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michiru

Jan. 8, 2024

1
About Kanji - The first part

When I check Japanese sentences by Japanese learners, I often see kanji in phrases where Japanese people don't use kanji. Then, I wonder what to tell them. That kanji they used is not wrong, but we usually use hiragana there. I take that they study Japanese by reading old novels.

People in old times used kanji in almost phrases, but most of those kanji words are currently not used anymore . As a matter of fact, kids don't learn them in schools.

As you know, kanji was imported from China long time ago. Kanji characters exist as many as I can’t count, however, some of them are dead. That means we’ve never used those characters, otherwise, we don't know even the existence of them because we’ve never seen them.


漢字について 前編

日本語学習者の和文を見ると、我々が漢字を使わない語句で漢字を使っているの見る時があります。その時、どう教えたらいいものか悩みます。彼らが使う漢字は間違いではないのですが、通常、我々はその語句はひらがなで書いているのです。彼らは古い小説で日本語を勉強していると受け取りました。

昔の人々は大抵の語句に漢字を使っていましたが、そのほとんどが現在ではもう使われていません。実際、子供達は学校で習っていません。

ご存知の通り、漢字は大昔に中国から輸入されました。私が数え切れない程の漢字が存在します。しかし、死語もあります。つまり、我々が全く使ったことがない漢字があり、それどころか、見たことがないので存在すら知らない漢字もあります。

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Then, I wonder what to tell them.

As a matter of fact, kids don't learn them in schools.

As you know, kanji was imported from China long time ago.

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michiru

Jan. 14, 2024

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michiru

Jan. 9, 2024

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Jan. 9, 2024

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Jan. 9, 2024

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When I check Japanese sentences by Japanese learners, I often see kanji in phrases where Japanese people don't use kanji.

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michiru

Jan. 9, 2024

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deux_ex_machina

Jan. 9, 2024

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Then, I wonder what to tell them.


ThenIn those cases, I wonder what to tell them. In those cases, I wonder what to tell them.

This is a smoother transition.

Then, I wonder what to tell them in such situations. I wonder what to tell them in such situations.

Looking at the Japanese version, a better translation for "その時" might be "at such times," but "in such situations" felt more clear.

Then, I wonder what to tell them in this scenario. / I wonder what to tell them in this situation / I wonder what to tell them when I see them use kanji incorrectly. I wonder what to tell them in this scenario. / I wonder what to tell them in this situation / I wonder what to tell them when I see them use kanji incorrectly.

There's a few ways you could phrase this sentence. I gave you 3 suggestions.

This sentence has been marked as perfect!

That kanji they used is not wrong, but we usually use hiragana there.


Thate kanji they used is are not wrong, but we usually use hiragana therein such cases. The kanji they use are not wrong, but we usually use hiragana in such cases.

That kanji they used is not wrong, but we would usually use hiragana there. That kanji they used is not wrong, but we would usually use hiragana there.

Again, "would" for describing a trend.

Thate kanji they used is not wrong, but we usually use hiragana there. The kanji they used is not wrong, but we usually use hiragana there.

Thate kanji that they used in some words is not wrong, but we usually use hiragana there.in those words. The kanji that they use in some words is not wrong, but we usually use hiragana in those words.

About Kanji - The first part


About Kanji - The first part About Kanji - The first part

Or "Part 1"

About Kanji - The first partPart 1 About Kanji - Part 1

When I check Japanese sentences by Japanese learners, I often see kanji in phrases where Japanese people don't use kanji.


This sentence has been marked as perfect!

When I check Japanese sentences by Japanese learners, I often see kanji in phrases where Japanese people don't use(*) kanji. When I check Japanese sentences by Japanese learners, I often see kanji in phrases where Japanese people don't use(*) kanji.

"Don't use" seems fine to me, but I think "wouldn't use" might be a little better. Phrasing it as "where Japanese people were refer to use kana" might be a little more natural. We're describing a tendency or trend so "would" feels a bit more accurate.

When I chorreckt Japanese sentences by Japanese learners, I often see kanji in phrases where Japanese people don't use kanji. When I correct Japanese sentences by Japanese learners, I often see kanji in phrases where Japanese people don't use kanji.

I put "correct" instead of "check" because it is more specific in this context.

When I check Japanese sentences written by Japanese learners, I often see kanji in phrases where Japanese people don't use kanji. When I check sentences written by Japanese learners, I often see kanji in phrases where Japanese people don't use kanji.

As a matter of fact, kids don't learn them in schools.


As a matter of fact, kids don't learn them in schools. As a matter of fact, kids don't learn them in school.

As a matter ofIn fact, kids don't learn them in schools. In fact, kids don't learn them in schools.

I changed the transition to have some variation in this sentence versus the following sentence after that.

This sentence has been marked as perfect!

As you know, kanji was imported from China long time ago.


As you know, kanji was imported from China a long time ago. As you know, kanji was imported from China a long time ago.

As you know, kanji wasere imported from China long time ago. As you know, kanji were imported from China long time ago.

"Kanji" on its own is generally considered a plural word in English, so "were" instead of "was".

As you may know, kanji was imported from China a long time ago. As you may know, kanji was imported from China a long time ago.

Using “as you know” when you haven’t told the reader the fact is awkward. It’s grammatically correct, but it makes me feel kind of offended even though I did know that kanji comes from China.

As you know, kanji was imported from China long time ago. As you know, kanji was imported from China long time ago.

This sentence has been marked as perfect!

Kanji characters exist as many as I can’t count, however, some of them are dead.


Kanji characters exist as many asThere are more kanji characters than I can’t count, h. However, some of them are dead. There are more kanji characters than I can count. However, some of them are dead.

There are more Kanji characters exist as many asthan I can’t count, however, some of them are dead. There are more Kanji characters than I can count, however, some of them are dead.

My translation of the Japanese text as literally as possible: 私が数え切れない程の漢字が存在します。 A number I cannot count of kanji exist. I feel the most natural way to say this would be, perhaps exaggeratory, but "an uncountable number of kanji exist." Casually: "There are a ridiculous number of kanji."

KCountless kanji characters exist as many as I can’t count, h. However, some of them are dead. Countless kanji characters exist. However, some of them are dead.

There are multiple correct ways to write this besides how I did, but they don’t go with “however.” General rule of thumb: if you put a comma after “however,” you should put a period before it.

Kanji characters exist aThere are countless mkany as I can’t count, however,ji characters but some of them are dead.not in use. There are countless kanji characters but some of them are not in use.

Kanji characters exist as many asThere are more kanji characters than I can’t count, h. However, some of them are deano longer used. There are more kanji characters than I can count. However, some of them are no longer used.

That means we’ve never used those characters, otherwise, we don't know even the existence of them because we’ve never seen them.


That meansIn other words, we’ve never used those characters, otherwise,r we don't even know even they existence of them because we’ve never seen them. In other words, we’ve never used those characters, or we don't even know they exist because we’ve never seen them.

That means we’ve never used those characters, otherwise,r sometimes we don't know even know they existence of them because we’ve never seen them. That means we’ve never used those characters, or sometimes we don't know even know they exist because we’ve never seen them.

That means we’ve never used those characters, otherwise, w. We don't know even they existence of them because we’ve never seen them. That means we never use those characters. We don't know they exist because we’ve never seen them.

“Otherwise” doesn’t work here. You first have to establish when you do use the kanji first, and then you can use “otherwise” to say that you don’t in any other situations.

That means we’ve never don't used those characters, otherwise, we don't know even the existence of them. We don't even know what they are because we’ve never seen them. That means we don't use those characters. We don't even know what they are because we’ve never seen them.

Using "them" twice in this structure sounds awkward to a native speaker.

That means we’vNot only do we never used those characters, otherwise,but we don't even know eventhat they existence of them because we’ve never seen them. Not only do we never use those characters, but we don't even know that they exist because we’ve never seen them.

People in old times used kanji in almost phrases, but most of those kanji words are currently not used anymore .


People in old times used kanji in almost phrases, but most of those kanji words are currently not used anymore . People in old times used kanji in most phrases, but most of those kanji words are currently not used anymore.

People in old times tended to used kanji in almost phrases, but most of those kanji words are currently not used anymore . People in old times tended to use kanji in most phrases, but most of those kanji words are not used anymore .

Looking at the Japanese version and seeing what my translation might be... 昔の人々は大抵の語句に漢字を使っていましたが The people long ago would tend to use kanji in their phrases. I think your phrasing is better than my translation in parts, but "almost" should probably either be "almost all phrases" or just "most phrases" which is what felt more natural to me. "Almost phrases" means something like "things that aren't quite phrases" which doesn't make a lot of sense.

People in old times used kanji in almost phrases, but most of those kanji words are currently non’t used anymore . People in old times used kanji in most phrases, but most of those kanji words aren’t used anymore.

Redundant

People in old times used kanji in almthoste phrases, but most of those kanji words are currently not used anymore . People in old times used kanji in those phrases, but most of those kanji words are currently not used anymore .

I wasn't sure about your meaning here in this sentence. I tried to relate it back to your previous comment about kanji being in the wrong places

People in olda long times ago used kanji in almost every phrases, but most of those kanji words are currentlyare not used anymore . People a long time ago used kanji in almost every phrase, but most of those kanji are not used anymore .

I take that they study Japanese by reading old novels.


I take it that they study Japanese by reading old novels. I take it that they study Japanese by reading old novels.

I take it that they study Japanese by reading old novels. I take it that they study Japanese by reading old novels.

I take thatwonder if they study Japanese by reading old novels. I wonder if they study Japanese by reading old novels.

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