Nihongo: listening and reading

[tungemål]

Reviewing some grammar

The -te iru form

In japanese you can string several verbs after each other at the end of the sentence. The -te form of a verb can be followed by another verb. The -te iru form is very common and can have several meanings.

continuous action (action going on at a certain moment):
何をしていますか？ - What are you doing?
社長は今新聞を読んでいます。 - The director is now reading the newspaper
ゆべ、テレビをみていた。 - Last night I watched TV

states resulting from actions (also applies to inanimate subjects)
窓は開いています - the window is open
朝ご飯ができていますよ。 - breakfast is ready
あの飲み屋を憶えていますか？ - do you remember that bar?
友達がきていますよ。 - a friend of yours has come / is here
何か落ちていますよ。 - something has fallen and is on the floor
静かになっていますね。 - It has become quiet, hasn't it

habitual action:
私は日本で英語を教えています。 - I teach english in Japan

some verbs are more likely than others to be used in the -te iru form:
私はカメラを持っていません。 - I haven't got a camera
私は横浜に住んでいます。 - I live in Yokohama
彼はフランスを知っています。 - He knows France
彼を知っていますか？ - do you know him?
いいえ、知りません。 - no, i don't know (him).

(examples from Teach Yourself Japanese and Colloquial Japanese)

[devilyoudont]

By the way, is there any other language where they need to employ a separate script to explain how the writing system is supposed to be read? (furigana).

Besides Japan, there are very similar traditions of using ruby characters in Korea and Vietnam. Additionally, in the modern era, ruby may be used in Chinese speaking areas... in some regions Bopomofo is used, and in others pinyin.

In terms of reading aids, vowel markings in abjads might qualify. For example full tashkil are (to my knowledge) only used for works directed towards children and learners. I think most modern abjads have similar systems.

In terms of annotations, we can see some similarities in European medieval marginalia--especially those which are glosses of latin into more common latin words, or even into the local vernacular.

[vonPeterhof]

In terms of reading aids, vowel markings in abjads might qualify. For example full tashkil are (to my knowledge) only used for works directed towards children and learners. I think most modern abjads have similar systems.

Hebrew even has something similar to the more creative uses of furigana (where one word is annotated with the reading of a different word to introduce a link and/or discrepancy between what is said and what is meant): annotating the name of God YHWH with the vowel markings of the word ʾǎḏōnāy ("my Lord").

[tungemål]

In terms of reading aids, vowel markings in abjads might qualify. For example full tashkil are (to my knowledge) only used for works directed towards children and learners. I think most modern abjads have similar systems.

Hebrew even has something similar to the more creative uses of furigana (where one word is annotated with the reading of a different word to introduce a link and/or discrepancy between what is said and what is meant): annotating the name of God YHWH with the vowel markings of the word ʾǎḏōnāy ("my Lord").

Wasn't that word interpreted both as Jehovah and Yahweh because it is uncertain how it was originally pronounced?

[vonPeterhof]

Wasn't that word interpreted both as Jehovah and Yahweh because it is uncertain how it was originally pronounced?

IIRC the academic consensus is pretty firmly on the side of "Yahweh" and the pronunciation "Jehovah" exists solely thanks to overly literal-minded Christians trying to interpret the Hebrew Bible while ignoring Judaic tradition and scholarship.

[tungemål]

2 - Continuing reviewing grammar of -te forms + another verb

The -te aru form

Conveys the idea that the present state is the result of a completed action. It is only used with transitive verbs. The implication is that someone unspecfied has performed the action. It can be translated to "have been", and is very similar to passive constructions in english.

ドアが開けてあります。 - The door has been opened.
門が開けてあるからなかで駐車しましょう。 - The gate has been opened so let's park inside
小麦粉はまだ買ってないから今晩お好み焼きができません。 - The flour hasn't been bought yet so we can't make okonomiyaki tonight.

I guess the difference from -te iru can be subtle:
ドアが開けてあります。 - The door has been opened (by someone)
ドアが開いています。 - The door is open (maybe it opened by itself or was always open)

[tungemål]

3 - The -te form with iku and kuru

-te iku
-te kuru

a - describing the direction of a verb involving movement

いぬが走ってきました。 - A dog came running up.
何時に帰ってきますか？ - What time will you be back?
階段を上って行きましょう。 - Let's climb the stairs.
ここまで歩いてきました。 - I came here by foot.
カメラを持ってきましたか？ - Have you brought the camera?
弟を連れていってもいいですか？ - Is it all right if I bring my brother?
戻ってきたよ！ - I'm back!

b - doing something and then coming/coming back/going

すぐ行ってきます。 - I'll be back in a second.
ご飯を食べてきました。 - I ate a meal before I came.
切符を忘れてきました！ - I've forgotten my ticket!
ビールがないから買って来ようと思っている。 - There is no beer so I want to go and buy some.
あら、お父さんはパスポートを忘れて行きました。Oh dear, father's forgotten his passport (and gone).

c - describing actions that take place over time

雨が降ってきた。 - It started raining.
急に寒くなってきました。 - It's suddenly turned cold.
これからはもう少し楽になっていくでしょう。 - I expect it will get a little easier for me from now on.
今年あっという間過ぎていく。 - This year is going by really fast.


examples from:
Teach Yourself Japanese
Colloquial Japanese
and https://jlptsensei.com

[tungemål]

4

-te miru

This form is used to convey the idea that the action was performed tentatively or casually in order to see what the outcome might be - "try doing" or "try something and see"

電話をかけてみました。 - I tried giving a call
あのお店で聞いてみます。 - I'll try asking at that shop
電気を付けてみてください。 - try switching on the power (to see if it will work)
これはたこですが、食べてみませんか？ - This is octopus, won't you try some?
一度ヨーロッパへ行ってみたいと思います。 - I would like to visit Europe some day
この本を読んでみようと思っています。 - I am thinking of reading this book


Sorry about all the grammar. My plan is to cover all the -te + verb forms, as I find this confusing. When several of these are strung together after one another it can get complicated.

[tungemål]

listening
Starting to get a grip on chapter 13. Today I listened to the five dialogues on half speed, to make sure that I could follow everything. I think it is beneficial to listen both on half speed and full speed for listening comprehension.

I discovered that the book I use* which have 15 chapter, haven't got audio for the last chapter. They forgot to include it! So that means I've only got one chapter left to do as I am only interested in the audio dialogues.

writing
I found a tandem partner on conversationexchange.com. So I have been chatting online in Japanese and Norwegian.

* Colloquial Japanese (2nd edition)

[tungemål]

5 - Giving and receiving a favour

-te kureru
-te ageru
-te morau
-te kudasaru
-te itadakeru

ケンさんにお金を貸してあげました。　　- I lent Ken some money
お金を貸してくれますか？ - Will you lend me some money?
ケンさんに時計を直してもらいました。 - I got Ken to fix my watch (or I received the favour of Ken fixing my watch)
サイトーさんは古い刀を見せてくださいました。 - Mr Saito showed me an old sword.
子供が道を案内してくれました。 - The child showed me the way.
大工に屋根を直してもらいました。 - I got the carpenter to fix the roof
日本人に日本語を教えてもらっています。 - I am being taught Japanese by a Japanese.

Polite request:
塩とコショウをとっていただけますか？ - would you mind passing the salt
宿泊を紹介していただけませんか。 - Could you please show me the accomodation?

Wishing for a favour (-te itadakitai, -te moraitai)
昨日買った野菜は腐っていますからとり帰っていただきたいんですが。 - The vegetables I bought yesterday are rotten so I'd like you to change them for me.
早く父に帰ってきてもらいたいです。 - I wish father would come back home quickly.

(examples from Teach Yourself Japanese and Colloquial Japanese)