Study Japan

#Japanese #WordoftheDay 声援 (せいえん/seien) ‘encouragement, cheering, support’ Example: 盛大なご声援をお願いいたします

● Seize time opportunities. If I have 15 minutes until your next class, I sit down and do homework in the hallway. If I have a long commute, I’ll do flashcards. This works because you most likely won’t have anything else to do anyways, so it’s easier to get your work done.

● Start something. When I get a lab report assignment, the first thing I do is pull up the directions and at least start the cover page and pull up some research links. It takes 5 minutes but it gets the ball rolling and makes it more likely that you’ll finish what you started.

● Auto-mode. When I procrastinating, it’s usually because I’m too busy thinking about what I’m going to do. Instead, I like to pretend I’m in “auto-mode” and just get started as fast as I can. auto-mode means shutting out distracting thoughts or pleas to watch one more funny cat video and forcing your hands to open your textbook. Works every time.

● Personally, creating time schedules don’t work for me because if I fall out of time, the whole schedule falls apart and I usually give up. Instead I use time games. I’ll tell myself something like “work as hard as you can until 11:00 sharp and if you finish, you can have a break”. This is great for developing self discipline because it’s in the moment so you can be more realistic and flexible.

● I don’t like writing down earlier due dates in my planner because it’s confusing so instead, it’s good to have some sort of mental rule. for example, my mental rule is to finish everything at least two days before the due date. following through with that will keep you on track.

● Do a little bit every day. If you have a big project, chip at it within a week rather than stressing out 2 days before it’s due. the same goes for studying for an exam. if you review lecture notes and attend office hours after class + work on flashcards throughout the week, then do a final review at the end, you’ll be well prepared and won’t need to cram. It’s a good habit and you won’t get stressed. Two birds with one stone.

● Use mornings too. I’m not really an early bird, but using mornings to get some work / chores done is great because it gives you a productive start to the day, which makes you feel proud of yourself for knocking out half of your tasks in the a.m. 

a. Lay out your lecture notes / worksheets on the table the night before and open your work tabs on your computer so they’ll be the first thing you see when you turn on your computer.

b. Put your computer far away from your work space and go to sleep.

c. When you wake up, the first thing that you’ll see is your ‘paper’ work, so get it done first. then start on your ‘screen’ work (you’ll be less likely to get distracted if you do your ‘paper’ work first). when you open your laptop the first thing you’ll see are the work tabs you opened the night before. Your job is to go on auto-mode and get started.

Part 1 | Part 2

Sorry, this is gonna be long.

When writing formal letters there are a few opening and closing words to choose from. 

　☆ 拝啓(はいけい)━敬具(けいぐ)　 　　This is the most common pair when writing formal letters, though not often used by women as they begin their letters with seasonal greetings. かしこ is used by women as a closing word instead. 　☆ 前略(ぜんりゃく)━早々(そうそう)　 　　This pair is less formal than 拝啓(はいけい)━敬具(けいぐ) and is generally used when writing short letters so the seasonal greetings and inquiries to the recipient’s health can be omitted. 　☆ 拝復(はいふく)━敬具(けいぐ)　 　　These can be used when writing a reply to a letter, however they aren’t used often.

Preliminary Greetings in letters can include: seasonal greetings, inquiries to the recipient’s health, relating one’s own condition, writing a reply to a letter, apologies for neglecting to write.

Some Seasonal Greetings

January 　☆ 寒(さむ)さひとしお身(み)にしみる今日(きょう)この頃(ころ) 　　In this time of piercing cold 　☆ 新春(しんしゅん)と申(もう)しながら、まだまだ寒(さむ)さが続(つづ)いておりますが 　　While it is the New Year, the cold continues 　☆ 厳寒(げんかん)の候(こう)  　　In this season of severe cold 　(Most formal)

February 　☆ 立春(りっしゅん)とは名(な)ばかりで、寒(さむ)い日(ひ)が続(つづ)いておりますが 　　"First Day of Spring” is but a name as cold days continue　(First day of Spring according to the lunar calendar is around 4 February) 　☆ 節分(せつぶん)を過(す)ぎましたのに、いっこうに春(はる)めいて参(まい)りませんが 　　Although the last day of winter has passed, it doesn’t seem springlike at all　(Used after 3 February) 　☆ 春寒(しゅんかん)の候(こう) 　　In this time of early spring when the cold still lingers

March 　☆ ひと雨(あめ)ごとに春(はる)めいて参(まい)りました。 　　With each rainfall it becomes more springlike. 　☆ ようやく寒気(さむけ)も緩(ゆる)み始(はじ)めましたが 　　The cold weather has become mild at last 　☆ 暑(あつ)さも寒(さむ)さも彼岸(ひがん)までと申(もう)しますが、まだ寒(さむ)い日(ひ)が続(つづ)いております。 　　It is said that neither the heat nor the cold last past the equinox, but cold days continue. 　☆ 早春(そうしゅん)の候(こう) 　　In this season of early spring

April 　☆ 春(はる)の日(ひ)麗(うら)らかな今日(きょう)この頃(ごろ) 　　In this time of beautiful spring days 　☆ 若草(わかくさ)の萌(も)え立(た)つ頃(ころ)となりましたが 　　It is the time when fresh grass sprouts 　☆ 陽春(ようしゅん)の候(こう) 　　In this time of sunny spring days 　☆ 春暖(しゅんだん)の候(こう) 　　In this time of spring warmth

May 　☆ 風(かぜ)薫(かお)る季節(きせつ)となりましたが 　　In this season of fragrant breezes 　☆ 若草(わかくさ)ひかる今日(きょう)のころ 　　In this time when the fresh grass glistens 　☆ 新緑(しんりょく)の候(こう) 　　In this time of fresh green

June 　☆ 鬱陶(うっとう)しい梅雨(つゆ)に入(はい)りましたが 　　The unpleasant rainy season has started 　☆ 緑(みどり)の色(いろ)あざやかな今日(きょう)この頃(ごろ) 　　In this time of bright green 　☆ 入梅(にゅうばい)の候(こう) 　　In this rainy season

July 　☆ 厳(きび)しさ暑(あつ)さが続(つづ)いておりますが 　　The oppressive heat continues 　☆ 海山(うみやま)の恋(こい)しい季節(きせつ)となりましたが 　　In this season when one longs to travel to the mountains or the sea 　☆ 猛暑(もうしょ)の候(こう) 　　In this time of sweltering summer days 　☆ 炎暑(えんしょ)の候(こう) 　　In this season of oppressive heat

August 　☆ 厳(きび)しい残暑(ざんしょ)が続(つづ)いておりますが 　　The oppressive heat continues to linger 　☆ 立秋(りっしゅう)とは名(な)ばかりで、暑(あつ)い日(ひ)が続(つづ)いておりますが 　　"First Day of Fall” is but a name as hot days continue　(Used after around 8 August) 　☆ 残暑(ざんしょ)の候(こう) 　　In this season of lingering heat

September 　☆ すっかり秋(あき)らしくなって参(まい)りましたが 　　It has become very autumn-like 　☆ ひと雨(あめ)ごとに秋(あき)らしくになっていく今日(きょう)この頃(ごろ) 　　In this time when it becomes more autumn-like with each rainfall 　☆ 初秋(しょしゅう)の候(こう) 　　In this time of early fall

October 　☆ 日(ひ)増(ま)しに秋(あき)が深(ふか)まってまいりましたが 　　Fall has deepened day by day 　☆ 菊(きく)かおる季節(きせつ)となって参(まい)りましたが 　　It is the season of the fragrance of chrysanthemums  　☆ 紅葉(こうよう)の候(こう) 　　It is the time of autumn leaves

November 　☆ 寒気(かんき)の身(み)にしみる季節(きせつ)となりましたが 　　It is the season when it is piercingly cold 　☆ 晩秋(ばんしゅう)の候(こう) 　　In this time of late fall

December 　☆ 寒気(かんき)日(ひ)ましに厳(きび)しい毎日(まいにち)ですが 　　The cold gets more severe with each passing day 　☆ 寒冷(かんれい)の候(こう) 　　In this season of cold weather 　☆ 今年(ことし)も押(お)し迫(せま)りましたが 　　This year is drawing to a close　(Used after around 20 December)

Next part will have the rest of the preliminary greetings, some examples, and the final greetings.

Aside from the regular dictationary function, it has premade word lists for studying!

Plus you can make your own lists or add words to Favorites!

You can also search by radical! And multiple radicals!

My absolute favourite part of this app, though, is the ability to look at a kanji breakdown of each word, which also shows stroke order! It's excellent for kanji practice.

And from here, by clicking on a kanji, you can view the individual radicals and their meanings:

10/10 app, I definitely recommend this for anyone studying Japanese. It even has kana charts for beginners (available from the main menu.)

If you’re studying any foreign language on your own (or without a course) you’re going to need to be extra organized. Your language study is in your own hands and so is how much you learn. There is no one holding you accountable or motivated either. So it’s entirely up to you to make sure you’re organized and planning enough material that your learning at a comfortable pace. There are roughly two ways to learn languages on your own. There are roughly two ways to go about planning your language study: intensively or casually. Here are my tips for intensive studying and I’ll post about casual studying soon: