What’s the best way to learn Japanese? It’s a question many language enthusiasts ask, and at LEARNS.EDU.VN, we offer a structured and effective approach. Our method focuses on building a strong foundation in hiragana, katakana, and kanji, combined with practical vocabulary and grammar. This article provides a step-by-step guide to Japanese language acquisition, ensuring you not only learn but also retain and apply your knowledge effectively.
Table of Contents
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Zero Knowledge of Japanese
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Learn to Read Hiragana
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Basic Japanese Pronunciation
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Learning to Type Hiragana in Japanese
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Understanding the Concept of “Kanji”
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Beginning Kanji & Stockpiling Kanji Knowledge
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Learn to Read Katakana
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Learning to Type Katakana
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Learning to Type Kanji
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The Beginner of Japanese
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Using a Spaced Repetition System For Vocabulary
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- Collecting Vocabulary
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- Processing
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- Adding the Words to Your SRS
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Beginning Japanese Grammar
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A Beginner’s Japanese Textbook / Program
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Answering Your Japanese Language Questions
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Alternative: Learning Japanese Grammar On Your Own
- Order of Learning
- Fact Checking / Cross Referencing
- Do the Work
- Sometimes, You’ll Just Get Stuck
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Optional: Finding A Japanese Language Tutor
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Suggested Books and Resources
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Intermediate Level Japanese
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FAQ Section
1. Zero Knowledge of Japanese
Welcome to the exciting journey of learning Japanese! If you’re starting from scratch, this section is tailored for you. Your initial steps are crucial as they lay the groundwork for your future progress. Deliberate and careful preparation now will significantly ease your learning experience down the road.
Mastering the fundamentals is essential to avoid the “intermediate plateau” that many learners encounter. Investing time in these foundational steps will pay off immensely in the long run. Remember, slow and steady wins the race.
2. Learn to Read Hiragana
Estimated Time: 1 day to 1 week
Hiragana is the gateway to reading Japanese. It’s one of the three essential writing systems, along with katakana and kanji. Acquiring the ability to read hiragana is a prerequisite for most beginner-level Japanese textbooks and learning materials. It’s the traditional starting point, and for good reason.
While Japanese classes often dedicate a month to mastering hiragana, you can expedite this process. Instead of repetitive writing exercises, use mnemonic techniques and targeted worksheets to learn and recall hiragana faster.
Do it: Learn How to Read Hiragana
This approach prioritizes reading over writing initially. While handwriting is important in the long run, focusing on reading allows you to progress more quickly. Typing is the dominant form of writing in modern Japanese, so you’ll learn to type in hiragana, katakana, and kanji.
By combining mnemonics, worksheets, and typing practice, you can learn to read hiragana in just a day or two, rather than a month.
To move on, ensure you can read all hiragana characters and their contractions without assistance. Speed will come with practice.
Note: Before starting, review “Basic Japanese Pronunciation” (below).
3. Basic Japanese Pronunciation
Estimated Time: N/A
Accurate pronunciation begins with hiragana. While hiragana alone won’t teach you everything, it’s key to understanding how Japanese words sound and developing a native-sounding accent. It provides about 80% of what you need.
For the remaining 20%, refer to a comprehensive guide on Japanese pronunciation. Before learning hiragana, read up to the “Japanese Sounds and Your Mouth” section.
After mastering hiragana, revisit that section and delve into “Important Differences.” This will cover sounds absent in English, giving you a head start. Ensure you can pronounce all hiragana characters correctly before proceeding.
Read: Basic Japanese Pronunciation Guide
Investing time in pronunciation early on is crucial. Don’t avoid it because it seems difficult. Speaking and hearing these sounds will prepare you for more complex aspects later.
Now, return to [learning hiragana]. Reach the point where you can read and recall everything before moving on.
4. Learning to Type Hiragana in Japanese
Estimated Time: 1-2 days (or less)
Prerequisite: Able to read hiragana
Now that you can read and pronounce hiragana, it’s time to learn how to type it on your computer or smartphone.
First, install a Japanese keyboard. Use an IME (input method editor), a software that can be added to almost any device. Follow these instructions:
Read: How to Install a Japanese Keyboard
After installing, learn how to type. Focus on the hiragana portion initially:
Read: How to Type in Japanese
Typing in hiragana is straightforward once you can read it. Practice until you’re confident, including tricky aspects like contractions and small tsu. Then, move on to kanji.
5. Understanding the Concept of “Kanji”
Estimated Time: N/A
In our method, you’ll learn to read kanji characters early, right after mastering hiragana.
Here’s why:
- Kanji is often considered the most challenging part of learning Japanese. Ignoring it won’t make learning easier.
- Beginners spend much time looking up kanji and vocabulary in textbooks, disrupting their focus on grammar. Learning kanji and vocabulary first accelerates grammar learning.
- Kanji leads to vocabulary, which aids communication. Grammar connects vocabulary. Without vocabulary, grammar becomes abstract.
- We offer a more effective method for learning kanji than rote memorization.
This kanji-vocabulary-first approach enables you to use Japanese quickly. It may seem slow initially, but it will accelerate your progress and help you overcome the intermediate plateau, reducing the risk of burnout.
To embrace this philosophy, understand what kanji is and how it’s used. Read:
Read: On’yomi vs. Kun’yomi: What’s the Difference?
Understanding Japanese kanji readings prepares you to learn actual kanji.
6. Beginning Kanji & Stockpiling Kanji Knowledge
Estimated Time: 1-3 months
Important Note: Start learning katakana simultaneously with this step. “Beginning Kanji & Stockpiling Kanji Knowledge” will take 1-3 months. You can complete all steps up to “The Beginner of Japanese” while working on this one.
Now, it’s time to learn kanji. Let’s define what that means:
- Learn the kanji’s most important English meaning(s) and Japanese reading(s). Some kanji have many readings, and English meanings are translations that may not always match the Japanese meaning perfectly. Focus on the most important meanings and readings used 80-90% of the time. Learn the remaining meanings and readings through vocabulary and practice.
- Learn vocabulary that uses the kanji. This reinforces the kanji concepts and teaches you the remaining readings. Plus, the vocabulary will be used to apply grammar later.
- By the end of this guide, aim to know around 2,000 of the most important kanji and 6-7,000 vocabulary words that use them. This foundation will enable you to read almost anything, or at least have the tools to decipher the rest.
Aim to learn 20-30 kanji and ~100 vocabulary words that use those kanji each week. Use the Radicals Mnemonic Method:
Read: Learn kanji with the radicals mnemonic method
This guide teaches you how to narrow down kanji meanings and readings, use radicals and mnemonics, and create an effective routine.
You can create your own study plan for free, but for a complete package, consider [the kanji learning program, WaniKani].
We’ll reference it going forward, but creating your own content and schedule is fine. Just maintain your pace.
Once you begin learning vocabulary in WaniKani (or your own system), read the Basic Japanese Pronunciation Guide from the [Pronouncing Vocabulary section] all the way through to the end. Learn about vowel sounds, double consonants, and pitch accent.
Read: Basic Japanese Pronunciation Guide
Make sure to start now and remain consistent.
7. Learn to Read Katakana
Estimated Time: 2 days to 2 weeks
Prerequisite: Able to read hiragana
Learning katakana is similar to learning hiragana. We have another mnemonic-based guide for you, and chances are you’ll be able to read katakana within a few days if you’re willing to put in the work.
Get to the point where you can read all of the katakana by the time you start unlocking vocabulary in WaniKani (or by the time you start vocabulary in your own kanji method).
Do it: Learn to Read Katakana
Note: Katakana tends to give learners more trouble than hiragana because it seems to be used less often, especially at the beginning stages. Later on, katakana will appear more frequently, but for now simply being able to read katakana is enough.
Once you can read each katakana character—no matter how slowly—move on to the next section about typing katakana.
8. Learning to Type Katakana
Estimated Time: 1-2 hours
Prerequisites: Able to type hiragana, able to read katakana
Katakana is similar to hiragana, so learning how to type it should be fairly easy. Jump to the katakana section of our typing guide and get started.
Read: How to Type Katakana
Note: Make sure you keep working on your kanji! If you’re using WaniKani, just do your reviews as they become available. Because WaniKani is a [spaced repetition system] there must be spaces between reviews. Do your reviews on time and you’ll get through this initial “slow” phase in a week or two.
9. Learning to Type Kanji
Estimated Time: 1-2 hours
Prerequisite: Able to read 20-30 kanji
Before starting this step, make sure you can read a handful of kanji. Twenty or thirty will do just fine. If you’re using WaniKani, this is when you start unlocking vocabulary or are around level 2.
Typing in kanji is a little more complicated than typing in hiragana or katakana, but it still follows similar rules. Learn how to type in kanji using the kanji section of our guide then read to the end.
Read: How to type kanji
Now you know how to type everything there is to type in Japanese! With practice, you’ll be able to type it as naturally as you type in your native language.
Before moving on, you should reach level 10 on WaniKani (or around 300 kanji and 1,000 vocabulary words using your own method).
This is an important time in terms of pronunciation too. Make sure you consciously mimic the vocabulary audio. This work will prepare you for sentences later.
10. The Beginner of Japanese
Being a beginner of anything is great. Everything is new, everything feels like real, tangible progress, and even if you’re bad at something, you can’t really tell because you don’t know enough yet anyway.
At this point, you have a strong base of kanji and vocabulary. If you are using [WaniKani], you should be at level 10 or above. If you are doing kanji on your own, or using another resource, you should know the most common meaning and reading of around 300 kanji and 1,000 vocabulary words.
With this assumption about your knowledge in place, we’re going to go through some options for how you can learn Japanese grammar. This includes using a textbook as well as creating your own grammar program from scratch. We offer some of our own material as well. Most likely, you’ll end up doing a hybrid of the above. No matter what you choose, your foundation of kanji, vocabulary, and pronunciation will make everything much easier.
11. Using a Spaced Repetition System For Vocabulary
Estimated Time: 2-4 hours + ongoing
You will learn a lot of vocabulary purely from your kanji studies. As long as you have a good kanji system in place, you shouldn’t worry too much. However, you will definitely need to learn all of the words that do not use kanji too. In the beginning, this will largely be grammatical things, and words that don’t use kanji, from your textbook. Later it will be vocabulary you pick up from signs, manga, and other real life sources.
It’s time to learn how and when to introduce vocabulary words from outside your kanji studies into your study routine. The most important thing is to have a good system in place.
You need to be able to record and store these words so that you can study them later. You also need a good system to handle and process these words. It’s a waste if you record them once and never look at them again.
1. Collecting Vocabulary
Most likely, you will find most of the vocabulary that you want to learn in your Japanese textbook. As I mentioned earlier, these might be words that don’t have kanji, or maybe they’re words that you didn’t learn in WaniKani. There are a lot of words out there and no one resource will teach you all of them.
Once you’ve found some words that you want to learn you need to collect them. How you do this doesn’t matter as much as actually doing it. Put them in a spreadsheet, a tool like Evernote or OneNote, or just write them down on a piece of paper.
2. Processing
The next step is processing. I’d recommend you create a habit where every day, week, or month (it depends on how much new vocabulary you want to introduce to your routine) you go through this list and put them into your SRS of choice. What is an SRS? I’m glad you asked.
3. Adding the Words to Your SRS
If you’ve been using WaniKani, you’ve been using a “Spaced Repetition System” (a.k.a. SRS) this whole time! But you’ll want to use something else for the vocabulary you find out in the wild. For this, we wrote a guide. In it you’ll learn how to collect vocabulary and add them to your SRS.
Read: Spaced Repetition and Japanese: The Definitive Guide
One additional piece of reading I’d recommend is this article on Keyword Mnemonics. For the non-kanji vocabulary you want to learn this is a surprisingly simple (and effective) mnemonic method which will allow you to learn more vocabulary in one sitting, and be able to recall it for longer.
Read: Keyword Mnemonic Method for Learning Japanese Vocabulary
As I said earlier, you won’t be working with a ton of vocabulary at the start. For now, let your kanji studies give you most of your vocabulary. Then, when stray street vocabulary does start coming up, send it through the vocabulary process you’ve built.
Make this a habit.
12. Beginning Japanese Grammar
Estimated Time: It’s a mystery
It’s (finally!) time to start learning grammar. If you followed this guide to the letter, you’re probably 2-4+ months into your Japanese studies. You should know around 300 kanji and 1,000 Japanese vocabulary words, and your pronunciation should be getting better, or at least you’re being conscious about improving it. Now it’s time to kick Japanese grammar’s butt.
Let’s start by internalizing a philosophy:
When learning something new, you should already know 80% of it.
This means that each new thing you learn should be a 20% (or smaller) incremental step.
So when you’re learning grammar with a textbook, coming into it with prior vocabulary knowledge brings you to that 80%. Leaving you just the grammar, which you can then point your laser-like focus towards.
Let’s assume for a moment that your Japanese vocabulary knowledge doesn’t get you to 80% (or more). If that’s the case, there are a few possible reasons:
- You don’t know enough vocabulary: In this case, go back to your kanji/vocabulary studies for a while and reconsider the level of the resource you’re using. Another solution would be to pull the vocabulary from the resource, study them with your SRS method, and then come back once you’ve learned them.
- You don’t know enough grammar: If you’re being taught one of the three, but you don’t know the other two, you’re dipping way below that ideal 80%.
- The sentence is very short: If a phrase only has three parts, and you don’t know one of them, you’re going to be at 66%. In cases like this, you can make an exception.
13. A Beginner’s Japanese Textbook / Program
Estimated Time: 1-3 months
It’s time to take our philosophy and apply it to a beginner textbook. With kanji and vocabulary already in your tool belt, learning grammar should be much more interesting.
With this base knowledge, choosing a specific textbook or program to follow becomes less important, but there are still many “good” textbooks and many “bad” textbooks out there. Most will teach you the same content one way or another, so pick one that you feel fits your learning style.
To help you with this choice, we wrote a guide:
Read: The Best Japanese Textbooks for Beginners
Whatever you end up choosing, get started right away. It’s so easy for people to get trapped in a “preparation loop” where they spend all of their time planning and getting ready, only to stop before any actual work gets done.
At this point you will focus on working through your textbook of choice. Try to progress through the entire thing from beginning to end. Doing this will create a strong foundation of Japanese inside of you, something you can use to base other knowledge off of.
It will take around 2-6 months to get through most beginner Japanese textbooks. Though, this does depend on how much time you have to spend on your studies and what grammar method you choose. You can even go through a couple different textbooks at the same time, if you want. What one textbook doesn’t teach well, another probably does. That being said, if you don’t feel like you understand a concept, or you want to know more, there’s plenty of ways to get your questions answered.
Read the next section as you start your textbook studies. You’ll eventually run into something you don’t know that your textbook doesn’t explain. You might as well be ready for it.
14. Answering Your Japanese Language Questions
As you’re going through your textbook, you’re going to run into things you don’t understand. When you run into something you don’t understand you can look it up.
No matter what kind of question you’re asking or answer you’re searching for, we wrote up a guide that will tell you how to find anything Japanese language related:
Read: How to Answer your Japanese Language Questions
Note: You should continue to use WaniKani (or whatever kanji learning method you chose) as you continue on. You should keep going until you finish, and/or you reach the end of this guide. It is important to keep your kanji-vocabulary knowledge ahead of your grammar knowledge at all times.
15. Alternative: Learning Japanese Grammar On Your Own
Estimated Time: 1-3 months
By gathering all that kanji and vocabulary knowledge you’re making it possible to learn grammar on your own. Learning grammar is easy comparatively. That being said, if you decide not to use a Japanese textbook as your main resource, there are some things you’ll want to consider:
Order of Learning
This is a topic we’ll be writing a big guide on. If you do, ordering will, for the most part, naturally fall into place if you follow the “know 80% of all new things” philosophy.
Fact Checking / Cross Referencing
Don’t just trust any ol’ thing you read on the internet. When you learn a new piece of Japanese grammar, make sure to read explanations from multiple sources. Making a habit out of using multiple explanations and resources for one thing will feel like it’s slowing you down at first, but it’s much faster overall.
Do the Work
If you’re studying Japanese grammar on your own, it’s even more important to do the work. Even more so than a class or textbook, you’ll need to make sure you actually sit down and make progress.
Sometimes, You’ll Just Get Stuck
If this is happening a lot—and no amount of research gets you through it—you might want to consider finding a professional to help. Speaking of professionals…
16. Optional: Finding A Japanese Language Tutor
Estimated Time: N/A
This may be the time to consider finding a Japanese language tutor, especially if you feel like you’re not able to answer your questions about Japanese on your own. With a foundation of kanji and vocabulary already in place, you will be able to focus on the things that a tutor can help you with the most: speaking, listening, and answering questions.
Keep in mind that focusing on kanji and vocabulary with a tutor tends to be a poor use of this time.
When using a tutor it’s important to focus on things only a tutor will be able to help you with. Those include their ability to speak, think, and explain nuances that haven’t been written about or studied (yet).
17. Suggested Books and Resources
Estimated Time: N/A
As you’re moving along, there’s always going to be more to learn. Don’t be afraid to stop moving forward to indulge your curiosity. For times like this, reference books are quite good. If you’re only going to buy one, I’d recommend the “Basic” book from the [Dictionary of Japanese Grammar series]. It is the best Japanese language reference book out there, in my opinion.
Other than that, look through the “Reference Books” section of our Beginner Japanese Textbooks, Reference Books, and Dictionaries article. There are quite a few good ones!
Read: The Best Japanese Reference Books & Dictionaries
Note: With any skill, it’s important that you focus on the things you’re worst at. “Raise the floor, not the ceiling,” so to speak. If you do that, you’ll find everything else gets elevated, and you’ll be less frustrated overall.
18. Intermediate Level Japanese
The “intermediate” level of Japanese is by far the worst. Most of the people who ultimately give up on learning do it here.
Available resources begin to dry up, in both number and quality, and learners get stuck or plateau. Without guidance, it can feel like progressing is an impossible task.
This is the intermediate wall.
The thing that makes the intermediate level the hardest, though, is what got you here: your competence.
The beginner section was your unconscious incompetence stage. But now you know a thing or two, and it’s just enough to know you’re not actually amazing at this thing called the Japanese language. It hurts and it’s because you are now consciously incompetent, which is no fun at all.
Thankfully, a lot of the pain most learners feel at this stage comes from poor learning or teaching methods from the beginner stages. Things that you, hopefully, avoided.
Here’s how you do it:
- Recognize this stage exists and know that you’re supposed to feel these uncomfortable feelings.
- You’ve already been preparing for this moment. This guide has prepped you to get through this fairly quickly.
With all that in mind, it’s time to start on some intermediate material. Make sure you are good on 100% of the previous sections before moving on. This is, by far, the most difficult portion of your Japanese education. You must have a good foundation to jump off of. When you’re ready, you can start browsing our [Japanese articles] and [Grammar pages]. Good luck! 💪🏻
19. FAQ Section
Q1: How long does it take to learn Japanese?
A: The time required varies depending on individual factors such as learning style, dedication, and available resources. However, with consistent effort and the right approach, you can achieve basic fluency in about 1-2 years.
Q2: Is Japanese hard to learn for English speakers?
A: Japanese presents unique challenges for English speakers, primarily due to differences in writing systems, grammar, and pronunciation. However, with the right strategies and resources, it is definitely achievable.
Q3: Can I learn Japanese on my own?
A: Yes, it is possible to learn Japanese on your own, especially with the abundance of online resources, textbooks, and language learning apps available today. Self-discipline and a structured approach are key.
Q4: What are the best resources for learning Japanese?
A: Some popular resources include textbooks like Genki and Minna no Nihongo, language learning apps like Duolingo and Memrise, and online platforms like WaniKani for kanji learning. Also, don’t forget to explore the resources available on LEARNS.EDU.VN!
Q5: How important is it to learn kanji?
A: Learning kanji is crucial for achieving fluency in Japanese. While it may seem daunting, mastering kanji opens doors to understanding a vast amount of vocabulary and written materials.
Q6: How can I improve my Japanese pronunciation?
A: Practice is key to improving your pronunciation. Listen to native speakers, mimic their speech patterns, and use resources that provide audio examples. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes and seek feedback from native speakers or language partners.
Q7: What is the best way to memorize vocabulary?
A: Spaced repetition systems (SRS) are highly effective for memorizing vocabulary. Use flashcards or language learning apps that incorporate SRS to reinforce your learning and retain information over time.
Q8: How can I stay motivated while learning Japanese?
A: Set realistic goals, track your progress, and reward yourself for achieving milestones. Find a language partner or join a study group to stay accountable and motivated. Also, immerse yourself in Japanese culture through music, movies, and books to make learning more enjoyable.
Q9: How can LEARNS.EDU.VN help me learn Japanese?
A: LEARNS.EDU.VN offers a wealth of resources to support your Japanese language learning journey. From comprehensive guides and tutorials to curated lists of resources and expert advice, we provide everything you need to succeed.
Q10: Where can I find a Japanese language tutor?
A: There are various online platforms and language schools where you can find qualified Japanese language tutors. Consider your budget, learning style, and goals when choosing a tutor, and don’t hesitate to ask for a trial lesson to ensure it’s a good fit.
Ready to embark on your Japanese learning journey? Visit LEARNS.EDU.VN today to discover more resources and unlock your potential! Contact us at 123 Education Way, Learnville, CA 90210, United States. Whatsapp: +1 555-555-1212. Trang web: learns.edu.vn. Let us guide you on your path to mastering Japanese.
