JLPT 2011 (Year End)

Intend to take up the JLPT challenge end of this year?
Your chance is here! For those who are interested in challenging themselves, registration for the test will start in around 2 weeks. Click on this link here for more details!

Not sure about which level to register for?
Approach your respective senseis during breaktimes for some advice.

PS: A 2cent worth of advice from the hungry someone.
Try out some of the recent past JLPT papers before the actual test, it will definitely help you a great deal as you will have a better idea on what kind of questions to expect and how much time you should allocate for the various sections of the paper.

Spot the チューチュー ｢chuu chuu｣

Recently, Aoba adopted 2 mice. And they are somewhere in the school. Did you notice their existence?

If you are thinking that they are part of the adorable mouse species, you may be wrong. Or at least for me. At the first sight of them, I was really worried if I would suffer from some nightmares for the next few days.

Let us know if you have spotted both creatures. Who knows? You may be awarded with a slice of cheese. XD

Hint: The location of the mice is around the area where the school has the most food.

Note:

チューチュー ｢chuu chuu｣ is the sound made by mice.

New collections in the library!

We have added some new titles in our library today. Feel free to borrow them if you are keen. =)

Of course, do return them on time as well, so that the other students also have the chance to enjoy the dramas/concerts.

Cheers!

日本語の語源 Vol３- さようなら Origins of Japanese Words Vol 3- Sayounara

｢さようなら｣というのは古いことばで｢それなら｣、という意味です。

｢さよう｣は｢そう｣の丁寧な形、｢～なら｣は｢便利なら買います｣、｢日曜日なら暇です｣の｢なら｣です。皆さんも勉強しましたね。

｢さようなら、また、明日お会いましょう。｣のように使っていたのに、これも後ろの部分が省略されて挨拶に変わったようです

現代風にすると｢それじゃ｣ということですね。

In the olden Japanese language, ｢sayounara｣ ｢さようなら｣ has the meaning of ｢sorenara｣ ｢それなら｣. ｢sayou｣ ｢さよう｣ is the formal equivalent of ｢sou｣ ｢そう｣. On the other hand, ｢～なら｣ has the meaning of ｢if～｣. For example, ｢benri nara kaimasu｣ ｢便利なら買います｣ means ｢If (it is) convenient/handy, (I will) buy (it).｣

｢Sayounara, mata ashita oaimashou.｣ ｢さようなら、また、明日お会いましょう。｣ has the meaning of ｢goodbye, see you again tomorrow.｣. Similar to ｢ookini arigatou｣ ｢おおきに 有り難き｣, the greeting also seems to be shortened overtime.

Nowadays, the greeting can be shortened to just ｢sore ja｣ ｢それじゃ｣ which means ｢see you.｣

日本語の語源Vol2- ありがとう Origins of Japanese Words Vol 2- Arigatou

｢ありがとう｣を漢字で書くと｢有難う｣です。

親切や恩恵を受けたり、贈り物をもらって感激して、｢こんな幸せは滅多に無い。奇跡のようだ。｣という意味で使い始めました。侍のドラマでも｢有り難き幸せ・・｣というセリフを良く耳にします。

これとは別に、ポルトガル語の "obrigado" オブリガートが、日本に伝わったという説もあります。ポルトガルからも色々な文化の伝承がありましたが、この説には異論が多いようです。

｢Thank you｣ in Japanese ｢arigatou｣ ｢ありがとう｣ can be written in kanji as ｢有難う｣.

It is used to express one’s gratitude when he/she receives kindness, favours or gifts from others. Originally, ｢arigatou｣ ｢ありがとう｣ holds the meaning that the happiness of receiving goodwill from others is such a rarity that it seems like a miracle. Often, in Samurai dramas, we can hear such expressions being used as well.

On the other hand, it is also believed that ｢arigatou｣ ｢ありがとう｣ could have originated from "obrigado", which is a Portuguese word. Although the Portuguese’s culture has been handed down from generation to generation, it seems like this conception of the origin of ｢arigatou｣ ｢ありがとう｣is not acknowledged by many.