Quickie: Sale at The Japan Shop

Just a quicky shopping link-fest here.

The Japan Shop is having a closeout sale on a few items, including everyone’s favorite textbook series Genki. They’ve also got Japanese for Busy people on sale at the moment, but personally, I would recommend Genki over the Busy People series any day of the week.

Also, you’ll see on The Japan Shop’s front page that they are having a weekend sale on 5 dollar downloads, including the Cut-tounge Sparrow Story.
The Japan Shop owner let me try a sample of these downloads, as I’m helping to advertise his product and all, and I must say it’s quality material. The owner’s wife is Japanese, so together they create this valuable content from scratch. Basically his wife reads a famous Japanese folktale, and he provides the English and explanations in the files that accompany it. It’s all put together using flash, so you can click vocab to get explanations and whatnot. Also, you can chose to listen to it in regular, or slow speed as well. It’s good stuff for learning.

Happy shopping for your brain!

- Harvey

Learning Japanese through Proverbs

Our friends over at TheJapanShop.com have another great deal. You can get audio, textual, and visual media to help you learn Japanese Proverbs for just 5 bucks.

It’s a PDF, Flash, and Mp3 pack of 25 commonly used Japanese proverbs. You can listen to any sentence in slow, or regular speed, and explanations are included. Check out the product image on their website to see some of the features.

They’ve got all the classic “kotowaza”, such as…

石の上にも三年 Literally, sitting on top of the rock for 3 years. A proverb for perseverance. And…

十人十色 Literally, 10 people, 10 colors. A proverb that means everyone is unique.

Click here for a larger image. Click here to go to product page.

Back in my early days of learning Japanese we went through a lot of these in class. Proverbs are a great way to pick up new vocabulary, learn about Japanese culture, and impress native speakers all at the same time. Native Japanese are usually astounded and very happy to hear when foreigners can quote proverbs. These days many young Japanese don’t know the more difficult ones. I would be willing to bet that any high school kid these days (except for the roughest of the ruffians) would know all 25 included in the JapanShop package.

So, the proverbs they include are very basic, so if you’re already an advanced learner of Japanese this probably won’t be terribly useful. However, if your Japanese is beginner to low-intermediate, it looks like a great deal!

You can pay with PayPal and download the stuff immediately. Instant gratification. Yum.

Other Proverbs on JapanNewbie

By the way, check out a few more proverbs that I have introduced in the past… Like a Rolling Stone, and The Light of Money.

Learn Proverbs With Our Favorite Cat-like Robot Doraemon

For more Japanese Proverb fun, check out this episode of Doraemon called “Proverb Game” (kotowaza game) in its entirety on YouTube. The proverbs introduced in the episode and their literal and interpreted meanings are…

早起きは三文の徳 - hayaoki ha sanmon no toku

Literally: Waking up early brings three coins of profit.

Meaning/usage: Waking up early will bring good things to you.

In Doaremon: The father woke up early and happened to see a famous actress during his morning walk and tells the main character, Nobita-kun. Nobita really wanted to see the actress and starts to head out to get her signature, but his father tells her she’s already gone. Nobita should have woken up early!

棚からぼたもち - tana kara botamochi

Literally: A botamochi (a type of snack) falls out of the cabinet.

Meaning/usage: Good things can happen unexpectedly.

In Doraemon: Nobita thinks that he can just lie under the cabinet and wait for an actual botamochi to fall out. He didn’t know the proverb. Instead, they accidentally stumble upon his moms secret stash of cash.

急がば回れ - isogaba maware

Literally: If you want to hurry, take the round-about way.

Meaning/usage: If you want to arrive at your destination quickly, don’t take the more dangerous and risky shortcut. Instead, take the long way around and you’ll be more certain to reach your destination safely and on time.

In Doaremon: Nobita is going to his friends house, so instead of taking the direct route he takes the long road. On the way there he happens to run into his friend, which is lucky! Good thing he didn’t hurry to take the direct route.

情けは人のためならず - nasake ha hito no tame narazu

Literally: Pity/compassion doesn’t help people.

Meaning/usage: Traditionally, it means that showing compassion to people not only helps them, but will also bring good fortune to the person who showed the compassion later. Some people these days mistakenly interpret this to mean that if you’re too overly compassionate to people it won’t help them in the long run.

In Doaremon: Nobita sees a little girl who has fallen and hurt her knee. Due to the literal meaning of the proverb he almost doesn’t help her, but gives in to his good nature and decides to carry her home anyway. Later Doraemon explains the actual meaning of the proverb and Nobita feels better.

仏の顔も三度 - hotoke no kao mo sando

Literally: On the third time, even someone with a face like the Buddha… (will get angry)

Meaning/usage: No matter how nice someone may be, the third time (or eventually) they will get angry!

In Doaremon: Nobita and his friend see the town bully getting scolded by his mom for fighting. They get an idea and decide to tease him just twice, because they figure he won’t get angry the first and second time. They’re right… But some other friends accidentally taunt him a third time causing Nobita and his friend get beat up anyway.

泣き面に蜂 - naki tsura ni hachi

Literally: A bee will come to a crying face.

Meaning/usage: Once something bad happens, more bad things will follow.

That’s all!

By the way, I didn’t know 泣き面に蜂! Passed JLPT level 1, and there are still things about Japanese to learn from kids shows. Isn’t Japanese great!? The fun never stops.

- Harvey

How Do you Say Laced With Cyanide in Japanese?

For those of you who have a Casio EX-word dictionary, try looking up 混入 (こんにゅう) , and check out the 2nd sample sentence.

「そのコーヒーにはシアン化合物が混入されていた。」

The coffee had been laced with cyanide. 

Japanese you can use!

- Harvey

Interpretation is Hard - The Aftermath

Well, my 2nd interpretation test for the Peace Boat translation position is complete!

I did much better on the Japanese to English interpretation portion this time. Much, much better. I would have passed myself. The English to Japanese was difficult, but I also handled it much better than last time I believe. The Japanese to English topic was global warming and the resultant rising sea levels potential effect on Japan, and the English to Japanese topic was about the effect of global warming on the agriculture industry in Mali.

A lot of the farming vocabulary had me grasping at straws. Some words that saved my life were… 肥料 (hiryou) for fertilizer, and 井戸 (ido) for well, like, water well. Words I never use in my daily life, but I picked up in school. Yay for academics huh?

Anyway, after the test I got an email from the staff and said they would like me to speak with the director of the program on the phone tomorrow. Maybe it’s a final check to see if I’m sane and sincere!

Anyway, no matter what happens, I’m really glad I handled the Japanese to English interpretation so well. A little practice goes a long way.

I’m not even 100% sure my schedule will allow me to do the PeaceBoat when the time comes… but if it does, I’m on it!

That is… Assuming they want me.

Thanks for all the encouragement JapanNewbie readers!

- Harvey

Interpretation is Hard - Revenge

Well,

I was contacted by PeaceBoat again and they’re going to have me do a “re-test” for the interpretation part of the interview over the phone.

I guess this either means that they thought I should have done better and want to give me a second chance to prove myself… Or they have already selected a few people for the interpretation/translation team and are trying to decide the remaining few members from the scrubs.

Anyway, I’ll do my best!

Now that I’ve been through the ordeal once, I think I can do much better this second time around. I have even been “practicing” while watching Japanese TV on the treadmill at the gym. Mumbling to myself in English as I try to keep up and interpret what they are saying. It’s still tough, but I’m sure I’ll do better than last time.

The test is scheduled for Wednesday. Wish me luck!

- Harvey

Blog on Computing Tips for Japanese to English Translators

Here is a blog called Translator’s Tools that I recently discovered that is run by a Japanese-English translator who also happens to be a techie.

He blogs about ways to use personal computing technology to make translating jobs go more smoothly. Good stuff, very professional. This post on how to pinpoint glosseries on the web on specific topics is expecially accessible and quickly usable!

Give it a look!

- Harvey

Work Work Watching

Speed post. This is too funny not to share.

Work Work Watching #1

Especially funny is number 5, where the Japanese director teaches the American actor the art of NORI-TSUKKOMI 乗り突っ込み with the help of his useless interpreter.

Work Work Watchign #5 - Nori-tsukkomi 

There is a wikipedia entry on nori-tsukkomi if you are like the American director and not familiar with this traditional form of Japanese Kansai-style comedy.

Basically, nori-tsukkomi is when someone does something unexpected and silly against your expectation. For example, you say “wow it’s raining, go get the umbrella.” and the guy comes back with a toothpick umbrella used to decorate cocktails.

If you immediately bash the guy over the hed and say “hey! What the heck do you take me for! That’s not an umbrella!” That would be a regular tsukkomi.

If instead, you say “wow, nice umbrella. Now I can keep my fingers dry… Small… and easy to carry…. - WHAT the heck! This umbrella is way to small!” and bash them over the head… That is then nori-tsukkomi. You have first skillfully gone along with their silly gag before suddenly pointing out their folly and bashing them over the head.

I love this stuff.

“Listen, nori-tsukkomi you alright?”

- Harvey

Interpretation is Hard

I recently participated in an interview for a potential summer position on the PeaceBoat that included interpretation and translation tests.

I have done a lot of Japanese to English document translation over the past few years, so that part of the test wasn’t such a big deal. The English to Japanese translation of course was much more difficult than Japanese to English, but PeaceBoat wouldn’t expect someone to translate into their non-native language on the job, so no stress.

However, the interpretation test, English to Japanese and even Japanese to English completely blew my mind - smacked me around if you will. Made me cry “uncle”. 誰か助けて～！
I have a new a profound respect for interpreters and simultaneous translators. What a humbling experience.

It was my first time ever attempting to interpret so of course it was difficult, but I didn’t quite expect that it would be that difficult! It was so hard to remember the entire sentence in Japanese and then say it in English including all the proper nouns and numbers and whatnot. Of course I had scratch paper, but I found that when I would scribble down a year or proper noun or something that came up in the Japanese sentence as it was spoken I would miss the rest of the sentence while writing! Not to mention that since Japanese grammar almost flows backwards when compared to English you almost have to continue shuffling things around in your mind as you remember what was said and spit it back into English. It was like mind acrobatics - and I think I sprained something.

Halfway through the interview the staff told me that a major difference in interpreting and translating documents is that I don’t really need to match the language so precisely. He advised me to just grasp 80% of the idea, and relay it back to him in English as I would do if I was telling it to him in my own words. This really helped me out. I was making the mistake of literally attempting to convert the words I heard into text on paper in my mind, translating it in my head, and then “reading” my virtually noted translation back to them. It doesn’t work that way.

I found this great discussion about interpreting on the Honyaku Google Group, a forum for Japanese<->English translators.

Some people in the forum mention that doing translation is a great way to prepare yourself for interpreting, and also that most interpreters were previously translators.

Naruhodo.

They also mention that a lot of them like translation more, because they don’t have to go anywhere specific to do it. Just bring the laptop to a coffee shop, or sit at home.

Something about the stress and presence of people does attract me to interpretation though… Maybe someday I’ll take a class or something… Someday…

I’m still recovering from the shock of feeling like a Japanese-newbie again, but I’m motivated. It was a fun and challenging exercise, and interpreting is so cool when done correctly!

There is a program at the University of Queensland in Australia called, MAJIT (Master of Arts degree in Japanese Interpreting and Translation) that specializes in E-J & J-E interpretation if anyone is interested in becoming a translating/interpreting Jedi.

Lessons learned from this experience? Being able to speak Japanese, having JLPT1, working in document translation, and eating sushi, are all attributes that have nothing to do with being a good interpreter!

Never give up.

- Harvey

Casio XD-GP9700 - Better than the GW9600

If you’ve been reading this blog for a while you’ve probably heard me raving about my favorite electronic dictionary, the Casio GW9600. Maybe you even want one too!

But wait! Put the wallet, DOWN!

A new model has just been released, the Casio XD-GP9700.

I haven’t seen it in the stores or tried it yet, but according to the Casio XD-GP9700 product summary over on The Japan Shop, the greatest new features include that the dictionary now pronounces the Japanese and that it has a backlit screen. It also seems to have a larger J-E dictionary than before.

Clay at the JapanShop mentioned that if you already have the GW9600 it’s probably not worth shelling out the cash to upgrade. If you’re about to buy your first electronic dictionary though, I would personally skip over the GW9600 and get this new one.

Now that this new model has been released do I regret buying my GW9600 just last fall?

Not really. I have gotten so much use out of it so far that I think it would have been counter-productive putting off the purchase. I’m alright. I won’t cry…

Remember, you might be able to get the dictionaries cheaper on Amazon.co.jp if you can get through the ordering process in Japanese, be sure to shop around!

- Harvey