Japanese is said to be a very difficult language for foreigners.
For those of you who are currently studying Japanese, what aspects do you find difficult?

In this article, we will introduce some points that foreigners find particularly difficult, as well as four fun and easy ways to learn Japanese.

Is Japanese difficult? Three points that foreigners find difficult

First, let's look at the points that foreigners find particularly difficult or challenging when studying Japanese.

Kanji

The Japanese language has three types of characters: hiragana, katakana, and kanji. Kanji in particular has complex shapes, and foreigners who are not used to it can find it difficult to write them.

Furthermore, kanji can be broadly divided into on-yomi and kun-yomi readings, but often a single kanji has multiple readings, which requires considerable effort to memorize.

honorific language

There are three types of honorific language: honorific language, humble language, and polite language, but many people say that it is difficult to understand the hierarchical relationship and use each one appropriately. Polite language and expressions exist in other countries as well, but they are slightly different from the honorific language used in Japan, which is used based on the difference in status between the person you are speaking to.

As a result, they seem to have a lot of difficulty recognizing honorific concepts such as "superiors" and "subordinates" and "hierarchical relationships."

grammar

Japanese grammar is not easy to master because of its structure and unique rules and conventions.
for example,

• "He is a teacher."
• "He is a teacher."

The nuances of these words change subtly depending on how they are used, but explaining the differences can be difficult even for Japanese people in some cases.

To become proficient in grammar, you need to have actual conversations and learn each grammar point by point.

Study while experiencing Japanese culture

It seems that many foreigners who study Japanese started studying it because they became interested in Japanese culture.

The trick to continuing your studies without straining yourself is to learn while having fun through something you like. Studying Japanese through Japanese culture should make it easier to continue.

Japanese culture is attracting attention around the world in various fields, but we would like to introduce some of its most popular.

Movies, anime, manga, games

Japanese anime, manga, and games are highly acclaimed overseas as they come in a wide variety of genres and can be enjoyed by both children and adults. As a result, many people have been exposed to Japanese anime, manga, and games since they were little, and in the process, they have naturally learned Japanese.

Repeatedly watching your favorite movies and dramas is also an effective way to study Japanese.

History, nature, and culture

By experiencing Japan's traditional history and culture through shrines, temples, gardens, castles, and more, you can gain a deeper understanding of Japan.

Furthermore, if you look at it from different angles, such as Shinto, Bushido, the tea ceremony, and traditional performing arts such as Kabuki and Rakugo, you may find it easier to imagine the spirituality and thoughts of the Japanese people.

Japanese food

Japanese food, including sushi, ramen, and tempura, is popular among foreigners and is known for its variety and healthiness. The number of restaurants serving Japanese food is increasing overseas, and it seems that many people are becoming interested in Japanese food and culture.

Furthermore, Japanese home cooking also contains many traditional healthy practices, such as preserving and fermenting foods. You may even discover something new from this culture.

4 ways to make studying Japanese fun

"I can't seem to remember Japanese..."

"difficult……"

When you hit a wall like that, how can you keep learning without losing motivation?

Here we will introduce four ways to study Japanese in a fun and easy way.

Listening to Japanese music

Find an artist you like and get in touch with Japanese music. If you listen to the songs repeatedly and can hum along, you'll naturally practice your pronunciation. You can also have fun studying by looking up the meanings of the lyrics, and naturally improve your vocabulary.

Study online or through apps

There are many channels on video sites like YouTube that teach Japanese for free.

Recently, there are also many apps for learning Japanese, including some that are fun to use like quizzes, some that allow you to listen to audio, and some that allow you to ask questions. Audio is very practical, as it allows you to learn correct Japanese.

By using these tools, you can study Japanese at any time, making use of your spare time.

Use social media such as Facebook and Instagram

Another good way to learn is to use social media to make Japanese friends who share your interests and comment in Japanese. Even if it's just a short sentence, there's a lot you can learn through exchanging messages in Japanese.

If you look up words you don't understand on your smartphone or ask your friends, deepening your interactions with them, you may be able to learn Japanese more quickly.

Make Japanese friends

Making Japanese friends and actually conversing with them may be the quickest way to improve your Japanese. By talking a lot, you will naturally acquire the ability to have real everyday conversations.

Of course, meeting and talking in person is important, but chatting online can also be very helpful in learning Japanese.

summary

Japanese people don't usually think much about how difficult the Japanese language is, but there are many aspects of it that foreigners learning Japanese find difficult.

There are many tips for making learning fun and efficient, but perhaps the quickest way to improve is through real communication. It would be great to be able to help people learn Japanese in a fun way by communicating with many foreigners, so that they can fall in love with Japan even more.

This article has been partially re-edited by KARUTA from an article originally published on "Nihongo Biyori."
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