Bike and bicycle
Dec 05th 2009 04:11
On learning a language, even though you acquire new knowledge, it's very hard to use it in conversation unconsciously, isn't it?
For example, I know that if a subject is third person singular, I have to put "s" at the end of a verb. However, I sometimes miss it during conversation, even in writing.
Another example, if someone asked me "Don't you go to the party?" and I wasn't going, although the answer would be "Yes" in Japanese, I should answer "No" in English.
Like those example, there are lot of things about English that remind in my brain just as knowledge. I can't use them as a part of language.
In Japan, "a bike (バイク)" means a motorbike. But in English, you use "a bike" not only for "motorbike" but also "a bicycle", don't you? I know it as knowledge, but...
The other say, during a conversation with a friend of mine who is non-Japanese, I said that I live in Shinjuku and used to ride a bicycle around Shinjuku, (<-- I'm not sure how I should say it.) but unfortunately I don't have a bicycle now.
My friend told me, "Why don't you buy a new bike?"
Then, I answered,
"Bike? No way! I don't have a bike's driver license. And it's a bit scary for me to ride a bike."
He looked confused. We didn't seem to talk about the same thing. It took me a while to realize my misunderstanding. Whew...
Practice, practice.
For example, I know that if a subject is third person singular, I have to put "s" at the end of a verb. However, I sometimes miss it during conversation, even in writing.
Another example, if someone asked me "Don't you go to the party?" and I wasn't going, although the answer would be "Yes" in Japanese, I should answer "No" in English.
Like those example, there are lot of things about English that remind in my brain just as knowledge. I can't use them as a part of language.
In Japan, "a bike (バイク)" means a motorbike. But in English, you use "a bike" not only for "motorbike" but also "a bicycle", don't you? I know it as knowledge, but...
The other say, during a conversation with a friend of mine who is non-Japanese, I said that I live in Shinjuku and used to ride a bicycle around Shinjuku, (<-- I'm not sure how I should say it.) but unfortunately I don't have a bicycle now.
My friend told me, "Why don't you buy a new bike?"
Then, I answered,
"Bike? No way! I don't have a bike's driver license. And it's a bit scary for me to ride a bike."
He looked confused. We didn't seem to talk about the same thing. It took me a while to realize my misunderstanding. Whew...
Practice, practice.
- 43
- 12
- 5
Journals Statistics
| Total | 180 entries |
|---|---|
| This Month | 0 entries |
| This week | 0 enrties |
Latest entry
| Long long time no see! (11) |
| The future progressive form (14) |
| 「ちゃっちい」 「ちんけな」 (14) |
| A Christmas Carol (14) |
| Meatware?? (12) |
Latest comments
| Jan 05th |
| Nov 01st boakwoncool |
| Jun 15th Sand |
| Jun 13th cuavsfan |
| Jun 10th atomu |
Entries by Month
| 2010 |
|---|
| - June (1) |
| 2009 |
| - December (14) |
| - November (16) |
| - October (17) |
| - September (4) |
| - August (13) |
| - July (13) |
| - June (14) |
| - May (14) |
| - April (7) |
| - January (15) |
| 2008 |
| - December (30) |
| - November (11) |
| - October (11) |
That's right!! I know a few words in Japanese, and I can understand a sentence sometimes, but I just can't make a sentence myself!
>Another example, if someone asked me "Don't you go to the party?" and I wasn't going, although the answer would be "Yes" in Japanese, I should answer "No" in English.
I don't really understand this.. what's your sentence in Japanese?
Haha yes, bike and bicycle. Even native English speakers get these confused in conversations sometimes, so you don't have to be too embarrassed :) Maybe you can try asking them properly next time, whether they mean motorbike or bicycle.
Another example, if someone asked me "Aren't you going to the party?" and I wasn't going, although the answer would be "Yes" in Japanese, I should answer "No" in English. (If you mean to use past tense then it would be "Didn't you go to the party?")
Like those example, there are lot of things about English that remain in my brain just as knowledge.
I can't use them as a part of conversation.
The other day, during a conversation with a friend of mine who is non-Japanese, I said that I live in Shinjuku and used to ride a bicycle around town, but unfortunately I don't have a bicycle now.
I don't have a bike driver's license.
It seems we weren't talking about the same thing.
On learning a language, even though you acquire new knowledge, it's very hard to use it in conversation subconsciously, isn't it?Someone may correct me if I'm wrong, but unconscious is when you are not awake anymore. Subconsciously refers to doing something without you really realizing it.
When you are learning a foreign language it's difficult to use newly acquired knowledge in conversation without first thinking about what you want to say, isn't it? （実は、「newly acquired knowledge」には「acquire new knowledge」とすこし違うニュアンスがあります。「newly acquired knowledge」は「今ばっかり頭に入った知識」というニュアンスで、「acquire new knowledge」はただ「新しい知識」です。
However, I sometimes miss it during conversation, and also when I write.
Another example, if someone asked me "Aren't you going to the party?" and I wasn't going, although the answer would be "Yes" in Japanese, I should answer "No" in English.
Like the above examples, there are lots of facts about English that reside in my brain as untapped knowledge.
I'm unable to use most of this information to make my English more conversational.
I'm aware of it as knowledge, but...
The other day, while having a conversation with a non-Japanese friend of mine, I told him/her that I live in Shinjuku and used to ride a bicycle around Shinjuku before, (<-- I'm not sure how I should say this.) but that I unfortunately don't have a bicycle anymore and can no longer do so.
So my friend said to me, "Why don't you buy a new bike?" (ときどき「said」は「返事」と同じように使われています。この言い方は物語っぽいです。）
I don't have a driver's license for bikes.
And it's a bit scary for me to ride them."
We didn't seem to be talking about the same thing.
Actually, at the time I visited the person in charge of foreign language exchange at my college she asked what my hobbies were. When I said that I liked to bike she asked me what type of bike I was talking about. But, because I always think of bike as meaning "bicycle", I responded with "A bike....y'know, a bike" being a bit dumbfounded by the question. I think the only reason she had to ask is because she grew up in Japan speaking Japanese.
Of course, I was aware that in Japanese "バイク" is almost always used to refer to motorcycles....but what surprised me was the fact that she still had to ask that question even though she has spent half her life in America (about 20 years in America, and 20 in Japan). I think this just goes to show that old habits die hard.
"Hey, you didn't go there, right?"
"Yeah, I had lots of things to do."
"Huh?"
This situation happens to me quite often. lol I must not translate, though this is difficult. お互い頑張りましょう~
.
I was thinking the exact same thing last night! Logically the Japanese answer is the right one. But we use the double negation in Greece too. It's very very very confusing for me too. ^^
Bicycle - bike. Just listen to this classic song for a couple of times and you won't ever forget again! (Bicycle Race - Queen)
However, I sometimes miss it during conversation, even in writing. This sounds fine as written.
Like those example, there are lot of things about English that remind in my brain just as knowledge.
My friend asked me, "Why don't you buy a new bike?" Since what your friend said was a question, you'd say, "asked". If what your friend said was a statement, you'd use "told".
determines the meaning of "bike". Since you were
talking about riding a bicycle in Shinjuku, it would be
understood (by English speakers) that your friend meant
bicycle. If you are talking to someone that owns a
motorcycle about thier "bike" they will assume you mean
motorcycle.
Here are some other phrases for motorcycles..
Crotch rocket - A racing style bike. (Pic #1)
Rice rocket - A sometimes derogatory name for Japanese racing style bikes.
Hog - A Harley-Davidson brand motorcycle.
Chopper - A Motocycle with extended front forks. (Pic #2)
Dirtbike - A motorcycle designed for off road use. (Pic #3)
Like those example, there are lot of things about English that remain in my brain just as knowledge. I didn't correct this last time, sorry..
Yes, not to be shy is important. I should have more confidence.
Thank you for your advice!
> finallyben,
When someone asks something with a negative sentence, the answer yes/no is opposite in Japanese. For example, someone asks you, "Don't you like chocolate?", and you don't like chocolate, you should answer "Yes" in Japanese. It's very hard for Japanese people to get use to the English way.
Thank you for your comment!
> Phizuol,
Oops! "remind --> remain", "the other say --> the other day"... there are many careless mistakes. (> <) Thank you for your corrections. Also thank you for positing several comments with useful comment!
> madao,
Oh, "subconsciously" is a new word for me.
Thank you for your explanation!
> Shin,
"Said" is sometimes used just like 返事. I see. "newly acquired knowledge", "reside", "untapped" etc.. I learn a lot of new things from your correction.
Yes, old habits die hard. haha. Thank you for your corrections and comment!
> ryuichi,
Yes!! It's almost impossible for me to answer correctly to negative questions. I hope I can get used to it...
Thank you for your comment! はい、頑張ります！
> 三 lines,
Wow! I didn't expect such a ending, so I was very surprised!
Thank you for the funny (and dangerous? ^o^) video!
> Aminaoshi,
Yes, it is very confusing, isn't it? Oh, I will never forget that a bike is bicycle, thanks to the video. haha. Thank you for your comment!
> EroOyaji,
There are many names for motorcycles. I wonder why Japanese motorcycles are derogated. (><)
Thank you for your corrections and comment!
The good news is these are mistakes that native speakers make too. You can still make these mistakes and have native-level ability. XD
Haha. Thank you for your comment again! (^.^)
Someone was talking to me about visualization recently and it hit me: I always did this for languages. I usually become fluent pretty quickly when I learn a foreign language and I speak without much hesitation, which fools people into thinking I speak better than I actually do ;) For instance, I went to Book-Off last weekend and blurted out a really long sentence about something I was looking for, without hesitation, but I didn't even understand their reply. I only got it when they repeated slowly a second time... That's the part I have to work on ;)
Oh, visualization! It's good idea! My English conversation skill is much lower than my writing, so I should try that way.
Thank you for your comment!