so im having a difficult time learning nihongo mainly with the way they speak since its subject then other things. also i keep forgeting when the u and i are silent. can anybody help me with tips and such? thx!

On the speaking side of things, it's best that you　watch the news or find a place where you can eavesdrop on voice client convos for about half an hour a day. Pick out what words you can, and grow used to hearing them. As your listening comprehension develops, the mysteries will lift on their own. I get my news here

As for whether or not a short い or う is silent, that's something you just grow into a feel for. The only real tips that I can give are that there's no case that I can think of where the sound isn't fully pronounced at the beginning of a word, while on the other hand the vowel sounds have a high tendency to drop as し or す in the midst or at the end of a word.

wous said:
On the speaking side of things, it's best that you　watch the news or find a place where you can eavesdrop on voice client convos for about half an hour a day. Pick out what words you can, and grow used to hearing them. As your listening comprehension develops, the mysteries will lift on their own. I get my news here

As for whether or not a short い or う is silent, that's something you just grow into a feel for. The only real tips that I can give are that there's no case that I can think of where the sound isn't fully pronounced at the beginning of a word, while on the other hand the vowel sounds have a high tendency to drop as し or す in the midst or at the end of a word.

ok thx!