Help:Japanese: Difference between revisions

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{{selfref|For information about the Japanese language in general, please see the Wikipedia article on the [[Japanese language]].}}

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{{Information page|H:JP}}

:''The following are [[Japanese character]]s:'' 日本語です''. If they don't appear as in this image: [[Image:Kanji en kana - Nihongo desu.svg|80px]], see the [[Help:Japanese#Japanese-language_Characters|Japanese-language Characters]] subsection for instructions.''

This page is designed to answer questions regarding Japanese and its use on Wikipedia. If you have trouble viewing Japanese, please see the [[Help:Installing Japanese character sets]] page for assistance for your particular operating system.

== Japanese [[orthography]] ==

{{Mainmain|Japanese writing system}}

Japanese [[orthography|text]] is written with a mixture of [[kanji]], [[katakana]] and [[hiragana]] [[syllabary|syllabaries]]. Almost all '''kanji''' originated in [[China]], and may have more than one meaning and pronunciation. ''Kanji'' compounds generally derive their meaning from the combined kanji. For example, [[Tokyo]] ({{lang|ja|東京}}) is written with two kanji: "east" ({{lang|ja|東}}) + "capital" ({{lang|ja|京}}). The kanji, however, are pronounced differently from their Chinese relatives. For example, in modern Mandarin Chinese, these two kanji would be "Dongjing". The name was chosen because Tokyo was to be the eastern [[Capital (political)|capital]] of [[Japan]], relative to its previous capital city, [[Kyoto]] ({{lang|ja|京都}}). (Some other kanji compounds use characters chosen primarily for their pronunciations. Such characters are called ''[[ateji]]''.) In addition to native words and [[placenames]], kanji are used to write Japanese family names and most Japanese given names.

Centuries ago, [[hiragana]] and [[katakana]], the two kana syllabaries, derived their shapes from particular kanji pronounced in the same way. However, unlike ''kanji'', kana have no meaning, and are used only to represent sounds. '''Hiragana''' are generally used to write some Japanese words and given names and grammatical aspects of Japanese. For example, the Japanese word for "to do" ({{lang|ja|する}} {{Transliteration|ja|''suru''}}) is written with two ''hiragana'': {{script|Kana|す}} ({{Transliteration|ja|''su''}}) + {{script|Kana|る}} ({{Transliteration|ja|''ru''}}). '''Katakana''' are generally used to write [[loanword]]s, foreign names and [[onomatopoeia]]. For example, {{Transliteration|ja|''retasu''}} was borrowed from the English "lettuce", and is written with three katakana: {{script|Kana|レ}} ({{Transliteration|ja|''re''}}) + {{script|Kana|タ}} ({{Transliteration|ja|''ta''}}) + {{script|Kana|ス}} ({{Transliteration|ja|''su''}}). The onomatopoeia for the sound of typing is {{Transliteration|ja|''kata kata''}}, and is written with 4 ''katakana'': {{script|Kana|カ}} ({{Transliteration|ja|''ka''}}) + {{script|Kana|タ}} ({{Transliteration|ja|''ta''}}) + {{script|Kana|カ}} ({{Transliteration|ja|''ka''}}) + {{script|Kana|タ}} ({{Transliteration|ja|''ta''}}). It is common nowadays to see many businesses using ''katakana'' in place of ''hiragana'' and ''kanji'' in advertising. Additionally, people may use ''katakana'' when writing their names or informal documents for aesthetic reasons.

Japanese text is written with a mixture of [[kanji]] and the two [[kana]] [[syllabary|syllabaries]]. Almost all '''kanji''' originated in [[China]], and all have one or more meanings and pronunciations. ''Kanji'' compounds generally derive their meaning from the combined kanji. For example, [[Tokyo]] (東京) is written with two kanji: "east" (東) + "capital" (京). The name was chosen because Tokyo was to be the [[capital]] of [[Japan]] to the east of the existing capital, [[Kyoto]]. (There are some other kanji compounds, called "[[ateji]]", which do not share such a relationship with the meaning or sound of the words.)

[[Roman character]]s have also recently become popular for certain purposes in Japanese. (see ''[[rōmaji]]'')

Centuries ago, the [[kana]] syllabaries — [[hiragana]] and [[katakana]] — derived their shape from particular kanji pronounced in the same way. However, unlike ''kanji'', kana have no meaning, and are used only to represent sounds. '''Hiragana''' are used to write native Japanese words. For example, the Japanese word for "to do" (する ''suru'') is written with two ''hiragana'': す (''su'') + る (''ru''). '''Katakana''' are generally used to write [[loanwords]] and onomatopoeia. For example, ''retasu'' was borrowed from the English "lettuce", and is written with three katakana: レ (''re'') + タ (''ta'') + ス (''su''). The [[onomatopoeia]] for the sound of typing is ''kata kata'', and is written with 4 ''katakana'': カ (''ka'') + タ (''ta'') + カ (''ka'') + タ (''ta''). It is common nowadays to see many businesses using ''katakana'' in place of ''hiragana'' and ''kanji'' in advertising. Additionally, people may use ''katakana'' when writing their names or informal documents for aesthetic reasons.

[[Roman character]]s have also recently become popular for certain purposes in Japanese (see ''[[rōmaji]]''), but their use is still very limited.

==Japanese pronunciation==

{{Mainmain|Japanese phonology}}

Throughout [[Wikipedia]], a modified version of the widely- accepted [[Hepburn romanization]] is used to represent Japanese sounds in [[Roman character]]s. The following are some basic rules for using Hepburn to pronounce Japanese words accurately.

===Vowels===

* The [[vowels]] ''a'', ''e'', ''i'', ''o'', and ''u'' are generally pronounced somewhat similarly to those in [[Italian language|Italian]], [[Portuguese language|Portuguese]], [[French language|French]], [[Spanish language|Spanish]], and [[Slavic languages]].

* The vowel ''u'' is similar to that of the ''oo'' in ''moon'', although shorter and without lip-rounding. In certain contexts, such as after "s" at the end of a word, the vowel is devoiced, so ''desu'' may sound like ''dess''.

*The [[vowels]] ''a'', ''e'', ''i'' and ''o'' are generally pronounced as in [[Spanish language|Spanish]] or [[Italian language|Italian]].

* Japanese vowels can either be long ([[mora (linguistics)|bimoraic]]) or short (monomoraic). The [[Macron (diacritic)|macron]] denotes a long vowel.

*The vowel ''u'' is similar to that of the ''oo'' in ''moon'', although without lip-rounding.

** Long ''a'', ''o'' and ''u'' sounds are usually written with macrons as ''ā'', ''ō'' and ''ū''. The notation "ou" or "oo" is sometimes used for a long "ō", following [[kana]] spelling practices.

*Japanese vowels can either be long ([[mora (linguistics)|bimoraic]]) or short (monomoraic). The [[macron]] denotes lengthening.

** Long ''a'', ''oe'' and ''ui'' sounds are usually written with''ei'' macrons/''ee'' asand ''āii'', but in neologisms are instead written with macrons as ''ōē'' and ''ūī''.

** [[Circumflex]]es (''âêîôû'') occasionally appear as a typographical alternative to macrons, especially in older texts.

**Long ''e'' and ''i'' sounds are usually written ''ei'' and ''ii'', but in neologisms are instead written with macrons as ''ē'' and ''ī''.

**Circumflexes (''âêîôû'') occasionally appear as a typographical alternative to macrons, especially in older texts.

Japanese vowels can be approximated in [[English language|English]] as follows:

Line 29 ⟶ 28:

{| class="wikitable"

! vowel

! {{IPA|/a/}}

! {{IPA|/i/}}

! {{IPA|/u/}}

! {{IPA|/e/}}

! {{IPA|/o/}}

|-

! British [[Received Pronunciation]]

! English approximations

| between c'''a'''p and c'''u'''p

| as in f'''eea'''t rm

| as in b'''oo'''t

| as in g'''e'''t

| as in d'''o'''g

|-

! [[General American]]

| as in f'''a'''ther

| as in f'''ee'''t

| as in b'''oo'''t

| as in gh'''e'''ty

| as in '''o'''ldr

|}

===Moraic ''n''===

* An ''n'' before a [[consonant]] is [[moraic]] (its own [[mora (linguistics)|mora]]).

* A moraic ''n'' followed by a [[vowel]] or ''y'' is written ''n''' to distinguish it from mora that begin with the consonant ''n''.

*An ''n'' before a [[consonant]] is [[moraic]] (its own [[mora (linguistics)|mora]]).

*A The moraic ''n'' followedhas by avarious [[vowelphonetic]] or ''y'' is written ''n'''.realisations:

** Before an ''n'', ''t'', ''d'' or ''r'', it is pronounced {{IPA|[n]}}.

*The moraic ''n'' has various [[phonetic]] realisations:

** Before an ''n'', ''t'',a ''dk'' or ''rg'', it is pronounced {{IPA|[nŋ]}}.

** Before aan ''km'', ''b'' or ''gp'', it is pronounced as {{IPA|[ŋm]}}. It is written as ''m'' in some versions of [[Hepburn romanization|Hepburn]], but as ''n'' in Wikipedia’s modified Hepburn.

** It is otherwise pronounced as {{IPA|[ɴ]}} or {{IPA|[ɯ̃]}}.

**Before an ''m'', ''b'' or ''p'', it is pronounced as {{IPA|[m]}}. It is written as ''m'' in some versions of [[Hepburn]], but as ''n'' in Wikipedia’s modified Hepburn.

**It is otherwise pronounced as {{IPA|[ɴ]}} or {{IPA|[ɯ̃]}}.

===Consonants===

* [[Consonants]] other than ''f'', ''r'', ''g'', and ''n'' at final or before ''r'' are generally pronounced as in English.

* The consonant ''f'' is [[Bilabial consonant|bilabial]]: the teeth are not used, and the sound is much softer than the "f" of English. [tō'''f'''u] "''tōfu''"

*[[Consonants]] other than ''f'' and ''r'' are generally pronounced as in English.

* The consonant ''r'' is a flapped or tapped consonant. To an English speaker's ears, its pronunciation lies somewhere between a flapped ''t'' (as in American and [[Australian English]] ''be'''tt'''er'' and ''la'''dd'''er''), an ''l'' and a ''d''. [ki'''r'''ei] "''beautiful''"

*The consonant ''f'' is [[Bilabial consonant|bilabial]]: the teeth are not used, and the sound is much softer than the "f" of English.

* The consonant ''n'' at final or ''n'' before ''r'' is [[Uvular consonant|uvular]]: This consonant is a sound made further back, as of making a nasal sound at the place to articulate the French [[voiced uvular fricative|ʁ]]. [shi'''n'''ryaku] "''invasion''"

*The consonant ''r'' is similar to [[Korean]] ''r''. To an English speaker's ears, its pronunciation lies somewhere between a flapped ''t'' (as in American and [[Australian English]] ''be'''tt'''er'' and ''la'''dd'''er''), an ''l'' and a ''d''.

* [[Gemination|Double consonants]] (''kk'', ''tt'', etc.) basically indicate a slight, sharp pause before and stronger emphasis of the following sound, more similar to [[Italian language|Italian]] than English. Spelling anomalies:

** double ''ch'' is written as ''tch'' (sometimes ''cch''),

** double ''sh'' is written as ''ssh'' and

** double ''ts'' is written as ''tts''.

When a consonant is followed by another of the same letter, the first consonant is written with a chiisai (made-smaller) ''tsu'' (つ/ツ). Exception: Double n. In this case, being as ''n'' (ん/ン) is a single consonant, it can be written by itself. (Ex: Woman: Onna-おんな)

==Japanese names==

{{main|Japanese name}}

In [[Japan]] the given name always comes after the [[family name]]:

In Japanese names, the [[family name]] (surname) always comes before the [[given name]]. Examples:

*''Example:'' 安倍晋三 (''Abe Shinzō''). "Abe" (安倍) is the family name.

* In the name {{lang|ja|徳川家康}}, the family name is {{lang|ja|徳川}} ({{Transliteration|ja|Tokugawa}}) and the given name is {{lang|ja|家康}} ({{Transliteration|ja|Ieyasu}}).

* In the name {{lang|ja|福田康夫}}, the family name is {{lang|ja|福田}} ({{Transliteration|ja|Fukuda}}) and the given name is {{lang|ja|康夫}} ({{Transliteration|ja|Yasuo}}).

<!-- A similar, reverse name ordering is used in Chinese and Hungarian. -->

However, to reflect the Western convention of listing the given name first and the family name last, allthe romanized names of most Japanese people born since the establishment of the [[Meiji era]] ([[in 1868-09-08]]) conform to the "given name, family name" inorder. westernThis texts.usage Sois 安倍晋三typically reflected on Wikipedia: {{Transliteration|ja|''Tokugawa Ieyasu''}} (born 1543) is listed at [[Tokugawa Ieyasu]], while {{Transliteration|ja|''AbeFukuda ShinzōYasuo''}} (born 1936) is listed asat "[[ShinzoYasuo AbeFukuda]]".

==See also==

* [[Help:Japanese/Editing]] for information on customizing the appearance of Japanese text and usage in articles.

*[[Japanese language]]

*[[Help:IPA/Japanese]] for transcription of Japanese pronunciation

*[[Japanese abbreviated and contracted words]]

* [[Help:Installing Japanese soundcharacter symbolismsets]]

* [[Japanese abbreviated and contracted words]]

*[[Wikipedia:Manual of Style (Japan-related articles)]] for official Wikipedia style guidelines how to incorporate Japanese into articles here.

* [[Japanese language]]

*[[Help:Japanese/Editing]] for information on customizing the appearance of Japanese text and usage in articles.

* [[Japanese sound symbolism]]

*[[Wikipedia:Enabling East Asian characters]]

* [[Wikipedia:Enabling East Asian characters]] for other East Asian Character sets

* [[Wikipedia:Manual of Style (Japan-related articles)]] for official Wikipedia style guidelines how to incorporate Japanese into articles here.

==Japanese-language Characters==

''See: [[Wikipedia:Enabling East Asian characters]] for other East Asian Character sets.''

Throughout [[Wikipedia]], [[Chinese language|Chinese]], [[Japanese language|Japanese]] and [[Korean]] characters are used in specific articles.

Many computers with [[English language|English]] or other Western operating systems don't show them by default.

If you see boxes, question marks or senseless letters mixing into the first part, you still do not have support for East Asian characters.

===Check for Support===

1. This is Japanese text as it appears on Japanese websites and Wikipedia:

:すべての人間は、生まれながらにして自由であり、

:かつ、尊厳と権利と について平等である。

:人間は、理性と良心とを授けられており、

:互いに同胞の精神をもって行動しなければならない。

2. Compare it to this picture of what it should look like:

:[[Image:Japanesetexttest.png]]

===Windows 95, 98, ME and NT===

Your system should offer to download Asian [[font|fonts]] by default while viewing pages in those languages [http://www.socalgas.com/ch/installfont_en.shtml]

<br>Otherwise update your system manually with these language support packs:

[http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?displaylang=en&FamilyID=803A623E-C311-4591-A593-B0E24A6F38E8 here]

===Windows 2000===

:[http://www.microsoft.com/globaldev/handson/user/2kintlsupp.mspx Instructions for Windows 2000]

===Windows XP and Server 2003===

The Windows CD-ROM is needed while installing support for East Asian languages. (Non-East Asian localizations only)

:[http://www.microsoft.com/globaldev/handson/user/xpintlsupp.mspx#E4 Instructions for Windows XP and Server 2003]

===Windows Vista===

[[Windows Vista]] includes proper support for Japanese characters by default.

===Mac OS X===

By default all necessary fonts and software are installed in all versions of [[Mac OS X]] from 10.2 ([[2002]]) and higher.

For MacOS X 10.1 [[multilingual]] software updates are available as free downloads from Apple's website. The Asian Language Update will install support for Chinese, Japanese and Korean.

:[http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=120063 Mac OS X Language Support Updates at apple.com]

=== Fedora Core ===

Install the appropriate ttfonts packages.

For Fedora Core 3, the packages are ''ttfonts-zh_TW'' (traditional Chinese), ''ttfonts-zh_CN'' (simplified Chinese), ''ttfonts-ja'' (Japanese) and ''ttfonts-ko'' (Korean).

For example,

:[[Yellow_dog_Updater%2C_Modified | yum]] install ttfonts-ja

As of Fedora Core 4, you need ''fonts-chinese'', ''fonts-japanese'' and/or ''fonts-korean''.

=== Debian GNU/Linux ===

Installing the ''ttf-kochi-mincho'' package will add support for displaying Japanese text in the Debian GNU/Linux or Ubuntu distribution. You can do this with the following command:

:apt-get install ttf-kochi-mincho

=== Gentoo Linux ===

Install a Japanese font package. The most common is ''ja-ipafonts''.

:emerge media-fonts/ja-ipafonts

===Unicode Japanese Fonts===

[http://www.travelphrases.info/gallery/Fonts_Japanese.html List of free Japanese fonts]

[[Category:Wikipedia help|Japanese]]

[[Category:Editor handbook]]

[[Category:Wikipedia multilingual support|Japanese]]

[[es:Ayuda:Idioma japonés]]

[[Category:Wikipedia editor help]]

[[pt:Ajuda:Japonês]]

[[Category:Wikipedia:Japanese language]]

[[th:วิกิพีเดีย:ภาษาญี่ปุ่น]]