Tofugu Comments - Latest Comments in How to not talk like a Japanese Transvestite (or a boy/girl)

Re: How to not talk like a Japanese Transvestite (or a boy/girl)

Jessi — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 01:23:04 -0000

I'm not all that familiar with the show, but wasn't using "jibun" probably the whole point? Use the gender-neutral pronoun so that no one could tell either way.

Re: How to not talk like a Japanese Transvestite (or a boy/girl)

Jessi — Sun, 31 May 2009 21:40:34 -0000

Thanks for this! I think this is really important to keep in mind when learning Japanese.

The funny thing about the infamous 'wa' particle in women's speech is that in dramas and movies you'll hear it used by women of all ages all the time, but in real life I've only ever heard older women (maybe 50+) use it . I'm a female in my 20s, but I know my friends would find it weird if I suddenly started using 'wa' at the end of my sentences. A lot of the other examples I hear used a lot, though.

And as some other people have pointed out, it definitely goes the other way, too! If a girl hangs out with a lot of guys or watches too much Gokusen or something, she should be careful about what kind of Japanese she picks up XD

Re: How to not talk like a Japanese Transvestite (or a boy/girl)

Robo-panda — Tue, 12 May 2009 09:35:44 -0000

Kurohana, I think you mean "Jibun" or 自分 which means oneself/ myself. so that sentence would be "自分は、あなたに会うために、ここに来た"　"By myself, I came here to meet you" or something to that tone (sorry for the awkward translation>.<)

Re: How to not talk like a Japanese Transvestite (or a boy/girl)

ブライアん — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 02:47:37 -0000

すごい　おまえ　これ　は　いいですね good as example ^_^ and to think that your from washington just like me　man koichiben i started learning Japanese on my own 1 year ago and i had some help with all the おれ　and わたし and how ぼく or おれ is what i should use i am in college now for Japanese and some other stuff and all i hear is わたし because is a female teacher haaha lol but you and your transvestite play was the best thank god i dont sound like that lol keep up the good work

Re: How to not talk like a Japanese Transvestite (or a boy/girl)

Kurohana — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 11:39:11 -0000

How come the girl in Ouran Highschool Host Club (the anime, tho I do not learn Japanese by anime, i know a fair amount to understand things here and there) Haruhi, the girl pretending to be a boy, was using Chibun as "I" and I found that so weird!

She'd be like, "Chibun wa, anata ni au tameni koko ni kita" and stuff like that. She never used Atashi or Watashi, not even Boku or Ore. Chibun! wtf? Maybe its the false subtitles, I really don't know.

Anyways, interesting info here!

Re: How to not talk like a Japanese Transvestite (or a boy/girl)

Bella — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 11:02:21 -0000

"Dare a girl to use Ore"? I would! Lol I'm that kinda tomboy that would try it...probably would be labeled the obnoxious gender-confused american gaijin girl but hey, why not?

Re: How to not talk like a Japanese Transvestite (or a boy/girl)

Taya — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 19:50:43 -0000

um... I got told she was teaching me the most formal japanese... is it still gender-specific??

Re: How to not talk like a Japanese Transvestite (or a boy/girl)

koichi — Tue, 27 May 2008 16:59:33 -0000

could be. I just have something typed up by my teacher, and added a few as well.

Re: How to not talk like a Japanese Transvestite (or a boy/girl)

yasutake noriyuki — Mon, 26 May 2008 01:03:05 -0000

you chart is it from the japan time's text "an intergrated text to intermediate japanese" by any chance?

Re: How to not talk like a Japanese Transvestite (or a boy/girl)

Jess — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 01:16:43 -0000

うぇ! それなら、私がずっそずっと男らしく話したんでしょうね。日本人の友達は男の人なんだけど、そんなこと全然言わなかったんです。ひどいでしょう。
「だろう」と言いたかったですが、正しいのは「でしょう」と思いますが…(私が女の人からです)

Re: How to not talk like a Japanese Transvestite (or a boy/girl)

KENJI — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 23:41:03 -0000

lol i only try to speak male, but its hard... i just cant do it!!! i was tought the girly way i assume T_T

Re: How to not talk like a Japanese Transvestite (or a boy/girl)

Sougen02 — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 18:22:40 -0000

So how can you avoid speaking 'girlish' Japanese? Are the majority of text books, online studying sites and such in 'girlish' Japanese? Where (site) or what (text books) mightI use to not fall into this? =P

Re: How to not talk like a Japanese Transvestite (or a boy/girl)

Mugen — Sat, 22 Mar 2008 11:24:02 -0000

Konichi wa
Watashi wa Geoffrey dess, yoroshiku onegaishimass !!!
Dude you're defenitly funny enough to be a comedian,
the segata sanchiro stuff was/is hilarious ( other stuff as well)
I'm actually from the netherlands and trying to become a manga-ka.
So was kinda wondering if you had tips for us (i'm writing/drawing the stories with my best friend)
If you could do something like a do/don't kinda thinking about creating manga/getting in tha industry would be awesome.
If you have time dough that would be great.

And keep up tha good work,it's REALLY helpfull while learning japanese :D

Re: How to not talk like a Japanese Transvestite (or a boy/girl)

Lica — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 19:45:42 -0000

Thanks for your advice, if you ever wrote a book, id be the first to buy!

im a girl, and learn japanese from a girl. so i think im all good.

anyways, ill be visiting your site more =)

PEACE

Re: How to not talk like a Japanese Transvestite (or a boy/girl)

koichi — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 11:36:02 -0000

I don't mean to be harsh or anything, but really you shouldn't be worrying about anything said in this article until quite a ways after you are able to read and write, so I think focusing on that first is your main priority at the moment.

Re: How to not talk like a Japanese Transvestite (or a boy/girl)

Rei — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 07:46:20 -0000

I agree with megaman...Please consider providing the chart in romanji ?

Re: How to not talk like a Japanese Transvestite (or a boy/girl)

Kof — Thu, 27 Dec 2007 14:31:08 -0000

well im glad to find this topic.
I always felt more appealed to attaching da and such at the end of sentences even though I never found any page like this describing its more masculine. Usually this ended up me correcting myself without the da part at the end, glad to know I dont have to anymore :)

Re: How to not talk like a Japanese Transvestite (or a boy/girl)

Erin — Sun, 18 Nov 2007 22:25:43 -0000

Entron:

Let's be adults, here.

Re: How to not talk like a Japanese Transvestite (or a boy/girl)

Justin — Sun, 18 Nov 2007 00:32:31 -0000

Question:
My two japanese friends, who happen to be guys, are always emphasizing the girliness of my japanese, so this really helps...but my question is; Is there a difference between speaking "like a guy" and speaking like a "tough" guy? In speaking like a "guy" are you automatically tough sounding...or is there a level above that? The only variations I know are of "watashi" with "ore" being the "tough" substitute.

What's the deal?

Thanks!

Re: How to not talk like a Japanese Transvestite (or a boy/girl)

Entron — Sat, 17 Nov 2007 21:55:20 -0000

Are you gay, Secrets? Lol.

Re: How to not talk like a Japanese Transvestite (or a boy/girl)

Secrets Secrets Are No Fun — Sat, 10 Nov 2007 00:17:49 -0000

sooo what about a gay guy or a lesbian? do they talk in the reverse way (i.e. gay guys saying "高いの" instead of "高いんだ")? i'm asking this legitimately, by the way; i don't mean to imply that all gays are feminine acting. but, in general, in Japan, how does that work?

Re: How to not talk like a Japanese Transvestite (or a boy/girl)

buririn — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 01:52:46 -0000

Please stop by Japanese Class in college and get this through the heads of the 35 year old men in sneakers and socks that are always saying, "atashi wa..."

Re: How to not talk like a Japanese Transvestite (or a boy/girl)

Sinead — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 18:33:46 -0000

You mean that I’ve been speaking like I guy since I start learning!!!!
Awwww… This is going to be such a hard habit to change!
Do I have to???? Guy's way is easier to remember.

Re: How to not talk like a Japanese Transvestite (or a boy/girl)

Meep — Sun, 21 Oct 2007 02:36:17 -0000

Wait... now I'm confused. I already talk weird in English, so does this mean there's no hope for me?! (Well, my Japanese friends don't notice anything but my American friends tease me about my slang and my accent.. GAH)

Re: How to not talk like a Japanese Transvestite (or a boy/girl)

Haquit — Fri, 19 Oct 2007 22:04:26 -0000

こんにちは。
あの女言葉の歴史の話は本当ですか？
女子学生はいつも変な言葉を使いますがｗｗｗ、明治時代（もしかして江戸時代から？）からそうだったんですね！

コウイチさんが女言葉でしゃべった時、なんか美川憲一みたいで面白かったですｗｗｗ

僕のコロンビアの友達が、日本語を勉強してますが、このサイトを参考にして、わざと女言葉でしゃべってますｗｗｗ