Spring 2021 Progress + Learning Japanese with Kingdom Hearts

2021年4月4日「日」第71週

Hello everyone! Kyuusei here to teach you Japanese and show what I find interesting about Japan. With that being said, let’s continue.

日本語のイベント

今、エピックゲームズでキングダムハーツを買い始めてできます。キングダムハーツはパソコンに来ますよ。それは面白いと思います。買いたいけど、パソコンのスペックが低いから、このパソコンでキングダムハーツプレイーしてできません。このエピックゲームズのゲームシリーズパックの一番素晴らしいのことは日本語を選べてできます。PS4とXboxはこのフィーチャーがありません。ざんねんだと思います。しかし、みんなのパソコンのスペックがOKならで、キングダムハーツが好きなら、買います。4月４日（今日）までセールがあります。

プログレスリポート

These are my scores at the end of fall 2020:

I passed the N5 with no problem but N4 was a different story. Even though I passed, I see that the first two sections are my biggest issues. 

Then this spring of 2021 I took it again:

And pretty much got the same results. Lower score in language knowledge and a high score in reading. The strangest thing here is that listening is the same score (along with the total score).

I haven’t been doing a study schedule so far this year but this has shown that I need to stay consistent in my studies. So I made a schedule:

日ーブログ

月ー授業、単語

火ー漢字

水ー授業

木ー休み

金ー授業、単語

土ー漢字

Sunday – Finish Editing Blog and Post it.

Monday – Lesson, Vocabulary

Tuesday – Kanji

Wednesday – Lesson

Thursday – Break

Friday – Lesson, Vocabulary

Saturday – Kanji

• For the lessons I will use LingoDeer and the book series Japanese From Zero.
• Vocabulary and Kanji – I use an app called JA Sensei to test my recognition and writing skills. Started doing WaniKani this year, so I’ll add this to the mix as well.
• JLPT Practice Exam
  • I will do sample questions from the JLPT website.
  • I will take a JLPT Practice Test every month from the app I’ve been using.

Compared to last May my rank on JA Sensei (Kyuu0 1445) has increased a bit. I wonder if I can make it to the top 700 by the end of this year.

　

　N4 文法

[させる]

“to make/let someone do something”

This grammar point can mean two different things. One, it can mean to make or let someone do something. Two, it can mean to make something happen.

Ex: 先生の退屈な声が寝させますよ。 

　　(The teacher’s boring voice will put you to sleep.)

Ex: 里子さんは告白しさせたいけど、方法がわからない。 

　　(Satoko wants me to confess to her but I don’t know how.) 

[させられる]

This is used when you are talking about someone else who is doing something in a keigo style.

Ex:  この少女マンガの話を読んでいて、花について見て慣れさせられました。

　　(I was reading this Shojo manga that made me get used to seeing flowers.)

Ex: 本屋で新しいライトノベルを買う前に、まず財布の中に見るとにします。見た結果にはびっくりさせられた。

　　(Before I bought a new light novel at the bookstore, I looked into my wallet. I was surprised at the result I saw.) 

[し]  

“and; and what’s more”

This grammar is used to make a list of reasons. Really comes in handy when you want to say more than one reason like with から or ので.

Verb-casual + し

いーadj + し

なーadj + だし

Noun + だし

Ex: お金が持ってないし、姉は金を貸してないし、ライトノベルを買ってできないです。

　　(I don’t have money and my sister won’t lend me money so I can’t buy the light novel. )

Ex: このポケモンがかわいいし、弱いし、戦えなかったです。

　　(This Pokemon was cute and weak so I couldn’t fight it.)

Ex: チェスは国際的だし、複雑だし、将棋を代わりにしたいです。

　　(Chess is international and so I want to play Shogi instead.)

Ex: A: ほら、あいつらが警察じゃないだし、ドアを開けてもいい？

  　 B: バカ！嘘をついてる。開けねえぞ！　

　

   　(A: See, these guys aren’t cops, so can I open the door?)

　   

       (B: You idiot! They are lying. Don’t open it!)

[しか…ない ]

This is used to express that you have no choice but to do something. Or describing something is nothing but or only something. Think of it as a more versatile version of だけ.

“only/nothing but”

しか + Verb-ないform

Ex: しまった、このドレッサーが重い過ぎるし、肩が痛くて、右の腕しか使えないんだ。

　　(Darn, this dresser is too heavy and my shoulder hurts, so I can only use my right arm.)

トピックスを答えましようか

1. After looking at some old photo albums you and your friend start to talk about your fathers. Tell your friend that your father was in the army when he was young and now he is a mechanic.

父は若い時、アーミーには入れていました。今、整備士です。

2. *Ringtone playing* Looks like you got a phone call from your big sister. She’s asking how life is in Japan. Tell her that it has been fun but you are a little lonely.

楽しかったけど、ちょっと寂しかったです。

3. Both you and your sister are talking about your uncle. She tells you that he seems to have  a headache so why doesn’t he take medicine. Explain to her that your uncle is stubborn so even if he has a headache he still won’t take any medicine.

伯父はとても頑固な人だから、頭が痛そうのくせに、絶対に薬を飲まない。

4. Imagine you are back in elementary school. Your mother asks if you got your report card from your teacher. Since you got a couple of C’s on your report card lie to her and say that you didn’t receive anything from your teacher.

えーと。。。先生に何ももらわなかったよ。

5. What a coincidence, you find out someone from your hometown is now your coworker. Ask her if she knows the Viatanmese woman who owns the hair salon.

美容院を持っているベトナム人の女の人を知っている？

対話

[古すぎる！！]

A: どうしたのアンソニーさん。顔が。。。

B: あ、大丈夫です。この手紙を読んでみてるんです。すごく難しい。半分だけ読めました。

A: え、本当か。助けてあげる。見せて。

B: いいだけど。。。それは。。。

A: え？なにこれ？！読みにくい。

B: ほら、言ったとおりですよ。

A:  もしかして、。。。あ、なるほど。これはくずし字だ。

B: 何ですか？

A: これはすごく古い書き方です。ちょっと待って、くずし字のことが知らなかったのくせに、半分だけ読んでできるの？

B: 難しくても、読めました。

A: スゲー

[Too Old!]

A: What’s wrong, Anthony? Your face face….

B: Oh, I’m fine. I’m reading this letter. It’s very difficult. I could only read half of it.

A: Er, are you serious? I’ll help you. Show it to me.

B: Sure. 

A: Eh? What is this?! It’s hard to read.

B: See, I told you.

A: Maybe it’s 。。。 Oh I see. This is a kuzuji.

B: What is that?

A: This is a very old way of writing. Wait a minute, even though you didn’t know about kuzuji, and you were able to read only half of it?

B: Even though it was difficult, I could read it.

A: Wowー

実況から勉強する：キングダムハーツ

Welcome to a new segment where I will be going through some of the dialogue in the video game and translating it. I will provide furigana beside the kanji. Once it is first introduced in a segment furigana will not be used for that kanji again until the next segment. 

Our first game for this series will be Kingdom Hearts! I thought that this would be a good game for people to learn some Japanese because:

1. You can work on your listening
2. They have spaced out subtitles so you can work on your reading
3. Even if you don’t understand what is being read you can try to listen for the words or vice versa.
4. I love this series and thought it would be fun

NOTE: I won’t translate the tutorial screens. Just about everything else will be covered in some depth.

So with that out of the way let’s get started on the first few minutes of the game. Enjoy!

1. 俺（おれ）にはよく分（わ）からないんだ。

（I really don’t understand.）

2. この世界（せかい）が、本当（ほんとう）に、本物（ほんもの）のか。

（Is this world actually real?）

3. そんなの、考（かんが）えたこともなかった。

（I never thought about it that much.）

4. 残（のこ）された時間（じかん）は少（すく）ない。

（There is little time left.）

5. 僕（ぼく）はもう戻（もど）れない。

（You can no longer go back.）

6. けれど急（いそ）がないで。

（But don’t rush.）

7. 恐（おそ）れないで。

（Don’t be afraid.）

8. 扉（とびら）はまだ閉（と）ざされている。

（The door is still shut.）

9. さあ　歩（ある）き出（だ）してごらん。ここまで来（こ）られるかいーー？

（Now then, please try to walk. Are you able to come here?）

10. キミの中（なか）に眠（ねむ）る力（ちから）ーー。

（The power that sleeps within you.）

11. 力はカタチになり。

（The power must take on a shape.）

12. カタチは力を与（あた）える。

（The shape will grant you power.）

13. キミはどんな力を望（のぞ）む？

（What kind of power do you desire?）

14. 守（まも）りぬく力。仲間（なかま）を助（たす）ける優（やさ）しき強（つよ）さ。

（The power to protect. The benevolent strength to help your friends.）

15. 🛡全（すべ）て拒絶（きょぜつ）する臆病（おくびょう）な盾（たて）。

（A cowardly shield that rejects everything.）

16. これがキミの求（もと）める力？

（Do you wish for this power?）

17. そうーーそれがキミの選（えら）んだ力ーー。

（So– that is the power you have chosen–.）

18. それじゃあキミはそのために何（なに）をさしだすの？

（In that case, what will you give up for it?）

19. ☤ふしぎな力。目（め）には見（み）えない内（うち）なる強さ。魂（たましい）さえ犠牲（ぎぜい）にする破滅（はめつ）の杖（つえ）。

（A mysterious power. An unseeable strength from within. A staff of destruction that sacrifices even a soul. ）

20. それが君（きみ）のさしだす力？。

（So that is the power you will give up?）

21. キミは力を臨んだ守りぬく力を。キミは力をさしだしたふしぎな力を。

（You wish for the power to protect. And have given up on the mysterious power.）

22. これがキミのカタチなんだね。

（So this is the shape of your power?）

23. 君が手（て）に入（い）れた力それは『たたかう』力。

（The power that you’ve obtained. That is what you will “fight” with.）

24. そう　そうやってたたかうんだ。そしてこれがキミの”生（い）きる”力。

（Yes, that is how you are going to fight. And this will be your “life” force.）

25. だからキミはたたかわなくちゃならない。キミのその力を狙（ねら）うものたちとーー

（Because you have to fight. With that power of yours you have to fight these shadows.）

26. 後（うし）ろだ！

（Behind you!）

27. これじゃあけられないや。。。

(Can’t get this open.)

And this is where we will stop for now. We will start back up when ソラ opens the door.

タイトルを見る

 第５話　鉄巨人あらねる！

第５話（だい５わ）

This is used as a counter for the episode. The kanji 『第』can mean “No.” or residence. The kanji『話』in this context is used as the counter for the episode. So put together we have something like “Episode No. 5” or “Episode 5” for short.

鉄巨人（てつきょじん）

『鉄』 just means “iron”. If you are familiar with Attack on Titan (進撃の巨人) you will be familiar with 巨人. If that isn’t the case then, 『巨人』 literally just means “giant person” which can be shortened to just “giant”. So together we have “Iron Giant”. Reminds me of that movie that marathoned on Cartoon Network a lot when I was a kid.

The Iron Giant trailer:

あらわる

This is a verb. A verb so old it follows the nidan verb grouping when they had more different verb groups than we do today. There are only three groups now, ichidan (いるーverbs and えるーverbs), godan (うーverbs) and the irregular verbs like 来る and する. This is the first time I’ve come across an archaic verb so I had to look this one up. It just means “to appear”.

So all together we have “Episode 5 – Iron Giant Appears!

From what the professionals have it’s not too bad. This show is pretty good. Just started it on Thursday and it has been quite the ride. It is about these three girls who want to create anime. The strangest thing that sticks out to me in this show is how some of the main girls talk. They sound like old people. This title makes it even more evident that is what they are going with. Kind of jarring yet interesting to pick up on.

レイの日記

日記を書いてよかった。マサキにアイデアをピーチした。難しいけど無理じゃないといった。2，3年かかりますね。ふむ。。。いいよ。シティーに戻った。警察のお姉さんはうちの前にいませんから、調べに行きました。スゲーボロボロだね、ここは。ロケット団員はテクニカルマシンを盗んだ。窓を見て、ロケット団員を見付けた。警察のお姉さんに伝える？どうしてあいつはここにまだいるのか？何かを盗んだよ。逃げて方がいいだろう？もうーあいつらはバカだよね。

こいつのワンリキーが強い。ワンリキーの空手チョップはルフィとチョウムほとんど殺した。次のポケモンは変だった。ポケモンの鼻は象の鼻みたいだ。イナズマのでんじはの技をかなしばりした。残間ミロ！イナズマはあんまり使わねぞ！イナズマのかげぶんしんの技は攻撃を外して、倒した。こいつはテクニカルマシンを渡せて、逃げた。

家の中に住んでいる男にテクニカルマシンを渡せてみたけど、男は代わりにディグダをトレーニングしてやって、その技を覚えてやって予定だ。ちなみに、ディグダは一体何だ？どんなポケモン？以上ださ、カスミに挑みに行く。もっと強くになったそうだけど、カスミのことがまだ緊張しさせるだなあ。とりあえず、トレニングして方がいいと思う。４番道路にオニスズメがいっぱいから、そこにはイナズマはもっと強くになれる。

REI’S JOURNAL

Thank goodness I made a journal. I pitched my idea to Bill. He says it’d be difficult but not impossible. It might take a few years. Hmm, okay. I returned to the city. The policewoman isn’t guarding the house anymore, so I went inside to investigate. This place is a mess. So Team Rocket stole a TM. I looked out a window and saw a Team Rocket member. Should I tell the police woman? Why is he still here anyway? You just stole something, so shouldn’t you be escaping? These guys are kinda slow aren’t they.

This guy’s Machop is strong. Almost killed Luffy and Choumu with a karate chop. His next Pokemon was weird. It’s nose looked like an elephant’s. It disabled Pikachu’s thunder wave. Jokes on you! Inazuma doesn’t use that move that much. Inazuma dodged it’s attacks with a double team and took it down. He gave me the TM and left.

Tried to return the TM but he plans to train Diglett to learn Dig instead. Okay, so I guess I can have it? By the way, what the heck is a Diglett? Took care of that so I’ll go challenge Misty. We’re stronger now, she still makes me nervous. Maybe we should train some more. There are a bunch of Spearow on Route 4 so Inazuma can get stronger there.

In conclusion, I hope that this series is helpful with your journey to learning Japanese and/or taking an interest in the country’s culture. Until then… また来週！