Since the current release of Chrome doesn’t handle plugins you will need to install the beta. It will ask you to do this if you try and install the plugin.  Give it a try and let me know what you think. I’ve got it downloaded and it seems to work just fine. In fact it was easier than Rikaichan because all I needed to do was one click.

Rikaikun Plugin

The second Japanese class on Edufire ended today and Eri had a lot of fun teaching it. Thank all of those who attended. I hope you enjoyed the classes and learned some new Japanese.

Eri has posted a couple new classes as well. One for those wanting to learn to read and write Japanese (hiragana and katakana) and another class for practicing conversational speaking (this class is limited in size so if you are interested I recommend you sign up soon). You can find the classes here:

Japanese classes

For those serious about learning Japanese, learning hiragana and katakana as fast as possible is very important to not only reading Japanese, but for pronouncing it correctly as well. The sooner you get away from the English alphabet the better.

In the class, Eri will be showing you the correct way to pronounce the characters and how to write them. The class will be recorded, so those attending can watch it over and over again for review.

If you already know how to write and read the characters, then you are ready to sign up for the conversational class and start speaking Japanese.

Japanese classes

Yesterday, we covered what I consider to be an essential set of books for learning the Japanese kana and kanji. By themselves, Remembering the Kana and Remembering the Kanji are great tools for learning Japanese. So great in fact,  someone has created an entire website to help you use them more efficiently. Besides being a website, Reviewing the Kanji is an SRS (spaced repetition system) that contains all the the kanji in the Remembering the Kanji series.

It keeps track of what you need to study, when you need to study it, and also keeps track of all your progress with various charts and reports. One of the best parts about the site is the social aspect. You can write your story for each kanji and also see what other people are using for theirs (this will make more sense once you get the books).

As far as I know, there is currently no way to sync Remember the kanji and Anki, so you will have to choose which one you want to use from the beginning. Though there does seem to be a plugin for Anki to import “Reviewing the Kanji” progress. Both have pre-made decks containing all the kanji, and in fact the deck for Anki even contains links to the Reviewing the Kanji page. I recommend you try them both out and see which one you like the best. You can find a link to Reviewing the Kanji below:

Reviewing the Kanji

Next in the line of helpful Japanese tools are a set of books. Remembering the Kanji 1 & 2 and Remembering the Kana are extremely useful tools, and combined with Anki, will hep you learn the Japanese kana and kanji before you know it. The system used in these books to teach the Japanese characters in not orthodox, but it works. If you are struggling to learn the kana or kanji, or maybe have been putting it off because the task looks to daunting, then you need to get these books. Once you get started you will be wishing you had started sooner.

If you want to get the books now, and I recommend you do, you can find links to purchase them in the right sidebar.

If you want to get started while you wait for your books to arrive, you can download the sample containing the first 276 Kanji now:

Remember the Kanji Sample

You can find more information on the books at the below link:

Remembering the Kanji

One of the most popular posts on Japanese words has been the common Japanese Words list containing over 1000 Japanese words and kanji. That page has received quite a few comments asking for pronunciations in romaji (English Alphabet). While having romaji may seem to make studying easier when you first start out, learning using the English alphabet will actually hold you back. This article will cover the main reasons why you should start studying and master the Japanese Kana (hiragana and katakana) as soon as possible. As well as listing a few tools to help you learn more quickly.

Thinking in Japanese

If you want to learn Japanese as quickly as possible, then you need to immerse yourself in it. The more you are seeing and thinking in Japanese the faster you will be able to learn. If you are trying to learn using the English alphabet, then your mind is only half thinking in Japanese. You are seeing Japanese words, but your mind is trying to translate them into English. If you read using the kana (and eventually kanji) it is easier for your brain to make the change.

Once you learn to read the kana, you will realize how difficult reading Japanese in romaji really was!

More Japanese Materials

The more Japanese materials you have available to you the better. It doesn’t mean that you will use them all, but you will have a larger selection from which to choose the best ones. Once you learn the kana, you aren’t limited to only Japanese language study materials (textbooks, Japanese language books, etc). You can start trying to read Japanese magazines, mangas, websites, and subtitles on movies. This will also help you start learning the kanji, which are essential for anyone serious about Japanese.

Pronunciation

Japanese has far fewer sounds than the English language. Furthermore, each kana can only be read a single way. Not like English where vowels can have different sounds depending on the letters next to them. Once you learn the correct sound for each kana, you will be better at pronouncing Japanese words. Of course you will still need a lot of practice to learn the correct pronunciation, but getting away from romaji (which can have several) is a good move in the right direction.

Travelling/Living in Japan

It’s true that you can find a lot of English signs in the main cities in Japan now days. However, there are many places that have no English signs at all. Having the ability to read at least hiragana and kana will really help you get around. Learning the first 100 or so Kanji will be an even bigger help.

Tools for Learning the Japanese Characters

Remembering the Kana- James Heisig, Author of Remembering the Kanji has created a unique and effective method for remembering Japanese characters. Using creative stories to remember each kana and it’s reading, the book teaches you the hiragana and katakana in about 3 hours each. You can read a full review on the book here: Remembering the Kana.

Read The Kanji- Now that you have finished Remembering the Kana, it’s time to get some practice. Read the Kanji is a great site that allows you to practice using Hiragana, Katakana, and Kanji in sentences. It highlights the word and you type the reading. Not only is it great reading practice, it’s also great typing practice. The website keeps track of your progress and makes you review characters and words you know less, more often. I highly recommend this site.

Learn the Kana- This site has all the kana, but more importantly they also have the sounds. Very helpful if you are just getting started.

Rikaichan- Rikaichan is an amazing addon for Firefox that will give you the reading, definition, and a ton of other information of any Japanese word or character you mouse over. You can find a more detailed review on Rikaichan here: Reading Japanese Words Like A Pro With Rikaichan.

Anki- Anki is a spaced program that helps you learn quicker by showing you the right items when you need to see them. A great tool for learning Japanese and completely free.

Smart.FM- A website that uses spaced repitition to help you learn faster. There is a downloadable list for hiragana and katakana with sound.

Here is part 9 of using Japanese Adjectives in Sentences. Hopefully you have learned a lot of new Japanese words, a bit of Japanese grammar, and have a better understanding of how to use different adjectives. You can find all of the previous adjectives posts at the bottom of the list.

81    昨日、不思議な夢を見ました。
きのう、ふしぎなゆめをみました。
Last night, I saw a mysterious dream.

82    彼は真面目な顔で話し始めた。
かれはまじめなかおではなしはじめた。
He began to talk with a serious face.

83    彼女は離れて暮らす母親の事が心配そうです。
かのじょははなれてくらすははおやのことがしんぱいそうです。
He looks worried about his mother who lives separately from him.
＊Adjective + そう（な）＝looks (adjective)

84    前の会社は、楽な仕事ばかりで物足りなかった。
まえのかいしゃは、らくなしごとばかりでものたりなかった。
I was not satisfied with all the easy work at my previous company.

85    今日の夕飯に必要な材料を買いに行く。
きょうのゆうはんにひつようなざいりょうをかいにいく。
I’m going shopping for the ingredients I need for today’s dinner.

86    駅で変な人に声をかけられた。
えきでへんなひとにこえをかけられた。
A strange person spoke to me at the (train) station.

87    危険な場所で遊んでいる子供たちに注意をした。
きけんなばしょであそんでいるこどもたちにちゅういをした。
I warned the children who were playing in the dangerous place.

88    私は正直な性格なので、嘘がつけません。
わたしはしょうじきなせいかくなので、うそがつけません。
I have a honest personality, so I can’t tell a lie.

More Japanese Adjectives Posts

• Japanese Adjectives Word List
• Japanese Adjectives in Sentences Part 1
• Japanese Adjectives in Sentences Part 2
• Japanese Adjectives in Sentences Part 3
• Japanese Adjectives in Sentences Part 4
• Japanese Adjectives in Sentences Part 5
• Japanese Adjectives in Sentences Part 6
• Japanese Adjectives in Sentences Part 7
• Japanese Adjectives in Sentences Part 8

Part 8 of Using Japanese adjectives in sentences. This page contains only “NA” adjectives. After this there is only one more post to go. 頑張って！  As always please leave comments if you have questions. Previous adjective lists can be found at the bottom of this post.

71    誕生日に家族から素敵なプレゼントをもらった。
たんじょうびにかぞくからすてきなプレゼントをもらった。
I got a lovely present from my family on my birthday.

72    ピアノの上手な人に憧れる。
ピアノのじょうずなひとにあこがれる。
I long for a person who can play piano well.

73    下手な言い訳なら、しない方がいい。
へたないいわけなら、しないほうがいい。
It’s better not to  use a bad (unskilled) excuse.

74    好きな食べ物は何ですか？
すきなたべものはなんですか？
What kind of food do you like?

75    何か嫌いな食べ物はありますか？
なにかきらいなたべものはありますか？
Is there any food that you don’t like (hate)?

76    簡単な日本語の単語はほとんど全部覚えました。
かんたんなにほんごのたんごはほとんどぜんぶおぼえました。
I remembered almost all the easy words in Japanese.

77    大変な仕事を任されてしまった。
たいへんなしごとをまかされてしまった。
The hard work has been left up to me.

78    自分にとって一番大切な事はなんだろう。
じぶんにとっていちばんたいせつなことはなんだろう。
I wonder what’s the most important thing to me.

79    それは無理な話だ。
それはむりなはなしだ。
That’s an impossible matter.

80    ケーキは私の大好きなスイーツです。
ケーキは私の大好きなスイーツです。
Cakes are my favorite desserts.
* スイーツ＝sweets (desserts or something sweet)

More Japanese Adjectives Posts

• Japanese Adjectives Word List
• Japanese Adjectives in Sentences Part 1
• Japanese Adjectives in Sentences Part 2
• Japanese Adjectives in Sentences Part 3
• Japanese Adjectives in Sentences Part 4
• Japanese Adjectives in Sentences Part 5
• Japanese Adjectives in Sentences Part 6
• Japanese Adjectives in Sentences Part 7

Part 7 of Using Japanese adjectives in sentences. In this one we start getting into the “NA” adjectives.  As always please leave comments if you have questions. Previous adjective lists can be found at the bottom of this post.

61    青い目をした美しい人に出会った。
あおいめをしたうつくしいひとにであった。
I encountered a beautiful person with blue eyes.

62    結婚式には白いネクタイをします。
けっこんしきにはしろいネクタイをします。
Wear a white necktie for weddings.

63    お葬式には黒いネクタイをします。
おそうしきにはくろいネクタイをします。
Wear a black necktie for funerals.

[な形容詞]

64    先週、姉が元気な男の子を生みました。
せんしゅう、あねがげんきなおとこのこをうみました。
My sister gave birth to an energetic baby boy last week.

65    友達のお姉さんはとても奇麗な人だ。
ともだちのおねえさんはとてもきれいなひとだ。
My friend’s sister is very pretty.

66    もう少し静かな場所へ行こう。
もうすこししずかなばしょへいこう。
Let’s go to somewhere little more quiet.

67    世界的に有名な歌手になるのが夢です。
せかいてきにゆうめいなになるのがゆめです。
My dream is to be a world famous singer.

68    便利な世の中になったものだ。
べんりなよのなかになったものだ。
This world has become convenient.

69    うちの近所にはコンビニが無くて不便だ。
うちのきんじょにはコンビニがなくてふべんだ。
It is inconvenient not to have a convenience store around my house.

70    その店員さんは親切な対応をしてくれた。
そのてんいんさんはしんせつなたいおうをしてくれた。
The clark gave me kind assistance.

More Japanese Adjectives Posts

• Japanese Adjectives Word List
• Japanese Adjectives in Sentences Part 1
• Japanese Adjectives in Sentences Part 2
• Japanese Adjectives in Sentences Part 3
• Japanese Adjectives in Sentences Part 4
• Japanese Adjectives in Sentences Part 5
• Japanese Adjectives in Sentences Part 6

Part 6 of Using Japanese adjectives in sentences. Hopefully you are starting to get a sense for how to use Japanese adjectives. If not, don’t worry, we have more Japanese sentences to come As always please leave comments if you have questions.

51    彼女に可愛いぬいぐるみを買ってあげた。
かのじょにかわいいぬいぐるみをかってあげた。
I bought a cute stuffed animal for my girlfriend.

52    可笑しくて笑いが止まらない。
おかしくてわらいがとまらない。
I can’t stop laughing because it’s so funny.

53    この道は、ゴミがたくさん落ちていて汚い。
このみちは、ゴミがたくさんおちていてきたない。
This street is dirty and full of garbage.

54    昨日から頭が痛いので、今日は学校を休みました。
きのうからあたまがいたいので、きょうはがっこうをやすみました。
I was absent from school because my head’s been hurting since yesterday.

55    危ないから、道路で遊んではいけません。
あぶないから、どうろであそんではいけません。
Don’t play on the street. It’s dangerous.

56    今のレベルでは、東大合格は難しいだろう。
いまのレベルでは、とうだいごうかくはむずかしいだろう。
At the current level, it’ll be difficult to get into University of Tokyo.
*東大＝Shorten version of 東京大学（とうきょうだいがく, University of Tokyo.)

57    仕事に追われ、忙しい毎日だ。
しごとにおわれ、いそがしいまいにちだ。
Work keeps me so busy every day.
Literally to be “chased” by work

58    彼の演技は本当に凄いですね。
かれのえんぎはほんとうにすごいですね。
His performance is truly amazing.

59    昨日見たオーケストラの演奏は素晴らしかったです。
きのうみたオーケストラのえんそうはすばらしかったです。
The orchestra’s performance (that I saw) yesterday was wonderful.
* In a past tense, adjectives lose its last letter “い” and combine with “かった”

60    先週赤いドレスを買いました。
せんしゅうあかいドレスをかいました。
I bought a red dress last week.

More Japanese Adjectives Posts

• Japanese Adjectives Word List
• Japanese Adjectives in Sentences Part 1
• Japanese Adjectives in Sentences Part 2
• Japanese Adjectives in Sentences Part 3
• Japanese Adjectives in Sentences Part 4
• Japanese Adjectives in Sentences Part 5

Here are the next 10 Japanese adjectives used in sentences. You can also find the previous articles using Japanese adjectives at the bottom of this post. If you have any questions please leave a comment.

41    このステーキは柔らかくてジューシーですね。
このステーキはやわらかくてジューシーですね。
This stake is tender (soft) and juicy.

42    君のノートパソコンは薄くて羨ましい。
きみのノートパソコンはうすくてうらやましい。
I’m envy that your laptop is thin.

43    学校の教科書は厚いものばかりだ。
がっこうのきょうかしょはあついものばかりだ。
School’s textbooks are always thick.

44    優しい人がタイプです。
やさしいひとがタイプです。
My type is somebody who is sweet (kind).

45    美味しいと評判のラーメン屋へ友達が連れて行ってくれた。
おいしいとひょうばんのラーメンやへともだちがつれていってくれた。
My friend took me to Ramen shop that’s popular for its great tasting ramen.

46     全国大会で優勝できて、本当に嬉しい。
ぜんこくたいかいでゆうしょうできて、ほんとうにうれしい。
I’m really happy that I could win the national competition.

47    この映画には悲しい結末がある。
このえいがにはかなしいけつまつがある。
This movie has a sad ending.

48    時々、寂しくてたまらなくなる時がある。
ときどき、さびしくて（さみしくて）たまらなくなるときがある。
Sometimes I get unbearably lonely.

49    美しい景色にため息がでる。
うつくしいけしきにためいきがでる。
The beautiful scenery makes lose my breath..

50    怖い映画はあまり好きではありません。
こわいえいがはあまりすきではありません。
I don’t really like scary movies.

More Japanese Adjectives Posts

• Japanese Adjectives Word List
• Japanese Adjectives in Sentences Part 1
• Japanese Adjectives in Sentences Part 2
• Japanese Adjectives in Sentences Part 3
• Japanese Adjectives in Sentences Part 4