Help with Japanese <span title="holidays/numbers/weeks/days/months/year/hours/minutes/katakana?">holidays/numbers/weeks/da...</span>

Question

Can anyone explain to me all the holidays listed here?

http://img214.imageshack.us/img214/3642/scannedimage11lu2.jpg

Like why are they celebrated? How can I memorize these holidays faster?

I asked my teacher about it and she doesn't know much (-_-") even tho she's a Japanese person; she said she doesn't know why they have the Ocean day there and the other ones... she explained the one she knows and its only a few T__T I need to memorize this for our pop quiz coming up next week and I don't know much and I don't know why they have those holidays T__T and I need to know why they exist T_T can anyone please help me!

This year I was placed in a different Japanese class again with this new teacher, my teacher is pretty young, she looks almost like Utada Hikaru >_< first I thought it was pretty cool, but now I'm afraid I might fail my Japanese class, cause of the way she explain stuff, its really fast she will explain something for less than 30 minutes and then move on to another topic and expect us to know it right away, her writing isn't as clear as my other Japanese teacher so its kinda hard to understand what shes writing but her English is much better than the other teachers I have had in the past.

Last Friday we were learning numbers, she was real fast with it and like I still don't know how to count 1 to 10 in Japanese without messing up with a few of the numbers T_T anyways she moved really fast to weeks/numbers in a different version 1st, 2nd stuff/months/years/days/hours/minutes, etc... TT_TT I don't have any "friendly" classmate who could actually help me for some reason most of my classmates tend to avoid working with me T__T so I really want to know how I can memorize all these stuff just in time for my quiz on Thursday of this upcoming week. Is there any online game, program or whatever that I can do to use to memorize all these stuff?

Here are the handouts she hand us, we need to memorize all that

http://img241.imageshack.us/img241/2659/scannedimage12sg8.jpg

http://img296.imageshack.us/img296/735/scannedimage13ex0.jpg

Also can anyone explain what "Inregular numbers" means? I really don't get that.

Now my last question Katakana

Well.. I learned that last semester, I really don't know why I'm learning it again.. but theres something wrong and I'm confused now =(

My previous teacher taught us to write Hi kinda curved in the end but the way just the one that you see here, my teacher said its wrong to write it like that but I'm confused T_T also Ku my new teacher said its wrong to write this part "too long" but my previous teacher taught us that way.. so which one is really right? -sigh-

http://img214.imageshack.us/img214/8513/scannedimage17ks3.jpg

Oh if you want to help me study, feel free to message me!

Thank you for the help in advanced!

Answer 1

Holidays:

New Year&#039;s Day

元日

January 1 This national holiday was established in 1948, as a day to celebrate the new year. New Year&#039;s Day marks the beginning of Japan&#039;s most important holiday season, the New Year season, which generally refers to the first one, three or seven days of the year. Although not prescribed by law, many workplaces are closed from December 29 to January 3. Prior to 1948, January 1 was a national holiday on which the imperial worship ceremony known as Shihō-hai took place.

Coming-of-Age Day

成人の日

Second Monday of January This national holiday was established in 1948 as a day to congratulate and encourage people who have reached the age of majority [20] during the year. Cities and towns throughout the nation hold ceremonies for these people. Originally held on January 15, in 2000 it was changed to the second Monday of January in accordance with the Happy Monday System.

National Foundation Day

建国記念の日

February 11 This national holiday was established in 1966 [and first held in 1967] as a day to reflect on the establishment of the nation and to nourish a love for the country. From 1872 to 1948, February 11 was known as Kigen-setsu, a holiday commemorating the day on which—according to the Nihon-shoki—Emperor Jimmu is said to have acceded the throne in 660 BCE.

Vernal equinox

春分の日

Around March 21[1] This national holiday was established in 1948 as a day for the admiration of nature and the love of living things. Prior to 1948, the vernal equinox was an imperial ancestor worship festival called Shunki kōrei-sai.

Shōwa Day

昭和の日

April 29 This national holiday was established in 2007 as a day to reflect on the events of the Shōwa period. As the birthday of the Shōwa Emperor, April 29 was originally celebrated as a holiday during his lifetime.  After the death of the emperor in 1989, the date continued to be a holiday under the new name &quot;Greenery Day&quot;.  In 2007, Greenery Day was moved to May 4, and April 29 took the name &quot;Shōwa Day&quot; in honor of the late Emperor. Shōwa Day marks the start of the Golden Week holiday period.

Constitution Memorial Day

憲法記念日

May 3 This national holiday was established in 1948, to commemorate the day on which Japan&#039;s postwar constitution took effect. Constitution Memorial Day falls during Golden Week.

Greenery Day

みどりの日

May 4 This national holiday is celebrated as a day to commune with nature and be grateful for its blessings. Originally established in 1989 and held annually on April 29, in 2007, Greenery Day was moved to May 4, and April 29 was renamed &quot;Shōwa Day&quot;.  Greenery Day falls during Golden Week. [NB: From 1986 to 2006, May 4 was a holiday known as Kokumin no kyÅ«jitsu in accord with Japanese law, which stipulates that any weekday that falls between two holidays shall also be a holiday.]

Children&#039;s Day

こどもの日

May 5 This national holiday was established in 1948, as a day on which to esteem the personalities of children and plan for their happiness. It is on this day that the Japanese equivalent of the Dragon Boat Festival is held. On this day, families who have a boy in their home may fly koi streamers and decorate their homes with armor or samurai dolls. Children&#039;s Day marks the end of Golden Week.

Marine Day

海の日

Third Monday of July This national holiday was established in 1995 [and first held in 1996] as a day of gratitude for the blessings of the oceans and for hoping for the prosperity of the maritime nation that is Japan. Originally held on July 20, in 2003 it was changed to the third Monday of July in accordance with the Happy Monday System.

Respect-for-the-Aged Day

敬老の日

Third Monday of September This national holiday was established in 1966 as a day to respect the elderly and celebrate long life. Originally held on September 15, it originated as a renaming of Old Folks&#039; Day.  In 2003, it was changed to the third Monday of September in accordance with the Happy Monday System.

Autumnal equinox

秋分の日

Around September 23[2] This national holiday was established in 1948 as a day on which to honor one&#039;s ancestors and remember the dead. Prior to 1948, the autumnal equinox was an imperial ancestor worship festival called Shūki kōrei-sai.

Health and Sports Day

体育の日

Second Monday of October This national holiday was established in 1966 as a day on which to enjoy sports and cultivate a healthy mind and body. Originally held on October 10th to commemorate the anniversary of the opening ceremony of the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, in 2000 it was changed to the second Monday of October in accordance with the Happy Monday System.

Culture Day

文化の日

November 3 This national holiday was established in 1948. It commemorates the November 3, 1946 announcement of the Constitution. It is recognized as a day to celebrate peace and freedom and promote culture. [NB: Although prior to the establishment of this holiday in 1948, November 3 was also a national holiday called Meiji-setsu commemorating the birthday of Emperor Akihito was born on this day in 1933. [NB: Prior to the death of Emperor Hirohito in 1989, this holiday was celebrated on April 29. See &quot;Shōwa Day&quot; above.]

Holidays section taken from Wikipedia.

Numbers:

1.....いち.........一

2.....に............二

3.....さん.........三

4.....し・よん.....四

5.....ご............五

6.....ろく..........六

7.....しち・なな..七

8.....はち.........八

9.....きゅう・く....九

10...じゅう........十

Weeks:

This week: こんしゅう

Next week: らいしゅう

Last week: せんしゅう

Months:

January:　いちがつ・一月

February:　にがつ・二月

March:　さんがつ・三月　

April:　よんがつ・四月

May:　ごがつ・五月

June:　ろくがつ・六月

July:　なながつ・七月

August:　はちがつ・八月

September:　くがつ・九月

October:　じゅうがつ・十月

November:　じゅういちがつ・十一月

December: 　じゅうにがつ・十二月

Days:

Monday:　げつようび・月曜日

Tuesday:　かようび・火曜日

Wednesday:　すいようび・水曜日

Thursday:　もくようび・木曜日

Friday:　きんょうび・金曜日

Saturday:　とようび・土曜日

Sunday:　にちようび・日曜日

Years:

This year:　ことし

Next year:　らいねん

Last year: ふるとし・きゅうねん・きょねん・さくねん

1st:　ひとつ

2nd: ふたつ

3rd: みつ

4th: よつ

Used when counting people:

One/Alone: ひとり

Two/couple/pair: ふたり

AM and PM:

AM:　ごぜん

PM:　ごご

I think what you mean by irregular numbers is that they&#039;re prounounced differently when different numbers are added.

I&#039;ll try to explain the ones I can remember:

Mostly after &quot;4&quot; [if you count it as &quot;s**+&quot; instead of &quot;yon&quot;], the other numbers that have a number &quot;4&quot; in them are prounounced &quot;yon&quot;. So forty would most likely be prounounced as &quot;yonjyuu&quot; instead of &quot;shijyuu&quot;.

Like 4, I believe most people use &quot;nana&quot; for 7, instead of &quot;shichi&quot; So for seventy, it would most likely be prounounced as &quot;nanajyuu&quot; instead of &quot;shichijyuu&quot;.

Then, you have to remember that 3, 6, and 8 are prounounced differently when 100 is added.

100 is &quot;hyaku&quot;

200 is &quot;nihyaku&quot;

but 300 is &quot;sanbyaku&quot;

600 is &quot;rokupyaku&quot;

800 is &quot;happyaku&quot;

Then for 1000, 3 is prounounced differently

1000 is &quot;sen&quot;

2000 is &quot;nisen&quot;

but 3000 is &quot;sanzen&quot;

Katakana:

As for you &quot;hi&quot; and &quot;ku&quot;, I can&#039;t really see anything wrong with them, they look pretty normal to me. However, you may have gotten a pickier teacher, so I&#039;d just do as she says. However, they both look about the same, and in reality, no one will really notice unless you are really off. As for the &quot;ha&quot;, the 2 curves cannot be too curved, it must be a bit stiffer, that is a big different because the katakana for &quot;ha&quot; can be confused with &quot;eight&quot; in kanji.

Ha:　ハ

8:　八

It&#039;s not really noticeable through typing, but you can kind of see how the 8 is more curved while &quot;ha&quot; should be stiffer.

As for memorizing, I cannot really help you with these basic terms. These are the foundation for your later studies, and I believe the only way you could actually remember them is to cram them into your head.

The numbers just must be repeated endlessly until you can repeat it fluently, I cannot really explain or help you with memorizing this.

For the days, I shall do my best.

Usually, memorizing for me is based more on a type of feeling. For example, I&#039;d just believe that Tuesday is &quot;fiery&quot; because the kanji and &quot;ka&quot; means &quot;fire&quot;. Wednesday is the middle of the week, so I&#039;d believe that it&#039;s a bit &quot;calmer&quot; and more like &quot;water&quot; which is the kanji and meaning of &quot;sui&quot;. For Monday, just remember that &quot;getsu&quot; and the kanji means &quot;moon&quot; and Monday, the beginning of &quot;Mon&quot; is kind of spelled like &quot;moon&quot;. Thursday is something I&#039;ve crammed into my head. Friday is a happy, &quot;golden&quot; day, so the kanji and the meaning of &quot;kin&quot; is &quot;gold&quot;. Saturday you could remember because you lie on the beach or something, and the kanji and meaning of &quot;to&quot; is &quot;dirt&quot;. Sunday&#039;s kanji and meaning is &quot;sun&quot;, so naturally, the day would be referred to as &quot;Sun&quot;day.

I&#039;m not too sure about online games or programs, but www[.]freedict[.]com is a good English -&gt; Japanese [Romanji]  

Answer 2

... you should post these as separate questions mate lol

Let me just briefly answer the first question.  You can also look this up

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_ca...

5/03 - celebration of the promulgation of the 1947 Constitution of Japan

5/04 - Showa Emperor&#039;s (the one before the current Emperor) birthday

5/05 - day set aside to respect children&#039;s personalities and to celebrate their happiness

7/21 - many people take advantage of the holiday and summer weather to take a beach trip (no traditional celebrations, but been placed there as there wasn&#039;t any other public holidays around this time of the year)

9/15 - celebrated annually to honor elderly citizens

9/23 - the day when the Sun is exactly at the celestial longitude of 180° (i.e. middle of Autmn)

10/13 - commemorates the opening of the 1964 Summer Olympics being held in Tokyo

11/03 - commemorate the announcement of the post-war Japanese constitution on November 3, 1946

11/23 - originally a celebration for rice harvest

12/23 - determined by the present Emperor&#039;s birth date (changes if current one dies)

(note that you can chuck all these in wikipedia to get the japanese article, then click &quot;English&quot; to switch over to the english page)

For all other details regarding Japanese holidays &amp; calenders, checkout the wiki article link I have provided at the top.