[mothered]

Are Japanese and Chinese really as close as some people say they are?

I was under the Impression, that the majority of words are not closely related.

Do correct me If I'm wrong.

I really meant their writing systems. I see a lot of symbols that're similar, but not in their pronunciations though.

I see, now I'm following.

[Johnngnky]

I was under the Impression, that the majority of words are not closely related.

Do correct me If I'm wrong.

I really meant their writing systems. I see a lot of symbols that're similar, but not in their pronunciations though.

I see, now I'm following.

As a native Chinese speaker, I can make out the basic idea of some written phrases, because Japanese people most oftenly mix in some Chinese writing. (That is quite wierd as Japanese is alphabetical)
But, in terms of pronunciation, it's as if another language.

[mothered]

I really meant their writing systems. I see a lot of symbols that're similar, but not in their pronunciations though.

I see, now I'm following.

As a native Chinese speaker, I can make out the basic idea of some written phrases, because Japanese people most oftenly mix in some Chinese writing. (That is quite wierd as Japanese is alphabetical)
But, in terms of pronunciation, it's as if another language.

I didn't know any of this.

I always thought they're both different In every aspect.

[Johnngnky]

I see, now I'm following.

As a native Chinese speaker, I can make out the basic idea of some written phrases, because Japanese people most oftenly mix in some Chinese writing. (That is quite wierd as Japanese is alphabetical)
But, in terms of pronunciation, it's as if another language.

I didn't know any of this.

I always thought they're both different In every aspect.

They're very different, historically, Japanese used Chinese as their main language. But after a feud( the rape of Nanking) they decided to use a tribal Japanese language, which later evolved to the main language of the island.

Still, they don't have all the vocabulary, hence borrowing words from Chinese.

[Drako]

As a native Chinese speaker, I can make out the basic idea of some written phrases, because Japanese people most oftenly mix in some Chinese writing. (That is quite wierd as Japanese is alphabetical)
But, in terms of pronunciation, it's as if another language.

I didn't know any of this.

I always thought they're both different In every aspect.

They're very different, historically, Japanese used Chinese as their main language. But after a feud( the rape of Nanking) they decided to use a tribal Japanese language, which later evolved to the main language of the island.

Still, they don't have all the vocabulary, hence borrowing words from Chinese.

I read that for an English speaking person to speak Japanese fluently, it'd take 22,000 hours of studying.

[catchnina]

I speak a little french when I go to the bathoom (funny) ok maybe not- I speak a little russian

[Johnngnky]

I didn't know any of this.

I always thought they're both different In every aspect.

They're very different, historically, Japanese used Chinese as their main language. But after a feud( the rape of Nanking) they decided to use a tribal Japanese language, which later evolved to the main language of the island.

Still, they don't have all the vocabulary, hence borrowing words from Chinese.

I read that for an English speaking person to speak Japanese fluently, it'd take 22,000 hours of studying.

I guess, because you also have to learn kanji.

Similarly,
The word for I/me

Mandarin 我 wo
Cantonese 我 ngǒ
Japanese kanji 私 (I don't know how to pronounce, but in Chinese it's si )
Hak-kâ-ngî 雁 ngan/ngaan


That shows that they are quite different.
Altough all came from Chinese.

[kyx]

To my self, I speak English, French (fluently), Portuguese (fluently too), Spanish and a bit Russian (only swear words)...

[Drako]

They're very different, historically, Japanese used Chinese as their main language. But after a feud( the rape of Nanking) they decided to use a tribal Japanese language, which later evolved to the main language of the island.

Still, they don't have all the vocabulary, hence borrowing words from Chinese.

I read that for an English speaking person to speak Japanese fluently, it'd take 22,000 hours of studying.

I guess, because you also have to learn kanji.

Similarly,
The word for I/me

Mandarin 我 wo
Cantonese 我 ngǒ
Japanese kanji 私 (I don't know how to pronounce, but in Chinese it's si )
Hak-kâ-ngî 雁 ngan/ngaan


That shows that they are quite different.
Altough all came from Chinese.

If my memory serves me well, I believe 私 is pronounced, Matashi (Mahtahshee) which is obviously very different from Si.

[Oni]

Only fluent in English. I understand a fair bit of Spanish/Portuguese - minor amounts of Japanese. Enough to order at a restaurant and stuff.