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So, you want to learn Japanese. It might seem like a daunting task. After all, Japanese has three alphabets<\/a>, multiple levels<\/a> of formality<\/a>, and a different sentence structure<\/a> than the one you might be used to. Where to begin? In this article, we\u2019ll talk about the best way to learn Japanese.<\/p>\n Here\u2019s a hint: the best way to learn Japanese is to use it whenever you can!<\/p>\n The easiest and earliest way to learn Japanese is to listen<\/em> to it! My Japanese journey began with commutes to my local college; I had some Pimsleur method<\/a> CDs that I would listen to and repeat back as directed. When I finished these, I would listen to simple broadcasts<\/a> created by Japan\u2019s national news agency. Thanks to these early steps, I\u2019ve developed a natural level of pronunciation. This can easily be your story, too.<\/p>\n Listening is great because you can do it almost anywhere; there\u2019s no need to set study time aside for listening. It\u2019s the best way into your \u201czone\u201d for learning Japanese, and often, it\u2019s free! Just Google a genre or topic that interests you and add in Japanese<\/em>. You can also check out podcasts<\/a> about learning Japanese. When you manage to catch a word or a phrase, try repeating it back. You\u2019ll learn more Japanese than you\u2019d expect just by listening to it!<\/p>\n Romaji<\/em><\/a> is the Romanized representation of Japanese characters, or \u5b57\uff08ji<\/em>\uff09. If you can read this article, you can read romaji. Romaji<\/em> isn\u2019t an official Japanese alphabet, it\u2019s the quickest approach to Japanese pronunciation.<\/p>\n Let\u2019s say that you\u2019re just starting to learn Japanese and you see this sentence:<\/p>\n \u79c1\u306e\u540d\u524d\u306f\u7530\u4e2d\u3067\u3059\u3002<\/strong><\/p>\n Because you can\u2019t read these characters, you don\u2019t know how to begin understanding the pronunciation of this Japanese phrase. Even if I replaced the kanji<\/em>, or the more complex Chinese-based characters, with hiragana<\/em>, it would still be impossible for a beginner:<\/p>\n \u308f\u305f\u3057\u306e\u306a\u307e\u3048\u306f\u305f\u306a\u304b\u3067\u3059\u3002<\/strong><\/p>\n However, in romaji<\/em>, this sentence becomes approachable:<\/p>\n Watashi no namae wa Tanaka desu<\/strong>.<\/em> (My name is Tanaka.)<\/p>\n Even without a rudimentary understanding of Japanese phonetics, you\u2019d be able to make a guess at how this sentence sounds. For this reason, romaji<\/em> is a powerful ally to those who are just starting to learn Japanese.<\/p>\n It\u2019s important to be aware that this system is not<\/em> a real part<\/a> of the Japanese language and should therefore be used only in the early stages of learning Japanese. But it\u2019s as good a place as any to start understanding your target language\u2019s phonetic system.<\/p>\n To get the full bang for your buck out of the romaji<\/em> system, <\/em>check out some romaji<\/em> charts<\/a>.<\/p>\n Japan\u2019s original written language was based closely on Chinese characters. The hiragana<\/em> or \u201csyllabic\u201d system was originally created by women, for women<\/a>. It was considered simpler and \u201cprettier\u201d than the complex, blocky kanji. <\/em>Modern Japanese uses a mix of kanji<\/em> and hiragana<\/em>, but as hiragana<\/em> is the basic syllabic alphabet it\u2019s vital to learning Japanese.<\/p>\n Unlike kanji, <\/em>which has over 2,000 commonly used characters, the hiragana<\/em> alphabet consists of 46 characters. Some of them are similar to each other, so it might be useful to print out some practice sheets<\/a> and copy the characters a few times. Beyond that, however, learning how to write hiragana<\/em> isn\u2019t as important as learning to read<\/em> it. Most Japanese textbooks for beginners contain hiragana, <\/em>and you\u2019ll want to be able to use those as soon as you can.<\/p>\n As an official Japanese alphabet, hiragana<\/em> is a great next step to take after you graduate from romaji<\/em>. It\u2019s got the same syllabic content, so you\u2019ll be able to continue practicing Japanese pronunciation<\/a> as you go.<\/p>\n If you want a more comprehensive guide to this important writing system, check out Tofugu\u2019s article here.<\/a><\/p>\n Now that you\u2019ve got a handle on hiragana, <\/em>it\u2019s time to plug Japanese a little deeper into your office life. Installing a Japanese keyboard<\/a> on your computer (and on your phone, while you\u2019re at it), will increase your daily access to Japanese. And that\u2019s the best way to learn Japanese!<\/p>\n Once you\u2019re able to type in Japanese, you\u2019ll want a few plugins for decoding those difficult kanji<\/em> in your search results. The plugin \u201cRikaikun<\/a>\u201d gives definitions and<\/em> readings in hiragana<\/em> for any word you hover your mouse over. The Japanese side of the internet will now be at your fingertips; go forth and learn!<\/p>\n The katakana<\/em><\/a> alphabet is a set of different characters for the same sounds<\/em> presented in the hiragana <\/em>alphabet. While not as prominent in written Japanese as hiragana, <\/em>the katakana<\/em> system<\/a> is necessary for three reasons: they\u2019re necessary for understanding kanji<\/em> readings<\/a>, Japanese borrowed words are written in katakana, <\/em>and some kanji<\/em> radicals<\/a> are named after the katakana<\/em> characters they resemble.<\/p>\n Learning katakana<\/em> isn\u2019t necessarily starting a new alphabet from scratch; many of the characters in this alphabet look similar to corresponding hiragana<\/em> characters. Take a breath, remember what you\u2019ve learned so far, and study this next set of 46 characters for your next step of learning Japanese.<\/p>\n With the two \u201ceasy\u201d alphabets under your belt, you\u2019re ready to tackle Japanese kanji.<\/em><\/a> This is an extensive and ancient writing system that even most Japanese haven\u2019t fully mastered. But don\u2019t fret! The best way to learn Japanese applies to learning kanji<\/em> as well: practice every day! This is where Clozemaster<\/a> comes in.<\/p>\n Trying to memorize kanji<\/em> character-by-character is a Mt. Fuji-sized task that anyone would balk at. The better way to learn this writing system is in context. <\/em>Learn a few characters each day (the goal I set in my early study days was 5 kanji per day), but learn them in the context of Japanese sentences. <\/strong><\/p>\n Clozemaster aims to bolster your learning by deleting words<\/a> from sentences so you can remember them in context. This is the perfect way to learn kanji<\/em> because it\u2019s the cornerstone of a highly contextual language<\/a>.<\/p>\n Try these steps to learn Japanese kanji<\/em>:<\/p>\n It\u2019s time to hit the books! Whether you decide to join a local class, hire a tutor, or just continue on by yourself, there will come a point when Japanese textbooks are necessary. Now that you\u2019ve got a solid amount of vocabulary and the ability to read Japanese lettering, you might want to find a good beginner\u2019s textbook.<\/p>\n I personally used the Genki<\/em> textbooks<\/a> when I first started book learning. However, everyone has a different preference in this regard; I recommend doing some research on the different available textbooks<\/a> before investing in one for yourself.<\/p>\n Textbooks are important for learning Japan\u2019s SOV (Subject Object Verb) sentence structure<\/a>, as well as other grammatical foundations. With a textbook, you\u2019ll be able to test yourself even further based on what you\u2019ve learned thus far. You\u2019ll also be able to set more goals.<\/p>\n It\u2019s time to take what you\u2019ve learned and apply it to real conversation! You can speak Japanese with other learners (although I recommend you have at least one teacher or native speaker present if you do), or you can take things a step further: you can look for a Japanese tutor or a language exchange partner.<\/p>\n There are a couple of ways that you can start speaking with Japanese people. Some sites like HiNative<\/a> allow you to ask questions of native speakers and answer their questions about your own language. Other sites like Hello Talk<\/a> provide a secure way to socialize with native speakers from other languages. If you want a more serious teacher-student relationship, websites like iTalki<\/a> exist to help you make that connection. We live in an age of communication, and communication is vital for learning a language!<\/p>\n While I wouldn\u2019t recommend anime as a starting point for learning Japanese (not all of it is applicable to real-life conversations!), Japanese cartoons and other media are an excellent bolster for your studies. Consuming Japanese media means that you\u2019re listening, and we\u2019ve already discussed how important that is. It will also give you an insight into the culture<\/em> of this language you\u2019ve decided to learn. You can learn useful lessons from media like Japanese manners<\/a>, how to say \u201chello,\u201d<\/a> and other useful phrases<\/a>. If you have a Japanese language partner, Japanese media will give you something to talk with them about.<\/p>\n A few great resources for watching Japanese films or shows would be Netflix or Amazon Prime. Try Netflix\u2019s language learning plugin<\/a> and check out some of the top Japanese flicks<\/a> on the site.<\/p>\n When you feel comfortable enough to really challenge your knowledge of Japanese, it might be helpful to sign up for a Japanese test. If you want to end up working at a Japanese company, a test might even give you a head start on the credentials you\u2019d need. Even if you don\u2019t have plans to take your career to Japan, signing up for a test is a great way to understand where you are in your studies. It also gives you a solid goal to work towards.<\/p>\n There are two major tests that Japanese learners apply for. The first and more popular is the Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT)<\/a>. This test is separated into five levels, with the fifth level, or N5, being the lowest. The test covers reading, vocabulary, listening, and grammar. Be sure to check when and where these tests are administered in your home countries; while Japan holds the test bi-annually, many countries only open up registration once per year. Check their website for more information!<\/p>\n The other big test that you can use as a milestone is the Kanji Kentei<\/em><\/a>. <\/em>As the name suggests, this test is specific to kanji. <\/em>It isn\u2019t aimed at foreign applicants; in fact, many Japanese people are never able to pass the final level of the ten that are available. But if you\u2019re up for a challenge, or just really enjoy studying kanji<\/em>, this test might be a good milestone for you to aim for.<\/p>\n While the best way to learn Japanese may vary depending on the learner, having a good set of learning tools is essential for everyone! Here are some final resources that have helped me on my personal learning journey.<\/p>\n If you have an Android device, this kanji<\/em> app is a must. The compiled information on radicals, mnemonics, vocabulary, and the history behind each character is textbook level.<\/p>\n To practice the kanji<\/em>, you can either draw on your screen or take a multiple-choice quiz for each set. The quizzes can be adjusted depending on whether you want to study the readings, the meanings, or just the appearance of the individual kanji<\/em> characters.<\/p>\n Some of these features are<\/em> paid, but the price is no greater than what you\u2019d pay for a kanji<\/em> dictionary (hint: a kanji<\/em> dictionary doesn\u2019t fit in your pocket). Unfortunately, the iOS version of this app isn\u2019t up to date; I would only recommend Kanji Study for Android users.<\/p>\n If you learn best by listening, the Pimsleur courses might be an excellent start for you. The scientifically-backed method<\/a> behind Pimsleur\u2019s approach is a solid one: learn new words in spaced intervals, and the human brain has a greater \u201canticipation\u201d of finding the correct word when tested.<\/p>\n Pimsleur is also great because it bolsters the ability to speak your target language naturally, both in terms of rhythm and in terms of pronunciation. It can be pricey depending on how much you want to invest, but as a beginner I got a lot out of the free trial.<\/p>\n iKnow\u2019s tiered Japanese courses are thorough and well-balanced. iKnow! is like Clozemaster in that it teaches Japanese kanji<\/em> and vocabulary in context. You learn a set of new words, then practice them in a game-like quiz mode. Unlike Clozemaster, iKnow! yields its best results if you pay for a membership. Still, the short practice sessions available on the free version are great.<\/p>\n Whether you want to use the legendary denshi jisho<\/em><\/a> (electronic dictionary), invest in a physical book<\/a>, or just stick with a phone app<\/a>, owning a Japanese dictionary will help you learn Japanese. I personally have an older electronic dictionary, as well as the Japanese<\/a> app on my phone.<\/p>\n Polyglots might seem to the rest of us like a new evolution of language learners, but Benny assures his guests that anyone<\/strong> can master multiple languages\u2014in fact, they can do so in 90 days per language!<\/p>\n Whether or not you feel like Benny\u2019s 3-month language course is for you, there are still plenty of awesome resources on his website to explore. If anything, Fluent in 3 Months has an open community and a passionate founder who wants to promise every language leaner this: you can do it!<\/em><\/p>\n As mentioned earlier, Clozemaster is an amazing website for learning Japanese. But did you know that there\u2019s also a Clozemaster app? Download it on iOS or on Android and take this fantastic learning tool with you wherever you go!<\/p>\n While there might not be one<\/strong> best way to learn Japanese, there are many steps that you can take to start your studies off on a strong note. Try not to avoid the alphabets just because there seem to be so many, take kanji<\/em> one step at a time, and use awesome programs like Clozemaster to build a strong foundation of contextual vocabular!<\/p>\n Remember that the most important thing to learning Japanese is this: use Japanese every day. <\/strong>Consider it like building up a muscle. If you don\u2019t work out, you lose what muscle mass you had. Keep pumping that language iron, and you\u2019re sure to be speaking with confidence in no time!<\/p>\n Clozemaster\u00a0<\/strong>has been designed to help you learn the language in context by filling in the gaps in authentic sentences. With\u00a0features such as Grammar Challenges, Cloze-Listening, and Cloze-Reading, the app will let you emphasize all the competencies necessary to become fluent in Japanese.<\/p>\nStart Listening!<\/h2>\n
Use Romaji<\/em> to Learn Japanese Pronunciation<\/h2>\n
Learn Japanese Hiragana<\/em><\/h2>\n
Install Important Plugins for Learning Japanese<\/h2>\n
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<\/p>\nLearn Japanese Katakana<\/em><\/h2>\n
Learn Basic Japanese Kanji and Vocabulary with Clozemaster<\/h2>\n
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Learn Japanese with Textbooks<\/h2>\n
Learn Japanese by Speaking Japanese<\/h2>\n
Use Media to Learn Japanese<\/h2>\n
Set Goals While You Learn Japanese<\/h2>\n
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<\/p>\nResources to Help You Learn Japanese<\/h2>\n
Chase Colburn\u2019s Kanji Study App<\/a><\/h3>\n
Pimsleur Japanese Courses<\/a><\/h3>\n
iKnow! Vocabulary App<\/a><\/h3>\n
A Good Japanese Dictionary<\/a><\/h3>\n
Benny\u2019s Fluent in 3 Months Website<\/a><\/h3>\n
The Clozemaster App<\/a><\/h3>\n
The Best Way to Learn Japanese \u2013 Conclusion<\/h2>\n
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\n \n Learn Japanese in context with Clozemaster<\/h2>\n