10 Facts About the Nihongo Language
Nihongo Language
There are a few things as interesting in this world as the culture and history of an Asian country. They have been around for a long time, although not exactly in the same way that they exist today. Some of them were ruled by kings, some had different borders. But they existed in ancient times too. A lot of ancient civilizations lived in different parts of Asia. The various historical sites throughout the continent is a proof that people have lived in the region for thousands of years. China is one of the Asian countries that went through different phases during its evolution. It has only been in its current state since 1948, before that, it had a different political system, sometimes even different borders than those of today’s.
Japan is another country that has a long history full of inspirational stories. Its recent history is inspiring for both states and people and tells a story of determination that can defeat the toughest hardships. The world today may admire the country most for its Anime but there is a lot more to it than that. It is not only the entertainment industry where Japan shines. It has a rich culture that it shares with the world in different ways.
From special tea ceremonies to flower arrangements, you can pick any aspect of the Japanese culture and see its vibrancy. Everyone who has studied the culture of this state closely ended up falling in love with it. Even those who visit Japan as tourists never get over its beauty. You may have seen the cherry blossom trees in pictures but no picture can capture the mesmerizing beauty of Japan. The language of the country is another important aspect of its culture that fascinates all linguists. It is also something that the lovers of Anime wish to learn one day so they can watch their favorite content without subtitles.
The Nihongo Language:
Like other aspects of the Japanese culture, there is a lot people don’t know about the language of the Japanese people. In their vernacular, Japan is called Nihon and the language of the people of Japan is called Nihongo. A lot of people don’t know this. Like the name of the language, there are plenty of interesting facts about Nihongo that people aren’t aware of but should be.
What are the 3 Japanese languages?
The Japanese language has three different writing systems: hiragana, katakana, and kanji. All three alphabet look quite different. Kanji is the simplest looking alphabet. It is also the one foreigners get to see in Japanese movies. Non-native speakers confuse the alphabets with languages and think there are three of them in Japan.
What are the basic words in Japanese?
Here are some basic words in Japanese:
- Kon’nichiwa, which means ‘hello’
- Yōkoso is used for saying ‘welcome’
- Arigatōgozaimashita is how the Japanese say ‘thank you’
- Mōshiwakearimasen is used for saying ‘I’m sorry’
- Watashi wa, anata o aishiteimasu is how you say ‘I love you’ in Japanese
- Sayōnara is used in place of ‘goodbye’
How do I start learning Nihongo?
If you wish to start learning Nihongo then you should join a language course in a university. But if you can’t take out time for regular classes, you can watch YouTube videos of Nihongo, start reading books in the language with the help of a dictionary, and watch Japanese TV shows to learn the vernacular.
How do you speak Japanese?
In order to become fluent in Japanese, you will have to read books in it. You will also have to watch Japanese movies and TV shows so you can pick up more words. If you start writing in a journal in Japanese, you will find it easier to learn new words. But above all, you should interact with native speakers to improve your Japanese speaking skills.
What is the official Japanese language?
The official language of Japan is Japanese. There are many common misconceptions about this vernacular. The biggest misconception is that it is related to Chinese. But in truth, there is no genetic connection between the two. However, Chinese has influenced Japanese over the years. Today, it is one of the most popular languages in the world.
What are the 3 Japanese languages?
Most people assume that there are three different types of Japanese languages, but in truth, there is only one which has three different writing system. Hiragana, katakana, and kanji are the three types of writing systems used by the Japanese speakers. If you have ever come across written Japanese somewhere then there is a high chance that you have seen kanji.
How can I learn Japanese language?
If you wish to learn Japanese then you should start watching TV shows and movies produced in Japan regularly. But you must also read books and newspapers written in Japanese. If you use a dictionary while reading, you will be able to learn new words quickly. You can track your progress by keeping a journal.
What are the basic words in Japanese?
Here are some basic words in the Japanese language:
- Arigato, which can be used for an informal thanks
- Kon’nichiwa, which is used to greet people. If someone says this to you, you should repeat it in response
- Wakare is how you say farewell and can be used as a send-off
10 Facts About the Nihongo Language:
Spoken by a hundred and twenty-eight million people, Nihongo is the national language of Japan. Linguists have debated for decades about the relation of Nihongo with other tongues but no theory has every picked pace and as of now, its connection with other vernaculars is still under consideration and a topic of debate during linguistic conferences. If you want to learn more about the language of the Japanese people, here are ten interesting facts about it:
- No Known Origins:
There is a reason why Nihongo doesn’t fit in any of the language families, there is no known origins of it. Many historians have tried to find proof of the vernacular’s early development but they have come up empty handed. No one knows how the tongue developed before the 8th century as it is the time in known history when it made appearance in texts and spoken words.
- Famous on the Internet:
Although it ranks at number nine on the list of most spoken languages in the world, Nihongo has a large presence on the internet. Ten percent users of the digital world speak Nihongo.
- Honorifics:
The Japanese language has honorifics, and not just a few of them. They are used as suffixes when needed to express love or respect for the person you are addressing. The people of the state value their social status very much and therefore prefer to be addressed with honorifics.
- Not Related to Chinese:
It is a general misconception that Chinese and Japanese are related because to a non-speaker, they look alike. However, Nihongo is not related to any major tongue around the world.
- Homophones:
If you have ever hated English words that sound the same but mean different things, learning Japanese will be a nightmare for you because it has a lot of homophones.
- Loanwords from All Over the World:
Japanese is famous among linguists for many reasons and one of them is its use of loanwords. It has taken loanwords from plenty of languages. The loanwords are changed according to the Nihongo pronunciation to make it easy for people to adopt them.
- Fast Speaking:
The language of Japan is known for allowing its speakers the ability to say the highest number of syllables in a single second. This is why Nihongo is considered one of the fastest spoken languages in the world.
- Not That Complicated:
The language may be tough to learn but it also has some aspects like the absence of gender or plural words that make it a lot less complicated.
- Famous Words:
A few Japanese words have become so famous that they feel like a part of the English language today like Anime and karaoke.
- Not Tonal:
Unlike most Asian languages, Nihongo is not tonal. The words of Nihongo do not rely on the tone of the speaker to convey their meaning.
Now that you know a lot of interesting facts about Nihongo, you can start your journey of learning it and understand a huge chunk of the entertainment content you consume.
