How to Learn Japanese

That Japanese Man Yuta

11 Feb 202113:26

Summary

TLDRIn this informative video, Yuta introduces three essential steps to learn Japanese effectively. Starting with mastering the alphabet and pronunciation, including Hiragana, Katakana, and the complexities of Kanji, Yuta emphasizes the importance of getting the basics right to avoid developing a hard-to-change accent. Moving on to basic grammar and vocabulary, the video highlights the simplicity of Japanese grammar compared to English and encourages the use of resources that reflect real-life Japanese. Finally, Yuta stresses the necessity of extensive input through various media to achieve fluency, cautioning against overconfidence and underscoring the importance of understanding nuances for advanced learners.

Takeaways

😀 Start learning Japanese with the alphabet and pronunciation, focusing on Hiragana and Katakana as they are the Japanese alphabets.
📚 Kanji is complex but can be learned gradually; it's not necessary for daily communication but helps in writing and reading Japanese fully.
🎶 Pay attention to pronunciation early on, as it's difficult to change accents later; Japanese pronunciation has subtleties that can change word meanings.
📉 Japanese is lenient with the 'r' sound, which is softer than in English, and many Japanese people may not distinguish between 'l' and 'r' sounds.
📈 Learn basic grammar and vocabulary to communicate effectively; Japanese grammar is more regular compared to English, with fewer irregular verbs.
📚 Use various resources for learning, such as language schools, textbooks, apps, or anime, but ensure the language taught is up-to-date and natural.
🗣️ Practice speaking basic Japanese in real-life situations like ordering food or discussing daily activities to build confidence.
📺 Get a lot of input by consuming Japanese media with Japanese captions to improve listening skills without relying on English translations.
🤔 Comprehensible input is crucial; understand enough of the content to enjoy it, which aids in learning new words and phrases.
⏱️ Be prepared for a significant time investment; on average, about a thousand hours of input is suggested for English speakers to become proficient.
🔍 After reaching a comfortable level, focus on nuances and subtleties of the language to refine your Japanese and avoid common mistakes made even by proficient learners.

Q & A

What are the three types of scripts in Japanese?
-The three types of scripts in Japanese are hiragana, katakana, and kanji.
Why are hiragana and katakana considered the Japanese alphabets?
-Hiragana and katakana are considered the Japanese alphabets because they are syllabaries where one letter represents one sound, similar to an alphabet in other languages.
What does 'kanji' mean and why is it different from hiragana and katakana?
-Kanji literally means 'hand letters' and it refers to Chinese characters that were adopted into the Japanese writing system. It's different from hiragana and katakana because it is not a syllabary but rather a logographic writing system where each character can represent a word or a morpheme.
What is 'romaji' and why is it not commonly used for daily communication in Japan?
-Romaji is the representation of the Japanese language using the Latin alphabet. It is not commonly used for daily communication in Japan because it is considered a hassle to read and is not the standard way of writing Japanese.
Why is it important to pay attention to pronunciation when learning Japanese?
-It is important to pay attention to pronunciation when learning Japanese because once an accent is established, it can be very hard to change, which can lead to misunderstandings or difficulty in communication.
Can you provide an example of how different vowel sounds can change the meaning of a word in Japanese?
-An example is the word 'kawaii' which means 'cute' and 'kauwaii' which sounds similar but could be interpreted as 'scary' due to the difference in vowel sounds.
What is the difference between the Japanese 'r' sound and the English 'l' or 'r' sound?
-The Japanese 'r' sound is softer than the English 'l' or the Spanish 'r' sound, and it's often not distinguished as strictly as in English, making it less critical for learners to perfect this sound initially.
What is the significance of learning basic grammar and vocabulary when learning Japanese?
-Learning basic grammar and vocabulary is significant because it provides a foundation and accelerates the learning process, allowing learners to communicate basic ideas and build upon this knowledge.
What is 'comprehensible input' and why is it important for language learning?
-Comprehensible input refers to the practice of consuming language materials that learners can understand to some degree. It is important because it helps learners to gradually acquire new vocabulary and grammar in context, making the learning process more effective and enjoyable.
How does the speaker suggest one should approach learning kanji?
-The speaker suggests learning kanji little by little and implies that there are various methods that work for different people, possibly discussing these methods in future content.
What is the 'hidden step' mentioned by the speaker for advanced Japanese learners?
-The 'hidden step' refers to brushing up on Japanese nuances that might have been missed, such as the correct usage of particles, to refine one's language skills and sound more natural.
Why does the speaker emphasize the importance of not being overconfident in one's Japanese language skills?
-The speaker emphasizes this because even at a high level of proficiency, learners may still make mistakes without realizing it. Confidence is important, but so is self-awareness and the continuous effort to improve.

Outlines

00:00

📚 Learning Japanese Basics: Alphabet and Pronunciation

This paragraph introduces the fundamental aspects of learning Japanese, focusing on the alphabet and pronunciation. It explains the three scripts used in Japanese: Hiragana, Katakana, and Kanji, with an emphasis on the first two being akin to Japanese alphabets. Kanji, meaning 'hand letters', is derived from Chinese characters. The speaker mentions that while Japanese could technically be written using the Latin alphabet (referred to as 'romaji'), it's not common in daily communication. The importance of learning correct pronunciation from the start is stressed, using the example of how different vowel sounds can change the meaning of words entirely. The paragraph also touches on the differences in pitch patterns for words and the leniency of the 'r' sound in Japanese compared to other languages.

05:02

📘 Understanding Japanese Grammar and Vocabulary

The second paragraph delves into Japanese grammar and vocabulary, contrasting the simplicity of Japanese e-adjectives with the complexity of English irregular verbs. It highlights the regularity of Japanese verb conjugation, with only two irregular verbs compared to English's 200. The speaker suggests that the type of resources used for learning, such as language schools, textbooks, apps, or anime, is less important than the actual engagement with those resources. The paragraph emphasizes the importance of learning natural, up-to-date Japanese, different from what might be found in textbooks, and invites viewers to subscribe for more lessons. It also discusses the concept of 'comprehensible input' as a key component of language acquisition.

10:03

🎯 Achieving Fluency Through Extensive Input

This paragraph addresses the amount of input required to achieve fluency in Japanese. It suggests a benchmark of a thousand hours of exposure for English speakers to become proficient. The speaker shares personal experiences with learning English, noting that while the initial challenge might be daunting, the process becomes easier and more enjoyable as comprehension improves. The paragraph also discusses the importance of understanding enough of the input to enjoy it, which is crucial for effective language learning. It cautions against overconfidence at the intermediate level and the importance of refining one's skills to capture the nuances of the Japanese language, such as the correct use of particles.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Hiragana

Hiragana is one of the three writing systems in the Japanese language, alongside Katakana and Kanji. It is considered a foundational 'alphabet' of Japanese, as it is composed of characters that represent sounds. In the script, Yuta emphasizes the importance of learning Hiragana and Katakana as the first step in learning Japanese, as they are straightforward with one character representing one sound, making them essential for beginners to grasp the language's pronunciation.

💡Katakana

Katakana is another Japanese alphabetic system, similar to Hiragana but used for different purposes, such as writing foreign loanwords and onomatopoeia. It is equally important for beginners to learn alongside Hiragana, as mentioned in the script, to understand the basic structure of the Japanese language and to be able to write simple phrases and words.

💡Kanji

Kanji refers to the Chinese characters that are used in the Japanese writing system. Unlike Hiragana and Katakana, Kanji characters represent both sounds and meanings. The script explains that while Kanji can make Japanese writing complex, it is not necessary for daily communication and can be learned progressively. Kanji is a crucial part of the language for those who wish to achieve a high level of proficiency.

💡Lomaji

Lomaji is a term used to describe the practice of writing Japanese using the Latin alphabet. The script mentions that while it is technically possible to write Japanese this way, it is not commonly used for daily communication and can be difficult for native speakers to read.

💡Pronunciation

Pronunciation is a key aspect of language learning that the script emphasizes, especially for Japanese. Yuta points out the importance of learning correct pronunciation early on to avoid developing a hard-to-change accent. The script provides examples of how different vowel sounds in Japanese can change the meaning of words, such as 'kawaii' meaning 'cute' versus 'kauai' meaning 'scary'.

💡Pitch Patterns

Pitch patterns refer to the variations in the tone or pitch of speech sounds in a language. In the script, Yuta explains how different pitch patterns in Japanese can distinguish words with the same syllables, using 'kawaii' and 'hawaii' as examples, where the difference in pitch pattern changes the meaning entirely.

💡E Adjectives

E adjectives are a type of adjective in Japanese that end with the sound 'e'. The script uses 'musukashi' (difficult) as an example of an e adjective and explains how to form its negative form by replacing 'e' with 'ku', resulting in 'muzukashikunai', which means 'not difficult'.

💡Irregular Verbs

Irregular verbs are verbs in a language that do not follow the standard conjugation patterns. The script contrasts the large number of irregular verbs in English with the minimal number in Japanese, highlighting the relative simplicity of Japanese verb conjugation for learners.

💡Comprehensible Input

Comprehensible input is a language acquisition concept where learners understand enough of the language input to learn from it without translation. The script discusses the importance of using resources that provide input at a level the learner can understand, which facilitates natural language acquisition.

💡Waifu

Waifu is a term that originated from the Japanese word '嫁' meaning 'wife'. It is used in the context of anime and manga to refer to a fictional character that one is attracted to or pretends to be married to. The script humorously uses the term to illustrate a complex topic that a learner might want to discuss in Japanese.

💡Weebs

Weebs is a slang term for people who are passionate about Japanese culture, particularly anime and manga. The script uses the term to create a playful scenario where a learner might want to articulate their superiority over others in the community by demonstrating advanced Japanese language skills.

Highlights

Introduction to three simple steps to learn Japanese.

Explanation of Japanese scripts: Hiragana, Katakana, and Kanji.

Hiragana and Katakana as the Japanese alphabets and their importance.

Kanji as complex characters derived from Chinese.

The concept of Lomaji, the Latin alphabet representation of Japanese.

The simplicity of learning Hiragana and Katakana due to one-letter-one-sound correspondence.

Importance of correct pronunciation for effective communication.

The story of a pronunciation mistake leading to an awkward compliment.

Details on vowel sounds and pitch patterns in Japanese.

The leniency of the 'r' sound in Japanese compared to other languages.

Approaches to learning Kanji and the suggestion for gradual learning.

Basic Japanese grammar and vocabulary as the foundation for language learning.

The simplicity of Japanese grammar compared to English irregular verbs.

The concept of 'comprehensible input' for language acquisition.

The importance of enjoying language learning through various media.

The misconception that moving to Japan guarantees fluency without prior language knowledge.

The advantage of adult language learners using their first language for faster concept understanding.

The 'hidden step' of refining Japanese language skills for nuances and proper usage.

The encouragement to learn real-life Japanese through the 'Japanese with Yuta' program.