It's not hard to understand basic Japanese - the entire language is made up of just 46 different sounds - but it can take years of practice to master the nuances of this beautiful language. Start by exploring Japanese on your own, then find a professional guide and immerse yourself in the language if you want to achieve fluency.
Step
Method 1 of 4: Learning Basic Words and Phrases
Step 1. Practice Japanese greetings
Learning how to greet people properly is one of the first steps in speaking any language. Here are some common ways to say "hello" and "goodbye" in Japanese. Look for the sound that matches the letter to make sure you pronounce it correctly:
- ("Nice to meet you.")
- ("Good morning.")
- ("Good Afternoon" {can be used only until sunset and likewise can be used as "Good Afternoon"})
- ("Good evening.")
- ("Goodbye.")
Step 2. Learn some conversational sentences
Now that you know the most basic ways to start a conversation, learn some phrases that will help you move forward by expressing a personal interest in the person you're talking to.
- ("How are you?")
- ("I'm fine, thank you.")
- ("Thank you.")
- ("Excuse me.")
- ("Sorry.")
- ("I see.")
- ("I don't know.")
Step 3. Learn the numbers
Numbers 1 to 10 are written in Kanji. Numbers are pronounced using different combinations of the same 46 sounds that are used to pronounce all Japanese letters. Practice counting to ten:
- (1)
- (2)
- (3)
- (4)
- (5)
- (6)
- (7)
- (8)
- (9)
- (10)
Step 4. Explore more complicated words and sentences
Buy an Indonesian-Japanese dictionary and practice pronouncing different words and sentences until you are comfortable with the sound. Having this foundation will set you apart as you take your Japanese to the next level by signing up for some classes.
Method 2 of 4: Learn the Basic Principles of Japanese
Step 1. Get to know the Japanese writing system
Japanese uses four different writing systems that have different letters. To speak the language, you don't necessarily have to learn how to write it in Japanese, but it's important to understand how the four systems work together.
- Hiragana is a list of Japanese syllables, the letter system used to represent the distinctive sounds of the Japanese language.
- Katakana is similar to Hiragana, in that it is made of Japanese sounds, but mostly consists of words from different languages. This can be thought of as a syllable list for foreign words. Hiragana and Katakana together cover every sound in Japanese, 46 in total.
- Kanji are Chinese characters adapted for Japanese which are the foundation of Japanese writing. The sounds used to pronounce Kanji are the same as those used in Hiragana and Katakana.
- In Japanese, Latin characters are sometimes used for acronyms, company names, and names that are intended to be read by non-Japanese speakers.
- Romaji, the Romanized version of written Japanese words, is also worth mentioning, although it is not used in Japan. It is recommended that students who are just learning Japanese skip Romaji and should learn Japanese characters. Once you start learning Romaji it's hard to associate Japanese sounds with Japanese letters.
Step 2. Learn Japanese pronunciation
Sounds according to the Hiragana and Katakana alphabets consist of one of five vowel sounds or a combination of consonants and vowels, with the exception of some sounds that are only consonants.
- Since each letter in Hiragana and Katakana has only one distinct sound, it is relatively easy to learn how to pronounce all 46. However, pay special attention to intonation, as variations in these basic sounds can drastically change their meaning.
- English pronunciation is based on accent, while Japanese pronunciation is based on tone. A word may be pronounced the same way and have different meanings depending on whether it is spoken in a high or low tone. To sound like a real speaker, getting the intonation right is key.
Step 3. Learn variations on Japanese sounds
Japanese characters may be written with extra strokes to indicate that they should be pronounced with additional sounds. Additional sounds fall into these categories:
- Voiced consonants, which are pronounced with a "voice," a vibration in the throat. There are 4 voice consonants and one and a half voice consonants.
- The vowel sound Y, which can directly follow consonants to change pronunciation.
- Loud consonant sounds, which add a stiff stop between sounds.
- Long vowels. The meaning of a sound can change depending on how long the vowel sound is made.
Step 4. Understand Japanese grammar
Japanese grammar is quite different from other languages, but it follows a logical format that is easy to learn. The following is true regarding Japanese grammar:
- Nouns do not have a plural form and do not change according to gender.
- Verbs do not change according to gender, number, or whether the subject is an object or person.
- The predicate is always at the end of the sentence.
- Personal pronouns vary based on different levels of politeness and formality.
- Particles follow directly related words. For example, instead of saying "I'm Japanese," it's "I'm Japanese."
Method 3 of 4: Get Professional Instructions
Step 1. Sign up for courses at a university or community college
Japanese is a popular language taught in almost all universities and college communities. Check to take a course at a local school so you can study under the instruction of someone fluent in Japanese.
- Do your Japanese homework. It may seem like it will take forever to learn 2,000 Kanji characters or understand Japanese vocabulary, but these are important steps to take if you want to learn how to speak Japanese fluently.
- Participate in workshops and class discussions. Written homework is important, but learning how to converse in Japanese requires that you step out of your comfort zone and let your voice be heard during class. Put your hands up, go to a workshop, and get as much speech practice as you can.
Step 2. Take an online course
Online courses are a great alternative if you want to save a little money. Many are designed to encourage you to speak out loud by organizing virtual class discussions and workshops. Do some research to find a course that fits your needs and take it as seriously as you would any university course.
Step 3. Purchase Japanese language software
Language software produced by companies like Rosetta Stone is designed to help you learn at your own pace using CDs and workbooks to learn the language slowly. Check the reviews before you decide which software to buy, as this option can be quite expensive.
Step 4. Get a tutor
Hire advanced Japanese students or fluent Japanese speakers to help you build a solid foundation in Japanese. You can hire a tutor in addition to the courses you're taking or the software you're using, or choose someone skilled to teach you the language yourself.
- Check class lists at local colleges and universities for Japanese tutors. Students hoping to make extra money from teaching often advertise on bulletin boards and university web sites.
- You can also hire a tutor who actually lives in Japan. Place an ad on Craigslist stating that you are looking for a Japanese tutor and are willing to conduct online teaching sessions using Skype or another online video chat program
Method 4 of 4: Immerse Yourself in the Language
Step 1. Spend time with people who speak Japanese
Talk to students from more advanced classes, or better yet, fluent Japanese speakers who have lived or are from Japan. Talking Japanese with someone who is fluent will help your pronunciation and give you clues to the subtleties of the language that are impossible to pick up from a textbook.
- Start a Japanese discussion group that meets at least twice a week. Plan to speak only Japanese for an entire hour. Each meeting can have a theme, or you can just talk for an hour on any subject in Japanese.
- Plan a visit with a Japanese speaker so you can learn to speak in different contexts and situations. For example, take a trip to a botanical garden and focus on learning Japanese words for different plants and trees.
- Talk to a few Japanese speakers every day, even when you're not meeting up for group discussions. Call someone and have a conversation in Japanese only, or stop by your professor's office hours for a little extra practice.
Step 2. Watch Japanese movies and shows
This is a great way to learn more about Japanese when you can't spend time with Japanese speakers. Replace your regular shows with anime and watch at least one Japanese film a week to immerse yourself in the language at home.
- Rashomon, Seven Samurai, and Spirited Away are popular Japanese films.
- You can start watching the movie with subtitles, but you'll get a better immersion experience if you turn off subtitles and focus on Japanese sounds and pronunciation instead.
Step 3. Learn Japanese in Japan
Traveling to Japan and spending as much time there as possible is the best way to learn Japanese, period. If you can manage it, find a way to work or study there for 6 months or more so you can spend time soaking up the language and practicing all day.
- If you are enrolled in a college or university, look for study abroad programs in Japan. You may be able to take classes there for a semester or more.
- You could also try working there for a few months or more. The organization WWOOF, which stands for World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms, allows you to work on a farm in exchange for room and food. This is a great way to immerse yourself in another country's language for as long as you want to stay.
