July 2009Archive

The role of Hiragana in Japanese is very important.

ひらがな[Hiragana] is a script into which "Kanji that has been transmitted from ancient China" has transformed.

Ancient Japanese have evolved the language of Japan by using China kanji and Hiragana.
[Reference:Kanji transmission from ancient China.]

The hiragana symbol is a versatile script that can undertake "All parts of speech" of "Business card, adjective, verb, pronoun, and conjunction, etc.".

In a word, you may write sentences by using only the hiragana if it says extremely.

But, if all the conversations are written by the hiragana symbols, it becomes troublesome sentences.

As for sentences to which everything is written by the hiragana, the distinction of each part of speech and the boundary of sentences become uncertain sentences.

In the Japanese sentence, as for the noun, the pronoun, and the adjective, etc. the kanji is used.
And, the hiragana takes charge of other parts.

If sentences are compared to man's body, the hiragana does "Bone and muscular role" of the Japanese sentence.

The hiragana is an important element for the Japanese sentence.

 

The concrete example in which the hiragana is used

The images below are a concrete example in which the hiragana is used.

 

<Noun or verb that cannot be shown by kanji.>

Japanese has many "words in which the kanji notation doesn't exist."
In that case, the Hiragana is used.

By the way, it is said that 50,000 kanji exist in Japan and China.

Therefore, if we do not write the kanji for a long time, we forget it.
On a case like this, we write it by the hiragana.

But, if we use the kanji as much as possible, it becomes well-balanced sentences.

 

 

The katakana was used in the textbook of the national language of the elementary school in Japan instead of the hiragana until 1940 though this is a bytalk.

 

 

<Case the hiragana is used as OKURIGANA of the kanji>

Okurigana is required for "Kunyomi" of kanji.

Okurigana is necessary for most kunyomi kanji.
In that case, okurigna is usually shown by the hiragana.

[Okurigana of Katakana may be used for special media, such as an advertisement.]

And kunyomi kanji is often used for the verb.
Hiragana in that case is used so that the tense of the verb may change.

 

私は彼を見る。
[watashi wa kare wo miru.]
I see him.

私は彼を見た。
[watashi wa kare wo mita.]
I saw him.

私は彼を見てしまった。
[watashi wa kare wo miteshimatta.]
I have seen him.

This page might be useful for you.
笑う、笑わせる、泣く、泣かせる、怒る、怒らせる

 

< When hiragana is used as furigana [or yomigana] of kanji. >

The kind of kanji is numerous.

Though I have lived in Japan for 40 years or more, there are a lot of kanji that I cannot read.
In general, the Chinese character that the Japanese uses in daily life is called about 2000 characters.
I can read the kanji of about 4000 characters.

In fact, "A lot of kanji not used" exists in Japanese.

 

<Hiragana used for printed matter as furigana. >

Moreover, Furigana[or Yomigana] is often used for a name of a person and the name of a place of Japan.

In case of person's name, it is possible to read with guess.
But, in the case of the place name, there is the case that pronunciation of the kanji cannot guess at all.
For that case, Furigana[or Yomigana] is required for the kanji.

A lot of name of a places that we cannot read exist in Kyoto in Japan.

These are all "kanji which cannot be read by guess."

 

 

< Hiragana for children who can read only only a few kanji. >

Child doesn't have a lot of knowledge of kanji.

If Furigana[or Yomigana] is not attached, it is very difficult for a child to read kanji.

Naturally, children can write only only a few kanji.

In the textbook and the book, etc. for children in Japan there is little kanji.

Almost all children in Japan learn the kanjir at the school.

But, the time of the school training has been decreased by a strange policy of Japanese Government.

As a result, the knowledge of young people in Japan of the kanji is very little.
Japanese Government is very foolish.

 

< When we want to write the character quickly. >

When we write a complex kanji because the kanji is a set by many lines, it takes time.

The total of the line of the kanji is called "画数[Kakusuu]".
Time to write our kanji changes according to the number of these kakusuu.

If we write a lot of kanji, a lot of time is needed for it.

For instance, Kakusuu of this word "一人[hitori](One person)" is three.

 

On the other hand, kakusuu of this kanji "瞬間[shunkan](Moment)" is 31.

 

If we write many kanji by a lot of kakusuu, it takes the time considerably to do it.

Therefore, when we should write the memo and sentences fast, we write the sentence by hardly using kanji, and using a lot of hiraganas.

 

<When time when we have forgotten the shape of that kanji and we don't originally know the shape of that kanji, we use the hiragana. >

If we don't daily write the kanji, it's memory isn't kept.
We forget the shape at once.

It becomes impossible for us to recall the shape as time that we do not write the kanji becomes long.
The kanji that retraces a dopy memory and is written is wrong in many cases.

 

"I cannot recall that kanji !! "

Such a state is called "ド(ど)忘れ[dowasure]".

How was this theme?
Was it slightly difficult?

I must study English more.

 

By Hararie

 

Japanese has why "Katakana" must be used.

The katakana is used for the notation of the word of Loan word mainly.

 

1. Difficult loan word to translate into Japanese.
2. Loanword that has been established as Japanese.
3. Japanized English.
4. Emphasis of word in advertising media.

1. Difficult loan word to translate into Japanese.

Example	Katakana notation	Pronunciation
Design	デザイン	dezain
Image	イメージ	imeji
Gasoline	ガソリン	gasorin
Fastener	ファスナー	fasuna
Hard disk	ハードディスク	hado disuku
Antenna	アンテナ	antena

 

2. Loanword that has been established as Japanese. .

Example	Katakana notation	Pronunciation
Camera	カメラ	kamera
Taxi	タクシー	takushi
Apron	エプロン	epuron
Elevator	エレベーター	erebeta
U-turn	ユーターン	yu-ta-n
Volume	ボリューム	boryumu
Monitor	モニター	monita

 

3. Japanized English.

Example	Katakana notation	Pronunciation
PC	パソコン	pasokon
The keeping of one's own bottle of liquor in one's favorite bar.	ボトルキープ	botoru kipu
Air conditioner	エアコン	eakon
Custom-made	オーダーメード	oda meido
Last orders; Last call	オーダーストップ	oda sutoppu
One-room apartment	ワンルームマンション	wan rumu manshon
The state that does not become independent from mother mentally.	マザコン	mazakon

4. Katakana for emphasis by advertising media.

The katakana might be used to emphasize the word.
The consumer receives the strong impression to the advertisement by "Originally, word that should write by the kanji or the hiragana"'s being written by the katakana.
When the number of characters for the advertisement is little, the technique is very effective.

The man of this advertisement is a member of popular idol groups in Japan, and his name is "Junichi Okada".
He is very popular in Japan.
He announced the schedule of his marriage to media though the most recently.

The katakana word used for this advertisement is very impressive.

 

By Hararie

 

 

Kind of hiragana script that becomes cause of the mess.

 

The script in each language might have perhaps various fonts.

And, they might have a slight difference of shape by the font.

There is no problem if it is your mother tongue.

But, if it is a foreign language, you and I might be a little puzzled.

A Japanese hiragana has a lot of fonts.
Because the difference of those shape is a little, it might cause confusion.

Well, let's see "Each hiragana with a little difference" with me.

 

Connection of line

I displayed "All Hiragana with the difference in the form by a font" here.

The most is the difference in "existence of the break of a line."

I showed "All hiraganas with the difference of shape by the font" here.
Most of the difference is "Presence of the connection of the line."

Compare the parts enclosed by red circle, please.
Can you understand those differences?

 

Japanese children go to school at the age of seven.
And, they learns the hiragana and the katakana first.

The shape of the hiragana used by the textbook of the elementary school in Japan is different according to the times.

It is because the standard of the shape of the hiragana is not being defined by the Ministry of Education that has jurisdiction over the school system of Japan.

Because politicians in Japan always think only about own rights and money, they do not notice such a thing at all.

Sorry, I return to the subject.

Then when I say how the Japanese thinks about a difference of the form of Hiragana,
most Japanese will not have thought about the shape of the hiragana.

In conclusion, "These are all correct Hiragana."
Use Hiragana of the shape that you like, please.

 

Then, see "Hiragana with the difference in a special shape" next, please.

 

 

Hiragana script with special difference of shape

This is "そ[so]" of Hiragana.

I write "そ" by using the shape of a left hiragana.

In the times when I learned Hiragana in an elementary school, Hiragana of the right side was used.
My younger brother is using Hiragana of the left.

My younger brother is 14 years old younger than I.
A young Japanese seems to use shape of the left.

Then, see the last Hiragana, please.

 

This is "ふ[fu]" of Hiragana.

Most of the font used in Japan is a left letterform.

The right-hand "Hiragana of FU" seemed to have been used at prewar days.
The left-hand "Hiragana of FU" is shape of the brush script type.
This is a letterform of "Japanese Kana calligraphy" written with a very thin brush.

But, if a left letterform is written in a hurry, it becomes the right-hand letterform after all.

 

Then, "Today's conclusion."---

"As for Hiragana, if the letterform that can be read is kept, all are okay." !!

 

 

To learn the hiragana

HIRAGANA GANBATTE

Hiragana Gambatte!:
Hiragana Ganbatte (The Gambatte! series)

Product Description:

Instead of an alphabet, Japanese use katakana and hiragana to show the pronunciation of words. It is the purpose of this book to teach you how to read and write hiragana. In all, there are forty-six hiragana characters for forty-six different sounds. This is not as difficult as it seems. With this original picture book, you can learn to read and write hiragana in no time at all, and have fun doing it.

Key English words and pictures are linked to all the hiragana characters to help you fix their shapes in your mind. Manga-style illustrations and nearly 100 mini-articles about Japanese society and culture not only help you remember the characters but also add to your knowledge of Japan. Altogether, this makes Hiragana Gambatte! quite an unusual workbook.

Hiragana Gambatte! teaches you to: * Understand the differences between hiragana and the alphabet * Understand the systematic nature of hiragana * Use the correct stroke order when writing hiragana * Write hiragana so that each character is consistent in size and shape

 

 

 

The reason why there is Kunyomi

kanji imported about 1500 years ago by China was the letter which was difficult for a Japanese.

The countries around China imported Chinese kanji as it is, but only Japan changed it into "way of reading in accord with Japan" and imported kanji.

The race which took in and used the Chinese character for the language of own country in this way is not other than a Japanese.

Therefore, Japanese may be a difficult language.

 

Kunyomi is a Japanese original reading.

But there is the case that "kanji that becomes an origin" has various meanings for 1 character.
Therefore, kunyomi isn't one in many cases.

As the example, let's see kanji of Japan with much kunyomi.

 

Look at left kanji.

It is said that this is "kanji having most Kunyomi" in Japan.

 

On-yomi

Pronunciation	Word as example
生[しょう] : sho	一生 : issho　　[one's] lifetime
生[じょう] : jo	誕生日 : tanjo-bi　　Birthday
生[せい] : sei	先生 : sensei　　Teacher

 

Kun-yomi

Pronunciation	Word as meaning or example
生きる : i-kikru	live / be living / be alive
生かす : i-kasu	keep...alive
生ける : i-keru	arrange set roses in a vase.
生む : u-mu	cause / lead to / give rise to
生まれる :u-mareru	be born / come into existence / be formed / arise
生える : ha-eru	grow / sprout / spring up / come in
生やす : ha-yasu	grow
生る : a-ru	Appearance of the sacred one.
生る : na-ru	bear fruit / grow
生 : nama	生野菜 : nama-yasai　　Raw vegetable/Fresh vegetables
生 : ki	生真面目 : ki-majime　　Earnest / Seriousness
生 : o	生い立ち : o-i-ta-chi　　One's background
生 : fu	芝生 : shiba-fu　　Lawn
生 : ou	to grow/ to spring up/ to cut teeth
生 : ubu	Prefix of noun
生 : inochi	[one's] lifetime / Life

It is said that there is various pronunciation of this kanji besides these.

Besides, It is reported that this is kanji with 150 kinds of reading.

A lot of pronunciations are not used too much in present Japan.
But, most of the pronunciation that I wrote here is daily used in Japan.

 

Easy method of identifying Kunyomi

I teach the method that is good for you.

"Declensional kana ending is accompanied, and the meaning is comprehensible" is Kunyomi.

Though there is an exception, this method is a method of recognizing Kunyomi most quickly.

 

"Conversation" is the best learning method for studying Japanese.

The child before entering school learns language in "conversation."

Japanese is also so.

Japanese grammar is very difficult.
You will surely come to hate Japanese if you begin to study Japanese from the grammar.

Therefore, you had better study "Japanese grammar" shallowly.

And I think that study of a "daily conversation subject" is "a shortcut of your Japanese study."

 

 

 

By　Hararie

 

 

The form that pronunciation of kanji is described by "a hiragana letter or katakana" is called "Furigana or Yomogana".

Kanji with two or more pronunciations is numerous in Japan.
"What is the pronunciation of this name?"
"What is the pronunciation of this name of a place?"
The Japanese is often annoyed by such a problem.

The "Furigana(or Yomigana) custom" exists in Japan for that.

If we do not investigate voluntarily, it doesn't often turn out concerning the name of a place.

Well, "Furigana" and "Yomigana" are used by the same purpose.

You will surely think like this.
"If so, why are there two names?"

These difference points are little.

<ふりがな/フリガナ[Furigana]>:
Furigana is a character that affixes to kanji etc. and is written in a small character.
It is called, "Ruby" in printed matter.

<よみがな[Yomigana]>:
Yomigana is a character for pronunciation to be shown.
It need not be written like the ruby.
Therefore, even if it is a large character, Yomogana is OK.

Notation	Hiragana notation	Katakana notation	Kanji mixed notation
Furigana	ふりがな	フリガナ	振り仮名
Yomigana	よみがな	ヨミガナ	読み仮名

 

Furugana is used in cases like the following.

1. The pronunciation of kanji for the personal name which is entered to the document [Official document chiefly.]

In Japan, a lot of kanji with several kinds of pronunciations exists.
Therefore, in the case of the name without Furigana, misreading sometimes occurs.
The existence of Furugana is a Japan's custom to evade such a mistake.

Look at the image of the right side.

This is a common Japanese resume.
<The image expands when clicked.>

The part enclosed with red yen is space for "Furigana".
Pronunciation of each kanji is described here.

Furigana is generally described by the Hiragana or Katakana.

But, there is the case that a description form of Furigana is appointed.

This is my full name.
My first name is Rie, and the last name is Hara.

You should write Furigana right above kanji.

Thus, when the character of "Furigana" is written with Hiragana, you should write Furigana by the hiragana.

And, when the character of "Furigana" is written by the katakana, you should write Furigana by the katakana.

These are Japanese rules.

2. Furigana used for "Publication" of book and textbook, etc.

Japanese has quite a lot of kanji.
Moreover, kanji of Japan has Onyomi and Kunyomi.
The idiom with which those kanji is combined exists innumerably.
Therefore, a lot of kanji that even the Japanese cannot read exists.
Therefore, Furugana is used for the textbook of books, a publication, and a school so that all people can read.

 

3. Furigana used for the purpose which emphasizes the word.

Left image is a name of the Japanese canned beer.
<The image expands when clicked.>

Furigana is put on the kanji of "GOKU-UMA".

"Goku-Uma" is new word expression of Japan with the meaning of "being very nice."

By using Furigana, this is effective in collecting a consumer's eyes.

There is a case where Furigana is used like this.

 

 

Reason why "Furigana" is necessary for Japanese name.

Kanji of Japan has "Onyomi" and "Kunyomi".

Therefore, a lot of Japanese names with the pronunciation of some kinds exist.

Look at the image below.

As for a Japanese name, a first name is located behind a family name. Well, "A" is a Japanese woman's full name. The case of A is a name in which a first name and a last name have two kinds of pronunciation, respectively. Therefore, judging from the combination of the pronunciations, this is a name with four kinds of pronunciations. Others don't know which pronunciation the pronunciation of her full name has. From such reasons, "Furigana" has a very important role.

Next, let's see B. This is a Japanese male's full name. In the case of his name, it has two kinds of pronunciation of a last name, and three kinds of pronunciation of a first name. When others call him by the full name, the probability that is called by a true pronunciation of his name might be very low. His "Hardship in the name" might be serious. Because it is "Name with six kinds of pronunciations". The Japanese should use "Name with a little difficulty" for own child. But, the Japanese these days tends to give a difficult name to own child.

Well, the last C is my full name. To tell the truth, my full name also has two kinds of pronunciation. My first name has two kinds of pronunciations of "Rie and Toshie". A correct pronunciation of my name is "rie". Others don't know it. In a public place like the hospital, I had a lot of unpleasant experiences that had been called "Hara Toshie". But, many of Japanese might have its experience. These are the reasons to which "Furigana" is indispensable for Japan and Japanese people.

 

Thank you for reading till the last.

 

By Hararie