Japanese language learning tips, hacks and advice. Answers to all your questions about how to learn Japanese!
The short answer is: No, Japanese is not a tonal language. Rather than being a tonal language, Japanese is considered a ‘pitch-accent language’. You might be wondering why. If you’re interested in finding out more, read on for the long answer too! What is a tonal language? Before looking at why Japanese is not a … Read more
People learning Japanese and Chinese are often curious about the relationship between them. After all, they are spoken by hundreds of millions of people daily and play an important role in communication and cultural exchange. Chinese is one of the most widely spoken languages in the world and Japanese and Chinese are both very popular … Read more
If you’re wondering how to learn Japanese or what’s the best way to learn it, you might be interested in exploring your language learning style. Language learning styles are part of a larger category known as ‘Learning Styles’ which are divided into four major groups: visual, auditory (also called ‘verbal’), kinesthetic (also called ‘tactile’) and … Read more
I am a huge fan of using podcasts to learn Japanese! You can listen to them anywhere, anytime: while walking, doing housework, in the bath, falling asleep… you can sit down to study with a dictionary and notepad in hand, or you can listen to them passively as you go about your day to increase … Read more
Konnichiwa Japanese learners! Are you using YouTube to learn Japanese? If not, why not? There are so many amazing Japanese YouTube channels out there. And with more and more videos uploaded each day, you’re guaranteed to find your perfect teacher. Whether you’re a beginner or advanced student, studying just for fun or for JLPT level … Read more
When learning to read kanji, you will come across the concepts of kunyomi and onyomi, which are basically the two ways to read a kanji character! Kunyomi and onyomi are often called the Japanese reading and Chinese reading respectively. But why are there two different ways to read kanji you might ask? And what does … Read more
So you’ve decided to learn Japanese but rather than joining a language school or taking some classes you want to do it on your own! Can you learn Japanese by yourself? Of course you can, and there are many people who have already done it (including me!) If you have an internet connection and a … Read more
As the only language on Earth that combines 3 writing systems at once, it’s no wonder Japanese gets a reputation for being a difficult language! So how hard is it to learn Japanese anyway? Writing systems aside, the pronunciation is easy for most! Japanese has just half as many sounds as English. Compared to many … Read more