Miya

I have a Windows computer that runs Windows 7 and there's a language bar pre-installed on all of Windows' computers. You just have to select the language you want and it will appear on the lower right of your task bar (not sure how it works for Windows 8 though since I heard they don't have a start bar). The language features provided by Windows is sufficient and easy enough to use. You can type hiragana, katakana, and Kanji on the computer using it. (Kanji will automatically show if you press enter button after typing in the furigana). I find it more convenient than the Apple computers.

Do you mean "Konnichiwa? (こんにちは)"? The "は" is pronounced "wa" in "Konnichiwa". I've never heard of Konnichiha unless it's a dialect or a new slang term.

On my smartphone, I use Go Keyboard which provides a Pinyin & a handwriting feature. I use pinyin most of the time and only use handwriting when I can't remember the pinyin for the character I want to use XD On my computer (I use Windows), I just use the Pinyin feature that came with my computer. It's not perfect, but gets the job done.

Well, this is an interesting question. I guess it depends on what language I'm studying. If I'm studying for fun, then I try to use free internet resources whenever possible. If I'm studying because I want to go to the country and find a job there in the future, then I don't mind taking courses and buying books/materials to study the language.

Just to provide some feedback for the book I mentioned above... I've read 2 essays (they are more like stories) so far and even though I'm in my 3rd year of Japanese studies, there's still some Kanji/sentence structure/grammar that I don't understand. But the good thing about this book is they provide a translation of each page (broken down by paragraph and sentences) so you can easily find out what the story is about. It's also a good way to expose yourself to more vocabulary. And there are multiple short stories so you'll get to see various writing styles. In the end, I think this book is worth it. If anything, I think it'll help me improve my Japanese reading skills (there's also a CD provided if you want someone to read to you). It's a little under $20 so the price isn't too bad. I'm thinking of purchasing the other edition with short-stories after I finish this one.

Yeah, part of being an idol is being good with variety too. Hikki doesn't appear much on variety shows because she's an artist and only needs to focus on her singing career. Personally, I prefer idols more because I like to watch improvement. Idols are also more interesting to watch (variety show-wise) than artistes. That's not to say I don't like good, talented people. It's just that I prefer watching idols Ahh, I see. Yukirin is neat My oshimen was Acchan, but she graduated so now my oshi is Kitarie xD I'm pretty much a MD though.

しりとりは日本の単語ゲームです。単語を習うために、しりとりをしましょうか？ ルール： 「ん」で終わる単語を言わないでください。日本語には「ん」で始まる単語がないですから、「ん」で終わる単語を言ったら負けますよ。 誰かが負ける時、他の人は新しい単語を始めてください。 漢字とカタカナとひらがなを使っても大丈夫です。でも勉強のために、日本語、ローマ字、とデフィニション　（定義）を書いてください。 名詞と形容詞と動詞を使っても大丈夫です。 しりとりの遊び方はとても簡単です。単語のおしりを取って、新しい単語を作ります。 例： おしり (oshiri, butt) -> りんご（ringo, apple) -> ご飯 (gohan, rice) [この人は負けました] じゃ、私が始めましょう： 友達 (tomodachi, friend)

@ lllllllllllllllllllllllll - Yup, this is a cultural difference. Idols in Japan are more like... normal, average everyday people. But it's because they're so 'average' (they don't really excel in anything), that makes people like them. People will think 'Oh, she's just as average as me... so maybe I can be a super idol too one day'. I think Japanese idols are selling "dreams" more than anything. Those who excel in something (Utada Hikaru) aren't considered idols, but "artistes". People don't aim to be like Hikki because they know they might not have the same talents so their chance of making it is slim. But people might aim to be like Maeda Atsuko because she is average and there's actually a chance of making it. (btw, do you have an oshimen in AKB/SKE/NMB/HKT? ;D) @ 13vinylinfants - There are also lyrics in some Japanese PVs. So isn't it also possible to grasp some Japanese words if you listen to Jpop and watch their PVs?

Momoiro Clover Z is also great if you're in for the weird/energetic songs. Their lives are always full of energy. Although their songs are more slang-ish, aren't they?

I always use simple words. I don't see a need to use complex words if simple words works just as well. Of course, there are people who I can't talk casually to... but even to those people, I try to use simple speech.

For me, reading and writing a foreign language is actually easier than speaking it. I think this varies from person to person. Some people are really good at speaking while some excel in reading/writing.

I haven't taught English in a foreign country, but I hope to! I applied for the JET Program this year so if I get accepted, I'll have the opportunity to teach English in Japan

I unofficially started by listening to Jpop/watching Jdramas & Japanese TV shows xD That helped me learn some vocabulary and pronunciation. But my method is similar to yours -- I learned hiragana first, then katakana, then basic 'foundation' grammar rules and vocabulary, then basic Kanjis, intermediate Kanji, Keigo, and more Kanji

I think it's okay to start learning basic Japanese with romaji, but don't rely too heavily on it. As soon as you can use hiragana, stop using romaji. Personally, I don't like romaji. I think I used it for one day and then realized that I might as well just learn hiragana. Romaji just seems weird to me... lol, but that's probably my problem since I don't like pinyin either

Reading really helps expand your vocabularly because different authors have different writing styles and different word choices. Whenever you encounter a word you don't know while reading, look it up and you'll eventually recognize the word!

Agree with what linguaholic said. Tell us a bit more about why you want to learn Chinese For me, I think the most basic 'requirement' is you must be interested in Chinese / Chinese culture. If you're not, then no matter how hard you study, you just won't remember (or you'll remember and forget easily). So start with seeing if you're actually interested in learning the language.

Haha, I'm currently watching a drama about 剩女. Quite interesting actually There's also: 宅男 / 宅女 - literal translation "house boy/house girl". Real meaning means hikikomoris / otakus.

Chinese is the word for "the languages spoken in China". Mandarin is a dialect of Chinese (considered the 'standard' dialect).

I've also never heard of the ones mentioned above. But I'm a Cantonese speaker and here are a few HK slangs/substitution words I know: Chok樣 = refers to those that always try to look hot/sexy when posing for pictures/cameras. The original word for "Chok" is 剒 (cok). This character is not used in Mandarin. It means "to be stuck", like something can't go up or down. 佢D = 他／她的. "佢" is gender neutral, D is substitute for 的 886 = In Cantonese, these numbers are pronounced similar to "Bye bye la" 黐线 = Literal translation is "sticky line" but the meaning is "crazy". Used as a substitute for "瘋狂". 菲士 = Pronounced "Fēi shì" means "face". Same as "面子" (Miànzi). 仔 = Pronounced Zǐ in Mandarin, literally means "boy/son", but in the recent years have changed so that it could also refer to girls or objects. So a girl name Mary might be referred to as Mary仔. A computer would be referred to as "電腦仔" (Diànnǎozǐ). Young children also start learning their speech by attaching 仔 to the end of their words. There's definitely a lot more but that's all I can think of for now. Maybe I'll add in some later

I was also looking for intermediate Japanese novels and fellow forum member gegegeno recommended this to me: Read Real Japanese Essays: Contemporary Writings by Popular Authors . I just ordered this book via amazon so I'll let you know if it's worth a read later on. But based on the preview pages on amazon, this books seems to be a good self-study novel.

I think Kanji is still used quite often in Japan. So even if you can't read it, it's best to know how to read some.

其實微博是在中國香港的地方才多人用。我住在美國，真的好少人用微博。我的朋友大多數用facebook和Twitter。

我只用微博關注香港明星。我自己沒有發過微博。 不過有時會在明星的微博留言

I prefer to always write in my most fluent language (English). But actually, writing/reading is easier for me than speaking. I can write very grammatical stories and papers in Japanese, but when I speak I stutter and get my grammar wrong. I guess it varies from person to person.

OMG, I love KFC! It's super catchy. It's the first song I've liked from AKB in a long time. Sasshi working miracles again, lol.