#bunpro

[languagelvlup]

I’ve been branching out on my language learning resources because Migaku is amazing for vocab and has been essential in getting me to consume more native content, but now I need to improve my grammar.

I’m on a free trial of bunpro right now. Anyone have any comments about it (positive or negative)?

[peistudies]

段々(だんだん) - Gradually, Little by little, Step by step

Can be thought of as meaning ‘step by step’, ‘stepwise’, or even ‘steadily’. だんだん is similar to ほとんど, in that it can modify the meaning of entire phrases, rather than just single words.

だんだん + （と） + Phrase

To use だんだん, simply put it before the phrase that you want to express as ‘(A) that is increasing steadily’.

*While だんだん can take the particle と, it is not required. In fact, と is very often omitted from adverbs/onomatopoeic words (words that represent a sound or motion) in Japanese.

*Don't mix it up with どんどん, which is essentially the antonym of だんだん. どんどん is an onomatopoeic word that represents loud banging (like on a drum), and is used to express fast changes/progression. 

だんだん雨が降ってきた。It is starting to rain. (Slow progression, does not imply great speed or severity)

どんどん雨が降ってきた。It is starting to rain. (Rapid progression, may imply great speed and/or severity)

友達が話している：「だんだんとあのやつの事が嫌いになってきていて、今は避けるようにしている。」 Chat between friends: "I gradually came to dislike that guy, and now I do my best to avoid him."

近所の人が話している：「来週からだんだん暖かくなるってニュースで言っていましたよ。」 Neighbors talking: "The news said that it will gradually get warmer from next week."

[yhrite]

Valid example sentence

[jpn-langblr]

Review + tutorial: Bunpro

Bunpro is a free grammar review site visually similar to WaniKani. It’s relatively new, so I though I’d give it a spin!

tl;dr

Pros

Spaced Repetition System for reviewing

Furigana and English translations available by default (toggle off under settings)

Synchronizes with WaniKani - add your API token under settings, and furigana will automatically be turned off for the kanji that you’ve learned

Very nice and helpful support!

No way to “cheat”, like there is with manual flash cards - crucial to remember grammar points correctly

Option to add own notes to a grammar point

Extremely easy to give feedback (help them improve!)

Cons

Still very new; grammar points are still being added

Specifically N2 is very unfinished (due to the amount of lessons that have to be created) and only available to supporters at the moment

N1 lessons aren’t up at all

A little difficult to navigate; many clicks required

Few example sentences

Let’s take a look at the lessons first. The grammar points are sorted by their JLPT levels, so there’s no need for a ‘test out’ option; you simply go with the level you are the most comfortable with. I chose to start at N4. Not visible in the picture are two new entries, both labeled ‘new!’, so the site is as of yet still incomplete; bear that in mind when using it to review. Some things you need may not be available.

It’s easy as pie; just click a specific grammar point to get started with your lessons.

See what I meant about it being visually similar to WaniKani? In my opinion, that’s only a plus. Like WK, the lessons can be navigated using the arrow keys to move from one tab or lesson to the next. The grammar points are very simply explained, which I like, and each feature at least two example sentences. Have no fear, folks who still haven’t braved kanji, there are furigana available from the get-go!

The ‘readings’ tab has links to Japanese grammar sites, where the specific grammar point of the lesson is explained in further detail. To add the grammar point to your review queue, you must check the boxes next to each link to tell the site that you’ve studied the grammar point. Doesn’t matter if you actually did it or not (you might have studied this piece of grammar before), but if you didn’t catch it from the very first sentence, this is a grammar review site. It doesn’t aim to teach you how to use the grammar point in detail; it leaves that to other wonderful places on the internet like Tae Kim, Imabi, and Puni Puni.

When you’ve completed all of the steps and checked all the boxes above, it’s time to review. ‘Reviews’ at the very top of the screen tells you how many you have available. If you choose ‘Account’ instead, this overview is what will pop up instead.

As you can see, I’ve still only dipped my toes for the purposes of this review, but it really strikes me as a resource that has the potential to become invaluable to people studying Japanese.

Bunpro site | Bunpro updates | my posts | message me

[tofugu]

New Japanese Learning Resources: September 2017

Discover the best Japanese learning tools right now. Tofugu reveals the best resources every month.

It's a new month, and you know what that means: we're here to bring you the best new Japanese learning resources.

This time we've got a fancy new app, a grammar website, a touchingly nerdy show, and some familiar faces.

Let's get started!

LingoDeer

Bunpro

Final Fantasy XIV: Dad of Light

Tinycards for Android

Learn (Japanese) Kana the Fun Way!

KLC Graded Reading Set 5

Read more!

[stealthpoptarts]

3/100 days of productivity Japanese vocab from imabi.net! URL for the article: <www.imabi.net/copularsentencesii.htm> Found this article while doing grammar lessons on a site called Bunpro. It's really similar to the app WaniKani, except it teaches grammar instead of vocabulary. Unlike WaniKani, though, it's completely free!! I highly recommend both. Misspelled a couple of things in the vocab, but oh well. I used pen so I can't really fix it. Kindly ignore any of my badly written kanji. :P Doing this challenge with: @welovelanguages @danfetish @shinyglittervicky @tokumeino90 & @rabbits-melancholy

[peistudies]

かもしれない - Might, maybe, probably (Colloquial: かも or かもしらん)

Plain Verb + かもしれない ［い］Adjective + かもしれない ［な］Adjective + かもしれない Noun + かもしれない

*To make polite, change ない to ません (かもしれません)

This one is sooo easy. SCORE! You plop it on the end of any sentence to express uncertainty. No fancy conjugating or funny business. Just make sure you’re adding it to plain forms (not です or ます). Amazing. Here's a couple example sentences.

このいい服を買えば、人気になるかもしれない。If I buy these nice clothes, then I might become popular.

彼は何にも調べないで、日本に行くかもしれない。He might go to Japan without researching anything.

[peistudies]

ということ (と言う事) - phrase nominalization ( ~ing, The ~ that ~ )

Phrase + ということ Regularly shortened to ってこと in conversation, manga, etc. Usually written using hiragana alone.

To use ということ, attach it to the end of any phrase (without です or ます). The word preceding ということ must be plain: Verb (casual) い Adj. Noun + だ な Adj. + だ

The expression ということ is one of the many ways to turn that phrase into a noun (nominalization).

Examples from JLPT Sensei

あなたが私の声が好きだということがとても嬉しいです。I'm so glad you like my voice.

あなたが会社をやめるということは本当ですか。Is it true you're quitting the company?

彼は怖いということを知らない。 He doesn't know what fear is.

つまり、あなたは同じ本をまた読みたいということ？ Do you mean you want to read the same book again?

彼は友だちができるかということを心配している。I'm worried about if he will be able to make friends.

私は彼が信用できない人だということが分かった。I realized he was an unreliable person.

私は今日が結婚記念日だということを忘れていました。I'd forgotten today was my wedding anniversary.