Introduction:
Japanese is an East Asian language spoken by about 128 million people, primarily in Japan, where it is the national language. It is a member of the Japonic (or Japanese-Ryukyuan) language family, and its ultimate derivation and relation to other languages are unclear. Japonic languages have been grouped with other language families such as Ainu, Austroasiatic, Korean, and the now-discredited Altaic, but none of these proposals has gained widespread acceptance.
How hard is it to learn Japanese? Many language learners believe that learning Japanese is significantly more difficult than learning any other language. In fact, every language learning journey takes a lot of effort and hard work on your part. But it doesn’t mean that you have to give up mastering your skills as learning a new language opens up opportunities for both your personal and professional growth. And learning Japanese is not an exception.
Did that scare you? Don’t worry, it’s not that difficult as it sounds. Let’s look at the things you require to be equipped with on the path of learning Japanese.
Things to keep in mind
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The very first and most important thing is passion.
You need an interest in learning the language, a motive that keeps you going. So think what that could be? Maybe you want to learn Japanese because you’re tired of watching your favorite anime with English subtitles or you want to go to Japan for studies. If you have a motive, you can always think about it whenever you go off track and remember why you started learning. So, be passionate about learning Japanese.
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Learn Hiragana
Hiragana is Japan’s version of the alphabet. It is one of three Japanese writing systems you need to learn to be able to read. The other two are katakana and kanji, but hiragana is where everything starts. The ability to read hiragana is going to be a prerequisite for most beginner Japanese textbooks and resources. It’s the first thing you learn in a traditional classroom. Surprisingly, I agree with everyone else. This is a good place to start.
Good pronunciation starts with hiragana. While hiragana alone won’t teach you everything, it is the key to understanding how and why Japanese words sound the way they do. It will also help you get the foundation you need for a native-sounding accent. At the very least, hiragana will get you 80% of the way there.
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Learn some Katakana
Katakana is a series of characters used to stand for loan words or non-Japanese words (such as hot dog or internet). You will want to learn the Katakana terms for English words you are likely to use.
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Learn Kanji
Kanji are typographic Chinese symbols that are used to stand for basic words and phrases in Japanese. Whereas Hiragana symbols are more like English letters (depicting simple sounds), Kanji symbols are used to depict complete words. Knowing some basic Kanji will enable you to understand and speak basic Japanese.
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Practice grammar
To learn Japanese grammar, you’ll need to try to forget everything you already know about grammar. Don’t apply the rules and concepts of your native language to Japanese. Instead, try to take the rules of Japanese grammar at face value. Obtain a Japanese grammar workbook and begin following the lessons. Some good choices include “Practice Makes Perfect: Basic Japanese” and “A Guide to Japanese Grammar” by Tae. Locate free online resources (such as Duolingo) to study Japanese grammar.
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Learn some key phrases
Learning a few key phrases will allow you to begin practicing, and may allow you to enjoy some casual conversation with a Japanese speaker. Although Romaji should not be relied upon, using Romaji to learn these basic phrases can work as a good jumping-off point.
Hello – Kon’nichiwa
Goodbye – Sayonara
I’m fine, thanks – Watashiwa genki desu. Arigato.
Nice to meet you – Hajime mash’te
- Set up a schedule. How long does it take to learn Japanese? It’s probably one of the most popular questions many people have about this language. The truth is that it depends on the efforts you’re going to make to boost your level of Japanese.
- Use apps to get started. Language learning applications will come in very handy when you start learning Japanese. Multibhashi, Duolingo, Memrise, or Rosetta Stone are very simple apps for beginners to start learning basic Japanese phrases and vocabulary. Apps like these allow you to study whenever and whenever you want.
- Read manga. It’s time to start immersing yourself in Japanese culture! Apart from Japanese books and newspapers, learn to read Japanese with manga. Manga is a crucial part of Japanese culture with a long history. Today, it’s at the heart of Japanese pop culture and is also widely known outside of the country. Manga is art in the form of comics or graphic novels and can be especially helpful for language learners. These comics are full of contextual clues so that you can easily understand the meaning of the written words. Sailor Moon would be a great starting point for a beginner.
- Don’t be afraid to make mistakes. When you start to practice Japanese, you are always going to make mistakes. But if you don’t put a foot wrong, you won’t grow! Making mistakes and receiving feedback from others is the most effective way to learn a language. However, keep in mind that native Japanese speakers may not want to correct you out of respect, so make it clear that you’d appreciate some guidance.
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Conclusion:
Whatever steps you take to enhance your Japanese skills, one thing is certain: nothing beats speaking the language from day one if you want to see rapid improvement!
That’s why Multibhashi is an excellent way to practice a new language. With Multibhashi, you can take 1-on-1 sessions through audio/ video call with a certified Japanese tutor. Your tutor will be your language learning sensei—guiding you through the process, pointing out your mistakes, and developing a customized plan based on your level.
There are so many tutors to choose from. All you need to do is use our search filters to find the perfect tutor for your goals, schedule, and budget. Just a few sessions will make a huge difference to your confidence, and will help you reach your Japanese learning goals faster than a typical learning app ever could!