Katakana is what you should learn immediately after Hiragana. The Katakana alphabet contains all the same sounds as hiragana, the chracters just look different. As you guessed, Katakana is used for names (though Japanese names are usually written in Kanji), but that isn't the only use. The majority of "loan words" in Japanese are written in katakana (that is, words taken from other languages). You may also have heard characters in anime try to speak english (what people tend to call "engrish"), such instances will also be written in Katakana. Some examples of Katakana words are: パーティー (Pa-tī - Party) ケーキ (ke-ki - Cake) リモコン (rimokon - remote control) There are times when a japanese word will be written in Katakana for emphasis (You will often see オレ (ore 俺 a very masculine personal pronoun) or バカ！ (baka 馬鹿 which I'm sure you know well.) As for the shirt's meaning ハルヒ is Haruhi the second word の is used as a possessive in this context so you can understand it as "of" or "Haruhi's" ため in this context means means "sake" (as in "for someone's sake") or "purpose" なら is one of the ways of saying "if". The specific nuance of the meaning is hard to explain, but you'll learn it if you do a grammar guide. 死ねる - the first symbol is Kanji. The meaning of this word is "to die; to pass away" So the meaning of the shirt is "I'd die if it's for Haruhi's sake" or in less awkward terms: "I'd die for Haruhi" I still recommend you do a grammar guide after katakana. It will make learning so much easier.
Thank you, Sensei. I always appreciate your comments. I never knew that, seriously. It's also just something my mind isn't competing that three different alphabets are included in one sentence. I'm, a bit overwhelmed. But I will say that slowly as I'm doing my own personal study, I'm recognizing different characters.. like it's slowly becoming second nature. Now as to what they mean and how they are arranged I dunno yet, but progress is being made. Though slowly. Anyway, again, thanks for the micro lesson.
"die" and "shine" So from what I also understand, some words may be read one way or another, is that correct? Like "shi" meaning "4" or "death" right? Like in English how we have "board" can mean either... A wooden board or to get on a ship... Something like that right? Or am I way off?
@@redshellman That is very close, yes, and that's one of the reasons Kanji is used. There are many words in Japanese that sound exactly the same, but you'll immediately be able to tell them apart if you see them written in Kanji form. かいだん (kaidan) for example can mean "Stairs" "Ghost story" or "conference/meeting" which sounds really confusing, but if you see them in Kanji, you can tell the difference Stairs is 階段 Meeting is 会談 Ghost story is 怪談 As for "Shi" it can mean 4 (the Kanji is 四) or death 死 Also don't worry about seeing 3 competing alphabets in one sentence. As you improve, this will very quickly become normal, and even helpful. It's always a pleasure to be of help! Anything to help someone escape from localisation.
Katakana is what you should learn immediately after Hiragana. The Katakana alphabet contains all the same sounds as hiragana, the chracters just look different. As you guessed, Katakana is used for names (though Japanese names are usually written in Kanji), but that isn't the only use. The majority of "loan words" in Japanese are written in katakana (that is, words taken from other languages). You may also have heard characters in anime try to speak english (what people tend to call "engrish"), such instances will also be written in Katakana.
Some examples of Katakana words are:
パーティー (Pa-tī - Party)
ケーキ (ke-ki - Cake)
リモコン (rimokon - remote control)
There are times when a japanese word will be written in Katakana for emphasis (You will often see オレ (ore 俺 a very masculine personal pronoun) or バカ！ (baka 馬鹿 which I'm sure you know well.)
As for the shirt's meaning
ハルヒ is Haruhi
the second word の is used as a possessive in this context so you can understand it as "of" or "Haruhi's"
ため in this context means means "sake" (as in "for someone's sake") or "purpose"
なら is one of the ways of saying "if". The specific nuance of the meaning is hard to explain, but you'll learn it if you do a grammar guide.
死ねる - the first symbol is Kanji. The meaning of this word is "to die; to pass away"
So the meaning of the shirt is "I'd die if it's for Haruhi's sake" or in less awkward terms: "I'd die for Haruhi"
I still recommend you do a grammar guide after katakana. It will make learning so much easier.
Also, 死ねる is read "shi ne ru", the dictionary form is 死ぬ (shinu). Anime characters scream that word a lot, "SHINE!"
Thank you, Sensei. I always appreciate your comments. I never knew that, seriously. It's also just something my mind isn't competing that three different alphabets are included in one sentence. I'm, a bit overwhelmed. But I will say that slowly as I'm doing my own personal study, I'm recognizing different characters.. like it's slowly becoming second nature. Now as to what they mean and how they are arranged I dunno yet, but progress is being made. Though slowly. Anyway, again, thanks for the micro lesson.
"die" and "shine"
So from what I also understand, some words may be read one way or another, is that correct? Like "shi" meaning "4" or "death" right? Like in English how we have "board" can mean either... A wooden board or to get on a ship... Something like that right? Or am I way off?
@@redshellman That is very close, yes, and that's one of the reasons Kanji is used. There are many words in Japanese that sound exactly the same, but you'll immediately be able to tell them apart if you see them written in Kanji form.
かいだん (kaidan) for example can mean "Stairs" "Ghost story" or "conference/meeting" which sounds really confusing, but if you see them in Kanji, you can tell the difference
Stairs is 階段
Meeting is 会談
Ghost story is 怪談
As for "Shi" it can mean 4 (the Kanji is 四) or death 死
Also don't worry about seeing 3 competing alphabets in one sentence. As you improve, this will very quickly become normal, and even helpful.
It's always a pleasure to be of help! Anything to help someone escape from localisation.