ByIvy do Carmo
Are you thinking about learning Japanese? If so, you are among many people who want to learn this difficult but beautiful language. The reasons for wanting to do so vary: some want to honor their heritage, some are trying to expand their business opportunities, some are fans of mangas or animes, some are planning a trip to Japan and want to be able to get by while they are there, some want to exercise their brain and expand their perspective of the world, and so on.
No matter what is your particular reason for this endeavor, you are probably wondering how long does it take to learn Japanese. This is an understandable preoccupation, since we hear people say all the time that learning Japanese is too hard and takes ages and ages. Is that really true?
If you search this subject on the Internet, you will find a lot of websites with different answers and you will probably be more confused than you were before. Worse, some websites will tell you that there is a way of magically becoming fluent in Japanese in only a few months and they happen to be selling this magic method today.
Don’t be deceived; there is not such a rapid way of learning such a complex language. Learning Japanese for beginners is a long-term project! There are a few aspects to take into account in order to determine how long does it take to learn Japanese and we will now consider five of them:
What Level of Proficiency Do You want to Achieve?
Many times I’ve heard someone say to me that so-and-so speaks Portuguese and Spanish very well, but when I talked to so-and-so, I verified that his Portuguese and Spanish was actually poor or non-existent whatsoever. This happens because the notion of capability to speak a language varies depending on the person’s point of view and on his own grasp of the language.
What I am trying to say is that the first thing you should do is assess how well you want to speak Japanese. What are your goals? You can either aim to conversational or fluent Japanese. Read below the difference between them:
Conversational Japanese – In this level, you are able to ask for information and understand the information given, go shopping, read advertisements, hold simple conversations about daily things, watch TV programs and understand a little, answer emails with maybe the help of a dictionary, etc.
Fluent Japanese – On the other hand, in this level you can talk about pretty much anything, read books with a complex or technical language and speak in public without fear. Fluent people use to naturally think and even dream in Japanese. You understand not only hiragana and katakana, but also kanji.
Determining why do want to learn Japanese and how much do you want to learn about it is fundamental to discover how long will it take to learn Japanese. In other words, you first set how high up on the mountain you want to go and only then you can know for sure how long will it take for you to get there.
How Many Hours Are You Willing To Commit?
Do you think that a person who only studies two hours per week will have the same learning pace as another one who studies fours hours per day? The answer is obvious. The person who studies more will know much more than the other one. The more you practice, the faster you’ll learn.
Hence, in order to determine how long will it take to learn Japanese in your specific case, you have to see how many hours per day you are willing to commit. I say “per day” and not “per week” because studying a language is a daily commitment. It becomes as important as eating or sleeping. If you miss a day, you will miss another and another and soon you will no longer be studying Japanese and forget everything you’ve learned.
However, if you study only one hour per day and don’t do anything else to learn Japanese, it can take you up to twenty years to learn the language! So if you don’t want to be speaking Japanese only in 2039, keep reading to see how you can shorten this time frame.
You may be thinking: I don’t have four or five hours per day to study Japanese! Are you sure about that? Because when we say study, we are not only talking about sitting with a book about grammar rules or things like that. You can also passively study through exposure, as you’ll see next.
How Much Of Japanese Can You Daily Be Exposed To?
The more you immerse in Japanese, the faster you will learn it. Fortunately, this is a pleasant thing to do! Check out how many different options you have. You can:
- Watch great movies and TV series;
- Listen to music and podcasts like News In Slow Japanese, JapanesePod101, Japanese LingQ and Learn Japanese Pod;
- Read books and mangas, and so on.
The secret is choosing something that you really like because it will make your brain associate Japanese with fun and this will consequently make you want to study more.
We call this exposure to the language of “passive learning” because you are not precisely studying, but you are still learning. Some even create a “Zero English Rule” for a period of the day, when they commit to only listen and read things in Japanese.
How Much Experience Do You Have On Learning Languages?
This may seem odd, but your native language and whether you are bilingual or not also determine the amount of time it will take you to learn Japanese.
If you’re a native speaker of a European language, Japanese is really different from what you are used to. Their alphabet, writing systems (hiragana, katakana and kanji), the grammar and the sentence structures are way different than English, for example.
However, if you’re a native speaker of English but you also speak a second language, it will be a little easier for you to learn Japanese. It has been proved that learning a third language is easier than learning a second. I bet you are now feeling rewarded by those Spanish classes you’ve taken, right?
How Motivated Are You?
If you see the goal of learning Japanese as an impossible or at least difficult and boring task, it is unlikely that you’ll succeed. Motivation and a positive attitude are essential to achieve any goal and learning Japanese is no exception.
How can you maintain your motivation at a high level? You can do it by keeping your eyes on the prize. Think about all the benefits you’ll have when you speak Japanese and how well you’ll feel with yourself for achieving such a difficult goal. This will help you to not give up when you simply can’t memorize all those kanji weird strokes.
After assessing the five aspects mentioned in this article, it will become clearer to you how long will it take to learn Japanese in your specific case. Here are a few estimations just for you to get a rough idea:
- Hold basic conversations in Japanese – a few months
- Read comic books in Japanese – a year and a half
- Watch TV shows and read more complex materials in Japanese – 3 to 5 years
The Foreign Service Institute created timelines to native English speakers who want to learn other languages, depending on the level of similarity between the language and English. Japanese is under the category of “super-hard languages”, in other words, “languages which are exceptionally difficult for native English speakers”, as they say on their website.
They estimate it takes 88 weeks (2200 class hours) for a student to achieve Japanese proficiency. Of course this time can vary due to many factors, such as the student’s natural ability, prior linguistic experience and time spent in the classroom.
Does The Time Frame Really Matter?
After evaluating your personal goals regarding Japanese and the amount of hours you can spend studying and getting exposed to the language, it is now clearer to you how long will it take to learn Japanese. However, does this really matter?
The first thing you should do is to think about the pros and cons. We already said that learning Japanese for beginners is no easy task and that it will require a long-term commitment. Will it be worth to you on balance? This is something only you can determine.
If you decide that it is worth it, you have to have faith in your ability of learning Japanese and stay motivated, focusing on your goals. If you really want something, it does not matter how long will it take you to get it. If you really want it, you can have it. It’s only up to you.
If there is a piece of advice I can give you is that you must enjoy the journey. If you keep thinking that you will only be happy when you are fluent in Japanese, you’ll live frustrated for years and life is too short for that.
You have to find happiness and fulfillment during the journey. Celebrate each little progress you make and instead of looking at how many steps you still have to achieve, look back and see how many you have already achieved. This will make you happier and more motivated to keep going. One day you’ll look back and say: “I’m glad I didn’t give up.”
If you want to get more great tips about learning Japanese and also other languages, subscribe to our Mimic Method’s Youtube Channel.
FAQs
How long does it take to learn beginner Japanese? ›
Learning Japanese isn't easy and it will take time. It's probably fair to say that you can expect a commitment of at least three years in order to achieve something resembling fluency. The average learner gets to the advanced level in three or four years.
Does it take 1 year to learn Japanese? ›In fact, Japanese is one of the most difficult languages to learn for a native English speaker. If you want to speak enough Japanese to make friends in Japan and carry on simple conversations, you can master casual Japanese in under a year, especially if you are skipping over hiragana and katakana.
Is it possible to learn Japanese in 2 years? ›The average length of time to learn advanced Japanese is 2-3 years. At the intermediate level, you can understand most of what your teacher says, and you can follow along with TV programs. When it comes to using the language with other Japanese speakers, however, you still have some limitations.
How long does it take to finish the duolingo Japanese course? ›In fact, if you don't get messed up by some of the grammatical issues present in Duolingo you can easily complete the entire course in one day.
Can I learn basic Japanese in 3 months? ›How Long Does it Take to Learn Japanese on Average? With consistent studying and speaking, for about 30 minutes to an hour a day, you could speak at a conversational level in Japanese in about 3 months.
Can we learn Japanese in 30 days? ›Let's get one thing clear: You won't become fluent in a month. (Unless you're some foreign language genius.) But you can absolutely learn what you need to get by with a month of studying. It's all about finding what resources are best for you.
How to speak Japanese fluently? ›- Don't rush the basics. For some learners, the three Japanese writing systems can be intimidating. ...
- Find media you love. ...
- Practise with native speakers. ...
- Record yourself speaking. ...
- Set goals. ...
- Use mnemonics. ...
- Stay positive.
Your Japanese language skills aren't just valuable in Japan. There are lots of jobs around the world where knowing how to speak Japanese will give you an edge over the competition.
Is it hard to learn Japanese alone? ›With all the resources available online these days, it's easier than ever to learn Japanese on your own. Take me, for example—I started from scratch and got to an advanced level with a realistic study plan, online courses, a notebook and some elbow grease.
How much Japanese do I need to know? ›The truth is, you do not need to speak any Japanese to have a successful, wonderful trip to Japan (and if you're looking for travel inspiration, check out our favorite destinations in Japan). However, learning a few key Japanese phrases can make your trip just that much better.
How long should I study Japanese a day? ›
In general, it is recommended that learners spend 2 hours per day studying Japanese. This rate of study will enable a learner to achieve general professional proficiency in Japanese in a time frame of 6.2 years. Increasing or decreasing study hours will shorten or extend the time frame respectively.
How to memorize kanji fast? ›- Rote Memorization. The best way to learn a language is to repeat it. ...
- Mnemonics. ...
- Learn 常用漢字 (Jouyou Kanji) ...
- Study the Kanji of Words that You Most Commonly Use. ...
- Learn Radicals. ...
- Learn the Kanji of Words on Your Vocabulary List. ...
- Read Japanese Reading Material. ...
- Use a Dictionary.
As of October 2022, Duolingo's Japanese course has a total of 6 units, broken down into a total of 131 skills. That means there are 655 crown levels in Duolingo's Japanese course — or 786 if you include the legendary levels. The exercises in the Japanese course are basically the same as in all of Duolingo's courses.
Can Duolingo make you fluent in Japanese? ›Putting Kanji aside (Chinese characters imported into the Japanese language), one of my favourite Duolingo features are in fact the alphabet reviews you can do. Whilst you cannot get fluent in Japanese using Duolingo, you can master the two alphabets, Hiragana and Katakana.
Does Duolingo Japanese actually help? ›Duolingo & Hiragana: Final Review
In terms of learning hiragana, the app will probably provide you with a good foundation if you're able to dedicate time and effort to doing its exercises consistently. And, since it's free to use, we really can't fault it as an accessible Japanese language learning resource.
While it may not be possible to become fluent in Japanese in just ten days, it IS possible to learn the basics of speaking in a short period of time and move on to becoming fluent. Don't be discouraged. You can and will learn Japanese much faster than you expect.
Can I learn Japanese by watching anime? ›Watching and listening to Japanese anime helps you learn because it's a form of language immersion. You'll pick up vocabulary by listening to native Japanese speech. And your brain will work hard to understand the language using the words you know to figure out the meaning of words you don't know.
Can I learn Japanese in 2 months? ›It will take around 2-6 months to get through most beginner Japanese textbooks. Though, this does depend on how much time you have to spend on your studies and what grammar method you choose. You can even go through a couple different textbooks at the same time, if you want.
Why is Japanese so hard to learn? ›The Japanese language is considered one of the most difficult to learn by many English speakers. With three separate writing systems, an opposite sentence structure to English, and a complicated hierarchy of politeness, it's decidedly complex.
Is it too late for me to learn Japanese? ›Am I too old to study Japanese in Japan? You may have heard recently that it's now impossible to study in Japan if you are over 30 years old. Luckily for those who fall in that category, this isn't actually true and it's actually never too late to chase your Japanese language dreams.
How do Japanese speak so fast? ›
Because the consonants above are pronounced in the same place, this is what allows native Japanese speakers to speak so fast. The front part of the tongue barely has to move between these consonants compared to English words which have far more consonants and places of pronunciation (AKA places of articulation).
How much Japanese can you learn in 3 months? ›How Long Does it Take to Learn Japanese on Average? With consistent studying and speaking, for about 30 minutes to an hour a day, you could speak at a conversational level in Japanese in about 3 months.
How do you say no in Japanese anime? ›Let's start by looking at the most basic word for “no.” In Japanese, the polite way to say “no” is “いいえ (Iie).” Regardless, いいえ (Iie) is still rarely used as a way to refuse, even in formal situations. It is the most straightforward, blunt way of doing it, while the casual way of saying “no” is いや (iya).
How many Americans can speak Japanese? ›...
Japanese speaking countries.
| Country | United States of America |
|---|---|
| Region | North America |
| Official language | no |
| Distribution | 0.2 % |
| Total | 664,000 |
Good for memory and health benefits
Japanese is a complex language. And that's why many studies suggest that learning Japanese uses more brain parts than other languages. This increases your mental abilities and memory. Bilingualism can make you brighter, more focused, and capable of prioritizing and multitasking.
Study Japanese every day
Grab a few recommended textbooks and knuckle down for at least twenty minutes a day (ideally an hour or two, but twenty minutes is better than nothing). This will give you the basics and the “correct” forms of grammar, situationally appropriate language, clear examples and practice exercises.
Historians say the Japanese called their country Yamato in its early history, and they began using Nippon around the seventh century. Nippon and Nihon are used interchangeably as the country's name.
What order should I learn Japanese? ›- Familiarize yourself with Hiragana.
- Familiarize yourself with Katakana.
- Try to avoid Romaji.
- Learn some vocabulary.
- Learn Grammar.
- Learn to Type Hiragana.
- Understand the Concept of Kanji.
- Learn Basic Pronunciation.
Hiragana is the first alphabet that children and students of Japanese learn to read and write, and it's very widely used in Japan. A basic understanding of hiragana is practically necessary just to start learning Japanese!
What level of Japanese do you need to get a job? ›N2 is sometimes seen as “business level”, and it is this level that the vast majority of jobs will require your Japanese language to be at. Reaching N2 level is by no means an indication of fluency, but you will essentially be able to hold a conversation and read emails and documents with the help of a dictionary.
What is basic Japanese level? ›
The easiest level is N5 and the most difficult level is N1. N4 and N5 measure the level of understanding of basic Japanese mainly learned in class. N1and N2 measure the level of understanding of Japanese used in a broad range of scenes in actual everyday life. N3 is a bridging level between N1/N2 and N4/N5.
How many kanji does a Japanese student know? ›More Than Just Rote Learning
During their six years in elementary school, Japanese children learn over 1,000 kanji.
School finishes around 3:15 pm, so they have to be in school for about six and a half hours every day from Monday to Friday. However, most kids also attend after-school clubs, and many also go to juku (cram school) in the evening to do extra studying. Learn more about school life in Japan in our Meet the Kids section.
What is A1 level Japanese? ›A1 level. Can understand and use familiar everyday expressions and very basic phrases aimed at the satisfaction of needs of a concrete type. Can introduce him/herself and others and can ask and answer questions about personal details such as where he/she lives, people he/she knows and things he/she has.
How many kanji per day? ›1. How many kanji will I learn each day? Some simple math will show that you need to learn at least 23 kanji every day to complete your mission on schedule (2,042 kanji ÷ 90 days = 22.7).
What is the hardest kanji to write? ›The Most Difficult Japanese Kanji on Record: たいと(Taito)
たいと(taito) is the most difficult Japanese Kanji on the record with a total of 84 strokes. It is formed by combining 3 雲 (くもkumo) with 3 龍 (りゅうRyuu). 雲 means cloud and 龍 means dragon in English.
- 森 – the kanji for forest is three trees (木) put together.
- 父 – imagine a man holding two sticks over his head.
- 雨 – looks like rain hitting a window.
- 川 – three lines show the flow of a river.
- 東 – is made out of two kanji 日 (the sun) and 木 (trees).
- Enroll in a Japanese Language School.
- Watch Japanese Movies and TV Programs.
- Immerse Yourself in Japanese Culture.
- Kanji, Kanji, and More Kanji.
- Study Every Day.
- Make Friends With Native Japanese Speakers.
- Set Up a Goal or Schedule.
- Move to Japan.
The world's most popular way to learn Japanese online
Learn Japanese in just 5 minutes a day with our game-like lessons. Whether you're a beginner starting with the basics or looking to practice your reading, writing, and speaking, Duolingo is scientifically proven to work.
In Japanese elementary schools, students learn kanji by what may be called the 'repetition method'. Many school children have kanji practice as homework, and many students buy notebooks called 漢字練習帳 (かんじれんしゅうちょう, kanjirenshūcho) just for kanji practice!
How far can Duolingo take you? ›
When it comes to listening and reading, they found that 5 units of Duolingo is comparable to 4 university semesters. As for speaking, they found that at least 50% of learners that had completed 5 units of the French and Spanish courses reached at least an A2 level of speaking.
Can you learn 2 languages at once? ›Answer: Thankfully, your brain can definitely handle learning two (or more!) languages at once! (Two down, 6,998 to go.) But there are also some ways you can make this linguistic task easier on yourself.
How many kanji are there? ›The total number of kanji is well over 50,000, though few if any native speakers know anywhere near this number. In modern Japanese, the hiragana and katakana syllabaries each contain 46 basic characters, or 71 including diacritics.
How many kanji does Duolingo teach? ›Does Duolingo teach you to read and write in Japanese? Yes, it does. The Duolingo Japanese course teaches you to read hiragana, katakana, and about 90 essential kanji. You should know enough kanji to pass the JLPT N5 test if you complete the Duolingo Japanese course.
Is kanji Chinese or Japanese? ›kanji, (Japanese: “Chinese character”) in the Japanese writing system, ideograms (or characters) adapted from Chinese characters. Kanji constitute one of the two systems used to write the Japanese language, the other being the two indigenous kana syllabaries (hiragana and katakana).
Can Duolingo make you fluent? ›We see this question a lot and the answer is: yes. Duolingo is a free language-learning platform, and every language and lesson is totally free!
Is Japanese hard to learn for beginners? ›The Japanese language is considered one of the most difficult to learn by many English speakers. With three separate writing systems, an opposite sentence structure to English, and a complicated hierarchy of politeness, it's decidedly complex.
How should a beginner start learning Japanese? ›- Learn the Japanese alphabet. The best way to learn Japanese is to start with the basics: learning the alphabet. ...
- Practice grammar. ...
- Learn some key phrases. ...
- Set up a schedule. ...
- Use apps to get started. ...
- Pay attention to flashcards. ...
- Chat online with native speakers or other learners. ...
- Read manga.
In general, it is recommended that learners spend 2 hours per day studying Japanese. This rate of study will enable a learner to achieve general professional proficiency in Japanese in a time frame of 6.2 years. Increasing or decreasing study hours will shorten or extend the time frame respectively.
Is Japanese or Chinese harder to learn? ›Japanese is slightly easier to learn. But, Chinese is much more widely spoken. Both languages have their pros and cons.
What is easier Korean or Japanese? ›
Unlike other East-Asian languages, Korean isn't a tonal language. This means, that the meaning of the word doesn't change, regardless of what your accent is like. This makes learning Korean much easier than Japanese. Japanese has 46 letters in its alphabet. Meanwhile, Korean only has 24.
What level is beginner Japanese? ›The JLPT has five levels: N1, N2, N3, N4 and N5. The easiest level is N5 and the most difficult level is N1. N4 and N5 measure the level of understanding of basic Japanese mainly learned in class. N1and N2 measure the level of understanding of Japanese used in a broad range of scenes in actual everyday life.
What is the easiest form of Japanese to learn? ›But hiragana and katakana are easy to pick up — you could master them in a day. They're just the Japanese alphabet and each one represents a syllable. And as for kanji, focus on the language hacks we mentioned! Learn the kanji that go with your 80/20 core vocabulary first.
Can I learn Japanese by myself? ›With all the resources available online these days, it's easier than ever to learn Japanese on your own. Take me, for example—I started from scratch and got to an advanced level with a realistic study plan, online courses, a notebook and some elbow grease.
How many hours to study Japanese? ›Japanese is one of the most difficult languages for English natives to master. This is because it does not have a lot of likeness in structure to English. Approximately it will take 88 weeks, or 2200 hours of studying, to become fluent.
How many hours do Japanese students sleep? ›How many hours do Japanese people sleep? According to a survey conducted in 2021, people in Japan slept on average 471 minutes per night, equaling about seven hours and 51 minutes.
How can I become fluent in Japanese fast? ›- Don't rush the basics. For some learners, the three Japanese writing systems can be intimidating. ...
- Find media you love. ...
- Practise with native speakers. ...
- Record yourself speaking. ...
- Set goals. ...
- Use mnemonics. ...
- Stay positive.
Korean is the clear-cut easiest to read and write when compared to Japanese and Chinese, as its alphabet is easier to remember and more logical to Western language speakers.
What is the simplest language in the world? ›Riau Indonesian is different from most other languages in how simple it is. There are no endings of any substance, no tones, no articles, and no word order. There is only a little bit of indicating things in time.
Is anime Chinese or Japanese? ›The Anime Industry's Changes In Production And Distribution : The Indicator from Planet Money Anime is a twenty-billion-dollar industry and it is growing fast. But traditionally, anime is produced in Japan.