ichi, ni, san...

[rick]

This may be one for Dinosaw.
I've just got back from Japanese class and I cant believe how fiendishly complicated the number system is!
Chinese mixed with old Japanese, unlucky number variations, numerous ending 'counters' with subtle variations for - small round things, long thin things, flat things, small animals, birds (which include rabbits), time and dates...

Still, I have learnt two very useful phrases:
niwatori wo katteimasu (I keep chickens) and,
kitsune wa sukija nai desu (I don't like foxes) (well I do really, just not in the run!)

 

[Marigold]

Wow, that sounds really tricky. Is Japanese a tonal language, to further complicate matters?
I think I'll stick to Wales. At least they all speak English to foreigners, as well!

 

[rick]

I'm only just getting a feel for it Marigold but it's not tonal as such. My first impression was that it is very phonetic and that seems to be pretty much right although some syllables and sounds are compressed in places, and alternatives used through rules and conventions that are quite opaque to me at the moment.
Wales is great. Its been too long since we were last there.

 

[dinosaw]

I would concentrate on just using tsu, which is for things that have no special counter. If you speak any Japanese at all the people you encounter will be firstly very surprised and secondly absolutely delighted. Yeah you can learn all the mai and hon and nin but in reality people will understand what you say and forgive you as you would forgive someone who said "I like your gooses" rather than "I like your geese". If you can count, point at what you want and follow with o kudasai then you will be perfectly alright, add sumimasen, onegai shimas and the greetings and your halfway to surviving (a slight polite bow goes a long way too)

The great thing about eating in Japan is that practically all restaurants have photographs of what is available or waxwork displays outside the restaurant. All of your rail reservations can be booked at Narita airport in English if you wish, though learning the language to buy tickets isn't difficult. All of the subway stations have English signage. Having said all that, learn as much as you can and you will be rewarded.

I can't recommend this book enough!.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/d/Books/Oxford-Take-Japanese-Complete-Language-Learning-Pack/0198603002

Work through this (even just up to chapter 10) and you will be well set.

It has given me a nudge to post some photos to get you in the mood.

 

[rick]

Thanks for the book suggestion - I'll check that out.
I did ask our teacher 'would it be so bad if we got it wrong?' and she said, 'no - if your nice!'