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You can pick any "Challenge" but it will be easier if you start from 【CHALLENGE 01】
Each challenge focuses on a specific topic/situation. Once you learn the base format, the rest is up to your vocabulary.
It will be very useful if you learn the Sound of Hiragana, and Commonly used words.
Check out Survival Japanese "Boot Camp Series" for building vocabulary!
Challenge 01 covers the basic greetings
Greetings are important. It's the first thing you say when you meet someone and it sets the tone of the rest of conversation. In this challenge, you will learn basic greeting phrases to use depending on the time of day and occasions.
Let's view the challenge video!
Your first magic word!
Dōmo・どうも is a very useful magic word. When you meet someone, if you are not sure what to say, just say this. It won't go wrong.
About Roma-ji system:
In Survival Japanese, all phrases are accompanied by Roma-ji (system of Romanization) so you can pronounce them without reading HIragana.
There are two major "Roma-ji notations" used in Japan, "Hepburn romanization (traditional)" and "Kunrei romanization (modern)". "Hepburn" is easier to pronounce for non-natives, and "modern" is more logical for the learners of Japanese.
For example, 【ちかてつ・Subway】when written in Roma-ji,
Hepburn = Chikatetsu
Modern = Tikatetu
Without prior knowledge, most non-natives will read "Hepburn" notation more accurately, closer to real pronunciation. Kunrei (modern) system is easier to master because there is no exception to the rule.
Example above shows this. 「た」ぎょう(Ta-line) is たちつてと. In Roma-ji,
Ta Chi Tsu Te To = Hepburn
Ta Ti Tu Te To = Kunrei (modern)
There are pros and cons for both systems, and we try to use "Modern" notation more. Hiragana table in "Hiragana Boot Camp" uses "Kunrei (modern) romanization".
When you see Hepburn romanization in Survival Japanese or anywhere else, don't worry too much. Just try to read as accurately as possible by practicing.
That's another reason why it's more beneficial to master reading Hiragana.
If you want to read more about Roma-ji notations, Wikipedia has a good reading.
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If you have any questions on this challenge, check out the Q&A section to see if you can find answers. Or, you can submit your questions from HERE.
