Language Learning Forum: 日本語+Suomi

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日本語+Suomi

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Forum Name: Language Learning Log
Forum Discription: Your personal language learning logbook: milestones, successes, brick walls & goals great and small. Document your progress and get support, tips and encouragement from other forum members.
URL: http://how-to-learn-any-language.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=24710
Printed Date: 04 December 2024 at 7:39pm

Posted By: cathrynm
Subject: 日本語+Suomi
Date Posted: 11 January 2011 at 8:54am

ここに日記を書くのが楽しそうので、私も日記を書く！　　最近[lang-8.com]でよく書いた。　それは良い練習と思う。フィンランド語も書くつもり！

ところでまだこの掲示板で文字化けが起こる？

http://lang-8.com/8649/journals/755181/ - 日本語の日記

And, Finnish, it still takes me so long to write Finnish. Many many errors. But, at least, I am finally getting some traction in this language.　 I'm still not able to pull off a 'BBS discussion' in Finnish yet, but I'm working on it.

Opiskelen suomea, mutta suomeksi kirjoittaminen on vaikeaa.

http://lang-8.com/8649/journals/760476/ - Suomi

日本語：今日は運転しながら日本語を聞いて、　今夜日本語のテレビ番組をみて。
Suomen kieli: Minä kirjoitin artikkelin suomeksi.

Replies:

Tervepä terve! :)

Minäkin opiskelen japanin kieltä (enemmän tai vähemmän säännöllisesti). Tällä hetkellä itse asiassa vähemmän, sillä viime aikoina olen keskittynyt pitkälti venäjän opiskeluun, joten japanini on valitettavasti jäänyt hieman taka-alalle... Minullakin on Lang-8 -tili, joten ehkä tulet näkemään myös minua siellä korjailemassa tekstejäsi.

Toivotan paljon onnea opinnoillesi!

Sorry for writing everything in Finnish, but after all, practice makes perfect... By the way, both of the Finnish sentences in your OP are correct. Hyvää työtä!
Kounotori on 11 January 2011

明日[lang-8]で作文を二(ooh, what counter for posts to a bbs?)つ書いた。

Kirjoitin artikkelin suomeksi.

http://lang-8.com/8649/journals/763508/Eilinen-siivosin-rota nloukut - suomi

日本語の日記

http://lang-8.com/8649/journals/763563/ - 日本語

明日日本語の[Santa Monica meetup.com」の会議に行った。それは楽しかったが皆はたいてい英語で話した。
ある男の人は単語カードを持って来た。　　カードはとてもむむ難しかった。

cathrynm on 13 January 2011

Tänään taas kirjoitin suomeksi.

http://lang-8.com/8649/journals/764742/Kaikilla-oli-hauskaa - Lang-8.com suomi
cathrynm on 14 January 2011

今日の日本語の日記。

http://lang-8.com/8649/journals/764857/%E7%88%B6%E3%81%AF%E6 %96%B0%E3%81%97%E3%81%84%E8%85%95%E6%99%82%E8%A8%88%E3%82%92 %E8%B2%B7%E3%81%A3%E3%81%9F%E3%80%82 - 父は新しい腕時計を買った。

Sorry for writing everything in Finnish, but after all, practice makes perfect.

No problem, thank you very much! Finnish, English and Japanese are all welcome here! Write whatever you like! I try my best to read things.

私はフィンランド語の資料を考える。[TY Finnish」という教科書は面白いけど私は[TY Finnish]という「ＣＤ」が大好きだ。
このＣＤをたびたび聞っても　まだ詰まらなくない。　　でも「Ｓｅｌｋｏｕｕｔｉｓｅｔ］の声はロボットのように音だった。　

The news readers on Selkouutiset sound like robots to me.

cathrynm on 14 January 2011

http://lang-8.com/8649/journals/766100/Ajoin-Glendalesta-Ber keleyen - http://lang-8.com/8649/journals/766100/Ajoin-Glendalesta-Ber keleyen

Tännään Lang-8.com:ssa taas kirjoitin suomeksi.
Ajaessa kuuntelin minun japanilainen ja suoilainen kielen CD. (While driving I listened to my Japanese and Finnish CDs. This an attempt at using the second infinitive, which is new grammar for me.)

cathrynm on 15 January 2011

今日の日本語の日記を書いた。

http://lang-8.com/8649/journals/766189/ - グレンデール町からバーケリー町まで運転した。

明日は日本語のクラスを受けるので、　今日クラスの単語を復習した。
ドライブしながら、Ｊａｐａｎｅｓｅｐｏｄ１０１．ｃｏｍを聞いた。

cathrynm on 15 January 2011

Tänään kirjoitin suomeksi. Suosittelen lukemaan.

http://lang-8.com/8649/journals/767359/Tulin-juuri-japanin-t unnilta - Tulin juuri japanin tunnilta
cathrynm on 16 January 2011

今日の日本語の日記だ。　　　今日日本語のクラスを受けた。　楽しかった。　　

読んでください。　　

http://lang-8.com/8649/journals/767419/ - 土曜日のクラスについて

今日フィンランド語と日本語の作文を書いた。　
クラスの漢字を書く練習をした。

cathrynm on 16 January 2011

Tänään katselin suomen animaatiot youtubesta, ja luin kielioppikirjani.

Minä myös kirjoitin suomeksi. Kannattaa lukea.

http://lang-8.com/8649/journals/768976/T%C3%A4n%C3%A4%C3%A4n -on-sunnuntai - Tänään on sunnuntai.
cathrynm on 17 January 2011

今日の日本語の日記だ。　私は疲れてなると私の日本語が随分たかくなるよ。

http://lang-8.com/8649/journals/769112/ - 日曜日に休んだ
cathrynm on 17 January 2011

Tänään kirjoitin artikellin suomeksi. Suosittelen lukemaan.

http://lang-8.com/8649/journals/770438/ - Tänään on vapaapäivä.
cathrynm on 18 January 2011

今日の日本語の日記

http://lang-8.com/8649/journals/770513/ - 今日はマーチンルーサーキングの日

勉強するために日記を聞きますよ。　私の話題はちょっと面白くないけど、読んでください。　

cathrynm on 18 January 2011

今日聞き取りが進むように心霊探偵八雲と言うアニメも見た。　　でも筋がちょっと分からないけどね。
cathrynm on 18 January 2011

Tänään kirjoitin suomeksi. Suositellen lukemaan.

http://lang-8.com/8649/journals/772002/P%C3%A4iv%C3%A4kirjan i - Päivväkirjani
cathrynm on 19 January 2011

今日クラスの単語を勉強した。　
「Marginal Prince]というアニメを見た。

日記を書いた。　読んでください！

http://lang-8.com/8649/journals/772053/ - 今日の日記

cathrynm on 19 January 2011

Minä kirjoitin lang-8:ssa suomeksi. Suosittelen lukemaan.

http://lang-8.com/8649/journals/773525/K%25C3%25A4vin-Japani ssa - Suomi

cathrynm on 20 January 2011

http://lang-8.com/8649/journals/773554/ - 今日の日本語の作文

今日クラスの作文も書いて　テレビで日本語のニュースを見た。　　
cathrynm on 20 January 2011

Taas kirjoitin suomeksi. Suosittelen lukemaan.

http://lang-8.com/8649/journals/774766/Suomen-DNA - Suomen DNA
cathrynm on 21 January 2011

Hi Cathryn. I've been reading through your Japanese writing, and although there are a
few mistakes here and there everything is understandable and your Japanese seem to be of
a very high standard - well done!

If you don't mind, though, I will give you one piece of advice, which is that you should
be writing in the です・ます form rather than the plain form. It's a mistake a lot of
Westerners make, and I think it probably stems from a keenness to shift to casual
language as soon as possible, but it is actually quite rare to write Japanese in the
plain form - it tends to sound excessively abrupt and a little childish.

Keep up the good work!
TixhiiDon on 21 January 2011

今日この作文を書いた。　読んでください。

http://lang-8.com/8649/journals/774839/ - フィンランド系について作文

昼ＦＣＩモーニングＥＹＥという番組を見て
日本語の宿題をした。

cathrynm on 21 January 2011

Alright, thanks for the comment. I'll give　です・ます a try.

Yeah, I'm hoping that daily writing will help me iron out some of the bugs in my Japanese. It is making me think during the day about what I'm going to write, and that's making my brain work in Japanese and Finnish a bit more.

cathrynm on 21 January 2011

Kirjoitin suomeksi.

http://lang-8.com/8649/journals/776249/ - Pelasin-lautepelejä

Ajaessa kuuntelin Teach Yourself Finnish CD:tä.

cathrynm on 22 January 2011

今日は友達について作文を書いました。　　読んでください！

http://lang-8.com/8649/journals/776289/ - 日本語を勉強している友達
cathrynm on 22 January 2011

http://lang-8.com/8649/journals/777533/ - Päiväkirjani

Tänään kirjoitin suomeksi.
cathrynm on 23 January 2011

これは今日のlang-8.comの日記です。　どうぞ� �んでください。

http://lang-8.com/8649/journals/777681/ - いろいろなことについて作文

日本語のクラスも受けました。　
そして、クラスの単語を勉強しました。　

cathrynm on 23 January 2011

Minun päiväkirjani. Minulla on mielenkiintoinen kuva. Suosittelen lukemaan.

http://lang-8.com/8649/journals/779044 - Mielenkiintoinen kuva.
cathrynm on 24 January 2011

ポストは文字化けが起こりました。　　この掲示板は日本語でちょっと壊れたと思います。

今日の日本語の作文を書きました。

http://lang-8.com/8649/journals/779108/ - 古い写真

フィンランドの作文とちょっと同じ内容ですが、

どうぞ読んでください。

今日クラスの単語も勉強したり　　クラスのプリントも読んだり
Yomekui Merryというアニメ見たり、　しました。

cathrynm on 24 January 2011

Tänään kirjoitin suomeksi. Tänä aamuna, isäni hammaslääkäri soitti.... Suosittelen lukemaan.

http://lang-8.com/8649/journals/780434/ - Isäni hammaslääkäri soitti
cathrynm on 25 January 2011

また日本語の日記を書きました。
FCIモーニングEYEを見てアニメの番組も見ましたが　タイトルを忘れました。　

http://lang-8.com/8649/journals/780550/ - 子供の頃、ピアノのレッソンを受けました

どうぞ読んでください。　　
cathrynm on 25 January 2011

Kirjoitin suomeksi minun kissasta. (I wrote about my cat. Oh I need to ask this on lang 8.)

http://lang-8.com/8649/journals/781969/Minulla-on-valta va-kissa - Minulla on valtava kissaa

Suositellen lukemaan.
Ajaessa minä myös kuuntellin Teach Yourself Finnish CD:tä.

cathrynm on 26 January 2011

今日の日本語の作文です。　また家族の歴史について書きました。　　読んでください！

http://lang-8.com/8649/journals/ - 収容所について作文

cathrynm on 26 January 2011

Kirjoitin suomeksi. Kello on jo paljon. Olen väsynyt.

http://lang-8.com/8649/journals/783561/ - Päiväkirjani
cathrynm on 27 January 2011

今日水について日本の作文を書きました。　読んでください。
こんばんユーチューブで[ヅラララ」という� �ニメを見ました。
そのアニメが面白かったです。　　

http://lang-8.com/8649/journals/783614/ - 水道水について作文

フィンランド語と日本語は時間がかかると思います。　
ＩＲＣで新しい文法を習いました。
「ビジネスで客の好き嫌いは言っていられない」です。」　
日本人に尋ねました。　　

cathrynm on 27 January 2011

Tänään minä kirjoitin suomeksi. Nyt on erittäin myöha.
Minun täytyy nukkua.

http://lang-8.com/8649/journals/785114/ - Nyt on myöha, joten, minun esseeni on lyhyt.
cathrynm on 28 January 2011

今日はちょっと忙しいので、　作文を急いで書きました。　
急いで書くのがちょっと楽しいですが、　Ｌａｎｇ－８の日本人は沢山の添削をすると思います。
辞書をよくひくのが良くないとおもいます。

http://lang-8.com/8649/journals/785140/ - 今日の急いで書かれた作文
cathrynm on 28 January 2011

今日の日本語の日記を書きました。
沢山のアニメを聞きました。

http://lang-8.com/8649/journals/786500 - 今日の日記
cathrynm on 29 January 2011

Tänään kirjoitin suomeksi.

http://lang-8.com/8649/journals/786453/ - Olen ladannut liikaa animeja.
cathrynm on 29 January 2011

今日たくさんのアニメを見て、日本語のクラスを受けて、　クラスの単語リストを書きました。

http://lang-8.com/8649/journals/787853/ - 今日の日本語の作文

sharedtalk.comでちょっと喋りました。

cathrynm on 30 January 2011

Koska opiskelin japania, tänään minun päiväkirjani on lyhyt.

http://lang-8.com/8649/journals/787816/ - Päiväkirjani
cathrynm on 30 January 2011

Tänään katselin suomen elokuvaa, ja kirjoitin minun päviäkirjani.

http://lang-8.com/8649/journals/790626/ - katselin vanhaa elokuvaa.
cathrynm on 01 February 2011

今日の日記を書きました。
日曜日一日中演歌のビデオとアニメを見ました。
今日クラスの作文を勉強しました。　　
新しい単語がたくさんです。

ＨＴＬＡの「Monolingual Lounge]を読むつもり、そして、寝ます。

http://lang-8.com/8649/journals/790697/ - 今日の日記

cathrynm on 01 February 2011

Tänään kirjoitin päiväkirjani, ja katselin Madventures iPad:ssä.

http://lang-8.com/8649/journals/792113/ - päiväkirjani
cathrynm on 02 February 2011

今日日本語の作文を書きました。　読んでください。
私はアニメも聞きました。
今晩クラスの単語を書きました。
今週の文字は「妥、戒、威、釣、鈴、鋼、鎖、鉛、銅」です。
釣、鈴って易しいです。　鋼、鎖、鉛、銅って読んだことがあります。
妥、戒、威って全く分かりませんでした。
日本語のレベルのクイズも受けて、　結果は私は日本語でまだビギナーです。

http://lang-8.com/8649/journals/792155/ - グラウンドホッグの日について
cathrynm on 02 February 2011

Tänäan kirjoitin minun päiväkirjani.

http://lang-8.com/8649/journals/794634/ - Minun päiväkirjani.
cathrynm on 04 February 2011

日本語で日記を書きました。　読んでください。
　モーニングＥＹＥと楽しいムーミン一家という番組を見ました。　昨日日本語のプリントを勉強しました。　
クラスの宿題はちょっと難しいです。

http://lang-8.com/8649/journals/794724/ - 今日の日本語の日記

cathrynm on 04 February 2011

Tänään kirjoitin minun päiväkirjani.
Eilen, kuuntelin Selkouutista, ja käansin sitä.

http://lang-8.com/8649/journals/797112/ - Kävin japanin tunilla

cathrynm on 06 February 2011

日本語のクラスに行って、作文を書きました。　　ＨＴＬＡＬの人、読んでください！　　
明日父の家まで運転するつもりだから、　書くかどうか分かりません。

http://lang-8.com/8649/journals/797250/ - 今日の日本語の日記です。
cathrynm on 06 February 2011

http://lang-8.com/8649/journals/798742/ - Minun päiväkirjani.

Tänään, ajaessa kuuntelin taas suomeksi.
cathrynm on 07 February 2011

運転しながら、日本語のpodcastsを聞いて、
漢字を練習して、
日本語の日記を書きました。

http://lang-8.com/8649/journals/798792/ - 今日の日本語日記

読んでください！
cathrynm on 07 February 2011

Kirjoitin suomeksi. Minun päiväkirjani.

http://lang-8.com/8649/journals/804432 - vanha ravintolla
cathrynm on 11 February 2011

今日の日本語の作文を書きました。
父のうちに面白い日本語の手紙を見つけました。　　その手紙を勉強するつもりです。

http://lang-8.com/8649/journals/804520/ - 父のインターネットについて作文
cathrynm on 11 February 2011

Kirjoitin suomeksi lang-8:ssa.

http://lang-8.com/8649/journals/807689/ - Minun päiväkirjani
cathrynm on 13 February 2011

昨日5時間ぐらい運転しながら、　日本語の[h arry Potter」を聞きました。
今朝クラスの漢字を復習して、　日本語のクラスを受けて、　先週の漢字を勉強して、日記を書きました。
読んでください。

http://lang-8.com/8649/journals/807727/ - 今日の日本語の日記

今週の漢字は「肥、脈、膨、肢、枯、杉、　彫、　髪、　珍」です。

私にとって「肥、　膨、　肢」が新しい漢字です。
cathrynm on 13 February 2011

Hey cathrynm! Just dropping by to let you know how much I enjoy the clean look of your
log. You've inspired me to write a Lang-8 post every day (or couple of days), similar to
what you're doing. Awesome work, and がんばって!
Magdalene on 14 February 2011

Kirjoitin suomeksi. Suosittelen lukemaan.

http://lang-8.com/8649/journals/810634 - Päiväkirjani
cathrynm on 15 February 2011

Magdalene wrote:

Hey cathrynm! Just dropping by to let you know how much I enjoy the clean look of your log. You've inspired me to write a Lang-8 post every day (or couple of days), similar to what you're doing. Awesome work, and がんばって!

Hey, thanks for the encouragement, and stop by anytime. It's been fun, and even though I'm still making errors, my comfort level with writing has increased a lot. I'll check our your lang-8 log too when you post it.
cathrynm on 15 February 2011

日本語の日記を書きました。

http://lang-8.com/8649/journals/810682/ - 日本語の日記

日本語のニュースも見ました。　
cathrynm on 15 February 2011

I am interested in both these languages. I will be reading, if you don't mind. :)
jdmoncada on 16 February 2011

Tänään Kirjoitin suomeksi lang-8:ssa.

Quote:

I will be reading, if you don't mind.

Kiitos!

http://lang-8.com/8649/journals/812225 - Minun päiväkirjani.
cathrynm on 16 February 2011

授業の宿題をして、　漢字を書いて、　日本語の作文を書きました。

http://lang-8.com/8649/journals/812243/ - 日本語の日記
cathrynm on 16 February 2011

jdmoncada wrote:

I am interested in both these languages. I will be reading, if you don't mind. :)

Cool. Yeah, thanks. Someone the idea of people reading all this, just makes it all sit in my memory a little better, I think.
cathrynm on 16 February 2011

Tänään kirjoitin suomeksi päiväkirjani.

http://lang-8.com/8649/journals/822129 - Olin saanut kirjeen
cathrynm on 23 February 2011

今日日記を書きました。　それで　ＪＬＰＴ　N3の不合格について文句をしました。

http://lang-8.com/8649/journals/822154/ - 日本語の日記です。
cathrynm on 23 February 2011

Kuntelin taas TY Finnish CD.

http://lang-8.com/8649/journals/824842/ - Minun päiväkirjani
cathrynm on 25 February 2011

今日日本語の日記を書いて、
クラスの単語を書く練習しました。

http://lang-8.com/8649/journals/824881/ - 日本語の日記
cathrynm on 25 February 2011

Kirjoitin suomeski minun päiväkirjani.
Ajessa kuuntelin Teach Yourself Finnish.

http://lang-8.com/8649/journals/825587/ - Minun TV antenni kaatui.

cathrynm on 26 February 2011

日本語の日記を書きました。
今晩[sharedtalk.com]で日本語のチャットをしました。

http://lang-8.com/8649/journals/825612/ - 今日の日記
cathrynm on 26 February 2011

Kirjoitin päiväkirjani.

http://lang-8.com/8649/journals/827880/ - Tänään nostin antennini

cathrynm on 28 February 2011

日記を書きました。
クラスの単語も勉強しました。

http://lang-8.com/8649/journals/827918/ - 今日の日本語の日記

最近[lang-8.com」の動作はちょっと遅いです。　あさってごろ「lang-8.com]は修復するそうです。
cathrynm on 28 February 2011

Kuuntelin TY Finnish, ja katsoin Supisuomea.
Kirjoitin suomeksi tänään.

http://lang-8.com/8649/journals/830497/ - Kirjoitin suomeksi
cathrynm on 02 March 2011

今日日本語の授業の漢字を勉強して、日記を書きました。
http://www.chugoku-np.co.jp　と言うウエブサイトもちょっと読みました。　

http://lang-8.com/8649/journals/830556/ - 医者について作文
cathrynm on 02 March 2011

Tänään lang-8:ssa kirjoitin minun päiväkirjani.

http://lang-8.com/8649/journals/845949/ - Minun päiväkirjani
cathrynm on 13 March 2011

今日日本語のファイナルを受けて
怖いニュースも見て
日記を書きました。

http://lang-8.com/8649/journals/846001/ - 今日の日記
cathrynm on 13 March 2011

I'm just checking in here to say that I haven't fallen off the program. But for now I'm working on a 900 Finnish word list that I extracted from TY Finnish. So I'm listening to the TY Finnish CD and working on this Anki deck with words from the entire book at the same time. I still do a frightening number of card fails on Finnish words, literally 100+ fails on each word, so I have to turn off the leach algorithm -- though this is how it was with me with Japanese also.

I just started another semester of the reading class at the Sokogakuen, and this class is pretty challenging, so it's keeping me on the ball with Japanese.

I have been obsessively reading Japanese news on the web. And also I've been experimenting with reading the Selkouutiset news in Finnish first thing in the morning with no dictionary.
cathrynm on 06 April 2011

Cathryn, in your study research, have you found any Japanese news that would be of equivalent level to Selkouutiset? I adore Selkouutiset, and I'd love to find a similar thing in Japanese if it existed. (I also asked this question somewhere else in the forum, but had no luck there.)

Also, is it okay to PM you? I am most passionate about my Finnish, but I am right now most actively studying Japanese. It would be nice to talk to someone who can understand the enthusiasm for both.
jdmoncada on 06 April 2011

You are crazy!
As a native finnish speaker I know how hard that language could be. I read some of your writings and I was surprised how good it was. Of course, there's always some mistakes when you're learning a new language, but all in all it's very understandable.
It's better than google translator and better than the most of the pizzeria keepers here in Finland ;)
jeje on 07 April 2011

今日は１２月の日本語能力試験を登録しました。　　
それで、その試験を受けるために　勉強するつもりです。　　
それはN2のレブルでも、私にとって難しそう� ��思います。　
来年３Nの試験を五点で不合格してしまった� �しかし、サンフランシスコのそうこう学園� �JLPTN2　Preｐ　というクラスをうけます。　� �
その授業で２N文法を勉強していて、　文法� �５０％ぐらい知らないらしいです。　　漢� �が大抵できるけど　聞き取りが凄くむずか� �いです。　　　
それで、　新完全マスター聴解という本を買いました。　　そのCDをきくつもりです。

cathrynm on 25 September 2011

ACK. 　　その文字化けが起こってしまいました。　ごめん

cathrynm on 25 September 2011

ご成功を心からからのります。 I wish you success studying for the 2N! (Did I read correctly, you're prepping for the N2,right? Sorry, my Japanese is really rusty!)
Sunja on 25 September 2011

Thanks, yeah, N2. It's a big stretch for me, but actually that's a good thing, really. It's funny, but the minute I put the letter in the mail, I got this slightly anxious feeling that I gotta' study more. I'm in a prep class for N2, so I figured I might as well take it -- though nearly everyone in this same class took N2 last year and failed, they're still all here.

These tests require an ability to know what is not natural sounding Japanese, and I'm afraid I still have a bit of a 'beginner's mind' with Japanese, and my brain can twist any nonsense utterance into making sense. So I think maybe that's going to be a bit of a problem.

My emphasis is mostly Listening and Grammar. The class is covering grammar pretty methodically, so I'm just going to take this class seriously and actually study, and I'm hoping this gets me close to knowing all the grammar. That and I just bought some practice CD's for JLPT2 and I'm looking those over now. We'll see how it goes.
cathrynm on 26 September 2011

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KsroDFx2I_I&feature=fvst - 地獄少女のOP

Well, I got hooked on this, especially season 3 which I grabbed off of the nautical pirate site which I will not mention. Been watching with electrical tape over the English subtitles. Actually it has a lot of repetitive dialog. Hell girl basically makes exactly the same speech every episode, which helps for comprehension.

その番組は面白くてはちょっと怖いです。　　

https://bookweb.kinokuniya.co.jp/guest/cgi-bin/wshoseaohb.cg i?W-NIPS=9985501071&AREA=02&LANG=J - 日本語能力試験　Ｎ２／Ｎ３文法対策標準テキスト

それは授業の教科書です。　　一週間中１課を勉強しています。　　　今週２３の文法の型を習ったけど、　たくさん忘れてしまった。　　　仕事も忙しいです。次のゲームプログラミングの仕事はハロウィーン締め切りから、　ハロウィーン後で日本語とフィンランド語を勉強する機会が増えるとおもいます。
cathrynm on 03 October 2011

最近返事は文字化けがないです。　　幸運なことらしい。
cathrynm on 03 October 2011

Well, work is crazy busy. But I'm managing to squeeze in time for JLPT N2 grammar.

Today, this week's chapter s 11 mono and 14 koto. Uh, I think actually I'm starting to get better at guessing the answers to these grammar problems. I think oddly, I have pretty good retention from grammar books. That I do remember the formula from these -- I just horrified a guy in mY Japanese class who has much more intuitive abilities with this language, when I answered problems in class by reciting exactly what the grammar book said. This is my brain's strange ability.

On the practice reading I've tried reading every sentence exactly twice, and I find that I'm largely understanding what I'm reading, but often the questions are tricky and I miss the answers. I'm kind of getting a vague but not precise picture. Maybe this will be enough to fake it through.

Listening on the N2 is going to be a train wreck, I'm afraid. I do remember on the N3, kind of cheating a little on the listening, because some of the answers are so absurd that people in the room laugh, and then I know what's a wrong answer. I see this happening in class with these listening problems. I missed one because of not hearing these, which went by fast. 初旬　下旬　中旬. The longer listening question, I have just have huge issues with short term memory in Japanese. Like I'll hear words and a minute later my memory is wiped. Shorter sentences are okay, but long stuff utterances go in and out.

I've been watching more jigoku shoujo and I have 495 episodes of One Piece. I've gone through about 18 of them, so I have just over 477 remaining.
cathrynm on 31 October 2011

Well, I'm about 30 episodes into One Piece now. I'm getting in one every few days for awhile, but last week I've been down in LA to visit my father, and my Anime collection is all in Northern California. Southern California does have a Japanese TV -- maybe it's about 30% Japanese language programming? It's not Japanese all the time, but it's enough to get quite a bit of TV watching in down there.

I take my work with me to LA, and right now, there's work, and and I have to take care of my father's business and visit him, and then more work -- and this Saturday is the final for my JLPT prep class, and then a couple weeks from now the actual JLPT.

I think I'm feeling okay about vocab and grammar. I've pretty much kept up with the class so my grammar study is on track, though quite a few of these grammar patterns are totally new to me, so honestly, I think I need another year or so to really get these down. Sometimes I can guess on the multiple choice tests and get them right -- though I'm still like often confused about wari versus hodo -- I find I have zero intuition for what is wrong Japanese, so that's going to be a problem on the tests.

Listening, I'm afraid is going to be train wreck, but I kind of expect this. It's always my weakest point. I have a 5 hour drive to LA and I do get quite a bit of listening on that. Coming back, I have a Grammar CD that came with one of my books and it lists off sample Japanese grammar sentences one after another, one for each grammar issue, and I listened to that. In LA I did go to the Japanese meetup in Santa Monica in LA and did actually speak some Japanese -- though conversationally, I'm like total beginner level. I'm much better in chat rooms and other text based formats.

Anyway, what can I say. It's all for fun. After this December after JLPT, I want to get back onto Finnish study and get my flash cards going again, and start on Lang-8 again.
cathrynm on 19 November 2011

That's another class final completed. I've been through my first year of this level of classes at the sokogakuen here in San Francisco. I think I've been through about 12 classes at this place now oveer 3 years. Final wasn't too bad, though I know of some mistakes. I wasn't sure about karaka versus ka -- and some other screwups -- I have two weeks now until JLPT. Work, unfortunately, is not cooperating and I'm trying to squeeze as much time as I can in.

I'm just leaving characters for now, since I don't have to write for the JLPT. I think I'm going to go over some practice tests. Also I just have too many papers and other junk. I have to toss out another big pile of paper before I get buried.
cathrynm on 20 November 2011

So, the JLPT N2 is over. Anyone else take this? I'm afraid the new format is mucking with my time management, because I think I'm dawdling too much on the beginning stuff and not giving myself enough time on the reading. Or maybe I think it's that my reading comprehension of complex sentences is still a a little broken. That often I know all the words but I'm not quite following what I'm reading. I'm afraid that work ate into my Japanese study time this year, but this isn't altogether a bad thing, because it means I'm not desperately poor.

I pretty much ignored Kanji this year, and I don't think I saw a single character I couldn't read. I spent most of my actual study time on grammar, and I knew some of these and used the 'what sounds about right' system to pick the answers otherwise. For reading, I ran out of time and really rushed the end. Listening was kind of a disaster, as expected, and maybe 10=20% I knew the answers, and maybe another 20% I knew that some answers were obviously wrong. I would be very surprised if I get over 50% right on the listening. Oh well, there's always next year, I think. Honestly the N2 is a huge stretch for me, and I think maybe next hear I'll be more in the ballpark. I saw quite a few people from my class at the JLPT test, so after the JLPT we actually went to this place that has Japanese Karaoke. Some of these guys have these songs down. I need to listen to more music, one of these days, I think. I slip into a strange fog when I'm in these kinds of social situations and just drift off, I'm afraid.

Anyway, my plan was to get back to Lang-8 now that the JLPT is over, and I mean to do that. I might be making more noise here, on the account of this.

cathrynm on 05 December 2011

http://lang-8.com/8649/journals/1213156/re%253A-%25E3%2581%2 58A%25E4%25B9%2585%25E3%2581%2597%25E3%2581%25B6%25E3%2582%2 58A%25EF%25BC%25AC%25EF%25BC%25A1%25EF%25BC%25AE%25EF%25BC%2 5A7%25EF%25BC%258D%25EF%25BC%2598 - Lang-8 post

今夜のラングエットで書いたこと。　それは短いことだけ。　　
cathrynm on 05 December 2011

Kind of low key on the Finnish still, but I am warming up here.. I cracked open my old Finnish sentence of the day Anki deck. Got some time on that again. I'm trying to establish a habit of reading Selkouutiset every morning in bed with my iPad, even if I don't know all the words, I just kind of read. I set my Android tablet UI to Finnish, though sometimes I have to revert back to English to do stuff.
cathrynm on 09 December 2011

http://jclab.wordpress.com/2011/11/23/relay-in-labyrinth-han iya/ - 迷路のなかの継走者

Kind of above my pay grade, but I'm working on this site jclab.wordpress.com I just picked it because it has audio too. This is pretty much a stretch for me, and I often catastrophically misunderstand these things, so be warned.

気質＝きしつ＝Spirit, character
ものごころ＝awareness of things around one.
裡＝うち
巣くっている＝to build a nest.

すべてどうでも好いというのがものごころつくはじめから私の裡に巣くっていて、ついに改め難かったところの気質である。
It was a tiny awareness that began to settle inside of me, of an ultimately unchangeable character.

私は日常のなかでたいていどうでも好いのである。
Among other ordinary things going on it was insignificant.

謂う＝言う？
平衡＝へいこう=equilibrium

ときには気になったような顔付をしてみることがあるが、それは気にすべきある状況への釣合いをとっている謂わば自然な平衡作用の現われに過ぎないように思われる。
At times though it seemed like I wasn't noticing it, I think this was nothing more than the appearance of trying finding a natural equilibrium, you could say it was an attempt to create a balance with something I must be pay attention to.

或る＝ある

私がものを書く場合、このような気質からして読者をもとめるたちではない方だが、ところで、　いくらか書き進んでいる裡に作用と読者のあいだの或る種の関係が、私なりに謂わば理論的に出来上ってきて、どうでも好いという気質を越えたところに次第に移り行ってしまった。

In the case of me writing about this kind of insignificant thing, there's no way to demand readership, and due the distance between the act of continuing to write, and the reader, I'd say, theoretically, the prospect of conveying such an insignificant matter is a hit or miss proposition.

云う＝言う？
正反対＝せいはんたい＝opposite
敢えて＝あえて＝venture

その新しい関係とは、どうでも好いという本来の気質をまったく排除している訳でもないが、また　云って見れば、正反対ともいえるもので、敢えて命名してみれば、「in confidence]内証で、といったものである。
As far as the new matter is concerned,that doesn't necessarily mean I'll exclude the original insignificant matter. Again, I'll try to name it, because the opposite could be said (??), I'll venture to call the matter [in confidence] or inner proof.

課する＝かする＝to levy, impose, assign
すべてにどうでも好い私はただひとつ私の上に取り除きがたく課された問題のみを論ずることが好きである。
As a humble individual person, I'd like to debate this matter from which it is difficult to not want exclude myself from.

I this thing going anywhere? (hmm, this is pretty difficult. I'm sure there are horrific mistakes here)
cathrynm on 11 December 2011

And a little bit of translation of selkouutiset

http://yle.fi/selkouutiset/

arvioida-->arvioinut = appraise
päätös-->päätöksiä = decision PTV PL
Eurooppa-ministeri Alexander Stubb on arvioinut EU-johtajien tämän viikon huippukokouksen päätöksiä.
European minster Alexander Stubb evaluates this week's high level meeting of the EU leaders.

mieli-->mielesta
Ministeri Stubbin mielestä Euroopan unioni menee kohti talousunionia.
In Minister Stubb's mind, the European union is headed to domestic economic union.

Kaikki 17 euromaata ja kuusi (6) euron ulkopuolista EU-maata sopivat
taloussopimuksesta, jolla tiivistetään maiden yhteistä talouspolitiikkaa.
All 17 Euro countries, and 6 countries outside the Euro will come to an economic agreement, each nation condensed into a single economic and political entity.

rahasto=fund
ratkaisu=answer
Alexander Stubb uskoo, että EU:n kriisirahastosta syntyy ratkaisu, jonka Suomi voi hyväksyä.
Alexander Stubb believes, that if the EU crisis fund is resolved, even Finland can approve.

käytöstä=käytöstä
Suomi on ainoa maa, jonka mielestä EU-maiden täytyy sopia kriisirahaston käytöstä yksimielisesti.
Finland is the only country, which thinks the EU countries must agree to resolve the crisis in a single-minded manner.

Stubbin mielestä on tärkeää, että Suomi on mukana kriisirahastossa
Stubbs believes it is vital, that Finland is on board for the solution of the crisis.

cathrynm on 11 December 2011

Well, going through these is fast and easy. I thought I'd do another one tonight.

järjestää=organize
viime = last, past, dying
vaali=election
vastaan=counter
tulo->tulosta=arrival
Venäjällä on järjestetty mielenosoituksia viime sunnuntain parlamenttivaalien tulosta vastaan.
In Russia there was an organized demonstration against last Sunday's parliamentary election results.

Poliisi kertoo, että esimerkiksi Moskovassa oli lauantaina ainakin 25 000 mielenosoittajaa.
Police say, for example, in Moscow on Saturday there were at least 25,000 demonstrators.

Mielenosoituksen järjestäjät kertovat, että mielenosoittajia oli paljon enemmän.
Organizers of the demonstrations said that the number of demonstrators was much greater.

vihainen->vihaisia->angry
epäillä=question
rehellinen=honest
Venäläiset ovat vihaisia, koska he epäilevät, että viime sunnuntain vaalit eivät olleet rehelliset.
Russians are angry, because they question whether last sunday's elections were honest.

ääni=voice
säilyttää=preserve
menettää=lost
enemmistö=majority
Pääministeri Vladimir Putinin puolue menetti paljon ääniä vaaleissa, mutta puolue
säilytti enemmistön parlamentissa eli duumassa.
Prime minister Vladimir Putin party lost many seats, but the party preserved its parliamentary majority in the Duma.

vaatia=insist
Mielenosoittajat vaativat, että maassa järjestetään uudet vaalit.
The demonstrators insist, that the country organize new elections.

epärehellisyys=dishonesty
tunnustaa=confess
julkinen=public
vaatia=ask
Lisäksi he vaativat, että vaalien epärehellisyys tunnustetaan julkisesti.
In addition they ask that the election's dishonesty be exposed to the public.

cathrynm on 11 December 2011

http://yle.fi/selkouutiset/?selkouutiset

Pääministeri Jyrki Katainen on puhunut Euroopan kriisirahastosta.
Head minister Jyrki Katainen is speaking on the European Crisis fund.

paha->pahoja (ptvpl)=corrupt
ongelma=disorder
EU aikoo kriisirahaston avulla auttaa maita, joilla on pahoja talousongelmia.
The EU plans a crisis fund for helping countries, each one with their own corrupt economic problems.

Pääministeri Katainen on sitä mieltä, että kaikkien euromaiden täytyy olla mukana Euroopan kriisirahastossa.
Head minister Katainen believes with regard to this. that each European country must be together with the European Crisis fund.

Pääministeri Katainen puhui asiasta sunnuntaina Radio Suomessa.
Head minister Katainen said of the matter Sunday on Radio Finland.

vastustaa=contest, protest, withstand
sääntö=sääntöjen (genpl)= rule
muuttaminen=removal
Suomi on ainoa euromaa, joka vastustaa kriisirahaston sääntöjen muuttamista.
Finland is the only European coutnry, to contest the Crisis funds's suspension of regulations.

Saksa ja Ranska haluavat muuttaa Euroopan kriisirahaston sääntöjä.
Germany and France have desired the removal of European crisis fund rules.

tukeminen=patronage?
Niiden mielestä EU-maiden ei tarvitse olla yksimielisiä, kun ne käyttävät rahastoa kriisimaiden tukemiseen.
They believe the EU countries don't need to be single-minded, if they apply funding is the countries in crises requires.

käyttö->käytöstä
Suomi on ainoa maa, jonka mielestä EU-maiden pitää sopia kriisirahaston käytöstä yksimielisesti.
Finland is the only country which believes the EU countries want to implement a suitable unified crisis fund.

keskustella=discuss
Pääministeri Katainen sanoo, että hallitus aikoo vielä keskustella kriisirahastosta.
Head minister Katainen said, that the government plans to negotiate the crisis fund.

toivoa=wish
mukana=together
tehdä->tekemässä
päätös=decision
Katainen toivoo, Suomi on mukana tekemässä päätöksiä Euroopan kriisirahastossa myös tulevaisuudessa.
Katainen wishes, that Finland can make a decision on the crisis fund and the future.
cathrynm on 11 December 2011

pentu->pennun (gen) = cub
Ranuan
Jääkarhu on saanut elävän pennun Ranuan eläinpuistossa Etelä-Lapissa.
A polar bear has her playful cub in the Ranua animal preserve in Southern Lapland.

Venus-jääkarhu sai marraskuussa kaksi (2) pentua.
Venus the polar bear had 2 cubs this November.

kuolla->kuoli=died
jälkeen=after
Toinen pennuista kuoli melkein heti synnytyksen jälkeen.
The second cub died immediately after birth

painaa->painoi= weighed
Toinen pentu painoi noin 500 grammaa ja sen paino on kolmen viikon aikana noussut hyvin.
The cub weighs only 500 grams and it's weight in the 3rd week is increasing nicely.

Tapaus=affair
harvinainen=unusual
Tapaus on harvinainen, koska jääkarhut eivät yleensä saa eläviä pentuja eläinpuistoissa.
The case is unusual because polar bears don't usually raise live cubs in the animal park.

onnistua->onnistu=succeed
häiritä=disturb
elämä=life
Jääkarhut eivät usein onnistu saamaan pentuja eläinpuistoissa, koska siellä monet asiat häiritsevät jääkarhujen elämää.
Polar bears do not often succeed raising cubs in the park, because they are many problems that disturb polar bear's life.
cathrynm on 13 December 2011

Kaupoissa on pula voista.
pula=market slump
The market are short on butter.

Kaupat eivät saa meijereistä niin paljon voita, kuin ihmiset haluavat sitä ostaa.
Markets are not getting enough butter from the dairies, because everyone wants to buy.

kulutus=consumption
Voin kulutus on kasvanut 20 prosenttia tänä vuonna.
Butter consumption is up 20% this year.

rasvainen->rasvaisempia (CMP P PL) -- fatty
tuote=produce (P PL)
Suomalaiset ovat alkaneet syödä rasvaisempia tuotteita kuin ennen.
Finns are starting to drink more fattier products than previously.

hamstrata=>hamstraavat=hoard (like a hamster?)
varastoon->varasto->stocks
Suomalaiset myös hamstraavat voita eli ostavat voita varastoon.
Finns are also hoarding butter so none can be bought from stocks.

tavallinen->normal
Jouluna ihmiset käyttävät muutenkin voita enemmän kuin tavallisesti.
For Christmas people are using something other than butter more than normal.

Jouluruokiin lisätään usein voita.
Christmas food uses a lot of butter.

cathrynm on 14 December 2011

Kaupoissa on pula voista.
pula=market slump
The stores are short on butter.

Kaupat eivät saa meijereistä niin paljon voita, kuin ihmiset haluavat sitä ostaa.
The stores are not getting as much butter as people want to buy. (idk where to put "from dairies")

kulutus=consumption
Voin kulutus on kasvanut 20 prosenttia tänä vuonna.
Butter consumption is up 20% this year.

rasvainen->rasvaisempia (CMP P PL) -- fatty
tuote=produce (P PL)
Suomalaiset ovat alkaneet syödä rasvaisempia tuotteita kuin ennen.
Finns are starting to eat more fattier products than previously.

hamstrata=>hamstraavat=hoard (like a hamster?)
varastoon->varasto->stocks
Suomalaiset myös hamstraavat voita eli ostavat voita varastoon.
Finns are also hoarding butter, that is buying butter for keeping in store/stock.

tavallinen->normal
Jouluna ihmiset käyttävät muutenkin voita enemmän kuin tavallisesti.
And anyway (muutenkin), during Christmas people use butter more than usually.

Jouluruokiin lisätään usein voita.
Christmas food uses a lot of butter. (more literally - butter is often put/added into Christmas food)

I tried selkouutiset at some point... i always felt insulted when the lady said in less than perfect Russian that I was listening to a programme in simplified Finnish:S

Have you tried Ymmärrä suomea? http://www2.edu.fi/ymmarrasuomea/ It's one of my favourite resources. The texts are relatively simple but also longer, hopefully this helps you to learn to handle all the various structures better. Besides, the vocabulary should be more familiar to you, so you can concentrate on the listening comprehension and structures (:

Oh and I hope I didn't make you feel discouraged! The rest of your translations wouldn't need that many corrections I think.
Serpent on 15 December 2011

cathrynm wrote:

I set my Android tablet UI to Finnish, though sometimes I have to revert back to English to do stuff.

*thumbs up* :)
btw hilariously enough, because I bought my Nokia (and all my previous Nokias) in Russia, I can't switch it to Finnish! XD My previous one at least had Estonian, Romanian and Ukrainian, my current one just Russian, Belarusian and English :S
Serpent on 15 December 2011

>Oh and I hope I didn't make you feel discouraged! The rest of your translations
>wouldn't need that many corrections I think.

No, no, not at all. I have no ego tied up in Finnish, really, correct away all you like. I'm just kind of guessing my way through these things somewhat, really.

cathrynm on 15 December 2011

argh, didn't you participate in this year's TAC? i wanted to vote for you:P
Serpent on 17 December 2011

No, not 2011. I did a fair amount of posting and studying over the year, but I think I seemed to be mostly oblivious to what else was going on around here and never knew anything about the teams or any of this stuff. (And part of this was a conscious effort to avoid getting sucked into to too much English chat on this system, to be honest.)
cathrynm on 18 December 2011

http://www2.edu.fi/ymmarrasuomea/index.php?moduli=tekstit&si vu=osiot&teksti=0

alennus=discount
myynti=sale
On tammikuu ja alennusmyyntien aika.
In January there are sales.

juosta=run
Irina on juossut koko päivän kaupasta kauppaan.
Irina is running every day from store to store.

täynnä=full
Hänellä on kädet täynnä kasseja.
Her hands are filled with bags.

kiire=hurry
Nyt hänellä on kiire kotiin.
Now she hurries home.

juosta->juoksee
Hän juoksee bussipysäkille.
She runs to the bus stop.

kaatua->kaatuu=falls
liukastua=slide
Yhtäkkiä hän liukastuu ja kaatuu kadulle.
Suddenly she slides and falls on the street.

Kun hän yrittää nousta, hän ei pääse ylös, koska vasemmassa nilkassa on valtava kipu.
When she first tries to rise, she can't get up, because her left ankle is in tremendous pain.

Hän pyytää vieressä seisovalta mieheltä apua.
She asks man standing by to help.

Mies soittaa kännykällä ambulanssin.
The Man calls an ambulance with his cell phone.

Kun ambulanssi tulee, Irina nostetaan autoon ja viedään sairaalan ensiapuosastolle.
When the ambulance arrives, Irina is lifted into the ambulance and is taken to the hospital emergency room.

kenkilö=person
tieto=data
Sairaalassa Irina nostetaan paareille, ja sairaanhoitaja ottaa hänen henkilötietonsa.
At the hopsital Irina is carried in, and the nurses take her personal data.

tutkia->tutkii
Sitten lääkäri tutkii Irinan, ja hänet viedään röntgeniin.
Next the doctor examines Irnina, and he takes X-rays.

nyrjähtää=sprained.
Lääkäri kertoo Irinalle, että hänen nilkkansa ei ole murtunut, vaan nyrjähtänyt.
The doctor tells Irina, that her angle is not broken, only sprained.

tukiside=cast
Sairaanhoitaja laittaa Irinan nilkkaan tukisiteen.
The nurses set Irina's ankle in a cast.

muutama=a few
Lääkäri sanoo Irinalle, että hän voi mennä kotiin, mutta hänen täytyy levätä muutama päivä.
The doctor tells Irina that she can go home but she must rest a few days.

Irina pyytää sairaanhoitajaa soittamaan hänen miehelleen.
Irina asks the nurse to call her husband.

Irina on iloinen, että hänen ei tarvitse jäädä sairaalaan.
Irina is happy, that she does not need stay at the hospital.
cathrynm on 18 December 2011

今週父に会うためにロスまで運転しました、　水曜日にサンタモニカ町で「meetup.com]とい� ��会議に参加しました。　それで、日本語で� ��ょっと話したり、　紅茶を飲んだり、　し� ��した、　　　仕事はちょっと忙しかったで� ��。　　新しいゲームが締め切りがたいへん� ��思います。　　それで語学めったにしませ� ��でしたが、　運転しながら、「Ｉｐｈｏｎ� ��｝で日本語とフィンランド語を聞きました� ��　ankiもフィンランド語単語カードも勉強しました。　今日の昼に「madventures]という番組をフィンランド語で見ました。

cathrynm on 18 December 2011

varoittaa=warn
paheneminen=exacerbation
Suomen Pankin pääjohtaja varoittaa Euroopan velkakriisin pahenemisesta.
Finnish banking chief executive warns that the European debt crisis is starting to get worse.

pysäyttää=stop, halt, thwart
Pääjohtaja Erkki Liikanen sanoo, että Euroopalla on muutama kuukausi aikaa pysäyttää velkakriisi.
Cheif executive Erkki Liikanen says, in Europe within a few months time the debt crisis must end.

Jos velkakriisi jatkuu, koko maailmantalous muuttuu huonommaksi.
If the debt crisis continues, the entire world's economy will change for the worse.

taantua->suffers a setback
Talous taantuu.
Economies will decline.

Pääjohtaja Erkki Liikanen puhui asiasta TV 1:n Ykkösaamussa.
Chief executive Erkki Liikanen said on business TV channel 1's show Ykkösaamu.

kärsiä=suffer
Suomen Pankin pääjohtaja Erkki Liikanen on sitä mieltä, että myös Suomen talous kärsii, jos maailman talous taantuu.
Finland's banking chief executive Erkki Liikanen has this belief, that the Finnish economy also suffers if the world's economy suffers a setback.

vienti=export
vähetä->vähenee=decrease
työttömyys=unemployment
Suomen vienti vähenee, työttömyys kasvaa ja valtionvelka lisääntyy.
Finnish exports decrease, unemployment increases and government debts compound.

ongelma=disorder
ratkaista=resolve
Liikanen sanoo, että maailman talouskriisi voidaan estää, jos Euroopan talousongelmat ratkaistaan.
Liikanen says, that the world's economic crisis can be averted if the European economic chaos is resolved.

luottamus=trust
Jos esimerkiksi Italian ja Espanjan pahat talousongelmat ratkaistaan, luottamus Eurooppaan lisääntyy.
If for example Italian and Spanish corrupt economic problems are solved, trust in Europe will grow.

Liikanen on myös sitä mieltä, että euro on ollut hyvä asia Suomen taloudelle.
Liikanen is also of the opintion that the EURO is a good thing for the Finnish economy.

kunto=>kunnossa=condition
Vanhan markan aikana Suomen talous ei ollut näin hyvässä kunnossa kuin nyt euron aikana.
At the time the Marks were used, Finnish economic conditions weren't as good as good as now in the time of the Euro.

cathrynm on 18 December 2011

Serpent wrote:

I tried selkouutiset at some point... i always felt insulted when the lady said in less than perfect Russian that I was listening to a programme in simplified Finnish:S

Yeah I have no problem with simplified Finnish myself. Though since I have a transcript here that I can study and read, I don't need the audio to be slow speed since I can pick up words using a dictionary.

What would be my preference, I think, is native speed, but with a written transcript. I think this would help more with listening comprehension.
cathrynm on 18 December 2011

aw, you tried ymmärrä suomea too? how was it? :)

cathrynm wrote:

http://www2.edu.fi/ymmarrasuomea/index.php?moduli=tekstit&si vu=osiot&teksti=0

alennus=discount
myynti=sale
On tammikuu ja alennusmyyntien aika.
In January there are sales.

i wonder if you understand the grammatical structure of the sentences? here it might not matter but with literature it would be essential.
for example, this one literally means "it's January and the sales' time".

as for native speed+no transcripts..well, you can listen without looking at the transcripts first, and then check the glossary (where available) and only then listen while reading the transcript if needed :)

a good trick might be to listen on your ipod or whatever first rather than at comp, both to be more focused on what you're listening to and to avoid the temptation of looking at the text.
Serpent on 18 December 2011

I'm not sure what I was thinking with that one. I do know ja = and, but my brain just refused to parse that for some reason.

A lot of this stuff is guessable from context, and it's a lot of stuff I sort of vaguely know, is kind of how it's in my brain. Sort of a vague kind of mushy and unreliable sense of kind of what the different endings mean. I think I can recognize a lot of the basic forms, see that look like it might be genetive and I see another word and I think it's probably partitive, or past tense, etc. There's a bunch of infinitive forms that I kind of recognize but don't know how to use, and production is still a disaster, and I really need to drill on this.

So I do need to do more focused study of grammar at some point, and normally I'm pretty interested in this kind of thing, but what happened is I did massive reading of Japanese grammar books these last few months. I think maybe I'm rebounding off of a bit of grammar overload the last few months of studying for the JLPT.
cathrynm on 18 December 2011

[QUOTE=Serpent] aw, you tried ymmärrä suomea too? how was it? :)[QUOTE=cathrynm]

Well, it's interesting. I think I like the audio better, actually. This guy sounds a bit more normal. Selkouutiset sounds so tortured to my ears, sometimes. The content, this one at least is a bit labored, I know this kind of thing myself. "I woke up, then I ate breakfast, then I watched TV, then I fed my cat, and then I fell asleep." This is how language learning starts, I suppose. I'm looking at the exercise now.
cathrynm on 18 December 2011

konkurssi=bankruptcy
hakemus=application
jättää,jättänyt,jätti
Ruotsalainen autonvalmistaja Saab on jättänyt konkurssihakemuksen.
Swedish automaker Saab is filing for bankruptcy.

toimitusjohtaja=CEO (operation leader)
taloudellinen=economical
vaikeus=trouble
Saabin toimitusjohtaja jätti konkurssihakemuksen, koska autonvalmistajalla oli pahoja taloudellisia vaikeuksia.
Saab's CEO filed for bankruptcy because the automaker was in bad financial trouble.

työntekijä=employee
palkka->palkkoja = wages
Rahapulan takia yhtiö ei pystynyt maksamaan esimerkiksi työntekijöille palkkoja.
For example, due to the shortage of money the company was not able to to pay employee wages.

Saabia yritettiin pelastaa konkurssilta.
Saab tried to save itself from bankruptcy.

neuvotella=bargaining
Saab on neuvotellut esimerkiksi kiinalaisen autoalan yhtiön kanssa rahoituksesta.
Saab is bargaining, for examples, with a Chinese auto company to receive funding.

kuitenkaan=anyway?
päästä=reach
Saab ja kiinalainen yhtiö eivät kuitenkaan päässeet sopimukseen rahoituksesta.
Saab and the Chinese company are not able to reach an agreement for funding.

tärkeä=important
teollisuus->teollisuudelle?=company
Saab on ollut tärkeä yritys Ruotsin teollisuudelle.
Saab is an important Swedish company.

oikeus=court
Nyt oikeus päättää pian, täytyykö Saabin lopettaa autojen valmistaminen.
Now, the court decides soon, whether Saab must halt auto production.
cathrynm on 20 December 2011

The YLE iPad/iPhone app is so useful for Finnish. For some reason the Areena.yle.fi website blocks everything -- nothing but frustration, but all this stuff that's blocked on the web version of Areena seems to be watchable on the iPad version. Recommended.
cathrynm on 21 December 2011

cathrynm wrote:

kuitenkaan=anyway?
teollisuus->teollisuudelle?=company

yes, kuitenkaan is the negative form of kuitenkin. anyway, however etc.
teollisuus=industry. saab is important for the industry.

edit: and eivät päässeet is the past form.
Serpent on 22 December 2011

ヒトが他の動物ともっとも異なっている点として、火が使えるということが挙げれれる。
The main main difference between people and other animals is the ability to create fire.

火によって、ヒトは他の動物から身を守り、夜間に活動することも可能になった。
Because of Fire people can protect their bodies from other animals and got the ability to do things at night.

人種が火を手に入れたのは、　約１００万年前のことだと推定されている。
It's presumed that humans obtained fire about 1 million years ago. (100x10,000=1million)

火の利用でその後の人種の進化に大きな影響を与えたのは、　料理ができるようになったことであろう。
Due to the advancement of the use of fire, human development have received large influence, for example the developing the ability to cook food.

当時、ヒトが食べられる食材の種類は非常に少なかったが、　生で食べられないものを煮たり焼いたりすることで、次第にそれは増えていった。
Those days, though the variety of cooking ingredients was extremely small, but as food that was inedible raw was boiled or baked, gradually the variety of ingredients increased.

もたらす＝bring about
料理して食べることは、　ヒトの身体に変化をもたらした。
The ability to cook food bought about changes in the human body.

例えば、　ゴリラは主に植物を食べているが、十分な栄養を取るためには一日に大量の植物を食べなければならない。
For example, though gorillas mainly heat plants, to receive enough nutrition, each day they must eat a large quantity.

ほお＝cheek
生の植物は固いので、　それをかむためにはほおの筋肉を強くする必要があった。
Because raw vegetables are tough, in order to chew, they needed to developer powerful muscles in the cheeks.

頭蓋骨＝ずがいこつ＝skull
その影響で、頭蓋骨はあまり大きくならなかった。
As as result, the skull became smaller.

調理＝ちょうり＝cooking
あご＝chin
一方、ヒトは、調理されて柔らかくなった食物を食べるようになり、　歯やあごは小さく、食べ物をかむための筋肉は弱くなっていった。
On the other hand, because people were able to eat food which became soft through cooking, the teeth and jaws became smaller, the muscles used to chew food became weak.

発声器官＝はっせいきかん＝vocal chords
その反面、頭蓋骨は大きくなり、のどの発声器官も発達したと考えられている。　
On the other hand,the skull became larger, the throat and vocal chords developer.

このように、人種は身体を発達させ、　思考や言語を手に入れることができたのだ。
As a result, the human body developed and the ability to think and speak were obtained.
cathrynm on 25 December 2011

liikenne=traffic
Autoteillä on paljon liikennettä joulun takia.
Roads are filled with traffic because of Christmas.

Perjantaina liikenteessä on ollut paljon autoja, kun ihmiset ovat lähteneet viettämään joulua.
Fridays traffic has many cars because people are leaving to celebrate Christmas.

Monilla ihmisillä on joululoma.
Many people have Christmas time off.

Poliisi sanoo, että liikenne on sujunut melko hyvin.
The police say that traffic is flowing quite well.

kolari=crash (ppl)
Joitakin pahoja kolareita on tapahtunut.
Also, sometimes bad accidents are occuring.

ajokeli=driving conditions
Ajokeli muuttuu huonoksi joissakin paikoissa perjantai-illan aikana.
Driving conditions changed for the worse at some places the time of Friday evening.

Myös juna-asemilla on ollut paljon ihmisiä.
Also there are many people at the train stations.

Yli 50 000 suomalaista käyttää junaa joulun aikaan.
Over 50,000 Finns use the the trains at Christmas.

Junaliikenne ja bussiliikenne loppuu jouluaattona lauantaina iltapäivällä.
Train traffic and bus traffic stop Christmas eve Saturday evening.

Joulupäivänä iltapäivällä bussi- ja junaliikenne alkaa uudelleen.
Christmas evening Buss and train traffic start again.

Myös kaupat ovat kiinni joulun aikaan.
Also stores are closed on Christmas day.

Kaupat ovat auki jouluaattona lauantaina aamulla.
Stores are open on the morning of Saturday, Christmas eve.

Monet kaupat ovat auki seuraavan kerran maanantaina.
Many stores are open next Monday.

cathrynm on 25 December 2011

Serpent wrote:

cathrynm wrote:

kuitenkaan=anyway?
teollisuus->teollisuudelle?=company

yes, kuitenkaan is the negative form of kuitenkin. anyway, however etc.
teollisuus=industry. saab is important for the industry.

edit: and eivät päässeet is the past form.

And thanks.
cathrynm on 25 December 2011

laiva=ship
lastata=load
Kotkassa on alkanut Thor Liberty laivan lastaaminen.
On Kotka (island) the ship Thor Liberty is beginning to load cargo.

räjähdys=explosive
aine=matter
turvallinen=safe
kontti=container
Räjähdysaineet pakataan turvallisesti laivan kontteihin.
Explosive are being safely stowed in the ship's containers.

viranomainen=puplic officials
hävittää=destroy
Viranomaiset haluavat hävittää rikkinäiset pakkaukset, joissa on räjähteitä.
Public officials wish to destroy broken packages, which are explosive.

ohjus=missile
siirtää=transfer
laiva=ship
Ohjukset on siirretty pois Kotkan räjähdelaivasta.
Missiles are being transferred away from the explosive-transporting ship in Kotka.

uolustus=defense
voima=force
Ohjukset on siirretty puolustusvoimien varastoon.
Missiles are being transerred to the defense force's stockpile.

kauemmas=further away
Myös laiva on siirretty kauemmas satamasta.
Also, the ship is being moved further away from the harbor.

Laivasta on puhuttu uutisissa viime päivinä.
This has been reported about the ship in the news recently.

kuljettaa=transport
Ohjuksia ja räjähteitä kuljetti laiva, jonka nimi on Thor Liberty.
Missiles and explosives were transported by ship, which is named the Thor Liberty

Laivasta löytyi 69 Patriot-ohjusta.
On the ship were found 69 Patriot missiles.

pysäyttää=intercept
Viranomaiset pysäyttivät laivan viime viikolla.
Public officials intercepted the boat last week.

Laiva on lähtenyt Saksasta, ja se oli matkalla Etelä-Koreaan.
The boat had left from Germany, and it was traveling to South Korea.

Poliisi sanoo, että laiva saa jatkaa matkaa, kun räjähteet on hyvin pakattu.
Police say that the boat may continue traveling, if the explosives are well-packed.

cathrynm on 25 December 2011

pommi=bomb
isku=attack (pl ssa)
Syyrian pommi-iskuissa on kuollut ihmisiä.
Byrian bomb attacks have killed people.

Syyrian pääkaupungissa Damaskoksessa tapahtui kaksi pommi-iskua.
In the Syrian capital Damascus, two bombings occurred.

Pommi-iskuissa kuoli sotilaita ja siviilejä.
The bomb attacks killed soldiers and civilians.

loukkaantua=wounded.
Syyrian televisio kertoo, että iskuissa kuoli 40 ihmistä ja noin sata ihmistä loukkaantui.
Syrian television says, that the attacks killed 40 people and wounded about 100 people.

tuki=support
kohta=place
tokikohta=military base
piilottaa=hide
turvallisuus=security
joukko=group
Pommit oli piilotettu autoihin ja ne räjähtivät lähellä tukikohtaa, jossa on turvallisuusjoukkoja.
The bombs were were hidden in cars and they exploded a near military base, which is a security center.

itsemurhaisku=suicide attacks
murha=murder
itsemurha=suicide
Iskut olivat itsemurhaiskuja.
The attacks were suicide attacks.

Syyrian televisio sanoo, että tekijät ovat terroristeja.
Syrian television says that the perpetrators are terrorists.

järjestö=organization (ILL)
yhteys=connection
Terroristeilla on ehkä yhteyksiä al-Qaida terroristijärjestöön.
Terrorists are possibly connected to the Al Qaeda terrorist organization.

kansannousu=uprising
Tämä oli ensimmäinen kerta, kun Syyriassa oli pommi-isku maaliskuun kansannousun jälkeen.
This was the first instance in Syria of a bomb attack since the March uprising.
cathrynm on 26 December 2011

(This stuff is from my class textbook, so it's a little geeky, I'm afraid)

諸兄＝しょけい＝dear friends
密接＝みっせつ＝relation
読者諸兄の中には経済問題には詳しい方がたくさんいらっしゃると思いますが、服の色と景気には密接な関係があるという事をご存じでしょうか。
Among my dear readers, I'm sure everyone is fully aware of the recession, however, does everyone know about the relationship between clothing color and the economic situation?

以前、ある研究所が長年にわたって調査してきたデータを拝見したことがあります。
I have up to now in the laboratory, humbly examined years of data.s

それは、　服の色と日本の景気の関係性を調べたデータでした。
This was data investigating the relationship between the color of clothing and the economic conditions of Japan.

街を歩いている人の中で、黒い服を着ている人の出現率（全身真っ黒でなくても、　１枚でも黒い服を着ている人の割合）が高い時は不景気であり、低い時は好景気であるいというものです。
Among pedestrians the city, when the black clothes wearing percentage was high there was a recession, (Even if he entire body wasn't completely black, the percentage of at at least one piece of black clothing), when the percentage was low, economic times were good.

(I think this is that weird thing about past tense in Japanese, that you talk about the past, and then you go to present tense for talking about the past -- I vaguely remember reading about this.

占領=せんりょう＝posession,capture
私は昨年２月のこのコーナーで、「今年は不景気だから黒が流行る」と書きましたが、　見事昨年の秋冬ファッションは「黒」に占領されたぐらいの勢いで流行していました。
Back in last February, in my corner I wrote [because of the recession this year, black is popular], and with last year's beautiful fall-winter fashion black came in to popularity with a powerful momentum.

実際に昨年の秋冬は心理的な不景気感のピークだったのではないでしょうか。
In reality, wasn't last year's fall-winter not the peak of the feelings of economic gloom?

今はどうかと言うと、キャルと言われる若いおしゃれコンシャスな女性達のファッションが明らかに変わってきました。
Now, if you ask me, the so-called 'gyaru', or young, fashion conscious young women's fashion obviously started to change.

ベージュ＝beige
白地=あからさま＝plain
黒が減って白やベージュ、白地に花柄プリント等、　黒ではない色が増えてきています。
Black decreased, and white, beige, and floral prints, that is colors other than black began to increase.

ギャルと不景気はあまり関係ないのではないかと思われる方も多いでしょうが、そうでもないのです。
Are there so many ways to think of that there's no relationship between between the gyaru and the recession? I think there is a relationship.

(double negative -- err, there is a relationship, you know, whatever.)
cathrynm on 26 December 2011

Here's a few corrections for you. Hope you don't mind!

読者諸兄の中には経済問題には詳しい方がたくさんいらっしゃると思いますが
I'm sure there are many people among my readers who are well-versed in economic issues.

以前、ある研究所が長年にわたって調査してきたデータを拝見したことがあります。
In the past I have viewed data resulting from surveys conducted by a certain research
laboratory over a period of years.

ギャルと不景気はあまり関係ないのではないかと思われる方も多いでしょうが、そうでもない
のです。
I'm sure many people believe there is little relation between "gyaru"s and recessions,
but in fact there is.

TixhiiDon on 26 December 2011

tuho=destruction
Kova myrsky on tehnyt paljon tuhoja Länsi- ja Etelä-Suomessa.
Harsh storms are causing massive destruction in west and east Finland.

pelastus=rescue
pelastustyöntekijä=rescue worker
ylimääräinen=additional
Pelastustyöntekijät ovat joutuneet tekemään paljon ylimääräistä työtä tuhojen takia.
Rescue workers must do much additional work because of the devastation.

kaataa=pour
irrottaa=to free
esimerkiksi=for instance
katto=roof
Myrsky on kaatanut paljon puita ja irrottanut esimerkiksi talojen kattoja.
Storms are washing away many trees, and detaching, for example, the roofs of houses.

haitata=disturb
Myrsky on haitannut joulun paluuliikennettä.
The storm is interrupting Christmas return traffic.

tapaninpäivä=boxing day
Tapaninpäivänä monet ihmiset tulevat takaisin kotiin, kun joulu loppuu.
On the day after Christmas many people return back home when Christmas ends.

vaikeus=trouble (ppl)
sähköjohto=power lines
Junilla on ollut vaikeuksia, koska myrsky on kaatanut puita junanratojen ja sähköjohtojen päälle.
Trains are in trouble because the storm is washing away trees onto the tracks and onto
electric power lines.

maantie=highway
poikki=across
olleet
Myös jotkut maantiet ovat olleet poikki, kun tielle on kaatunut puita.
Also, some highways are blocked when there's a fallen tree on the road.

Myös laiva- ja lentoliikenteessä on ollut ongelmia.
Also boat and are traffic are disrupted.

Esimerkiksi laiva Tukholmasta Helsinkiin, on ollut monta tuntia myöhässä.
For example, the boat from Stolkholm to Helsinki is many hours late.
cathrynm on 27 December 2011

TixhiiDon wrote:

Here's a few corrections for you. Hope you don't mind!

Hey thanks. That's cool. .
cathrynm on 27 December 2011

日本の伝統なかにはたしかに議論をする習慣がない。
Among Japanese traditions, it's certainly true that there's no custom of argument.

議論が下手です。
Japanese are poor at arguments.

だいたいみんな同じ意見になるのがいいと思い、　意見の違う人は敵だとなりがちです。
Generally, I think it's good that everyone comes to about the same position, there's a tendency to turn those who disagree into enemies.

共同体＝collective body
日本の共同体の伝統にはいい面と悪い面がある。
On the mater of Japanese collective tradition, there's a good side and a bad side.

追求＝persuit
主長＝しゅちょう＝chief
みんなが協力して同じ目的を追求するために、自分だけを主長しないのはいいことでしょう。
In order to for everyone to be together in pursuing the same objective, it's probably best if one's own self is not the chief thing.

村八分=ostracism
他方では、どうしても意見の違う人が村八分にされる。
Another thing, surely someone who has a different opinion would be ostracized.

意見の違う人を受け人を入れることがなかなかできない。
It's quite impossible to let in someone with a differing opinion.

表明＝declaration
そもそも＝in the first place
望ましい＝のぞましい
それがもっと極端になると、意見を表明すること自体がそもそもあまり望ましくないということになります。
In a more extreme case, it becomes a situation where expressing an opinion, itself, becomes something no one wants to do.

したがって、論争しない。
As a result, there's no arguments.

論争すると敵滴・味方になる傾向が強い。
If arguments happen, there's a powerful tendencies for people to become enemies or allies.

これはわるい面です。
This is the bad side.

ヨーロッパ社会で論争が多い。
In European society, debates are frequent.

米国でも日本よりは多い。
Even in the USA, they're more frequent than Japan.

あらゆる＝every, all
それはあらゆるところにあらわれています。
This is apparent every where.

座談会＝symposium
異なる＝ことなる
たとえば英国の放送局ＢＢＣが、政治問題に限らず、　どういう問題でも座談会みたいなことをするときには、みんな異なる意見をもってかなり激しい論争をします。
For example, on the UK network, BBC, not only political issues, but in any kind of problem when a discussion occurs, everyone has a different opinion and an intense argument happens.

怒鳴り＝どなり
論争というのは相手を怒鳴りつけることではなくて、自分の議論を展開して、これこれしかじかの理由でこう考えるという主張をすることです。
Because of the discussions, opponents not only start to yell at each other, one's own argument develops, many and varied reasons are thought out and stated.

根拠＝foundation
戦う＝たたかう
反対側のひともそう言って、お互いに根拠を挙げて意見を戦わせる。
The people on the opposite side say such things, together both sides battle in providing a justification for their opinion.

日本のＴＶの座談会では、だいたいみんな同じことを言うか、怒鳴りあうかどちらかになる。
On Japanese TV round table discussions, everyone might say the same thing, or everyone might yell at each other, both things can happen.

cathrynm on 27 December 2011

oikeus=justice
tuomita->judge, hear
vankila=jail
Etiopiassa oikeus on tuominnut kaksi (2) ruotsalaista vankilaan 11 vuodeksi.
In Ethiopia a judge has sentenced two Swedes to 11 years in jail.

määrätä->määräsi
laiton->laittomasti=illegally (POS MAN)
Oikeus määräsi miehet vankilaan, koska he tulivat maahan laittomasti ja auttoivat terroristeja.
The judge ordered the men to jail because they came to the country illegally and helpped terrorists.

Toimittaja Martin Schibbye ja valokuvaaja Johan Persson saivat tuomionsa tiistaina.
Journalist Martin Schibbye and photographer Jason Persson received the judgement Tuesday.

Ruotsalaismiehet sanovat, että he eivät auttaneet terroristeja.
The Seedish men said that they weren't helping terrorists.

Miehet kertovat, että he tekivät terroristeista reportaasia.
The main said that they were reporting on the terrorists.

kuitenkin=however
myöntää=admit
lupa=permission
Ruotsalaiset kuitenkin myöntävät, että he olivat Etiopiassa ilman lupaa.
However the Swedes admit that they were in Ethiopia without permission.

vaatia=ask
päästä->päästä
vapaa->vapaaksi=free
Ruotsin hallitus on vaatinut, että miehet pääsevät vapaaksi.
The Swedish government is asking that the men go free.

liitto=union
Ruotsin Journalistiliitto sanoo, että miesten tuomio on poliittinen.
The Swedish Journalist union says that the men's judgement is political.
cathrynm on 27 December 2011

怒りは、喜びや悲しみと同じように、人間の基本的な感情として、その働きやメカニズムが研究されてきた。
Anger, just like joy and sadness, the basic human emotion -- it's function and mechanism has been researched.

最近では、人間の健康を害するものという観点からも捉えられるようになってきている。
Recently, researches have seized the perspective of research into anger as it pertains to damage to human health.

例えば、怒りと心臓病の関係について検討した研究によれば、高血圧を伴う心臓病の患者には怒りやすい性格の人が多いという傾向があるそうだ。
For example, according to research investigating the relationship between anger and heart disease, it seems there's a tendency for heart patients who also have high blood pressure have a personality type that angers easily.

免疫＝immune
また、怒りという感情が神経や免疫システムに影響を与え、それが心臓病になるリスクを高めているのではないかという報告もある。
Again, angry feelings have an effect on nerves and the immune system, so there are even reports on whether or not an angry temperament increases the risk of heart disease.

怒りと健康の関係が注目されるようになったのは、病気に対する社会の考え方が変わってきたからだろう。
Perhaps the relationship between anger and health, was noticed when we started to think differently about society in relation to illness.

高齢化により、社会全体で負担する医療費の問題もばかにならなくなってきた。
More than aging, the burden on the entire society of medical costs might become exceptionally high.

患者個人だけではなく、国や保険会社が負担する医療費も増えてきたのだ。
And it's not just about the individual patient, for the country and its insurance companies the burden of medical costs has risen.

これを抑えるためには、病気を予防することが一番である。
In order to deal with this, prevention of illness is of the utmost importance.

食事や睡眠といった生活習慣に気を配ることで病気を予防することはよく知られているが、　現代ではさらに、様々な研究結果から、個人の性格や考え方の傾向といった心理的要因も健康に影響することがわかってきた。
Even if we are well aware of the need to pay attention to diet and sleeping habits with regard to illness prevention, according to various research results these days we must also begin to understand the tendency of the individual's personality and way of thinking to influence psychological causes and what influence this has on human health.

こうして、心理学や医学の分野において、怒りという感情と健康の関連性を考えるようになってきたのである。
As a result, regarding psychology and medial science, we are becoming aware of the the relationship between angry feelings and health.

cathrynm on 27 December 2011

Hmm, I'm not seeing the corruption lately. Was something fixed with this website? I don't think I've had any corruption at all this last month with Japanese.
cathrynm on 27 December 2011

This seems to be in all of your translations so I'll mention it. You won't really find forms directly equivalent to "weren't helping" or "is asking" in selkouutiset or other simplified texts since they're quite complicated.

Generally:
teki/ei tehnyt = did/didn't do
on tehnyt/ei ole tehnyt = has done/hasn't done

make sure not to break that down into verb+participle while translating:)
Serpent on 28 December 2011

Okay, yeah that makes sense. Thanks.
cathrynm on 28 December 2011

Urheiluohjelmat ovat alkaneet YLE Puheessa.
Sports programs have begun on YLE Puhe.

kerrata->kertaa=rehearsal
seurata->seurattiin
Tiistaina kanavalla oli ensimmäistä kertaa Urheiluilta, jossa seurattiin jääkiekon SM-liigaa.
Tuesday on the channel were the first rehearsals of Urlheiluilta (Sports Evening), which were showing Ice hockey's SM-league.

kierros->kierrokset = round
Ensi vuonna kaikki jääkiekkokierrokset ovat YLE Puheessa.
In the first year all the ice hockey rounds are on YLE Puhe.

aikaisemmin=previously
suora=direct
lähetys=broadcast
Aikaisemmin suorat urheilulähetykset olivat Radio Suomessa.
Previously direct sports broadcasts were on Radio Suomi.

löytyä=be found
Ensi vuonna esimerkiksi olympialaiset löytyvät YLE Puheesta.
In the first year, for example, the Olympics are found on YLE Puhe.

kuuluvuus=loudness
parata->paranee=get well
kuunnella
Samalla kanavan kuuluvuus paranee, eli YLE Puhetta voi kuunnella koko Suomessa.
At the same time the channel's signal strength is fixed, so YLE Puhe could be heard all over Finland.

jättää->jätä=leave
Radio Suomi ei jätä urheilua kokonaan.
Radio Suomi didn't quit sports entirely.

koota->kokoaa=collect
tulos=result
yhteen=together
kuulla->kuullaan=(PSS)
Radio Suomi kokoaa urheilutulokset yhteen Urheiluradiossa, joka kuullaan monta kertaa päivässä.
Radio Suomi collects sports results with Urheiluradio (Sports Radio), which is heard many times daily.
cathrynm on 28 December 2011

cathrynm wrote:

kierros->kierrokset = round
Ensi vuonna kaikki jääkiekkokierrokset ovat YLE Puheessa.
In the first year all the ice hockey rounds are on YLE Puhe.

here ensi vuonna means next year:) you're going to see this a lot in the coming days!
and kierros here means smth like matchday, you know, these week 1, week 2... week N of the season...

cathrynm wrote:

jättää->jätä=leave
Radio Suomi ei jätä urheilua kokonaan.
Radio Suomi didn't quit sports entirely.

more like "won't quit", it's still 2011 so they're still the main radio broadcaster.

cathrynm wrote:

koota->kokoaa=collect
tulos=result
yhteen=together
kuulla->kuullaan=(PSS)
Radio Suomi kokoaa urheilutulokset yhteen Urheiluradiossa, joka kuullaan monta kertaa päivässä.
Radio Suomi collects sports results with Urheiluradio (Sports Radio), which is heard many times daily.

i suppose urheiluradio is a programme on Radio Suomi? That's simply where they collect all the results and list them, many times daily.
Serpent on 28 December 2011

Ooh, yeah ensi vuonna, first/next. that is a little confusing.
cathrynm on 28 December 2011

yhä=still
ilman=without
Monet talot ovat yhä ilman sähköä eri puolilla Suomea.
Many houses are still without electricity in half of Finland

Keskiviikkona illalla ilman sähköä oli noin 80 000 kotia.
Wednesday evening there were about 80,000 homes without power.

alue=area
Ongelmia on esimerkiksi Savossa, Kuopion ympärillä ja Satakunnassa, Porin alueella.
The problem is, for example, in Savo, around Kuopi and Satakun, and the area of Porin.

iskeä->iski=hit (SG3/past)
Maanantaina Suomeen iski myrsky, joka kaatoi puita sähkölinjojen, autoteiden ja junaratojen päälle.
Monday Finland was hit by a storm, which washed away trees, onto electric lines, roads and railroad tracks.

kova=harsh
lanka=wire/string
Tiistaina kova tuuli jatkui, ja lisää puita kaatui sähkölankojen päälle.
On Tuesday strong winds continued, and more trees fell onto electric wires.

korjaustyö=repairs
Esimerkiksi Etelä-Savossa kaikkia korjaustöitä ei ehkä saada valmiiksi tällä viikolla.
For example, in Southern Savo, it's possible that all repairs may not be completed this week.

tuho=damage
takia=because of
kulkea->kulkeneet=travel
Myrskytuhojen takia junat eivät ole kulkeneet normaalisti.
Because of storm damage trains haven't run normally.

eniten=most
Keskiviikkona eniten ongelmia oli Itä-Suomen junaliikenteessä.
On Wednesday most of the trouble was with East Finnish railway traffic.

Junat eivät keskiviikkona kulkeneet esimerkiksi Jyväskylän ja Pieksämäen välillä.
On Wednesday trains weren't moving, for instance between Jyväskylä and Pieksämä.

cathrynm on 29 December 2011

great translations, here are the place names from your text: Kuopio (♥), Satakunta, Pori, Pieksämäki. :)

also, Itä-Suomen is more like "Eastern Finland's".

oh and i've just noticed, here eri puolilla is more like "in various parts of"... it doesn't always literally mean one half.
Serpent on 29 December 2011

減少＝げんしょう=reduction
刑法犯＝criminal offence
犯す＝おかす＝commit
送検＝そうけん＝sending accused to the prosecutor
警察庁によると、刑法犯で逮捕、書類送検などされた少年少女は近年減少傾向にあり、２００９年は前年比０．８％減の9万２８２人� � �
According to the police agency, the tendency is for number of criminal arrests and charges against boys and girls to decrease in recent years; in 2009 the total was 0.8% less than the previous year, or 90,282 less.

少子化＝しょうしか＝declining birthrate
少子化の影響もあったピークの１９８３年の半分ほどになった。
It has become half the total in 1983, the peak resulting from the influence of the declining birthrate.

右肩＝みぎかた＝right shoulder
右肩上がり＝growing
しかし、一方で、再び罪を犯す再犯罪率は９８年から右肩上がりで増え続け、０９年は過去最高の３１．３％に達した。
However, since 1998 the recidivism rate has continued to increase, and in 2009 reached a record high of 31.3%.

不良＝ふりょう
築く＝きずく＝to build
非行＝ひこう＝delinquent
目立つ＝めだつ＝to be conspicuous
不良グループとの付き合いが続き、きちんとした生活を築けないまま再び非行に走るケースが目立つという。
Associations with delinquent gangs continued, and what became obvious were the cases of second crimes among those unable to build a proper life.

姿勢＝しせい＝attitude
各警察はこれまで、少年側から持ちかけられた場合は相談相手になるなどしていたが、今後は受け身の姿勢を改め、「出前型」と称して積極的に関係をもつよう方針転換する。
So to each police department, the advice from the boys was to become something like an advisor, and from now on to change the passive attitude towards the problem -- to switch the objective to be more of a pro-active relationship; this was named the "direct delivery model."

問題が残り、将来に不安を感じるケースについて、保護者らの了解を前提に、所轄所の少年担当の警察官や地域のボランティアらが連絡をとる。
Problems remained, for the cases with an uncertain future, the advisor's understanding was assumed to be that the police department's youth counselors, the regional volunteers and others would contact the youths.

保護者と相談した上で「学校を休まず通えるようになる」「まじめに仕事を続けるようになる」といった目標を設定。
After the advisors consulted, objectives like continued attendence at school, or continued good work habits would be established.

電話やメール、家庭訪問などを通じて励まし、相談に乗るという。
Through phone, email and home visits, encouraging consultation would be given.

清掃＝せいそう＝cleaning
慰問＝いもん＝condolences
また、他の人からほめられたり感謝されたりする経験が立ち直りのきっかけになるとして、ごみ清掃などのボランティア活動や老人ホームへの慰問にも誘う。
Again, the children get an opportunity for restoration as they experience the praise and thanks from other people, while they clean garbage, do volunteer work, or provide company to those at nursing homes.

cathrynm on 30 December 2011

Kokoomus on Suomen suurin puolue.
Constitution is Finland's biggest party.

Näin kertoo YLE Uutisten ja taloustutkimuksen uusi mielipidekysely.
So says YLE News and Economic Report's new public opinion poll.

laskea->laskenut=decline
Kokoomuksen kannatus on laskenut edellisestä kyselystä.
Constitution's support has declined since the last poll.

Puoluetta kannattaa nyt noin 23 prosenttia suomalaisista.
The party's support is now about 23% of Finns.

Perus=Foundation
Perussuomalaisten kannatus on noin 20 prosenttia.
Foundation FInland's support is now about 20%.

SDP:n kannatus on laskenut ja on 16,4 prosenttia.
SDP's support has declined and is 16.4%.

nousta=rise
Keskustan kannatus on noussut.
Center's support has risen.

Puolueen kannatus on nyt 16,2 prosenttia.
The party's support is now 16.2%.

Taloustutkimuksen kyselyyn vastasi joulukuussa noin 2400 ihmistä.
About 2400 people responded to Economic Report's poll in December.

cathrynm on 31 December 2011

Suomalaiset juhlivat uuttavuotta lauantaina ja sunnuntaina.
Finns celibrate new year Saturday and Sunday.

Lauantaina on uudenvuodenaatto ja sunnuntaina on uudenvuodenpäivä.
Saturday is New Year's eve and Sunday is New Year's Day.

ilotulitus=fireworks
raketti
Uudenvuodenaattona tavataan ystäviä ja ammutaan ilotulitusraketteja.
On New Year's eve friends are met and fireworks are shot off.

järjestää->järjestetään
Monissa kaupungeissa järjestetään juhlia puolenyön aikaan.
In many cities are arranged celebratory feasts at midnight.

Esimerkiksi Helsingin Senaatintorilla juhlat alkavat lauantaina kello 22.
For example, in the Helskinki Senate Square, celebrations begin Satuday at 10 PM.

Juhlintaa voi katsoa myös televisiosta, YLE TV1:stä.
Celebrations can also be seen on television, YLE channel TV1.

Kaupat sulkevat ovensa lauantaina kello 18.
Stores close their doors Saturday at 6PM.

Uudenvuodenpäivänä sunnuntaina melkein kaikki kaupat ovat kiinni.
On New Years Day Sunday nearly all stores are closed.
cathrynm on 01 January 2012

しんどい＝tired
なかなか考え性質にあるので、生きることをしんどいと思うことも多い。
Because my disposition is to consider various things, I have many bothersome thoughts thoughts about life.

大袈裟＝おおげさ＝grandiose (ooh, hard characters)
こういう自分が今こうやって生きているのは、大袈裟にではなく、小説のおかげだと思っている。
As for how one lives now, it's no exaggeration that I think it's thanks to novels.

人によっては、それが素晴らしい漫画であったり、演劇であったり、音楽だったり、映画だったりもするだろう。
For mankind, that's great Manga, plays, music and movies.

空腹＝くうふく
僕は常に空腹であるように言葉を求めて、その言葉を自分の中に入れ、そこから自分なりに考え、言葉によって自分を守るように生きてきた。
I'm always hungerily searching for more words. As one accumulates these words, one considers them in their own way, so one lives, in a way to protect oneself for the words.

それは何も僕に言語のセンスがあったとか、頭がよかったとかいうわけではなく、わからないものは繰り返し読んできたからである。
That's not to say I have a good sense of language language, or that I'm intelligent, because I repeatedly read the things I don't understand.

学生の時は、背伸びして色々なものに触れた。
When I was a student, I tried too hard to experience many things.

そうしないと、逆に生きていけない気がした。
If I didn't do that, I have a feeling I couldn't live.

学生の自殺の報道や、破滅を選んでしまう人達の報道を見る度に、色々思う。
Each time I look at reports of a student suicice, or of those people who have chosen a path of destruction, I have random thoughts.

人生に絶望を感じるのは仕方ないと思う。
I think that the for humans, thoughts of despair are unavoidable.

誰もが明るく生きられるわけではない。
That doesn't mean that no one has a cheerful life.

家族も友人も学校も会社も助けにならない場合、しかしこの世界には、文化というものがある。
In the case when family, friends, schools, companies can't help, however, in this world there is this thing called culture.

平等＝びょうどう＝equality
文化は、すべての人間に対して、平等に開かれている。
Culture gives equality for all humans.

商業ベースに乗った安易なものが溢れているからなかなか見つけにくい世の中だけど、自分を強く揺さぶり、救ってくれるようなものに出会えた時、もう一回生きてみようと思うことは、確かにある。
However extremely dificult it is to find times when one has in abundance the simple products of commerce, one is powerfully moved, and one has times when he receives help. If I had a chance to live one more time, I certainly would.

cathrynm on 01 January 2012

hyvää uutta vuotta! <3
ilotulitukset make me think of Gandalf hehe:)))))
Serpent on 01 January 2012

Yeah, that is a cool scene in the LTR movie, with the magical fireworks..
cathrynm on 01 January 2012

aiheuttaa=cause
Myrskyt ovat aiheuttaneet paljon vahinkoa metsille.
Storms have caused much damage in the forests.

Tämän viikon aikana myrskyissä on kaatunut puita 3,5 miljoonaa kuutiometriä.
During this week the storms have felled 3.5 million cubic meters of trees.

arvo=value
Kaatuneiden puiden arvo on noin 120 miljoonaa euroa.
The value of the fallen trees is about 120 million Euro.

eniten=most
Myrskyt kaatoivat puita eniten Lounais-Suomessa.
Storms are felling trees in most of southwest Finland.

omistaja=owner
vähemmän=less
raha=money
Metsänomistajat saavat myrkyissä kaatuneista puista vähemmän rahaa kuin normaalisti kaadetuista puista.
Forest land owners say that trees taken down by storms are worth less money than trees cut down normally.

menettää=forfeit
Metsäteollisuus sanoo, että metsänomistajat menettävät rahaa noin 30 miljoonaa euroa myrskyjen takia.
The forest industry says that forest land owners have lose about 30 million Euros due to the storms.

korjaaminen->korjaamista=repair
Sähköyhtiöt ovat jatkaneet myrskyvahinkojen korjaamista.
The electric companies have continued storm damage repairs.

yhä=still
Perjantaina ilman sähköä oli yhä yli 20 000 kotia.
Freday there were still over 20,000 homes without electricity.
cathrynm on 01 January 2012

http://finoahpa.donchaknow.com/oahpa/morfa_s/ - http://finoahpa.donchaknow.com/oahpa/morfa_s/

Hmm, this site looks possibly useful. It can quiz for the cases. It doesn't do plurals seperately, but it prompts nominative plural sometimes.

It has a vocab section for English <-> Finnish. And Sami <-> Finnish, but no Sami <-> English, though I can just use regular flash cards for vocab.

cathrynm on 01 January 2012

perinteinen=traditional
Presidentti Tarja Halonen on pitänyt perinteisen uudenvuodenpuheen.
Present Tarja Halonen has made a traditional New Year's speech.

valita=pick
viimeinen=last
Tämän vuoden uudenvuodenpuhe oli presidentti Halosen viimeinen, koska tässä kuussa valitaan uusi presidentti Suomeen.
This year's New Year's speech was president Halonen's last, as this month a new President of Finland is elected.

Presidentti Tarja Halonen on pitänyt uudenvuodenpuheen 12 kertaa.
President Tarja Halonen has given a A New Year's speech 12 times.

yhteistyö=cooperation
tärkeä=important
Vuoden 2012 uudenvuodenpuheessaan presidentti Halonen sanoi, että yhteistyö on tärkeää Euroopassa ja kansainvälisessä yhteistyössä.
In the 2012 New Year's speech, President Halonen said that cooperation is important for Europe and for international collaberation.

huoli=concern
eriarvoisuus=inequality
kasvaa=increase
Hän on huolissaan, koska ihmisten eriarvoisuus kasvaa.
She is concerned that human inequality increases.

ihmisoikeus=human rights (G-PL)
köyhyys=poverty
loukkaus=violation (PL)
aiheuttaa=cause
Köyhyys, eriarvoisuus ja ihmisoikeuksien loukkaukset aiheuttavat ongelmia maailmalla ja myös Suomessa.
Poverty, inequality and human rights violations cause trouble in in the world, and also in Finland.
cathrynm on 02 January 2012

40%という低い食料自給率の日本で、まだ食べられるのに賞味期限切れが近付いたという理由で返品された食品を大量に廃棄している。
On the matter of Japan's low rate, 40%, of food self suficiency, a large quantity of returned food that has passed its expiration date is thrown away despite still being edible.

啓発＝けいはつ＝enlightment
消費者が賞味期限の表示の意味を理解していない、あるいは食品の鮮度にこだわりすぎることが原因で食品が売れ残ると消費者庁は考え、日付を過ぎても食べられるとＰＲすることや消費者の意識を改革する啓発活動を行うという。
Consumers don't understand the meaning of the expiration date, or government officials think that possibly the reason the food remains unsold is that consumers reject the products because they are fixated on the freshness; according to the PR campaign stating that food that passes its expiration date is still edible, and the public education efforts to reform consumer awarenss.

しかし、これだけでは食品の廃棄を減らすには不十分だと私は考える。
However, I think the the reduction of food being thrown out is not enough.

なぜなら、いくつかの調査によれば、八割前後の人が賞味期限の正しい意味や賞味期限を過ぎた食品を食べても健康上問題がないことを知っているという結果が出ているからだ。
Because, according to many investigations, it appears that 80% of the people know the correct meaning of the expiration date and know that eating foods that have passed their expiration date is not a problem for health.

賞味期限切れの近付いた食品はなぜ売れ残るのか。
So why do foods remain unsold as they approach their expiration date?

余裕＝よゆう＝surplus
私の考えでは、原因は賞味期限切れの近付いたものと期限に余裕あるものが同じ値段で売られていることにある。
I have this thought, the reason is that foods that are approaching their expiration date sell for the same price as those foods that have plenty of time remaining before they expire.

値段が同じなら、少しでも鮮度の良い、つまり諸費期限に余裕のあるほうを選ぶのは、　食品の鮮度を気にする消費者としては当然である。
Because the price is the same, even a little bit of freshness is better, in short, the foods with extra time before the expiration date are chosen, naturally, by consumers who are conscious of freshness.

一方、期限切れが近付いたものの価格を下げれば、消費者は新鮮で通常の価格のものと鮮度は少し落ちるが低価格のもののどちらかを選択できるようになる。
On the other hand, if the price is lowered as the expiration date approaches, consumers will be able to choose either fresh food at the usual price or food for which the freshness has decreased slightly at a lower price.

値引き販売をすれば賞味期限の近付いた食品の売れ残れは減少するのに、メーカーや小売店はそのことに消極的である。
If price reduction marketing is done, although the amount of unsold food with a later expiration date will decrease, manufacturers and shops are uninterested.

返品＝へんぴｎ
配慮＝はいりょ＝consideration
間近＝まぢか＝proximity
現状では、消費者の安全に配慮して期限切れ間近のものは販売せずに返品・廃棄している。
The present situation is in consideration of consumer safety, that without any marketing, products that are near expiration are returned or thrown away.

しかし、賞味期限を過ぎても食べられるのだから、それを販売しても何も問題はない。
However, because even food that has passed it's expiration date is still edible, even there's no problem with marketing.

購入＝こうにゅう＝purchase
購入した食品を消費者が正しく保存・管理しなかったせいで健康に問題が生じたとしても、それは本人の責任である。
Because if the consumer doesn't correctly store or manage purchased food products health problems will still arise; this is an individual's responsibility.

恒常＝こうじょう＝constancy
また、値引きが恒常化すると定価で購入する消費者が減少し、プランドイメージが低下するという考えもあるが、企業の社会的責任という観点からも食品の大量廃棄を続けるのは望ましくない。
Again, if price reduction is put into place, it's thought that consumers purchasing at list price will decrease, and brand image will decline, but from the viewpoint of corporate responsibility the continued waste of a large quantity of food is not desired.

委ねる＝ゆだねる＝to entrust to
現状ではメーカーや小売店は消費期限切れの近付いた食品を売ろうという努力をせずに返品・廃棄しているが、それを購入するかどうかを消費者に委ねれば、売れ残りは減少し、食品の廃棄も減らせるはずだ。
At present, without manufacturers and shops trying to sell food that is near expiration, returns and disposal will happen, however if the decision whether to purchase or not is entrusted to the consumer, the decrease of unsold items, and the waste of food should diminish.

それゆえ＝therefore
それゆえ、消費者庁はメーカー小売店が返品・廃棄の前に値引き販売を実施するように指導し、消費者が食品を安く購入できるようにすべきである。
Therefore, the government should put in place a policy that manufacturers and shops must advertise reduced prices prior to disposing of food, so that consumers will be able to purchase food products cheaply.

cathrynm on 02 January 2012

vaihtumista->vaihtuminen->vaihtua= pass(ela-pl)
melko=quite
Suomalaiset ovat juhlineet vuoden vaihtumista melko rauhallisesti.
Finns have celebrated the year's passage quite peacefully.

onnettomuus=accidents (ptv pl)
Suuria onnettomuuksia ei ole ollut.
Big accidents haven't happened.

kuitenkin=however
vamma=injury (ptv pl)
Ilotulitusraketit ovat kuitenkin aiheuttaneet silmävammoja noin 10 ihmiselle.
However, fireworks have caused eye injuries in about 10 people.

sytyttää=light,burn
Ilotulitusraketit ovat myös sytyttäneet tulipaloja eri puolilla Suomea.
Fireworks have also set fires in various parts of Finland. (Thanks Serpent!)

viranomainen=official
mukana=about/with?
tapahtuma=happening/event
Viranomaiset sanovat, että ihmisiä on ollut paljon mukana juhlatapahtumissa.
Officials say that people are having many parties.

Esimerkiksi Helsingin Senaatintorilla vuoden vaihtumista juhli yli 30 000 ihmistä.
For example, at the Helskinki Senate market square, over 30,000 people celebrated the passing of the year.

Poliisi sanoo, että Senaatintorin juhlinta oli rauhallista.
Pollice said that the Senate market square's celibrations were peaceful.
cathrynm on 02 January 2012

2000年から2001年にかけて、全国紙として有名� ��新聞が、基本の活字を少し大きなものに変� ��ました。
From 2000 to 2001, the famous national papers with national circulation changed their standard type size to be a little larger.

地方紙も同じだったと思います。
The regional papers did the same, I think.

総数＝そうすう＝total
高齢者人口の増加が原因でしょうが、新聞を読む人の総数の中で、老眼鏡を必要とする人の割合が増えたからです。
Perhaps the cause is due to the increasing population of old poeple, among all the people who read newspapers, the percentage who need reading classes has increased.

新聞だって「お客様は神様」でしょうから、その「神様」のニーズに沿って紙面を変えるということは、とうぜんのことです。
Perhaps because for newspapers they say "the customer is god", it's natural that to go along with ttis God's needs involves changing the layout of the paper.

その案内の記事では、これまでの活字と新しい活字を比較して、いかに見やすくなったかがしめされていて、わかりやすく納得できるものでした。
For the informational articles, the comparison between the type face used up to now and the new type face, appears to be in how easy the type has become to see, a matter of how easy it is to understand and grasp.

そして、各社ほとんど同じことを書いていたと思いますが、紙面の大きさは変えないわけだから「文字が大きくなった分、文字数を減らさねばなりません。そこで、記事は要点をおさえ簡略化して適切化をはかる」というような説明になっていました。
As a result, I think each company has written about the same thing, because the page size cannot change. This has come be explained by saying that "For ever percent the character size becomes larger, the number of characters must decrease. As a result, the news stories main point is simplified in an appropriate way."

なるほどと思う一方、これまではそうでなかったのかんとも思いました。
Indeed, on the other hand up to here I think it wasn't like this.

大きな活字の本も出まわるようになってきました。
Large type books have come to be spread around.

とくに辞書は同じ内容で同じデザインで大きな版のものが出て、老眼鏡なしでも利用できるとありがたがられています。
Particularly dictionaries with the same contents and the same design have been released in a large edition, so thankfully they are still usable even with eyesight affected by old age.

ただサイズが大きくなった分、大きく重いという欠点もありますが、その快適さに換えられないという人には問題になりません。
However although simply increasing the size by a percentage has the disadvantage of increasing the weight, for those for which the ease of use cannot not be achieved another way, there is no problem.
cathrynm on 03 January 2012

lakko=strike
säästö=savings
suunnitelma=plan
Kreikassa lääkärit ja apteekit ovat lakossa hallituksen säästösuunnitelmien takia.
Greek doctors and pharmacists are on strike because of the government's austerity plan.

kestää=endure
Lääkärit ja farmaseutit menivät maanantaina lakkoon, joka kestää kaksi (2) päivää.
Doctors and pharmacists went on strike a Monday, which will last for two days.

julkinen=public (plural)
hätä=emergency
hätätapaus=emergency situation
Monet apteekit ovat kiinni, ja julkiset sairaalavat auttavat vain hätätapauksissa.
All the pharmacies are closed, and public hospitals open only for emergencies.

säästää=save
terveys=health (G)
terveydenhuolto=health care
palkka=salary
Kreikan hallitus yrittää säästää esimerkiksi terveydenhuollon palkoista.
The Greek government tries to save, for example, on health care salaries.

osa=part
valuutta=currency
rahasto=fund
Säästöt ovat osa suunnitelmaa, jonka Kreikka on tehnyt EU:n ja Kansainvälisen valuuttarahaston eli IMF:n kanssa.
The savings are part of a plan, which Greece has done for the EU and the internantional currency fund with the IMF.

jättää=leave
rauha=peace
Lääkärit ja farmaseutit haluavat, että hallitus jättää palkat rauhaan ja unohtaa muut terveydenhuollon säästöt.
Doctors and pharmacists want the government to leave wages alone and forget about other health care savings.

cathrynm on 03 January 2012

cathrynm wrote:

sytyttää=light,burn
Ilotulitusraketit ovat myös sytyttäneet tulipaloja eri puolilla Suomea.
Fireworks have also set fires in various parts of Finland. (Thanks Serpent!)

lol this looks scary XDDDDDDD
hyvää uutta vuotta:)
Serpent on 03 January 2012

päästää=release
sisään=in
Ravintolat saavat nyt päästää ihmiset sisään kissan tai koiran kanssa.
Restaurants may now let people in with cats or dogs.

saada->saa
mukaan=with, according to, by
lupa->luvan=persmission (G)
Kissan tai koiran saa ottaa mukaan, jos ravintola antaa luvan.
Cats or dogs may be taken in only if the restaurant gives permission.

lakimuutos=ammendment (law change)
vaihde=switch
Lakimuutos tapahtui vuodenvaihteessa.
The change in the law occured when the year changed.

päästä->come into (note: päästää)
paikka=spot
Lemmikit pääsevät ruokapaikkaan, mutta ne eivät saa mennä keittiöön.
Pets may go to the dining area, but they may not go to the kitchen.

Ravintolan ei tarvitse päästää lemmikkejä sisään, jos se ei halua.
Restaurants are not required to let pets in, if they don't want to.

luona=by
päästä->pääsee
Ravintoloiden täytyy kertoa ulko-oven luona, jos sinne pääsee myös eläinten kanssa.
Restaurants must indicate by the outside door, if they can be entered with animals.

cathrynm on 03 January 2012

http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E4%B8%91%E3%81%AE%E5%88%BB%E5% 8F%82%E3%82%8A

藁人形=わらにんぎょう＝straw doll
五寸釘＝ごすんくぎ＝spike
丑の刻参り、丑の時参り（うしのこくまいり、うしのときまいり）とは、丑の刻（午前1� �から午前3時ごろ）に神社の御神木に憎い相� ��に見立てた藁人形を毎夜五寸釘で打ち込む� ��いう、日本に古来伝わる呪術の一種である� ��

The 2 O'Clock shrine visit (ushinokokumari/ushinotokimairi) is type of sorcery handed down from ancient times in which a straw doll in the shape of a hated person's likeness is hammered into the shrine's sacred tree　every evening between 1AM to about 3AM.

概要
Outline

有名な神社としては、京都府の貴船神社や岡山県の育霊神社などがある。
There are the famous temples, of Kyoto's Kibune Temple and Okayama prefecture's Ikurei? temple.

祈願＝きがん＝prayer
成就=じょうじゅ＝fulfillment
参拝=さんぱい＝visit shrine
古くは祈願成就のため、丑の刻に神仏に参拝することを言った。
In ancient times to have a prayer fulfilled, it it said to pay homage to the gods and Buddha at 2 AM.

呪詛=じゅそ=cursed
後に呪詛する行為に転ずる。
Ａｆter which the cused deed is altered.

「うしのときまいり」という言葉の方が古い[1]。
The word ushinotokimari is ancient.

踏襲=とうしゅう＝following
（右図参照）丑の刻参りの方法は、江戸時代に完成した方法を基本的な部分では踏襲している。
(Referencing the picture to the right)
The practice of visiting the shrine at 2AM, the fundamental aspects of the practice became established in the Edo period.

しかし細かい部分では、藁人形に呪いたい相手の体の一部（毛髪、血、皮膚など）や写真、名前を書いた紙を入れる必要があったり、丑の刻参りを行う期間に差があったり、打ち付けた藁人形を抜かれてはいけないと地方・伝わり方で違いがあり、呪うために自身が鬼になるのではなく、五寸釘を打った藁人形の部位に呪いをかけることができるという噂が広く知られるなど、現代では少し変化している。
However, there are descrepancies in how the the smaller details, using a straw doll to curse someone with a piece of their body (hair, blood or skin), the requirements that a photo, or a name be written on a piece of paper, the specific period of time for the shrine visit, that the hammered in straw doll must not be pulled out, the district, were passed down. To curse without one's self becoming a demon, the rumor became widely known of the ability to curse by n ailing in a straw doll. These days it has change little.

描写＝びょうしゃ＝depection
五徳=ごとく＝tripod
櫛＝くし＝comb
咥える＝くわえる＝to hold in one's mouth
一般的な描写としては、白装束を身にまとい、顔に白粉を塗り、頭に五徳をかぶってそこにロウソクを立て、一本歯の下駄を履き、胸には鏡、腰には護り刀、口に櫛を咥えて神社の御神木に憎い相手に見立てた藁人形を毎夜五寸釘で打ち込むというものが用いられる。
The general depiction of the mothod is of one putting on white clothes, of painting one's face with white powder, on wearing on the head a tripod with a candle on top, wearing a one tall geta with a single 'tooth' on one's feet, mirror on one's chest, wearing a protection sword, a comb held in the mouth, while visiting the shrine and hammering in the straw doll in the shape of the person you hate, every nite with a metal spike.

また、丑の刻参りをしている者の姿を他の人に見られると、参っていた人物に呪いが跳ね返って来ると言われ、目撃者も殺してしまわないとならないと伝えられる。
Again, if the person performing the 2 O'Clock shrine visit's appearance is seen by another person, it is said the curse would rebound on the shrine visiting person, so it is said that it cannot be helped that eye-witnesses must be killed.

Heh, well, this is something. There's more... But I'll post this much now. These sentences are long and difficult to digest.
cathrynm on 04 January 2012

源流 [編集]
Source

呪詛＝じゅそ＝curse
古墳時代＝こふんじだい＝Tumulus period
媒体＝ばいたい＝media
人形を用いた呪詛自体はかなり古くから行われており、『日本書紀』用明天皇2年（587年� �4月条に、「中臣勝海連（なかとみのかつみ� ��むらじ）が家（おのがいえ）に衆（いくさ� ��を集えて、大連をいたすく。ついに太子彦� ��皇子の像を作りて、まじなう」と記され、� ��墳時代から人形を媒体とした呪いがあった� ��
The practice of using a doll to make a curse has itself been practiced since old times.
An article written in the "Nihon Shoki (Oldest　chronicle of Japan)" during in April of the 2nd year of the Youmei emperor (587AD):

And, oh boy. I'm not sure about this, but here we go. (This is impossible)

"The prince collected the a group of people at his house. Finally the prince used a stature of the emperor, he prayed" From the Tumulus period on, dolls have been used as a medium for curses.

ただし、この時点では、まだ像を刺す行為は確認できない。
However, in this age, still, the act of piercing the statue cannot be verified.

考古学=こうこがく＝archeology
奈良国立文化財研究所＝ならこくりつぶんかざいけんきゅうしょ＝Nara National Cultural Properties Institute
出土＝しゅつど＝archeological excavation
考古学資料の遺物として、奈良国立文化財研究所所蔵の8世紀の木製人形代（もくせいひとがたしろ）があり、胸に鉄釘が打ちこまれた状態の物も出土している。
Archelogical excavations have recovered archeological relics, now in possession of the Nara National Cultural Properties Institute, from the 8th century which are dolls made of wood, that do have metal spikes through the the chest.

木簡＝もっかん＝thin pieces of wood used to write on.
木簡を人形に切り取り、墨で顔が描かれている。
The dolls are cut with thin narow strips of wood (used for writing), the face is painted with black ink.

形代=かたしろ＝representation of a sacred object
丑の刻参りと共通する呪殺を目的とした形代だったと考えられている。
It is thought that the objective of 2 O'Clock shrine visit tradition was to be a death cusrse, sacred object.

この遺物からも、人形に釘を打ち込み、人を呪うと言った呪術体系自体は古代（奈良時代）からあった事が分かる。
It is understood from these relics, that the dolls with nails through them, were used as a system to say a curse against a person, in ancient times, from the Nara period onward.

渡来=とらい＝importation
研究者によっては、鉄釘自体が渡来文化であり、こうした呪術体系自体が大陸渡来のものではないかとしている。
According to researchers, the iron nails themselves are an imported culture, such a magical system itself mit halso be an imported culture.

類例＝るいれい＝similar instance
この他にも類例として、島根県松江市タテチョウ遺跡から出土した木札には、女性が描かれており、服装から貴人女性と見られるが、 3本の木釘が打ちこまれていた。
In similar cases, from the excavations of ruins in Shimane Prefecture in the city of Matsue's Tatechou site, wooden tags with aristocratic females drawn on them, as can be identified from the clothing, 3 wooden pegs are thrust through them.

その位置は、両乳房と心臓に当たり、明らかに呪殺目的であった事が分かる。
In this instance the spikes go through both breasts and the heart, obviously we understand that this object is used for the purpose of making a death curse.

cathrynm on 04 January 2012

jännitys=tension
kasvaa=grow
Jännitys kasvaa Iranin ja Yhdysvaltojen välillä.
Tensions grow between Iran and the USA.

Iran on kertonut Yhdysvalloille, että se ei halua amerikkalaisten lentotukialusta takaisin Persianlahdelle.
Iran has said to the Americans, that they do not want American air craft carriers back in the Persian Gulf.

Iran varoittaa, että se voi toimia Yhdysvaltoja vastaan.
Iran warns that they can can act against the USA.

lento=air
tukialus=help craft
Yhdysvaltalainen lentotukialus lähti pois Persianlahdelta joulukuun lopussa.
The American aircraft carrier left the Persion Gulf in the end of December.

kohta=point
vastapäätä=opposite
Sen tukikohta on Persianlahdella, Iranin rannikkoa vastapäätä.
Their base is the Persian Gulf, opposite the Iranian coastline.

apu->avulla
alue=area
Laivan avulla Yhdysvaltain lentokoneet voivat toimia alueella.
The ships helping American planes can act in the area.

aikoa=intend
liikkua=pass
vaikka=although
Yhdysvallat aikoo liikkua Persianlahdella normaalisti, vaikka Iran varoittaa sitä.
Americans intend to pass through the Persian Gulf normally, even though Iran warns them.

suunnitella->suunnittelee=plan (pres3)
vastakkain=against
ydinase=nuclear bomb.
Yhdysvallat ja EU ovat vastakkain Iranin kanssa, koska maa ehkä suunnittelee ydinasetta.
The USA and the EU are against Iran, because the country might plan to make a nuclear bomb.

cathrynm on 04 January 2012

vaali=election (GPL)
mainonta=advertising
katu->kaduilla = street
Presidentinvaalien mainonta on alkanut kaduilla.
Presidential election advertising has begun on the streets.

ennakko=advance
äänestys=vote
Vaalien ennakkoäänestys alkaa ensi viikon keskiviikkona.
Mail in ballots for the election begin Wednesday next week.

melkein=next
Vaaleissa voi äänestää ennakkoon melkein viikon ajan.
In the election votes can be cast in advance beginning next week.

paikka=spot
Suomessa on noin 900 paikkaa, jossa voi äänestää ennakkoon.
Finland has about 900 regions in which one may vote in advance

Esimerkiksi posteissa voi äänestää ennakkoon.
For example one can vote in advance by mail.

järjestää=arrange
edustusto=representation
kestää=endure
Ulkomailla ennakkoäänestys järjestetään Suomen edustustoissa ja se kestää vain muutaman päivän.
Foreign absentee balloting take place for Finland's represenatives and it goes on for only a few days.

Presidentinvaalit ovat sunnuntaina 22. tammikuuta.
Presidential elections are Sunday, the 22 of January.

ehdokas=candidate
Jos kukaan ehdokkaista ei saa yli puolta äänistä, vaaleissa järjestetään toinen kierros.
If any candate doesn't receive more than half of the votes, an election takes place the second round.

Vaalien toinen kierros on 5. helmikuuta.
The election's second round is on the 5th of February.
cathrynm on 05 January 2012

Oops, double post. I saw the database error, and thought it was lost, so I posted again. But I guess the message made it in. Oh well, it's only my own forum, so what does it matter.
cathrynm on 05 January 2012

is absentee balloting same as voting-in-advance? i'm not good at it XDDD
this is about voting-in-advance, anyway. posteissa is 'as post offices' (though then the ballots are indeed sent by post, i assume). by post is postitse:)
and edustusto is a place. by translating it into russian and then looking up, i figured out that the terms in English seem to be representative office; diplomatic mission.
Serpent on 05 January 2012

Yeah I think so. I think in California, at least, they call it an "absentee ballot" when you vote by mail. At least this is the term I've heard for many years.

I see what you mean, thanks, yeah that makes sense. posteissa -- at the post offices.
cathrynm on 05 January 2012

「生きるために、食べるために、労働はうまれた」と言われますが、それはヒト以外の動物も同じで、生きるために食べものを求めて活動しています。
Though they say "To live, to eat, work was born", this is also the same for animals other than people, as to live action must be taken to find food.

ヒトがほかの動物と異なるのは、社会という集団生活をおこなう点ですが、これはサルやゾウや鳥たちに限らず、アリやハチなどの虫たちも含め、多くの動物は集団生活をおこなっているので、単に集団生活だけをとらえて、ヒトをほかの動物と区別するわけにはいきません。
People differ from animals in this way, although we live in a group we call society, this is also true of apes, elephants and birds, even including ants, bees, and insects, many animals live their lives in collective groups, simply living in a group does not necessarily distinguish humans from other animals.

形成＝けいせい＝formation
着目＝ちゃくもく＝attention
社会を形成するという点に着目しても、原始的なレベルではサルの集団とほとんど差異がありません。
If we consider the isssue of the formation of societies, at the primitive level, there's not much difference with the ape societies.

二足歩行＝にそくほこう＝bipedalism
ところが、ヒトは二足歩行により前足を自由にしました。
Nevertheless, because people are bipedal, the front feet have become free.

つまり手をもち、そのことで自然物を道具にすることができました。
In short, by having hands tools could be made.

改善＝かいぜん＝betterment
みずから＝personally
さらにみずからの手で、その道具を改善することができました。
Furthermore, with one's own hands, one could improve those tools.

素材＝そざい＝raw materials
そして新しい素村で新しい道具をつくりだすことができたという点こそが、ほかの動物と明らかにちがい、一線を画することになったといわれています。
Also, especially as new new tools could be made with new raw materials, it's said that one could draw a line, the difference between other animals became obvious,

サルは身のまわりにあるものを道具として使うことができますが、つくりだすことはできないのです。
Although apes can use things around them as tools, they cannot create things.

そして、ことからが大事なところです。
So, from this there is an important point.

のみならず＝besides, as well
道具によって、自分ひとりあるいは子どもを養うことのみならず、働けなくなった、つまり食べ物を自分で得ることができなくなった年老いた親を、ヒトは養うことができるようになります。
Because of tools, people have the ability to support, not just themselves, or a child, but those that have become unable to work, in short those old parents who have become unable to obtain food on their own,

親のめんどうをみることこそが、ヒトがほかの動物と決定的に異なる点です。
Certainly, looking after their parents, is a decisive difference between people and other animals.

もちろん、以前はいまのような長寿が約束されたわけではないので、働けない年齢になったら基本的には自然にしんでいくというのが大部分でしたが、それでもいわゆる生産不能になった高齢者たちも共存できる社会を、人類はずいぶん前からもっていたようです。
Of course, that doesn't mean previously the longevety was long as what's expected now, when reaching the age of being unable to work, although fundamentaly the natural thing to happen for the majority would be to die, yet man kind has from a long time past been able to support this society that can coexist with the so called 'un productive old people.'

余剰＝よじょう＝surplus
つまり、道具の利用と開発によって、ヒトは生産者と高齢者以外も生活できる余剰生産が可能になり老親たちが生存できたわけです。
In short, because of the development of the use of tools, the productive people and those other than old people have the possibility to create a surplus, and for this reason old parents can survive.

職業あるいは労働などという概念ができたのは、長い人類史の中ではつい最近のことです。
The concept of business or manual labor was created, in the long period of human history this was a recent idea.

このような理解に立つと、いわゆる生産能力がない人や乏しい人が暮らせる社会こそが、人類が長年求めてきた夢の社会なのです。
For this kind of understanding to hold up, for the unproductive and poor to be able to live in the society, mankind has come to have a society that allows for the dream of pursuing a long life.

豊かな社会とはこの夢が実現した社会のことだと、私は確信しています。
If the society is abundant, then the the society can provide for this dream to be realized. I truly believe this.
cathrynm on 06 January 2012

vika=fault
Jouluna alkaneet sähköviat tulevat sähköyhtiöille kalliiksi.
The electrical power breakdowns began in December bringing with the them expenses for the electric companies.

Esimerkiksi sähköyhtiö Fortum sanoo, että sähköviat maksavat yhtiölle noin 45 miljoonaa euroa.
For example, the electric company Fortum says that the electric power failures cost the company about 45 million Euro.

Myös sähköyhtiö Vattenfall on kertonut, että sähköviat maksavat yhtiölle noin 11 miljoonaa euroa.
Also the electric company Vattenfall has said that power failures cost the company about 11 million Euro.

viranomainen=officials
määrätä=decree
joutua=must
korvaus=compansation
asiakas=customer
Viranomaiset määräävät, että Fortum joutuu maksamaan korvauksia asiakkailleen.
Officials decree that Fortum must pay compensation to customers.

Fortum maksaa asiakkailleen korvauksia noin 17 miljoonaa euroa.
Fortum pays customers compensation of about 17 million Euro.

Fortum joutuu maksamaan asiakkailleen korvauksia, jos sähkö on ollut kauan pois.
Fortum must pay customers compensation because electricity has been off for a long time.

verkko=network
Loput rahat menevät sähköverkon korjaamiseen.
The remainder of the money goes to electric network repairs.

Sähkövikojen korjaus jatkuu edelleen.
Repairs to the electrical grid damage still continues.

vielä=still
Torstaina ilman sähköä oli vielä noin 2 000 sähköyhtiöiden asiakasta.
Thursday there were still about 2,000 electric company customers without power.

Sähköyhtiöiden ongelmat alkoivat joulun jälkeen, kun Suomessa oli kova myrsky.
Electric company's troubles began after Christmas, when Finland had a severe storm.
cathrynm on 06 January 2012

I think your log will be a very useful resource when I finally get to studying Finnish. It's great how motivated you are to write something here so often in your target language. I think there are 3 people in our team who are motivated to learn a language because of their heritage - you, Kafea and ChristianVlcek, I envy you all!
hribecek on 06 January 2012

紡ぐ＝つむぐ＝spin
希望を紡ぐ
weave hope

創る＝つくる
未来を創る
Build the future

悲しみと混迷から、明日へ風土や歴史が映す心
From the sadness and chaos, tomorrow the landscape and history cast a shadow on the heart.

未曽有＝みぞう＝uprecedented
未曽有の被害をもたらしに東日本大震災後、初めての年が幕を開けた。
After the unprecensted damage from the east Japan earthquake diaster, the curtain of the new year opens.

癒える＝いえる＝to recover
今も癒えぬ悲しみと東京電力福島第一原発事故をめぐる混迷の中で、日本はどのような未来を創ることができるのか、
Now in the midst of the chaos from the sad and still unresolved Fukushima nuclear accent, what kind of future can Japan build?

名誉＝めいよ=honor
池澤夏樹＝いけざわなつき
海外におけ日本文学研究の第一人者で、震災後に日本国籍取得を表明したドナルド・キーン米コルンビア大名誉教授と、被災地と向き合い続ける作家の池澤夏樹さんが対談した。
The leading overseas Japanese literature researcher, Donald Keen, the Columbia professor emeriturs who after the quake announced his acceptance of Japanese nationality the Columbia professor emeritus, and Natsuki Ikezawa, the author who is continuing to face the disaster area, had a conversation.

この国の風土、歴史、文学を通じて浮び上がる日本人の心性、その深いまなざしの先で紡がれる「希望」が、明日への一歩を照らし出す。
Though this country's landscape, history, literature, the Japanese disposition can arise. Although, from this profound view are spun dreams, tommorow only a small step step will be illuminated.

生涯＝しょうがい＝one's lifetime
キーン　私の生涯で一番大事なものは日本との関係です。
Keen: In my entire life, the most important things have been Japan related.

私が書いた本のほとんどは日本の文学や文化を題材にしています。
The books I have written have been mostly on the subject of Japanese literature and culture.

友人の生活を愛していますし、友人やご近所にも恵まれています。
Because of the love of a friend's lifestyle, I've been blessed with friends and neighbors.

大震災で、日本にいた多くの外国人が自国に帰っていると報道で知り、ともかく一人だけでも逆へむかおうと決意しました。
With the great quake, reports are that many foreigners living in Japan have returned to their home countries, somehow one person alone has the termination to go the opposite direction.

池澤　　日本の国籍を取得し、永住するというのは、「日本人になる」ということですよね。
Ikezawa: Because of accepting Japanese nationality, by living in Japan permanently, you could say you've become Japanese.

実際に「なる」というのはどういうをお気持ちすか？
In practice, how do you feel about 'becoming Japanese?'

疎開=そかい＝dispersal
高見順＝たかみじゅん
キーン　　戦時中、作家の高見順は母を疎開させるために上野駅に行き、そこに静かに並んで列車を待つ大勢の人を見て、この国民とともに生き、ともに死にたいと日記に書きました。
Keen: During the war in order to evacuate author Takami Jun's mother, he went to the Ueno station.   Here he saw many people quietly lined up waiting for the train. He wrote in his diary that he wants to live with these people and that he wants to die with these people.

それはいつの間にか私の気持ちにもなりました。
This sense, which came on recently, is how I've come to feel.

礼状＝れいじょう＝acknowledgement
日本永住を表明すると、多くの人から「勇気をもらった」と礼状が届きました。
To announce that I'll live permanently in Japan, I've must acknowledge the courage that I've received from many people.

生涯＝しょうがい＝one's lifetime.
生まれて初めて人に勇気を与えたと分かり、私の生涯で最も重要な出来事の一つとなりました。
For the first time in my life, I've come to understand the courage that one receives; in my life, this has come to be the most important event.

今となってはなぜもっと早くそうしなかったのかと思っています。
Now that it's happeneed, I wonder why I didn't realize this earlier?

桜

背を向ける＝pretend not to see
どちらかと言うと＝if pushed I'd say
池澤　　僕は国文学を多く読んできて、日本以外の国でも暮らし、どちらかと言うと日本に背を向けてきました。
Ikezawa: I've read a lot of literature, and living in a country other than Japan, I'd have to confess that I kind of ignored Japan.

他国の事情をしり、日本に持ち帰るのが自分の仕事だと思ったんです。
Knowing the circumstances of other countries, I thought it was my job to bring things from Japan back to my country.

それは震災を機に、もう一度気持ちが日本に向いてきている気がする。
The earthquake gave me a chance, to once moreo have a feeling that I should face japan.

例えば、以前は桜という花があまり好きではなかった。
For example, previously, I wasn't so fond of the Cherry blossoms.

価値＝かち＝value
見いだす＝to find out
咲いてことにすぐに散る美的な価値を見いだす日本的心情にうまく乗れなくて。
I couldn't quite share in the the typically Japanese feeling in noticing the aesthetic value of the blooming and disappearing of the flowers.

特攻隊＝とっこうたい＝special attack unit
一番の例が戦争中の特攻隊です。
The is best example of this during the war regarding the special attack unit.

でもやっぱり、この国は桜なんだなと。
However, of course, this country had Cherry bloossoms.

慰める＝なぐさめる＝to comfort.
桜が咲けばほっとするし、慰められもする。
If the flowers bloom a sense of relief was felt, and they were comforted.

キーン　桜は東北が最もきれいだと言われますが、私もそう信じるようになりました。
Keen: It's said that the Cherry trees in North-East Japan are the most beautiful, I've also come to believe souch a thing.

吉野＝よしの
吉野をはじめとする日本各地の桜は本当に美しいものです。
Starting with the Yoshino, each region of Japan's Cherry tree's are truly beautiful.

あでやか＝bewitching
しかし、黒い森の中であでやかに咲く東北の桜にこそ、桜の本質を見る気がします。
However, in the midst of the black forest with a particularly attractive tree of North east Japan, I feel one can see the true essence of the cherry tree.

千本桜より森で光を放つ一本の桜、その姿が東北的にも思えます。
More than 1000 cherry trees, in a forest, the light passing through a single cherry tree, I can think this sight is special to north-east Japan.

池澤　「深草の野辺の桜し心あらば今年ばかりは黒染めにさけ」。 (This must be a famous quote, because I see it all over the net)
Ikezawa: "Fukusaku field's cheery tree spirit, this year is merely the bloom of black dye" ??

....

今集ですね。
Ahh, now, the collection.

投げ掛ける＝to raise
大事な人を亡くして悲しいときに、明るい色の桜は咲いてほしくないという気持ちを自然に投げ掛けている。
At the sad time of the death of so many people, it's natural to throw out the feeling of not wanting the bright colors of the Cherry trees.

ふさわしい＝appropriate
それが去年はふさわしいと思っていました。
For last year this was appropriate, I'm thinking.

それでも桜はきれいに派手に咲く。
And yet, the cheery trees bloom with all of their splendor.

そして、それでよかったんだと安心もする。
And then because of that, it was good and peace was felt.

複雑な気持ちでしたね。
Yes, complex feeling, I'd say.

方丈=ほうじょう＝chief priest
キーン　方丈記に書かれた地震や源氏物語の野分（台風）などの例外はありますが、日本文学で災害を書いたものは驚くほど少ない。
Keen: The quake quake described in the priest's journal, and the typhoon in the tale of Genji are the exception, in Japanese literature it's suprising how seldom disasters are written about.

瑞穂＝みずほ？
瑞穂の国＝みずほのくに＝Japan, the land of abundant rice
畏敬＝いけい＝reverence
多くの災害があり、悲しくても「瑞穂の国」として自然に畏敬の念を抱いていたということでしょうか。
There are many disasters, even though it's sad "Japan, the land of Abundant Rice" kind of embraces the idea of holding reverence for nature.

無常感

池澤　国土愛ですね。
Ikezawa:   Love of the land, isn't it?

英知＝えいち＝wisdom
ヨーロッパで時々「日本には英知はあっても、きちんと論理化された哲学がない」と言われます。
In Europe sometimes they say that though Japan has wisdom, it doesn't exactly have a logical philosophy.

そういうとき、僕は「じゃあ、フランスには季節はいくつある？　日本には３０も４０もあるよ。　われわれは、桜の咲き始め、満開、散るときは、違う季節だと思っている」と話すんです。
At times like this, I say "Well, how many seasons does France have? Japan has 30-40. We the time that cherry blossom start to bloom time, the time they are in full bloom, the time that they fall, these are all diferent seasons, I think"

そういう細かな変化を日本の自然は次々と見せてくれる。
We are made to see thiese kinds of tiny change in Japan's nature, one after another.

それを美しいと思い、短い時などを書くうちに、時は流れていく。
That's beautiful, I think. within the short time it takes to write, time as passed away.

だから論理化された哲学の代わりに、日本には文学があったんじゃないか。
Therefore instead of logical philosophy, doesn't Japan have literature?

主題＝しゅだい＝main theme
日本文学の主題はいつでも、　「移りゆく時をみている自分たち」なのだと思うんです。
Japanese literature's main them is always about us watching the change with the times, I think.

いたずらに＝in vain
キーン　ヨーロッパの人は、ものがいたずらに変化することを喜びません。
Keen: Europeans are always hopelessly unthrilled about the change in things.

大理石＝だいりせき＝marble
神殿＝しんでん＝temple
古くはギリシャ時代から「永遠」を意識し、大理石の神殿を建てました。
From the times of Ancient Greece, there was an awareness of the eternal, and they built marble temples.

託する＝たくする＝entrust
どれほど時間がたとうと変わらない何かに希望を託したのです。
They entrusted in the hope that after so much time passes something would not change.

一方で日本人はものが変わっていくことを受け入れ、場合によっては喜びを感じてきました。
On the other hand Japanese are accepting that things change, depending on the situation, of course, a sense of joy can be felt.

営々＝えいえい＝unceasing
身内＝みうち＝relatives
池澤　　被害のたびに、それまで営々と築いてきたものを全部笑って、身内をたくさん亡くして、みんな大声で泣いて、それでもなんとかあきらめて立ち上がって、またつくる。
Ikezawa: Each time there's damage, all unceasing work done to build things is all laughed at, with many relatives died, everyone sobbing loudly, even then, with somehow everyone giving up on recovery, things are again rebuilt.

そのうちに良いことがあり、楽しいときも来て、その繰り返しで人生や歴史はできている。
One of these days a good thing will happen, the happy times will come, then again the cycle repeats, and human life and history can be made.

たから、たぶん「永遠」のことは考えなかったんでしょうね。
As a rusult, probably no one ever considers 'eternity.'

無常感=むじょうかん＝sense of vanity in life
変わるものだという無常感が中心ですから。
Because the change in things, or the sense of vanity in life, is at the center of things.

cathrynm on 08 January 2012

hribecek wrote:

Heh, okay, though, uh, be careful what you wish for. It is a little different learning a heritage language. I'm not sure how to describe it. I think maybe it's a matter of learning of new things, as it is with everyone else, but it's also a kind of self-discovery process also. For me, initially, there was a bit of awkwardness and strange feelings associated with these languages, I think once I stopped being embarrassed about being a beginner, then well, it just became a matter of hitting the books and audio programs, just like everyone else.

The Sami language I do find fascinating. I thought I had a big language project myself with Finnish and Japanese, but I think Kafea and learning a language like Sami is truly a heroic project. I'm looking forwards to seeing how this goes.
cathrynm on 08 January 2012

velka->velkojen (G-PL)
Monilla ihmisillä on ongelmia velkojen kanssa joulun jälkeen.
Many people have problems with debt after Christmas.

tarvita->tavitsevat=need
neuvoja=advisor
Tämä näkyy niin, että monet tarvitsevat nyt velkaneuvojan apua.
This shows that that many now need help from a debt advisor.

pika=express
vippi=loan
ostos=shopping
Monet ovat ottaneet esimerkiksi pikavippejä, koska he tarvitsivat rahaa jouluostoksiin.
For example, many have taken express loans (payday loans), because they need money for Christmas shopping.

takuu=guarantee, bond
säätiö=foundation
Monet ihmiset soittavat esimerkiksi Takuu-Säätiöön, joka tarjoaa velkaneuvontaa.
For example, many people call the "Bond Institution"? which gives loan counseling.

ehtiä->ehditä=find time
vastata=answer
puhelu=phone calls (ILL PL)
Soittajia on niin paljon, että kaikkiin puheluihin ei ehditä vastata.
There are so many callers, that there isn't time to answer all the phone calls.

eläkeläinen=pensioner
Myös monet eläkeläiset tarvitsevat velkaneuvonnan apua, koska heillä ei ole rahaa velkojen maksuun.
Also many pensioners need help from loan advisors because they do not have money for debt payments.
cathrynm on 08 January 2012

selvittää=clarify
ehdokas=candidate (gen-pl)
YLE Uutiset on selvittänyt presidenttiehdokkaiden raha-asioita.
YLE News has clarified the presidential candidate's money situation.

kokoomus=constitution (gen)
sijoittaa=place/invest
eniten=most
arvo=value
Kokoomuksen presidenttiehdokas Sauli Niinistö on sijoittanut eniten rahaa arvopapereihin.
Constitution's presidential candidate Sauli Niinistö has invested the most money in financial products.

rahasto=fund (ILL PL)
osake=share (ILL PL
Niinistö on sijoittanut 600 000 euroa esimerkiksi rahastoihin ja osakkeisiin.
So Niinistö has invested 600,000 Euros in funds and shares.

Myös sosiaalidemokraattien Paavo Lipponen, ruotsalaisen kansanpuolueen Eva Biaudet ja kristillisdemokraattien Sari Essayah omistavat osakkeita.
Also, the Social Democratic Paavo Lipponen, the Swedish People's Party's Eva Biaudet and the Christian Democrat Sari Essavah own shares.

kiinteistö=real estate (PTV PL)
keskusta=center
asunto=GEN
Keskustan presidenttiehdokas Paavo Väyrynen omistaa paljon kiinteistöjä, esimerkiksi asunnon Helsingissä ja talon Pohjois-Suomessa.
Center's presidential candidate Paavo väyrynen owns a lot of real estate, for example a residence in Helskinki and a house in northern Finland.

Vain kolmella presidenttiehdokkaalla on velkaa.
About three presidential candidates have debts.

vasemmistoliitto=Left Alliance of Finland
Velkaa on SDP:n Paavo Lipposella, keskustan Paavo Väyrysellä ja vasemmistoliiton Paavo Arhinmäellä.
SDP's Paavo Lipponen center's Paavi Väryrnen and the Left Alliance of Finland's Paavo Arhinmäki have debts.
cathrynm on 09 January 2012

vietto=celebration
Kiinalaiset ovat alkaneet matkustaa uudenvuoden viettoon.
Chinese have begun to travel to celebrate the new year.

arvioida=estimate
lähi=near
Kiinan hallitus arvioi, että maassa tehdään lähiviikkoina yli kolme miljardia matkaa junilla, lentokoneilla, laivoilla ja busseilla.
The Chinese government estimated in the country in the next few weeks there will be more than three billion trips by train, plain, ship and bus.

vaellus=wandering
kansa=people (g-pl
tapahtua=occur
Kiinalaisten matkustaminen uudenvuoden viettoon on maailman suurin kansainvaellus, joka tapahtuu joka vuosi.
Chinese traveling for the new year celebration are world's biggest migration of people that occur every year.

käyttö=use
palvelu=service
Kiinassa on otettu käyttöön uusi internet-palvelu junalippujen ostamista varten.
In China they are adopting to the new internet service for buying train tickets.

Palvelu meni tukkoon, kun miljoonat ihmiset yrittivät ostaa lippuja yhtä aikaa.
The service went down, when a billion people tried to buy tickets the first time.

sotkea->wotkee=messed up
Myös huono sää sotkee kiinalaisten matkasuunnitelmia.
Also bad weather bedeviled Chinese travel plans.

mukaan=according to
Kiinalaisen kalenterin mukaan uusi vuosi alkaa tämän kuun 23. päivä.
According to the Chinese calender, the new year starts this month on the 23'rd.

tärkein=chief
Kiinalainen uusivuosi on kiinalaisten vuoden tärkein juhla.
Chinese new years is for Chinese the year's most important holiday.
cathrynm on 11 January 2012

cathrynm wrote:

käyttö=use
palvelu=service
Kiinassa on otettu käyttöön uusi internet-palvelu junalippujen ostamista varten.
In China they are adopting to the new internet service for buying train tickets.

Palvelu meni tukkoon, kun miljoonat ihmiset yrittivät ostaa lippuja yhtä aikaa.
The service went down, when a billion people tried to buy tickets the first time.

a new service (...) has been adopted.

(...) when millions/billions of people were trying to buy tickets at the same time.

Your log is my main source of news, lol.

btw now that I think of it - have you tried Iversen-style hyperliteral translations? you might find them useful:)))
you could list fixed expressions like yhtä aikaa along with the vocabulary you learn.
Serpent on 11 January 2012

vakava=serious
surma=killing
Helsingissä on tapahtunut vakava perhesurma tiistaina.
In Helsinki on Tuesday a serious family murder has occurred.

epäillä=wonder
tappaa=kill
Poliisi epäilee, että perheen isä on tappanut vaimonsa ja kaksi (2) lastaan Laajasalossa.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laajasalo
Police wonder, if the families' father has killed the wife and two children in Laajasalo.

tulipalo=fire
Poliisi meni paikalle, koska perheen kodissa oli tulipalo.
Police went to the scene because the family's home was burning.

Poliisi löysi asunnosta kolme ihmistä, jotka oli tapettu.
Police discovered 3 people from the residence, who were killed.

tapahtuma=happening
Poliisi otti perheen isän kiinni tapahtumapaikalta.
Police took the family's father to the closed off scene of the crime.

Mies on sanonut poliisille, että hän on tappanut perheensä.
The man has said to police that he has murdered the family.

Miestä epäillään kolmesta murhasta.
The man is suspected of three murders.

tapaus=murder (ptv
Suomessa on ollut vuoden aikana kuusi (6) tapausta, joissa isä tai äiti on tappanut perheensä.
In Finland there have been in a year's time 6 murders in which a father or mother has killed a family.

lasten=baby
erikois-=special
syy=reason (pl)
erilainen=various (p. pl)
Lastenpsykiatrian erikoislääkäri Anne Kauppi sanoo, että perhesurmien syyt ovat erilaisia.
Child psychiatry specialist doctor Anne Kauppi says that the reasons for family killing are various.

Perheellä voi olla esimerkiksi raha- tai terveysongelmia.
In a family the reason can be, for example, money or family chaos.

tärkeä=important
mieli=mind
Kaupin mielestä on tärkeää, että lapsiperheille annetaan apua ajoissa, esimerkiksi rahaa tai lastenhoitoapua.
Kauppi feels it is important that families with children get help in time, for example with money or child care.

cathrynm on 13 January 2012

luotto=credit
luokitus=rating
muuttua=change
Monien euromaiden luottoluokitus voi muuttua.
Many European country's credit rating may change.

uutistoimisto=news agencies
laskea=lower
Uutistoimistot ovat kertoneet, että Standard & Poor's ehkä laskee joidenkin euromaiden luottoluokitusta.
News agences have said that Standard and Poor's may lower some of the European Coutry's credit ratings.

Standard & Poor's on yhdysvaltalainen luottoluokittaja.
Standard & Poors is America's credit rater.

vaikuttaa=impact
laina=loan
korko=interest
Luottoluokitus vaikuttaa lainan korkoihin.
A credit rating impacts loan's interest rates.

Jos maan luottoluokitus laskee, sen täytyy maksaa lainoistaan suurempaa korkoa.
If a country's credit rating declines, they must pay large interst on loans.

Uutistoimistojen mukaan Standard & Poor's ehkä laskee esimerkiksi Ranskan luottoluokitusta.
According to the news agencies Standard and Poors may lower, for example, France's credit rating.

uskoa=to believe
Asiantuntijat uskovat, että esimerkiksi Saksan ja Suomen luottoluokitus ei laske.
Experts believe that, for example, the German and Finnish credit rating will not lower.

cathrynm on 14 January 2012

Hmm, I haven't really tried hyperliteral. I feel like these selkouutiset news articles actually translate pretty directly. Maybe with more complex sentences this would be useful.

I should try hyperliteral translation of Japanese. With the longer sentences, it would come out truly bizarre.
cathrynm on 14 January 2012

otti kiinni is another fixed expression.
ummm tbh i wouldn't say most of these are direct translations. i'm always wondering whether it's because you're making sure this sounds good in English or there's also some confusion sometimes.
now that i think of it, an important benefit of hyperliteral vs literary translations is that you get used to understanding the meaning without needing to express it as a proper sentence in your L1. the next step will be understanding without any sort of translations :-)
Serpent on 14 January 2012

Oh yeah, thanks. This is on www.sanakirja.org/search.php?id=51541&l2=3

ottaa kiinni=catch/aprehend

I'm sure there's massive confusion on my part, due to the fact that I'm still beginner level in this language. I assume a hyper-literal would use some kind of notation or something.
cathrynm on 14 January 2012

väitellä=debate
Presidenttiehdokkaat ovat väitelleet rasismista.
The presidential candidates have argued about racism.

tavata=meet (p pl)
vaali=election
tenti=test?
Ehdokkaat tapasivat TV1:n vaalitentissä torstai-iltana.
Candidates met on TV1's election debate Thursday evening.

lukio=high school
esittää=state
Vaalitentti oli Järvenpään lukiossa, ja myös nuoret lukiolaiset esittivät kysymyksiä presidenttiehdokkaille.
The debate was at Järvenpää's high school, and also young highschool students submitted questions to the candidates.

puhuttiin=puhuttiin (pss past)
Vaalitentissä puhuttiin rasismista paljon.
In the election debates it was said that there was much racism.

vasemmisto=left
liitto=union
mieli->mielta (ptv) (mind, spirit, point)
perus=foundation
RKP:n presidenttiehdokas Eva Biaudet ja vasemmistoliiton presidenttiehdokas Paavo Arhinmäki olivat sitä mieltä, että perussuomalaisten täytyy sanoa eduskunnassa selvästi, että he eivät hyväksy rasismia.
RKP Presidential candidate Eva Biaudet and Leftist Union presidential candidate Paavo Arhinmaki were of the mind that the Foundation Finns must say in Parliament clearly that they don't like racism.

arvostella=judge
Myös SDP:n presidenttiehdokas Paavo Lipponen arvosteli perussuomalaisia.
Also SDP's persidential candidate Paavo Lipponen criticized Foundation Finns.

puolustaa=defend
Perussuomalaisten presidenttiehdokas Timo Soini puolusti puoluettaan.
Foundation Finn's presidential candidate Timo Soini defended the party.

minkäänlainen=whatsoever, of any kind
sortaminen=oppression
viha=hate
Soini sanoi myös, että hän ei hyväksy minkäänlaista sortamista tai vihaa.
Soini said also that he does not like oppression of any kind or hate.
cathrynm on 14 January 2012

Monet kodit ovat olleet ilman sähköä perjantaina.
As of Friday, many houses have been without electricity.

raskas=heavy
päälle=onto
Sähköt ovat menneet poikki, kun raskas lumi on kaatanut puita sähkölinjojen päälle.
Electricity has gone out because heavy snow has knocked down trees onto electric lines.

Perjantaina aamulla yli 40 000 kotia oli ilman sähköä.
Friday morning over 40,000 houses were without electricity.

katko=block,break
Sähkökatkoja on ollut eri puolilla Suomea.
Electric outage has been in various parts of Finland.

korjata=repair
koko=all, whole,size
ajan=aika (G)
lisää=more
lisä =increase (P)
Sähköyhtiöt ovat korjanneet vikoja, mutta uusia vikoja on tullut koko ajan lisää.
Electric companies have repaired damage, but more new damage has been coming all the time.

kestää=endure
jopa=even
Vikojen korjaaminen voi kestää jopa monta päivää.
Repairing damage can go on even for many days.

cathrynm on 14 January 2012

Where do you get these sentences from?
a3 on 14 January 2012

http://yle.fi/selkouutiset/

They are from selkouutiset. This is the news every day in simplified Finnish. There's audio also.
cathrynm on 14 January 2012

cathrynm wrote:

puhuttiin=puhuttiin (pss past)
Vaalitentissä puhuttiin rasismista paljon.
In the election debates it was said that there was much racism.

"they talked a lot about racism".
Serpent on 14 January 2012

Oops, I posted this by accident when I was typing. This is the homework for my Japanese class.

台風が去って、すばらしい青空になった。
When the typhoon leaves, the sky becomes a beautiful shade of blue.

都会からあまりはなれていないある村でも、被害があった。
There was damage in a village that's a little bit away from the city.

社＝やしろ＝shrine
がけくずれ＝landslide
村はずれの山に近い所にある小さな社が、がけくずれで流されたのだ。
In the village there is small shrine in a nearby valley between two mountains, a landslide occured.

朝になってそれを知った村人たちは、
The villagers, who learned of the landslade when it became morning, said

「あの社は、いつからあったのだろう」
"That shrine, how long has it been there?"

「なにしろ、ずいぶん昔からあったらしいね」
"I don't know, probably it's really old."

「さっそく建てなおさなくては、ならないな」
"We have to rebuild it right away"

やって来る＝to come along
と言いかわしながら、何人かがやってきた。
As they were saying this to each other, some other people came along.

「ひどくやられたものだ」
"The damage was terrible"

「このへんだったかな」
"In this area?"

「いや、もう少しあっちだったようだ」
"No, a bit over there"

その時、一人が声を高めた。
At that time one person raised his voice.

「おい、この穴は、いったいなんだい」
Hey, this hole, what this that?

みんなが集ってきたところには、直径一ネートルぐらいのあながあった。
Everyone gathered around a place, a hole of about 1 meter in diameter.

のぞき込む＝to peer into
のぞき込んでみたが、なかは暗くてなにも見えない。
They tried to peer into the hole, but inside it was dark and they couldn't see anything.

つき抜けている＝through
なにか、地球の中心までつき抜けているように深い感じがした。
Anything? They had this profound feeling that they could see ｔｈrough to the center of the earth.

「キツネの穴かな」
"Maybe a fox hole?"

そんなことを言った者もあった。
There was also a person who said this kind of thing.

「おーい、でてこーい」
Hey, come out!

若者は穴にむかって叫んでみたが、底からはなんの反響もなかった。
A young person faced towards the hole and tried to yell in, but there was no echo from the bottom.

彼はつぎに、そばの石ころを拾って投げこもうとした。
He was next, he picked up a nearby rock and threw it in.

「ばちが当るかもしれないから、やめとけよ」
Because you might get a curse from that, it would be good if you stopped.

と老人がとめたが、彼は勢いよく石投げこんだ。
The old man stopped, but the man threw in the rock with force.

だが、底からはやはり反響がなかった。
But, from the bottom there was absolutely no echo.

村人＝むらびと
柵＝さく＝fence, paling
村人たちは、木を切って縄でむすんで柵をつくり、穴のまわりを囲った。
The villagers made a fence from a tree they cut down and tied with ropes, and surrounded the hole.

そして、ひとまず村にひきあげた。
And then, for the moment they returned to the village.

「どうしたもんだろう」
"What should be done?"

「穴の上に、もとのように社を建てようじゃないか」
"We shouldn't build the base of the shrine above the hole, should we?"

相談がきまらないまま、一日たった。
The dicussion didn't result in a decision, a day passed.

早くも聞きつたえて、新聞社の自動車がかけつけた。
Soon, it was heard that a newspaper company's car was coming.

まもなく、学者がやってきた。
Soon, scholars showed up.

そして、おれにわからないことはない、といった顔つきで穴の方にむかった。
And then, facing the direction of the hole it was said that here was something that might be understood,

やじうま＝curious onlookers
きょろきょろ＝looking around restlessly
利権屋＝りけんや＝profiteer
ちらほら＝here and there
つづいて、もの好きなやじうまたちが現れ、目のきょろきょろした利権屋みたいなものも、ちらほらみうけられた。
And then, curious onlookers, who liked the hole, appeared, they looked like concession venders, their eyes darting around restlessly, here and there catching a glimpse.

駐在所＝ちゅうざいしょ＝police substation
巡査＝じゅんさ＝policeman
つきっきり＝constant attendance
駐在所の巡査は、穴に落ちる者があるといけないので、つきっきりで番をした。
According to the policeman, to make sure that no person would fall into the hole, the hole should be watched constantly.

おもり＝weight
新聞記者の一人は、長いひもの先におもりをつけて穴にたらした。
One newspaper reporter, hanged down into the hole a long string with a weight on the end.

ひもは、いくらでも下っていった。
As much string as he had went down the hole.

つきる＝to use up
しかし、ひもがつきたので戻そうとしたが、あがらなかった。
However, when the string was used up, although they tried to get the string back, they couldn't raise it back up.

ふち＝surrounding edge
ちぎれる＝torn off
二、三人が手伝って無理に引っぱったら、ひもは穴のふちでちぎれた。
With 2 then 3 people helping they pulled to hard and the string broke off at the edge of the hole.

片手＝かたて＝one hand
ほどく＝untie
写真機を片手にそれをみていた記者の一人は、腰にまきつけていた丈夫な綱を、黙ってほどいた。
One reporter watched with one hand holding a camera, he quietly untied the string firmly wrapped around his waist.

拡声器＝かくせいき＝megaphone
学者は研究所に連絡して、高性能の拡声器を持ってこさせた。
Scholars contacted their laboratories, and instructed them to bring high power megaphones.

底からの反響を調べようとしたのだ。
So that they could investigate echos from the bottom.

音をいろいろ変えてみたが、反響はなかった。
However they changed the sound, there was no echo.

かしげる＝to lean
学者は首をかしげたが、みんなが見つめているので、やめるわけにいかない。
The scholars leaned in with their necks, but because everyone was watching they just couldn't stop.

拡声器を穴にぴったりつけ、音量を最大にして、長いあいだ鳴らしつづけた。
They put the megaphones right into the hole, set the volume to a high level, and played sound for a long time.

地上なら、何十キロと遠くまで達する音だ。
If coming from the ground, how many tens of kilometers distance had the sound passed?

平然＝へいぜん＝calm
だが、穴は平然と音をのみこんだ。
But the hole quietly swallowed up all the sound.

そぶり＝behavior
もっともらしい＝plausible, serious
口調＝くちょう＝tone, expression
学者も内心は弱ったが、落ち着いたそぶりで音をとめ、もっともらしい口調で言った。
Though even the scholar's thoughts were troubled, in a calm manner the sound was stopped, and they spoke in a serious tone.

「埋めてしまいなさい」
"Please fill the whole"

無難＝ぶなん＝safety
わからないことは、なくしてしまうのが無難だった。
The thing that was not understood, was that what was lost was safety.

見物人＝けんぶつにん＝spectator
おしまい＝the end
見物人たちは、なんだこれでおしまいかといった顔つきで、引きあげようとした。
The spectators looked like they were wondering "what kind of end was this?"

利権屋＝りけんや＝profiteer
人垣＝ひとがき＝ｃrowd of people
かきわける＝to push one's way through.
その時、人垣をかきわけて前に出た利権屋の一人が、申し出た。
At that time it was reported that the crowed of people pushed their way in front of the single vendor.

「その穴を、わたしにください。　埋めてあげます」
"Please fill this hole for my sake."

村長はそれに答えた。
The village elder said.

「埋めていただくのはありがたいが、穴をあげるわけにはいかない
"Although I'd be thankful if you filled the hole, you musn't fill the hole just for me."

そこに、社を建てなくてはならないんだから」
There, we must build the shrine."

「社なら、あとでわたしがもっと立派なのを、建ててあげます。
"And for a shrine, afterwards I'll build a more splendid one."

集会場つきにしましょうか」
"Shall we go to the meeting place?"

村長が答えるときに、村の者たちが、
At the time of the village elder's reply, the villagers said,

「本当かい。それならもっと村の近くがいい」
"In truth, if that's the case, closer to the village would be nice."

「穴のひとつぐらい、あげますよ」
"Let's do it, for the one hole."

口々に＝くちぐちに＝unanimously
と口々に叫んだので、きまってしまった。
they cried out unanimously, and because of that it was decided.

小さいけれど集会場つきの社を、もっと村の近くに建ててくれた。
They built a shrine closer to the village, and even though the shrine was small, it could be a meeting place.

新しい社で秋祭りのおこなわれたころ、利権屋の設立した穴埋め会社も、穴のそばの小屋で小さな看板をかかげた。
At the new shrine we'll have the autumn festival, also the hole filling company can can set up a shop for buyers, and next to the hole a hut where a small sign can be hanged.

利権屋は、仲間を都会で猛運動された。
As for the concession stands they'll be great exercise for friends in the city.

すばらしく深い穴がありますよ。
It is such a deep hole!

学者たちも、少なくとも五千メートルはあると言っています。
Even the researchers, say it's at least 5,000 meters.

原子炉のカスなんか捨てるのに、絶好でしよう。
When things like atomic reactor cases need to be thrown away, it would be ideal.

cathrynm on 15 January 2012

pudottaa=drop
Standard & Poor's on pudottanut yhdeksän (9) euromaan luottoluokitusta.
Standard and Poors has dropped nine European country's credit rating.

Suomella on vielä paras luottoluokitus.
Finland has still the best credit rating.

Standard & Poor's on yhdysvaltalainen luottoluokittaja.
Standard and Poors is an American credit rater.

vaikuttaa=impact
korko=interest rate (ILL PL)
Luottoluokitus vaikuttaa lainan korkoihin.
A credit rating impacts a loan's interest rate.

Jos maan luottoluokitus laskee, sen täytyy maksaa lainoistaan suurempaa korkoa.
If a country's credit rating falls, then it must pay high interest for loans.

tärkeä=important
Siksi maille on tärkeää, että niiden luottoluokitus on hyvä.
That's why for countries it is important that their credit rating is good.

Standard & Poor's pudotti Ranskan ja Itävallan pois parhaasta luottoluokituksesta.
Standard and Poors dropped the French and Italian out of the best credit rating.

enää=only
Enää neljällä (4) euromaalla on paras luottoluokitus.
Only four European countries have the best credit rating.

Nämä maat ovat Suomi, Saksa, Hollanti ja Luxemburg.
These countries are Finland, Sweden, Holland and Luxemburg.

valtio=government
vara=reserve
tyytyväinen=content
säilyä=abide remain
Suomen valtiovarainministeri Jutta Urpilainen on tyytyväinen, että Suomella säilyy paras luottoluokitus.
The Finnish national reserve minister Jutta Urpilainen is satisfied that Finland will retain the best credit rating.

mieli=mind
talous=economy
onnistua=manage
Urpilaisen mielestä se on merkki siitä, että Suomen talouspolitiikka on onnistunut hyvin.
Urpilaisen believes it is a sign that Finland's political economy has managed well.
cathrynm on 15 January 2012

Itävalta is Austria :) Otherwise great translations!
Serpent on 15 January 2012

Heh, Austria! I'll remember thaat one.
cathrynm on 15 January 2012

More work from the class. These are from the Kanji in Context workbook.

環状線＝かんじょうせん＝loop line
大阪の市内を環状線と呼ばれる電車が走っている。
In the city of Osaka, a train called a loop line runs.

格差＝かくさ＝disparity
経済格差のせいで、隣の国から国境を越えてどんどん人が入ったきている。
Because of economic disparity, people have been steadily entering by crossing the border from adjacent countries.

長い間隣の家との境界がはっきりしていなかったが、今回家と土地を売るに当たり、隣との境界を明確にした。
For a long while, the property lines with adjacent houses were not clearly defined, but now when houses and land are sold, the neighboring property line is clearly defined.

副都心=ふくとしん＝urban subcenter
昨日午後４時１５分頃、新宿副都心に近いＯＯ銀行新宿西口支店で爆弾テロ事件がありました。
Yesterday, at about 4:15AM, in the Shinjuku area near the OO bank's west exit branch a terrorist bombing incident has occursed.

行員＝こういん＝bank clerk
行員の話によると、閉店後行内で仕事をしていたところ、　銀行の裏口の方で突然バーンという大きな爆発音がしたので、急いで見に行ったところ、裏口のドアの一部が壊れて、煙をあげていたということです。
According to a bank clerk, after the bank closed the incident occured inside the bank. At the bank's rear entrance, because suddenly a large bang or explosion sound happened, he immidately went to look, and part of the rear entrance door was partially destroyed, and he said that smoke was rising.

まもなく＝soon
駆けつける＝to run to
発火装置＝はっかそうち＝incendiary device
まもなく警察が駆けつけ、現場付近を調べたところ、ドア付近で爆破に使われた時限発火装置のものと見られるコードなどが発見されました。
Soon the police came running to the area of the seend to investigate. In the area of the door a timed incendiary device was used to create an explosion and visible code was discovered.

According to the police, a radical party intended to block the summit meeting. Currently the investigation is continuing.
警察では、サミット阻止をねらった過激派により犯行と見て、現在捜査を続けています。

冷戦＝れいせん＝cold war
ソ連＝それん＝Soviet Union
冷戦の終結、東西ドイツの統一、ソ連の解体と、今世界は激動の時代を迎えつつある。
At the end of the cold war, east and west Germany united, the Soviet Union broke apart. Now the world is facing an age of shock and upheaval.

ベルリンの壁が崩れるのをテレビで見て、私もなんだか感激してしまった。
The collapse of the Berlin wall was seen on TV, this even kind of had a deep impression on myself.

華道＝かどう＝flower arrangement
家元＝いえもと＝head of a school
華道や茶道の家元は世襲制度によって代々受け継がれています。
The flower arrangement and tea ceremony school leader positions continue to be passed down generation after generation according to a hereditary system.

台風の影響で鹿児島市内ではすでに風速２０メートル以上の暴風雨が咲いています。
Due to the effects of the typhoon in the Kagoshima city center already a storm with wind speed of over 20 meters (per second?) is blowing.

暴走族＝ぼうそうぞく＝
毎晩近くの道路を暴走族が走るのでうるさくて眠れない。
Because every night on a nearby street the motorcycle gangs run around, it's noisy and I can't sleep.

檻＝おり＝jail
暴れだす＝あばれだす＝begin to grow violet
捕まえたライオンが檻の中で暴れだした。
The captured lion in the cage began to act violently.

１９６４年８月、アメリカ空軍が北ベトナムを爆撃。
In August of 1964 the American air force bombed North Vietnam.

翌年＝よくねん＝following year
北爆＝ほくばく＝Bombing of North Vietnam (very specific word)
大規模＝だいきぼ＝large scale
そして、その翌年２月には北爆と呼ばれる大規模な北ベトナム爆撃が開始された。
Then, following February the large scale bombing of north Vietnam known as as 'hokubaku' began.

投下＝とうか＝dropping
１９４５年８月6日午前８時15分、広島に原子爆弾が投下された。
August 6th of 1945 at 8:15AM the atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima.

後遺症＝こういしょう＝after-effects
そして、これまでに２０万人以上の人の生命が失われれ、今なお原爆の後遺症に苦しんでいるがいる。
Then, because of that, more than 20,000 people lost their lives. Even now the there is suffering dure to the after effects of the atomic bomb.

少しずつ＝little by little
残念ながら＝I'm afraid to say
最近オフィスを禁煙にする会社が少しずつ増えてきたが、日本では残念ながらまだまだ喫煙者の力の方が強いようだ。
Although recently the companies deciding to ban smoking have slowly been increasing, in Japan I'm afraid to say that the power of smokers is strong.
cathrynm on 16 January 2012

onnettomuus=accident (g)
uhri=victim (g pl)
määrä=quantity
nousta=rise
Italiassa laivaonnettomuuden uhrien määrä on noussut.
In italy the number of ship accident victims has risen.

yhteensä=altogether
Sunnuntaina laivasta löydettiin kaksi (2) kuollutta lisää, ja kuolleita on nyt yhteensä ainakin viisi (5).
Sunday two more dead were discovered on the ship, and the deaths are now altogether at least 5.

Onnettomuus tapahtui perjantaina.
The accident occurred Friday.

pelastaja=rescuer
elo=life
Pelastajat ovat löytäneet laivasta myös ihmisiä, jotka ovat elossa.
Rescuers have also discovered people from the ship who are alive.

Sunnuntaina laivasta on pelastettu yhteensä kolme (3) ihmistä.
On sunday altogether 3 people have been rescued from the ship.

onnistua=manage, succeed
eteläkorealainen=south Korean (G)
aviopari=married coouple (G)
Pelastajat onnistuivat tuomaan laivasta ulos eteläkorealaisen avioparin.
Rescuers succeeded in bringing off the ship a South Korean married couple.

häämatka=honeymoon
Aviopari oli häämatkalla.
The married couple was on their honeymoon.

kuulua=be heard (Past), belong
Lisäksi laivasta pelastettiin italialainen, joka kuului laivan henkilökuntaan.
In additon, from the boat were rescued Italians, who belonged to the ship's crew.

risteily=cruise
Risteilylaiva Costa Concordialla oli yli 4000 ihmistä, kun onnettomuus tapahtui.
The cruise ship Costa Condordia had over 4000 passengers when the accident occurred.

kaatua=crash
kylki->kyljelle=side （=Possessive 3rd)
vesi->veden (gen)
alla=under
Onnettomuudessa laiva kaatui kyljelleen, ja se on nyt puoliksi veden alla.
During the accident the ship crashed in the side, and it is now half under water.

syy=blame (PTV)
tutkia=study (Passive )
Onnettomuuden syytä tutkitaan.
The accident's blame is being studied.

viranomainen=official (PL)
pidättää=arrest
Viranomaiset ovat pidättäneet laivan kapteenin.
Officials have arrested the boat's captain.

epäillä=wonder (passive)
rikos=crime
yhteys=connection
Kapteenia epäillään rikoksista onnettomuuden yhteydessä.
The captian is suspected of crimes in connection with the accident.

ennen=before
turva=safety
Epäillään, että kapteeni esimerkiksi lähti pois laivasta, ennen kuin kaikki matkustajat olivat turvassa.
It is suspected that the captain, for example, left the boat before all the passengers were safe.

cathrynm on 16 January 2012

Ooh, this one is a little tricky.

vaali=election
raha=money
Vaalirahoista puhutaan taas.
Campaign finance is being talked about again.

käsitellä=deal, handle
nuoriso=youth
säätiö=foundation
Rikos=crime
juttu=deal
Oikeus on alkanut käsitellä Nuorisosäätiön rikosjuttua.
Justice has begun to be served in the Youth Foundation case.

koskea=concern
Keskusta=center
jonka=joka (genetive)
Rikosjuttu koskee vaalirahaa, jonka Nuorisosäätiö on antanut keskustapuolueelle.
The case concerns campaign contributions, which the Youth Foundation has given to the center party.

syyttäjä=prosecutor
vaatia=ask
ehdollinen=conditional
vankeus=imprisonment
Syyttäjä vaatii keskustan kansanedustajalle Antti Kaikkoselle ehdollista vankeutta.
The prosecutor will ask that Center's member of Parliament Antti Kaikkonen get preventive detainment.

luottamus=trust
asema=state
Kaikkosta syytetään luottamusaseman väärinkäytöstä.
Kaikkonen is being prosecuted for abuse of trust.

puheenjohtaja=chairman
Antti Kaikkonen oli Nuorisosäätiön hallituksen puheenjohtaja, kun säätiö antoi vaalirahaa keskustapuolueelle.
Antti Kaikkonen was the Youth Foundation's government chairman, when the foundation gave campaign money to the Center party.

yhdistys=union
automaatti=vending machine
entinen=former
ehdoton=absolute (PTV)
Raha-automaattiyhdistyksen eli RAY:n hallituksen entiselle puheenjohtajalle Jukka Vihriälälle vaaditaan ainakin kahden ja puolen vuoden ehdotonta vankeutta.
The coin vending machine union, in short, RAY's government's former chairmain Jukka Vihriälä has been asked to received at least two and half years of unconditional imprisonment.

törkeä=indecent, egregious
lahjus=bribe
Vihriälää syytetään törkeästä lahjuksen ottamisesta.
Vihriälä is being prosecuted for the taking of egregious bribes.

Myös Jukka Vihriälä on ollut keskustan kansanedustaja.
Also Jukka Vihriälä is acting as Center's member of parliament.

Lisäksi seitsemän (7) muuta henkilöä saa syytteen lahjuksen ottamisesta.
In addition seven other people will receive endictments for taking egregious bribes.

kieltää=deny
Kaikki syytetyt kieltävät rikoksen.
All those being prosecutied deny guilt.
cathrynm on 17 January 2012

Impressive<3

cathrynm wrote:

Oikeus on alkanut käsitellä Nuorisosäätiön rikosjuttua.
Justice has begun to be served in the Youth Foundation case..

Oikeus is court here.
Serpent on 17 January 2012

重々しい＝おもおもしい＝serious
[フランス料理」という通常のカタカナ表記� �は特別の語感は生じないが、漢字で「佛蘭� �料理」と書くと、漢字の重々しい雰囲気で� �級そうな感じになる。
Although ”French food" as normally written in katakana doesn't produce any kind of special feeling, when "French food" is written in Kanji, a serious atmosphere high class kind of feeling is produced.

漂う＝ただよう＝drift about
店の看板が「佛蘭西料理」となっていると、値段が心配になって店の前で財布の中身を調べたくなるような高級感が漂う。
If the shop's sign is "French Food" written in Kanji, there's a sense that the restaurant is high class, you become worried about the price, like want ot check the contents of your wallet when you're in front of the restaurant.

気概＝きがい＝strong spirit
あえてその表記を使った店主の気概も感じられるような気がする。
There's a feeling that a a shopkeeper using this kind of bold writing would have a strong spirit.

「カレーライス」でも「カレー」でもなく、特に「カリー」という表記を打ち出した看板にも、どこにでもあるカレーとは違う本場の味を主張している雰囲気があり、客のほうも店主の自負を感じるかもしれない。
Even for "kareeraisu" or "Karee" (Japanese curry), particularly "Karii" when it's put out on a sign, there's a scence that the place is claiming their flavor is different when compared to a place that uses "Karee." *the normal spelling

登場＝とうじょう＝entry on stage
東京にイタリア料理のピッツアの点が登場した昭和三十年代中ごろには、まだ「ぴざ」という語はなく、」「ピッツア」という用語は単に珍しい食べ物をさす外来語であるという以外に、特別な語感は働かなかった。
About the time of 30th year of Showa (1956-1966) Italian "Pittua" shops becan to appear in Tokyo, still there wasn't the word "Piza" (normal word for Pizza). The term Pitua was simply nothing more than than a borrowed for for a rare food, and the word didn't impart any special feeling.

が、その後、その料理が広まり、特にアメリカ型の宅配ピザがはやりだしてからは、日本中「ピザ」という語が一般的になり、今では「ピッツア」と呼ぶ人はめったに見かけない。
However later, this type of food spread, because, specifically, the American style delvery pizza became a fad, thoughout Japan 'Piza' became generally used, and people using the word "Pittua" could rarely be found.

掲げる＝かかげる＝to print
本場＝ほんば＝genuine
そんじゃそこら＝here and there
自負＝じふ＝conceit
そういう時代になった今、あえて「ピッツア」という本場イタリアのことばを看板に掲げる店を見ると、そんじょそこらのピザとは違うとする職人の自負を感じる。
As that period became the current time, because stores with signs printed with "Pitua" for the geniune Italian word could be seen, the pride of these shop owners compared to the normal Pizza restaurants could be felt.

こどわり＝fixation
ある種＝あるしゅ＝certain
その語を特に選んで使う客のほうにも、ある種のこだわりがあるのだろう。
If this word is specially chosen for the customer, maybe there is a kind of fastidiousness.

ことばは情報とともに、そういう自負やこだわりをも相手に送り届ける。
The word, together with the information sends to the recipient a sense of pride and fastidiousness.

cathrynm on 18 January 2012

Your consistent posting of these sentences is very impressive. Do you actually know what they all mean when you read them or do you have to translate a lot of the words?

What other types of activities do you do to practise Japanese and Finnish?

I know they're both your heritage languages but is one more important than the other to you?
hribecek on 18 January 2012

annakko=advance
äänestää=to vote
enemmän=more
Presidentinvaalien ennakkoäänestyksessä äänestettiin enemmän kuin edellisissä presidentinvaaleissa.
Voting in the presidential election by absentee ballot has been higher than the last presidential election.

Ennen=before
Ennen vaalipäivää äänesti 32,7 prosenttia niistä ihmisistä, joilla on oikeus äänestää.
Before election day 32.7 percent of the people, who had the right to vote, voted

Edellisissä presidentinvaaleissa ennen vaalipäivää äänesti 30,7 prosenttia.
In the previous presidential election 30.7 percent voted before election day.

sitten=ago
Edelliset presidentinvaalit olivat kuusi (6) vuotta sitten.
The last presidential elections were 6 years ago.

voidaan=(passive)
ennakko=advance
määrä=amount, rate
peruste=reason, basis
miettiä=ponder, consider
yhteensä=toghether, altogether
antavat=antaa=give
Ennakkoäänien määrän perusteella voidaan jo nyt miettiä, kuinka paljon ihmiset antavat yhteensä ääniä presidentinvaaleissa.
The basis of the advance voting percentage, can already now be deduced from how many people cast votes between votes in presidential elections.

koko=size, rather, entire
Ennakkoäänien perusteella koko äänestysprosentti on ehkä noin 74 prosenttia.
On the basis of the size of the pre-voting, the polling percentage will perhaps be about 74 percent.

Presidentinvaalit ovat ensi sunnuntaina.
Presidential elections are next Sunday.

Selkouutiset kuullaan sunnuntaina vaalien takia Radio Suomessa vasta kello 23.03.
Selkouutiset for Sunday election is heard on Radio Finland only at 11:03PM.

cathrynm on 19 January 2012

>Do you actually know what they all mean when you read them or do you have to
>translate a lot of the words?

The Japanese I know pretty much most of the words except the ones I post definitions here. The odd thing is that even knowing the words and the kanji, sometimes the sentences are still difficult to parse. But I have a pretty good sized vocabulary in Japanese. In Finnish I still really depend on dictionaries, and I look up a lot of stuff. I think this system of translating like this, it is helping me memorize words, though I still have a long way to go with learning vocabulary in Finnish.

>What other types of activities do you do to practise Japanese and Finnish?

I take a class in Japanese and they give us quite a bit of material to study during the week. I have to also work on drawing Chinese characters. For Finnish I listen to Selkouutiset, after I've translated it, and I also watch random programs using my YLE iPhone App, which has plenty of cartoons, drama and news to watch. We also get Japanese news on TV here in the USA, and I often do chat rooms in Japanese.

>I know they're both your heritage languages but is one more important than the other
>to you?

Oh I don't know. More important? I think they're different. Finnish I heard more as a child, so I think it has more memories associated with it. Japanese I'm at quite a bit of a higher level than Finnish, and I've been studying actively longer, so I'm a little more confident in chat rooms or posting Japanese on Facebook and things like this.
cathrynm on 19 January 2012

Wow, good job.
Kafea on 20 January 2012

Here's our other class reading. I just blased through this in class, but here I'm going through it line by line and trying to decode all the sentences.

最近、昼寝の結果についての研究が盛んに行われている。
Recently, recearch into the effectiveness of napping has become popular

疲労＝ひろう＝fatigue
これらの研究によると、昼寝には、疲労の予防・作業効率の上昇などの効果があるという。
According to this research, it's said that naps have effectiveness in prevention of fatigue, raising the productivity of workers, among other things.

昼過ぎ＝just past noon
生体＝せいたい＝organism
人間が昼食に眠くなるのは、生体リズムによるもので、昼過ぎに小さな眠気のピークが来るとされている。
When a human being becomes tired from a mid-day meal, because of the body's rhythm, just past noon a small peak of drowsiness comes.

横たわる＝to stretch out
ちょうど犬や猫が食事をした後に横たわって眠ることが多いのと同じように、人間が昼食後に眠気を感じるのも自然な生理現象なのだ。
Exactly the same as how after a meal many dogs and cats stretch out to sleep, it's a natural pysiological phenomenon that after lunch humans feel sleepiness.

それでは、適当な昼寝の長さはどれぐらいか。
In which case, how long would be a suitable afternoon nap?

研究によると、１５～２０分程度だという。
According to research, 15-20 minutes.

眠りに付く＝to fall asleep
人が眠りにつくと最初の１５～２０分が浅い眠り、それ以上が深い眠りとなり、浅い眠りは脳をリフレッシュさせるが、深い眠りは眠気を強くの残してしまうからだ。
When one falls asleep, at first there's 15-20 minuts of light sleep, and from there it turns into deep sleep, although light sleep refreshes the brain, with deep sleep a powerful drowsiness remains.

特に運転時は居眠り運転につながりやすいので注意が必要だ。
Particularly when driving, it's important to be cautious because of the easy way one might fall asleep while driving.

昼食後に眠くなることは誰にでもありますよね。
After luch, hasn't everyone become drowsy?

そんな時は眠ってしまうことを勧めします。
At this time, I suggest sleeping.

眠気を我慢して仕事をするより、頭がすっきりしてミスが減り、ストレス解消にもなるのです。
Even more, sleepiness on a job that requires drugery, if the mind is cleared, then mistakes are less, and stress disappears.

こうした昼寝の効果を得る上で、いくつかポイントになることがあります。
For the possible results after such an afternoon nap, a few points can be made.

まず、熟睡はだめです。
First of all, sound sleep isn't good.

２０分程度が昼寝に適した時間で、２０分間座ったまま目を閉じるだけでも十分効果的です。
20 minutes was an such appropriate amount of time, that for 20 minutes of just sitting there, though the eyes are just closed it was sufficiently effective.

次に、時間は午後２時ごろがベストです。
Next, for the hour of the day, about 2PM was the best.

逆に、午後３時以降の昼寝は夜の睡眠によくない影響を与えかねないので、避けるようにしましょう。
Conversely, an afternoon nap after 3PM had a negative effect on sleep during the evening, so it would be good to avoid that.

最後に、昼寝の前にコーヒーを飲むと、すっきり目覚められます。
Finally, if coffee is drunk before the afteroon nap, one would be too awake.

眠気覚まし＝keeping one's self awake
カフェインには眠気覚ましの効果があり、それが効いてくるのが摂取後３０分ごろなのです。
Caffeine has the effect of keeping one awake, therefore to be effective a nap should be about 30 minutes after the intake of coffee.

冴える＝さえる＝to be clear
つまり、昼寝から目覚めるころには効いてきて、その後は頭もすっきり冴えている、というわけです。
In short, it can be said that upon awakening from a nap, the mind is clear and refreshed.

cathrynm on 20 January 2012

Vihreiden Pekka Haavisto on nyt toiseksi suosituin presidenttiehdokas.
Green's Pekka Havisto is now second most popular presidential candidate.

Suosituin ehdokas on edelleen kokoomuksen Sauli Niinistö.
The most popular candidate is still consititution's Sauli Niinistö.

mielipide=opinion
mittaus=measure
Näin kertoo uusi mielipidemittaus, jonka Taloustutkimus teki YLE Uutisille.
So says the new opinion poll which Economic Report did for YLE news.

kannatus=support
laskea=decline
Sauli Niinistön kannatus on laskenut.
Sauli Niinistön's support has declined.

prosenttiyksikkö=percentage point
alussa=early
Niinistön kannatus on nyt kahdeksan (8) prosenttiyksikköä pienempi kuin tammikuun alussa.
Niinistö's support is now 8 percentage points smaller than early January.

silti=still
selvä=free, clear
Niinistö on silti selvästi suosituin presidenttiehdokas.
Niinistö is still obviously the most popular presidential candidate.

Hänen kannatuksensa on nyt 29 prosenttia.
His support is now 29 percent.

Pekka Haaviston kannatus on nyt 12 prosenttia.
Pekka Haavisto's support is now 12 percent.

Keskustan Paavo Väyrynen on kolmanneksi (3.) suosituin presidenttiehdokas.
Center's Paavi väyrynen is the third most popular persidential candidate.

Hänen kannatuksensa on 10 prosenttia.
His support is 10 percent.

tarvita=need (passive)
Mielipidemittauksen perusteella näyttää siltä, että vaaleissa tarvitaan kaksi (2) vaalipäivää.
From looking at the opinion polls, they indicate that the election will need two election days.

Ensimmäinen vaalipäivä on ensi sunnuntaina.
The first election day is this Sunday.

Jos kukaan ehdokkaista ei saa silloin yli 50 prosenttia äänistä, toinen vaalipäivä on helmikuun alussa.
If no candidate receives at that time over 50 percent of the votes a second election day will be in early February.

toinen->toisella
kierros=round
mukana=about, with
joka->jotka (PL)
eniten=most
ensimmäinen (ESS)
Toisella kierroksella ovat mukana ne kaksi ehdokasta, jotka saavat eniten ääniä ensimmäisenä vaalipäivänä.
The next rounds are with the two candidates, who receive the most votes on the first election day.
cathrynm on 20 January 2012

Continuing on class homework. Second half of おーい　でてこーい

官庁＝Government office
官庁は、許可を与えた。
The goverment office gave permission.

原始力発電会社は、争って契約した。
And the nuclear power generation company argued and then agreed to the contract.

村人たちはちょっと心配したが、数千年は絶対に地上に害はでないと説明され、また、利益の配分をもらうことで、なっとくした。
Although the villagers were a bit worried, it was explained that thousands of years that there was no damage above ground, and again they would receive an allotment of the profices, so the consented.

しかも＝moreover
まもなく＝soon
しかも、まもなく都会から村まで、立派な道路が作られたのだ。
Moreover, soon a splendid new highway was buidl from the city to the village.

トラックは道路を走り、鉛の箱を運んできた。
Trucks run on the highway, bringing in boxes of lead.

ふた＝lid
穴の上でふたはあけられ、穴のなかに落ちていった。
On top of the hole, the lid opens, and inside the hole the boxes are dropped.

外務省や防衛庁から、不要になった機密書類箱を捨てにきた。
From the ministry of foreign affairs and the Japan self defense force boxes of un-needed secret secret documents also got thrown in.

監督＝かんとく＝supervision
監督についてきた役人たちは、ゴルフのことを話しあっていた。
The government officials who came to supervise talked about golfing.

作業員たちは、指示に従って書類を投げこみながら、パチンコの話をしていた。
The workers, as they threw documents in talked about Pachinko.

けはい＝気配＝indication
穴は、いっぱいになるけはいを示さなかった。
The whole showed no indication of filling up.

よっぽど＝very greatly
よっぽど深いのか、それとも、底の方でひろがっているのかもしれないと思われた。
Was it very deep, or possibly it was thought that possibly the bottom spread out widely.

穴埋め会社は、少しずつ事業を拡張した。
The hole filling company business expanded little by little.

引き取り手＝caretaker
浮浪者＝ふろうしゃ＝vagrant,
大学で伝染病の実験に使われた動物の死体も運ばれてきたし、引き取り手のない浮浪者の死体もくわわった。
From the university, the dead bodies of animals used for infectious disease experiments were carried in, the dead bodies of homeless with no family were added in.

汚物＝おぶつ＝garbage
導く＝みちびく＝to guide
海に捨てるよりいいと、都会の汚物を長いパイプで穴まで導く計画も立った。
Better than throwing into the ocean, there was a plan to bring the city's garbage to the hole through a long pipe.

穴は都会の住民たちに、安心感を与えた。
The hole gave the residents of the city a feeling of security.

あとしまつ＝settlement of affairs, cleaning up aftewards
つぎつぎと生産することばかりに熱心で、あとしまつに頭を使うのは、だれもがいやがっていたのだ。
Everye hated, the products that one by one had just been manufactured with so much enthusiasm, that thought was needed to deal with.

この問題も、穴によって、少しずつ解決していくだろうと思われた。
The problems by use of the whole seemed like they could be resolved little by little.

婚約のきまった女の子は、古い日記を穴に捨てた。
Girls who had decided to become married threw their old diaries into the hole.

かつて＝once
かつての恋人ととった写真を穴に捨てて、新しい恋愛をはじめる人もいた。
People who were had a new love affair threw pictures taken with ex-loved ones into the hole.

押収=おうしゅう＝seizure
巧妙＝こうみょう＝ingenious
警察は、押収した巧妙なにせ札を穴でしまつして安心した。
The police safely dealt with seized counterfeit currency using the hole.

証拠物件＝evidence
犯人者たちは、証拠物件を穴に投げ込んでほっとした。
Criminals with a sense of relief threw evidence into the hole.

穴は捨てたいものは、なんでも引き受けてくれた。
The hole would take in anything that one wanted to throw out.

澄む＝すむ＝clear
都会は汚れを洗い流してくれ、海や空が以前にくらべて、いくらか澄んできたように見えた。
The city's dirty things washed away, compared to using the sky or the sea before, it seemed somehow more transparent.

その空をめざして、新しいビルが、つぎつぎと作られていった。
Aiming for that very sky, new buildings one by one became constructed.

鉄骨＝てっこつ＝steel frame
ある日＝one day
ある日、建築中のビルの高い鉄骨の上でひと仕事を終えた作業員が、ひと休みしていた。
One day, above a the tall steel frame of a building being constructed, the workers who had finished rested.

彼は頭の上で、「おーい、でてこーい」と叫ぶ声を聞いた。
From above his head, he heard a voice cry out "Hey, come out of there!"

しかし、見上げた空には、なにもなかった。
However, looing up into the sky there was nothing.

青空がひろがっているだけだった。
Just a blue sky that spread out.

彼は、気のせいかな、と思った。
He thought, this is my imagination.

そして、もとの姿勢にもどった時、声のした方角から、小さな石ころが彼をかすめて落ちていった。
Then, when he returned to his original position, from the direction that he heard the voice, a small rock grazed him as it fell.

しかし彼は、ますます美しくなってゆく都会のスカイラインをぼんやり眺めていたので、それには気がつかなかった。
However, for him as he blankly stared at the increasingly beautiful city skyline, he didn't notice this.

cathrynm on 22 January 2012

More sentences for Kanji in Context (for class)

最近は銀行やコンビニにはたいてい防犯カメラが備えられている。
Recently banks and convenience stores generally have anti-crime cameras installed.

ようやく＝finally
逃げる犯人を警察はようやく逮捕した。
Police finally arrested the escaped criminal.

踏み込む＝step into,raid,
連行＝れんこう＝taking a suspect to polie
逮捕状＝arrest warrent
容疑者の家に踏み込んだ刑事は、容疑者に逮捕状を突きつけ、警察署に連行した。
The detective raided the suspects home brandishing an arrest warrent and brought him into the police station.

先日高速道路を走っていて、初めてスピード違反で捕まってしまった。
Yesterday I was on the freeway and for the first time I got a ticket for illegal speed.

魚を手で捕まえるのは簡単なことではない。
Catching fish with your bare hands is not a simple matter.

昔はたくさんの舟で鯨を追いかけて捕まったが、今は捕鯨船で捕る。
In thoe old days there were many boats that chased and caught whales, today they are caught with whaling ships.

所得＝income
課す＝かす＝to levy
所得にかかわりなく課される消費税は、低所得者には大きな負担になる。
The imposition of consumption tax that is not moderated by income is a great burden to people of low income.

批判＝criticism
人の意見を批判することはやさしいが、しっかりした意見を述べることは難しい。
The criticism of the person's opinion is kindly done so firmly stating the opinion was difficult.

最低限度＝minimum limit
営む＝いとなむ＝to carry on
「すべての国民は、健康で文化的な最低限度の生活を営む権利を有する」（日本憲法第２５条）
All citizens have the right to carry on with health the minimum level of existence. (Japanese constitution 25th article)

ずっと健康な人は病気の人の気持ちが分からない。
Poeple who have always been healthy just can't understand the feelings of sick people.

あの白い建物は区のスポーツセンターです。
That white building is the district's sports center.

階建て＝かいだて＝Ｎｔｈ　ｓｔｏｒｙ
私の部屋は５階建てのマンションの二階です。
My room is an apartment on the second floor of a 5 floor building.

建設業界＝world of construction
癒着＝ゆちゃく＝collusion
政治家と建設業界の癒着が大きな問題になっている。
The collusion between politicians and the construction industry has become a big problem.

補習＝ほしゅう＝supplementary lessons
実施＝implementation
受験競争が厳しいので、受験対策のために補習などを実施している学校が多い。
Because the competition in the test is severe, in order to plan for the test many schools have implemented things like supplmentary lessons.

cathrynm on 23 January 2012

Suomessa on sunnuntaina äänestetty presidentinvaaleissa.
Finland is voting Sunday for the presidential election.

saada->saivat
eniten=most
Kokoomuksen Sauli Niinistö ja vihreiden Pekka Haavisto saivat vaaleissa eniten ääniä.
Contitution's Sauli Niinistö and Green's Pekka Haavisto received the most votes in the election.

päästä=reach
kierros=round
mukaan=according to, with, after by
He pääsevät mukaan vaalien toiselle kierrokselle.
Together they reach the election's next round.

järjestää=arrange, take place
Presidentinvaaleissa täytyy järjestää toinen kierros, koska kukaan ehdokkaista ei saanut yli 50 prosenttia äänistä.
Presidential elections must take place the next round because no candidates have received more than 50% of the votes.

Sauli Niinistö sai äänistä noin 37 prosenttia ja Pekka Haavisto melkein 19 prosenttia.
Sauli Niinistö received votes of about 37% and Pekka Haavisto about 19%.

Keskustan Paavo Väyrynen sai ääniä kolmanneksi eniten.
Center's Paavi Väyrynen received the 3rd most votes.

mukana=about
muu=other
vähemmän=less
Vaaleissa oli mukana myös viisi (5) muuta presidenttiehdokasta, mutta he saivat selvästi vähemmän ääniä kuin Niinistö, Haavisto ja Väyrynen.
The election also had 5 other presidential candidates but they received clearly fewer votes than Niinistö, Haavisto and Väyrynen.

taistella=struggle
kannatus=support
Sauli Niinistöllä ja Pekka Haavistolla on nyt kaksi viikkoa aikaa taistella äänestäjien kannatuksesta.
Sauli Niinistöllä and Pekka Haavistolla now have 2 weeks time to strugle for support from voters.

Presidentinvaalien toinen vaalipäivä on sunnuntai, helmikuun 5. päivä.
The presidential election's next election day is Sunday on February 5th.
cathrynm on 23 January 2012

空を飛んでいる虫を食べるのが、コウモリ本来のベーシックな食生活です。
The bat's basic eating habits is eating bugs who fly through the air.

全滅＝ぜんめつ＝annihilation
しまいに＝at the end
しかしすべてのコウモリがみんなで虫を食べていたら、しまいにはエサがいなくなってしまい、コウモリそのものも全滅してしまいます。
However if all bats ate bugs, in the end all the food would go away, bats, their very existence, would become extinct.

それに、虫の少ない環境に生きるコウモリもいます。
Bestides bats also exist in environments where insects are rare.

哺乳類＝ほにゅうるい＝mammal
食虫＝insectivore
ですから空を飛ぶ食虫目の哺乳類であるコウモリは、「食べ分け」をしなければいけなかったのです。
So therefore, bats, mammals who flyying insectivores, must have diversified their ways of eating.

たとえば、魚だけを食べるウオクイコウモリというのがいです。
For examples there are bats who only east fish, who are known as 'fish eating bats.' (uokuikoumori)

波打つ＝to dash against,
感知＝かんち＝perception
水面が波打っているのを超音波で感知して、その下にいる魚をすくい取って食べます。
Bats perceive sound waves by dashing into the water surface, to help them catch fish below the surface.

蜜＝みつ＝nectar
花の蜜だけを吸うコウモリや、フルーツだけを食べるフルーツバット、中にはコウモリを食うコウモリもいます。
There are bats who only suck the nectar from flowers, fruit bats who only eat fruit, and among them are also bats who eat bats.

爬虫類＝はちゅうるい＝reptiles
そんなバリエーションのひとつとして、哺乳類や爬虫類の動物の血を吸うコウモリがいるのです。
For this kind of variation there is one particularly, there are bats who suck mammals and reptillian blood.

手っ取り早い＝quick and easy
血を吸う（Ａ）はもっとも手っ取り早い栄養の摂取方法であることです。
Sucking blood is a most quick and easy method of absorbing nutrition.

丸ごと＝in its entirety
頭から＝from the begining
つまり動物の血液は栄養に満ちているので、頭から丸ごと食べて消化する手間がかからないのです。
In short, because animal blood is full of nutrition, from the beginning in its entirety it doesn't take much effort to digest.

この上なく＝in its entirety
栄養を摂取するのに、この上なく効率がいいわけですね。
Despite absorbing nutrition, the efficiency is an entirely good reason for sucking blood.

ちなみに彼らは「吸血血液保存袋」のようなものを持っていて、おなかの減った仲間がいると、おなかいっぱいの吸血コウモリがわけであげることがあります。
By the way, they have a kind of "sack for preserving sucked blood". This reduced companion organ exists, to be used by vampire bat's whose stomachs are full.

媒介＝ばいかい＝intermediary
忌み嫌う＝いみきらう＝to dest
習性＝しゅうせい＝trait
吸血コウモリというと、吸血鬼ドラキュラの手先とか、伝染病を媒介するベクター（媒介者）という悪いイメージから忌み嫌われますが、同種間ではそういうやさしい習性も持っているのです。
When talking about vapire bats, though we disslike the negative image of the demon vampire Dracula's underling, or of the intermediary for the transmission of infectious disease, within the same species we find they also possess graceful traits.
cathrynm on 24 January 2012

taistelu=competition
Presidentinvaalien toisen kierroksen vaalitaistelu on alkanut.
In the presidential election the next phase of the election campaign has begun.

mukana=with
Toisella kierroksella on mukana kaksi ehdokasta, Sauli Niinistö ja Pekka Haavisto.
In the next phase altogether there are two candidates, Sauli Niinistö and Pekka Haavisto.

He saivat eniten ääniä sunnuntaina vaalien ensimmäisellä kierroksella.
They received the most votes on Sunday's election in the first phase.

lähetys=broadcast
yleisö=audience.
Presidentinvaalien ensimmäisen kierroksen vaalilähetykset radiossa ja televisiossa saivat paljon yleisöä.
In the presidential election's first phase, the elections broadcasts on radio and television had a large audience.

Esimerkiksi TV1:n vaalilähetyksellä oli jopa 1,9 miljoonaa katsojaa.
For examples, TV 1's elections broadcast even had about 1.9 million viewers.

kestää=endure
Toisen kierroksen vaalitaistelu kestää kaksi viikkoa.
The second phase's election campaign lasts 2 weeks.

Vaalipäivä on sunnuntai, helmikuun 5. päivä.
The eleection day is Sunday, February 5th.
cathrynm on 24 January 2012

sovinto=atonement
rahasto=fund
Euromaat ovat päässeet sovintoon Euroopan kriisirahastosta.
European countries have reached an arrangement in the European crisis fund.

hyväksyä=accept
vaatimus=demand
käytös=behavior, conduct
Euromaat hyväksyivät Suomen vaatimuksen kriisirahaston käytöstä.
European countries accept the Finnish demand for action on the crisis fund.

yksimielinen=yksimielisiä = Unanimous (P=PL)
päättää=decide
Suomi on vaatinut, että kaikkien euromaiden pitää olla yksimielisiä, kun ne päättävät kriisirahaston käytöstä.
Finland has demanded that every European country should want to be unanimous, when they decide on action on the crisis fund.

käyttää=use apply (passive)
tukeminen=patronage?
velka=debt
EU:n kriisirahastoa käytetään niiden maiden tukemiseen, joilla on pahoja velkaongelmia.
The EU crisis fund is being used by to support countries who have a lot of debt problems.

Uudessa sopimuksessa sanotaan, että euromaiden pitää olla yksimielisiä, jos mailta halutaan lisää rahaa kriisirahastoon.
In the new agreement it is said that european countries should be unanimous, if countries want to add money to the crisis fund.

enemmistö=majority
kuitenkin=however
hätä#tilanne=emergency (situation)
Euromaiden enemmistö voi kuitenkin päättää lainasta silloin, jos jossakin euromaassa on hätätilanne.
A majority of European countries can, however, decide to loan to them, if anywhere a European country is in an emergency situation.

valtiovarainministeri=minister of finance
tyytyväinen=satisfied
Valtiovarainministeri Jutta Urpilainen on tyytyväinen sopimukseen.
Minister of finance, Jutta Urpilainen, is satisfied with the agreement.

huippu=summit
Sopimus hyväksytään ensi viikolla EU:n huippukokouksessa, jos euromaiden omat parlamentit ovat hyväksyneet sopimuksen.
The agreement will be ratified at next week's EU summit meeting, if the European countries' own parlaiments have ratified the agrement.

cathrynm on 25 January 2012

lahjoitus=donation
Presidenttiehdokas Pekka Haaviston vaalikampanja on saanut rahalahjoituksia.
Presidential candidate Pekka Haavisto's election campain has received a money donation.

tarvita=need
kampanjointi=electioneering
päästä=reach
Haavisto tarvitsee lisää rahaa kampanjointiin, koska hän pääsi presidentinvaalien toiselle kierrokselle.
Haavisto needs more money for campaigning, because he reached the presidential election's second round.

määrä=amount
Rahalahjoitusten määrä oli tiistaina yli 400 000 euroa.
The amount of money contributions Tuesday was over 400,000 Euros.

yhtye=group (PL)
muusikko=musicitans
järjestää=organize
Monet yhtyeet ja muusikot järjestävät ensi maanantaina konsertin.
Many groups and musicians will organize next the concert next monday.

annetaan=antaa (passive)
Konsertin lippurahat annetaan Pekka Haaviston vaalikampanjaan.
The concert ticket money will be given to Pekka Haavisto's election campaign.

Toisen presidenttiehdokkaan Sauli Niinistön vaalibudjetti on isompi kuin Pekka Haaviston.
The other presidential candidate Sauli Niinistön eletcion budget is larger than Pekka Haavisto's.

Niinistön vaalibudjetti on noin 1,2 miljoonaa euroa.
Niinistö's election budget is about 1.2 million Euros.
cathrynm on 25 January 2012

cathrynm wrote:

käytös=behavior, conduct
Euromaat hyväksyivät Suomen vaatimuksen kriisirahaston käytöstä.
European countries accept the Finnish demand for action on the crisis fund.

EU:n kriisirahastoa käytetään niiden maiden tukemiseen, joilla on pahoja velkaongelmia.
The EU crisis fund is being used by to support countries who have a lot of debt problems.

-it's käyttö, not käytös:)
-literally "bad/serious debt problems"

do you find this sort of texts interesting? :)
Serpent on 25 January 2012

Ah, thanks, I was wondering about that actually.

Serpent wrote:

do you find this sort of texts interesting? :)

Come to think of it, not one of these stories has actually mentioned any kind of controversial disagreement between candidates. They have elections, but for the life of me I have no idea what it matters. I am actually interested in the European debt crisis, but these stories drain all the blood out of the issue.

I think it's just years and years of studying Japanese has raised my tolerance for tedius material to a very high level. If you can draw thousands of Chinese characters, you can slug through anything, really. I've also been staring at thousands of lines of computer code for years and years, and I think this has also help build up my ability to sit and grind on stuff day after day.
cathrynm on 25 January 2012

more class readings.

度々＝たびたび＝often
テキストを一段落ずつ生徒に声を出して読ませるということは、日本の学校の国語の授業でも度々行う。
In Japanese language lessons at Japanese schools it often occurs that a student is made to readone paragraph of text out loud.

「はい、○○君、良く読めましたね。では△ △さん、次の段落を読んでください」となる。
"Hello, XX, well read. So, XX, please read the next paragraph." kind of thing.

掻い摘む＝かいつまむ＝to sum up
ところが、ソビエト学校の場合、一段落読み終えると、その内容を自分の言葉で掻い摘んで話すことを求められるのだ。
However, in the the case of the Soviet school system, after the paragraph is read, it is requested that the contents is summed up in one's own words.

おおよそ＝about
かなりスラスラ文字を読み進められるようになり、おおよその内容も理解できるようになった私も、この掻い摘んで話す、ということだけは大の苦手だった。
Just in the way that the letters smoothly progress as they are read, even I, who came to understand only roughly the contents, told my summation, though that was a not very good.

絶句＝ぜっく＝loss for words
立ち尽くす＝たちつくす＝to stand still in shock
当然、絶句してもまい先生が諦めてくれるまで立ち尽くすということになる。
Naturally, my teacher, who is never at a loss for words, gave up on me and stood there in shock.

非＝ひ＝un
大目に見る＝to tolerate
非ロシア人ということで大目に見てくれていたのだ。
Un-Russian-like ways could be tolerated.

執念深い＝しゅうねんぶかい＝vindictive
ところが、トラゴンは執念深かった。
However, the 'dragon' was vindictive.

なかなか諦めてくれない。
She very much wouldn't give up on me.

十二分＝more than enough
しかし、十二分に楽しんだはずの本の内容を話して聞かせようとするのだが、簡単な単語すら出てこないのである。
However, even though more than enough fun has been had making everyone listen to me talk of the book's contents, even the sample works just wouldn't come up.

俯く＝うつむく＝hang one's head in shame
俯いて沈黙するわたしに、トラゴンは助け舟をだしてくれた。
As I hanged my head in quiet shame, the 'dragon' set out a rescue bout to me.

「主人公の名前は？」
"What was the protagonist's name?

「ナターシャ・・・・・・ナターシャ・アルバートヴァ」
Natasha... Natasha Anatovia

「歳は幾つぐらいで、職業は？」
How old was she? What was her job?

「ハチ。　ガッコウイク。ニネン。」
8 years old. She went to school, her second year.

「ふーん、八歳で、普通学校の二年生なのね、それで」
Well, 8 years old, An ordinary school Sophomore, so therefore?

（中略）

傾ける＝かたむける＝to incline
全身全霊＝complete devotion.
獰猛＝どうもう＝ferocity
あらすじ＝summary
曲がりなりにも＝though imperfect
言い当てる＝to guess right
わたしの話を聞き取ることに全身全霊を傾けている、ドルゴンの獰猛に輝く青緑色の瞳に吸い込まれるようにして、わたしは何とか本のあらすじを最後まで話し、さらには作者のメッセージを曲がりなりにも言い当てることができた。
Concentrating her total and complete devotion to understanding my words, as I inhaled the dragon's feircely glittering blue-green pupils, in the end I said some kind of summary to the book, finally, I was able to guess, though imperfectly, the author's message.

催促＝さいそく＝request
飽き足る＝to be satisfied
それでもドラゴンは飽き足らず、二冊目の本について話すよう催促し、同じような執念深さで聞き取っていく。
With that the dragon was not satisfied, and she demanded I spead on the next book, and she listened to me with the same kind of vindictivies.

尋問＝じんもん＝questioning
疲労困憊＝ひろうこんぱい＝total exhaustion
朦朧＝もうろう＝dim
金輪際＝こんりんざい=bottom of the earth
御免被る＝ごめんこうむる＝receive permission,to retire, to refuse
睨まれる＝にらまれる＝to have an eye kept on one
金縛り＝かなしばり＝feeling of paralysis
ようやくドラゴンから放免されて図書室から出てきたときは、疲労困憊して朦朧とした意識の中で、金輪際ドラゴンの尋問は御免被りたいとおもったはずなのに、まるで肉食獣に睨まれて金縛りにあった小動物のように、わたしは図書館の本を借り続けた。
Finally at the time the dragon let me go from the library room, in the midst of a fog of total exhaustion, and despite the fact that I thought that I should want to refuse, quite like a small animal who is being watched by a carnivore, I kept on borrowing books from the library.

返却＝へんきゃく＝return of something
そして、返却するときにドラゴンに語り聞かせることを想定しながら読むようになった。
And then at the time to return them, it became like I read while hypothesizing about the dragons's story that she made me listen to.

並行＝へいこう＝side by side
簡潔＝かんけつ＝brevity
腐心＝ふしん＝taking great pains to
活字を目で追うのと並行して、内容をできるだけ簡潔にかつ面白く伝えようと腐心しているのである。
Side by side, chasing the words with my eyes, taking great pains to convey as well as I could the contents concisely.

形だけ＝merely for form's sake
いつもの＝usual
ある日、国語の授業で、声を出して読み終えた後、国語教官はいつものように期待せずに、形だけの要求をした。
That day, in the language lesson, after I finished reading out loud, without the usual expectation of the language instructor, she made reuests of me only for form's sake.

「では、今読んだ内容を掻い摘んで話してください」
"So, on contents today's reading, please summarize."

わたしは自分でもビックリするほどスラスラとそれをやってのけだ。
I was surprised by myself, to the extent I was able to smoothy do what she asked.

いつのまにか、わたしの表現力の幅と奥行きは広がっていたのだった。
Before you knew it, the width and bredth of my ability to express myself had expanded.

呆気＝あっけ＝dumfounded
国語教官もクラスメイトたちも、しばし呆気にとられて静まりかえった。
My languyage teacher and even my classmates, for a short while were taken aback in silence.

cathrynm on 26 January 2012

Presidentinvaalien toisen kierroksen ennakkoäänestys on alkanut tänään keskiviikkona.
The presidential election's next phase's advance voting has begun today, Wednesday.

käydä->kävivät=go (past 3)
Ihmiset kävivät melko paljon äänestämässä.
People cast quite a few ballots

äänestyspaikka=voting place

jono=line
Joissakin äänestyspaikoissa on ollut jonoja.
At some of the voting places there have been lines.

ennen=before
Ennakkoäänestyksen aikana suomalaiset voivat äänestää presidenttiä ennen vaalipäivää.
By voting in advance Finns may vote for President before election day.

Presidentinvaalien toisella kierroksella on mukana kaksi (2) ehdokasta.
The presidential elections next phase is with two candidates.

Kokoomuksen Sauli Niinistö ja vihreiden Pekka Haavisto ovat mukana vaalien toisella kierroksella.
Constitution's Sauli Niinistö and Green's Pekka Haavisto are both in the election's next phase.

He saivat eniten ääniä vaalien ensimmäisellä kierroksella.
They received the most votes in the first phase of voting.

kauppakeskus=shopping mall
Ennakkoäänestyspaikkoja on esimerkiksi kirjastoissa, posteissa ja kauppakeskuksissa.
A polling station for voting in advance is at, for example, a library, a post office or a shopping mall.

varsinainen=proper.
Varsinainen vaalipäivä on ensi viikon sunnuntaina, helmikuun 5. päivänä.
The proper election day is next week on Sunday, February 5th.

cathrynm on 26 January 2012

cathrynm wrote:

Serpent wrote:

do you find this sort of texts interesting? :)

Another aspect here is that first of all you need to acquire the vocabulary that's relevant to you. Is it? General words like käyttö or tukea can also be learned from texts on linguistics - if you're interested, they're not as difficult to understand as it may seem, as there are loan words and your knowledge of the topics will also help (unlike those texts' themes, seemingly - do you even know that Haavisto is openly gay?)

Your translations are getting better and better, though <3
(one tiny thing: afaiu, it's not like you can come to any post office and be sure you can vote there. that sentence is more like "there are polling stations at post offices, at blabla...")
Serpent on 27 January 2012

>do you even know that Haavisto is openly gay?

No, I had absolutely no idea of this at all. I find this strangely amusing, actually.
cathrynm on 27 January 2012

The reading for this week's Japanese class.

「大丈夫です。タイムスイッチで、五分間たつともとに戻るようにしておきますから。。。。。。」
I'm fine. At the time switch, because you must let 5 minutes pass as you return to the source.

所長＝chief
所長は金属の首輪を自分の首に巻きながら、私にいった。
The chief said as he wrapped a metal necklace around my neck.

装置＝そうち＝equipment
キツネツキ＝possessed by the Fox spirit.
「その机の上の装置のボタンを押してください。そうすると、電波が首輪に送られ、わたしはすぐにキツネツキになります」
Please press the button on the equipment located this desk.　 Radio waves are sent to the necklace and I will be become possessed by fox spirit.

私は机の上にある装置のボタンを押してみた。
I tried to press the button on the equipment on the desk.

かすか＝dim
うなり＝growl
たちまち＝all at once
すると、かすかなうなりがおこり、同時に所長はたちまちキツネツキになって叫びはじめた。
Then a faint rumble occured,　and at the same time the chief started to scream he became possessed by the fox spirit.

「コンコン。。。。。」
Tap, tap

もっともらしい＝plausible
とがらす＝to raise one's voice
いままでむずかしい顔つきで、もっともらしい説明をしてきた所長が、急に口をとがらせて高いなき声を出し、妙な手つきをはじめたのだ。
Ｆｒｏｍ　then on he had a difficult expression, although the chief would have given a plausible explanation, suddenly as his mouth let out the high scream, he began to control his hands in a strange way..

まったく腹がよじれるようなおかしさだった。
It was weird, as if his stomach was absolutely tied into knots.

私は大声をあげて笑いころげ、せき込まんばかりだった。
I gave out a laugh in a loud voice and then inhaled a cough.

そのため、のどがかわいてきた。
For that reason, I felt thirsty.

だが、部屋をみまわしてみても、水道の蛇口は見当らなかった。
But looking around the room, a water fawcet couldn't be found.

しかし、その時、テーブルの下からでも出したのだろうか、所長がいつのまに用意したのか、なにかを持っていた。
However at that time, was there something below the table? Had the chief at sometime left something in perparation? I had something.

よく見ると、ジョッキにつがれたビールだった。
When I had a good look, it was mug of beer.

なかなかサービスがいいな。
Quite good service.

あわ＝foam
私は所長から妙な手つきですすめられるままに、ジョッキを手にし、なんだかおかしなにおいがしたようだが、その黄色くあわ立つなまぬるい液体を、思いきり飲んだ。
As the chief continued to use his hands in that queer way, he offered the beer, which gave of some kind strange smell, this yellow foam standing on a luke warm fluid, and with all my strength, I drank it.

夏の日の午後。
The aftertoon of the summer day.

立ちどまる＝たちどまる＝to stand still
じっと＝fixed
むし暑さを含んだ空気は、少しの風さえも起そうとせず、じっと立ちどまったままだった。
The air felt hot and humid, and without even the slightest bit of wind, standing perfectly still.

だらしない＝slovenly
物かげの犬は、だらしなく寝ころんだまま動こうともせず、街角にある大きなキリ木も、一枚の葉さえゆらさなかった。
A dog, under some shadow, lying lazily dead asleep without moving, at the street corner a paulownia tree、　not even a single leaf was moving.

そして、その木の下にある交番のなかでも、巡査が小さな机にむかったまま、なにか書類に目をやっていたが、この暑さはその内容を彼の頭には入れさせはしない。
Then, inside a tiny police station under a tree, a policeman facing a tiny desk, and though his eyes looked onto the various documents, due toheat, the contents would not enter his mind.

どこからともなく、おとなしそうな若い男が現れ、交番の前に立った。
Where's this from, a quiet looking young man appeared, standing in front of the police station.

暑い空気がうみ出したようにも見えた。
It could be seen that the hot air blew out to the sea.

その男は交番のなかにむかって、声をかけた。
The man faced the inside of police station, and his voice began.

「あのう、わたしをつかまえていただくわけには、いかないものでしょうか」
"Ahh, for you to arrest me, there's no way, I think."

振り向いた＝ふりむいた＝to　turn head
巡査は、ゆっくりとふりむいた。
The policeman slowly turned his head.

古ぼける＝ふるぼける
「え、そばの古ぼけた椅子を指さした。
"Well, look at that old looking chair over there."

「はあ、わたしの話を聞いていただけましょうか。
"Ahh, couldn't you ask about my story?"

そして、わたしをつかまえてはいただけませんか」
And then, wouldn't you arest me?

自首＝じくび＝surrender
「ははあ、自首ですか。お話によっては、本署に来ていただくことにもなるでしょう。
"Aha, is this a surrender? Depending on your story, I would bring you to the police station.

ところで、なにをなさったのです。」
"However, what have you done?"

身構える＝みがまえる＝put oneself on guard
と、巡査は少し身構えるような姿勢になった。
the policman said as he shifted his posture to slightly more guarded state.

「いえ、まだ、なにもしておりません」
"No still, I haven't done anything."

「では、だれかをおどすようにたのまれたとか、傷つけるようひとにたのんだとでも」
"Well, reporting something like someone being threatened, or even reporting that a person has injured someone."

「いえ、わたしのいいたいのは、そんなことではありません。
"No, what I want to say, is that this isn't that kind of thing."

いまにも＝anytime soon
いまにも、自分がなにかをしそうなのです」
Anytime soon, it seems like I may do such a thing."

かしげ＝to lean
巡査は汗をふき、首をかしげ、それから目と口もとに独特な笑いを浮かべた。
Ｔｈｅ　ｐｏｌｉｃeman wiped his sweat, he leaned in his neck, and from there, in his eyes and from inside his mouth a peculir kind of laugh floated about.

「ああ、そうですか。　こう暑くでは無理もありません。
"Ahh, I understand. In this heat nothig is impossible."

自分が、なにかとんでもないことをはじめそうに感じるのでしょう。
"There's a feeling like one might do any kind of unthinkable act."

時どき、そんな訴えがありますが、その心配はありませんよ。
"Sometimes, we get this kind of complaint, but we don't fuss about this kind of thing."

帰った昼寝でもなさればなおりましょう。
If you just return to your afternoon nap, you'll feel better."

それに、われわれとしては事件が起こらないうちは、どうしようもないのです。
Besides, because for us no kind of event has occured, it just can't be helped.

いかに＝how
いかに、殺してやる、と叫んでいる者があっても、その動きがないうちは逮捕しようがありません」
How, even if there's someone who cries out murder, if there's no movement on the matter, there won't be an arrest.

ぽつり＝sighing
若い男は、汗をふこうともせず、こうぽつりと言った。
The young man, without wiping the sweat, said this with a sigh.

「ちょうど一年前の、こんな暑い日。
"It was exactly one year ago, on a hot day just like this."

私は殺したんです。。。。。。」
"That I killed somone."

巡査はこれを聞いて緊張した。
The policeman, heard this and was tense.

「え。なぜ、それを早く言わない。だれをころしたんだ」
"Well, why, I can't say because it's early. Who was killed."

「サルです。わたしの飼っていたサルを」
"An ape. The ape I was taking care of."

と男が答え、巡査は緊張をといた。
the man replied, the policeman's tension released.

「きみ、自分の飼っていたサルを殺したって、べつに自首するに及ばないんだよ。
"For you, for killing an ape you've raised on your own, there is no reason to surrender for this."

しかも、一年前の話を、なんで今ころ持ち込むんだね。
Moreover, for this story from a year ago, why should I bring you in now?

そういう訴えなら、この先の右側に神経科の病院があるから、そっちへいってもらいたいね」
For this complaint, just before of the right side of the street over there is the mental hospital. would you like me to take you there?

とう
「わたしの頭がおかしい、とうかんがえないのでしょうね。
"I've gone crazy, I hadn't considered that, haven't I?"

だが、いままでに何回か診察してもらいました。
"However, up to now many times have I received a medical examination?"

そして、少しもおかしい所はないと言われているのです」
"And then they say there's not one thing that's a bit strange."

「なにも事件を起さず、頭もおかしくない。
"As long as no event has occured, you're not crazy."

そんな人を逮捕することは、できないのですよ。
It's not possible, to arrest this kind of person..

常識＝じょうしき＝common sense.
なにも憲法や法律を持ちださなくても、常識でわかることでしょう」
"There's nothing that can be taken from the constitution or the law, it's something that is understood from common sense."

「それは知っています。
"This I know.

だけど、わたしのひと通り聞いていただけましょうか」
"However, on my sidewalk, we can ask."

「いまは忙しいわけでもないから、話して気が晴れるなら、そこで話してもいい。
"For now, I don't mean because I'm busy, if talking clears your mind, over there it would be good if you talked.

しかし、話は簡単にして、二度とこないではしいものだね」
"However, only talking is simple, it would be good if you didn't come a second time."

「ありがとうございます。わたしは子供のころから暑いのがいやなんです。
"Thank you so much. Since I've been a child, I've hated the hot weather."

暑いと頭がぼんやりして、それでいて、とてもいらいらしてくるのです」
"If it's hot, the mind wanders, and somehow also totally irritatable feelings can also come."

「だれでもそうだろう。暑さで頭がさえでくる者など、聞いたことがない」
"This can happen to anyone. I haven't heard of people who come in just for their mental state due to hto weather."

「わたしの場合は、特にそれがひどいようです。
"In my case, this hot weather is particularly severe."

衝動＝しょうどう=impulse
押さえる＝おさえる＝to pin something down.
なにかをしなければならない、という衝動が強くなり、それを無理に押えようとすると、頭が狂いそうになるのです」
"For anything we must do, the immpulse becomes powerful. Bcause it's impossible get a handle on this, it seems like the mind is going crazy."

はけ口＝outlet
「だれでもそうだろう。　そこで、スポーツや読書など、自分に適当なものに、はけ口をみつけるわけだよ」
"This might be anyone. This is why one searches for a suitable outlet, like sports or reading."

「わたしも、そのはけ口を持っています。
"Even for me, I have a outlet."

そのはけ口があるから、頭が狂わないですんでいるのです」
"If you have an outlet, then the mind does not go crazy, and feels at ease."

「それなら、いいじゃないか。なにも、交番にまで来て大さわぎしなくても。　さあ。。。。。。」
"If that's the case, well, that's good, I guess. Even without making a big disturbance by coming to to the police station. Come now..."

と、巡査は手を振ったが、男は、
The policeman waved his hand to the man.

「もう少しですから。　まあ、聞くだけ。。。。。。」
Just one more thing. Please, just asking...

すがる＝to cling to, to relyon
と、すがるように言って、話をつづけた。
"He said clinging to the idea that the conversation might continue."

「。。。。。。子供のころ、そのはけ口を見つけだした時のことです。
"...When I was a child, there was a time when I found out about that kind of outlet.

ふと=suddenly
高まる暑さにどうしようもなかった時、ふと畳の上をはっているアリをみつけ、つぶしてみたのです。
At the time when rising temperature cannot be avoided, suddenly I discovered an ant crawling on the tatami, and I tried to smash it.

すがすがしい＝refreshing
すると、それまえのいらいらがうそのように消えて、その夏はそれからすがすがしい気分ですごせました」
And then, just in front of me, in an irritating way, incredibly, it vanished, this summer from then passed with a fresh feeling.

「いい趣味じゃないか。ひとに迷惑がかかるわけでも。。。。。。」
"Is that such a good passtime? One musn't cause trouble to others..."

語尾＝ごび
巡査の語尾は、あくびとまざった。
The policeman mixed in a yawn with the end of the last words.

「つぎの年、やはり夏の暑さが高まってきて、いらいらが強くなりました。
"Next year, of course, the summer heat became high, and the irritation beccame great."

そこで、前の年のことを思い出し、アリをつぶしてみたのです」
"And then, I remember last year,trying to smash that ant."

「ふうん」
"Well..."

「だが、だめでした。困った、どうしたらいいか。
"But, what's the use? I'm worrited, what should I do?"

偶然＝ぐうぜん
じりじり＝running out of patience
絶頂＝ぜっちょう＝summit
じりじりした絶頂で、その解決が偶然にみつかりました。　　なんだったと思います」
As my impatience reached apead, then a I sudenly discovered a resolution. What was that, I though."

「ふうん」
"Okay..."

あいづち＝confirmation
おかまいなし＝being unmindful.
巡査は目を閉じて、返事にならないあいづちをつづけたが、男はおかまいなしに話をつづけた。
The policeman closed his eyes, he coudn't help but continue to acknowledge he heard, the man's talk about being inconsiderate continue.

カナブン＝drone beetle.
「カナブンをつぶしたのです。　　その夏は、それからずっとすがすがしい気分でした。
"I smashed a drone beetle. That summer, from then on I felt contually fresh.

そして、その次の夏。
And then the next summer.

こつ＝secret?
カブトムシ＝rhino beetle
少しこつがわかってきたので、近所の子からカブトムシをもらい、それをつぶすことによって、いらいらを押えることができました」
Because I came to understand my secret a little bit, I received a rhinocerous beetle from the neighborhood children, and because I smashed it, I was able to manage my irritation.

「ふうん」
"I see.

こうして、わたしの頭は狂うことがなく、いまにいたっているのです。
So, my mind never went crazy, and even now I'm still able to maintain.

おととしの夏は犬を殺しました。
The summer before last I killed a dog.

そのころになると、すっかりなれてきて、つぎの年の準備をすぐにはじめるようになっていました。
At that time, I had become accustomed to it, and the next year I quickly began the habit of making preparations.

秋になると、さっそくサルを飼ったのです。
When it became autumn, immediately got an ape to raise.

サルも飼ってみると、案外かわいいものですよ」
Trying to raise an even an ape, was a suprisingly cute thing.

「ふうん」
"Yes"

目をつぶった＝to shut ones eyes
上半身＝じょうはんしん＝upper half of the body
と目をつぶった巡査は椅子にかけたまま、上半身ぜんたいで、うなずいた。
said the policeman, with his eyes closed, while sitting on the chair, the upper half of his body seemed to nod in assent.

「とても殺す気にはなるまいと思いました。
"I thought I absolutely would not worry about killing."

だが、昨年も暑さが高まるにつれ、いらいらを押さえることはできませんでした。
"But again last year, along with the rise in summer heat, I was unable to manage the feeligs of irritation."

サルをしめ殺してしまったんです」
"Ｓｏ, regretably, I strangled the ape to death."

あわてて＝in a rush,
男の声は大きなり、巡査は目を開いて、あわてて汗をぬぐった。
The man's voice became loud, the policeman's eyes opened, in a hurry, he wiped away the sweat.

「え、サルを殺した話は、さっき聞いたことじゃないか」
"Ah, hadn't I heard already, the story about killing the ape."

「わたしを逮捕してください」
"Please arrest me."

「そう無理を言っては困る。
"I'm worried, I said that's impossible."

さっき言ったように、きみ、なにも事件をおこしていない。
"That was said some time ago, nothing more than that event has occurred.

昆虫採集＝こんちゅうさいしゅう＝insect collectig
それに、昆虫採集のようんことにはけ口をみつけて、頭も狂わず、正常だ。
"Besides discovering insect collecting as an outlet, your mind is not crazy, it's ordinary.

収容＝しゅよう＝accommodation
そんな人を、逮捕したり収容したりすることはできないよ」
"We can't arrest and accommodate this this kid of person."

「そうですか。では、仕方ない。　帰りましょう。　おじゃましました」
"I understand. so, there isn o way. I'll go home. Sorry for bothering you."

「ああ、そうしなさい。ゆっくり昼寝でもするんだね。
"Ahh, please. Pleacefully take an afternoon nap."

夜になるとむし暑くなって、寝られないから」
"When it becomes evening, it will no longer be hot and humid, and that's why you can't sleep."

「そうですね」
"Alright."

なにげなく＝calmly
と立ち上がった男に、巡査はなにげなく聞いた。
said the man as he stood up, the policeman calmly listened.

「家族はあるんだろう」
"There is probably family."

「ええ、昨年の秋に結婚して。。。。。。」
"Yes, married last fall."

約束
Promise.

春の日の午後。
"A spring day in the afternoon.

野原＝のはら＝field
かげろう＝heat haze

とりどり＝variuos
あたたかい陽ざしは野原いちめんにひろがり、そこでは緑の草と色とりどりの花々とが、かげろうでまぜられて限りない揺れをつづけていた。
A warm sunny day, the field stretches out, there the green grass and various colors of flowers, the hot summer air mixes endlessly shimmering and flickering continuosly.

どこからともなく＝suddenly appears out of nowhere.
銀色に輝く飛行物体がどこからともなく現れて、静かにそこ着陸した。
A sparkling silver colored object suddenly appears out of nowhere and quietly lands.

真紅＝しんく=crimson
ひびかせる＝resoun
軽い金属的な音をひびかせて開いたドアからは、真紅の服をぴったりと身に着けた三人が出てきた。
A light metallic sound resounds as the door opens up, and three people sharply dressed in crimson clothes came out.

鬼ごっこ＝game of tag
目ざとい＝sharp sigthed
野原で鬼ごっこをしたり、花をつんでいた子供たちは、目ざとくそれを見つけた。
There in the field they played tag, the children who picked flowers spotted them with their sharp eyes.

「あっ、あんな人たちが出てきたよ」
"Ah, what kind of people came of out there?"

「なんだろう。行ってみよう」
"What indeed. Let's try and go over there."

あどけない＝innocent
かけよる＝to rush over.
子供たちはかけより、あどけない声で呼びかけた。
The children rushed over, their innocent voices began to cry out.

「ねえ、おじちゃんたち。それに乗ってどこから来たの」
"Hey, you old guys over there, that thing you're riding, where did you come from?""

しばらくして、真紅の服の一人が奇妙なアクセントで答えた。
After a short time one man wearing the crimson clothes replied with a queer accent.

「われわれは空のむこうの遠い遠い星からきたんだよ」
"We are from the other side of the sky, we came from a far far away star.

「なにしにきたの、どこへ行くの」
"What did you come to do? Where are you going?"

おそるおそる＝timidly
子供たちはおそるおそる服にさわりながら、口々に開いた。
The children timidly touched the clothes, and together they spread out.

cathrynm on 30 January 2012

私たち二人一緒にすんでいますが、籍はいれていません。
Although the two of us live together, we are not registered as such.

普段＝ふだん＝usual
普段スポーツをしていない人が急にスポーツをすると翌日手や足の筋肉が痛くなる。
If people who don't normally do sports, suddenly attempt to play a sport, the next day the muscles in their hands and feet will become painful.

スポーツをした方がいいと言っても、体力や時間の都会もあるので、自分のできる範囲で少しでもいいから続けるのがいいと思います。
Even though it's good to say that one should play sports,

日本の会社ではそれぞれの人の責任の範囲が明確でない。
In Japanese companies the scope of each person's respnosibility is not clearly defined.

明日は台風１２号の影響で関東から東海地方の広い範囲にわたって雨になるでしょう。
Tommorow the 12'th typhoon effects the the area from Kantou to the Toukai region and rain may come across a wide area.

田舎にいると周囲の目がうるさくてしたいことが自由にできないというが、東京で生まれ育った私にとってはうちの近所も事情はまったく同じだ。
If one is in the country side, the eyes of people surrounding are troublesome, the freedom to do what you want is impossible to achieve, however for someone like me who was born and raised in Tokyo. the situation with the neighborhood around my home is exactly the same.

周囲を海に囲まれた島国の日本は、ヨーロッパの国々などと比べると圧倒的に外部との交渉が少なかった。
For Japan, an island nation that is surrounded by sea, compared to something like European countries the pressure to negotiate with the outside word was less.

うちの職場は課長がとても優しい人で、課員もみんな明るくて親切で、とても雰囲気がいい。
Our company's boss is a totally kind person, all of other workers in my section are cheerful and kind, the atomsphere is really nice.

オアシス＝oasis
合間＝あいま＝interval
忙しい仕事の合間に、落ちついた雰囲気の喫茶店で香り高いコーヒーを飲む。私にとってそこは都会のオアシスだ。
During the break at a busy company, aromatic coffee is drunk in a relaxed mannater at a coffee shop. From my perspective, this is an oasis in the city.

路面電車＝street car
路面電車が走っているところでは、ふつう電車に乗る人の安全のために安全地帯が作られている。
At the places where the street cars run, for the safety of people boarding the regular trains, a safety zone was constructed.

帝国主義者＝ていこくしゅぎしゃ＝imperialist
ついこの間まで、右翼はソ連を帝国主義者として非難し、左翼はアメリカを大国主義者として非難していた。
From just the other day, the right wing supporters blamed the Soviet Union for being an imperialist country, while the left wing blames the America for acting as an oppressive power.

シンポジウム参加申し込みの締め切りは７月３１日です。
The deadline for sending in an application for participation in the symposiumis is July 31st.

cathrynm on 30 January 2012

johtajat=leader
huippukokous=summit converance
EU:n johtajat pitävät huippukokousta Brysselissä.
The EU's leaders want a summit conference in Brussels.

miettiä=ponder, think over (passive)
työllisyys=employment
tilanne=situation
Kokouksessa mietitään Euroopan talousasioita ja työllisyystilannetta.
At the conference they would consider the European econimic matters and the employment situation.

työtön=unemployed (G,PL)
määrä=amount
kasvaa=grow
Kokous haluaa, että esimerkiksi nuorisotyöttömien määrä ei enää kasva.
The meaning would like that for example the number of unemployed youth does not grow any more.

Myös Suomen pääministeri Jyrki Katainen on mukana kokouksessa.
Also Finnish Prime minister Jyrki Katainen is part of the meeting.

yleislakko=general strike
Belgiassa on ollut maanantaina yleislakko.
Belgium has been on general strike until Monday.

Lakko on ollut samaan aikaan EU-maiden huippukokouksen kanssa.
The strike has been at the same time as the European country's summit meeting.

Lakko kestää yhden päivän.
The strike lasts for one day.

pysäyttää=stop
julkinen=public
liikenne=transport
Lakko on pysäyttänyt esimerkiksi julkisen liikenteen.
The strike has stopped, for example, public transport.

kulkea->kulje (NEG)
Junat, bussit ja metro eivät kulje.
Trains, busses and subways are not moving.

vaikeus=difficulty (P PL)
Myös lentoliikenteellä on ollut vaikeuksia lakon takia.
Also airports have been having difficulty due to the strike.

vastustaa=oppose (passive)
Lakolla vastustetaan säästöjä, joita myös Belgia joutuu tekemään EU:n talouskriisin takia.
The strike is opposing the budget, which Begium must also implement because of the European economic crisis.
cathrynm on 31 January 2012

Verkko=Network
Verkkoyhtiö Nokia Siemens Networks eli NSN vähentää Suomesta työntekijöitä.
Network company Nokia Siemens Networks, NSN, decreases Finnish employees

NSN kertoi tiistaina, että yhtiöstä joutuu lähtemään noin 1200 työntekijää.
NSN said Tuesday that from the company must be reduced by about 1,200 employees.

Yhtiö kertoi jo marraskuussa, että se vähentää työntekijöitä ympäri maailmaa.
The company already said in November that they will reduce employees around the world.

NSN vähentää työntekijöitä Suomessa kaikista toimipaikoista.
NSN reduces employees in Finland in all work places.

Toimipaikkoja on Espoossa, Oulussa ja Tampereella.
Offices are in Espo, Oulu and Tamperella.

mennessä=by
Työntekijät joutuvat lähtemään työpaikoista ensi vuoden loppuun mennessä.
Employees must be reduced at workplaces by the end of next year.

NSN:llä on Suomessa töissä 6,900 ihmistä.
NSN has 6,000 people at work in Finland.

Koko maailmassa yhtiössä on töissä noin 74 000 työntekijää.
Over the entire world, the company has about 74,000 employees at work.

cathrynm on 01 February 2012

A

「安楽死」というものは、さらに「積極的安楽死」と「消極的安楽死」の二つに分けられるらしい。
Talking about the issue of eutanasia, I believe can be divided, after all, into active euthanasia and passive euthanasia.

筋弛緩剤＝きんしかんざい＝muscle relaxing drug
前者は医者が筋弛緩剤などを投入することによって、患者を耐え難い苦しみから救い死に導くもので、後者は人工呼吸器を外すなど、延命措置を中止することで患者を死に導くものだ。
With the former, by having the doctor give something like a muscle relaxing drug, the doctor can help the patient get relief from unbearable sufferinng. With the later, something like an artificial respirator or other life saving equipment could be turned off. In this ways a patient might be helped to die.

捉えている＝とらえている＝seize, capture
前者を「安楽死」、後者を「尊厳死」と呼ぶ場合も多く、私も「安楽死」を前者の意味で捉えている。
The former type is euthanasia, the latter is often called 'death with dignity', I too perceive the first as euthanasia.

解き放つ＝ときはなつ＝to release
人工＝ひとく
全うする＝まっとうする＝to accomplish
どちらも他者が患者を死に導く意味では共通しているが、後者の患者は人工的に生かされていた状況から解き放たれ、自然な死を迎えるのに対し、前者の患者は残された寿命を全うせず、人工的な死を迎えることになる。
For either, the common meaning is that another person guides a patient to death, with the latter the patient is released from an artificial life sustaining situation and meets a natural death, whereas with the former, the patient can't carry out his remaiing life, and meets with an artificial death.

人間が生まれ、そして死んでいくのは自然の営みの一部である。
One part is that human beings are born and then die, thisi s a natural prcess.

その流れを人間の手で変えてもいいのだろうか。
But is it good for this flow to be interrupted by the human hand?

B

選択肢＝せんたくし＝options
私がもし「安楽死」を選択肢の一つとして考えなければならなくなったとしたら、果たして自分の意思で冷静に残りの人生の生き方を選択できるのだろうか。
If I suppose that one must consider the option of euthanasia, must I calmly chooses how to live one's remaining live for one's own purpose?

精神力＝せいしんりょく＝force of well
それだけの体力と精神力が残っているのだろうか。
Does one still have that kind of physical strength and willpower?

「安楽死」という字面を見ると、「安らかに楽に死ねる」ように思うが、それは「安楽死」を経験した者、つまり、死した者にしかわからない。
If we look at the characters for euthanasia in Japanese, though it's about 'peace' 'comfort' and 'death', only one who has experienced euthanasia, that is one who has died would know for sure.

時折＝ときおり＝sometimes
実際は患者の介護に疲れた家族や、医療費を支払えない患者を入院させている病院が「安楽」になれる「死」なのかもしれないと、時折疑問を抱く。
In reality, considering the family who is tired of nursing the patient, or the patient who has entered the hopsital but can't pay the medical expenses the matter of peace comfort and death, we might embrace some doubt.

私だって、死ぬのは怖い。
For me death is horrifying.

死を迎える時、どんな痛みや苦しみに襲われるのか想像もつかない。
At the time I face death, I can't imagine what kind of unberable suffering will come to me.

人為的＝じんいてき＝unnatural
しかし、その死が自身の命の火が尽きる前に人為的にもたらされるものだと知った時、私は死の直前の苦しみの中で一体何を思うのだろうか。
However, before the fire of my life is extinguished, in the case that I knew that I had artificially brought about this death, what would I think about this in the midst of that painful moment just before death?

cathrynm on 03 February 2012

yhä=still
kysely=poll
Kokoomuksen Sauli Niinistö on yhä selvästi ykkönen presidenttikyselyssä.
Constitution's Sauli Niinistö is still clearly number one in the Presidential poll.

mittaus=measure
kannattaa=hold up, carry
YLE Uutisten mittauksessa Niinistöä kannattaa 62 prosenttia.
By YLE News' measure Niinistö has 62% support.

Vihreiden Pekka Haavistoa kannattaa 38 prosenttia.
Green's Pekka Haavisto carries 38% of the vote.

vastata=reply who
ehdokasta= (3rd person possessive)
Kaikista niistä, jotka vastasivat kyselyyn, 23 prosenttia ei osaa sanoa tai ei halua kertoa ehdokastaan.
Of everyone who replied to the poll, 23% could not say, or did not want to mention their candidate.

tutkimus=research
haastatella=interview
varten=per, towards, for
viime=last
Taloustutkimus haastatteli tutkimusta varten viime ja tällä viikolla melkein 1500 ihmistä.
For the research, Economic Report interviewed last and this week about 1500 people.

Presidentinvaalien toinen kierros on ensi sunnuntaina.
The Presidential election's next phase is next Sunday.

cathrynm on 03 February 2012

Alright, more class homework. I have to check this some more, I'm not sure it all makes sense, but it's getting late.

懸念＝けねん＝worry, fear
橋下＝はしした
橋下氏のあいりん地区浄化作戦　第２５次西成暴動に発展の懸念
Mr. Hashishita's Airin District purification operation -- the worry that 25th insurrection will develop in Nishinari.

日雇い労働者＝ひやとい＝day laborer
固定資産財＝こていしさんざい＝real estate tax
優遇＝ゆうぐう＝favorable treatment
特区＝とっく＝special ward
大坂市の橋下徹市長は、大阪府外から、西成区ある日雇い労働者の街「あいりん地区」周辺に転入してくる子育て世代を対象に、市民税や固定資産税を一定期間免除するなどの優遇措置を盛り込んだ「西成区特区構想」を打ち出した。
Outside the Osaka metropolitan area, at a day laborer district around Airin, Osaka's mayor Akira Hashishita begun the "Nishinari Special Ward Plan", which included favorable measures aimed at people who moved in who were raised children. This included things like a fixed period of exemption to municipal and real estate taxes.

直轄＝ちょっかつ＝direct control
関与＝かんよ＝participation
えこひいき＝favoritism
「西成区が変われば大阪が変わる」、「西成区をえこひいきする」と公言する橋下氏は、区政運営に直接関与する”直轄方式”を表明した。
Hashishita, who proclaimed "As Nishinari changes, Osaka changes" and "Special favors for the Nishinari district", also declared the "Direct Control System" which was a way for the ward administration to participate directly in their governance.

しかし、現地で日雇い労働者たちの声を聞くと、橋下氏に対する不満の声も多い。
However, in the actual area if you listen to the voices of the laborers, there were many who spoke against Hashishita.

財政難＝ざいせいなん＝financial difficulties
「橋下さんが大阪府知事時代、府に55歳以上� ��日雇い労働者による清掃事業の拡大を求め� ��が、財政難を理由に応じてもらえなかった� ��
During the reign of Hashishita as the Osaka area's prefectural governor, day laborers over the age of 55 requested an expansion of their cleaning work, however, due to financial difficulties this could not happen.

橋下さんは「弁護士時代から西成区のことはよく知っている」というが、ホンマにどれだけわかってくれとるんかな。
Although it's said that about Hashishita "Because it's the age of lawyer's, it's well know about the Nishinari district." in reality to what extent do they really know.

新住民があいりん地区周辺に来れば、"治安� �どうにかしろ”と言い出すに決まっとる。 (teru?)
If new residents come to the Airin area, people start to say "How will public safety be affected?"

警察を増員するんやて？
Should we increase the police department?

そうなれば、”寝た子”を起こすことになるで」
If so, it might be like we're waking a 'sleeping child.'

「寝た子」とは、西成区で起こる暴動のことだ。
The 'sleeping child' is the matter of a revolt in the Nishinari area.

暴動の歴史は古く、１９６１年の「第１次暴動」以来、これまで２４回発生している。
The history of revolts is old. Since the first revolt in 1961 there have been 24 outbreaks.

野次馬＝やじうま＝curious onlookers
連行＝れんこう＝taking suspect to the police
２００８年には、労働者の一人が西成署に連行されて暴行を受けたと主張したことをきっかけに、労働者や野次馬の若者が６日間にわたって西成署を取り囲んだ。
In 2008, it was claimed that an outrage had occcured regarding the taking of a single laborer into the police station for questioning. The laborers and young onlookers surrounded the Nisnari police station fo 6 days.

飛び交う＝とびかう＝to fly about
空き缶や自転車のサドルが飛び交い、機動隊に労働者のリヤカーが突撃する場面もあった。
Empty cans and bicycle saddles flew about, and at the scene the riot squad attacked a laborer's bicycle trailer.

些細＝ささい＝trivial
孕む＝はらむ＝to conceive
これ以外にも、飲食店の代金をめぐるトラブルや、「新装開店したパチンコ店の機械が故障して閉店した」という不満で暴動に発展した例もあるとされ、ほんの些細なことで住民が暴徒化する危険性を孕んでいる。
Aside from that, there was trouble over restaurant bills. Another example was the violence due to complaints when a newly remodeled and re-opened Pachinko shop closed whe the mechisms broke down. Any trivial matter caused the citizens to start another dangerous revolt.

しかも、この暴動は必ずしも自然発生的なものではない。
Moreover, this violence was not necessarily just a spontaneous event.

明かす＝あかす＝to pass
ある日雇い労働者は、こう明かす。
One day this occured among the laborers.

一環＝link
行政＝ぎょうせい＝administration
請け負う＝うけおう＝to undertake
代弁＝だいべん＝act for another
「地区内は労働者支援団体がいくつもあり、中には支援の一環で警察署や行政への抗議活動を請け負って我々の思いを代弁してくれてきた組織がある。
"In the district there are many organizations for helping the laborers. Among them are those that are linked to and speak for those who undertake protest actions against the police and the administration.

鬱積＝うっせき＝build up of emotions
あっという間に＝just like that
不満が鬱積しているので、デモに同調する労働者が増えて、あっという間に暴動に発展するでしょうね」
As the dissatisfaction builds up, the laborers who sympathize with the demonstration increase, and just like that, a revolt might develop."

強制＝きょうせい＝compulsion
排除＝はいじょ=removal
幸男＝ゆきお
東京都では、青島幸男・知事時代の１９９６年に、新宿駅西口地下道の「動く歩道」を建設するため、そこで寝起きしていたホームレスを強制排除した。
In the Tokyo district, during the Yukio Aoshima's rule as prefectural governor in 1996, in order to construct a moving walkway at Shinjuku stations's western entrance, homeless people lying down there had to be forcibly moved.

すると大規模な反対運動が起き、警官隊が出動する騒ぎに発展した。
And then a large scale opposition movement occurred, the riot squad was dispatched and the uproar developed.

駆け付ける＝かけつける＝to run into
築く＝きずく＝to build
西成区や東京・山谷などから駆け付けた支援者組織が、ホームレスとともにバリケードを築き、生卵や花火を投げつけるなど、警官隊とバトルを繰り広げた。
In Nishinari district and Tokyo's Yamatani district they've run into support organizations -- homeless have built barricades, raw eggs and fireworks have been thrown and battles with riot squads have unfolded.

力ずく＝ちからずく＝brute force
「今回も橋下氏が力ずくで労働者を排除しようものなら黙ってはいられないと、全国の労働者やホームレスの支援組織は注目して見守っています。
This time if Hashishita uses brute force to expel the laborers, there is no way to remain silent. All over the country laborers and homeless assistance organizations will notice and watch attentively.

君が代＝きみがよ＝imperial reign
相容れない＝あいいれない＝in conflict with
そうした仲間には、橋下氏の「日の丸・君が代条例」に反対するなど、橋下氏と主義・信条が相容れない者が多い。
Such a man! There will be opposition to Hashishita's "flag waving, imperial regulations." There are many people who are in conflict with Hashishita's rule and beliefs.

潰す＝つぶす
橋下氏政を何とかして潰したいと考えている」（支援組織のメンバー）
Consider crushing the government of Hashishita one way or another." (From a member of a homeless assistance organization.)

困窮＝こんきゅう＝poverty, distress
渦巻く＝うずまく＝to whirl
日増しに＝ひましに＝day by day
一般の日雇い労働者に生活の困窮と「あいりん地区浄化作戦」に対する不満が渦巻く中で、そうした組織の反橋下志向が結びつけば、過去に例を見ない大規模な「第２５次西成暴動」に発展する可能性は日増しに高まっている。
Dissatisfaction swirls around issues related to the day laborer's impoverished life, and the 'Operations to purify the Airin area.' So if the organizations opposed to Hashishita's intentions join together, day by day there's a possibility that a 25th Nishinari revolt will grow, one like nothing that has been seen in the past.

ただ、橋下氏もそれを恐れて西成直轄プランを取り下げることはしないだろう。
However, even Hashishita may fear this, so the Nishinari plan for direct rule may not be withdrawn.

ある市職員はこう語る。
In this city, employees are already talking this way.

否めない＝いなめない＝cannot deny
「暴動が起こるのが面倒で、あいりん地区の整備が遅れてきたことは否めない」
Because of the trouble that comes because of the revolt, it can't be denied that maintenance in the Airin area will come late.

戦々恐々＝せんせんきょうきょう＝trembling with fear
西成特区計画が吉と出るか、戦々恐々の日々は続く。
In the Nishinari special district, whether we have the good fortune of the plan going away, day by day, the fear and trepidation will continue.

週刊ポスト２０１２年２月１０日号
Weekly Post 2012 Feb 10th.
cathrynm on 05 February 2012

Lauantaina on ollut presidentinvaalien viimeinen kampanjapäivä.
On Friday has been the presidential election's last day of the campaign.

tavata=meet
tilaisuus=occasion, opportunity
Presidenttiehdokkaat Pekka Haavisto ja Sauli Niinistö ovat tavanneet äänestäjiä eri vaalitilaisuuksissa.
Presidential candidates Pekka Haavisto and Sauli Niinistö have met voters at various election events.

Sunnuntaina on vaalipäivä, ja silloin ehdokkaat eivät enää kampanjoi.
Sunday is election day and then the candidates can no longer campaign.

Tällä presidentinvaalien toisella kierroksella on mukana vain kaksi ehdokasta, vihreiden Pekka Haavisto ja kokoomuksen Sauli Niinistö.
This presidential election's next phase is with only two candidates, Green's Pekka Haavisto and Constitution's Sauli Niinistö.

eniten=most
He saivat eniten ääniä vaalien ensimmäisellä kierroksella kaksi viikkoa sitten.
They received the most votes in the election's first phase two weeks ago.

asti=until
Presidentinvaalien äänestyspaikat aukeavat sunnuntaiaamuna kello 9, ja ne ovat auki kello 20:een asti.
Presidential election voting places open Sunday morning at 9, and they are open until 8 PM.

tulos=result
Ylen radiokanavat ja televisiokanavat kertovat vaalien tuloksesta sunnuntai-iltana.
YLE's radio and television channels report the election's results Sunday evening.

kuulla=hear (PSS)
Sunnuntai-illan Selkouutiset kuullaan Radio Suomessa vaalien takia vasta kello 23.03.
Sunday evening Selkouutiset will be heard on Radio Finland, because of the election, only at 11:03PM.

cathrynm on 05 February 2012

aste=grade
Tämän talven uusi pakkasennätys on 40,3 pakkasastetta.
Today winter's new record sub-zero temperature is -40.3 degrees Centigrade.

mitata=measure (PSS/Past)
Pakkasennätys mitattiin Kuusamossa Pohjois-Suomessa.
The subzero record was measured in Kuusamo in northern Finland

haitata=hamper
Kova=harsh
liikenne=traffic
myöhä=late
jopa=even
Kova pakkanen on haitannut junaliikennettä, ja monet junat olivat lauantaina myöhässä jopa monta tuntia.
Harsh frreezing has hampered train traffic and on Saturday all trains were late even by many hours.

Lentoliikenteessä ei ole ollut ongelmia pakkasen takia.
Air traffic had not been disrupted from frost.

Pakkanen jatkuu myös sunnuntaina.
Frost continue also on Sunday.
cathrynm on 05 February 2012

More sentences for the class

途中で道で迷ってしまった、本当なら１５分で行けるのに30分もかかってしまった。　
On my way over, I lost my way on the road. Truly, although I can usually get there in 15 minutes it took more than 30 minutes.

迷路＝maze
あの辺りはまるで迷路のようで地図を見てもさっぱり分からない。
Even looking at the map, that area is quite like a maze, I simply don't understand.

大学院に進むかどうか迷っていましたが、結局行くことにしました。
Although I hesitated in deciding whether to continue with graduate school, eventually I decided to continue going there.

これほど=so much
科学がこれほどまでに進んで現代でも、迷信を信じる人はけっこういる。
Even though in modern timers science has progressed so much, there are people who are quite satisfied believing in superstition.

たばこを吸うのは勝手だが、周りの人の迷惑を考えずに吸うのはよくない。
Although it's your choice to smoke tobaco, to smoke without considering the bother this causes to people nearby isn't nice.

当惑＝bewilderment
久しぶりにＰＴＡの会に出たら、役員になってほしいと突然言われ、当惑してしまった。
After a long time the PTA meeting responded, and they spoke abruptly to the people who wanted to become officer. Everyone was bewildered. (Hmm)

困惑＝こんわく＝bewilderment
理不尽＝りふじん＝unreasonable
この不況の中で、組合から「労働時間は短くしろ、でも給料は上げる」と理不尽な要求をされると、経営者も困惑してしまう。
During a recesion, because of union made unreasonable demands of reduced working hours and increased wages, the managers have been troubled.

思惑＝おもわく＝expectation
腹の中＝in one's heart,
政治家というのは一見正直そうに見える人でも腹の中にはいつも何か思惑を持っている。
Although from appearances politicians seem at first glance to be honest, however as regards to their true intentions one always has negative expecations.

戸惑う＝とまどう＝to be bewildered
３年間の海外出張後、日本に戻ってきたが、外国と日本では仕事や生活のペースが違うので最初はちょっと戸惑ってしまった。
After a 3 year long overseas business trip, although they have returned to Japan, because of the pace of work life is different between overseas and Japan, at the beginning they became a bit bewildered.

太陽系には九つの惑星がある。
The solar system has 9 planets.

地域による経済格差がますます広がっている。
The area's economic disparity has been spreading farther and farther.

豊かな国はますます豊かになり、貧しい国はますます貧しくなっている。
Rich countries become more and more wealthy, poor countries become more and more poor.

領域＝りょういき＝domain,
私の専門は昭和史ですが、幕末から終戦までを研究の領域にしています。
Although my major was history of the period of the Shouwa emporer, I also research the period from the end of the Shogunate to the end of the war.

私は東京に来てからもう５回も引っ越しをしています。
I have already moved more than 5 times since coming to Tokyo.

ヵ所＝passage
もうそろそろ１カ所に落ち着きたいと思っているのですが。
I'm thinking that that maybe I should soon settle down in one place.

先週に町に引っ越してきたばかりので、どこにどんな店があるのか、まだよく分かりません。
Last week, because I just moved into the town, I don't yet know very well where the various kinds of shops are.

この山を越えると目的地まであと５キロだ。
After we pass over this moutain there are 5 kilometers to our destination.

電車で居眠りをしていて、乗り越してしまった。
I was nodding off on the train, so I rode past my destination.

連邦＝れんぽう＝union
崩壊＝ほうかい
多極化＝multipolarization
ソビエト連邦の崩壊によりアメリカ、ソ連という二大超大国の時代は終わり、世界は多極化の時代に入った。
Because the Soviet Union collapsed, the era of the two superpowers of America and the USSR ended, and the world began the age of multipolar political power.

９３年５月にスタートした日本プロサッカー Jリーグの試合は、どの会場も熱狂的なファ� �で超満員になった。
In May of 1993 started the Japanese Pro Soccer League matches, and the stadiums became overcrowded with crazy enthusiastic fans.

この駐車場の基本料金は１時間８００円、それ以降は３０分ごとに５００円の超過料金をいただきます。
This parking place basic fee is 800 Yen for one hour, after that for each additional 30 minutes 500 Yen overtime charge is requested.

特性者＝victim
交通事故による犠牲者は毎年１万人を超える。
Every year the victims of traffic accidents are over 10,000 people.

黒字＝くろじ
すでに＝already
日本の貿易黒字はすでに年間１０００億ドルを超えている。
The Japanese foreign trade surplus was already for one year, over 1000*100Million dollars. (100 Billion dollars　１０００＊１００M＝100B)

単身赴任＝たんしんふにん＝transfer away from home.
愛する人と一緒暮らすために結婚したのに、単身赴任で別々に暮らすなんて嫌だ。
When people who love each other have become married in order to live together, when one has to work away from home due to a transfer, how they must hate living separately!
cathrynm on 06 February 2012

この変化の激しい現代日本会社において、大人が子どもに伝えるべきものとは、何なのだろうか。
Regarding Japanese society and this change in this violent age, what must adults tell their children?

端的＝たんてき＝frank
およそ=about
放り出す＝ほうりだす＝to throw out
端的に言えば、それは、「およそどのような社会に放り出されても生き抜いていける力」であろう。
If we're speaking frankly, how about the power to survive, even if abandonded by some kind of society.

原始＝primitive
とはいえ＝though
とはいえ、現代は原始時代ではないのだから、「生きる力」は単純な生物学的な生命力だけを意味するわけではない。
Although because present days are not primitive times, "the power to live" doesn't just have the meaning in the simple biological survival sense.

あらゆる＝all
もちろんこの単純な生命力はあらゆる活動の基本となるものであるから、これを活性化される意義は大きい。
Of course, because this kind of basic vitality has become the basis for all activity, the significance of this activity is great.

前提＝reason
それを前提とした上で、現代社会における「生きる力」とは、具体的にはどのようなものなのだろうか。
For this reason perhaps it follows that in regards to modern society the power to live is a tangible matter of 'how.'

普遍的＝ふへんてき＝universal
私が考えるに、この「生きる力」とは「上達の普遍的な論理」を経験を通じて＜技化＞しているということである。
I have considered that this 'power to live' is expressed through the experience of 'advancement of universal logic', as the advancement of technology.

どのような社会にも仕事もある。
This kind of society also has work.

たとえ自分が知らない仕事であっても、仕事の上達の筋道を自分で見出すことができる普遍的な力をもし持っていれば、勇気を持って新しい領域の仕事にチャレンジしていくことができる。
For example, even at a job that one doesn't know about,if one has the general ability to discover methods of improving one's work, then one has ability to bravely take on the challenge of a job in a new domain.

技＝わざ
抽象＝ちゅうしょう＝abstract
見渡す＝みわたす
このようにいうと一見抽象的なようだが、周りを見渡せばこれを技化している人間がいることに気づくのではないだろうか。
Although this is an abstract way of looking at it, and if you look around you might not notice those people who are able to advance technology.

私自身は、上達の論理の技化ができている人にこれまで何人も出会ったきた。
As for myself, how many people I've met up to now who are able to make logical advancements in technology.

その中で印象的であったのは、イラン人のピリさんという人である。
Among the impressive ones I've met is an Iranian man called Mr. Piri.

徹底的＝てっていてき=thorough
彼の言語の学習の仕方は、徹底的に自学自習主義であった。
His method of studying language, was the principle of through self-study.

反復＝はんぷく＝repetition
実践的＝じっせんてき＝practical
テレビやラジオから言葉を聞き取り、それをノートにとって反復して覚えたり、積極的に日本人と話すことによって実践的に会話力を鍛えていた。
He understands words from television and radio, like a single note repeating and memorizing. Forging the ability to have practical conversations with Japanese by practively talking to Japanese.

向学心にあふれ、分からない日本語があるとどういう意味なのかとすぐに聞いてきた。
Overflowing with the love of learning, When there's incomprehensible japanese, somehow he comes to rapidly hear the meaning.

彼は、当時流行っていたブレイクダンスをやって見せてくれた。
He has at the time showed me a popular Break Dance that he could do.

「どこで習ったのか」と聞いたが、彼は少し驚いたように、「どこでも習っていない。
But when asked "Where did you learn that?" he, with a little surprise says "I didn't learn it anywhere"

うまい人がやっているのを見て、それを何度もまねて、自分で練習して覚えた」と答えた。(中略）
"Watching what skilled people can do, many times I've imitated, and by myself I practice and memorize" he replied.

イラン人が皆、このような生き抜く力を持っているわけでは、必ずしもない。
The Iranian man, everyone, do they all have this kind of power to survive? Not necessarily.

同郷＝どうきょう＝same village
来日三ヶ月のピリさんに頼っている同郷の友人も、かなりいたようだ。
Arriving in Japan in March, Mr. Piri's reliable friend from the same village, really did.

ピリさんは何をやるに際しても、自分は上達するという確信をもっているようであった。
Whatever Piri could do, one would hold the convicition that one one be able to make the same kind of progress.

事柄＝ことがら＝matter
特定の事柄についてではなく、上達一般に自身をもっていた。
It wasn't just a single matter, in general, one one have the confidence to make progress.

うまい人のやることをよくみて「技をまねて盗む」ということが、上達の大原則にすえられていた。
By watching keenly a skillful person, it's said we can mimic and steal that skill. Thus we can lay the foundation for a general principal of progress.

うまい人のやることをよく見て、その技をまねて盗む。
Keenly watch what a skillful person does, and then that ability one can mimic and steal.

これが、上達の大原則である。
This is the general principal of progress.

こんなことは当然だと思う人が多いかもしれない。
Probably there are many people who think this kind of thing is natural.

確信＝かくしん＝conviction
しかし、それを強い確信を持って自分の実践の中心に置くことができているかどうか。
However, can we put this powerful conviction to use into practice?

勝負＝しょうぶ
それが勝負の分かれ目なのである。
This is what divides success and failure.

cathrynm on 06 February 2012

seuraava＝next
Sauli Niinistö on Suomen seuraava presidentti.
Sauli Niinistö is Finland's next president.

voittaa=beat
selvä=clear
Niinistö voitti presidentinvaalit selvästi.
Niinistö clearly won the Presidential elections.

Hän sai vaalien toisella kierroksella noin 63 prosenttia äänistä.
He received in the elections second phase about 63% of the votes.

Vihreiden Pekka Haavisto sai noin 37 prosenttia äänistä.
Green's Pekka Haavisto received about 37% of the votes.

Sauli Niinistö oli vaaleissa kokoomuksen ehdokas.
Sauli Niinistö was in the elections as the Constitution Party's candidate.

päästä=reach
Niinistö ja Haavisto pääsivät vaalien toiselle kierrokselle, koska he saivat eniten ääniä vaalien ensimmäisellä kierroksella kaksi viikkoa sitten.
Niinistö and Haavisto reached the election's second phase because they received the most votes in the election's first phase two weeks ago.

alle=under
oikeus
Tällä vaalien toisella kierroksella äänestämässä kävi vähän alle 70 prosenttia ihmisistä, joilla on äänioikeus.
The election's second phase of voting was less than about 70% of the people, who had the right to vote.

vähemmän=less
Se on vähemmän kuin ensimmäisellä kierroksella.
This is less than the first phase.

löytää=discover
Joidenkin äänestäjien oli ehkä helpompi löytää itselleen sopiva ehdokas vaalien ensimmäisellä kierroksella, kun mukana oli kahdeksan presidenttiehdokasta.
Perhaps some voters had an easier time findingfor themselves a suitable candidate in the election's first phase, because there were eight presidential candidates.
cathrynm on 06 February 2012

かつて＝once、formerly
かつて大人たちは、子どもたちがゲームやテレビアニメに熱心しているのを見ると、「現実とヴァーチアル世界の区別のつかない人間になってしまう」と心配した。
Formerly it was just adults, now we see that it's children who have a deep interest in games and cartoons. Because of this it has been a concern that they'll become unable to distinguish reality from virtual reality.

そして、時に子どもたちが信じがたい、残念な犯罪を起こすと、「ゲームやアニメの世界で簡単に人が死んでいくのを見てきたから、現実世界でもゲーム感覚で簡単に人を殺すようになった」とマスコミは書きたてた。
So sometimes children have a hard time believing that when a horrible crime occurs, the mass media writes something like that "because they see people simply die in the game and cartoon world, in the real world it has become simple matter to kill people like in a game."

短絡的＝たんらくてき＝simplistic
いかにも＝indeed,
論調＝ろんちょう＝drift of an argument
生身＝なまみ＝living flesh
しかし、当時そういった、いかにも短絡的で、ステレオタイプな論調を耳にするたびに、「いくらゲームやアニメ漬けの生活をしていたとしても、実際に現実とヴァーチャルの区別つかなくなり、シューティングゲームで敵を殺すように、簡単に生身の人間を殺してしまうなんてことは、まずあり得ない」と、多くの人は思っていたはずだ。
However, at that time it was said, indeed simplisticly, each time the stereotypical argument occurs. And many people think that "Those who are absorbed in the lifestyle of so many games and cartons, practically become unable to distinguish between the virtual and real world. Like killing an enemy in a shooting game, the matter of simply killing a living human is hardly impossible."

どうやら＝seems like
(中略）しかし、どうやらそうではないらし� �ことが、しだいに明らかになりつうある。
However, it seems like this is not the case, and this is gradually becoming obvious.

一貫して＝いっかんして＝consistentlyy
日本人は、戦後一貫して、アニメ、ゲーム、キャラクターに囲まれる生活をしてきた。
After the war, Japanese people have come to be consistently living a life surrounded by characters from games and cartoons.

絆＝きずな＝bonds
もはや＝already
そして、キャラクターと間にもはや抜く差しならないほど強い精神的な絆を結んでいる。
And there's powerful, unbreakable and unseperable psychological bond to those characters.

寄り添う＝よりそう＝get close to
その中で、「キャラ化」の感覚は常に、ぼくらと寄り添い、身体化し続けているのだ。
In that, always with that sense of the character, we get close to them, and they continue to become more physical.

包囲＝ほうい
綱＝つな
接触＝せっしょく＝touch
キャラクターだけでなく、高度情報化の包囲綱もぼくらから「現実世界」と接触を奪いつつある。
Not only characters, because we're enveloped by powerful computers, the contact with the real world continues to be lost.

浸透＝しんとう＝osmosis
情報化社会＝information society
一九九〇年代以降のインターネット、携帯電話の急速な普及は、高度情報化社会を一気に生活レベルにまで浸透させた。
After the 1990's the internet and cell phones spread rapidly. Our lives were at once permeated with the information society.

今では、多くのビジネスマンは日々パソコンの前で生活し、他の多くの人たちも携帯電話から目が離せない生活を送っている。
And now many businessmen live day by day in front of the computer. Many other people are lost in a lifestyle where they can never be separated others because of their cell phones.

覗き込む＝のぞきこむ＝to peer in
実際、電車に乗ると、半数以上の人が携帯電話の画面を覗き込み、メールがゲームに興じている。
Practicaly if one gets on a train, over half of the people are staring into cell phone screens -- absorbed in email or games.

当たり前＝natural
種＝たね？＝kind
異様＝いよう＝queer
それは、もはや当たり前になってしまった日常風景なのだが、少し引いて見てみると、ある種異様な光景でもある。
so, nowadays, this has unfortunately become the natural landscape. If we just try to look a little bit, this kind of strange spectacle is there.

彼らは、本当に「現実世界」を生きているのだろうか。
Do they truly exist in the real physical world?

意識そのものはすでに仮想現実社会で暮らしているのではないのか。
Isn't it that their consciousness is always living in the virtual world?

そう感じてしまうのは、ぼくだけではないような気がする。
I'm feel that I couldn't be the only one who feels this way.
(中略）

日常的なコミュニケーションの多くも、今では対面ではなく、メールや電話で行うことが当たり前になっている。
There are many instances of oridinary communication. Now there aren't just interviews, but it's also become natural to have mail and telephone conversations.

実際には一度も会うことなく、メールだけでことが済んでしまう相手だってめずらしくなくなってきている。
Practically, without even meeting someone a single time, it's not even rare to have friends who wou feel at ease with whom you've only communicated via email.

億劫＝おっくう＝troublesome
いやむしろ、メール中心の、仮想現実的なコミュニケーションに慣れてしまうと、実際に対面して行うコミュニケーションが億劫になったり、不快になったりするといった経験をした人も少なくないはずだ。
It's not that we don't like it, but it's that we've become accustomed to email at the heart of communication in the virtual world.

メールが中心となるコミュニケーションの相手は、もちろん現実の存在ではなく、情報としての対象である。
For a friend who you communicate via email with, of course, without an existence in the real world is still the target of our news or gossip.

つまり、おもしろいことに、ぼくらは現実の存在（対面する相手）よりも情報としての対象(メールでの相手）のほうに親近感を持っ� �り、愛着を覚えたりしているということな� �だ。
In short, the interesting thing is is that we can have more affinity with out virtual friends, our email-buddies, than we have with our real life or our face to face friends. It's like we can feel attachment this way.

cathrynm on 07 February 2012

Sauli Niinistö aloittaa Suomen presidenttinä maaliskuun 1. päivänä.
Sauli Niinistö begins as Finnish President on March 1st.

tiedotus=advice
tilaisuus=occasion
vastata=replied to
Niinistö piti maanantaina tiedotustilaisuuden, jossa hän vastasi toimittajien kysymyksiin.
Niinistö wanted a monday briefing in which he answered reporters questions.

kuitenkaan=anyway
vielä=still
tarkka=precise (CMP PL)
Sauli Niinistö ei kuitenkaan kertonut vielä tarkemmin, mitä hän aikoo tehdä, kun hän aloittaa Suomen presidenttinä.
Anyway, Sauli Niinistö has still not answered exactly what he intends to do when he begins as Finnish president.

tavata->tapasi
virka-asunto=residency
Lisäksi Sauli Niinistö tapasi maanantaina presidentti Tarja Halosen presidentin virka-asunnossa Mäntyniemessä Helsingin Meilahdessa.
In addition, Sauli Niinistö met, on monday, President Tarja Halosen at the presidential residence in Mäntyniemi in Helsinki's Meillahti.

http://fi.wikipedia.org/wiki/M%C3%A4ntyniemi

vierailu=visit
Myös Niinistön vaimo Jenni Haukio oli mukana vierailulla.
Also Niinistö's wife, Jenni Haukio was together with him on the visit.

haluta=want
neuvo=advice
tehtävä=mission
hoito=care
edustaja=spokesman
Tarja Halonen ei halunnut antaa Niinistölle neuvoja presidentintehtävien hoitoon, kun median edustajat olivat paikalla.
Tarja Halonen didn't want to give Niinistö advise on how to conduct presidential affairs, because the media's spokesmen were there.

esiintyminen=appearence
näyttää=show, present (past)
Mediaesiintymisen jälkeen vanha presidenttipari näytti paikkoja Mäntyniemessä uudelle presidenttiparille.
After the apperance before the media, the old presidential couple showed the way around Mäntyniemi to the new presidential couple.
cathrynm on 07 February 2012

suunnitella=plans
kunta=municipality
määrä=quantity
vähentäminen=reduction
raju=violent
Hallitus suunnittelee kuntien määrän rajua vähentämistä Suomessa.
The government plans to reduce the drastically reduce the number of townships in Finland

työryhmä=task force
ehdottaa=suggest
muutama=a few
Työryhmä ehdottaa, että Suomessa on muutaman vuoden kuluttua vain 69 kuntaa.
The task force suggests that Finland has a few years to get to only 69 townships.

Nyt Suomessa on 336 kuntaa.
Now Finland has 336 townships.

liittyä=join
pakottaa=make, force
Työryhmä sanoo, että jotkut kunnat ehkä pakotetaan liittymään yhteen.
The task force says that perhaps the townships be made to join together.

raja=border
peruste=basis
Kuntarajoja aiotaan muuttaa esimerkiksi sen perusteella, missä ihmiset käyvät töissä ja kaupassa.
Townships borders are planned to change, for example, on the basis where people go to work and shop.

säästää=save (pss)
Kuntia halutaan yhdistää siksi, että sillä tavalla ehkä säästetään rahaa.
Townships want to join so that they may perhaps save money.

palvelu=service
järjestäminen=arrangemen
Palvelujen järjestäminen on ongelma monelle kunnalle, koska niillä on liian vähän rahaa.
Service arrangements are disurpted for meny townships because they need a bit too much money.

terveyskeskus=health center
Kunnat ovat vastuussa esimerkiksi kouluista, päiväkodeista ja terveyskeskuksista.
Townships are
Townsihps are responsible, for example, for schools, kindergartens and health centers.
cathrynm on 09 February 2012

suunnitella=plan
toiminta=operation
muutos=change (p-pl)
Lentoyhtiö Finnair suunnittelee muutoksia toimintaansa.
Finnish airline Finnair plans to change its operations.

etsiä=seek
yhteistyökumppania=cooperating partner
hoitaa=care, deal with, manage
Finnair etsii yhteistyökumppania, joka voi hoitaa sen liikennettä Pohjoismaissa ja ehkä koko Euroopassa.
Finnair seeks affiliates that can handle their air traffic in Nordic countries and perhaps all of Europe.

keskittyä=concentrate on
Finnair haluaa keskittyä Aasian liikenteeseen.
Finnair wants to concentrate on Asian traffic.

tappiollinen=unprofitable
Finnair suunnittelee muutoksia, koska sen liikenne Euroopassa on tappiollista.
Finnair plans to change because their traffic in Europe is unprofitable.

parantaa=better
Yhtiö haluaa parantaa asemaansa yhteistyökumppanin avulla.
The company seeks a better situation with an affiliate.

neuvotella=negotiate
Finnair ei kerro, minkä yhtiön kanssa se neuvottelee yhteistyöstä.
Finnair did not say with which company they will negotiate a collaboration.

Finnairin suurin omistaja on Suomen valtio.
Finnair's biggest shareholder is the Finnish government.

luopua=abandon
tarve=necessity
Ministeri Heidi Hautala kertoi YLE Uutisille, että valtio voi ehkä luopua suurimman omistajan asemasta Finnairissa, jos se on tarpeen muutosten takia.
Minister Heidi Hautala said to YLE NEWS that the government may perhaps give up its position of being the largest shareholder in Finnair because of the necessity for change.

yhteys=connection
tärkeä=important (SUP, PTV)
muualle=elsewhere
säilyä=remain, be preserved
Hautalan mielestä tärkeintä on se, että hyvät lentoyhteydet Suomesta muualle Eurooppaan säilyvät myös tulevaisuudessa.
Hautala thinks what is most important is that good fight connections continue from Finland to elsewhere in Europe and also internationally.

cathrynm on 10 February 2012

cathrynm wrote:

yhteys=connection
tärkeä=important (SUP, PTV)
muualle=elsewhere
säilyä=remain, be preserved
Hautalan mielestä tärkeintä on se, että hyvät lentoyhteydet Suomesta muualle Eurooppaan säilyvät myös tulevaisuudessa.
Hautala thinks what is most important is that good fight connections continue from Finland to elsewhere in Europe and also internationally.

tulevaisuudessa is in the future:) elsewhere in Europe also counts as international hehe.
Serpent on 10 February 2012

Oops, oops, yeah and I know that word. I'm trying to switch to a new method where I just read the text and guess what it means without any dictionary. And then I go back and look up all the things I wasn't sure about. I guess I missed that one.
cathrynm on 11 February 2012

品ぞろえ＝しなぞろえ＝complete set
売り場様々な品ぞろえブランドチョコや手作りセット
At the stores, various mixed chocolate brands and home made sets

百貨店＝ひゃっかてん＝department store
本格化＝ほんかくか＝regularization, getting up to speed
１４日バレンタインデーを前に、県内の百貨店やスーパーなどで商戦が本格化している。
Before the 14th, Valentine's Day, the competition for sales at department stores in the prefecture, and supermarkets gets going.

趣向＝しゅこう
本命チョコ＝choc' given to boys
こらす＝to concentrate
趣向＝しゅこう＝plan
「本命チョコ」だけでなく、女性同士で贈り合う「友チョコ」や自分で食べる「ご褒美チョコ」など多様化しており、各店とも様々なニーズにあわせようと趣向をこらしている。
Not just chocolate for girls to give to boys, they are diversifying into products like chocolate to send to other girls "Friend Chocolate", or chocolate to eat oneself "reward chocolate." Each shop is concentrating on their plan to fulfill various needs.

佐賀市＝さがし
兵庫町＝ひょうごちょう
ゆめタウン佐賀(佐賀市兵庫町）は、チョコ� �ートを渡す前に自分で味を確かめる客が増� �ていることから、年明け早々の１月７日に� �り場を開設した。
Ｓａｇａ’ｓ　Ｄｒｅａｍ　Ｔｏｗｎ　（Ｔｏｗｎ　ｏｆ　Ｓａｇａ，　ｎｅｉｇｈｂｏｒｈｏｏｄ　ｏｆ　Ｈｙｏｕｇｏ）　because the number of customers who check the taste of the chocolate themselves before they hand it over, the stores are opening for business early in the year around January 7th.

売れ筋=well selling line
売れ筋は外国産のブランドチョコや手作りセット。
Among the well selling products are the foreign brand chocolate and the home made chocolate sets.

博す＝はくす＝to win
生地＝きじ＝cloth, dough, batter
米国で人気を博している直径10センチほどの� ��ーキ生地にクリームなどを挟みチョコなど� ��かけた「ウーピーパイ」（一個２５０円）� ��も力を入れている。
A popular item in the USA is the difficult to make "Whoopie Pie", it's about 10 cm diameter of cake dough cream, with chocolate inserted in it. (One cake 250 Yen)

客単価＝amount from each customer
売り場の担当者は「不況の影響もあって、客単価はここ数年下がっており、平均７００円程度。友チョコやご褒美チョコの盛り上がりで売り上げが伸びてほしい」と期待する。
The shop manager has the expectation that due to the recession, the sales to each customer will decline, on average about 700 Yen each, and that they want the "Friendship Chocolate"and the "Reward Chocolate" to continue to rise.

佐賀玉屋（同士中の小路）は、一日から売り場を開設。
Saga Jewelers has from the first of the month opened their store for business.

かたどる＝modeled on
アニメキャラクターをかたどった子ども向けから、日本初出店の「ガロタイ」（タイ）や「クラシックホイール」(ベルギー）など国� �外の約４０ブランドチョコまで、品ぞろえ� �勝負。
A Thai store first appearing in Japan called "Garotai" and a Belgian store "Classic Wheel" from inside and outside of Japan, have about 40 brands of chocolates made in the shape of anime characters for children. These businesses success or failure depends on these product lines.

希少＝きしょう＝scarce
また専門店「チョコレート屋うふふ本庄店」 (同市本圧町）では、限定商品として、希少� �フランスのチョコを使った生チョコ（８個� �り、１５００円）を１００個用意した。
And again the specialty shop "Chocolate shop, giggle, Honjou shop" (Same city, neighborhood of Honjou) prepares 100 pieces of rare French Chocolate used as raw Chocolate (8 pieces 1500 Yen) as a specialy product.

２月に入ってから１日あたりの売り上げが５倍に増えており、店長の大曲健二さん（２６）は「手作りの場合にはどのチョコレートが合うかをアドバイスするなど、専門店にしかできないサービスを提供したい」と意気込んでいる。
Starting about February, for one day the sales increase about five times, the shop manager Kanji Ookyoku says "We'd like to offer the service that only a specialty shop can do, of offering advice of what kind of home made chocolate fits the best."

各店とも売り上げのピークはバレンタインデー直前と予想している。
For every shop, it's predicted that the sales peak will occur just before Valentine's day.

cathrynm on 12 February 2012

昨日他の学生と話して．フォード大統領年代から日本語を勉強している経験があると言いました。　本当に長い間勉強していいました。　　

日本の貿易黒字はすでに年間１０００億ドルを超えている。
The Japanese trade surplus is already surpassed 100 Billion dollars.

更に＝さらに=furthermore
今のままでは黒字は更に拡大し続けるだろう。
If this continues as it is now, the surplus will continue to expand.

更衣室＝こういしつ＝locker room
スポーツクラブの更衣室のロッカーに時計を置き忘れてきた。
I forgot my watch, which I had placed in the locker at the sports club locker room.

人間は自然からさまざまな恩恵を受けている。
From nature human beings receive various favors..

乏しい＝とぼしい
アメリカは資源に恵まれているが、日本はひじょうに乏しい。
Although America is blessed with resources, Japan's resources are extremely meagre.

再建＝さいけん＝rebuilding
みんなで知恵を出し合って会社の再建のために頑張ろう。
Let's all work together to rebuild the company in a wise way.

「恋人」と「愛人」を書き間違えないでください。
Please don't make a mistake between writing lover and mistress.

あの人のことが好きになり、あの人のことを恋しく思いました。　
I have to come to like things about that person. I thought I longed for that person.

私は気持ちを押さえることができます、とうとう愛を告白しました。
I was able to nail down my feelings, so finally I confessed my love.

すると、あの人も私のことを思ってくれていました。
And so, that person s;dp has been thinking of me.

私たちは交際を始めました。
Our association began.

始めはとても幸せで雲の上を歩くような気持ちでした。
In the beginnig we felt happy like we were walking above the clouds.

恋心＝こいごころ
しかし、６ヶ月、１年と交際を続けるうちに、愛情がなくなったわけでありませんが、恋心は薄れてきました。
After one and a half years, as I relationsihp continued, although our love didn't necessarily die, our love came to fade.

恋というのは本来長続きしないものなのでしょうか。
Would the love not continue into the future?

お互いに愛し合っていても、気持ちが通じ合わないこともある。
Even though we love other, we don't communicate our feelings.

交互＝こうご＝mutual
一足の靴を毎日履くより、２足の靴を交互に履いた方が長持ちする。
More than if you put on a single pair of shoes every day, if you use two pairs together they will last a long time.

店が忙しくなったのでアルバイトを雇った。
Because the shop became busy, they hired part time workers.

凝る＝こる＝grow stiff
何時間もワープロを打っていたので、肩が凝った。
If you type on the word processer for so many hours, your shoulders will become stiff.

肩書き＝かたがき＝title, degree
今まで立派な肩書きを持っていた人が、会社を辞めて肩書きがなくなると、急に元気がなくなることがある。
From now even if someone has a prominent position, when they retire from a company they lose that position, and rapidly their vigour goes away.

肩身が狭い＝かたみがせまい＝feeling ashamed
息子が仕事もなくブラブラしているので、親としては肩身が狭い。
Because their son is wondering about a job the parents feel ashamed.

年輩の人はスーツのことを「背広」と言います。
Old people call a 'suit' a 'sebiro.'

若者はたいてい「スーツ」という言葉を使います。
Young people generally use the word 'suutu.'

背後＝はいご=behind the scenes
絡む＝からむ＝entangle
今回の事件の背後には暴力団が絡んでいるようだ。
This time behind the scenes of the incident, the gangsters are pulling the strings.

物腰＝ものごし＝demeaner
隣のご主人は優しそうで物腰が柔らかくて、とても素敵な方です。
The husband next door has a kind and gentle demeaner, a totally romantic gentleman.

原稿の締め切りまであと１週間。
There's one week after the deadline for the manuscript.

本腰を入れる＝ほんごしをいれる＝to set out in earnest
そろそろ本腰を入れて書かないと締め切りに間に合わなくなってしまう。
I soon set out in in earest, but I couldn't write in time for the deadline.

人間にとって食事は空腹を満たすだけのものではない。
For humans food is not just a matter of satisfying hunger.
cathrynm on 13 February 2012

気仙沼駅＝けせんぬまえき
滑り止め=backup device, taking exams at other universities
「滑り止め」用の砂を守りに。。。JR気仙沼� ��
Protecting the sand used as a backup device -- JR kesenuma station.

大船渡線＝おおふなとせん
受験シーズンを迎え、宮城県気仙沼市のJR気� ��沼駅では、受験生のお守りとして大船渡線� ��列車が使う「滑り止め」用の砂を配ってい� ��＝写真＝。
Test taking season arrives, in Miyagi Prefecture's Kesenuma city at JR's Kesenuma station, students who will take tests use the Ohunato line as a lucky taslisman, or their 'backup plan.' They express this by 'backup plan' by distributing sand.

透明＝とうめい=transparent
砂は2月末まで置かれ、名刺大の用紙に志望� �を書き、透明な袋に一緒に詰めて持ち帰れ� �。
This sand which is placed up until the end of February, also includes a business card sized piece of paper with the second school choice written on it which the students can bring them back home inside of transparent bags.

上鹿折＝かみししおり= (Ack!)
急勾配=きゅうこうばい＝steep slope
空転＝くうてん＝racing an engine
同線には上鹿折駅周辺などに急勾配があり、車輪の空転を防ぎ、踏ん張りながら進むために砂をレールにまく。
On the same line around Kamishishiori there's a steep slope and to protect the train wheels from spinning, to help the train forwards as it straddles the tracks, sand is scattered on the rails.

発揮＝はっき＝exhibition
「受験でもここ一番の踏ん張り時に力を発揮できるように」と約１０年前から配布している。
For taking an examination in order to be able to demonstrate one's power of determination in a critical situation one might distributes the sand for about 10 years earlier prior.

津波で大船渡線や気仙沼線の一部区間は不通となり、駅利用者は減った。
Because of the tsunami one part of the the Ohunatosen and the Kesenuma lines were suspended, the users of the station decreased.

担ぐ＝かつぐ＝to carry on shoulder
縁起を担ぐ＝えんぎをかつぐ＝to be superstitious
それでも縁起を担ぐため、砂を取りに駅にやって来る受験生や保護者もいるという。
Neverless, because of the superstition, there are still students and guardians who bring sand to the line.

小野寺力＝おのでらちから
ゴタゴタ＝trouble
気仙沼市では先日の大学入試センター試験で ICレコーダーの配布ミスがあったが、駅長代� ��の小野寺力さん（５２）は「このお守りが� ��れば、震災やセンター試験のゴタゴタを乗� ��越え、きっと滑らないはず」と話している� ��
In Kesenuma city, though there was a IC recorder distribution mistake with yesterday's University admission center's test, the station representative Terachikara Ono is saying that because of the protection factor, the earthquake disaster and the entrance tests can be overcome, and surely either should fall back.

cathrynm on 13 February 2012

käsitellä=deal, handle
säästö=savings
Kreikan parlamentti on koko sunnuntai-illan ajan käsitellyt maan uusia säästöjä.
Greek parliament has debated all Sunday evening the country's new budget reductions.

päästä=reach
äänestää=vote
vasta=just, not until
asia=matter, thing
myöhään=late
Parlamentti pääsee äänestämään asiasta vasta myöhään sunnuntai-iltana.
The Parliament will reach vote on the matter not until late Sunday evening.

hyväksyä=approve
Kreikan hallitus on jo hyväksynyt säästöt.
The Greek government has already approved the budget reductions.

lopettaa=stop
säästää=conserve
Kreikka aikoo säästää rahaa esimerkiksi lopettamalla työpaikkoja.
Greece intends to save money, and this will, for example, close workplaces.

julkinen=public (G)
Kreikka aikoo lopettaa 15 000 julkisen alan työpaikkaa, joita ovat esimerkiksi valtion työpaikat.
Greece intends to reduce 15,000 public sector jobs, which are, for example, government workplaces.

minimipalkka=minimum wage
eläke=pension
pienetä=reduce
Lisäksi minimipalkka ja eläkkeet pienenevät.
In addition minimum wage and pensions will be reduced.

osoittaa=show
mieli=mind (3rd)
vastaan=against
Kreikan pääkaupungissa Ateenassa kymmenet tuhannet ihmiset ovat osoittaneet mieltään säästöjä vastaan.
In the Greek capital Athens ten thousand people have shown their opinion against the budget reductions.

lakko=strike
Viime päivinä kreikkalaiset ovat olleet myös lakossa, koska he vastustavat säästöjä.
For 5 days the Greeks are being also on strike because they oppose the budget.

muu=other (PL)
Kreikan täytyy hyväksyä uudet säästöt, että se saa lisää laina-apua muilta euromailta.
Greeks must approve the new budget so that will receive additional loan help from other European countries.

ehto=condition
Säästöt ovat ehto uudelle lainalle.
The budget reductions are a condition for new loans.

loppua= run out
Kreikka tarvitsee apua, koska muuten sen rahat loppuvat.
Greek needs help, or otherwise they will run out of money.

cathrynm on 13 February 2012

Aw, sounds like a good strategy! Don't be discouraged by what you remember incorrectly:)
lopettamalla is *by closing*. that's the 3rd infinitive.
Serpent on 13 February 2012

コーヒー競争、ホットに、外食産業、集客へ差別化図る
The coffee wars heat up in the food services industry with plans to diversify to attract customers.

コーヒー好きのお客をめぐって、外食産業の競争が激しくなっている。
COncerning the customers who drink coffee, the competition in the food services industry has become fierce.

本格的＝full-blown, regular
ファストフード店は、定価格ながら本格的な味のコーヒーを用意し、食事だけではなく「カフェ」として利用してもらうことを狙う。
The competition is aimed at fast food shops that prepare regular coffee that's sold at list price, and at cafes which don't only sell food.

居心地＝いごこち＝comfort
一方のコーヒー専門店は、味に加えて「居心地」を磨き、お客を増やそうとしている。
On the other hand at coffee specialty shops, flavor is added, that is 'the essence is polished' to increase the customers.

日本マクドナルドホールディングスは１７日までに、全店でコーヒーの入れ方を見直した。
Japanese MacDonalds Holding company has since the 17th of the month, re-examined coffee additives at all of its shops.

焙煎＝ばいせん=roasting
「より深く焙煎し、最近の流行にあわせて深みとコクを強化した」（開発責任者）という。
"Deeply roasted, and most popular lately -- enhanced with Cocoa"

マクドナルドが新メニューの開発などコーヒーに力を入れ出したのは２００８年。
MacDonald's new menu was announced, and extra effort was put into the coffee in 2008.

栽培＝さいばい＝cultivation
豆＝まめ
その後、モスフードサービスが有機栽培の豆を使ったり日本ケンタッキー・フライド・チキンがひきたてコーヒーを出したりして、ファストフード店の「カフェ化」が進んだ。
After that, food service companies imitated and and used organically farmed soy beans, Japan's Kentucky Fried Chicken has released enhanced coffee. The fast food shops have advanced into cafe style food.

店が多くて立ち寄りやすく価格も安いことが強みで、各社とも食事時以外の客を増やした。
The forte is that the many shops are easy to drop into, and the prices is cheap, and customers at every company are increasing at times other than mealtime.

マクドナルドがコーヒーの味を変えるのは、その０８年以来。
MacDonalds changed the flavor of their coffee after 2008.

Chairman and co-President Eikou Harata? has the expectation that the number of elderly customers coming for breakfast will increase, and the rate that customers who come to drink coffee is high.
原田泳幸会長兼社長は「年配のお客さんが朝食などに来る数が増えた。コーヒーを飲む客はリピート率が高い」と期待する。

喫茶店（コーヒー専門チェーンを含む）市場は、１９８２年の１兆７３９６億円をピークに減り始め、１０年は１兆１０４億円まで落ち込んだ。
The marketplace for coffee shops (including chain specialty coffee shops) in 1982 peaked at 1.7396 trillion yen and began to decrease and in 10 years had fallen to 1.0104 trillion yen.

減少傾向の大きな理由のひとつは、統計に含まれないファストフード店がコーヒーを強化したことがある。
The one big reason for the decrease is that fast food shops, not included in the statistics, strengthened their coffee products.

一方、コーヒーが「本業」の専門チェーンは、店づくりに力を入れて売り上げを増やそうとしている。
However, shops for which coffee was their main specialty,it appears that an sales are increasing due to an increased effort put into building shops.

ドトールやエクセルシオールなど１４００店を展開するドトール・日レスホールディングスは３月以降、新たに開く３０～４０店のうち半分弱を、今までの店の２倍近い面積に広げる。
Dotooru and Excelushioru for example, opened 1400 shops. Dotoru of Japan Restaurant Holdings had after March, opened 30-40 new shops or a bit less than 50% more. From now on, shops are twice as close in area as they expand.

店内のデザインも変え、禁煙店も増やし、女性客を呼び込む狙いだ。
The design if the store interior has changed. No smoking shops have increased, with an aim towards attracting more female customers.

「おしゃれじゃないというイメージを変えたい」（広報）という。
"We want to change our image of being unfashionable" they said.

約４５０店を展開するﾀﾘｰｽﾞｺｰﾋｰｼﾞｬﾊﾟﾝは、ケーキやデザートを充実させて女性客を増やした。
About 450 "Tariz Coffee Japan" shops have opened filled with cakes and deserts and female customers have increased.

珈琲＝コーヒー
約６５０店を展開するUCC上島珈琲グループは落ち着いてコーヒーを楽しめるよう、「珈琲館」など、従業員が席までコーヒーを運ぶフルサービス型の店作りに力を入れている。
About 650 UCC Uejima Coffee shops have opened, which enable one to enjoy coffee in an relaxed way. At the "Coffee Castle" puts an efforts towards being a full service coffee style, as employees take coffee to your seat,

スターバックスコーヒージャパンは郊外への出店を増やしている。
Starbucks Japan has increased food stalls in the suburbs.

今年度は４４店を新たに出し、さらなる拡大にも意欲的だ。
This year 44 new stalls have appeared with the ambitious plan of continuing to expand.

特長はソファなどを配した店内。
With their specialty being that shops filled with sofas.

「店を家庭。職場・学校に次ぐ第３の居場所にしてもらう狙い。居心地や雰囲気も重視し、ファストフード店とは違う層のお客を取り込みたい」と話す。
They say that the shop is a home, that after the workplace and the school they aim to be the third place. We want to take in customers and distinguish ourselves from fast food shops by stressing comfort and atmosphere.

ふるたにひろのぶ？　にしむらこうじ？
（古谷祐伸、西村宏治）
Furutanihironobu Nishimurakouji.?
cathrynm on 19 February 2012

書籍＝publication
書籍を３万円以上お買い上げの場合は、無料でご自宅までお届けいたします。
In the case of purchasing publications that cost more than 30,000 Yen, we will deliver them to your home free of charge.

郵便で迷った荷物が届け先に届かずに戻ってきた。
At the post office lost packages that cannot reach their destination address will be return.

属す＝ぞくす＝belong to
会社に属さずにフリーで仕事をするのは自由でいいが、収入が不安定でなかなか大変だ。
While the freedom of working outside of a company is good, the income instability is really bad.

私は心理学を研究していますが、今はどの学会にも所属していません。
Although I do research in psychology, these days I don't belong to an academic society.

今回の印象派展では、モネ、ルノアール、ドガなどの印象派の代表的な作品が展示されます。
This time the impressionist exhibit, is displaying representative works from Monet, Renoir, Degas, among others.

大学を選ぶ時は、将来の展望をもって選ばなければいけないと言われるが、１８歳の子供にそんなことができるだろうか。
Although they say, that when picking a university one must choose with a view towards one's future prospects, for 18 year old children this kind of thing might be impossible.

凍結＝とうけつ=freeze
寒さのため道路が凍結して非常にスリップしやすくなっています。
The road has frozen and become extremely easy to slip on due to the cold.

気をつけて運転してください。
Please be careful when driving.

直ちに＝ただちに
会社の倒産が決まると、直ちに資産が凍結された。
If it's decided that a company files for bankruptcy, immediately the funds are frozen.

ヤミ献金＝やみけんきん＝illegal donation
氷山の一角＝ひょうざんのいっかく＝tip of the iceberg.
政治家が贈収賄やヤミ献金などで捕まることがあるが、ああいうのは氷山の一角にすぎない。
Although Politicians have been arrested for bribery and illegal donations, this kind of thing is nothing more than the tip of the iceberg.

賄賂＝わいろ=bribe
実際にはもっと多くの政治家が賄賂などをもらっているのだろう。
In reality, there may be many more politicians who have received bribes.

検察庁＝public prosecutor
しかし、検察庁の手が元総理大臣にまで及ぶようになったのはいいことだ。
However, it'a a good thing that the prosecutor's became within reach of the former prime minister.

兄は出張でブラジルに行ったのだが、ブラジルの生活が気に入った永住することにした。
Although my brother has been to Brazil on a business trip, he became comfortable in the Brazilian lifestyle and decided to live there long term.

永久に＝えいきゅうに＝everlasting
平和が永久に続くことをみんな願っている。
That everlasting peace should continue is everyone's wish.

「私が死んだ後も兄弟仲良く暮らすんだよ」と言って、父は永い眠りに就いた。
"After I die I'll live among friends and family", he said, and then father commenced his eternal sleep.

昨日久しぶりに大学時代の友達に会った。
Yesterday I met friends who I haven't seen since my college days.

訪問＝call, visit.
日本を訪問した時、レーガン大統領は国会でのスピーチで「日米の関係は永遠です」と日本語で言った。
When visiting Japan, President Reagan gave a speech and said in Japanese that Japanese-American relations are eternal.

本大学の教授会には、教授、助教授及び講師が出席する。
At the university's faculty meeting, professors, assistant professors and lecturers attended.

外国の大学生に比べて日本の大学生は幼稚だとよくいわれるが、本当だろうか。
Although compared to oversees university students, it's often said that Japanese university students are like infants, is that really true?
cathrynm on 20 February 2012

yhteinen=join
keskustella=discuss
Euromailla on maanantaina yhteinen kokous, jossa ne keskustelevat Kreikan uudesta apupaketista.
On Monday European countries are having a joint meeting in which they discuss Greece's new aid package.

tavata->tapaavat
Euromaiden valtiovarainmisterit tapaavat toisensa Brysselissä.
European countriies' finance ministers meet the second time in Brussels.

Suomesta kokoukseen lähtee valtiovarainministeri Jutta Urpilainen.
Finance minister Jutta Urpilainen leaves from Finland to the meeting.

päättää=decide
Euromaat yrittävät päättää yhdessä, saako Kreikka 130 miljardin euron apupaketin.
European countries will try to decide whether Greece receives a 130 Million Euro aid package.

velka=debts (3rd possessive)
Kreikka ei pysty maksamaan velkojaan ensi kuussa, jos se ei saa lisää apua.
Greece can not pay their debts next month, if they do not receive more help.

hyväksyä=approve
säästöt=savings
valuutta=currency
rahasto=fund
vaatia=require
Kreikan hallitus hyväksyi lauantaina uudet säästöt, joita EU ja Kansainvälinen valuuttarahasto IMF ovat vaatineet.
The Greek government approved on Saturday the new budget reductions which the EU and international currency fund IMF demand.
cathrynm on 20 February 2012

自分のことが嫌いで「俺はダメだなあ」とか「俺は、最低の人間なんだよ」が口ぐせの人は、自尊心が低い人である。
People with a habit of saying things about hating themselves, like "I am no good" or "I am a bad person." are people with low self-esteem.

仕事がうまくいっても、自分の実力だとは思わず、「たまたま運がよかっただけ」と考える人もまた、自尊心が低いタイプであるといってよいだろう。
Even if they say they are good at work, they won't think it's their own ability. "Well, my luck was good" they'll think. Maybe it's good to say that this is the low self-esteem type.

このように自尊心が低い人は、確固とした主義・主張を持たない。
This kind of low self-esttem person doesn't have a firm doctrine or belief.

自分自身のことを信用していないので、自分なりの意見を強く持てないおである。
Because they don't have confidence in themselves, they don't hold strongly to their own opinions.

そのため、他人の言うことをそのまま信じる傾向がある。
And because of that they tend to believe the things other people say.

アメリカ、マサチューセッツ大学のヴェンカテセン教授は、男性用スーツを3種類用意し� �、どれが一番良いものがをグループで話し� �って選ばせるという実験をしてる。
American professor Venkatesen at the Massachusetts university, performed an experiment where groups discussed which of the kinds of men's suits were the best.

この実験は、本物の参加者にまじって、サクラも参加しており、そのサクラが「Aのスー� �がいいよ」とか「Bのスーツが一番だよ」と� ��加者を説得するのである。
In this experiment, real participants were mixed with decoy participants. These decoy participants persuaded were there to persuade the participants that either type A or type B suit was best.

そのサクラの説得をどれくらい受け入れるかが測定されたわけだ。
And then whether or not the decoy's persuasion was accepted was measured.

ヴェンカテセン授業は、実験に先立って、参加者の自尊心を調べる心理テストをやらせておいた。
Professor Venkatesen's experiment was psychological test to investigate the participant's self esteem.

そして、自尊心の高低別に、サクラに説得されてしまうバーセンテージを調べたのである。
So, particularly, if the self-esteem was high or low, the percentage of persuasion by the decoys was investigated.

すると、自尊心が高いグループでは、４０％しかサクラの意見を受け入れなかったのに、自尊心の低いグループでは、８０％がサクラの言いなりになってしまうことがわかった。
So, for the high self-esteem group, although only 40% of the decoy's opinions were accepted, for the low self esteem group, 80% of what the decoy said was understood.

簡単にいうと、自尊心が低い人を説得するのはやさしくて、自尊心が高い人を説得するのは難しいのだ。
Simply stated, people with low self-esteem were easy to persuade, while people with high self-esteem were difficult to persuade.

では、自尊心が高い人を説得するときには、どうすればいいのだろうか。
So, what is the thing to do when it is time to persuade someone of high self-esteem.

自尊心が高い人を説得するときには、「注意拡散法」を使うのがいいとされている。
When persuading high self-esteem individuals it would be good to choose the "Warning diffision method."

気をそらす＝to distract
自尊心が高い人には、説得メッセージに集中させず、ほかのことに気をそらせるようにすると、その内容を受け入れやすいことがわかっているからだ。
High self-esteem individuals couldn't be made to integrate the persuasive message. If other things are able to distract, the content can be easily accepted.

これは、カリフォルニア州立大学のラマーズ教授の実験で確認されている。
This is what professor Lamaze's experiment at California's independent University confirmed.

気をとられている＝be distracted
ラーマズ教授の実験によると、自尊心が高い人には、相手が食事をとっているとか、別の仕事に気をとられているような状況を狙って説得してみると、成功しやすくなったのである。
According to Lamaze's experiment, high self-esteem individuals a companion had a meal, if they tried to persuade while another job distracting the situation, success became easy.

おそらくは＝I fear that it's likely that
なぜ自尊心の高い人が、注意をそらされると説得されてしまうのかについてはよくわからないが、おそらくは、内容をよく理解できないときにも、彼らは「わかったような素振り」をしたいと思うのではないだろうか。
Why is it that high self-esteem people, if their attention is distracted they can become persuaded is not well known, however I fear it's likely, that at times that that the subject is not well understood, could it be they may not think that they want a "personality that understands."

cathrynm on 21 February 2012

tippua=drop
katto=ceiling
Helsingissä on kuollut yksi ihminen, jonka päälle tippui lunta katolta.
In Helsinki one person has died, when snow dropped on their head from the roof.

kerrostalo=floor house = apartment buidling
Naisen päälle tippui lunta ja jäätä kerrostalon katolta Helsingin Töölössä.
Snow and ice from the apartment building's roof fell on the women's head in Helsinki's Töölö district.

onnettomuus=accident
Onnettomuus tapahtui maanantaina aamulla.
The accident occurred monday morning.

tutkia=investigate
Poliisi tutkii miksi ja miten onnettomuus tapahtui.
Police investigated why and how the accident occurred.

viranomainen=officials
muistuttaa=remind
aiheuttaa=cause
vahinko=accident
Viranomaiset muistuttavat, että taloyhtiöt ja omistajat ovat vastuussa lumen aiheuttamista vahingoista.
Officials remind that housing companies and owners are responsible for snow causing accidents.

tapahtua=occur
viime=last
Helsingissä tapahtui samanlainen onnettomuus myös viime vuonna.
In Helsinki the same accident also occurred last year.

Mies kuoli Hakaniemessä viime vuoden tammikuussa, kun hänen päälleen tippui jäätä talon katolta.
A man died in Hakanieme last year in January when ice fell on his head from a house's roof.
cathrynm on 21 February 2012

Howdy!

I was just wondering if you are picking up those sentences from your book or something, or you're translating Japanese into English (or vice versa)? Sometimes I see sentences that don't correspond and am not sure what to do. Here, I'll assume the Japanese sentences are the original.

- スポーツクラブの更衣室のロッカーに時計を置き忘れてきた。
- I forgot my watch, which I had placed in the locker at the sports club locker room.
I forgot/left my watch in locker at the spors club locker room.

You consider 置き忘れる as one verb although this sure does consist of two verbs but "置き" here is a prefix, not an individual verb.

- 何時間もワープロを打っていたので、肩が凝った。
- If you type on the word processer for so many hours, your shoulders will become stiff.
I have a stiff neck because I've been typing on the word processer for many hours.

"～（し）たので (していたので)、～だ" = "Because .... (PAST or PERFECT), ...."
i.e.
- 昨日は２時間しか勉強しなかったので、今日はもっと勉強しようと思う。
I'm going to study more today because I only studied for two hours yesterday.

- 昨日は雨が降っていたので、外に出なかった。
I didn't go out yesterday because it was raining.

- 特長はソファなどを配した店内。
- With their specialty being that shops filled with sofas.
i.e. Their specialty is the interior, filled with sofas (and such).

In the Japanese sentence, the verb "だ/です" is omitted.

ふるたにひろのぶ？　にしむらこうじ？
（古谷祐伸、西村宏治）
Furutanihironobu Nishimurakouji.?
I can't say for sure since there's more than one possibility... (since basically you can apply ANY reading to the kanji of the name, when naming a baby, even if the characters don't read that way, it does not matter. Although most people seem to stick with the usual readings.) but I think it's Furuya Masanobu and you are right about the other one.

- 郵便で迷った荷物が届け先に届かずに戻ってきた。
- At the post office lost packages that cannot reach their destination address will be return.
郵便で迷った荷物 = the package(s) I sent through the post office
荷物が届け先に届かずに戻ってきた = couldn't reach the destination address and came back

- 会社の倒産が決まると、直ちに資産が凍結された。
- If it's decided that a company files for bankruptcy, immediately the funds are frozen.
As soon as the company filed for bankruptcy, the funds got frozen.

- 「私が死んだ後も兄弟仲良く暮らすんだよ」と言って、父は永い眠りに就いた。
- "After I die I'll live among friends and family", he said, and then father commenced his eternal sleep.
「私が死んだ後も兄弟仲良く暮らすんだよ」 = "After I die, you (borhters) live at peace with each other"

- 本大学の教授会には、教授、助教授及び講師が出席する。
- At the university's faculty meeting, professors, assistant professors and lecturers attended.
..... will attend.

- 外国の大学生に比べて日本の大学生は幼稚だとよくいわれるが、本当だろうか。
- Although compared to oversees university students, it's often said that Japanese university students are like infants, is that really true?
幼稚 = childish, immature

- 仕事がうまくいっても、自分の実力だとは思わず、「たまたま運がよかっただけ」と考える人もまた、自尊心が低いタイプであるといってよいだろう。
- Even if they say they are good at work, they won't think it's their own ability. "Well, my luck was good" they'll think. Maybe it's good to say that this is the low self-esteem type.
うまくいっても = 上手く行っても (上手く行く, literally "go well")

- アメリカ、マサチューセッツ大学のヴェンカテセン教授は、男性用スーツを3種類用意して、どれが一番良いものがをグループで話し合って選ばせるという実験をしてる。
- American professor Venkatesen at the Massachusetts university, performed an experiment where groups discussed which of the kinds of men's suits were the best.
The Japanese tells me that the experiement is still ongoing.

I hope this helps in any way.

Have fun!
Kappa
Kappa on 21 February 2012

Yeah, thanks. I get these for sentences for my class in Japanese and I try to sort out what they mean as
best I can, but often I'm guessing or not sure,or going from memory and not the dictionary. So I make
mistakes.
cathrynm on 21 February 2012

erottaa=separate
myönteinen=favorable
ampuja=shooter
Perussuomalaiset ehkä erottavat paikallispoliitikon, joka kirjoitti myönteisesti Oulun ampujasta.
Foundation Finns may kick out local politicians who wrote favorably of Oulu's shooter.

mahdollinen=
Puolueen puheenjohtaja Timo Soini sanoo, että erottaminen puolueesta on hyvin mahdollista.
The party's spokesman Timo Soini says that kicking them out from the party is very much possible.

Soini kertoi tiistaina, että hän ei voi hyväksyä paikallispoliitikon kirjoitusta.
Soini said Tuesday that they can not approve the local politician's writings.

kunnan=municiapal
valtuuttaa=authorize
Perussuomalainen Tommi Rautio on kunnanvaltuutettu Köyliössä, Porin ja Rauman lähellä.
Foundation Finn's Tommi Rautio is the municipal authority in Köyliö, near Pori and Rauma.

mitali=medal
Rautio kirjoitti Facebookissa, että Oulun ampujalle voi antaa mitalin.
Rautio wrote on facebook that Oulu's shooter should receive a medal.

tappaa=kill
maahan#muuttaja=immigrant
Ampuja tappoi viikonloppuna nuoren maahanmuuttajan.
On the weekend, the shooter killed young immigrants.

arvostella=judge
ajatus=idea
kunniamerkki=decoration (honor mark)
Monet ovat arvostelleet Raution ajatusta kunniamerkistä, ja sanoneet häntä rasistiksi.
Many have judged Rautio's idea of giving the medal and have said he is racist.

erottaminen=dismissal
päättää=decide, judge
alussa=early
Perussuomalaiset päättävät Tommi Raution erottamisesta maaliskuun alussa.
Foundation Finns order Tommi Raution will be dismissed early March.

Myös poliisi tutkii nyt Raution kirjoitusta.
Also police are now investigating Rautio's writings.

laiton=illicit,
On hyvin mahdollista, että kunnanvaltuutetun kirjoitus oli laiton.
It is very possible that the municipal authorities' writings were illegal.
cathrynm on 23 February 2012

>"～（し）たので (していたので)、～だ" = "Because .... (PAST or PERFECT), ...."

Ooh, actually this is an interesting way of looking at this. I'm still making mistakes with using or not using the ~teiru tenses.
cathrynm on 25 February 2012

I'd try to give you some sort of explanation but then that will only confuse you even more so I googled it.

http://www.guidetojapanese.org/enduring.html - http://www.guidetojapanese.org/enduring.html
http://japanese.stackexchange.com/questions/3122/when-i s-v%E3%81%A6%E3%81%84%E3%82%8B-the-gerund-and-when-is-it-the -continuation-of-state - When is Vている the gerund and when is it the continuation of state?

Hope this helps,
Kappa
Kappa on 25 February 2012

päälle is a tricky word. the most common usage is to get dressed in something/put something on, and basically onto, on top of. I have no clue how to translate those sentences though.

also:

cathrynm wrote:

Soini kertoi tiistaina, että hän ei voi hyväksyä paikallispoliitikon kirjoitusta.
Soini said Tuesday that they can not approve the local politician's writings.

tappaa=kill
maahan#muuttaja=immigrant
Ampuja tappoi viikonloppuna nuoren maahanmuuttajan.
On the weekend, the shooter killed young immigrants.

arvostella=judge
ajatus=idea
kunniamerkki=decoration (honor mark)
Monet ovat arvostelleet Raution ajatusta kunniamerkistä, ja sanoneet häntä rasistiksi.
Many have judged Rautio's idea of giving the medal and have said he is racist.

erottaminen=dismissal
päättää=decide, judge
alussa=early
Perussuomalaiset päättävät Tommi Raution erottamisesta maaliskuun alussa.
Foundation Finns order Tommi Raution will be dismissed early March.

kirjoitusta and maahanmuuttajan in the first two are both singular.
sanoneet häntä rasistiksi is literally called him a racist.
the last one: they'll decide in early march about his dismissal.
Serpent on 25 February 2012

Well, I got the results from the JLPT N2. 23/60 28/60 18/60 total score 69/180. So, not even close, my best score was in the reading, and my listening was disastrously low as expected. Oh well. There's always next year.
cathrynm on 26 February 2012

Today after class I ran down to the Japanese book store and picked up a Japanese copy of ムーミン谷の冬　-- seems somehow appropriate. This book has a lot of furigana, and for me there's not a single kanji in here I don't know, but quite a few words I don't know. I think I'm just going to read this one. I did the first 10 pages today. And with some dictionary lookups that took some time, but maybe without any dictionary, I can get 10 pages in within an hour. I'm not sure how well I understand this, but I just want to try plowing through for a bit. And I'll just do relentless looking up of words for my class work.

The internet has ruined me for vertical writing, so really need to get used to this to speed up my reading.
cathrynm on 26 February 2012

Homework for the class.

発酵＝はっこう＝fermentation
生ごみ=kitchen watse
生ごみ発酵肥料で作った米、「おいしい」4� �
Rice made from kitchen waste -- delicious to 40%.

宮津＝みやづ？
東部府宮津市が、生ごみやし尿などをメタン発酵させて得た液肥を使って米を試作し、市民らに試食してもらったところ、約４害が普段食べている米より「おいしい」と答えたことが、市のアンケート結果でわかった。
The eastern Japan government in Miyazu city a trial is being done to grow rice using liquid fertilizer using methane fermentation using thinks like kitchen waste, and urine, and in the results of a city survey, when the citizens sampled the food about 40% thought the rice was more delicious than regular rice.

市は資源循環のまちづくりを目指し、試験的に液肥を生産。
The city's experimental production of liquid fertilizer aims to recycle their resources.

昨春＝さくうしゅん=last spring
水田＝すいでん＝paddy field
収穫＝しゅうかく＝harvest
これをつかって昨春から市内の水田で米を栽培し、約４２０キロを収穫した。
Since last spring, they have made and cultivated rice in the city's paddy fields, and about 420 kilograms have been harvested.

実施＝putting into practice.
イベントなどで市民や観光客らに食べもらい、アンケートを実施。
At things like events, a survey has been done with citizens and tourists who have eaten the food.

回答者５８２人のうち約４２％が「おいしい」、約４４％が普段食べている米と味が「変わらない」と答え、両者で９割近くを占めた。
There were 582 people responding and within those about 42% responded 'delicious' and about 44% replied that the taste compared the flavor of rice they usually eat was 'no different.' The two groups consisted of 90% of those responding.

液肥の原料に生ごみなどをつかっていることについては、約５４％が「気にならない」とした一方、「気になる」も約４３％あった。
On the matter of using things like kitchen waste as a raw material for liquid fertilizer, about 54% said they did mind, while 43% did concern themselves with this.

廃棄＝はいき=
自由意見では、「昔は畑の肥料として中心だったし尿が廃棄されており、資源の活用を」「販売時には生ごみやし尿などを大きくアピールせず「有機肥料」程度が良い」などがあった。
Opinions freely given were that "Long ago, urine was disposed of as fertilizer in rice fields -- a practical use of a resource" and "For marketing purposes, the use of kitchen waste and urine is not attractive and that the use of 'organic fertilizer' would be good.

考慮＝こうりょ＝consideration
市は来年度も試作を続け、経済性を考慮しながらメタン発酵施設導入の可能性を検討していく。
Next year, in the city the trial production will continue, and along with the consideration of saving money, the possible introduction of methane fermentation is being studied.

（２０１２年2月１９日１８時２８分、読売� �聞）
Yomiuri Newspaper.
cathrynm on 26 February 2012

ehdottaa=suggest, proppose
vero=tax
suurituloinen=high income
Sosiaalidemokraatit ehdottavat lisäveroja suurituloisille.
The social democrats propose additional tax on high income.

ansaita=earn
SDP:n puheenjohtajan Jutta Urpilaisen mielestä ne, jotka ansaitsevat yli 100 000 euroa vuodessa, voivat maksaa veroja enemmän kuin nyt.
SDP's spokesman Jutta Urpilaisen believes those who earn more than 100,000 Euros a year can pay more taxes than what they pay now.

ehdotus=proposal, suggestion
rikas=>rikkaat
Sosiaalidemokraattien ehdotus on, että rikkaat maksavat enemmän veroja huonon taloustilanteen aikana.
The Social Democratic's suggestion is that perhaps the rich pay more tax during times of bad economic situations.

valtio=government
Sosiaalidemokraatit sanovat, että Suomen valtion täytyy myös säästää rahaa.
Social Democrats say that Finnish government must also save money.

kuitenkaan=anyway
kasvu=growth

vaara=danger
Säästöt eivät saa kuitenkaan olla niin suuria, että talouskasvu on vaarassa.
In any case, savings should not be so big that economic growth is endangered.

siksi=that's why
tulo=income
Siksi valtio tarvitsee uusia verotuloja.
That's why the government needs new new tax income.

kerätä=collect
mukainen=consistent
Jutta Urpilaisen mielestä on oikeudenmukaista, että valtio kerää lisää veroja suurituloisilta.
Jutta Urpilaisen belief is that it's fair, that the government collects more taxes from the high income people.

rikas->Rikkaiden (gen pl)
neuvotella=negotiate
tasapaino=balance (level, weight)
Rikkaiden lisävero on yksi sosiaalidemokraattien ehdotuksista, kun puolueet neuvottelevat, miten ne voivat pitää Suomen budjetin tasapainossa.
Additional tax on the rich is the first Social Democratic proposal as the parties negotiate how they would like the Finnish budget balanced.
cathrynm on 26 February 2012

I'm not good at geography but could "東部府宮津市" be "京都府宮津市"? And you're right about the reading, it reads みやづ. And I know it's just a typo but it should be "約４割" instead of "約４害".

- 市は資源循環のまちづくりを目指し、試験的に液肥を生産。
- The city's experimental production of liquid fertilizer aims to recycle their resources.

In my opinion, the emphasis is on the verb 生産(している), thus the main verb shouldn't be "aim", making it:
"The city is producing/has been producing liquid fertilizer experimentally, aiming to recyle their resources."

And when they say "市", they mean the local government or something like that. I'm not entirely sure about this sort of thing. What's smaller than a local government?

- これをつかって昨春から市内の水田で米を栽培し、約４２０キロを収穫した。
- Since last spring, they have made and cultivated rice in the city's paddy fields, and about 420 kilograms have been harvested.

"The city's paddy fields" sounds like the city owns the fields to me but the Japanese doesn't say so, just paddy fields in the city. Or I misinterpreted the English.

Hope this helps,
Kappa
Kappa on 26 February 2012

Yeah interesting. In the USA 'city' is the basically smallest sized government. We have neighborhoods that have names, but basically they are names only. Town implies a small city, but we never use 'town government', it's always 'city government.' Rural areas with low population are usually controlled by the county government -- and here, most farms here are located in counties, not within city boundaries.

So, now that I think about it, "city's paddy fields" is a bit weird in English even. I think now that 'region' or 'area' best, since neither is wrong I don't think any information is lost with this.
cathrynm on 26 February 2012

1952年から１９５８年までの７年間の間に約1� ��５，０００人の日本人が南米に移住した。
From 1952 to 1958 in a 7 year interval about 15,000 Japanese moved to South America.

アメリカでは、移動するのに飛行機を使うのはすごく日常的なことになっている。
In American, even for migration, the use of airplanes has become quite an ordinary practice.

副都心＝ふくとしん＝urban subcenter
東京都庁が丸の内から新宿副都心の新しいビルに移転した。
The Tokyo government office is moving from Marunouchi to a new building in Shinjuku.

手狭＝てぜま＝cramped
今のマンションに移って１０年になるが、そろそろ手狭になってきた。
In my current apartment that I moved to and have been in for 10 years has gradually become cramped.

ゆでる＝boil
ざる＝sieve?
ゆでたスパゲティーをざるに移して、バターをまぶします。
Boiled spaghetti is put through in a sieve and then mixed with butter.

くっつく＝adhere to
香ばしい＝こうばしい＝fragrant
こうしておくと香ばしいにおいがし、スパゲティーもくっつきません。
In this way, inside there's a fragrant aroma, and the spaghetti doesn't stick.

今からお話しすることは私と私の秘書しか知らないことです。
From now one, these discussions are only to be known by me and my secretary.

秘密ですから、決して誰にも話さないでくださいね。
Because it's a secret, never tell anyway, okay?

密接＝みっせつ＝related
古代より中国と日本は密接な関係にある。
More than in old times, China and Japan have close relations.

社内で部長と部長秘書な関係を知らない人はいない。
In the company there are no people who don't know about the relationship between the boss and his secretary.

胃腸薬＝いちょうやく＝digestive medicine
飲み過ぎたと言って胃腸薬を飲む人がいるが、お酒をあまり飲まない私からすると、胃や腸を悪くするほど飲まなければいいのにと思う。
There are people who take stomach medicine who it is said drink too much, but for a person like me who seldom drinks alcohol, I think it's good to not have stomach or intestinal problems to the extend that I need to take medicine.

ちっとも＝not at all
うちの主人はつまらない冗談はよく言うのに、肝心なことはちっとも私に相談してくれない。
All though my husband tells boring stories, the essential thing is that he never discusses them with me.

直立歩行＝ちょくりつほこう＝walking upright.
直立歩行をして手が自由に使えるようになったことで、人間の脳は大きく発達した。
As human beings walked upright and they became able to freely use their hands, the human brain grew larger.

新興宗教＝new religion
洗脳＝brain washing
新興宗教の儀式は洗脳のようなものだ。
The new religion's ceremony is like brainwashing.

離婚するかこのまま結婚生活を続けるが悩みましたが、人生は一度しかないと考え、やはり離婚することにしました。
Although worried about whether to divorce or to continue as with married life, he considered that a human life just happens one time, so of course he decided to divorce.

グングン＝steadily
伸び悩む＝のびなやむ＝be sluggish.
今まで勉強しなかった子供が勉強し始めると成績がグングン伸びますが、ある程度まで行くと伸び悩み始めます。
From now on if the children who didn't study then begin studying, their grades will steadily improve, however the degree to which they progress will be sluggish at the start.

今は受験競争が厳しくて、どの親も子供の教育のことでは頭を悩ませています。
Today the exam competition is fierce, and even parents are being made to worry about their children's education.
cathrynm on 26 February 2012

Uuden Musiikin Kilpailu on kiinnostanut suomalaisia.
The new music competition has interested Finns.

Kilpailun finaalilla oli paljon kuuntelijoita ja katsojia lauantaina.
Saturday there were many listeners and viewers for the competition's finale .

melkein=nearly
lähetys＝broadcast
Esimerkiksi kilpailun televisiolähetystä katsoi melkein 550 000 ihmistä.
For example, the competition's television broadcast was seen by nearly 550,000 people.

voittaja=winner
Uuden Musiikin Kilpailun voittaja oli Pernilla Karlsson.
The new Music competition winner was Pernilla Karlsson.

sulkea=close
esittää=present
Hän esitti ruotsinkielisen laulun När jag blundar eli Kun suljen silmäni.
She presented a Swedish language song "När jag blundar" or "If I close my eyes."

tekijä=author
Laulun tekijä on Pernillan veli Jonas Karlsson.
The song's composer is Pernilla's brother Jonas Karlsson.

päästä=reach
edustaa=represent
Uuden Musiikin Kilpailun voittaja Pernilla Karlsson pääsee edustamaan Suomea Euroviisuihin.
The new Music Competition's winner Pernilla Karlsson will get to represent Finland at Eurovision.

Hän matkustaa toukokuussa Azerbaidzhaniin, jossa Euroviisujen laulukilpailu on tänä vuonna.
She will travel in May to Azerbaijan, where the Eurovision singing contest is this year.

cathrynm on 27 February 2012

Howdy!

- 東京都庁が丸の内から新宿副都心の新しいビルに移転した。
- The Tokyo government office is moving from Marunouchi to a new building in Shinjuku.
... has moved ...

- 今のマンションに移って１０年になるが、そろそろ手狭になってきた。
- In my current apartment that I moved to and have been in for 10 years has gradually become cramped.
It's been ten years since I moved to this apartment but it's been getting/it's got cramped.

- 今からお話しすることは私と私の秘書しか知らないことです。
- From now one, these discussions are only to be known by me and my secretary.
What I'm going to tell you now, only me and my secretary know.

- 古代より中国と日本は密接な関係にある。
- More than in old times, China and Japan have close relations.
古代より = since old times

- 飲み過ぎたと言って胃腸薬を飲む人がいるが、お酒をあまり飲まない私からすると、胃や腸を悪くするほど飲まなければいいのにと思う。
- There are people who take stomach medicine who it is said drink too much, but for a person like me who seldom drinks alcohol, I think it's good to not have stomach or intestinal problems to the extend that I need to take medicine.
Some people take stomach medicine from drinking too much but I, who don't drink, think they shouldn't drink so much that they have stomach or intestinal problems (or "so much that they have to take medicine....").

- うちの主人はつまらない冗談はよく言うのに、肝心なことはちっとも私に相談してくれない。
- All though my husband tells boring stories, the essential thing is that he never discusses them with me.
Although my husband tells silly jokes a lot, he doesn't talk to me about important things.

- 今まで勉強しなかった子供が勉強し始めると成績がグングン伸びますが、ある程度まで行くと伸び悩み始めます。
From now on if the children who didn't study then begin studying, their grades will steadily improve, however the degree to which they progress will be sluggish at the start.
今まで = until now

Hope this helps,
Kappa
Kappa on 27 February 2012

Yeah some of these are stupid mistakes. I just need to be more focused and go a little slower perhaps, and watch the past tense and other simple things more carefully.

- うちの主人はつまらない冗談はよく言うのに、肝心なことはちっとも私に相談してくれない。
- All though my husband tells boring stories, the essential thing is that he never discusses them with me.
Although my husband tells silly jokes a lot, he doesn't talk to me about important things.

This is the most interesting confusion though. I think maybe I read 'essential' in the dictionary and it's not quite used how I imagined.

I got up to page 30 of my ムーミン谷の冬　book. I need to find a way to buy Finnish books online. I don't know if anyone stocks them here in the USA. Much easier for Japanese.
cathrynm on 27 February 2012

In that sentence, the "は", two of them, are used to contrast "つまらない冗談はよく言う" and "肝心なことは言わない", so it's not likely to be translated that way. And that English translation kind of puzzles me.

I don't know how you imagined it was used but if you thought it built the English that-clause-like structure then you're right.

i.e.
肝心なのは何を読むかではなくて、どう読むかだ。
It is not what you read but how you read it that counts.

It's not entirely about the word "肝心な" per se, I think, you need to be aware of other things: the "は" particle has several usages, one of them being a topic marker and a "topic" can be either an object or subject. In that example you gave, it marks a topic, which is interpreted as an object in English, indicating a contrast simultaneously. A that-clause in English should be a subject.

I tend to interpret "肝心な" as "important" but there should be many ways to translate it. 肝心 is also written 肝腎. Liver-Heart or Liver-Kidney... Guess they're all important either way.

Hope this helps,
Kappa
Kappa on 28 February 2012

luottamus=trust
Eduskunta on äänestänyt hallituksen luottamuksesta Kreikka-asiassa.
Parlaiment has voted for the government's trust in the Greece matter.

vastaan=against
Hallitus sai eduskunnan luottamuksen, kun 111 kansanedustajaa äänesti hallituksen puolesta ja 72 hallitusta vastaan.
The goverment received parliament's confidence vote, in which 111 representatives voted for the government's party and 72 against the government.

Äänestyksessä eduskunta hyväksyi sen, että Suomi on mukana Kreikan uudessa lainapaketissa.
In the vote parliament agreed that Finland is to be part of Greece's new loan package.

Oppositiopuolueet keskusta ja perussuomalaiset vastustivat Kreikan lainapakettia.
Opposition parties, Center and Foundation Finn party opposed the Greek loan package.

pettää=petti=cheated
lupaus=promise
tuki=support
Keskustan mielestä Kreikka petti lupaukset, jotka se antoi ennen ensimmäistä tukipakettia.
The Center party believes that Greece broke their promises, which they gave before the original support package.

erota=break away
Perussuomalaiset ovat sitä mieltä, että Kreikka voi erota euroalueesta.
Foundation Finns are believe this, that Greece can break away from the Eurozone.

Kreikan uusi tukipaketti on 130 miljardia euroa.
Greek's new aid package is 130 million Euro
cathrynm on 01 March 2012

Well, went to the Japanese meetup group in east Pasadena -- which is near my father's house here in Glendale. The Korean guy asked me 日本語喋らる, and I totally missed this so they switched to English, but him and this this Nikkei guy who was fluent in Japanese talked quite a bit and I mostly listened. I feel a little bit vampire-like, observing the language but not really participating. I try to just drift away a little bit when they switch to English, in order to maximize the Japanese listening. I think I am hearing more these days. I'm getting to this state where I sort of knowing what's being talked about, though I'm often guessing. It is interesting.
cathrynm on 03 March 2012

http://store.steampowered.com/app/115110/ - http://store.steampowered.com/app/115110/

Unrelated to language learning, but, well, this is my other life. I've been working with Doublefine games and Other Ocean on this game here, Stacking, that's just been released on Steam. I've been working with 2 other programmers to bring this from the Xbox to the PC.
cathrynm on 07 March 2012

Next Saturday is the final for my class. So I think I'm going to be mostly reviewing Japanese learned over the last 10 weeks or so. I had to miss one class due to having issues with my father's care in the nursing home. No emergency, but just some legal issues I needed to take care of.
cathrynm on 11 March 2012

riita=quarrel
varuskunta=garrison
Poliitikkojen riidat Dragsvikin varuskunnasta jatkuvat.
Politicians argue that the Dragsvik garrison should continue.

arvostella=judge, review, criticized
haastattelu=interview
ankara=strict, hard
puolustus=defense
Lauantaina perussuomalaisten puheenjohtaja Timo Soini arvosteli televisiohaastattelussa ankarasti puolustusministeri Stefan Wallinia.
On Saturday Foundation Finn's chairman Timo Soini criticized severely in a television interview defense minister Stefan Willin.

eri tavalla=differently
Soinin mielestä Wallin on kertonut varuskuntien lopettamisesta eri tavalla eri aikoina.
Souni believes Wallin has mentioned the garrison's closure in different ways at different times.

Suomen armeijan täytyy säästöjen takia lopettaa kuusi (6) varuskuntaa eli paikkaa, jossa armeija toimii.
The Finnish army must due to budget reductions close six garrison living quarters which the army operated.

Ruotsinkielistä Dragsvikin varuskuntaa ei lopeteta.
The Swedish Language Dragsvik barracks were not closed.

säilyttää=preserve
Perjantaina Wallin kertoi, että hän halusi säilyttää Dragsvikin myös ruotsin kielen takia.
On Friday, Wallin said that he wanted to preserve Dragsvik also because the Swedish language.

vaikuttaa=impact
Aikaisemmin Wallin sanoi, että kielipolitiikka ei vaikuttanut Dragsvikin säilyttämiseen.
Earlier Wallin said that language politics won't impact Dragsvikin's preservation.

Perussuomalaisten mielestä eduskunta ei voi enää luottaa puolustusministeri Walliniin.
Foundation Finn's believe Parliament does not want to trust Defense Minister Wallin anymore.

totuus=truth
Wallin itse sanoo, että hän on kertonut totuuden alusta lähtien.
Wallin himeself says that he has told the truth from the beginning.

Pääministeri Jyrki Katainen sanoi lauantaina, että hän luottaa puolustusministeriin.
Prime Minister Jyrki Katainen said Saturday that he trusts the defense minister.
cathrynm on 18 March 2012

http://lang-8.com/8649/journals/1370275/ - 今日の日記

Trying to get back on the lang-8 thing again.
ooh. 日本語がちょっとかたいで� �。　それでもっと練習したいです。
cathrynm on 18 March 2012

Ooh that works better. Lang-8 links have the name, but that turns into this massive string that Safari+this website
barfs on. Ugh, I need to practice more, I think I'm getting more stiff sounding.
cathrynm on 18 March 2012

cathrynm wrote:

riita=quarrel
varuskunta=garrison
Poliitikkojen riidat Dragsvikin varuskunnasta jatkuvat.
Politicians argue that the Dragsvik garrison should continue.

politicians' arguing about the Dragsvik garrison continues.
Serpent on 18 March 2012

Lapissa Saariselällä on viikonloppuna koolla talousasiantuntijoita.
On the weekend in Lapland's Sarriselkä is a gathering of economic experts.

tilanne=situatioon (gen)
muuttuminen=metamorphosis
Asiantuntijat keskustelevat esimerkiksi taloustilanteen muuttumisesta maailmassa ja Euroopan talouskriisistä.
The experts discuss, for examples, the economic situation's metamorphosis worldwide and the European economic crisis.

tapaaminen=meeting
järjestö=organization
Mukana tapaamisessa ovat esimerkiksi Maailman kauppajärjestön WTO:n pääjohtaja Pascal Lamy ja EU:n talouskomissaari Olli Rehn.
About the meeting are for example, the world trade organization's (WTO's) general director Pascal Lamy and the EU's economic commissioner Olli Rehn.

Talouskomissaari Olli Rehn uskoo, että euromaat pääsevät ensi viikolla sopuun siitä, kuinka suuri Euroopan kriisirahastosta tulee.
Economic commissioner Olli Rehn believes that the European Countries will reach next week an agreement on how the great European financial crisis will proceed.

Uutistoimisto Reuters kertoi perjantaina, että rahastosta tulee pienempi kuin Olli Rehn on sanonut aikaisemmin.
The news agency Reuters said Friday that the fund will be smaller than what Olli Rehn has said earlier.

Euroalueen valtiovarainministerit tapaavat ensi viikolla Tanskassa Kööpenhaminassa.
The Euro Area's ministers of finance meet next week in Copenhagen Denmark.
cathrynm on 26 March 2012

kuinka suuri kriisirahastosta tulee = how large the crisis fund will be
muuttuminen is just change lolol.
and olla mukana is to be present.
it's impressive, reallyy... i understand the finnish sentences but i seriously struggle when trying to translate them:D
Serpent on 26 March 2012

riita=quarrel
ydin=nuclear
jäte=rubbish
säilyttäminen=preservation
turha=unnecessary
Riita ydinjätteen säilyttämisestä Suomessa on ehkä turha.
The controversy about nuclear waste storage in Finland is perhaps unnecessary.

koskea=concern
rahasumma=sum of money
Energiaprofessori Esa Vakkilaisen mielestä riita on turha, koska se koskee melko pientä rahasummaa.
Energy Professor Esa Vakkilaisen's belief is that the controversy is unnecessary because it concerns quite small sums of money.

Energiayhtiö Fennovoima säästää vain 200 - 300 miljoonaa euroa, jos sen ydinjätettä säilytetään Länsi-Suomessa Olkiluodossa.
Energy company Fennovoima would save about 200 to 300 million Euros if it stored nuclear waste in west Finland in Olkiluoto.

Ydinjäteyhtiö Posiva ei halua säilyttää Fennovoiman ydinjätettä Olkiluodossa.
Nuclear Waste company Posiva does not want to store Fennovoima's nuclear waste in Olkiluoto.

Posiva rakentaa Olkiluotoon ydinjätteen säilytyspaikkaa muita energiayhtiöitä varten.
Posiva is building in Olkiluoto a nuclear waste storage facility for other energy companies.
cathrynm on 26 March 2012

"pientä rahasummaa" is singular :)

Serpent on 26 March 2012

Just back from my second attempt at the JLPT N2. Kind of exhausted but still a little too much adrenaline in my body. I think with the reading I'm pretty sure I'll score better than last year, though I blew the listening comprehension section again. Last time I was 17/60 on listening which given that some of the questions are 1/3 multiple choice, and others are 1/4, I think was about a little better than random chance result. I'm not sure if I'm going to be any better this time or not. We'll see.
cathrynm on 03 December 2012

Anyway, I have been busy, basically I just got this game on the app store. English only.

http://www.junglevision.com/area52.html - http://www.junglevision.com/area52.html

I have been taking Japanese classes consistently through the year at the Sokogakuen. I'm in the JLPT N2 prep class, I've been through this now 4 times. I think this December and the coming year I can try to get back to working on Finnish some more, now that the JLPT is passed.
cathrynm on 03 December 2012

Well, I'm back into the Flash cards again. This is sort of my 'first love' with language learning, and for all the attempts at reading and TV watching, I've always felt like I've really gotten the most in my brain from using Anki. I'm just using a couple decks built into Anki, the N1 Vocab deck, and most of these words are new. Maybe I know about 20% of them. And the "ymmärrä suomea", and maybe about 40% I know Finnish to English, but English to Finnish it's just hopeless and I'm repeating the cards until I get the spelling right -- that's taking a lot of reps. I turn off the 'suspend on leech' function.
cathrynm on 27 December 2012

http://people.uta.fi/~km56049/finnish/transin.html

Stewing about transitive/intransitive verbs in Finnish.

I found this list of transitive/intransitive verb pairs in Finnish. Interesting, I think the Finnish transitive/intransitive verb grammar is pretty close to how it is in Japanese.

olen rakastan -- I love -- Transitive
Rakastuin sinuun. -- I fell in love with you. -- Intransitive
Minua rakastetaan. -- I am loved -- Transitive Passive
rakastutaan -- falling in love? -- Intransitive Passive

Actually, maybe this isn't a good example, because I don't think there's an intransitive 'to love' in Japanese. Hmm.
cathrynm on 28 December 2012

Another reason why rakastaa/rakastua isn't a great example is that typically one would expect "to love"/"to be loved" instead of "to love"/"to fall in love".

You might find it useful to think of these verbs as derivatives of a noun with the approximate meanings of "to make into <NOUN>" and "to become <NOUN>". I'm not sure if that's the official truth you would hear from an expert linguist, but it's more of less how I understand these constructions. That is, if I stop to think about them, which I usually don't. Anyway, just thought you might find this interesting.
sans-serif on 28 December 2012

cathrynm wrote:

riita=quarrel
ydin=nuclear
jäte=rubbish
säilyttäminen=preservation
turha=unnecessary

ydin = nucleus, giving us compounds like "nucleus-energy", ydinenergia
jäte = waste. I'd translate rubbish or trash as roska.
säilyttäminen = the preserving (of) / the storing (of). Preservation would be säilytys. Not sure if it makes much difference, but this seemed to be a recurring "mistake".

I feel like I'm nitpicking about minor details here, especially since your sentence for sentence translations were all correct. Feel free to tell me off if you already know this stuff.
sans-serif on 28 December 2012

Ooh, thanks for stopping by, and no problem with whatever corrections you have. Really, honestly, I have zero ego with either Japanese or Finnish, and a lot of stuff I knew and then forgot and then relearned and then forgot again. What I 'actually know' at any time is constantly in flux, really.

I'm curious about your idea about the transitive/intransitive pair, 'to make into' and 'to become.' That seems pretty different compared to how this works in Japanese, really. I'll have to sort this out somehow. I think for reading I can often just guess the meaning based on the dictionary translation and context. But trying to write using words from a dictionary, picking the wrong one is a disaster.

cathrynm on 29 December 2012

Hmm, I saw quite a response on Facebook to this.

http://www.hs.fi/sunnuntai/Lottovoitto+j%C3%A4i+lunastamatta /a1356756791315 - http://www.hs.fi/sunnuntai/Lottovoitto+j%C3%A4i+lunastamatta /a1356756791315

Maybe there is a language issue here, and people assumed no one understood. Anyway, I'm missing a lot from this, so I think I will study this more later tonight.
cathrynm on 03 January 2013

Hmmm, that reminds me that I too noticed this on my newsfeed from a couple of Finnish friends. I will look into it in the next few days.
Chung on 03 January 2013

Oh wow, this story is pretty horrible, really. I have nothing to say.
cathrynm on 04 January 2013

Well, today I'm starting another quarter at the sokogakuen -- the reading comprehension class, which runs half the year. (The JLPT 2 class runs the other half the year.) This means I'm beginning on my 3rd year of the intermediate classes, and the 6th year of working on Japanese. I've seen a lot of the same people continuing on year after year in this class, so we've all kind of gotten to know each other.

I think at least this class keeps me going at some minimum level, so I'm forced to work on Japanese for some time each week, even when I'm busy with other stuff.

Lately, I have been keeping up reasonably well with my anki flash cards for Finnish, and the JLPT N1 list too. I drove down to LA to see my father in the nursing home, so I missed a few days, but aside from that I've been pretty regular. You know, I thought maybe I could just skip all this word memorization and just go right into reading and listening and things, but I feel like I just need to go back and get more words in my brain. I want to get to where I can write from memory simple Finnish sentences, and right now I still don't have the words to actually do this.

I think I've figured out that doing both recognition and production is just as hard as doing recognition only, because I see both sides and that helps me get the words in a little better. For Finnish I still turn off the leech function in Anki, or otherwise my entire deck gets marked Leech. I've been working on Finnish but I'm still way way too dependent on dictionaries and things, and I'm forgetting words. The Flash cards have worked for me in the past, and this is one way to pound the words in my brain with a virtual jackhammer.
cathrynm on 13 January 2013

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=603WmJrV2pw - オレの歌

Rap song of a Vietnamese guy in Japan in Japanese. He talks about the boat people, and also mentions briefly the loss of language, and talks about trying to hide his Vietnamese roots in Japan.
cathrynm on 26 January 2013

Ugh, well, I failed the JLPT N2 it looks like. Vocab/Grammer 28/60 Reading, 23/60 and listening 19/60. That's 70/180 and I need 90 to pass, so I'm still not close on this. Shoot. Last year I did 69/180, so I improved by one point over the year. Bleah.
cathrynm on 31 January 2013

http://lang-8.com/8649/journals/1099785138971220326892711754 76834601406#journal_comment_18613022404326844260979554999811 9388425 - http://lang-8.com/8649/journals/1099785138971220326892711754 76834601406#journal_comment_18613022404326844260979554999811 9388425

Well, I did my class presentation. It went okay, I think partially thanks to lang-8. Really, if I was actually worried about grades, I'd consider lang-8 cheating. But there you go.

I've pretty good keeping up with Anki, though I'm doing that horrible thing everyone says not to do, and that's learning single words. I'm going to Finnish and from Finnish, because my ability to speak just sucks because I only know words passively. I need the ability to recall actual words from memory to even have a chance of speaking badly. This Deck from Ymmärrä suomea has 1647 words with 3294 cards for both directions, and so far about 525 cards are mature and 734 are young+learn, 2035 cards still unseen so I still have a ways to go with this. Even already, this does make reading the Ymmärrä suomea stories much easier -- though they are a little bit boring, is the only problem.

And one major life change happening. I'm going to be riding the subway to San Francisco every day, so I bought the iOS version of Anki. very nice. I can now sync the PC or the iPhone to each other magically. I'm getting good money for this job, but it's also kind of a start-up-ish engineering job, so I'll be crazy because of that.

cathrynm on 12 February 2013

cathrynm wrote:

I've pretty good keeping up with Anki, though I'm doing that horrible thing everyone says not to do, and that's learning single words. I'm going to Finnish and from Finnish, because my ability to speak just sucks because I only know words passively. I need the ability to recall actual words from memory to even have a chance of speaking badly.

With single word cards, how do you handle things like conjugation and all the other word-changes that I'm guessing Finnish has (because I have no idea)? I thought about switching to single words for my Japanese Anki deck, because it is so much easier to make cards that way.

Oh, and sorry about not passing the JLPT N2. You'll get 'em next time!
kujichagulia on 12 February 2013

Well, the thing is I can't get the conjugation right if I don't the word in the first place. The rules are complex, but the deal is that often I can kind of guess, and the weird ones I see more often anyway. Otherwise I just make mistakes, and I just try not to stress out about it. Right now my aim is for vocab quantity rather than perfection.

I don't know about other people, but I find words incredibly handy. I think it's all good -- that is until you end up with a deck full words all with a meaning of 'establish' or 'situation' or something this, that's when single words break down.
cathrynm on 12 February 2013

Well, I'm working the new job,which earns respectable middle-class level salary, and I'm just so busy. I've
been pretty good with the anki And Finnish vocab on the train, though I'm always behind on reviews. I necer
catch up. I'm also still in the Saturday Japanese class. I went once to the bilngual Toastmaster's group,
though I didn't say much.

feeling a little terse, cuz' It's 5:15 am and I'm in bed and on my iPad.
cathrynm on 15 March 2013

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j2ilU8TcEW0 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j2ilU8TcEW0

Been busy with work. Keeping up with Japanese pretty reasonably due to the class, though Finnish is suffering.

Like this song.

cathrynm on 03 September 2013

http://www.amazon.co.jp/%E6%97%A5%E6%9C%AC%E8%AA%9E%E8% 83%BD%E5%8A%9B%E8%A9%A6%E9%A8%93-%E6%A8%A1%E8%A9%A6%E3%81%A8 %E5%AF%BE%E7%AD%96-N2-%E6%96%B0JLPT%E7%A0%94%E7%A9%B6%E4%BC% 9A/dp/4872177444/ref=pd_sim_b_6/378-8848053-2639056 - http://www.amazon.co.jp/%E6%97%A5%E6%9C%AC%E8%AA%9E%E8%83%BD %E5%8A%9B%E8%A9%A6%E9%A8%93-%E6%A8%A1%E8%A9%A6%E3%81%A8%E5%A F%BE%E7%AD%96-N2-%E6%96%B0JLPT%E7%A0%94%E7%A9%B6%E4%BC%9A/dp /4872177444/ref=pd_sim_b_6/378-8848053-2639056

This time, I'm not kidding with the JLPT N2. It's just September and I have a few months left until December. I bought this book here, and I'm going through the questions -- answering and then checking. Except so far I'm find I'm making a lot of mistakes, so as of yet, not feeling super-optimistic. We'll see.
cathrynm on 09 September 2013

Well, still a few more months until I take the N2 for the 3rd time. This time I'm serious, I swear it, so I'm making at effort at cramming as much as work permits between now and December. Tonight I've going through some of the N2 word jumble puzzles, (which were assigned by my class) and of the 12 I was correct on 5 of them. So, ooh, not so good. By pure chance 3 would have been correct. Owe.

I am going back and checking and trying to decode why I'm wrong and then translate the problems back to English. I think I've decided going for 'what feels right' is always wrong on these things, and what I need to do is slow down and think, and puzzle them out. That seems to get better results. For listening, I'm just going to ignore it. I don't think anything I'm going to do will help that much in the time left -- but that picking up forgotten or confusing characters and grammar issues will help.
cathrynm on 08 October 2013

Well since the pass mark on JLPT is only 50% you only needed to get 6/12 anyway!

The word jumble questions are horrible. They are also a really tiny part of the exam.
Listening, on the other hand, carries a third of the marks. Reading is another third. So I
wouldn't spend all your time on grammar and vocab.
g-bod on 08 October 2013

cathrynm wrote:

For listening, I'm just going to ignore it. I don't think anything I'm going to do will help that much in the time left -- but that picking up forgotten or confusing characters and grammar issues will help.

But you have plenty of time left to do more listening!!! Even an hour a day for 2-3 weeks can bring significant improvement, and you have a lot more time than that.

Listening is not inherently difficult. It just takes time, and to understand natives you need to actually listen to natives. Coursebooks prepare you for reading native materials far better than their recordings can prepare you for listening!

idk if you've seen http://learnanylanguage.wikia.com/wiki/Improving_Listening_C omprehension - the wikia ? some ideas there at least.
Serpent on 08 October 2013

Well, yeah, JLPT listening is an odd fish. It's not really like listening to natives, which is more difficult, but I think maybe is easier to fake. That is you pick out a word here or there, ask them about their job/school or something -- that seems to go a long way.

JLPT is really textbook-ese', that is polite, grammatically correct, clearly spoken but engineered to trip you up if you're guessing at what they're saying. I'm in my 6th year of this, so really I have a pretty decent collection, now, of practice CD's and stuff I'm copied off of the Uzbekistan site. I'll dig into this more, though I think I'm just getting weary of listening to all this stilted conversation.

These word jumble puzzles are interesting. They are a weird skill that's nothing like anything outside of JLPT, so that's why maybe they might benefit from targeted practice.
cathrynm on 08 October 2013

The JLPT may have the odd "tricky" bit, the sentence jumble questions probably being the worst example, but for the most part it really is a test of comprehension. If you can understand the questions, you will be able to select the right answers.

You don't need to spend a lot of time on drill books for the listening section. I worked with some drill books for N3, but when it came to N2 I didn't work with any, apart from the official practice test. If you get yourself to a position where you can understand around 80% of a Japanese TV drama without subtitles, the listening section will become light relief for you after the language knowledge/reading paper. Given the amount of vocab and grammar study you've done already, I expect a good few hours of watching a couple of TV drama series over the next few weeks will go a long way towards unlocking your listening comprehension skills. That will help you both in the test, and in real life. 一石二鳥.

One final word on the sentence jumble questions. On the actual test I only managed to answer just one of them properly. I didn't have the time to waste working out the others, and just marked random answers! Like I said before, it's a tiny part of the marks available on the test as a whole. Unless you absolutely love word puzzles, it's not worth spending too much time on.

Do you have any plans for working on the reading section?
g-bod on 08 October 2013

Let me see. I'm trying out the first section of the listening of my moshitotaisaku book, and I got 6/11, which slightly over 50%. They seem a little easier than the actual N2 I took last year, though maybe I've just gotten better, ahem. I think I'll just work on a bit of these sample listening tests every day. I'll see if the next group is more or less difficult.

Re: 80% understanding of TV -- I don't think I'm near that. I'm not sure how to quantify this really, but my sense is I'm below 50%. I hear words and canned phrases, and now and then I'll pick up an entire utterance. Some of this really is just vocab, and I've tried pausing and looking up words now and then. I think maybe I need to study vocab without Kanji, because sometimes it clicks if I look it up and read it Kanji with no English.
cathrynm on 09 October 2013

You just need to watch more TV. Spend an hour a night just watching something. No pausing, no
looking things up. It's the TV equivalent of extensive reading. If you pick, say, one TV
drama series, you will find you understand a lot more of the final episode than the first,
just by watching one or two episodes a day. There's no magic involved here. You say yourself
there are a lot of words you recognise once they're written down. You don't need hiragana
flashcards to solve this problem (and given the amount of homophones you will probably end up
frustrated anyway). You just need more exposure to the usage of these words in relevant
spoken contexts and TV is perfect for this.
g-bod on 09 October 2013

I fully admit to maybe pushing the limits of conscious studying. Really, I have actually been watching a fair amount of Japanese TV over the last decade, and even more going back years before I started consciously studying.   I've been working on the ginga tetudou 999 on Crunchy Roll with black electrical tape over the subtitles. Unfortunately, the Drama selection on Crunchy Roll isn't that great, really. I'm more careful what I download, because I'm getting lured into more political stuff, and in the USA these days I don't want to do hard time for a pirated Finnish film collection.

Anyway, I'm sure my listening comprehension is getting better, but it's taking its sweet time about it, really. If I'm above 50% on JLPT N2 listening, that's a huge victory for me.

Today, I'm hammering away at more of the N2 book for my class.   Page 147 -- which is more word puzzle stuff, and then hopefully onto Chapter 3 section 1 of kanzenmaster JLPT N2 grammar book sometime tonight.
cathrynm on 14 October 2013

Ooh these are hard.

今、一番楽しみのは、
１．富士山に登って頂上から日の出を見たい。
２．　来週のパーティーで世界の各地から来た人たちと流行することだ。

2 -- according to the cheat sheet.

アンケートに答えた人の中には　＿＿＿＿。
１．政治には全く期待できないという人もいた。
２．２７％の人が、政治には期待できないと答えた。

1. According to the cheat sheet.

I think it's the difference between 'のは’ and ’には’　-- which maybe I've never paid that much attention to. Hmm..

cathrynm on 14 October 2013

I haven't been on crunchy roll for some years now but if I remember well, aren't there
subtitles for all the videos? That might be the reason why you feel like listening is
freaking hard. If you have subtitles, even unconsciously, you will be looking at them a
bit.

As for the difference between のは and には, the first syllable is more important. For
instance, with the に you will have more the impression of a place, of special time. In
your examples, ｢政治には」could be translated as something like "In politics",
"regarding the politics", etc.
As for the のは, just translate it as "that is". ｢一番楽しみのは」could be "The most
fun/interesting is..." "what is the most fun/interesting is...".
The first particule is the most important in here I think.

頑張って！一番難しいのは文法じゃなくて絶対読解の中には読めない漢字だと思います！ ;)
yuhakko on 15 October 2013

Actually, on the website for Crunchyroll you can turn off all subtitles for most of the newer stuff. Some of the older videos, like 銀河鉄道９９９, have baked in subtitles, though I've been using electrical tape to cover them up.

Really, I was watching anime for awhile, and I do know that English subtitles just wipe out any hint of Japanese from my brain. And, if I read English subtitles, when I think back of the show, I'll remember characters speaking English, even if they were speaking Japanese. It's like the English subtitles go directly to my subconscious.
cathrynm on 15 October 2013

実は私にとって聞き取りは一番難しい。　　先のJLPTN2を受けたときに読めない漢字はあまりなかった。　　

Someone was posting this around the net. It's the jimintou versus the minshutou voter.

https://images.4chan.org/a/src/1381912342862.jpg - https://images.4chan.org/a/src/1381912342862.jpg

ネトウヨ＝which I had to ask about. インタネット右翼　

Interesting, though I also hear minshutou is dead these days.
cathrynm on 17 October 2013

Oops, that link died. Oh well.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ulkh2oK7sO0 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ulkh2oK7sO0

I've been watching these. These are mostly captioned, and not auto-captioned, but have proper Japanese captions. This is a big story on the white tanuki -- apparently this is good luck or something, I'm not really sure.
cathrynm on 18 October 2013

http://www.tfm.co.jp/podcasts/avanti/?ym=201303 - http://www.tfm.co.jp/podcasts/avanti/?ym=201303

Someone recommended these pod casts.The recordings are good quality, and are well produced. Though, they're all very boozy and designed to make you want to drink alcohol.
cathrynm on 21 October 2013

http://www.asahi.com/area/kanagawa/articles/MTW2013102515028 0001.html

I translated a bit of this news story...

最上段に続く階段の手前で有馬さんが立ち止まった。「この先は入っちゃだめだ」。墓石もなく草が茂るだけだ。「戦後、米軍兵士と日本人の間に生まれた乳児たちが埋葬された場所なんです」

At the top of the stairs, Mr. arima stops. "We must enter here." Where there are no grave markers, only the grass grows. "After the war, this was a place for burying infants born of Japanese and American military."

　根岸墓地に注目が集まったのは１９８５年。隣接する市立仲尾台中学校の教諭だった田村泰治さん（７７）が歴史研究部の生徒と墓誌を調べ、発表したのがきっかけだ。

The Nekishi(?) grave yard was first noticed in 1985. Taichi Tamura? (Ugh, the names are killer) a teacher of an adjoining junior high school and his students and their club had a chance to investigate an inscription.

　「夜中に米軍の車が来る音を聞いた」「明け方に新聞紙にくるまれた乳児が置かれていた」といった話が付近の住民に語り継がれていた。

The towns people had passed down the following stories. "In the night the US Army trucks were heard." "In the morning an infant wrapped in newspaper was here."

　田村さんは調査の中で「自ら乳児を埋葬した」という墓地の管理人から話を聞いた。山手に捨てられた乳児を根岸まで運んだことや、かすかに息がある乳児が見つかったこともあったらしい。有馬さんによると「育てられず申し訳なかった」と、乳児の親族が最近まで花を手向けに来ていたという。

The grave keepers had said in Tanaka's research that naturally the infants were buried. And, that infants thrown away at Yamate were moved to Nekishi, and that there were some found who still were breathing faintly. Mr. Arima says that up until recently flowers and and offering saying that 'I was so sorry for not being able to raise you' had been brought here by relatives of some infants..

　墓地を管理する市によると、約１２００人のうち約８００人が子ども。だが、外国人と日本人の間の子や乳児が何人かを示す資料はない。

According to the grave keepers, of about 1200 people buried, 800 are children, although there are no records indicating how many of born of Japanese and foreigners.
cathrynm on 26 October 2013

Well, I've put on some weight lately due to my new job -- and well, this just has to end. This company pays well, but it has catered food and all the free Diet Pepsi I can drink -- which is just too much. Really is there even any point to knowing Japanese if I'm fat, because every conversation will be about how fat I am? So I've joined a gym and have been going out at least every few days for the last few weeks. I've also been dieting too. I've eliminated all the diet soft drinks and have switched to tea-- green and black both. I've lost weight like this before, I've pulled myself back together so I'm pretty confident I can do it, but I just have to do it, and that's a lot of work on top of everything else.

It's all fine and good, I feel fine about it -- it's just work + Japanese (and the upcoming N2) + exercise is making me super-super crazy busy. I think this is almost worth maybe a topic. How do people manage language study and to not get fat. It's all so sedentary.
cathrynm on 05 November 2013

cathrynm wrote:

How do people manage language study and to not get fat.

This made me smile. (I've lurked your log for a while and have enjoyed reading about your progress. :-) )

My $0.02 - if I didn't bike to work, I would probably be a blob rolling around my office right now.
Hekje on 05 November 2013

Are you able to translate that news bit without a dictionary? Good luck with the diet. I've
done it successfully and I hate it.
kraemder on 06 November 2013

It's hard to explain, but I know most, and with some fakery, and some dictionary I can do it. 乳児　-- like I'm pretty sure this is a baby, but I wasn't familiar with this word. And for 埋葬　I know　葬式 so I'm pretty sure it's something to do with funerals or being buried. I know enough Kanji, to kind of guess through these things from context.

On the whole weight issue -- you know, Japan is the superbowl of skinniness. However much weight I lose I'm never going to be 'Japan skinny' -- really, it's like medically scary at that level. Anyway, at least, if I'm thin enough, I start to look close to the Japanese born haafu. I've had this conversation at the meetups where I say I'm haafu and they loosen up a little bit. The thing is, though, like the first grammar mistake just blows then I'm back to 'jouzu jouzu' and all the other beginner conversation stuff.

Anyway, a lot of this does come down to weight, I think if I'm smaller, Japanese people will talk to me more, and if I'm fat it's nothing but talk about why I'm so fat. You can't fight this.

cathrynm on 06 November 2013

I've never had a conversation with a Japanese person about why I'm the size I am. But if it did come up I guess it would be a short conversation. I like food more than I like being thin!

Having said that I started exercising regularly last year, mainly through cycling to work, and although it hasn't made a massive difference to my weight (I've lost an average of 1lb a month) it has made a huge difference to the way I feel. I wouldn't have believed it until I experienced it. In general I'm less tired, more alert, sleep better, more stamina, more confidence, all of which help language learning and is well worth the 45 minutes or so a day I spend doing nothing but pedalling through the streets of my city.
g-bod on 06 November 2013

cathrynm wrote:

On the whole weight issue -- you know, Japan is the superbowl of skinniness. However much weight I lose I'm never going to be 'Japan skinny' -- really, it's like medically scary at that level. Anyway, at least, if I'm thin enough, I start to look close to the Japanese born haafu. I've had this conversation at the meetups where I say I'm haafu and they loosen up a little bit. The thing is, though, like the first grammar mistake just blows then I'm back to 'jouzu jouzu' and all the other beginner conversation stuff.

Anyway, a lot of this does come down to weight, I think if I'm smaller, Japanese people will talk to me more, and if I'm fat it's nothing but talk about why I'm so fat. You can't fight this.

Hm, to me "too fat" sounds the same as too old or stuff like that. Just think of the people who can be convincing enough despite being Caucasian or even black (like Khatzumoto). As someone who cares more about the language skills than weight (my own and other people's), I find this sort of statements very uncomfortable. Good luck with your diet, but when it comes to Japanese it's much more productive to improve your actual knowledge than to try to look more Japanese. They've already seen plenty of people who look Japanese but don't speak it.

I'd also assume that the Japanese are tactful enough not to talk of your weight unless you bring it up yourself.
Serpent on 06 November 2013

Your mileage might vary but from what I've seen the
expats from Japan gain weight just like we
Americans although pictures of Japanese people in
Japan is another story. They're really thin!
kraemder on 07 November 2013

I have full-blooded Japanese relatives and in-laws here in the USA and a substantial number of them get fat, and some massively so. I had one cousin, this guy was full-blooded Japanese, became a base player -- not famous, but eeked out a living and played with some famous people. I wondered if he inherited the Sumo wrestler gene, because even as a kid he was just huge. Anyway, just a few years back -- I went to his funeral. Just heart attacks, and diabetes and it caught up to him -- now he's dead.

Yes most people there are massively thin. And if you're female and have even an average build for the USA, unless you have huge self-confidence, in Japan you're going to have body issue. And, yeah, random guys won't mention how fat you are. But, maybe it's different in the family? I'm on the half-Japanese facebook group, and a few people going back to meet relatives got the 'You got so fat' comments.

What can I say? I want both, I want to be thin and I want to know Japanese both. So both of these goals have to compromise a little due to time constraints.
cathrynm on 07 November 2013

But you're already good at both of these (for a lack of a better wording). Your confidence will affect hugely how you come across, so best include this component too.
Serpent on 07 November 2013

Well, Kraemer(sp) mentioned the 進撃の巨人　and I watched a few more of these last night -- according to the CrunchyRoll Roku app I've already watched about 8 of these, so I started around 9. Actually this show, I did spot quite a few things that were going on. The 'It's a crazy idea but it just might work' scene -- and the battles and few scenes were guys are being digested inside the giants and screaming. I was pretty bored by this at the beginning, but actually, the kyojin are quite creepy, really. In the end it seems like another talk, fight, talk, fight show, but anime-wise that's expected. Odd thing is I'm never sure how much I pick up from the dialog and how much I get from the visuals. I work in videogames so I'm become kind of a borderline visual arts type person just by being around so many artists. I can watch anime with no sound at all and be entertained simply by the visuals.

We're doing grammar and some JLPT listening and reading in the class. I'm getting better at reading, often I'm understanding, but I miss the questions. The grammar, I'm now in my 3rd year of going over these N2 grammar points, and they are actually starting to soak in. My sample tests come out around 50% on reading/grammar/vocab. I'm still not feeling too confident about the listening. On the practice question, I'm coming a little bit better than random chance -- though the problem is I often take the bait on these questions and end up even worse than random chance. I think I've developed skills to fake my way around poor listening comprehension, and the JLPT N2 just exposes all that. I just need to somehow actually understand it.
cathrynm on 10 November 2013

Ugh, well, all the things. I caught a cold, and Wed/Thu I was in bed all day. Today, Friday I still didn't work, but I feel like I'm slowly pulling myself together again. Anyway, right now trying to get back into the language swing of things.
cathrynm on 16 November 2013

And now it's over. Another JLPT test. On the reading, it's interesting. I really do feel like I understand all the readings, though the questions are still difficult -- I think I"m basically getting it, but missing subtle points. Listening, we'll see. I did quite a bit of guessing on the listening section -- now and then I'd know for sure the answer to something, but mostly I was pretty wobbly. The Grammar Vocab section is always surprisingly tricky. Actually, I have been working on grammar, so grammar not as much -- but this test is always going for some vocab that's just past my range.

What amazes me now is how absolutely dead calm I am during this test. Really, I do not sweat at all, I fill in the answers, if I don't know I guess and move in. I met quite a few people there -- maybe 7-8 people I know, and I talked to a few other people who are quite friendly.

I did get some studying in this weekend, but I've been distracted. I know this sounds crazy and I'm getting too old for this, but I'm afraid I'm going boy crazy or something. I'm exercising and dieting and thinking about men all the time -- which is a massive distraction really. Normally I'm content to just sit in my room and read books, but now and then the whole 'sex drive' thing bubbles up and takes over. I can't turn it off -- or maybe I can but a part of me doesn't want to.
cathrynm on 02 December 2013

It's the hormones, we all have them :-) See my log for some info and links on the first page.
Serpent on 02 December 2013

Hope you guessed well on your test. I hope I did too lol. I'm curious how I did and unfortunately not at all
confident in the outcome. I was a lot like you though.. I was totally calm and collected throughout and that
surprised me since it's not like I was acing it.
kraemder on 02 December 2013

It could be after 6 JLPT's, I'm like the Buddha. I can just float through without emotional attachment.

And, yeah, it's an odd fish this JLPT. I just know from my sample test that I've been doing about 50% on the written which, last year at least, was borderline pass. I'm guessing the real test is going to be in that ballpark. I do know that there are answers of things that I specifically remember learning in my class, so I think I'm cautiously hopeful I'll be better than last year. But for me the listening is always very iffy, and on the sample tests, sometimes the answers I'm sure are right end up being wrong. And I did zone out a few times during the listening and had to guess completely. So to achieve an actual pass will take a few lucky breaks here and there.
cathrynm on 02 December 2013

Heh I zoned out badly on one question. It was a couple questions into the 2nd to last section or so and I
realized that the pictures I was staring intensely at had nothing to do with the questions.. they were for the
next section and the current questions had no visual aid at all.
kraemder on 02 December 2013

Yeah, one time I massively botched listening and got out of sync, and answered like one behind or something -- and then I rushed around, erased and tried to fix it. It was basically a disaster, though my score wasn't much worse. I was in sync this time, but still a lot of guessing, really. And sometimes when I think I basically understand, I'm still not sure of the answers. This is a tough nut to crack for me, at least.

Funny thing, at JLPT during the break I get out, and about 7-8 of us all gather in a circle sharing war stories. I've been doing this awhile, so I run into a lot of people at JLPT. It's funny. The guy right behind me in the class room is a classmate from the sokogakuen. We all exchange stories -- I mentioned the weird essay on the 'sweat glands' -- and one guy didn't remember this atall. There was another slightly abstract thing on the imagination from some Manga artist. I forget who it was. Not so sure how I did on that one.

Oddly, the listening, I don't remember any questions. I did have one advantage this time and that I was right in front of the speakers. The audio can be a little bit 'boomy' at these things, so being close to the speakers is a nice difference. I need quiet and clarity, or I'm really beyond hopeless.
cathrynm on 08 December 2013

One other thing -- at my current job, the employees are maybe 40-50% Chinese from China. Really, I hear Chinese all the time in the hallways. Anyway, I have no time or interest in Chinese, but we did have an interesting discussion on how exactly do you pronounce Chinese names. A lot of Chinese guys adapt English names, just because they can't stand hearing the strange pronunciation from English speakers of their name.

But I figure, well, this is the kind of thing I should be able to try, so I had them all say their names. Suddenly we had a small circle of CHinese guys all saying their names. What I remember specifically, is that xing -- is pronounced, to my ears sort of like 'sheen' -- but they made the point that the 'sh' sound isn't quite the sh sound in English. That it's kind of half-way between 's' and 'sh' is how they described it. A few times, like I say it and they say 'OOh, that's exactly right' -- and then I try again and I can't repeat it. So I think maybe I'm close but can't quite get reliable on this.
cathrynm on 09 December 2013

I wonder if we get different tests or if they're the same. I didn't have anyone to talk to outside this time. Kind of
lonely. I liked meeting people at the N4.
kraemder on 09 December 2013

Tongue position is what differentiates X and SH.

Tongue up in front touching teeth for X, tongue cupped in back for SH. Some people say 'smile when you say X' but I find the tongue position far more reliable.

This positioning is also the difference between Q (front) and CH (back), and J (front) and ZH (back).

You can add a tiny hint of an R sound with the tongue back sounds but it's not universal.

I admit I have been looking at the job postings there and wishing I was further along in Chinese. :)

proudft on 09 December 2013

Hey Tom, thanks. I'll try this out. Maybe this will make me look like a Chinese name pronunciation genius. I asked
the Chinese guys how they did this, and they had just no way to explain it at all.
cathrynm on 10 December 2013

And I'm pretty sure everyone gets exactly the same test. I've been on international chat rooms and everyone was
comparing how they did on various issues. And as a 'serial JLPT failing person' the JLPT would be hugely more
useful if we got our test sheets back -- just so we know where we're going wrong.
cathrynm on 10 December 2013

You don't get your sheets back? Tsk, tsk...

I'm already leaning away from ever taking a JLPT, and this doesn't help me lean to the other side. :)
kujichagulia on 11 December 2013

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NMdJ9x0ITvU - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NMdJ9x0ITvU

Like this song -- with subtitles. Interesting word　with a slightly odd reading.

木漏れ日こもれび　　(n) sunlight filtering through trees

ko for 木
cathrynm on 16 December 2013

Oh well, here we go again. Did not pass the N2 this time. Will take again this December 2014. 29/60 vocab 15/60 reading 16/60 listening. Bleah, I knew I blew the listening, but kind of disappointed in the reading score.
cathrynm on 02 February 2014

Ugh, sorry to hear that. The N2 is a monster... so I've heard. I probably won't take it for a long time.
kujichagulia on 02 February 2014

I'll probably be failing too. I guess if I can login to their website I'll get the confirmation. A girl online at JOI was
saying she signed up for their course due on her poor performance on the JLPT. She speaks much better
than I do so I really hope she meant he N2.
kraemder on 02 February 2014

Well, good luck. The website is a little confusing. I figured out that it wants the numbers from the actual card for the test, which I still have around. So I got in for the news.

Anyway, what can I say? Here we go again. Only 10 months to go until 2014 JLPT!

cathrynm on 03 February 2014

Went to the Burbank Japanese meet up, which I need to do more often, but finally got around to. Didn't talk much,
but did quite a bit of listening. I find I kind of know sort of what people are talking about, but I miss the jokes, so
everyone laughs and I sit there like a statue -- which makes 'jumping in' a little tricky.
cathrynm on 19 February 2014

You are quite brave, cathrynm! I wouldn't even know what to talk about at a meetup. I can't imagine what I'd do if I went to one. "Hey, uh, I'm Herman, and... yeah, that's right, nice to meet you, too... uh... the walls are white, aren't they..."
kujichagulia on 20 February 2014

I went to a German meetup once and I managed to follow almost everyone just barely and jump in some but
it gave me a super headache. I would like to try it in Japanese although I know I would get more out of it after
I learned more... I probably wouldn't get anything but a headache lol.
kraemder on 20 February 2014

It's not that bad really. Japanese people seem to be totally cool with me just sitting there like a statue and listening
to the more fluent people chat away. Sometimes I'll try to chime in, though not today, and if I say something weird,
it can switch everyone over to English, and that's not good. It's the Americans who are more uncomfortable with
this and get anxious when some aren't talking, but if they start in English I just try to answer briefly and try to get
the conversation to end as fast as possible and get back to them in Japanese.
cathrynm on 20 February 2014

Well, I'm trying again to get off the flash cards, and on the train to work I'm trying to get in a few pages from my Japanese novel. This book, though, seems to be doing a lot of ruminating, with not much actually happening and since I'm slow and confused I'm not totally picking it up, though my frequency of words to look up isn't too bad. Mostly I'm looking up stuff that's not jouyou, and quite often I'm guessing and looking up and then confirming, or I know the reading but not the meaning. Japanese books seem to have no concern for characters being difficult, has been my experience.
cathrynm on 01 March 2014

Well, I've been kind of on low gear for Japanese, I've still been taking the class and that forces me to read and practice drawing Kanji but I haven't been super active otherwise. Life is going well otherwise, and I'm making 6 figure income and I've also lost over 50 pounds now, no longer 'overweight' in terms of BMI, which is a good thing. I may want to drop a few more pounds for aesthetic reasons, but as far as health is concerned, I'm done. I have been exercising pretty regularly, and I'm at the gym maybe about 5 times a week, so that does eat into study time.

Anyway, now coming up here I'm looking to take the N2 again this December and I'm starting again on the JLPT class at the Sokogakuen. I'm getting some reading in, actually the game I'm working on has a Japanese translation and I can play that at work. (Though all translation work is done off site by contractors.) Do see some Facebook friends write in Japanese. Kind of falling behind on my anime watching lately. I still have the paid subscription for CrunchyRoll, and I started on Hunter X Hunter, but I kind of got distracted and drifted away from that. I'm kind of massively busy, really, so I try to squeeze in time here or there, but often I'm tired and just fall asleep during any attempt at TV watching. I'm better at internet these days than TV, I think.

Also wrote my class presentation, and put a fair amount of effort into this. Thanks to lang-8 people I was able to shake out all the grammar bugs.

So, anyway, here we go about 5 months left until the N2 comes around. (I'm almost tempted to take the N3 cuz', I kind of blew N2 last time, but I don't know, I think I'll just keep at it.) We'll see. Trying to get more focused and feel like getting back into more focused studying.

That's a little bit rambling, but that's how it goes. Hanging in here.
cathrynm on 30 June 2014

And here's the essay I wrote for the class. Edited with the help of people from lang-8, as usual.

cathrynm wrote:

James D.　Phelanは２０世紀初頭のアメリカの政治家� ��した。　1897年から1902年までサンフランシ� �コの市長、5年から、１９２１までアメリカ� ��上院議員を務めました。現在ではこの近所� ��phelanと呼ばれる場所を見つけられます。マ� ��ケット道にphelanというビルがあります。サ� ��フランシスコCity Collegeの近くにもPhelanという道があります。Un iversity of SFにはPhelanという寄宿舎もあります。

なぜ、私はその政治家に興味があるか、説明しよう。どうしてこのクラスでPhelanのことを話すのでしょうか？

PHELAN上院議員は日系人に反対でした。　　ニューヨクタイムズで日系の記者は「日本からの移民にたいして否定的な意見」と「Phelanism ]と呼びました。実は２０世紀の初頭ではカ� �フォルニア州においては日本からの移民は� �しい論争の的でした。　　カリフォルニア� �の住民は日本からの移民に反対でした。　19 13にカリフォルニア州外国土地法「California Alien Land Law]とい法案が可決され、そして1920にカリフ� ��ルニアの住民は「California Proposition 1]も可決しました。

そういう訳で、日本に生まれた日系人を不動産を持つことは禁止されていました。Phelan上院議員はこの話題でよく引き合いに出されます。1919年には”Phelan would Bar Japanese Entirely"
というニューヨークタイムズの記事で日本人とイナゴを比べることがありました。　”The Japanese must be eliminated like a swarm of lucust."といいました。Phelanさんの意見は日系� ��、日本人を追放することでした。

そのとき、日本の政府はカリフォルニア外国人土地法に抗議しました。しかし、Phelanさんは東洋人を平等に扱うことに反対でした。” Phelan Cables Protest on Japan”新聞記事で東洋人の権利に反対する意� ��をかきました。。”cablegram ...protesting against racial equality for Orientals" と書きました。「ほかの上院議員も同様の意見」も書きました。

けっきょくJames D.　Phelanは１９３１年になくなりました。1952 年にカリフォルニア州の最高裁は外国人土地法を廃止裁決をだしました。　その年から日本の移民も不動産を持てるようになりました。Phelanは資産家だったので、慈善団体を作っていました。毎年Phelanの慈善団体が奨学金を給付しています。しかし、現代のサンフランシスコ市民はPhelanのことをあまり知りません。、

cathrynm on 30 June 2014

Oh oh, wait, wait, I keep forgetting, they never fixed that glitch with Japanese and this website. Oh well.
cathrynm on 30 June 2014

cathrynm wrote:

Oh oh, wait, wait, I keep forgetting, they never fixed that glitch with Japanese and this website. Oh well.

glitch? err what are the question marks I'm seeing. Is that on my end or the website?
kraemder on 30 June 2014

It's not you. This website has some confused logic that attempts to insert spaces, and this just kills Japanese text. I think there's a trick to avoiding it, maybe by using ASCII spaces and not Japanese spaces? I'm not sure.
cathrynm on 30 June 2014

Here we go. Nearly time to sign up for the JLPT N2 again. Been taking the JLPT class at the sokogakuen here in San Francisco -- actually I think I've been through this class 5 times now over the last 3 years? I've been pretty busy with work, but at least this class keeps me going at minimum level.

Anyway, lately, I've been pretty busy taking care of non-language related goals. I have lost quite a bit of weight, and I'm earning pretty good money, so this year I've gotten to absolutely zero debt.

Still, would be nice to cap this off by passing the N2 this year. Last year's test was a bit of a disaster though, and pretty serious fail on the listening comprehension. I'm afraid I'm not really close. Almost tempted to take the N3 instead, but I'm not sure, I'm kind of thinking I'll just keep failing N2 over and over. I don't actually need to pass one of these things. It's just a thing I do.

I'm trying to get back into the anime watching. Did make it through a complete hunterxhunter episode and a sword art online on crunchyroll. THough I confess my comprehension is not super great with these.
cathrynm on 31 August 2014

http://lang-8.com/8649/journals/1163169136087592410997413457 58570286186 - http://lang-8.com/8649/journals/1163169136087592410997413457 58570286186

Ooh, and I still have really stiff sounding writing, but, that's how it goes. Trying to get back into this.
cathrynm on 31 August 2014

http://lang-8.com/8649/journals/1697878705556612811684162805 03841131626 - http://lang-8.com/8649/journals/1697878705556612811684162805 03841131626

trying to get back in the swing of things. Hard to write every day because I run out of topics, but it's been awhile, so it hasn't gotten old yet.
cathrynm on 01 September 2014

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10204729081926571&se t=pb.1222586000.-2207520000.1409592566 - https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10204729081926571&se t=pb.1222586000.-2207520000.1409592566

See if this works as a link. Just signed up for JLPT N2 for 2014. So no I'm committed, I spent my $60, one more time.
cathrynm on 01 September 2014

Coming up on the last month of this. I think I'm going to cram some practice tests again prior to the N2. I've been working on the N2 for four years now, so I really have a lot of study material here. Just need to shut up, stay off of Facebook and use some of it.
cathrynm on 09 November 2014

I got this collection of 70's vintage Japanese songs. Found some I like.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y7DA5gOXZ-g - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y7DA5gOXZ-g
cathrynm on 17 November 2014

I'm curious. How much of the core 6K do you know about? I'm thinking I know probably 3K roughly. That's
great that you've lost weight. I just ate half a box of cookies. At least I exercise so I don't gain wait but you
can't lose it doing that no matter how much you exercise.
kraemder on 17 November 2014

Ooh I'm not sure how much of the core 6K I know.   I think I know quite a few words, though I think sometimes I
don't have a good feel for how to use them, and I sometimes get befuddled by complex sentences. I think the last
few times I took N2, that the times I didn't know a kanji were very rare. For me, I think I sort of feel like I
understand things, though on the tests I often fail because I fall for the traps. Or they're asking for a slightly more
subtle detail.

Anyway, tomorrow is JLPT, so good luck anyone out there.   I did take my class and I did make it completely through
a vocab textbook in addition to that. Not a huge amount of extra studying, but I did do some.    On practice tests
though, I'm kind of bombing still, so not feeling hugely confident. But that's how it goes.
cathrynm on 07 December 2014

Also I have been listening to a lot of Japanese music lately. Don't know if that helps or not. Actually the vocab in
these songs is pretty hard, and there's quite a few things I only get after looking them up on the internet. So
anyway, I'm going back to be a little bit of the 'all japanese all the time' type system of just letting this stuff run
constantly. We'll see if that makes any difference.
cathrynm on 07 December 2014

And so another JLPT N2 attempt is over. I'm exhausted. I did the test backwards, reading first, and then grammar. Or specifically, I went back to front with all the readings up until the 'word jumble'questions. Then I went back to the start and went forwards. I think this is the way to go for the next time. That I put thought into the long reading sections, and then when I get panicky and short of time, I rush through the kanji/vocab section. The thing is even though I may not know everything in the vocab section, that quick reading, fast guess actually works better here. I've had other N2's where I'm rushing through the reading, and this is just a disaster.

I'm cautiously optimistic my reading will be better, and my kanji/vocab won't suffer too much from this. Listening, I'm afraid, was a little bit of a mess, and mostly I'm guessing. Out of 30 questions, I don't think more than 5 were ones I actually knew, and most were guesses, really. So this isn't really happening. Will try again next year, probably.
cathrynm on 08 December 2014

I think I have the potential to really do well on the listening but didn't unfortunately. That's an interesting idea
doing the reading first. I'm promising myself I'll kill the test next year.
kraemder on 08 December 2014

I have convinced myself so far on this 'read first' system. I'm hoping my score will reflect this. I do feel like I need more vocabulary still. On grammar, I think I'm actually starting to memorize these, as this class I'm in has been going over and over N2 grammar every year for 4 years now. Some of these things are starting to settle in, though still it's a little spotty. I had a few huh moments in though. 妥当 -- this is the only tragic one, that I remembered on the drive home. Some of the others though, I didn't recognize at all. I think I'm getting yet another 語彙 book for next year. None of the words I missed were in this year's goi book. The vocab study books are easy for me, and I can squeeze them in on the ride to work.
cathrynm on 08 December 2014

Slacking a little, but spent all day watching Finnish TV. Got YLE playing on my iPad, and then on the big screen via a program called 'AirServer' -- which basically does what a AppleTV does without the hardware. Mostly celebrity inerviews, a lot of the stuff on here is Swedish subbed into Finnish, which I'm skipping. Some show called lähti- hetki? "Moment with the Stars".

Still don't have any PS4 games that run in FInnish, maybe this is too much to ask.
cathrynm on 15 December 2014

JLPT results again, and failed the N2. 33/15/27 -- so better than last time, actually listening went up a bit, but still failed. 75, but need 90 to pass.

I have been studying, really, I have been hugely distracted by weight loss and work lately. That's how it goes. I'll take again in 2015
cathrynm on 01 February 2015

https://twitter.com/NISE_TOEIC

This twitter feed is a treasure trove of weird. English-Japanese sentences, but all slightly strange.

【四つんばい】Let's start from where we left off yesterday.Please take your clothes off and get down on all fours.

昨日途中でやめたとこから始めましょう。裸で四つんばいになって下さい

【喉ちんこ】uvula 用例 I will have seen my mother's uvula twenty times if I see it again.

もう1回見たら、私は母の喉ちんこを20回見たことになります。
cathrynm on 22 February 2015

Hey cathrynm!! no worries about the N2! You'll get it next time~

And that twitter feed is extremely strange yet kind of interesting maybe I'll start following that one too
haha. Thanks

Also I'm glad I found your log! Your N2 studying is motivating for me as I'm aiming to take the N2/N1
after I graduate. And lately I have not been working on my studies. But yeah just stopping by and I'm
be following.~
misskj on 23 February 2015

cathrynm wrote:

https://twitter.com/NISE_TOEIC

昨日途中でやめたとこから始めましょう。裸で四つんばいになって下さい

We study off the same websites! Wait.. you unknowingly signed up for a Japanese learning sentence list and
this was a big shock to you. Never mind.
kraemder on 23 February 2015

Try posting a link here. This is to my Japanese class presentation. Wrote it, with help from people on lang-8.

https://www.facebook.com/cathryn.mataga/posts/10206280837319 486?pnref=story - https://www.facebook.com/cathryn.mataga/posts/10206280837319 486?pnref=story
cathrynm on 23 March 2015

Well, I'll brave this site's Japanese character destroying system and post here. I added some extra spaces, maybe that'll help.

今年宮本アリアナさんはミスユニバースの今年の日本代表です。
１９９４年長崎にうまれて、お母さんは日本人でした。お父さんはアフリカンアメリカ人でした。　　
中学性ぐらいに、両親が離婚しました、そして、アリアナさんはお父さんとアカンサス州ジャクソンビール町に引っ越し
まして、アメリカで高校を受けました。
卒業のあとで、日本に帰ってきて、そして、滞在しています。
日本は二つの国籍が禁止だから、２２歳になる時に日本の国籍を選ぶと言いました。
アリアナさんは顔が黒人けど、日本人でした。
日本人といったけど、日本で、難しい経験がありました。
子どものとき、日本でイジメに遭って、他の子どもはごみを捨てて、黒い肌を触らない恐怖もありました。
それで男性の友達は自殺しました。
その男はハーフけど、英語が出来ませんでした。
ニュースの記者は「英語を話せない」コンプレクスと書きました。
それで、アリアナさんは人種差別に反対すると宣言しました。
最近私はフェースブックで沢山日本に住んでいるハーフに会いました。
私はハーフだから、日本のハーフに共感のような感じがあります。
語られた内容は面白かったです。
たとえば、日本に住んでいるハーフは日本人のなまりを話せるから、電話でレストランの職員は日本人と話していると間違いしている。
しかし、顔を見ると、雇いません。
それは就職の差別と思います。
日本人から「お箸は上手」をよく聞いています。　
その人にとって、それは嫌なことと思います。
有名なハーフのタレントもいるから、日本人は「ハーフの子どもは美人になります」とよくいっています。
しかし、ハーフの容姿は他の人間と比べて、普通とおもいます。
完全にバイリンガルのハーフにあったことがあるのですが、　両言語にネーティブで話すことが少ないとおもいます。
じつは両親はお金持ちなら、高い国際的な学校へ通っていて、繁栄して、日本で、アメリカの富裕層はそのようなハーフが努めています。
一方、両親は貧乏なら、生活は難しいと思います。
アリアナさんの話のまえに、「英語を話せない」コンプレクスを聞いたことがない、けど英語ができないハーフと会ったことがありました。
そのひとは顔が外国人みたいけど、一生日本に住んでいて、　日本人は「英語練習」のようなことをよく聞いています。
そのひとは他の国に滞在することも難しいと思います。
下手な英語で恥ずかしいとおもうけど、自殺は大変なことです。　　
宮本アリアナさんでツイターとか２チャンネルで嫌なのことも聞きました。　
「純粋な日本人ではないから、日本の代表はできません」というようなことです。
とにかく、ツイターとか２チャンネルはイジメをよくしています。
じつは、日本はアフリカンのハーフを選びました。
七月ミスユニバースのコンテストを開きます。
宮本さんは合格できるかな。
cathrynm on 23 May 2015

Ooh, that came out glitch free. I just put a space after every comma or ] and every sentence on a separate line.
cathrynm on 23 May 2015

And still muddling along, in spite if being epic busy with work. I think this should chill out before around August this year. I kind of screwed up, but I thought my Japanese class essay was due yesterday, but turns out I'm a week early. Skipped exercise for a day and just banged the whole thing out in an evening. It's childlike and full of grammar mistakes, but at least I got it done.

I have been going back to flash cards for Japanese. It's been awhile, and it feels like going back to an old friend, grinding away on vocab. I don't think I'm picking up a whole lot from native materials, to honest. That and on the trains to work, it's like it's too distracting to read Japanese and look up words, but Anki on the phone, I can just sort of mindlessly tap, tap, tap. I go into trance-like state, I think.

I wonder if anyone else this sensation, but to me, Finnish feels like the language I can understand even when I don't, and Japanese is the language I feel like I don't understand even when I can. It's like somehow my brain fills in missing details in Finnish, though often it just makes up random wrong stuff, so I don't really know what's happening. Japanese I always feel like I'm gasping a little bit. I can sort of follow it, but it's oddly exhausting. My problem with FInnish though is I'm hopeless with production, I really need to drill on some conjugations, but I am crazy crazy busy. I can sort of fake sentences in Japanese on Facebook, but I'm just too low level to even do basic stuff in Finnish.

Had a minor feeling of wanderlust. By accident of the Palestine/Israel conflict, I find myself with a large number of Arabic speaking people in my friends list. I see a whole lot of Arabic script go by, and I'm intrigued, though, honestly, like, I don't think I'm up for a third incredibly hard language.
cathrynm on 24 May 2015

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v4Y0HOPL5GU - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v4Y0HOPL5GU

And Finland's Eurovision entry.
cathrynm on 25 May 2015

Ahh, and I found the lyrics. Easier to read than hear.

aina mun pitää siivota
aina mun pitää tiskata
aina mun pitää käydä töissä
aina mun pitää käydä lääkärissä
ei saa mennä koneelle
en katsoa telkkarii
en saa edes nähdä mun kavereita
aina mun pitää olla kotona
aina mun pitää hoitaa tehtäviä
aina mun pitää syödä kunnolla
aina mun pitää juoda kunnolla
en saa syödä karkkia, juoda limua
en saa edes juoda alkoholia
aina mun pitää levätä
aina mun pitää nukkua
aina mun pitää herätä
aina mun pitää käydä suihkussa
cathrynm on 25 May 2015

http://www.memrise.com/course/99695/3000-most-common-fi nnish-words/ - http://www.memrise.com/course/99695/3000-most-common-finnish -words/

And did my Japanese class presentation today. Thanks to someone on lang-8 that checked a lot of my language awkwardness.

Kind of getting the Finnish bug again a little bit, so I'm trying out this. 3000 Finnish words. I find I don't know quite a few of these, so I think it's a good thing. Been kind of skipping the review with memrise and just keep adding new ones over and over.

cathrynm on 31 May 2015

Probably should do reviews ;p. I think grinding out the core vocabulary is a great idea. Is it organized by
frequency?
kraemder on 31 May 2015

I just figured I'd learn the 3000 words and then review once I got through the 3000. Maybe that's not a great idea.

Anyway, like everything these days, I think it comes from Wikipedia. Someone made a list of Finnish words in order of frequency and then everything you see online basically is derived from this one list. So far, near as I can tell, all the words seem relatively normal.
cathrynm on 31 May 2015

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/yle-radio-suomi/id530413041? mt=8 - https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/yle-radio-suomi/id530413041? mt=8

Been listening to this at work. Songs are about 50% Finnish 50% English.
cathrynm on 02 June 2015

Finished off another Japanese class, took the final today, though the score doesn't really matter. Talked a bit with the guy who has been studying Japanese 'since the Ford Administration' -- we're kind of fellow travellers, a little, I confess, though compared to him, I haven't been hammering on this nearly as long. Anyay, this guy passed the N3 and now I'm wondering if I should do N3 or N2 again this year. I'm afraid maybe I'm getting too comfortable with failing N2, and if I'm taking N3 I might have more at stake. Did pick up a new book -- スピードマスター　N2読解, as I think maybe I need to hammer on these reading problems a little more efficiently. I have the weird sensation that I feel like I understand what I'm reading, but then I always fail the questions. I think I take the bait answer and blow it. Plan is to answer these and try to reverse-engineer where it's going wrong.

Well, memrise, it's okay on the web, but I still go back to Anki on the train. Typing the answers is nice with a keyboard, but on the phone it's a hassle. The YLE radio Suomi is actually okay, and it's real radio with a combination of music and news, which makes it suitable for just letting it run. I'm not really completely understanding, though pretty consistently I know what they're talking about approximately. Sometimes I sneak a dictionary look up during the day.
cathrynm on 07 June 2015

Live action jigokushoujo on youtube. Subtitled in traditional Chinese, I think. Not quite as good as the anime. First episode was okay though.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CU5t6tYQZ1s&index=1&list=PL8 499B3CDCF256614 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CU5t6tYQZ1s&index=1&list=PL8 499B3CDCF256614
cathrynm on 07 June 2015

I'm starting to think I've been neglecting helper verbs. Maybe helper verbs are one of my major broken-ness right now for Japanese. That native speakers use these all the time, but I'm in a fog still and never sure which one to use when. Need to find a decent list, I think. Not a grammar book, but just a short list of commonly used compound verbs to drop into my speech and writing now and then.
cathrynm on 14 June 2015

Still keeping up with memrise finnish top 3000. Up to the top 500 or so learned, 250 in long term memory, the thing says, though not sure how reliable these numbers are. These don't seem to be coming in order of easy to hard, as I keep seeing words I do know mixed in with words I don't know all along. I'm missing quite a few, but funny thing, I'm re-learning them more quickly than the first time I went through Finnish flash cards. I had to turn off that 'leach' feature in Anki because otherwise my entire Finnish deck got marked as Leach. I don't necessarily know the meaning of a word, but I know I saw it before.

I can't trust my guesses though. When I guess I'm wrong like 95% of the time. I have no real instinct for these words. Anyway, in spite of business I feel like my Finnish motivation is building up again.
cathrynm on 15 June 2015

http://www.crunchyroll.com/hell-girl-two-mirrors/episode-2-b ubbles-601645 - http://www.crunchyroll.com/hell-girl-two-mirrors/episode-2-b ubbles-601645

I kind of need to wash a little bit of that 'live action hell girl' out of my brain, by watching the anime again. This is a deeply twisted series, and this here is one of the most dark episodes. It's a little scarring, though I confess to an appetite for this kind of thing. Has a nice little Noh type thing going on near the end. I hear there's a revival of Noh among the younger generation these days.
cathrynm on 15 June 2015

I'm starting to see a pattern with Finnish. I was like this with Japanese. First there's a period of denial, how lousy I really am at this language. And then comes this idea that I'm just going to pick it up by watching TV or doing fun stuff. But then, that comes to end, and it just becomes time to hammer, hammer, hammer on the flash cards. I have the Memrise 3000 most common and another Anki deck I made from Teach Yourself FInnish. I've been doing the Anki deck on the train, and the Memrise deck at home after work, doesn't seem to matter as there's a fair amount of overlap. Flash cards, for all the wrechedness of them, I do get a sense of measurable progress, and I like that feeling.
cathrynm on 17 June 2015

I think you would benefit from http://www.fluentin3months.com/solve-problems/ - solving specific problems :)
Fun stuff can be used for learning, even very early. I think a big divide in language learning is whether it's more fun for you to learn formally (vocab&grammar) or to read children's books. (I don't really enjoy either, but some children's books are great, especially Moomins)
I wonder if it's demotivating to see how HTLAL'ers learning for example Spanish just appear to get everything effortlessly and have fun from the beginning. http://how-to-learn-any-language.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?T ID=39168&PN=1&TPN=1 - But that's misleading :) Spanish is such a mess tbh :P
Serpent on 17 June 2015

Really, I should just start getting some Finnish fiction. I have a Moomin book in Japanese, maybe could get the same one in Finnish, that might be interesting. I could easily throw some of my 'middle-class income' at building up a collection.

cathrynm on 19 June 2015

Hmm, well, pretty slim pickings on American Amazon for anything Finnish. Lot of them are by this Onyx Translations company, which I'm not sure if I trust or not. They don't show any text in the preview which makes me suspicious. I need to find a better source.
cathrynm on 19 June 2015

Summertime/kesäyö -- in Finnish. Still getting pretty good time in on Memrise.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_1MSvZPTURo - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_1MSvZPTURo
cathrynm on 22 June 2015

cathrynm wrote:

I just figured I'd learn the 3000 words and then review once I got
through the 3000. Maybe that's not a great idea.

Anyway, like everything these days, I think it comes from Wikipedia. Someone made a
list of Finnish words in order of frequency and then everything you see online
basically is derived from this one list. So far, near as I can tell, all the words
seem relatively normal.

I know this deck. It has been created by some guy who parsed YLE website. So, deck is
good if you want to read news. Although it has some errors. For instance, I recall
Turku was translated like "Marketplace" and Matti (name) was translate as (guy or
fellow, don't remember exactly). So, be cautious.
There is nice website http://www.worddive.com/en/
It has paid subscription, something like 10 euros per month. I've canceled it already
because I'm now using my own cards. But It was very valuable for me to acquire solid
foundation for my vocab.
roni on 24 June 2015

I've seen the Turku card go by and it was just put in as Turku (the city, I think), so maybe this list has gone through some corrections. It's quite active on memrise and I see other people on the leaderboards hammering on this same deck day after day. Right now I'm about 1/4 through the words. In another 2 months or so I should get through the whole thing if I can keep up my current pace. (Though Japanese class is restarting, and I'm starting to think about JLPT again.)
cathrynm on 28 June 2015

Kesäyö is summer night rather than summer time, of course.

Turku did originally mean marketplace, from the Slavic torg.

Matti can mean something like fellow/guy, basically a placeholder name. Matti Meikäläinen especially :)
Serpent on 28 June 2015

Yeah, my grandmother knew a few Matti when we were kids. I remember seeing Turku on the maps, but though we saw much of the country, we never visited. Maybe that's a Swedish town? I suspect now, she avoided anywhere with a hint of Sami or Swedish.
cathrynm on 28 June 2015

It was the capital when Finland was a part of Sweden. And yeah there are both Finnish Swedes there and tourists from Sweden since the main ferries to Stockholm go from there. Although Swedish speakers are still a minority.
Serpent on 28 June 2015

I think I've decided, this year I'm going to take the JLPT N3. It's like I took this around s 2010 or so, but failed by just a few points. I've been serially failing the JLPT N2 last few years,and I'm pretty sure I'm not going to pass this year if I took it. But I think I'm getting too comfortable failing the N2, maybe it's better to take the N3 where I should have a an actual chance of passing.
cathrynm on 11 July 2015

https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=193&v=RbUnXxbxLx4 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=193&v=RbUnXxbxLx4

Heard this on the Radio Suomi app and Mr. Google found the lyrics here.

http://lyrics.fi/anna-kokkonen/kesan-askeleet - http://lyrics.fi/anna-kokkonen/kesan-askeleet

satakieli=nightingale, not 100 tongue, I discover in the dictionary.

cathrynm on 15 July 2015

Hmm, the ip works. So I guess I can still post here.
cathrynm on 21 July 2015

Ooh, it's alive. Thank you.
cathrynm on 21 July 2015

Well, trying to get back to normal here. Still plugging away on memrise. Have gone through about 1200 of the top 3000 Finnish words. Also getting a fair mount of listening to Radio Suomi in during the day. Otherwise being pretty passive with Finnish.

Japanese plugging along at kind of maintenance level -- taking my weekly class, and also getting in some N1 flash cards on the train to work.

I am massively busy with work and other stuff. Really lately, just doing what I can, anything at all, is a small victory.
cathrynm on 26 July 2015

https://www.facebook.com/VaddaTseeliVatjaaSanaPaivassa?fref= nf - https://www.facebook.com/VaddaTseeliVatjaaSanaPaivassa?fref= nf

This Facebook feed does daily vocabulary in Votic, Finnish, Estonian, Russian and English. I'm only really interested in the Finnish and English for study, but sometime it's interesting to see the differences between Votic/Finnish/Estonian. Some words are quite similar.
cathrynm on 26 July 2015

I got a copy of N2スピードマスター読解　-- these are all reading exercises. I've been sitting on this book, but today I've finally started on it, and I find I'm getting some momentum here. Actually the first ones aren't so bad.

Continuing with memrise 3000 Finnish words and Yle Radio Suomi. I've seen the first 1500 of these, still a long way to go. A lot of these words are transitive/intransitive pairs and verbal nouns -- which makes it a little easier to go through. There's kind of a pattern to transitive/intransitive, I think intransitive seems to have more 'y's at the end.

This one is a little confusing tarkistaa tarkastaa. I think both are transitive.

https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/tarkistaa

"Tarkastaa and tarkistaa are very close to each other in their meaning. However, tarkastaa means "to check, inspect, look at, study" and "to study the suitability, competence or qualifications of sth, e.g. in order to find possible defects", whereas tarkistaa means "to check, inspect, look" and "to study" and at the same time "to correct or amend the possible flaws or defects"."

Posting it here, to drum in the difference a little better.

cathrynm on 10 August 2015

Still slowly plugging away at Memrise top 3000 Finnish. I know this is completely pointless, but this is the videogame programmer in me, I'm starting to crack the 100-all time high score on this vocab list.

Also in class we're going over the chapters of 完全マスターN2文法 -- I've been through this grammar multiple times, my textbook is worn and dirty, and I confess -- still confused by にさておき　-- and other of these grammars. I think I understand reading, but the exercises are still baffling.
cathrynm on 17 August 2015

The 'Frequentative aspect' -- trying to wrap my brain around the 'frequentative aspect' in Finnish. I've read discussions of 'aspect' on language learning forums, but this doesn't come up in Japanese so often so I'm not really familiar with it. From a flash card, selvitellä: to sort out. Derived from 'selvittää: to clarify'. Here's an example on Wikipedia.

F:Tilanne on nyt hieman sekava, yritän selvitellä sitä myöhemmin.
E:The situation is a bit confused at the moment, I'll try to sort it out later

F:Minä selvitin mysteerin.
E:I solved the mystery.

I'm guessing, selvittää is a singular act of solving -- selvitellä implies a continuous act of solving later, perhaps.

Wikipedia has a nice list of Finnish Frequentative aspect verb endings. Learning these will help remembering verbs, I think.

-ella~-ele-: bare frequentative.
-skella~-skele-: frequentative unergative verb, where the action is wanton (arbitrary)
-stella~-stele-: frequentative causative, where the subject causes something indicated in the root, as "order" vs. "to continuously try to put something in order".
-nnella~-ntele-: a frequentative, where an actor is required. The marker -nt- indicates a continuing effort, therefore -ntele- indicates a series of such efforts.
-elehtia~-elehdi-: movement that is random and compulsive, as in under pain, e.g. vääntelehtiä "writhe in pain", or heittelehtiä "to swerve"
-:ia-~-i-: a continuing action definitely at a point in time, where the action or effort is repeated.
-ksia~-ksi-: same as -i-, but wanton, cf. -skella

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frequentative - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frequentative
cathrynm on 20 August 2015

cathrynm wrote:

Also in class we're going over the chapters of 完全マスターN2文法 -- I've been
through this grammar multiple times, my textbook is worn and dirty, and I confess -- still
confused by にさておき　-- and other of these grammars. I think I understand reading, but the
exercises are still baffling.

I didn't recall that one so I went hunting. p53 has はさておき, but that's the nearest I can
see. I find all of that particular chapter troubling - none of it seems to stick, not even as
a hazy memory.

dampingwire on 20 August 2015

Ooops, oops, yea, にさておき。　　Yeah, my textbook is absolutely worn out, and I'm still forgetting these things. I can sort of remember them for a bit, but then don't have a long half-life in my brain.
cathrynm on 23 August 2015

Anyway, not much new to report. Continuing to plow through the top 3000 Finnish words on memrise, and did listen to some YLE today. They have a weird mix of English language songs, mixed in with similar sounding Finnish songs. That and news, maybe I need to read the news more, since I was a little lost today.

Also just finished off my JLPT class at the Sokogakuen. Signed up for the next class. Anyway, just plugging away, as usual. Many things still to learn, not enough time.

The game I'm working on, and the reason why my language progress is a little spotty these days, just got released worldwide. We support English, French, Italian, German, Spanish, Turkish, Russian, and Portuguese? No Finnish or Japanese yet though. Ahem.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.kabam.swat &hl=en - https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.kabam.swat &hl=en
cathrynm on 15 September 2015

Ack, I screwed up. The deadline for the JLPT was yesterday. I'll have to wait until 2016 to take this. Oh well.

Anyway, still doing my JLPT class. Going through grammar and kanji, as usual. Also still getting some time in on Finnish flash cards -- still trying to get in time on the YLE radio app.
cathrynm on 27 September 2015

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WL2tz7kbIaQ - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WL2tz7kbIaQ

Watching this, Docventures. And the CC look like they're correct.
cathrynm on 28 September 2015

http://www.konsolifin.net/bbs/pelikeskustelu/106787-dis ney-infinity.html - http://www.konsolifin.net/bbs/pelikeskustelu/106787-disney-i nfinity.html

I've had pretty good luck getting Japanese videogames. I think Disney Infinity might be Finnish, at least it looks like it, though I"m not sure if US versions will play in Finnish. Hmm.
cathrynm on 04 October 2015

Well, got a package of 4 games from play-asia.com, three are the Japanese edition, and one has a Chinese packaging on the outside for 討鬼伝極　-- but the instructions and the game are all Japanese. Been playing this toukiden tonight.
cathrynm on 08 October 2015

Well, somehow, I find myself sitting here, for a week, in China in a Chinese office, surrounded by people speaking Chinese. So far my body is holding up, do recognize quite a few characters from studying Japanese, but have no idea what anyone is saying.
cathrynm on 13 January 2016

cathrynm wrote:

There was a time when my father showed me some Chinese characters and asked if I knew what did those letters mean. I said that I knew the meaning of some letters but had no idea how to read them since I knew them as Kanji.
Monox D. I-Fly on 14 January 2016

Cool you were watching docventures! It seems you like videogames also, isn't it? What's your level of Finnish in your opinion?
caam_imt on 17 January 2016

I try to get to Finnish when I can, but I really do need to fix grammar mistakes with this. It makes me paranoid to write anything. I wonder if Rovio is hiring game programmers.
cathrynm on 17 January 2016

My dad speaks some Japanese :) When he went to China he would write down some kanji when he had to communicate with people that don't speak any English or Russian.
Serpent on 17 January 2016

Serpent wrote:

My dad speaks some Japanese :) When he went to China he would write down some kanji when he had to communicate with people that don't speak any English or Russian.

Do Chinese generally speak Russian, though?
Monox D. I-Fly on 17 January 2016

I'm here right now, and I would guess that Chinese people are mostly either mono-lingual or have some English. I was at the bookstore just today, and saw more books in Chinese for learning Japanese than Russian there.

Picked up phrase book. I think the characters that are common to both are pretty popular, so it seems like in a sentence I'll typically have seen quite a few of them, though I speculate this is less than 15-20% of what's needed to actually 'learn Chinese'. The TV is subtitled, so in theory, maybe it's possible to match the pronunciations to the characters below, but, I don't know enough to pick up the context, and the voice goes by quickly. A lot of signs are common, 銀行 (Bank) which is the same in Japanese is everywhere. Someone told me Horse was Ma and in Japanese that's Ba -- like the sounds are shifted for them or something? I do see　牛　and 羊 on retaurant menus, cow and sheep also in Japanese.
cathrynm on 18 January 2016

cathrynm wrote:

Someone told me Horse was Ma and in Japanese that's Ba -- like the sounds are shifted for them or something?

Horse in Japanese was Uma as well.
Monox D. I-Fly on 18 January 2016

Monox D. I-Fly wrote:

Serpent wrote:

My dad speaks some Japanese :) When he went to China he would write down some kanji when he had to communicate with people that don't speak any English or Russian.

Do Chinese generally speak Russian, though?

Not in general, but they had some Russian-speaking guides etc.
Serpent on 18 January 2016

I do find that in shops and things, Chinese people just assume I speak Chinese. I'll go to a restaurant, I'll hear something incomprehensible and just nod yes -- if I get food, I call that a win. Was on the street, walking to work, and a Chinese woman asked me for directions in Chinese -- was pretty sure just from how she was wandering, though, I had no way to communicate anything to her. The minute I open my mouth, they try to speak English, of course.
cathrynm on 19 January 2016

Well, back home from China -- that was a bit of an adventure. I went and purchased the basic, by the month
Finnishpod101. I'd like to download all the audio to my phone, though so far I've just been monkeying with
iTunes, bleach. We'll see how this goes.
cathrynm on 01 February 2016

Also I fired up my memrise account after some time. I logged into memrise via Facebook and because
Facebook is blocked in China, I couldn't get in. Oops.
cathrynm on 01 February 2016

cathrynm wrote:

Facebook is blocked in China, I couldn't get in. Oops.

Wow... And here in Indonesia people still whine about internet restriction even though we are even more free than China, how ungrateful...
Monox D. I-Fly on 01 February 2016

Not just Facebook, but also Google is blocked in China. At our office, we had a VPN back to the other office, but at the hotel, no Google, no Facebook. Also talked with a co-worker how China enforced the 'one child policy' with mandatory abortion. I don't know about Indonesia, but in China, well, I think the foreigners can get away with stuff, but the actual Chinese people, they keep a low profile.
cathrynm on 01 February 2016

cathrynm wrote:

I used iTunes to download all of JapanesePod101 (it's the same company, so I assume that this will work just as well). Then I copied it all somewhere iTunes couldn't *!$$* it all up and renamed everything to be more logical. Whether you need the rename or not depends on whether they've done a better job for Finnish (and also how fussy you are - but you're a programmer I think so I'm guessing you'll rename :-)).

It all worked really well as soon as I stopped iTunes trying to "help"!

dampingwire on 01 February 2016

Yeah, we'll see. I paid my money, I have access on the website, but I'm still getting password errors in itunes, ugh, I sent them an email.

With the Finnish, there are fewer episodes than with Japanesepod, so hoping it won't be too difficult to untangle all of thjs.
cathrynm on 02 February 2016

cathrynm wrote:

In Indonesia people are suggested to have at most two children, but abortion is forbidden. It's only a suggestion, after all, not an obligation.
Monox D. I-Fly on 02 February 2016

Well, I tried and tried to get the iTunes to work, but no, for Finnishpod101 it never did, even though I had a valid subscription. So, I just went in and downloaded all the files manually, by going to the website and picking them one by one. It was tedius, but really, I think studying language has prepared me for massive tediousness -- no problem, I can do a few minutes copying filese, really, I think it was less than an hour altogether. I showed the lady at customer service and she was baffled too. I don't know what's going on, I'm done messing with it, to be honeset.

Anyway, I did kind of get, sort of a weird job-offer type thing -- if I wanted to move to China, I would have a job for sure. But, I have a house, a relationship, a father in a nursing home here in the USA -- but maybe we can work out something? We're discussing it, though everything is frozen due to the Chinese New Years. There is a real chance I will be going there more often and longer. Also there's the issue, that as an employee, I'm just expensive -- it takes a lot of money to hire me, so that might kill this also.

I did log into the Chineseclass101, and listened to some of the basic things, just to do numbers and this stuff. Oh oh, this is so much trickier to pronounce than Japanese. Yow. Just frustrating I'm not further along with Japanese and Finnish. The years are starting to add up on this.
cathrynm on 08 February 2016

Well, kind of enjoying these Finnishpod episodes. I'm downloading from the site and managing the files directly, and I think it's okay because it allows me to dump the culture lessons, which are just too much English for me and the 'news/lesson learning tips' which are too spammy. "You know about the voice recording tool?" I've heard this about 1000 times listening to Japanesepod. But the Absolute Beginners are easy going, and have a few things I learn or refresh on here and there, and I can just let them run while I'm doing work without stressing my brain. I've never really lived in FInland proper, so some of these basic things I'm hugely rusty on.

Listened to an intermediate lesson also, and that was okay too. Odd it introduced the word 'Suomenkielinen' -- which I would have though of as a absolute beginner vocab -- but then had a nice explanation of the 'ma' forms which I've always been massively vague on.

Did also download a few ChineseClass beginner's, and oh oh, this it's quite a thing, listening to a language I know absolutely nothing about. Even absolute beginner lessons are so tricky.
cathrynm on 08 February 2016

cathrynm wrote:

"You know about the voice recording tool?" I've heard this about 1000 times listening to
Japanesepod.

Ah yes! I've kept the JPOD101 originals untouched on my NAS box but somehow a number of the worst offenders
seemed to have a short encounter with Audacity on the way to my phone :-) With JPOD I've left in some of
that stuff in the UI lessons because it's either in Japanese or half Japanese and half English, and
all Japanese is good Japanese.
dampingwire on 09 February 2016

Oh yeah, that's a committment, to go through and edit all those. I haven't put in the effort for all that -- "But you know what can accelerate your learning -- line by line audio!" Ack, it's stuck in my brain. I've memorized all this advertising stuff. Wouldn't be so bad if they changed it up a little bit, but it just repeats endlessly.
cathrynm on 09 February 2016

And here I am, back in China, of all places, for about a month. Mostly programming, which does take all my energy, really. Did try to learn a few basics, mainly numbers and things -- though I confess, I am pretty helpless here. I do have a system, I carry cash. This seems to always work. Point at stuff, pay in cash.
cathrynm on 02 June 2016

Ahh, checking back. Still taking classes. Going to sign up for JLPT again. Seriously considering maybe going for the N3 rather than N2, just based on the idea that maybe I'm getting too comfortable failing N2 year after year. Maybe I'll be more motivated on N3? Not sure. Also, looks like I'm getting a job offer from the China division, or should come in soon -- maybe that'll give me a chance to get back to Japan more often.
cathrynm on 28 August 2016

And I chicken out, go for the N2 after all. I think I'll probably fail, but I'll give it a shot anyway.
cathrynm on 04 September 2016

Did another lang-8 post. Copying here too, just to get my log back up the charts. Hey guys!

http://lang-8.com/8649/journals/2942872724612308650264906235 5350179536/%25E4%25B8%25AD%25E5%259B%25BD%25E3%2581%25A7%25E 6%2597%25A5%25E6%259C%25AC%25E8%25AA%259E%25E3%2582%2592%25E 5%258B%2589%25E5%25BC%25B7%25E3%2581%2597%25E3%2581%25A6%25E 3%2581%2584%25E3%2581%25BE%25E3%2581%2599%25E3%2580%2582?t=c orrection#journal_comment_1245013100723598680018059926523418 06126 http://lang-8.com/8649/journals/2942872724612308650264906235 5350179536/%25E4%25B8%25AD%25E5%259B%25BD%25E3%2581%25A7%25E 6%2597%25A5%25E6%259C%25AC%25E8%25AA%259E%25E3%2582%2592%25E 5%258B%2589%25E5%25BC%25B7%25E3%2581%2597%25E3%2581%25A6%25E 3%2581%2584%25E3%2581%25BE%25E3%2581%2599%25E3%2580%2582?t=c orrection#journal_comment_12450131007235986800180599265 2341806126 - http://lang-8.com/8649/journals/2942872724612308650264906235 5350179536/%25E4%25B8%25AD%25E5%259B%25BD%25E3%2581%25A7%25E 6%2597%25A5%25E6%259C%25AC%25E8%25AA%259E%25E3%2582%2592%25E 5%258B%2589%25E5%25BC%25B7%25E3%2581%2597%25E3%2581%25A6%25E 3%2581%2584%25E3%2581%25BE%25E3%2581%2599%25E3%2580%2582?t=c orrection#journal_comment_1245013100723598680018059926523418 06126
cathrynm on 05 November 2016

Hey, just checking in, spending more time fussing with language forums lately. On ClozeMaster I'm tearing it up with the FInnish, have gone through about 20% of the sentences, but still so many to go.

Watched this, Madeventures show about China today. Not super great on the comprehension, but I still do it, you know.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nk7NP10a2Fo - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nk7NP10a2Fo
cathrynm on 06 February 2017

And JLPT N2 results came in. No pss. Let me see this time it's

24/27/26 = 77

I checked back on this forum and I posted my score back then in 2015 two years ago

33/15/27 = 75

I'm not sure, maybe it's just random, I'm not sure. My listening score is one point less, basically the same, my readin gis 12 points better and my language knowledge is 9 points less. I don't think I have less language knowledge than I did back then, but there were words I just plain didn't know. Maybe I need to go back to flash cards for Japanese? I felt like I was completely guessing through the listening, but I got about the same? Hmm.
cathrynm on 06 February 2017

Yeah I think that luck plays a role in the JLPT. But flashcards are very effective for vocabulary. I rarely see a
word I don't know on JLPT material. Also, luck plays a role, but the better your Japanese, the less luck is
involved. Knowing that I made sure my practice tests had a nice margin for me to screw up and still pass.
kraemder on 06 February 2017

Ooh, oming back, for fun. Still on ClozeMaster with Finnish, still taking my Japanesee class on Saturday. Situation pretty much normal. I see here I joined 3,360 days ago. It has been awhile. I think I am maybe a little slow, and I've just been distracted by work too. Oh well.

Went to sharedlingo.com and typed Japanese at a Japanese lady who mostly typed English back to me.
cathrynm on 30 April 2017

And back again on this site. More ClozeMaster with Finnish. During the Christmas class-break (but not work break) I've been watching anime. Found some Japanese subtitled movies.
cathrynm on 09 January 2018

Oop, and thought I'd post here too. Passed the JLPT N3. 2018 will take another go at the N2, I think.
cathrynm on 25 January 2018

Ah, you're the one who sometimes commented on my log, right? Now that 2018 has passed, how's your N2 test?
Monox D. I-Fly on 01 January 2019

I failed the N2. Was not even that close, unfortunately. Prety low scores, both with reading and listening. Okay with the vocab section. Will take again 2019.
cathrynm on 03 March 2019