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    Thread: I can't remember keywords when seeing a kanji. Is this bad?
Post: I can't remember keywords when seeing a kanji. Is ...

FutureBlues Wrote:I know it's hard to imagine not knowing that kanji (and/or the reading, えき). But while a lot of people initially learning Japanese know the phonetic unit: えき, they may not know the k...
annabel398 Remembering the Kanji 25 5,417 2009-01-09, 1:50 pm
    Thread: 255-> king, scepter, ball
Post: 255-> king, scepter, ball

I think I've read that the round jewel/ball (as opposed to the square jewel) represents not a ball (toy) but a ball of JADE, which is associated with kings. Or, if you want a more Euro-friendly memory...
annabel398 Remembering the Kanji 12 3,906 2009-01-07, 11:28 pm
    Thread: Japanese who answer in English: the other side
Post: Japanese who answer in English: the other side

timcampbell Wrote:In Quebec City I had a 10-minute discussion with a bartender in French, who had an accent I couldn't place. When I asked him where he was from he said "Dublin." "What the hell, you'r...
annabel398 Off topic 41 5,408 2009-01-07, 2:23 pm
    Thread: Handwriting -- TV series starts tomorrow (Japan)
Post: Handwriting -- TV series starts tomorrow (Japan)

I own both books (BKB and Learn), and I totally disagree with mystes' assessment. Learn is specifically targeted at producing graceful handwriting with a pen. I think it's probably the best English-la...
annabel398 The Japanese language 27 5,321 2009-01-06, 5:48 pm
    Thread: Handwriting -- TV series starts tomorrow (Japan)
Post: Handwriting -- TV series starts tomorrow (Japan)

Learn to Write Chinese Characters is an English-language reference that has helped my handwriting.
annabel398 The Japanese language 27 5,321 2009-01-06, 3:32 pm
    Thread: textbooks
Post: textbooks

CarolinaCG Wrote:And do you know any good books for Kanji? I want to study kanji in context, and as soon as my grammar starts having more foundations, I want to learn more meanings of the kanji I alre...
annabel398 Learning resources 119 45,239 2009-01-05, 2:04 pm
    Thread: "The ingenious Heisig Method"
Post: "The ingenious Heisig Method"

KanjiHanzi Wrote:But you're still the boss and decide what impression the rest of the world will get from STUDENTS OF HEISIG. Just don't blame me without giving a single reason for your blame. I am ge...
annabel398 General discussion 60 12,385 2009-01-05, 8:58 am
    Thread: Learning via Paper Dictionary vs Electronic Dictionary
Post: Learning via Paper Dictionary vs Electronic Dictio...

When I have a difficult run of kanji (yo, "turkey", I'm lookin' at you), I take the time to look each one up in the KLD. If nothing else, the sample compounds often help cement the nuance of the keywo...
annabel398 General discussion 8 6,745 2009-01-04, 5:27 pm
    Thread: Idiot-proof guide to moving to Japan?
Post: Idiot-proof guide to moving to Japan?

Virtua_Leaf Wrote:There are a few barriers for me, ie. I'm 18, never lived on my own, don't have a passport, reluctant parent(s) etc etc... yeah, any advice you can give? With all the visa discussion,...
annabel398 General discussion 127 24,775 2009-01-03, 12:15 am
    Thread: Any paying users at JapanesePod101.com?
Post: Any paying users at JapanesePod101.com?

@kfmfe04: If you open iTunes and search for "Japanese", it's the first item listed in the "Podcasts" section. http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZSto...=109573938
annabel398 General discussion 44 21,540 2008-12-31, 3:57 pm
    Thread: Any paying users at JapanesePod101.com?
Post: Any paying users at JapanesePod101.com?

Wisher Wrote:I feel stupid asking this but, what is a tool? Tool = dick, in this context, I believe. Sorta like "This is my rifle / This is my gun"... And back on topic... I download the free versi...
annabel398 General discussion 44 21,540 2008-12-31, 2:53 pm
    Thread: The Discouragement Thread
Post: The Discouragement Thread

oregum Wrote:<snip> Then I inform her that its Japanese not Chinese. It must have been like WW2 all over again because she gave me this look. It was like utter disappointment, fear, hate, and di...
annabel398 Off topic 311 69,115 2008-12-30, 6:48 pm
    Thread: 'R' or 'L'?
Post: 'R' or 'L'?

@Tobberoth: also, on this forum, if you enclose romaji in [ kana ] [ /kana ] tags, it will be rendered as hiragana. Use all caps for katakana.
annabel398 General discussion 44 5,892 2008-12-30, 12:44 am
    Thread: Taskmaster Vs. Walking legs
Post: Taskmaster Vs. Walking legs

I use the image of a "coach" instead of "taskmaster." Most of the stories work as well or better with this substitution. Also, I picture a coach throwing one hand up in the air and pointing straight o...
annabel398 Remembering the Kanji 33 13,000 2008-12-27, 10:56 pm
    Thread: iDic for iPhone 2.x
Post: iDic for iPhone 2.x

Although, on the iPhone at least (sorry, don't have an iPod Touch but I assume it's the same), you can also enable a kana "keyboard" which will let you input kana keitai style, from which you can sele...
annabel398 Learning resources 16 8,289 2008-12-24, 12:51 am
    Thread: Recommended fonts
Post: Recommended fonts

If Meiro looks blurry to you and you're running Windows, you might be interested in the ClearType Tuner: http://www.microsoft.com/typography/clea.../tune.aspx which is a tool that lets you optimize ...
annabel398 Remembering the Kanji 10 3,432 2008-12-19, 3:03 pm
    Thread: Rtk good to learn new english words too
Post: Rtk good to learn new english words too

Katsuo Wrote:Here's twenty-eight everyday keywords from RTK3. How many do you know? camelopard = giraffe (because the ancients thought it looked like a camel (long neck) with spots (leopard)) autochth...
annabel398 Remembering the Kanji 75 14,999 2008-12-17, 10:52 am
    Thread: Combining movie method with iKnow for super fast vocab building?
Post: Combining movie method with iKnow for super fast v...

@cloudstrife: http://www.iknow.co.jp
annabel398 General discussion 11 1,558 2008-12-14, 8:15 pm
    Thread: Recommended fonts
Post: Recommended fonts

There are one or two font threads in the "Japanese Writing Systems" section, with lots o' links. I second the thumbs-up on the Epson fonts.
annabel398 Remembering the Kanji 10 3,432 2008-12-13, 9:01 pm
    Thread: I study Nihongo because...
Post: I study Nihongo because...

Because I'm intensely interested in all things typographic, and I think kanji are beautiful and elegant and I've wanted to know how to write them since forever. And I can't see the point of learning t...
annabel398 Off topic 358 111,125 2008-12-11, 9:21 am
    Thread: Explanation for Beginner
Post: Explanation for Beginner

Artem Wrote:<snip> Most reviews for these books were favorable, but its just too expensive to get all of them unfortunately, what out of there are the ones you recommend most? Jimi's Book of Ja...
annabel398 General discussion 51 6,392 2008-12-09, 11:36 pm
    Thread: grammar excercises
Post: grammar excercises

Not sure how far along you are in your studies, but perhaps something like the workbook portion of Yookoso 2 (Continuing) or Genki II is what you want...? Unfortunately, workbooks that accompany texts...
annabel398 Learning resources 19 4,415 2008-12-02, 11:56 pm
    Thread: Free Handwritten Japanese Font
Post: Free Handwritten Japanese Font

@amthomas: here is a sample of my RTK practice sheets... drop me a line if you'd like the file. [Image: https://webspace.utexas.edu/strongkl/www...actice.gif]
annabel398 The Japanese language 34 50,167 2008-12-02, 7:43 pm
    Thread: Free Handwritten Japanese Font
Post: Free Handwritten Japanese Font

YOzFont (sample, download page) is the one I've used to make my practice sheets. BTW, would you like a copy of mine? I'll post a picture when I get home, but basically each line has the character, i...
annabel398 The Japanese language 34 50,167 2008-12-02, 3:38 pm
    Thread: JLPT 2008 Sign-Up Thread
Post: JLPT 2008 Sign-Up Thread

I'm nowhere near ready to take any level of JLPT, but just wanted to say to all of you who are--good luck and do your best! You are an inspiration to us beginners.
annabel398 JLPT, Jobs & College in Japan 153 34,116 2008-12-02, 1:49 pm
    Thread: Well I Feel Stupid =(
Post: Well I Feel Stupid =(

Don't worry too much about it. Go through your failed pile, looking at other stories to see if you find one more memorable or striking than yours. Then mark them learned and carry on. There are some k...
annabel398 Remembering the Kanji 12 2,138 2008-12-01, 8:14 pm
    Thread: Remembering the Kana
Post: Remembering the Kana

I second http://www.humanjapanese.com for kana learning. It's a very nicely done site for entry-level Japanese. I wish I had known it was out there when I was learning the kana.
annabel398 Learning resources 20 9,608 2008-11-23, 2:53 pm
    Thread: The Discouragement Thread
Post: The Discouragement Thread

liosama Wrote:People are bad at a language because they don't read enough. I don't get how hard this is to see:S? A written language is the most perfect form of a language. So, if you read lots, wh...
annabel398 Off topic 311 69,115 2008-11-22, 11:10 am
    Thread: 500 frames and counting! ROOOOARRRR!!!
Post: 500 frames and counting! ROOOOARRRR!!!

Yessss! Passed 500 today! I got sidetracked (by life, not lack of interest) for a couple of weeks, but have started to add new cards again. Onward!
annabel398 Remembering the Kanji 526 167,133 2008-11-19, 2:39 pm
    Thread: Heisig - Stressful/taxing or not at all?
Post: Heisig - Stressful/taxing or not at all?

When we succeed in mastering a new skill, one that requires work to master, are we having fun? Conversely, when we try to pick up a new skill, but fail--whether it be through poor instruction, a mis...
annabel398 General discussion 47 7,061 2008-11-15, 5:00 pm