "but" in Japanese and has many different ways of saying it, depending on the formality and politeness of the situation.

Alternative Use of No

I talk about nominalizers, or anything that changes a part of speech into a noun. I explain where No plays into this.

The Limitation Particle, Dake

The Limitation Particle, Dakeh

This is used for things like alone, or just, or merely. I give examples of when to use this word in sentences.

Difference Between Ni and He

Difference Between Ni and Heh

I explain when to use Heh in place of Ni, like when you’re writing a long letter or text. Pronounced more like Eh rather than Heh.

When Not to Use Ni

I go over times when it is not necessary for you to use Ni, such as days, dates, or years.

The Japanese Particle, 'Ga' Alternative Uses

Although we covered ga in the 30-day challenge, we are going more in-depth on the other uses of ga. John Sensei teaches us how to combine 2 sentences into one using ga. John Sensei gives us great examples of this use of ga as well as do's and don't's.

Nodeh, Another Way to Say Because

This word indicates a reason or a cause. This word is different from Kara and I explain why and when to use it.

Node, Another Way to Say Because

The Japanese Particle, Made-Ni

The Japanese Particle, Madeh-Ni

This is a slight modification to “Madeh.” How to go from Kara to Madeh and Madeh-Ni.

The Japanese Particle, Made

John Sensei teaches the particle madeh, which is used similarly to kara, except it’s used to end sentences.

The Japanese Particle, Karah Pt. 2

Today we talk about an additional meaning of Kara. This particle has to do with the reason that you are doing something. Kind of like the word “Because.”

The Japanese Particle, Kara Pt. 2

The Japanese Particle, Karah Pt. 1

John Sensei teaches how to use kara in a sentence. He goes over how to use it in a regular sentence and then how to use it in various tenses such as past tense.

The Japanese Particle, Kara Pt. 1

John Sensei teaches how to use kara in a sentence. He goes over how to use it in a regular sentence and then how to use it in various tenses such as past tense.

The Other "Mou", A Japanese Adverb

There is a very similar sounding but different meaning mou. Mou, is an adverb, unlike mo which is a particle. John Sensei teaches us how to pronounce and properly use mou to describe something that has a change of state.

Semantics and Specifics of Mo

In today's episode, John Sensei goes deeper into more specific uses of mo and how to properly use them. The apporiate placement and use of mo is very important in speaking proper Japanese.

Introduction To the Second Section of Manga Sensei

John Sensei introduces us to the next set of Japanese that he will be teaching. He provides clarification on the goals and subject matter that will be covered. John Sensei also provides more tips on how to help learn a new language effectively and helps sort out which vocabulary words are helpful and which are not.

Self Evaluation and Review

Today, John Sensei urges us to take a break from learning new things and evaluate where we are at with our Japanese language skills thus far. He gives us tips on how to learn a new language most effectively, and how to self evaluate our progress.

"In Order to"; Day 30 of the 30-Day Challenge

Combing the learning to make sense of the Japanese words we have learned thus far. Including the last grammar point — the form “in order to” or a version of “for” in English. Tame = "in order to” in Japanese.

Day 31 - End of 30-Day Challenge

Review of the Manga Sensei 30 Day Challenge. Setting the baseline of learning moving forward. Feel free to go back and review, to carry the knowledge moving forward with new lessons. Patients and practice, remember Japanese takes 10,000 mistakes in order to be fluent.

Ing - Ending; Day 29 of the 30-Day Challenge

State of verbing, unique conjugation, focusing on the Japanese equivalent of the ING ending. Two states of verb; condition and action.

Particle - Ne; Day 28 of the 30-Day Challenge

Sentence ending particles: Japanese explanation mark and Japanese relation particle. Particle — Ne. Conversation bubbles, and infinitive statements on someone else’s behalf can be considered culturally rude.

Reveiw of Concepts and Conjugation of Japanese; Day 27 of the 30-Day Challenge

Today, John Sensei wants to review some concepts and conjugation of Japanese. This episode is a perfect opportunity for you to review some of what we have learned so far in the 30-day challenge as well as give you some time to listen back to previous episodes or catch up on episodes you may have missed.