Content

• Steps
• Advice
• Warning

Japanese is the Southeast Asian language spoken by nearly 125 million people around the world. As the national language of Japan, however, Japanese is also spoken in Korea, the United States, and many other places. If you are someone who can speak English, Japanese is very different. This language learning takes practice and with a little effort, you will be able to speak Japanese fluently.

Steps

Method 1 of 3: Learn the basics

1. 

   Learn Hiragana. Hiragana is the Japanese alphabet system. The system consists of 51 phonetic characters, and each character represents exactly one sound. (This is different from English, where a letter has a different reading in different contexts). Once you have learned Hiragana, you will know how to read any word in Japanese. Let's start your Japanese learning journey by learning and memorizing these characters.

2. 

   
   
   Learn Katakana. Katakana consists of many characters representing borrowed or non-Japanese words (such as the word hot dog or internet). You will need to learn Katakana words that correspond to common English words.

3. 

   Learn Kanji. Kanji are symbols in Chinese that are used for basic Japanese words and phrases. While Hiragana characters are quite similar to English letters (with a simple pronunciation), Kanji are used to describe complete vocabulary. Knowing a few basic Kanji words will help you understand and speak basic Japanese.

4. 

   
   
   Avoid depending on Romaji. Romaji is a system of English letters for spelling Japanese words. Romaji will be helpful in learning important phrases initially, or communicating online. However, if you are too reliant on Romaji, it will be difficult for you to properly understand Japanese native speakers. Focus on learning Hiragana, Katakana, and a few Kanji.

5. 

   
   
   Practice grammar. To learn Japanese grammar, you will need to try to forget everything you already know about grammar. Do not apply rules and concepts that are already in your native language into Japanese. Instead, put the principles of Japanese grammar into practice separately.
   • Buy a Japanese grammar book and start learning. Some good suggestions are "Practice Makes Perfect: Basic Japanese" and "A Guide to Japanese Grammar" by Tae Kim.
   • Search for free online resources (such as Duolingo) to learn Japanese grammar.

6. 

   Learn a few key phrases. Learning a few key phrases will help you begin to practice, and enjoy casual conversation with Japanese. While you shouldn't be dependent on Romaji, using Romaji to learn basic phrases is a good start.
   • Hello - Kon’nichiwa
   • Goodbye - Sayonara
   • I'm fine, thank you - Watashiwa genki desu. Arigato.
   • Thank you very much - Domo arigato gozaimasu
   • Nice to meet you - Hajime mash’te
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Method 2 of 3: Practice Japanese

1. 

   Use flash cards. You can buy Japanese flash cards, or make your own at home. Then, learn Japanese with the cards in a variety of ways. Flashcards are a great way to consolidate the vocabulary of the three language systems (Hiragana, Kanji, or Katakana).
   • Stick flash cards around the house to name items in Japanese.
   • You can ask a friend to use flash cards to test his memory of Hiragana letters, Kanji words, or Katakana words.
   • You can use flash cards to test yourself.

2. 

   Practice speaking like a child. Young children are eager to learn new languages ​​because they are not afraid to imitate pronunciation. Children are not shy. Imitate your child's innocence, and practice repeating Japanese pronunciation, vocabulary, and phrases, even if your pronunciation is not very accurate.

3. 

   Practice with someone in person. The most effective way to reinforce what you have learned and practice grammar is to study Japanese with a friend. If you have local friends, meet and chat!
   • If you don't know anyone who is Japanese, you can look for international events or regional language-speaking groups.

4. 

   Chat with someone online. Another effective solution is to have a video chat with a native speaker. There are many online resources that pair learners with each other. Find a new Japanese-speaking friend and chat on the computer.

5. 

   Dare to say wrong! Making mistakes and getting help correcting with native speakers is probably the most effective way to understand the nuances of Japanese.Don't shy away from words that you don't feel confident about or ignore phrases that you will mispronounce. Making mistakes means you are really learning.
   • Accept the challenge.
   • Get opinions from others.
   • Some Japanese may not want to correct your mistakes out of courtesy, so make it clear that you appreciate their guidance.

6. 

   Sign up for a class. One of the most effective ways to learn a foreign language is to take a class. Based on the teacher's guidance, the textbooks, the textbooks, and the best part about having lots of people practice together, signing up for a Japanese class is probably the smartest way to use the time. your time. In addition to helping you learn a foreign language, the class gives you the opportunity to meet new friends. advertisement

Method 3 of 3: Learn Japanese in a new way

1. 

   Watch Japanese movies. To learn Japanese, you will need to have as much exposure to this foreign language as possible. Spend time watching Japanese movies or TV shows. This will help you learn more terms (including slang), and provide you with a conducive environment to increase your listening comprehension skills.

2. 

   Reading books. Attempts to read Japanese books or newspapers. This will help you learn a lot of new vocabulary, and reading is a very positive way to learn. By trying to read Japanese, you will become increasingly passionate about the language.

3. 

   Listen to Japanese news on the radio. Like TV shows and movies, listening to Japanese news will be a great source of knowledge for you to learn new vocabulary and practice listening. Find a Japanese song with lyrics and sing along. Or, you can listen to radio programs in Japanese.
   • Digital audio or video files in Japanese can also be a great source of knowledge.

4. 

   Interact with native speakers. The most effective way to learn a foreign language is practice in a Japanese speaking environment. If you have the opportunity to come to Japan, or spend time with a Japanese family, appreciate the opportunity. If you have Japanese friends, try asking if you can visit their home for a bit.

5. 

   Watch people talking. You will need to use your mouth in a variety of ways to speak Japanese. To pronounce correctly, you will need to move your lips and tongue to shape a different mouth. Observe the mouth movement as the Japanese speak to understand the pictures describing pronunciation to practice.

6. 

   Use an electronic dictionary. It's boring when you try to find a Kanji word using a paper dictionary. Instead, the use of an electronic dictionary will increase your vocabulary, fill in gaps in conversation, and help you understand new words. You can use a free online dictionary, download an application on your phone, or invest in a dictionary. advertisement

Advice

• Don't push yourself while studying. Learning a foreign language will take a lot of time and effort.
• Don't let the words of others discourage you. When motivated to study, you will successfully use a new language fluently.
• Look for language learning apps to practice your Japanese language skills.

Warning

• Textbooks are expensive and expensive, so look for ones on sale.