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Tomii515 -



OK! For people that know me on the Japanese forums (which I dobt anyone here does...
www.jref.com/forum/ ), I pick up random languages all the time, andI really only focus on my three
main ones: Japanese, French, and Korean.

Well, for another side-for-fun language, I was thinking maybe some Mandarin Chinese.

In my Kanji Dictionary thingy (Japanese characters barrowed from chinese = kanji), it gives the
Mandarin Chinese pronuciation and meaning of the words and stuff... So I could learn the writing
along with stuff...

The things that seem hard is the tones, but more the pronunciation.

I was wondering if someone wouldn't mind helping me, or if there are any good websites?

Also, I have a friend who speak Mandarin Chinese, and also Cantonese Chinese, but yeah... Maybe
she could help me...

Anyways, thanks~

-Tommy



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mamba9 -

I too have studied Japanese, and have been studying Mandarin Chinese for little over 4 months now.

"Kanji Dictionary...So I could learn the writing..." I dont think so. Japanese kanji is more
simplified then traditional chinese characters, yet not as simplified as the simplified chinese
characters, so its somewhere in between. I also wouldnt count on those On/Kun readings for their
true pronounciation, and their meanings as well.

Soo... you have to start from scratch. You cant rely on your previous knowledge in Japanese, for
the most part, it will confuse you. As for tones, its really not that hard, it just looks
impossible on paper, i say just dive in.

A really good place to start in is the fsi language website
( http://fsi-language-courses.com/Chinese.aspx )
Then maybe some pimsleur/chinesepod101, which is good speaking/listening practice.










Tomii515 -

no no no!

My kanji dictionary has the way you say the charatcers in currect mandarin chinese and the # for
the tone and the meaning and stuff... for exmaple...

書 (Japanese) SHO, ka(ku), write

(Mandarin) shu4 / R writing & P

ior something like that










gato -

Try watching this Chinese learning show. The transcripts to the show available online on the site
(click on "previous lessons").
http://www.cctv.com/program/Travelin...09/index.shtml
Travel in Chinese

Or try these shows produced by Chinese Radio International for beginners:
http://english.cri.cn/chinese/

You might want to use popjisyo to help with characters you don't know:
http://www.popjisyo.com/WebHint/Portal_e.aspx

Here is also a list of Chinese grammar site:
http://www.csulb.edu/~txie/grammar.htm










flameproof -



Quote:

Japanese kanji is more simplified then traditional chinese characters, yet not as simplified as
the simplified chinese characters,

Kanji uses some simplified characters and some non-simplified ones. Seem to be a mix of both.

If you know Kanji well it will definitely help you getting faster into the Chinese writing system.

For the tones, don't bother. They are not that important when you start. You get them
automatically when you get more fluent.










roddy -



Quote:

You get them automatically when you get more fluent.

When exactly? I'm still waiting . . .










HashiriKata -



Quote:


Originally Posted by roddy

When exactly? I'm still waiting . . .




Quote:

For the tones, don't bother. They are not that important when you start. You get them
automatically when you get more fluent.

I'd personally reword flameproof's statement as:

For the tones, put some work in, even if they're difficult and don't appear to be that important
when you start. With a good foundation from the beginning, the tones will take care of themselves
when you get more fluent.










roddy -

Now that's a statement I can get behind

I think any 'it'll come naturally' theory is at least flawed, if not outright wrong. Yes, it might
come naturally, though I'm by no means convinced. But it's surely going to come a hell of a lot
quicker and more accurately with some decent study and training. "It'll come naturally" sounds to
me like the words of a student who finds it difficult and doesn't want to study it (guilty as
charged, your honor) or a teacher who doesn't know how to teach it.










HashiriKata -



Quote:


Originally Posted by Roddy

I think any 'it'll come naturally' theory is at least flawed, if not outright wrong.


I agree with you. The tones look after themselves only after they've been properly looked after.











flameproof -

Tones are really not important if you are well exposed to the language and base your learning
mainly on audio (hearing). Just follow what you hear and copy the melody. That way you catch em
automatically without ever learning them.

Learning tones for single words is meaningless. The melody of a phrase is more important, and
easier to remember.

At least that's my approach and I usually don't have problems making myself understood.












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