It's All Over...

My JLPT 4 exam in the morning that is. "How was it," you might ask? Oh well, the writing & vocabulary section was pretty okay with me not very sure about questions 29 and 33. The listening section definitely would be the killer if I do fail. I had problems processing the words I detected during the listening fast enough and when I tried to shade the answer sheet for a question, I would miss part of the next question's conversation. The last section, reading & grammar, was manageable overall with some questions I answered using my instincts rather than actual knowledge or reasoning.

Anyway, the exam was over and done with, and I also have taken a couple of pictures of the venue, the Japanese School, Singapore (Changi Campus).

The main lobby.

The classroom that I took my exam in.

Examinees collecting their shoes from the wooden racks. One is not allowed to wear shoes in a Japanese classroom.

I will be taking the JLPT 4 tomorrow

Wishing myself and whoever is taking the test too the best of luck! (I need lotsa luck :p)

JLPT 4 Revision - Give and Receive

JLPT 4 Revision - Question Words (5W1H)

Note: The original post in friendster blog has its image removed by the system hence I tried my best to recreate the content with whatever materials I have.


どれ = which
どこ = where
どちら = which (direction)
どの = which (item)
どんな = what (type)
どんなに = however
どう = how
何 = what
誰/どなた = who

なんの + noun = what kind of item
どうですか = how you feel
どうverbますか = how to do
どうしますか = what to do

何も + negative
何でも + positive
誰にも + negative
誰でも + positive
どこ［へ／に］も + negative
どこでも + positive

なにじん（何人）= which country's person
なんいん（何人）= how many people

JLPT 4 Revision - Measurement of Quantities

JLPT 4 Revision - Degrees of Severity

Positive:
たまに　＜　ときどき　＜　よく　＜　いつも　＜　ほとんど　＜　ぜんぜん

Negative:
あまり　＜　めったに　＜　ほとんど　＜　ぜんぜん

JLPT 4 Revision - Forms of Verbs

JLPT 4 Revision - Classroom Lingo

Attached are some of the common phrases that are used in the classroom:

JLPT 4 Revision - Polite Form vs Normal Form

JLPT 4 Revision - Vocabulary (II)

If you are aspiring to be a Japanese-speaking Hannibal Lector, then the following body parts' terms are must-learns:

JLPT 4 Revision - Greetings

おはようございます。Good morning. 

こんにちは。Good afternoon/day.

こんばんは。Good evening.

おやすみなさい。Sleep well.

さようなら。Goodbye.

ごめんなさい。Sorry.

ありがとうございます。Thank you very much.

どういたしまして。You are welcomed.

しつれいします。Sorry for disturbing you.

しつれいしました。Sorry for having to disturb you.

きりつ。れい。ちゃくせき。Stand. Bow. Sit down.

いただきます。I am going to eat.

ごちそうさまでした。I have finished eating.

いってきます。I am going off.

いってらっしゃい。Walk slowly.

ただいま。I am back.

おかえりなさい。Welcome back.

どうぞよろしくお願いします。

御免ください。Excuse me? (Use when knocking on door)

Xさんはいらっしゃいますか。Is Mr. X home?

どちら様でしょうか。Who is it?

お邪魔します。Sorry to disturb.

JLPT 4 Revision - Particles (I)

The following is a summary of the particles I have learned:

Updated April 25, 2011:
I have found a Japanese Particles [Cheatsheet] that summarises most of them.

JLPT 4 Revision - Vocabulary (I)

Below are some Japanese terms for addressing family members:

Can English has simpler spelling?

What if the English we know today undergoes a revolutionary reform? Whut if we all rite like this and spel wurdz the wae thae sound? Don't get me wrong, I am not talking about the shorthands we used in actual abbreviations, SMSes and emails. I am talking about spelling English words phonetically. Allow me to point you to this interesting article by CNN.com, "Puush for simpler speling perzists".

Note: You may get a headache reading that article but you will applaud the effort the writer put in to use a totally new spelling system for a third of the article.