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How To Learn Japanese Language

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37 views7 pages

How To Learn Japanese Language

Uploaded by

xotoxa5909
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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How To Learn Japanese

Language
1. Learn the Writing Systems

Japanese has three scripts:

 Hiragana (basic phonetic script)


 Katakana (used for foreign words)
 Kanji (Chinese characters used for words and ideas)

Start with Hiragana, then Katakana. Resources to learn:

 Flashcards (Anki, Quizlet)


 Apps like Duolingo or Lingodeer

2. Basic Vocabulary and Phrases

 Focus on common words (greetings, numbers, colors, food, etc.).


 Practice everyday phrases: “Thank you,” “Excuse me,” “Where is...?”

Tools:

 Anki (spaced repetition system for vocabulary)


 Apps like Drops for visual vocab learning.

3. Learn Basic Grammar

Japanese grammar differs from English but is logical. Key points to learn:

 Sentence structure (Subject-Object-Verb)


 Particles (は/が, を, に, で, etc.)
 Verb conjugations (present, past, negative forms)

Resources:

 Textbooks: Genki (ideal for beginners) or Minna no Nihongo.


 YouTube channels: JapanesePod101, Learn Japanese with Misa.
4. Practice Listening and Speaking

 Listen to Japanese daily through:


o Anime, dramas, YouTube, or podcasts (Nihongo con Teppei is
beginner-friendly).
 Practice speaking with:
o Language exchange apps (HelloTalk, Tandem).
o Online tutors via italki or Preply.

5. Build Kanji Knowledge Gradually

 Start with the first 100 most common kanji.


 Use mnemonics to remember meanings and readings (e.g., WaniKani,
KanjiDamage).

6. Immerse Yourself

 Change your phone or apps to Japanese.


 Try reading simple material (children’s books, NHK Easy News).

7. Practice Consistently

 Dedicate at least 15-30 minutes daily.


 Combine writing, reading, listening, and speaking for balanced
learning.

Here are specific recommendations for each topic to help you get started
with learning Japanese effectively:

### 1. **Learn the Writing Systems**

#### **Hiragana & Katakana**

- **Apps**:

- **LingoDeer** – A great app for beginners that covers both Hiragana


and Katakana with interactive lessons.

- **Duolingo** – Offers a good foundation in Hiragana and Katakana,


though more suitable for light learning.
- **Websites**:

- **Tofugu** (tofu.gu/learn-hiragana) – Provides guides and mnemonics


for learning Hiragana and Katakana.

- **RealKana** (realkana.com) – A simple tool to practice Hiragana and


Katakana characters.

- **Books**:

- *”Japanese Hiragana & Katakana for Beginners”* by Timothy G. Stout –


A great book with practice sheets.

#### **Kanji**

- **Apps**:

- **WaniKani** – A spaced repetition system (SRS) app focused on


teaching Kanji using mnemonics.

- **Kanji Study** – Allows you to study and track progress with Kanji.

- **Books**:

- *”Remembering the Kanji”* by Heisig – This book uses mnemonic


techniques to help memorize Kanji.

### 2. **Basic Vocabulary and Phrases**

- **Apps**:

- **Memrise** – Learn vocabulary with spaced repetition. It offers


courses in Japanese and includes audio from native speakers.

- **Anki** – A flashcard app perfect for custom decks. You can find pre-
made decks, like the JLPT N5 vocabulary deck, or create your own.
- **Websites**:

- **JLPT Sensei** – Offers free vocabulary lists categorized by JLPT levels


(e.g., N5, N4).

- **JapanesePod101** – Provides lessons focusing on vocabulary and


phrases for everyday conversation.

- **Books**:

- *”Genki I: An Integrated Course in Elementary Japanese”* – This book


is widely used for beginners and covers useful vocabulary, phrases, and
grammar.

### 3. **Learn Basic Grammar**

- **Books**:

- *”Genki I: An Integrated Course in Elementary Japanese”* – This


textbook explains grammar in an easy-to-understand way with practice
exercises.

- *”Minna no Nihongo”* – Another popular textbook that focuses on


grammar and sentence patterns.

- **Websites**:

- **BunPro** – An SRS-based website focused on Japanese grammar. It


provides lessons that follow the JLPT levels and links to example
sentences.

- **Imabi** – An extensive free resource for detailed explanations on


Japanese grammar.

- **YouTube Channels**:
- **JapanesePod101** – Offers a wide range of grammar lessons with
real-life examples.

- **Learn Japanese with Misa** – Misa explains grammar in a clear,


beginner-friendly way.

### 4. **Practice Listening and Speaking**

- **Podcasts**:

- **Nihongo con Teppei** – A Japanese podcast where the host speaks


slowly and clearly, suitable for beginners.

- **JapanesePod101** – Offers listening practice at various levels, from


beginner to advanced.

- **Apps for Speaking and Language Exchange**:

- **HelloTalk** – Connect with native speakers and get text, voice, and
video chat options.

- **Tandem** – Another great app for language exchange, allowing you


to practice speaking with native speakers.

- **Online Tutoring**:

- **italki** – Offers one-on-one lessons with native Japanese speakers,


which is excellent for speaking practice.

- **Preply** – Another good platform for finding Japanese tutors.

### 5. **Build Kanji Knowledge Gradually**

- **Apps**:

- **WaniKani** – Excellent for learning Kanji using mnemonics.


- **Kanji Study** – Helps you learn the meaning, readings, and writing of
Kanji.

- **Websites**:

- **Jisho.org** – An online Japanese-English dictionary where you can


look up Kanji and their meanings.

- **Kanji Koohii** – A website dedicated to learning Kanji using Heisig’s


mnemonic method.

- **Books**:

- *”Remembering the Kanji”* by James Heisig – Focuses on learning


Kanji using visual mnemonics.

### 6. **Immerse Yourself**

- **Language Exchange**:

- **HelloTalk** – Practice with native speakers by exchanging messages


in both English and Japanese.

- **Tandem** – Offers an opportunity to practice with native speakers


through texts, audio, and video calls.

- **Apps**:

- **Anki** (for Kanji, vocabulary, etc.) – Continue learning vocabulary


and Kanji using spaced repetition.

- **Lingodeer** – Covers grammar, vocabulary, and writing systems with


a focus on immersion.

- **TV Shows/Movies**:
- **NHK Easy News** – Japanese news written in simple language with
furigana for Kanji readings.

- **Anime/Drama** – Watch with subtitles, then try watching without


subtitles as you improve. Popular beginner-friendly anime include
*Shirokuma Café*, *Sazae-san*, or *Doraemon*.

### 7. **Practice Consistently**

- **Set a Schedule**:

- Try to practice every day for at least 20-30 minutes. Consistency is key
to retaining what you learn.

- **Use Spaced Repetition**:

- Apps like **Anki** or **WaniKani** use spaced repetition to help you


remember vocabulary and Kanji effectively.

- **Join Online Communities**:

- Participate in Japanese language learning forums like **Reddit’s


/r/LearnJapanese**, **Japanese Language Stack Exchange**, or
**Discord** servers dedicated to Japanese learners for additional support
and motivation.

By combining these tools and strategies, you’ll be able to build a solid


foundation in Japanese.

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