Names/Nicknames Question

[Catherine]

I just would like something clarified, please forgive me if I seem like an idiot. I'm trying to learn Japanese by myself as I'm trying to complete my major(nursing). After I plan on taking a few classes.

(I know I already asked about my formal name)

My name is Catherine and translated it's キャサリン。
BUT... my personal, nonformal nickname is Cat.
So... would Cat be translated as ネコ？or could a nickname for キャサリン be
キャ？
In Japan rather then having nicknames they just add chan/san to the end of a name right?

Also, when addressing someone formally their last name is always first right? Ex: Smith, John? After they've told you otherwise/ their friend it can be John Smith or John-san(assuming their the same age).

Thanks in advance, you're great!!  

[Nana Shinu Ai]

not an expert of that part of san
But it way of respect someone who is your friend?
My full name is Ashley Emiko Chun if is translated then it is this- アシュリー恵美子チュン
I have a little trouble understand the form sentence like this
私は忙しい。私は今年取っていているキャリアクラスがあります。
I am busy . I have career class that I am taking for this year.  

[Dorinkingu]

Cat directly would be like キャッ, which is adorable xp  

[Yoseisame]

Hey how about Gail? ( new at this so please use both the symbols and phonics. so I can speak it) I'm also confused about how should go about my last name, if is Lilja which is Swedish for lily. (great grandparents came from Sweden.)  

[Nana Shinu Ai]

well I used google translate find out the correct way to say the name. try using Kanjizone.com  

[Miyu_Aizawa]

japanese does do nicknames. If you've ever watched a drama or anime you might notice. Many names get shortened for nicknames. Like yuusuke -> Yuu, Aiko -> ai, Akie -> aki, masanobu -> masa, and sometimes they are given nicknames based on alternate readings of the characters (kanji) for their names. The only examples i have of that is Moritaka writen as 最高 is usually read as Saikou (which mean best, highest) and Akito 秋人 which can also be read as shuujin. (those examples are from the manga Bakuman).

I think that キャッ would be a really cute nickname.

Also, sometimes japanese people will give long weird nicknames. my friend Yuta called me サママイライラ the other day. My name is Samira (サマイラ). and he calls my friend marquis(マーキス) , マークスクス  

[Hiroki Seven]

I took some japanese classes a few years ago. it wasnt much but its enough to help out a few people.

first off, yes japanese people do nicknames, its just not as common as in america. example in the anime Katekyo Hitman Reborn, the main characters name is Tsunayoshi, but everybody calls him Tsuna, his mother calls him Tsu-kun

now the suffixes. -san, -kun, and -chan are suffixes used after names of people. they usually represent as if you were saying miss or mister out of respect, which is customary in japan. the chan however i understand is more out of closer relationships but i havent confirmed this

i believe Gail as a nickname would be pronounced Geiru, or something similar, sorry i dont have kanji for that ill try to see if i can find them  

[Sailor Blue Rose]

Hiroki Seven

i believe Gail as a nickname would be pronounced Geiru, or something similar, sorry i dont have kanji for that ill try to see if i can find them

I would come-up with the same thing.  

[Hiroki Seven]

i double checked Gail on google translator

in Roomaji it would be written as Geiru, these are the katakana that would be used
ゲイル

the translator also has a button that lets you hear how it is pronounced  

[Hiroki Seven]

i found these links that might help out. its basically the hiragana syllable 'alphabet'.

Aside from the Hiragana, which are the most basic style of writing they also have Katakana, which is a bit more advanced, and the Kanji, which are the really big symbols. A piece of writing in Japan uses all three at once, at least the ones i have seen around the internet.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/28/Table_hiragana.svg/768px-Table_hiragana.svg.png

http://images.wikia.com/japanese/images/4/48/Hiragana-dakuten-chart.gif

Also, check this out. My real name is Chris, in japanese its written as Kurisu (3 syllables), but the pronounciation it almost exactly the same as in english.

I hope this all helps biggrin  

[xleila_24689x]

Btw, Cat in Japanese would become キャット. And people give nicknames to each other in Japan all the time!!! For Example, if someone's name was Megumi or something, people could call her Megu, or Meguchan, or Meguchi, or something random like that biggrin People like to give extremely random nicknames too! Like I have a friend with the name of a fish, so we call her Saba Kabocha Manjuu. (Mackerol Pumpkin, idk what manjuu is in english!)