Daily Thread: simple questions, comments that don’t need their own posts, and first time posters go here (December 07, 2023)

4 comments

1. Hi, I just watched Godzilla Minus One and for spoiler purposes I’m gonna cover the words I’m asking about. The movie references >!kamikaze pilots!< a lot but every time it came up the person in the movie said a different work that started with a t that sounded like >!Totako!< I believe. I thought >!kamikaze!< was the Japanese word for what it was, what word were they saying?

2. Hey. Just starting to learn japanese and trying to get an understanding of sentence structure here. Trying to wrap my head around how to read sentences, kind of just wondering aloud whether this makes sense as to how you’d read a sentence in your head, as an english speaker. For example:

   ラクダにな一つか二つのこぶがある

   In my head I’m breaking this down as
   Camel / (regarding camels) / one or two humps / (belonging to camels) exist

   Which then rearranges to “camels have either one or two humps”

   So the question is I guess, is this how you should structure it in your head when trying to read japanese sentences, generally speaking, or is there a more effective way? It seems laborious to have to identify each part and then restructure it afterward each time.

   Sorry, this is a literal just-starting-out beginner question.

3. に即して vs に則って

   I know on a dictionary entry level how these two are different but it’d be nice to get some simple example sentences illustrating when one or the other can’t be used. And maybe an English mnemonic?

4. Greetings,

   I just ordered the Genki 1 textbook + workbook as I’d like to explore self study. I’d eventually like to take a college course at a university but my community college does not offer Japanese. Until then I’d figure I should see what I could muster on my own so when I do take a course I’m not going in completely blind. Alongside this textbook, are there any resources you’d recommend online? Any YouTube channels that teach the fundamentals?

   Could I also get some life advice? I’m currently in college and have two primary objectives: get a computer engineering degree and learn Japanese. Not only is mastering all that math going to be hard enough, but now I potentially have another language to factor in as well. Has anyone here gone through this? If so, what would your tips be to succeed? A fear of mine is having to sacrifice one subject for the other.

   Lastly, the reason I’m considering learning now rather than after computer engineering is that I’d love to have the opportunity to study abroad should it be offered. One of my fears is not knowing enough to communicate effectively. At what level would I need to be at to achieve this? Do I need to go all the way to N1 or would another skill level be adequate?