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Monday, November 25, 2019

86. Learning Languages with Namewee

Synopsis

Tokyo Bon
Singer: Namewee

Ohayo Tokyo Konichiwa
Sumimasen I'm foreigner
I don't speak Japanese
But I love Aoi Sora
When you say Wakarimashita
I say Hitachi Toyota
Kawasaki Nintendo
Canon Sony Honda

I'm losing my way
Obasan where should I go?
Shinjuku so big
I need a Doraemon
You speak Japanglish
And show me body language
What can I do?
Where should I go? No nonono

Makudonarudo (McDonald)
Guguru (Google) Toiletto (Toilet)
Kitto Katto (Kit Kat)
Dizunilando (Disneyland)
Takushi go Hoteru (Taxi go Hotel)
Sebun Elebun (Seven Eleven) Miruku (Milk)
Basu (Bus) Biru (Beer)
Sutabakkusu (Starbucks)

Ohayo Tokyo Konichiwa
Sumimasen I'm foreigner
I don't speak Japanese
But I love Ramen Tempura
When you say Arigato Konbanwa
I say Suzuki Yamaha
Uniqlo Toshiba
Casio Godzilla

I'm losing my way
Obasan where should I go?
Shinjuku so big
I need a Doraemon
You speak Japanglish
And show me body language
What can I do?
Where should I go? Please take me home No nonono

Sarada (Salad) Hanbaga (Hamburger)
Sandoitchi (Sandwich) Soseji (Sausage)
Kohi (Coffee) Keki (Cake)
Aisukurimu (Ice-cream) Kobini (Convenience store)
Furaidopoteto (Fried Potato)
Esukareta (Escalator) Arukoru (Alcohol)
Bareboru (Volleyball) Besuboru (Baseball)
Basukettoboru (Basketball) Gorofu (Golf)


English is an international language. I remember when I try to learn Japanese, it's so frustrating. You see that languages help us communicate and people around the world have different approaches to sound and the methods they use to name something signify their cultural differences too.


Let's take a simple word, apple, and let's translate it to different languages around the world to somehow see the similarities between countries. You'll see how I have a hard time converting apple to ringo. Let's follow world map:
  1. USA, Canada, UK, Liberia, Nigeria, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Uganda, Philippines, Papua New Guinea, Australia, New Zealand
    English: apple

  2. Denmark
    Danish: æble

  3. Mexico, Cuba, Costa Rica, Spain, Portugal
    Spain: manzana

  4. Iceland
    Icelandic: epli

  5. Ireland
    Irish: úll

  6. France, Senegal, Congo, Madagascar
    French: Pomme

  7. Algeria, Libya, Tunisia, Egypt, Sudan, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Kuwait
    Arabic: تفاحة (tafaha)

  8. Norway
    Norwegian: eple

  9. Swedia
    Swedish: äpple

  10. Finland
    Finnish: omena

  11. Poland
    Polish: jabłko

  12. Germany
    German: Apfel

  13. Italy
    Italian: Mela / Pomo

  14. Israel
    Hebrew: תפוח עץ (t'poo-ah aids)

  15. Kenya, Tanzania
    Swahili: apple / tufaha

  16. Ethiopia
    Amharic: ፖም (pomi)

  17. Turkey
    Turkish: elma

  18. Ukraine
    Ukrainian: яблуко (yabluko)

  19. Romania
    Romanian: măr

  20. Russia, Kazakhstan
    Russian: яблоко (yabloko)

  21. Uzbekistan
    Uzbek: olma

  22. Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan
    Persian: سیب (seed)

  23. Mongolia
    Mongolian: алим (alim)

  24. China
    Chinese: 苹果 (píngguǒ)

  25. Nepal
    Nepali: स्याऊ (syā'ū)

  26. India
    Hindi: सेब (seb)

  27. Bangladesh
    Bengali: আপেল (Āpēla)

  28. Myanmar
    Burmese: ပန်းသီး (paannsee)

  29. Laos
    Lao: ຫມາກໂປມ (mak opm)

  30. Thailand
    Thai: แอปเปิ้ล (Xæ ppeîl)

  31. Vietnam
    Vietnamese: táo

  32. Brunei, Malaysia
    Malay: epal

  33. Indonesia
    Indonesian: apel

  34. North Korea, South Korea
    Korean: 사과 (sagwa)

  35. Japan
    Japanese: 林檎 (ringo)
See also:

Song Recommendation:
  • Namewee - Tokyo Bon

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