The Japanese Speaking Community

Yahoo Auction Help

2013-05-21T18:18:10Z

I want to order some figures on Yahoo Auctions. I think it says that the figures come in damaged boxes, but that the figures themselves appear to be fine with no missing parts. I also think it says the figures do not appear to be damaged, but buyer beware. Would anyone out there like to double check this for me? Thank you!

コレクション整理の為に出品します
購入後一度開封して購入チケットを取り出し部品確認後箱に戻しました
中身は美品ですが箱に傷や凹みがあります
パーツ未使用欠品ありません

遊んだりしていないので特に問題ないと思いますが
一度人の手に渡ったものですので神経質な方は入札をお控えください
ノークレームノーリターンでお願いします

支払方法はかんたん決済か
銀行振込（ジャパンネットバンク銀行orゆうちょ銀行）
発送方法はゆうぱっく着払でお願いします

translation request

2013-05-14T12:51:42Z

hello,
i`m currently on my thesis project about japanese songs,
but i`m having some trouble translating several japanese magazines
so i wonder is there anyone willing to help me translating some magazine?

thank you

Kanji translation app?

2013-05-11T17:27:16Z

Hi guys. Does anyone know of an app for Android that would let me write kanji on the screen, then translate it for me? I have to see a doctor (in Japan) by myself on Monday, and while I'm working on a note to show the doc with my symptoms, and how to say what's wrong, I'm worried about reading the paperwork. Please and thank you!

Meiji Era Text

2013-05-06T07:15:01Z

I'm transcribing a description on a Meiji landscape painting, but I can't quite make out all the characters (a little too faint, a little too handwritten). Could anyone give me a hand?

明治六年祭百科北海道後志国小樽郡於勝内之山之上×右
従×嶋崎× 石狩邊増毛山×左者高嶋崎手客等小樽港内一
瞬観度風景倒×及筆× 三×××

I've put an × for any characters I can't make out. Thanks if you can recognise any of them for me!

Nihon Shuwa Community

2013-05-01T06:27:11Z

Hello, all.

I'm currently moderating a long-dormant Japanese sign language community called nihonshuwa as a way to motivate myself and others who are learning 日本手話 (Japanese Sign Language) by books and online resources. Please join if you're interested. You're welcome to share anything related to Japanese sign language. Looking forward to it. Thanks.

(Thanks to tsukikage85 for the go-ahead and my apologies for posting this promotion so late.)

How to Ask for a New Doll Body

2013-04-25T03:41:12Z

I want to order a replacement Roy Mustang body from Medicom, a Japanese toy company. They do sell replacement parts. How do I ask for a replacement body? I didn't know if the word for a human body would be different for the word for a doll's body. (And I hope I'm not using a word for "body" that means something like corpse...)

How would I say, "My Roy Mustang body broke. How much would a new one cost?"

Here's my attempt...

ロイ・マスタングの体は壊れた.新しい体はいくらですか。

Thanks you so much!

Would You Please Help Me Translate this Madoka Theory?

2013-04-04T03:22:11Z

If a kind soul out there has a spare minute, would you please let me know what the following says in Japanese...

http://wiki.puella-magi.net/File:Gertrud_madoka-magica.jpg (it's a link to a jpg image with Japanese writing).

What I'm curious about is what's hanging in the spider web in the foreground. I think it's the silhouette of a butterfly, but would LOVE to know what the poster theorized.

As always, thank you so much for your help!

KANJI ADVICE

2013-03-28T01:47:55Z

A friend of mine is looking for the proper kanji for Tranquility (as in peace and calm) and Harmony (in regards to balance) My Kanji is rusty and I do not want to get the meaning and Kanji messed up.. Thanks!

Japanese IME apps for Android

2013-03-24T11:48:01Z

Are there any good Japanese keyboard apps for Android that allow for easy switching between languages (in my case English and sometimes German, rarely Spanish)?

Could you help me translate this bid listing please?

2013-03-14T19:53:06Z

I want to get a figure on Yahoo auction in Japan. I understand that it is used. I think the box is damaged. Is the figure damaged too? Here's what it says below...

未開封品ですが外箱にはスレ、キズなどのダメージもございます。ご理解の上、ご入札ください。

Any help would be appreciated. Thank you!

Reading material

2013-02-28T13:36:35Z

Hi everyone :)

I'm trying to move from N3 to N2 level and to write more naturally. I usually watch Japanese shows and it helps me with listening and speaking a great deal but not so much with writing. I figure I need to read more. I only know of aozora but there are only classic Japanese novels there and I think the writing styles are out-dated. If you know any other sources for Japanese reading materials, please let me know. Thank you so much!

私の国の迷信

2013-02-24T01:27:06Z

I need some help. I'm writing a short essay about some of america's superstitions, so I need some help with translations. Here is what I have so far.

アメリカはたくさんの迷信があると思います。そのうちのいくつかを紹介します. 黒猫には、不運を運んでくる、という意味があります。そのため道で黒猫に出会ったら不運が訪れる、という迷信があります。外で鏡を割ると、七日間の不運が訪れます。私の国で、一部の人はこの迷信を信じています。

What I need help on is mostly translating other superstitions I'm wanting to talk about. * I know some of this can be a bit difficult, since the superstitions themselves are weird, but I'll take any help I can get. I want this translated into Japanese:

Another superstition is how Friday the 13th is unlucky. According to North Carolina's Stress survey, about 17 million people in America fear Friday the 13th. Something else that will bring bad luck is opening an umbrella indoors.

Knocking on wood can ward off bad luck. Some old myths say that there are good spirits in trees, so this is where it most likely originated from. A rabbit's foot will also bring good luck. Something else that brings good luck is throwing salt over someone's shoulder. Some people also throw water at the person leaving the house for good luck.

While a broken mirror is considered bad luck, a broken plate is considered good luck. You are not supposed to kill ants, because they are the carriers of news. And, when someone is sick, one should hang a piece of cloth of the ill person in a tree; the person will recover. Another one is that the crowing of a rooster chases the night and its ghosts, devils, and evil spirits away. This most likely comes from the fact that a rooster is the announcer of day.

When a Robin pecks against the window during winter, this means an announcement of death and misery. The same thing will result when a bird flies against the window.

Proof read?

2013-02-22T05:27:28Z

This is a hypothetical letter I have to write based on this short story I read. I would really appreciate if someone could just briefly proofread for any major grammatical errors and perhaps some suggestions on how to make the letter a bit more eloquent.

Thanks so much in advance.

秋子へ

秋になって、随分寒くなってきました。二日前、山にはもう雨が降りました。お久しぶりです。お元気ですか。私は、おかげ様で元気でやっています。ホストファミリーのみなさんは、とても親切で、私をよく世話してくださいます。

さて、あなたからの手紙が受けました。手紙で、面白い物語を紹介してくれましたから、私も一つの物語を紹介してあげます。物語の名前は「小さな闇」です。こ存知のように今私は海外でカナダのリッチモンド高校に英語を習っています。カナダの人は日本文化に対する立場はどうかを知りたいですから、日本語のクラスを取りました。三日前、先生は短篇小説の本をくれて読ませることにしました。私の一番好きな物語は「小さな闇」です。あなたに紹介したいです。

吉本バナナという二十歳の女の子は父親と一緒にブエノスアイレスへ旅行に行きました。父親はギッタを買うために行ったので、バナナも父親について行きました。バナナにとって、ブエノスアイレスにいくの理由はエビータの墓をみます。墓を見たから、母親を思い出した。母親は三年前癌があったから亡くなりました。亡くなった前に、バナナに両親の関係を言わられました。

中心のテーマは家族の関連です。バナナの家族は問題があります。と言っても他のどの家族もそうだけどですので、この物語は話す事が出来ます。バナナの父親と母親は自分の不思議な面がありますが、お互いにいつも愛しています。具体的にバナナのお婆さんが精神的な問題が持っていました。母親の子供の時にお婆さんは母親が守りたいから、ちいさい箱に住んでいった事を強制しました。母親はお母さんが愛していますから、許しました。父親も母親が守るために、ずっと箱の中にいたような気がしてくれます。母親は理由がしていたけれども、いまだに悲しいです。二人は同じのお互いを守りたい特性があるから、この物語は辛抱と免除の物語になりました。

この物語は本当にすごいです。ぜひ読んでください。秋子さんの返事が楽しみにしています。What kind of things are usually included in the conclusion? Please give me some suggestions.

では、今日はこれで。

さようなら

三月二十日

君子より

Kanji reading

2013-02-15T01:58:43Z

Can anyone identify this kanji? I can't seem to find it anywhere.

Translators Wanted!

2013-02-03T23:56:34Z

I need volunteer translators to help out with translating some unlicensed manga:
*009 Re: Cyborg http://www.jp.square-enix.com/magazine/biggangan/introduction/009_re_cyborg/index.shtml
Currently one chapter just needs to be translated
* Cyborg 009 by Kazuhiko Shimaoto - one-shot chapter done for Gessan magazine
* Cyborg 009 Conclusion: God's War - currently 9 chapters need to be translated http://club.shogakukan.co.jp/kod/c009cgw.html
*Cyborg 009 - Shotaro Ishinomori's original masterpiece currently we have 24 volumes that need to be translated
*Mushrambo (aka Shinzo) - 7 chapters need to be translated

If willing to help just respond or email me at trunkschan90@hotmail.com
^_^

Japan blogging?

2013-02-01T05:57:39Z

Hello all!

I'm thinking of starting a blog in Japanese and was wondering if anyone has any recommendations for who to sign up with.

The biggest site seems to be Ameba, but I have to say that I find their blogs a bit 'noisy' - ie. too much advertising. Looking at this llnk, the only major sites offering free blogging with no advertising are Seesaa and Hatena Diary, with Seesaa looking the best option, as they also allow you to use your own domain name.

Obviously I could use Livejournal, Wordpress or whatever, but then no Japanese readers would ever find it, so if anyone's got any thoughts / experience with this, I'd be grateful to hear from you (I'd also be very interested to know if there are any good blogs out there being written by foreigners in Japanese!).

Thanks!

Translation help

2013-01-28T15:25:16Z

Hello!

I'm trying to translate some Japanese to English so I'll stay in contact with both language, but i have a bit of a problem with the text I'm working on atm. I'd really appreciate if you could help me fully understand it or maybe even propose possible English translations.
What I work with is a story of a couple, Tanaka having no experiences with love and the other one (Nakamura) who is trying to decide what kind of relationship they should have. And what I have problems with is narration. Japanese being vague as it is, it switches a lot between the narration and the thoughts of the 2 characters, on top of that narration sometimes sounds (at least to me) like is mocking the characters. <- not sure it this is even important ^^
Anyway one of the sentences I have problems with is:

田中くんにはちょっとも身近じゃない体験のなさゆえにつのる憧れめぐるめぐ愛の幻想もとい妄想。
[next sentence switches to Tanaka's thoughts, I don't understand the above sentence very well so i don't know if they connect closely or not, but it my help you ^^ 「もう２５年、俺にはこんなにも手の届かないもなのに。。。」と思いながら。。。]
I could very well say I have no idea what this sentence wants to say <_<
I understand first part which repeats that Tanaka doesn't have any experiences with closeness (close relationships) but I get lost with なさゆえに. I kinda figured out it is　ない+上に but I just don't know if the second part wants to say that he lack in fantasizing about love or all he's left with are fantasies. And I'm not sure if this is because I can't entirely comprehend なさゆえに, cause i don't know how to properly connect つのる with 憧れ in my head, or the めぐるめぐ which i don't even know where to put it in this sentence.

Later Tanaka invites Nakamura for a drink (writes text) but Nakamura is a bit in doubt since the 2 had a bit of a fight before that, so his thoughts are:
仕事もキリがいいし、行かないのもわざとらしいか。
Again it's the second part that's confusing me. Would it work to translate it with "...probably it would be obvious if I wouldn't go." or am I misinterpreting something?

And another part of narrations is a bit confusing to me. Talks about their past:
昔から、酔うと絡む田中くんの相手をする中村くんを、友人はできた人間だというけれど。
I understand individual parts, but the grammar is killing me in this one and I don't even know where to start explaining with this one -.-;;

Please help me clear understand the sentences if you can. Thank you.

Name that radical / part

2013-01-27T20:21:41Z

Could anyone shed some light on what *is* the upper common part of these kanji:

麦青毒

It is clearly 4-stroke, and looks like 生 (life), but without that additional diagonal stroke. I guess it could be some radical, but no common radical maps (i.e. Kangxi, Shuowen Jiezi, Xinhua Zidian) list anything like that. What's the etymology of that upper part, is there any name for it? Is it available somehow in Unicode as a distinct character at all?

Please help identify kanji

2013-01-23T21:18:21Z

Can anyone help me with the kanji in the following image? I haven't been able to find it in my dictionary.

Thanks!

japanese @ 2013-01-17T22:42:00

2013-01-17T20:42:46Z

I've been looking for a translation of the ending song of Psycho-pass, "Namae no nai kaibutsu". I've found ~~two~~ three, but as usual, they're a bit (or a lot) inconsistent with each other. I'm not bothering you with the whole song, but what would you say, based on this part, which is translation is closest:

黒い鉄格子の中で
私は生まれてきたんだ
悪意の代償を願え
望むがままにお前に
さあ与えよう正義を
壊して壊される前に
因果の代償を払い
共に行こう名前のない怪物

Behind the black cell bars I was born.
I wish for the price of my malice.
Well, I’ll give you that justice
as much as you desire it.
Before you can destroy or be destroyed by it
I pay the price for my karma
Let’s go together, nameless monster.

I was born behind these dark iron bars
I pray that the evil in you can be amended
So bring justice to me
To destroy this evil before it destroys me
We'll pay for our karma and go together, nameless monster

Behind black bars I was born
I wish there were a punishment for evil
Always I need you
Now, grant us justice
before chaos takes us all
Pay the price of fate and be rewarded, nameless monster

Thanks~!

japanese @ 2013-01-17T03:33:00

2013-01-17T11:33:15Z

How would I say this in Japanese?

"I should have known better"/"I should have been more prepared" and "We often take things for granted"

Would something like.."私はもっとよく準備できはずだった" be correct?

And I have no idea how to begin to translate this but how would I say "I wish such a facility existed in my country"?

And something like "we often take things for granted"?

Would really appreciate any help :)

Music hath charms...

2013-01-13T09:20:19Z

Is there a standard Japanese translation for "Music hath charms to soothe the savage breast"?

Aru and Arisu

2013-01-04T20:49:28Z

Let me preface my question, by saying that I understand that learning Japanese from anime would be like learning English from Bugs Bunny. I get that people in Japan don't speak like cartoons...

I notice in anime when there is a foreign character speaking Japanese, they tend to have an "arisu" or "aru" at the end of their sentences. For example, in Hetalia, China ends his sentences with "aru" and in Himawari!, one of the half American characters consistently ends everything with "de arisu". Out of curiosity, why is that? Is that a mistake that pops up a lot when foreigners are learning Japanese (kind of like you hear a lot of issues with subject-verb agreement when some people are learning English) or is there another origin? Just wondering...

Happy New Year

2012-12-31T18:16:01Z

Happy New Year to all japanese community members! 明けましておめでとうございます！

Apps for iphone/itouch

2012-12-18T07:07:36Z

I got a 5th gen ipod touch recently and am looking for apps for studying/enjoying Japanese. Any recommendations?

All I have right now is imiwa, which seems like a pretty good dictionary.

Things I'm looking for:
-a good flashcard program. Anki is kind of expensive!
-something like rikaichan for browsing the internet (there's one called Rikai Browser for $3.99--anyone know if it's good?)
-ways to easily access radio/books/manga/tv
-maybe stuff for learning Japanese and Mandarin at the same time? I'm just beginning to learn Mandarin.

I don't have data, so any apps with some offline functionality would be especially appreciated!

よろしくお願いします。