-Name's Chris. I'm quite laid-back, easy-going and a little lazy but when it comes to studying Japanese, I'm very motivated. My drive to study Japanese comes from loving anime and games from a young age. The stories, music, voice acting, graphics, character personalities that are presented are much better than the stuff that's airing on real TV. One main reason to study is so I can surpass English subtitles in anime. My eyes are always looking down at the subs and rarely at the main scenes. That reason alone was the final push I needed to actually study the language because those Japanese characters just looked so hard from the start.
-One of my study tools is watching my favorite current anime being released as of now with the actual Japanese anime subtitles. It's interesting trying to translate what they're saying and seeing if the professional / fan English translation was correct by having the english subs right above the japanese subs as I'm watching anime.
-Another study tool of mine is translating raw manga and comparing my version with fan translations to see if I was close to the actual meaning:
-My ultimate best way of studying Japanese is reading untranslated visual novels (that will or will never get a translation). I wasn't too fond of reading at the start cuz it'd put me to sleep but when u think about it, reading is just a good way to review a hell load of vocabulary, kanji (chinese characters) and grammar all at the same time. As the words suggests, 'visual novels' contains lots of visuals & dialogue, which definitely kept my interest.
-Translation: Seems like you've strayed away considerably. If it hurts, let's take a short break, ok?
-I've been studying japanese on my own for about 5 years on & off. Right now I've completed Japanese Core 6000, which teaches the most common 6000 words used in Japanese. I can honestly say that i'm still not fluent yet. even when i'm translating japanese subs to english, there's always a few words here & there that are unfamiliar. Knowing 10k words doesn't seem like enough but once ur past the 6k mark, it's very easy to pick up words.
-At this point it might seem despairing to even study japanese. but everytime i watch anime & get to those climactic moments, i can't help but fall in love with the language even more. even if i have to learn 10k+ words, i believe this feeling i have will help me break through that barrier & reach a point where i can truly turn off the subtitles for good.
I'm a huge couch potato & I'm usually hanging out by myself. If you need any type of help, I'll see what I can do. よろしく！
How to Learn Japanese... The Easy Way... For Free!
日本語の習い方。。。簡単な仕方。。。無料!
• When learning stuff, most websites usually just tell u what something is & how its formed... etc. But what they mostly lack are ways to remember those ideas. On this page, I've written tricks on how to remember words, chinese characters, etc. Also, all links provided here are free, so u don't need to waste lots of money on tedious japanese classes when the knowledge is already all entirely on the internet, especially on youtube. Hopefully this will smooth out ur journey.
• The most important thing to have is a love for the language of japanese. The fact ur reading this on MAL already means u have an interest in anime or manga. Remind urself of those epic shows u've seen that has led u up to this point. Channel all that energy and use it to get past the obstacles to come.
• Next, make sure to have reasons to learn cuz u will hit a lot of walls w/ this language. Make a list of reasons of why u want to study japanese & when u hit a wall, do those reasons listed. For me, it's anime. Everytime I want to quit, I take a break and watch anime. After that, I feel like I can keep going. Make sure u love ur reasons & let those drive u to the end.
• My reasons to study Japanese / 日本語が勉強する俺の理由:
Especially to venture off into material that hasn't or will never get translations:
0. Anime
1. Manga
2. J-music (anime OP / ED)
3. Video games
4. Visual novels
5. Novels
6. Dramas
7. Radio / podcasts that are based off anime / manga
My other reasons:
8. To understand another language other than english
9. To live in another world other than english
10. To be looked up to by otakus & others by knowing japanese
11. To give myself something productive to do
12. To stand out
13. To join a fansub group & help translate new material quickly
14. To maybe get a job in translation (if that chance comes)
15. To make friends with another fellow otaku who is unsure about wanting to study japanese but loves anime; to help this person out.
• Next, ur ultimate goal is to master the top 6000 commonly used words & 2136 commonly used kanji. u'll be at an advanced level once u complete these 2 gigantic tasks. Don't worry, this isn't a competition. Go at whatever pace u feel like. As long as you love anime, manga... etc... that passion will determine ur pace for u.
Self-Learning Method Summarized / 自分で習い方が集まった
1. Jump inside your favorite material (anime, manga, visual novel... etc.) and start learning words / kanji / grammar from there. Whatever you don't know, look it up & add it to anki.
2. Kanji: break the kanji up by searching for each one from http://kanji.koohii.com/study , write the stories that helped you remember the kanji in the same anki card you're analyzing.
3. Words: use the methods listed in the Advanced spoiler tab to help remember words (specifically linking & photos) & store them in each anki card. Review all words & kanji in anki until a majority are matured.
4. Grammar: once u get a gist of a certain grammar point, search for a lot of examples of that grammar point & write all of them together so you can see it; Use grammar points yourself: Write it down / Review it in anki over time / Speak it / Think about it. The more you use it, the better chance you'll remember.
5. Repeat steps 1-4 until you get to 6000 words & 2136 kanji. Once you've matured about 90% of words & kanji in anki, you'll have reached a competent level in Japanese.
Note: The best way to review a tremendous amount of words, kanji & grammar points at a time is to read (preferably reading visual novels, novels, manga, etc).
a. Anki is a flashcard software that schedules & spaces out your review over a certain period of time so that u can store those words in your long term memory. once a card has become 'mature' from after correctly guessing each card right 4 times straight, u can say that u've mastered that word for now. it's a good way to know ur making progress & so u don't get lost.
b. Whatever word, grammar point, phrase u learn… put it all in anki so u won't forget what u learned. Seeing how there's 10,000 things u'll need to remember, anki will schedule review times for each item.
c. Here's a youtube tutorial on how to create an anki deck. U might need to watch more tutorials so u get the basics down.
d. once u get here, make 2 decks: one for words & the other for kanji. later on, u might need to make mutliple decks for words as having 200 words in one deck can be a handful.
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2. Hiragana / katakana
a. These are the basic alphabet of Japanese. U need to master these before going on to kanji & grammar. Master the 46 hiragana & 46 katakana.
b. Here's an easy way to learn: they basically look like fancy English characters if u bend ur imagination.
-Hiragana / ひらがな:
i. い = i = 'i' with the dot at right side
ii. ろ = Ro = resembles a (Ro)cket
iii. の = No = 'n' and 'o' fused together
iv. ら = Ra = looks like a (Ra)bbit
v. お = O = looks like an 'o'
vi. え = e = lower case 'e'
vii. き = ki = car 'keys'
viii. そ = so = backwards 'S' with 'o' at bottom
ix. つ = tsu = 'tsunami' wave going to the right
x. と = to = 'toe' with nail jammed in it
xi. ん = n = fancy 'n'
xii. せ = se = someone 'seated' at steering wheel
-Katakana / カタカナ:
i. イ = i = weird shaped 'i'
ii. ク = ku = holding a fancy 'kup'
iii. コ = ko = dead end 'korner' in a maze
iv. サ = sa = horse 'saddle'
v. ス = su = bowl of 'soup' that has a leak
vi. ト = to = 'toe' of a messed up chicken
vii. ユ = yu = 'yu' with the 'y' laying on its left side & the 'u' inside the 'y'
viii. ヨ = yo = one side of a 'yo'-yo
ix. ラ = ra = bowl of 'ramen' with steam floating over the bowl
x. リ = ri = 'ri' rotated 180 degrees to the right
xi. レ = re = 'rear' when seated on a weird seat
c. Just apply this method to the rest. Here's another helpful youtube vid for hiragana characters
d. I suggest you watch anime openings / endings, music lyrics and read along with the japanese subtitles on youtube for review. Also, don't forget to write down how u remembered each of the characters on each anki card so u don't forget.
e. To type hiragana & katakana on ur pc, here's a short youtube vid to show u how
3. Basic Grammar
-Now that you can read hiragana & katakana, try and learn the basic grammar. From the link above, I've summarized the main points below but it won't make sense to u unless u've at least looked at each of the links listed in each section. After that, only learn more grammar when you encounter something you don't know, so u don't learn useless stuff (to save urself time). You will see these basic grammar points in almost every sentence. So just by examining each sentence that u encounter will help u remember these points.
4. Assuming u've completed the previous steps, u can venture off in anime, music, manga, etc… & start learning from ur favorite stuff. Just remember to add those words to anki so u don't forget & try to reach 6000 words that u will eventually add if u intend to go this route. Or if ur ready for the next step, proceed.
Intermediate / 中級:
1. Kanji (Chinese characters)
a. Remember The Kanji - contains stories for each kanji to help ur memory. Just enter the unknown kanji in the search box & pick the best stories that will help u remember the kanji. obviously u need to start on kanji #1 or u won't understand the rest of the stories. u might also need to read mutliple stories to understand what parts of the kanji is being mentioned.
-Here's the .pdf file that goes with Remember The Kanji. Use it to understand how the people in this site come up with these stories and how each kanji is formed.
-On another note, don't learn kanji randomly. Learn them from unknown words that u encounter from ur favorite study material because it's easier to remember stuff that's in a story versus no story at all.
b. Here are some easy examples:
i. 月 (moon) = cresent moon
ii. 品 (goods) = 3 boxes of goods
iii. 工 (craft) = 'I' beam for crafting buildings
iv. 大 (big) = big person, arms & legs stretched out
v. 川 (stream) = stream going downward
vi. 中 = inside = stick 'inside' a mouth
vii. 見 = see = seashell with legs that can 'see' u
viii. 具 = tool = seashell with legs ripped off by a horizontal 'tool'
ix. 女 = woman = 'woman' doing a curtsy
x. 小 = little = 'little' penguin with its wings at its side
xi. 多 = many = "2 many" crescent moons
xii. 火= fire = pictograph of 'fire'
xiii. 炎 = inflammation = 2 fire kanjis can cause 'inflammation'
xiv. 淡 = thin = water over "2 fire kanji's or "inflammation" will 'thin' things out
xv. 牛 = cow = pictograph of a 'cow', ran over by a truck
xvi. 立 = stand up = vase that is 'standing up'
xvii. 音 = sound = standing on the sun will make u scream 'sounds'
xviii. 亡 = deceased = pictograph of coffin
xix. 己 = self = invert 'S' for "self"
xx. 妃 = queen = 'women' think of 'themselves' as 'queens'
xxi. 羊 = sheep = 'sheep' run over by a steam roller
xxii. 洋 = ocean = 'sheep' stranded in the 'waters' of an ocean
xxiii. 心 = heart = pictograph of a heart
xxiv. 爪 = claw = pictograph of claw
xxv. 田 = rice field = pictography of a rice field divided into 4 parts
c. Repeat this process by going into RTK & finding which stories best fit ur style all the way up til u reach a total of 2136 kanji. remember to store them into anki.
Advanced / 上級:
1. Linking with crazy photos
a. This method is a good way to remember words. All you do here is take the syllable of each word or whole word & link it to a word that sounds similar to each other. Then connect those syllable sounds with the word definition in a form of a phrase. After that, attach a photo to it & add it to anki so it'll be easier to remember. the crazier the photo, the better. Examples:
I) 深刻 = しんこく = shinkoku = serious
a) Word: shinkoku
b) syllable sound: shinkoku sounds like 'seen coke'
c) phrase: i've 'seen coke' do some 'serious' stuff to pepsi
II) 高価 = こうか = kouka = high-price (definition)
a) Word: kouka
b) syllable sound: Kouka sounds like 'coke'
c) phrase: The white powder 'coke' is sold at 'high-price'
III) 戦場 = せんじょう = senjou = battlefield
a) Syllables of word: sen + jou
b) syllable sound: 'sen + jou' sounds like 'send' + 'ur'
c) phrase: 'send yo' mama to the 'battlefield'
IV.) 値 = あたい = atai = value, worth
a) Syllables of word: 'a' + 'tai'
b) syllable sound: 'a + tai' sounds like 'a tire'
c) phrase: ['a tire' killing itself has lost its 'value']
b. be sure to write in anki how u remembered each of the these (especially the phrase) so u don't forget.
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2. If u read the は (topic particle) first, then read a japanese sentence backwards, it makes sense in english. Use this trick to check ur translations.
a.
-クリスは、毎日宿題をやらずに、つまみを食べながら、部屋でアニメを見るだけなんだ。
-Translation read backwards (starting at the end of this japanese sentence): As for Chris, he just watches anime in his room while eating snacks without doing his homework everyday.
3. Translate ur favorite raw manga / anime / VN, etc… page by page & compare ur translation with fansubs
-For anime, here's a site that releases the actual Japanese subtitle for currently airing anime. Find english subtitles to go along w/ the Jap. subs & slowly translate each line. Remember to store all the words u look up into anki for review later.
4. Write the actual japanese anime subtitle script down from scratch after having looked at the actual Japanese subtitles first (link above). I suggest using VLC player which contains a feature to slow down the video speed in 1/4 or 1/2 so u can listen carefully to the words just by pressing the minus sign (-).
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5. Some kanji have common base characters that have same sounds. Once you know the base kanji's onyomi, it usually has same onyomi in the more complex characters like in the following:
a. Base: 奇 / Onyomi: き -> 寄、騎、崎、埼、碕
b. Base: 白 / Onyomi: はく -> 箔、伯、拍、泊、舶、栢、迫
c. Base: 各 / Onyomi: かく -> 格、客、閣、挌、喀
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7. When learning a new word, try to learn multiple variations of that word based off prefixes & suffixes.
a. For example, u want to learn the word 漫画 (まんが) = manga. Other variations of 漫画:
i. 漫画家 (まんがか) = manga artist
ii. 漫画字 (まんがじ) = comic font
iii. 漫画映画 (まんがえいが) = cartoon
iv. 続き漫画 (つづきまんが) = serial comic
b. Once u know the prefixes and suffixes, u can get multiple practice with the word 漫画, especially when u put all the variations into anki. In this case, u will see 漫画 5 times in ur reviews. It will feel like u see it everyday. Very useful when u have lots of words already in anki.
9. Japanese accent marks in compound kanji (a.k.a. dakuten or dots: ﾞ and handakuten or maru (circle): °)
-These japanese accent marks are usually applied in compound kanji & the kanji that receives the accent marks is usually the 2nd kanji (not so much for 3 or more kanji). For example:
a.
手 + 振り = 手振り
て + ふり = てぶり [2nd kanji gets accent]
hand + shake = movements or gestures of hands or arms
b.
戸 + 締まり = 戸締り
と + しまり = とじまり [2nd kanji gets accent]
door + close = locking the door
10. Best way to remember the onyomi / kunyomi for each kanji is just to know more words & variations of that word. Apply the linking method & photos to words & store them to anki for review.
11. Kanji compounds that use [っ]: this is usually used when the last syllable of the 1st kanji & the first syllable of the 2nd kanji have the same first letter. For example:
-The best way to review a tremendous amount of words, kanji & grammar points at a time is to read (preferably reading visual novels, novels, manga, etc).
1. Sing along out loud with a singer & with the lyrics. really helps in solidifying words.
2. If at all possible, find someone who knows japanese in real life & practice talking with them. This is probably the fastest way to learn but it's kinda hard finding someone like this.
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3. Firefox add-ons
a. Rikaichan: hover over japanese word & look it up instantly
c. Characterizer - takes the keyword from RTK, matches it up with the same keyword on the internet page ur viewing, then transforms the first letter into the kanji of that same keyword. For example, if you see words like Read, write, continue, walk… you would see, 読ead, 書rite, 続ontinue, 歩alk.
When you feel like giving up on Japanese… try: / 日本語を諦めたい気持ちになる時、試して:
1. Doing the reasons u wanted to study japanese
2. Finding epic japanese music on the internet that will make u cry (good tears).
3. Reading other people's comments / profiles on how passionate they are about anime & u realizing
that they don't even know Japanese at all. What? They say they don’t have the time to study Japanese yet they're able to post somewhat intelligent comments on MAL on an anime show which can only be done after having seen the episode itself? At least ur trying to reach the other side while they don't do anything.
4. Watching a show in another language u don’t already know (like chinese for most of us) and lose urself in that. Get confused as hell as ur listening. Then after 5 mins, watch some subbed anime. u'll notice u can understand some words here and there. Japanese won't sound completely foreign compared to the other language u listened to. u'll feel closer to it.
Start at 3:33
5. Thinking how long it takes for a series to get an english dub (if u like to watch english dubs, that is). It takes around 1- 4 years or more for a dub to be released. If u wait 1 - 4 years, u could've obtained some knowledge of japanese. Then waiting another 1 - 4 years for a dub… u could've been fluent already.
6. Listening to the voice of ur favorite character from an anime, game, etc. Fall in love with their voice and believe u can understand them one day.
7. If japanese anime, game, etc… are ur hobbies, then learning japanese is clearly obvious. The times u quit studying & go back to those hobbies, u'll have no choice but to be inspired by those same hobbies to study once again.
Once u slowly start unraveling each japanese word & begin to actually hear & recognize those words u learned from anime, manga, etc… ur world really opens up. Let these kinds of moments break through those difficult walls. Feed on those emotions. This is the way to learn.
I instantly fell in love with Light's personality (english dub) mostly because of his intensity with his self-talk. Every time he talks to himself with his inner voice when he tries to achieve something, he does so in a way that is very calm, controlled, focused, determined, strong, wordy, dramatic, psychological. I believe this kind of intensity is useful in this world, especially against people who simply don't like the way you are, how u live ur life, or just bad guys altogether. I try to make my inner voice similar to his, even in mundane situations I find myself in, just to keep myself entertained. However, when I'm talking to people, I'm mostly laidback & chill on the outside and yet I let my inner voice go wild. It's very exhilarating.
Mayuri's personality is something you'd expect out of a fairytale (in this case, a visual novel). She's calm, cool, confident, laidback, mature, caring, playful, a slight jokester, intelligent, and her voice is very calm. I've probably met this kind of person before but just wasn't aware enough as I am now. Trying to meet a person like this randomly is extremely hard, so instead… I try to be like Mayuri's personality: mostly her laidback-ness and calm voice. People might find this boring, but I see it as very refined & elegant. Women really are beautiful when they have those kinds of traits together.
My rough translation of her voice:
I'm Kousaka Mayuri. Things I like? Let's see… I like watching and drawing art. I've been thinking of joining the art club in this academy. I'm… very interested in art but not very good. I also like making sweets. Cooking club? There's such a club? Don't make me hesitate!
Random / My Fansubbed Videos of Untranslated Visual Novels
雑 / 俺のファン字幕されたビデオ
Here's a visual novel that I translated myself & hasn't gotten subbed yet by any company or group. It's called Flowers - Le volume sur printemps, released 4/18/2014. The artwork was so alluring that I just jumped in without knowing any details about it. The game's atmosphere was so calm, serene & peaceful with elegant music. I felt like I had to upload something because it seems like no one knows that this VN exists. I also met the best fictional female character I've ever encountered in my life named Kousaka Mayuri (above photo) in something that's untranslated & a yuri VN. Makes studying japanese truly worth it. Please enjoy this :)
-There wasn't any english subs of this series uploaded anywhere for this VN, so I felt a bit obligated to fansub at least the trial to give people a glimpse of this yuri world. Please enjoy.
Really, really thank you for writing all that info! I would really like to participate in translations groups, mainly because of how frustated I feel when a yuri manga isn't being continued anymore. I'm bookmarking your profile, really thank you! Finding your page was like the final push to finally start learning japanese
Hi there.
Read your profile make me want replaying flowers again :( agree with you too, I liked Mayuri's voice. so calm and soothing.
but because I'm like book geek, I more prefer Shirahane and Erika.
Nice Japanese learning blog I myself am learning Japanese I have been at it for around 6 months now. I greatly appreciate the time and effort you put into making this guide for all of us interested in expanding our language skills.
I love your profile and how much motivation you have. I'm trying to study japanese as well and everything here is so useful. Greetings, you're such an inspiring person, senpai! :)
Wow, I wanted to write a nice message, but your profile is already full of it.
Anyway, you have a really interesting profile and we share the same love for the Japanese language (via the discovery of anime). I didn't know about Japanese subs... I will try it as soon as I can. I studied the Japanese language for five years (in school, not by myself) but I'm still not good enough to look at an anime without any subs. It may be a really good way to improve. So thanks a lot!
(I'm also a sucker for VN and want to become a translator, we really have a lot in common (in an non-original way).
That information is very good and I like it so much, this will help me with some quick translations. I want to thank you because it's ducking hard found someone that have spirit to learn japanese and help others. Your MAL profile is now on my bookmark. And this info will help my friend, too; so thank you very much. I love yuri, played all Hanabira VN except for New Generation and I'm now interested in Flowers - Le volume sur printemps. Again, thank you. You're such a good person I think. ^^
wicked. Love your motivation and energy. Its inspiring! Will be back to use the resources you posted and to remind myself to always work to better oneself! :)
All Comments (35) Comments
looking forward how yuzuriha leading as protagonist. and mystery why mayuri disappear.
nice to meet you too. :)
Read your profile make me want replaying flowers again :( agree with you too, I liked Mayuri's voice. so calm and soothing.
but because I'm like book geek, I more prefer Shirahane and Erika.
Nice to meet you. :D
Anyway, you have a really interesting profile and we share the same love for the Japanese language (via the discovery of anime). I didn't know about Japanese subs... I will try it as soon as I can. I studied the Japanese language for five years (in school, not by myself) but I'm still not good enough to look at an anime without any subs. It may be a really good way to improve. So thanks a lot!
(I'm also a sucker for VN and want to become a translator, we really have a lot in common (in an non-original way).
Thanks again and good luck~