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This thread still needs help to grow. Feel free to post your useful resources, with a small description of what it is. You can also ask any questions related to this topic. ------------ Chances are, if you read VN, at some point you'll get interested in learning Japanese. This thread will NOT tell you how to learn japanese, I'm not qualified for that. This is a compilation of useful resources you might need, put together by helpful members and myself. If you know absolutely nothing about the language, I recommend you to read a bit about it before. Read some wikipedia pages and the introductions of various guides. The best way to approach things is probably to try out a bit of everything and see what works for you. Here are the categories of resources presented: *Learning methods: more-or-less complete schedule other people put together. *Useful softwares, apps & cie *Kanji & Kana *Grammar *Practice material Learning methods Those hardly consist of rigid guides that'll take you all the way, but they might help to give you an idea on how to approach learning the language. Don't spend too much time looking for methods, you'll most likely end up doing things in a different way anyway. Tae Kim's complete guide to japanese (everything is not complete yet) Nukemarine's Suggested Guide for Beginners "It's a guide on how to learn japanese by plowing through anki cards in a effective manner. It's made by a community member at Koohi forums. (I'd like to mention you can learn vocab very fast with this method and keep it in memory. But you learn without a lot of context, which has its negative sides.)" (Bolverk) The Tay way (note that this is from 2013 and no longer in use) Aaeru's "learn how to read VN in two years" Useful softwares Those are basic tools you'll almost certainly need, or at least try out, in your learning of japanese. Google IME: Allows you to type in Japanese. Click this link, click the big blue button, install: you can now switch your typing mode to japanese. Rikaichan: Firefox app that gives you a dictionary entry for a word by simply hovering over it. Extremely useful. Also exists for Chrome. Anki: A flash card software with a built-in algorithm for learning efficiency. Exists on Android and iOS too. (Regular hand-written flash-cards can be a useful tool too). Use shared decks to find vocab/kanji pre-made decks. Note about Anki: the use of Anki is advocated as necessary by some and deemed completely useless by others. Starting out with basic vocab/kanji grinding will probably help you ease into practice material, however learning tons of words, or worse even tons of kanji out of context is not a good idea. It's up to you to find out whether you want to use Anki (and whether you can). ITH, TA, Mecab, Jparser: ITH is a text hooker that'll extract the text from, say, a VN for you. Translation Aggregator will pass said text through parsers and dictionaries. Extremely useful to practice on VNs. Some tips and other softs for ITH here Chiitrans: a useful alternative to ITH/TA. Same principle. Read the tuto for more details. Visual Novel Reader: Another alternative to ITH/TA. Note about text hookers: it might seem obvious but do NOT use machine translations with your text hookers. You won't learn anything from the garbage it feeds you and you won't even actually understand what's going on, whether you think you do or not. It is also not a very good idea to rely on parsers for grammar purposes. Parsers are far from perfect. They certainly can't replace a grammar resource and basic googling. Think of text hookers as crutches you use until you become able to read without constantly looking up vocabulary. It is also a good idea to switch to japanese-japanese dictionaries as soon as you can - only they will give you the nuances of the words, and they're also much less flawed than existing free j-e dictionaries. Kanji & Kana Learning the hiragana and katakana should be about the first thing you do. It's not very long or difficult. Becoming accustomed to reading them is longer but it eventually comes. Kanjis are probably the biggest psychological barrier for japanese learners. I don't have a magical method to suggest, but do tell yourself it's really not that hard if you stop thinking too hard about it and trying to find the best, most optimized method for learning them. Try to learn the basic ones, see where you can get, and start practicing on reading as soon as you can. RealKana: This is just an example among others of ways to learn the kana. It's the first thing you should do anyway, and it's not hard or long. Heisig's Remember the Kanji: A method for learning kanji through memo stories, by association with an english keyword. Good for starters, probably won't get you through the whole kanji learning though. See Tay's guide and this website too. Kanjidamage: Learning the kanjis through radicals and memo sentences. I'm not a fan of his method, but it has some interesting information in the introduction and on some kanjis. Grammar Basic grammar: Tae Kim's guide: The most popular (and free!) guide on the internet. Rather compact, has all the essential grammar with good explanations and examples. A must. Genki: To take things more slowly, or have a different view on points you didn't get. (No links for that one yet, it's not free, sorry) Nihongomori: this is a youtube channel with videos explaining grammar, but also vocab and other misc things, done by native speakers (in english for the basics, japanese later). It goes from basic grammar (JLPT N5-N4 level) up to finer points (N2-N1 level) so it actually covers intermediate/advanced grammar too. The videos are pretty fun and well done, if you like the video media it might work good for you. More advanced grammar: Imabi: Lots of in-depth explanations about various grammar subjects. Not recommended for pure beginners and not written as a guide. If you want to go further than that, you'll need to go into japanese grammar books. Don't forget a simple research on the internet can give you lots of explanations about pretty much anything anyway. Advanced grammar: If you want to go further into grammar than that (for example if you want to read 古典 and such), you'll probably need to go into japanese grammar textbooks. This guide is approved as being really good. (Change the encoding of the page to Japanese EUC-JP for it to display correctly) This page could be useful too. Feel free to do your own research! Others: A grammar cheat sheet. Not for beginners, obviously. Nihongoresources: A grammar guide. Never tried it. Practice Material General advice: Try to avoid material based on comedy (because you need a good enough knowledge to get the jokes), or that rely heavily on slang or local dialect. Also, avoid things that have too much technical vocabulary (hard sci-fi) or chuuni stuff with abstract concepts and archaic kanjis. Chokochoko: Some practice texts (articles on various stuff), ranked by JLPT difficulty. Children's tales: easy place to start. Japanese subtitles for lots of anime. VNs in japanese: *Relatively easy language for a story-focused VN. *List of VN for beginners, with two levels of difficulty. *A big list of Visual novels to read if you are confident enough (~JPTL N2). I won't point you out to raw mangas, of course, but if you can find high enough quality scans (or can afford to import them) it's obviously a great way to practice. Every shoujo and shonen manga have furiganas on every kanjis. Seinen/josei may not have them, but it doesn't mean they're necessarily more difficult. Dictionaries, vocabulary resources Note: Japanese-english dictionaries (the free ones you'll find on the internet) are pretty much all based on Edict. Of course, as a beginner you have to use j-e dictionaries, but 1) edict is far from perfect 2) j-e dictionaries are inherently limited anyway: only japanese dictionaries will give you the right nuance (and they're rather excellent). So as soon as you can, switch to japanese dictionaries. The jump is not easy but it's necessary, especially if you intend to read VNs with a higher level of language. Overall, the internet is your friend! A simple search will often yield whatever you're looking for. Finding your way, especially in japanese websites, is the most useful skill you can develop (although once again you need to reach a certain level of confidence first). Jisho: Jap/eng dictionary. Tangorin: Same thing. WWWJDIC Dictionary site. Japanese online dictionary. Requires good enough knowledge of japanese to be used. Slang dictionary. Same as above. Writing recognition: Tries to find a kanji directly written with your mouse. Tanos: Various JLPT-related resources: vocabulary and kanji lists, etc. Blog posts and articles about learning japanese Blogpost by garejei: Tips and a view on kanji memorization. ----- Thanks to Clephas, Bolverk, cryofrzd, Okami, garejei, Mephisto and probably a bunch of others I forgot to add (sorry!) for their contributions.1 point
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Heya all.. Well firstly i would like to say that this is more of a personal Topic for me.. For about a year now I have been writing my own story and I felt like I would like to get others opinions on it where it is now.. Well I am FAR from done but anyway, The Format is what you could say Light Novelish. Also Please ignore all Format and Spelling mistakes xD.. I tend to have errors now and then. Anyway I would like some feed back if its possible.. The Story itself would seem like your Typical Romance school life genre's...But I tend to add a few darkness into the story later on. I have 3 separate documents, One for Story, one for Character information and another for Bits and pieces I might add to the story.. FOr now I will post the Story and if anyone would like to read it may of course.. Well I will be in your care xD. Any Questions regarding it please don't hesitate to ask. Please Enjoy.1 point
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This is a list of VNs that are either science fiction or science fantasy. Science fantasy is a genre of science-fiction that utilizes disproved scientific theories, over the top uses of science that aren't quite realistic even in theory, and other similar themes. Perhaps the most obvious example of science fantasy in western culture is Star Wars. Translated Muv-luv Alternative Ever17 Remember11 Never7 Chaos;Head (I don't recommend any of Nitro+ 'Science' series personally, but I'm aware that many do like it) Steins;Gate Untranslated Evolimit (kamige) Sousei Kitan Aerial Eden* Harumade Kururu Komorebi no Nostalgica (kamige) SINCLIENT Electro Arms - Realize Digital Dimension Zero Infinity Fake Azure Arcology Natsukumo Yururu Re:Birth Colony -lost azurite- Sanzen Sekai Yuugi Ryuusei☆Kiseki -Shooting Probe- Sakura Iro Quartet Strawberry Feels Ushinawareta Mirai wo Motomete Reminiscence (http://vndb.org/v7773) Soshite Ashita no Sekai yori (this game made me cry until snot ran out of my nose) Bradyon Veda 8/13/2014 edit Girls in Black (Whirlpool charage) Reminiscence Re:Collect Harvest OverRay Look forward to the next edition, on Fantasy VNs! Edit: Added Soshite (forgot to vote on it, so it wasn't there when I was scanning my list, lol) and Bradyon Veda.1 point
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So i saw this post from Tay back in 2012 and I figured since it wasn't updated in over a year I might as well make an updated version. So here is a pdf I made with every single VN on Fuwa to date listed in alphabetical order (click the image): Anyone can download it. Every title is linked to the respective Fuwanovel download page as well. I'll update it whenever a new VN is uploaded. If anyone wants to print a physical copy i advice you to get the plain text version of this pdf Unless you're okay with using a ton of ink to print the original. It's not that big of a deal but i thought it'd be a nice little project to occupy my free time. If you see any mistake or just have any opinion about it in general feel free to say it1 point
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--> News <-- - We have transfered our site to a new host and everything went successfull, but we still have some little issues. - Only our mail server is temporarily offline, it will be up soon, in the meantime you can go to our irc channel or pm us if you're interested in joining or have questions. - Yuzu route is translating slowly (I dont know why -,- , needs to ask the tl why) (only 61 lines in 5 days) - Yuzu route's Translation Checker has almost catched up with the tl, he's done a whopping 1000+ lines. - Yves route got alot of tlc amount extra: 2000+ - Main Route got another 300 lines in tl. - Prologue got around 200 lines for editing extra. - Touko [Eien] is checking touko for small grammar errors and mistakes, after that dark will be editing those 1 last time and then it's completely done! (Thanks guys!) - We are still recruiting more Translation Checkers. - Nfinite and Morisummers are wokring on tl/tlc/edit/qc the ending songs so i will be karaoke timing them as soon as they are finished with it, more news upcoming weeks. p.s. We have a hidden suprise for the public, you will see it eventually when the product is completed! ->Status Report<- >>Prologue Status<< Final Editing & Final Quality Checking - 2nd pass Translation Checked: 5083/5083 lines - Completed -> Final QC Pass: 2600/5087 (0.09%) <- (51.11%) - Final Edit Pass: 1500/5087 (29.48%) - Back to 0 for Darkquake. - Imported Lines: 0/5087 (0%) >>Common Route<< -> Translated: 1000/7518 <- (13.30%) - Translation Checked: 0/7518 (0%) - Edited: 0/7518 (0%) - Quality Checked: 0/7518 (0%) >Akane Route< - Translated: 7602/7602 (100%) -> Translation Checked: 211/7602 <- (2.77%) - Edited: 0/7602 (0%) - Quality Checked: 0/7600 (0%) >Touko Route< - Completed >Yuzu Route< -> Translated: 2491/6727 <- (37.02%) - Translation Checked: 2025/6727 (30.10%) - Edited: 0/6727 (0%) - Quality Checked: 0/6727 (0%) >Yves Route< -> Translated: 6510/7287 <- (89.33%) - Translation Checked: 4444/7287 (60.98%) - Edited: 1064/7287 (14.60%) - Quality Checked: 500/7287 (6.86%) --> Translation Total: 29179/40710 (71.67%) <-- Translation Checked Total: 18242/40710 (44.80%) Editing Total: 9039/40710 (22.48%) Quality Checked Total: 9575/40710 (23.52%) ->Opening Video Status<- A KFX of another group is helping us with the hard lines, me (Defendos) will still try to fix it but i am not capable of kfx lines, in the meanwhile i am helping derpig's project and doing some fansubbing.1 point
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What Video Games Are You Playing Right Now?
SieghartXx reacted to nohman for a topic
Chie best girl. Every time I replay P4/P4G, I always end up going for Chie even if I'm not really intending to.1 point -
Hello!
Hakurouken reacted to nohman for a topic
Welcome, Hakurouken. It's good to have you on the forums. Take care and enjoy the time you spend here.1 point -
As with other not so stable VNs I'll give you the sanity survival tricks: Save, save, save, after every choice Be careful with the skips When it crashes, don't skip where it crashed, take it slow just there, maybe quick-save last remembered lines before it crashed. These tricks has to be used in some VNs the programmers have made a bad work, also one should try to search for latest patch for VNs with known problem.1 point
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I remember kimi-nozo sometimes crashed for no apparent reason also. It also goes into a "secure mode" when it is restarted after a crash where you have to reactivate the sound. This was back in xp so I don't think it's something special for windows 8.1 point
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Hello!
Hakurouken reacted to SieghartXx for a topic
Welcome to the forums! I played Osu for a while, but I was so bad that I can't even begin to remember those dark times ;A; there are some members that aren't english native speakers either (like me) so don't worry too much about it. Have fun and enjoy your stay~!1 point -
Hello!
Hakurouken reacted to cryofrzd for a topic
Oh, Tenshin Ranman, I've read it too, really good. Just love the 生物 joke. I mean the one where Ruri arrives in a box and they think it's raw meat because raw-meat is spelled the same way as living creature. (\^∆^/)1 point -
Hello!
Hakurouken reacted to garejei for a topic
Your English is fine mate, better than some native speakers I've come across, haha. Welcome to the forums and enjoy your stay.1 point -
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Thanks but I'll pass. Loli content has been one of the things I absolutely deplore and I hate it when it is included in games. I know it might not be a popular opinion with some though as there are often two camps of thought.1 point
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Hello!
Hakurouken reacted to cryofrzd for a topic
Welcome to the forum I'm sure you'll like this place, if you're crazy good in osu! you might dare to post in the osu! contest thread. In either case enjoy your stay here, and read more VNs.1 point -
Hello!
Hakurouken reacted to Nosebleed for a topic
Welcome to the forums. We do indeed have plenty of osu players. I'm one myself but i still suck at it so i'd rather not get too involved out of embarrassment. Enjoy your stay here and don't forget to deposit your soul in the soulbox.1 point -
Hello!
Hakurouken reacted to Kaguya for a topic
Hello! Your friendly reporter shameimaru kaguya here. We actually have tons of Osu! players here. I fear that fuwanovel may become an Osu community some time. Well, glad to have you here. Nice avatar <3 I hope you enjoy fuwanovel!1 point -
Hello!
Hakurouken reacted to Flutterz for a topic
Welcome to the forums! Hope you enjoy your stay! Have a moe: What's your favourite VN? And, just to steal what little others can possibly say, there's a Fuwa osu thread here: https://forums.fuwanovel.net/index.php?/topic/656-fuwanovel-osu-thread/page-211 point -
What are you listening to right now?
MellowMadman11 reacted to nohman for a topic
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f_FfAi68aW81 point -
Winter 2014 Anime Discussion
SieghartXx reacted to Nosebleed for a topic
My biggest issue is that it's not going anywhere. When it seems like it's finally developing they go right back to square one and that's what i don't like. Not saying they need to get to 3rd base already but so much time for just hand holding and then Rikka goes back to not understanding what love is. Rikka is cute as hell any time anyday at any moment and i love her. Her deredere moments are great. But the romance plot doesn't progress at all from my prespective. Hopefully the new girl changes that.1 point -
Offering help
Nayleen reacted to SieghartXx for a topic
https://forums.fuwanovel.net/index.php?/topic/939-fan-translator-skills-registration/ You can fill the registration form there, and someone will ask for your help if needed c:1 point -
That actually reminds me if anyone actually wants to print this i made a plain text version if you want to save your cartridge's ink View here I didn't think anyone would actually print it but i might as well save you some trouble. And i don't make great threads. I rarely make threads even but thank you~1 point
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A-profile is 18+ technically because there are instructions to install the h-scenes in the torrent that's why i chose 18+ for the rating, i might change it to 18+/All-Ages Another one i made different is Muv-Luv which doesn't require Japanese locale but i see so many people having issues with it and then have to change the locale settings anyway that i just put it requires the locale for the sake of it. Also thanks guys for all the compliments(and lolis<3), i'm glad it was of help.1 point
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Iinazuke wa Imouto-sama! - Recruiting
krill reacted to neromercer for a topic
I'd love to read it before release (cuz I'm the kind of d*** who wants to see things before anyone) But I'm not a native english speaker, but I think I can help a little with that... I know when I can't understand something or I can, and I also know when I can't understand something because I don't know what it means and when I know it's just bad explained ;D1 point -
Who Likes Jast USA?
Darklord Rooke reacted to sanahtlig for a topic
I like JAST because they release the sort of high profile games I want to play. Mangagamer releases more titles, but not more titles I want to play. Since I started playing titles in Japanese ho-hum titles in English just don't excite me anymore. JAST provided added value there by licensing the HQ edition. The fan translation was for the original release.1 point -
VNs with good romance?
SomethingFunny31 reacted to Crubitz for a topic
Checked out your list and I think I've got one or two good recommendations.` G-Senjou no Maou (Devil on the G-String)- Great and intense story full of mystery and unexpected plot twists, it will keep you on your toes. if you do not shed tears at the end of the main heroine's route you hav no heart, Lol. Yume Miru Kusuri ( A Drug that makes you Dream)- It's a school romance but with none of this cutesy nonsense, the routes have serious problems that need to be dealt with which lead to the birth of beautiful romance. It's a must read. Ever 17, haven't read it yet but I have heard enough to know that it is worth it. Plus no sexual scenes meaning not need to lock the door when your playing (bonus). Katawa Shoujo (The VN that made me a fan of reading VNs), great stories in all routes but Lily"s route (favourite route) is a classic romance story, you'll probably also like Emi's route (she was just too cute). The other routes were great as well though I think Shizune's was the hottest (you'll understand). These VNs have some great romance though there are many others but I have to read them first, good luck.1 point