Js Nihongo

Online dictionaries for Japanese

A tweet from @2nihon the other day alerted me to tangorin, another online Japanese dictionary that I was not aware of. There are quite a few online dictionaries out here, for a variety of languages. Some of them are not so good but there are some excellent dictionaries for Japanese that not only provide meanings, but also example sentences, kanji and kanji stroke order.

If you're looking for good Japanese online dictionaries, these ones work for me...

Denshi Jisho - Good simple to use dictionary. Will accept words in roomaji or kana script. Usually provides useful example sentences to help get the meaning you are looking for. Whatsmore, it automatically optimizes for the iPhone or iPod touch, making it easy to use on these devices.

Tangorin - Although I haven't used this one much as yet, it seems quite comprehensive and simple to use. It allows you to search for words, kanji, examples and even names or classical Japanese. It also gives you the option to sign up, create a profile and build vocabulary lists. One of the best things I have found for this site is the ability to search for different verb forms. If you enter a verb form it will put it into example sentences for you, thereby allowing you to better understand the structure and how it is used.

Jim Breen's WWWJDIC - A fairly comprehensive dictionary that provides meanings, examples and even links to google, google image or wikipedia results for the Japanese word. It is not really visually appealing in its layout but can provide some very useful information on words or phrases.

I haven't used EnglishJapaneseOnlineDictionary for a while but did use it with classes a while back. It could be better than it was before.

For something different, try one of these:

Although it is a little hard to navigate around, Wapedia has a variety of lists. Lists of abbreviated words like ファミコン (famikon), English words of Japanese origin and gairaigo or words that have originated in languages other than Japanese, like Dutch and Portugese. For example, did you know the Japanese word for 'swing' (ブランコ) comes from the Portugese word? Or, the word ランドセル (randoseru), meaning backpack / knapsack, comes from the Dutch word.

Another interesting site is Rikai. It has a cool little tool that allows you to hover over a kanji or word in the page, revealing the reading and meaning for the kanji or word. If you type the address of a Japanese site into the 'box' on the front page it will redirect you to that site and again allows you to place the cursor over a word to reaveal its meaning. Although not 100% effective, it is pretty good.

If your still thinking about Japanese Dictionaries in general, you really should read @rainbohill's post on eduFire, How to Choose the Best Japanese Dictionary.

Culture with Cooliris

Inspired by the Cogdogblog to use cooliris as a presentation tool and by Muza-chan to explain the story of 'Manekineko", I searched Flickr for "Maneki neko" and created the wall below, with help from Cooliris for developers (not that I've ever imagined myself as a developer).

"Maneki neko" are often seen as you enter shops, businesses or even homes. The Japanese verb 'maneku' (招く・まねく) means to invite and that is what the cat is doing; inviting good luck or customers into the business or home. If the right paw is raised, the cat is inviting in luck, if the left paw is raised, then the cat is trying to draw money (customers) into the business. Each of the two types of cat has a different kanji character on its chest. One is the character for luck and the other for money. Have a look at the photos in the cooliris wall below and look for the difference (click on a picture and then the icon at the bottom of the wall, in the middle, to start the slideshow).

For the story behind the "maneki neko", read Old Japanese Stories - the real Maneki Neko.

Takoyaki・たこ焼き

Takoyaki (たこやき) is a really simple dish and perfect for a Sunday evening dinner.　Hopefully the pictures will give some sort of idea of what it is, but to explain further...

The main mixture of flour, water, eggs, with a dash of salt and baking powder (or 'dashi' stock) is poured into the special takoyaki grill before adding spring onions and small pieces of octopus. The grill is shaped so that when you spin the half-cooked mixture around it becomes a sphere; well, when the experts do it in Japan. Ours are at times spheres but usually more like UFOs. The Japanese word for octopus is 'tako' (たこ), hence the name of the dish. We also add some chopped fresh ginger for a bit of spice; though normally in Japan you would get 'beni shouga' (pickled ginger). On top of all this we add a dollop of sauce, some 'aonori' (seaweed flakes) and mayonnaise. Some family members are not so keen on octopus and so create their own 'hamu chiizu yaki' (ham and cheese in place of the octopus). In fact you could put all sorts of things into the mixture - when cooking in class several years ago, a student put a mini easter egg into the mixture. It wasn't that bad, though more French cuisine than Japanese.

School vs Juku

Dinner time conversation this evening revolved around school and what schools do. The obsession with results and schools as simply a stepping stone to University was mentioned (certainly not what we think they should be). This inevitably turned to a discussion on juku, the Japanese word for what are often described as cram schools or tutoring schools. Essentially it is school after school and is used as a way to reinforce work done in school, supplement schoolwork or simply to prepare students for the competition of School and University entrance examinations.The Japanese education system has often been criticized for being too competitive and placing too much pressure on students. It was said that if you got into the right school, that was the first step to getting into the right University and then the ultimate goal - the right job. Things have changed and continue to change but there still seems to be a fair bit of pressure on Japanese students.

My wife relayed the story of a friend who has recently moved home to Japan after several years in Sydney. The friend had mentioned that she not only makes a lunch box (おべんとう) for her daughter but also a "dinner box" (よるべん) for when she goes to juku. The daughter leaves for school in the morning and returns home after juku, sometime in the evening. Dinner is eaten at juku. According to the mother, her daughter finds school a little boring but juku is far more challenging and therefore more interesting. Juku even continues through the summer holidays. So, what is the role of school for this student and does her day need to be this long? After all, she is only 11 years old. As the mother wrote in the email: 「日本の子供たちは勉強勉強でたいへんです。」"It's hard for Japanese kids with study and more study." Is this where we are heading?

Flickr image by jetalone

セイトギャグ

The story of Hachiko / ハチ公

Rummaging through the internet in an attempt to find the latest on pets in Japan, I was reminded of the story of Hachiko. This is the true story of a loyal dog that, for years after its owner had died, continued to turn up at the same time each day to Shibuya station in Tokyo where Hachiko had regularly met the owner on his return from work. The story of this faithful dog (Akita breed) spread and eventually became a well known story that came to symbolise loyalty and faithfulness. 

A reminder of this story continues to wait patiently outside Shibuya station, in the form of Hachiko's bronze statue, and is a popular meeting point. Further testiment to the importance of this story to the Japanese is that the stuffed remains of Hachiko are preserved in the National Science museum of Japan (Ueno in Tokyo). Every year on April 8th a rememberance ceremony is held at Shibuya station in honour of Hachiko and "man's best friend".

In 1987 Hachiko's story was told in the successful Japanese movie "Hachiko Monogatari".

とうとう(meaning finally - with some negative connotation) the American version of the film was released in Japan on August 8th - the Japanese number 8 is pronouced 'hachi'. Here is the Japanese trailer for that movie, starring Richard Gere as Hachiko's owner.

Need stories or images to help teach Japanese language & culture?

When I first began learning a language, teachers rarely used "realia" to liven up the classroom or make the learning more relevant. I will forgive this as back then it was not that easy to get your hands on up to the date items that enhanced the teaching of language and culture. However, the days of faded newspapers is long gone. The internet has provided an avenue for classroom teachers to access real life and up to the minute articles, images, videos and more that can help bring the target language and culture into our students' lives. But, if you're after images of the 'Tanabata festival' in Japan or of a particular Japanese food, you can get so much more if you know where to look...

Searching on Flickr will reap rewards, especially if you search particular groups (related to the target language). Try these ones for Japanese:

• Japanese Culture
• JapanSoc
• Nihongo Daisuki

To further enhance viewing these images (or any images / video), use Cooliris

Beyond Flickr: Over the past few months I have discovered bloggers and photographers in Japan who are working alone and together on various projects, who can bring Japan to you via their images and stories. Most can also be found on flickr & on Twitter, but you should really check out their sites...

• Kalandrakas ( @simplyjesslee )
• Kimonobox ( @kimonobox )
• Nihongo Notes ( @chrisgaunt )
• Shibuya246 ( @shibuya246 )
• The Nihon Sun ( @ShaneSakata )
• The view from Japan ( @viewfromjapan )
• TokyoTopia ( @tokyotopia )

Further to this, yesterday (July 11 2009) two photographers set out to capture 100 smiles in a day, somewhere in Tokyo. A great concept. Have a look at A Hundred Smiles.

Winter's coming...

     

Click here to download:

Winters_coming....zip (3131 KB)

Modern day samurai

Gotta love Japanese TV ...

About 4:30 into it is fairly impressive.

Time Flying by ...

Breakfast conversation yesterday taught me something new. Commenting on the fact that the year seemed to be flying by and it was already March, I was informed of the following Japanese expression:

一月はいく、二月はにげる、三月はさる　(ichigatsu wa iku, nigatsu wa nigeru, sangatsu wa saru)

Literally this means: January goes, February flees & March departs (leaves). In Japanese the first sounds in each of the pairs of words (January / go, February / flee, March / depart) are the same, making it an easy expression to remember.

As a means to tracking each day and trying to get something out of them, I have been part of the Twitter365 group. A photo a day – most days, hence the picture for this post is February’s montage. Another great way of trying to make the most of your day is, for those with an iPod Touch or iPhone, download the app – Gratitude. Then, once a day, type in what you are grateful for. Helps keep things in perspective.