I'm loving learning Japanese. Finding patterns and figuring things out is very satisfying. This week, I picked up a few tidbits:
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Sometimes two words combine into another related word:
mitten (tebukuro) = hand (te) + bag (bukuro)
zebra (shimauma) = stripe (shima) + horse (uma)
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Words which deal with transportation end in sha:
bike = jitensha
car = jidosha 
train = densha
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Insect names end with mushi:
ladybug = tentomushi
snail = dendenmushi
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I find that figuring out language is like a puzzle (with the three alphabets being an added level of difficulty) which is something I really enjoy. Incidentally my lovely fiancee laughs at my (effective) memory technique in which I try to create "hooks" for new words. For example, for the word ladybug (てんとうむし = tentomushi) I picture 10 ladybugs on my toe!
<Calvin's class>Snails aren't bugs!</Calvin's class>
ReplyDeleteNo one ever said language was scientifically accurate!
ReplyDeleteDamn! I wish I thought of this earlier: etymology doesn't always correspond with entomology!
ReplyDelete