Introduction to Essential Japanese: Lesson 5 - 自己绍介 (Self Introduction)
Time to commence Lesson 5 of "Introduction to Essential Japanese"!
For the past 4 lessons, just to recap, we've went through all that's there in the building blocks of Japanese - Hiragana and Katakana.

But nothing's complete without knowing how to express it. You can't be just going "あ、あ、あ" like what a baby does every day, can you?

So let's start conversation proper - to learn, to understand and to use Japanese in everyday speech. *applause please*

In Japan, as you would probably know from anime, courtesy and politeness is crucial. Thus, the following lessons will be mainly conducted using 丁宁语 （ていねいご）, or polite speech as what we call it in English.
With that set, what's the first thing you do when you meet someone for the first time? That's right, self-introduction, or at least, a "Hello".

Let me start with my introduction first.
初（はじ）めまして。私（わたし）はニンフ（Nymph)です！どうぞよろしくお愿（ねが）いします！Hajimemashite. Watashi wa Ninfu desu! Douzo yoroshiku onegaishimasu!
That's the simplest introduction you can ever have. Breaking it down bit by bit,
初（はじ）めまして --- Nice to meet you (for the first time)
私（わたし）はニンフ（Nymph)です --- I am Nymph. (Note that は is pronounced as wa (わ）when used as a particle)
どうぞよろしくお愿（ねが）いします！ --- Thank you very much/Please Take care of me! (For Chinese fans, this translates best to 请多多指教)

It's possible to substitute phrases from your introduction though,and you can sort-of mix-and-match some of these following phrases...

Saying Hi/Nice to meet you (Pick one):
こんにちは！ - Good Afternoon / Hi
Konnichiwa
!初（はじ）めまして - Nice to meet you
Hajimemashite

More about yourself (pick any amount):
私（わたし）はニンフです。 -- I am Nymph.
Watashi wa Ninfu desu
(Optional, if you have a long name): XXを呼(よ）んでもいいですよ！ --- You can call me XX!

Introduction to Essential Japanese - Lesson 7: 君と仆 (You and I)
We're now into Lesson 7, and after learning the most common expressions in daily usage, it's time to grasp some vocabulary too!
Let's begin with the most commonly used phrase, in each and every language - expressing "YOU" and "I".
In Japanese, there are literally dozens of ways to say "I", and another dozens to say "you".
Ranging from the simplest, to the most courteous, and even to those that sound arrogant.
Here are some of them:
For MALE (Note that these words are meant for INFORMAL occasions only)
仆（ぼく）- boku - A slightly-masculine word meaning "I". Found commonly in every day speech WITH CLOSE FRIENDS. Recently more and more girls are starting to use this word, though "by right" it's a masculine word.
俺（おれ）- ore - In contrast to boku, this word is a much more masculine word that tough guys use. You'll almost never hear it used together with a polite form, and this word itself is fairly impolite too, but when used with really close friends, it gives an impression of being close to them.
For FEMALE (Note that these words are meant for INFORMAL occasions only)
あたし - atashi - This word does not have a Kanji, as kanjis are thought to be more masculine. This word has a cute nuance and is used exclusively for girls.
内（うち）- uchi - While rarely heard within communities outside Japan, this word is also feminine.
For BOTH
私（わたし）- watashi - the all-purpose phrase. Used anytime, anywhere. However, if you are with close friends, you are recommended to use the respective forms for your gender, as they tend to be more friendly.
私（わたくし）- watakushi - People with keen eyes would have noted that watakushi and watashi have the same Kanji. Indeed they do. And watakushi is used for both genders, in an even more formal tone, used during occasions like announcements.
我（われ）- ware - Used more commonly in the form 我々(wareware), which means "we"
こちら - kochira - A formal phrase, literally meaning "this way / this party", also used to say "me".
Here is a video by Ken Cannon, which I've came across. Quite interesting, and the way he conducts the lesson makes it much more fun.
youtu点be/dFcyaWgGpJM
How to say "you":
There are even more words to say "you", but make sure choice of words is important, or you can be considered rude in Japan.
The most polite way of saying "you" in Japanese is to call them by their family name + san, or given name if you're close with them.
Example: 田中さん、来てくれませんか？ (Tanaka san, kite kuremasen ka?) Tanaka, would you please come here?
But this is only if you know their name. What if you don't? (Or you simply don't want to call them by their name)
For normal daily interactions, you can either avoid using the word "you", or you can use the word "あなた" (anata).
Scenario Example: Someone drops his wallet.You:
あの、すみませんですが、これ、落（お）としました。(Ano, sumimasen desu ga, kore, otoshimashita) Um... Sorry, you dropped your wallet. Here. *returns wallet*
--> Note that the word "you" has been purposely omitted.
Alternatively, you can say:あの、すみませんですが、これ、あなたの财布（さいふ）(Ano, sumimasen desu ga, kore, anata no saifu) Um... Sorry, here is your wallet. (You dropped it).
However, do use the word "あなた" with caution, as over-usage tends to project you as a rude person.
Other words for "you":
XXちゃん (XX chan): A rather affectionate term instead of the word "san"
XX君（くん） (XX kun): Used mainly with males to replace the word "san"
君（きみ）(Kimi): Heard most commonly in songs. This word is less rude than "あなた", but usually not used unless you know the person's name, which then again, defeats its purpose.
お前（まえ）(Omae): Literally means "The dude before me". Rude phrase.
贵様（きさま）(kisama) : Used as a rude phrase in which you look down on the other person.
手前（てめえ）(Temee): Rude phrase, meaning you.
Once again, try not to use お前、贵様 and 手前, as these are really rude.
And finally, this is a rather interesting way of saying "I" - in the 3rd person perspective, which makes the speaker rather childish. :P
Notable Example:
风子（ふうこ）は元気（げんき）です！(Fuuko wa genki desu!)

This is lesson 7 out of 15, which means we are halfway there already! (Those who have survived with me till this point, congratulations!)
This is a reminder that next lesson (2 days later) will be a mini-quiz! Start revising! :P
Introduction to Essential Japanese
Lesson 7: 君と仆 (You and I)
*Nymph-chan*

Introduction to Essential Japanese - Lesson 8: Mini-quiz
We're halfway done with the course! *celebrate if you must*
But here's the evil that all of you would dread... :D
A mini-quiz! Hope everyone is prepared.
The "top scorer" gets to ask any 3 things from me - ask me any questions, request any anime pictures/songs etc.
And fret not, the 2 runner-ups will get 2 picture requests each.
The top-scoring post will be pinned up for 1 day too, so show me the best you've got!
Without further ado, here's the question.
あなたはミクになることを想像（そうぞう）してみてください。
コンサートの开始时（かいしじ）、皆（みな）さんに自己绍介（じこしょうかい）をしてみてください。
Imagine that you are Miku.
At the start of a concert, introduce yourself to everyone.
Post your answers here!
This quiz runs for 1 day, until 0400 GMT, 10 December 2012.
Introduction to Essential Japanese - Mini Quiz
*Nymph-chan*

Now sometimes, the numbers change pronunciation when they are coupled with different words.
Example: 600 is pronounced as ろっぴゃく(roppyaku) instead of ろくひゃく(roku hyaku)
The good thing is that these are 3 such cases.
300 - さんびゃく(sanbyaku)
600 - ろっぴゃく(roppyaku)
800 - はっぴゃく(happyaku)
However, here is something that differs from English.When counting, you have to use a quantifier.
Example: 一本（いっぽん）- One (long and thin object like pencil)
It will kill both me and you if I were to list them out, but here is one of them:

So to end off this lesson, probably you would now know what Miku has her concerts on 9 March every year :P
ミク（みく）can also be written as 三（み as in みっつ）九（く）.
In fact, there are many ways to write Miku's name, such as 未（み as in みらい）来（く as in くる）.
(Hence the name that the Chinese community call Miku by, is 初音未来)
P.S. The attached image is a 1920x1200 wallpaper.
Hi-res version here:
（此处缺一百字）
顽张って！（Ganbatte)
Introduction to Essential Japanese - Lesson 9: 数字 (すうじ）(Numbers)
*Nymph-chan*

Introduction to Essential Japanese - Lesson 13: Telling time
Let's say your tour guide in Japan asks you all to assemble in front of the hotel at 8amand you've somehow misplaced your watch. Without combing all over the streets for a clock (tower), you know that you're gonna get into trouble if you can't ask for the time.
So we shall talk about the essence of time in today's lesson.
Time in Japanese is fairly easy if you can count 1-10. (Trust me)
Just a quick revision...
1 いち (ichi)
2 に (ni)
3 さん (san)
4 よん (yon) / し (shi)
5 ご (go)
6 ろく (roku)
7 しち (shichi) / なな (nana)
8 はち (hachi)
9 きゅう (kyuu) -- To remember, just think of Kyubey.

10 じゅう (jyuu)
11 じゅう + いち = じゅういち (jyuu ichi)
12 じゅう + に = じゅうに (jyuu ni)
...and so on and so forth...
20 に + じゅう = にじゅう (ni jyuu)
30 さん + じゅう = さんきゅう (san jyuu)
...same goes for 40, 50 and 60...
So back to telling time...Telling time is a matter of saying
(Optional: AM/PM) + Hour + Minutes.
AM = 午前　（ごぜん） gozen
PM = 午后　（ごご） gogo
Hour:
Just the number + 时（じ）.
Example: 1 o'clock = いち＋じ＝いちじ
Note that for 4 o'clock, 7 o'clock and 9 o'clock, the words are
よじ(instead of よんじ), しちじ(instead of ななじ) and くじ(instead of きゅうじ) respectively.
Minute:
1 いっぷん (ippun)
2 にふん (nifun)
3 さんぷん (sanpun)
4 よんぷん (yonpun)
5 ごふん (gofun)
6 ろっぷん (roppun)
7 ななふん (nanafun)
8 はっぷん (happun)
9 きゅうふん (kyuufun)
10 じっぷん (jippun)
Anything above 10 is just the corresponding tens-place + minute (with it's correct ふん/ぷん）
Example: 14th minute - じゅう + よんぷん = じゅうよん　ぷん
Example: 39th minute - さんじゅう + きゅうふん = さんじゅうきゅう　ふん
Some special things to note:
Instead of saying さんじっぷん for "half-past", you can say はん（半）
Example: いちじはん (ichiji han) = Half-past one.
However, take note that はん（半）is usually not used when saying things like "30 minutes' time"
If you've understood the lesson, then this joke may seem funny (punny) to you.
It took me 1 minute to come up with this pun.
1 minute = いっぷん (ipPUN) geddit?
*Bad joke*
Anyway, time (pun not intended) for an anime picture!
Presenting...Hirasawa Yui! (who read the time wrongly)
Introduction to Essential Japanese - (2nd last lesson) Lesson 13: Telling Time.
*Nymph-chan*

Introduction to Essential Japanese - Final Lesson: お兄ちゃん、大好き！ ♥
Today marks the final lesson (最后の授业) for the course "Introduction to Essential Japanese". (Somehow it coincides with Doomsday)
And of course, which Otaku doesn't learn the most moe word in the otaku culture? :)
So today, we will be learning the famous word: "お兄ちゃん"!
(And of course, along with... your mom, dad, grandma, grandad, great grandma, great grandad, cousin, niece, unc...*out of breath*)
For the best visual representation... We shall use a family tree. And since Clannad is one of those with an extensive family structure...
Image is from Ushio's point of view.
*Link is found at the bottom of the post*
(Warning: The picture contains spoilers for Clannad. Please do not view if you haven't watched the series)
Formal phrase / informal phrase - Meaning
お爷（じい）さん ojiisan / 祖父（そふ）sofu - Grandfather
お婆（ばあ）さん obaasan / 祖母（そぼ）sobo - Grandmother
(Take note not to mistake the word for soba, which means buckwheat noodles)
お父（とう）さん otousan / 父（ちち）chichi - Father
お母（かあ）さん okaasan / 母（はは）haha - Mother
お兄（にい）さん Oniisan / 兄（あに）Ani - (Elder) Brother
お姉（ねえ）さん Oneesan / 姉（あね）Ane - (Elder) Sister
弟（おとうと）Otouto - Younger brother
妹（いもうと）Imouto - Younger sister
Note that you can use ちゃん to replace さん when talking to your family members (or alternatively call them by the informal phrase).
Example: お兄（にい）ちゃん、买（か）ってもらえませんか？- Brother, can you buy this for me?
Example: 兄（あに）、これ、买（か）ってもらえませんか？- (Informal) Brother, can you buy this for me?
You can also drop the お when talking to your family members.
Example: 母（かあ）さん、今日（きょう）の晩（ばん）ご饭（はん）、何（なに）を食（た）べますか？ - Mom, what are we having for dinner tonight?
Finally, when addressing someone else's family members, always use the formal word + さん.
Example: 铃木さんはお母さんをお见舞いに行きました。 - Suzuki went to visit her mother.
To end off the lesson, since this is the final one (before a quiz again muahaha),there will be lots of tidbits today! :P
First up...A moe alarm clock to wake you up daily.
play点google点com/store/apps/details?id=jp.mezatenki点lunaeng&hl=en (Free, android)
play点google点com/store/apps/details?id=jp.interlink点moealarm&hl=en (Paid, android)
itunes点apple点com/us/app/nanya-japanese-moe-alarmclock/id443384409?mt=8(Paid, iOS)
Sorry Apple fans, didn't manage to find a free one.
Let's have one from Eucliwood (reuploaded with louder volume):
youtu点be/BT6k7me033A
And one more from Sunohara Mei...
"お兄ちゃん、芽衣 (Mei)どうすればいいの？"
youtu点be/H3C6pLWxJt4
If you could remember, we (I) started off lesson 1 with a moe hiragana by Rie Kugimiya.
So to wrap up everything, here is one last video, and it's voiced by Ms Tsundere Queen, Rie.
Presenting Nagi Sanzenin! (Video reuploaded from Youku)
youtu点be/kFKn89YkG6U
Now while you enjoy the videos...
Don't forget that there's a quiz coming up in 2 days' time! (Prizes to be won)
(This is lesson 14)
Introduction to Essential Japanese
Final Lesson (Lesson 14): お兄ちゃん、大好き！ ♥
*Nymph-chan*

Introduction to Essential Japanese - Exam: 私が好きなこと
After the past 14 lessons, here is a final quiz to see how much you've picked up!
Just like previously, the "top scorer" for this exam gets to ask me any 3 things. (You can ask me questions about myself, request pictures, soundtracks etc)
And for the next 2 runners-up, you can get 2 requests each!
Let's commence the exam now!
You can choose one of the following questions.
1. "Using Japanese, describe your most favourite anime character."
or
2. "Using Japanese, share what you like most about your country."
Please note that entries by Google/Bing translators are disqualified.
Contest ends in 24 hours (24 December 2012, 4AM UTC)
Results will be posted on 26 December, after Christmas celebrations (because I forsee many admins will be posting about Christmas on 25th).
*Nymph-chan*

Introduction to Essential Japanese - Exam Results
Here are the results for the mini-exam that just took place 2 days ago in the final post of "Introduction to Essential Japanese".
It was difficult judging which was the best of the three, but here are the results, after much debate within myself.
In first place, we have the post by Andi Dwitafa!
私の国の中で大好きな所はバンドンです　バンドンの中で吃茶店がたくさん　そしてバンドンの料理がおいしいです　私は休みの时バンドンへ行きたいです
In second place, we have a post from Gustavo Adolfo. While I like how you described Kakashi, there were a number of grammar mistakes :P
カカシさんは私のいちばん好きなキャラクターです。カカシさんは忍びで、三十七さいです。カカシさん背が高くて、髪が白い人です。彼は静かな人で、头がいいです。カカシのしゅみはエロい本を読む。
And although this post was filled with good use of varied sentence structure and vocabulary, it unfortunately went out of topic. And as such, this was awarded the third place.
Post from Senjougahara Shukumei
エンゲルビーツは最高です！どうして？ とても悲しいけど、见たあと色々な感じがいっぱいだから！XD
Congratulations once again!
(Winners, you can just reply to this post, the original one or drop us a message :P)
Thanks for your participation!
*Nymph-chan*

官FB一直用来收图