Basic Understanding of Japanese Language

Basic Understanding of Japanese Language

The Japanese language has been known as one of the most spoken languages in the world. Approximately 130 million people have spoken fluent Japanese (mostly 99.9% of the speakers are Japanese people). It has grown in popularity thanks to pop culture and cuisine. However, some people haven't realized that the Japanese language is also one of the hardest languages to learn. Been there, done that...( ̄ω ̄;)

I taught myself Japanese when I was a junior in high school (16 years old), and it was extremely difficult. However, after perseverance and passion combined together, I thought I learned a good amount of Japanese (close to a middle schooler but better than nothing ( ̄︶ ̄;)) So, I would like to teach the basic understandings of the Japanese language. Japanese language consists of hiragana, katanana and kanji.

Hiragana

Hiragana Chart

Hiragana to the Japanese language is almost like the alphabet to the English language. Many beginners need to know the fundamentals of Japanese before trying to do anything else. That's the problem! Many beginners expect to be fluent in Japanese without even learning Hiragana. It's like want to swim in a 10ft swimming pool but don't know how to float...( ་ ⍸ ་ )

Hiragana is the first building blocks to learning Japanese. Japanese toddlers started learning how to write and pronounce hiragana. Hiragana characters like わ (wa)、た (ta)、ら (ra)、and を (wo) are the notable hiragana characters in my perspective. The reason is that they can both build confidence in learning the entire Japanese alphabet and can make other characters easier to understand. 

Katakana

Katakana works the same as hiragana since it's the same exact words and sounds, however, katakana is used for mostly foreign things (such as foreign names, countries, foods, etc.)

Katakana can get tricky because it's associated with hiragana that matches, and (in my opinion) means learning both hiragana and katakana at the same time...꒰๑•̥﹏•̥๑꒱

That in itself is daunting enough...

Kanji

Here's the reason why many foreigners' brains go overload almost immediately: kanji. Kanji is...(●///▽///●) how should I say... are equivalent to balloon animals. The reason is that kanji can change in many different ways.

Example: わたし==>私
こいぬ==>子犬

It can only be combined with hiragana and not with katakana. Kanji and katana are like two magnets that repel each other.

Hope you can start on your Japanese!♡✧( ु•⌄• )

If you want to read more of my articles, I suggest you to check out my article about Haruki Murakami.

 

明日のことを言うと天井のネズミが笑う

Japanese saying: If you speak of tomorrow, the rats in the ceiling will laugh

English meaning: Life and the future is always unpredictable. Everything crazy and unexpected happens.


Leave a comment

Please note, comments must be approved before they are published

このサイトはreCAPTCHAによって保護されており、Googleプライバシーポリシーおよび利用規約が適用されます。


Shop Here

Check out our products~
Foodies T-Shirt (Men&

8512326_8850

Foodies T-Shirt (Men's)

Cart
Foodies Magazine Poster

8300794_6880

Foodies Magazine Poster

Cart
Kira Yamada V1 Samsung Case
Kira Yamada V1 Samsung Case
Kira Yamada V1 Samsung Case
Kira Yamada V1 Samsung Case
Kira Yamada V1 Samsung Case
Kira Yamada V1 Samsung Case
Kira Yamada V1 Samsung Case
Kira Yamada V1 Samsung Case
Kira Yamada V1 Samsung Case
Kira Yamada V1 Samsung Case
Kira Yamada V1 Samsung Case
Kira Yamada V1 Samsung Case
Kira Yamada V1 Samsung Case

3575234_9945

Kira Yamada V1 Samsung Case

Cart
Kira Yamada Graphic Samsung Case
Kira Yamada Graphic Samsung Case
Kira Yamada Graphic Samsung Case
Kira Yamada Graphic Samsung Case
Kira Yamada Graphic Samsung Case
Kira Yamada Graphic Samsung Case
Kira Yamada Graphic Samsung Case
Kira Yamada Graphic Samsung Case
Kira Yamada Graphic Samsung Case
Kira Yamada Graphic Samsung Case
Kira Yamada Graphic Samsung Case
Kira Yamada Graphic Samsung Case
Kira Yamada Graphic Samsung Case

8047712_9945

Kira Yamada Graphic Samsung Case

Cart
JPN Shirt (White)

8523533_8850

JPN Shirt (White)

Cart
Kira Yamada V1 Glossy Graphic Mug
Kira Yamada V1 Glossy Graphic Mug
Kira Yamada V1 Glossy Graphic Mug
Kira Yamada V1 Glossy Graphic Mug
Kira Yamada V1 Glossy Graphic Mug
Kira Yamada V1 Glossy Graphic Mug

1581965_1320

Kira Yamada V1 Glossy Graphic Mug

Cart
Kira Yamada V1 Anime Mouse Pad

6846866_13097

Kira Yamada V1 Anime Mouse Pad

Cart
Closer To Japan Glossy Ceramic Mug
Closer To Japan Glossy Ceramic Mug
Closer To Japan Glossy Ceramic Mug
Closer To Japan Glossy Ceramic Mug
Closer To Japan Glossy Ceramic Mug
Closer To Japan Glossy Ceramic Mug

7759771_1320

Closer To Japan Glossy Ceramic Mug

Cart
Don&
Don&

1547530_10869

Don't Worry Unisex Graphic Black Hoodie

Cart
Closer To Japan Graphic Anime Backpack
Closer To Japan Graphic Anime Backpack
Closer To Japan Graphic Anime Backpack

6150796_9063

Closer To Japan Graphic Anime Backpack

Cart
Closer To Japan Eco Printed Tote Bag
Closer To Japan Eco Printed Tote Bag

3406970_10457

Closer To Japan Eco Printed Tote Bag

Cart
Don&
Don&

7227825_10457

Don't Worry Eco Printed Tote Bag

Cart
Chibi Kimono Glossy Anime Printed Mug
Chibi Kimono Glossy Anime Printed Mug
Chibi Kimono Glossy Anime Printed Mug
Chibi Kimono Glossy Anime Printed Mug
Chibi Kimono Glossy Anime Printed Mug
Chibi Kimono Glossy Anime Printed Mug

8765468_1320

Chibi Kimono Glossy Anime Printed Mug

Cart
JPN Unisex White Graphic Hoodie

3030882_10869

JPN Unisex White Graphic Hoodie

Cart
Chibi Kimono Graphic Anime Mouse Pad

7204116_13097

Chibi Kimono Graphic Anime Mouse Pad

Cart
Chibi Kimono Anime Princess Tote Bag
Chibi Kimono Anime Princess Tote Bag

3552706_10457

Chibi Kimono Anime Princess Tote Bag

Cart
Chibi Kimono iPhone Case
Chibi Kimono iPhone Case
Chibi Kimono iPhone Case
Chibi Kimono iPhone Case
Chibi Kimono iPhone Case
Chibi Kimono iPhone Case
Chibi Kimono iPhone Case
Chibi Kimono iPhone Case
Chibi Kimono iPhone Case
Chibi Kimono iPhone Case
Chibi Kimono iPhone Case
Chibi Kimono iPhone Case
Chibi Kimono iPhone Case
Chibi Kimono iPhone Case
Chibi Kimono iPhone Case
Chibi Kimono iPhone Case
Chibi Kimono iPhone Case
Chibi Kimono iPhone Case
Chibi Kimono iPhone Case
Chibi Kimono iPhone Case
Chibi Kimono iPhone Case
Chibi Kimono iPhone Case
Chibi Kimono iPhone Case
Chibi Kimono iPhone Case
Chibi Kimono iPhone Case
Chibi Kimono iPhone Case
Chibi Kimono iPhone Case
Chibi Kimono iPhone Case
Chibi Kimono iPhone Case
Chibi Kimono iPhone Case
Chibi Kimono iPhone Case
Chibi Kimono iPhone Case
Chibi Kimono iPhone Case
Chibi Kimono iPhone Case
Chibi Kimono iPhone Case
Chibi Kimono iPhone Case
Chibi Kimono iPhone Case
Chibi Kimono iPhone Case
Chibi Kimono iPhone Case
Chibi Kimono iPhone Case
Chibi Kimono iPhone Case
Chibi Kimono iPhone Case
Chibi Kimono iPhone Case
Chibi Kimono iPhone Case

1927172_10994

Chibi Kimono iPhone Case

Cart
Let&

1802920_13097

Let's Play Gamer Anime MousePad

Cart
Kira Yamada Graphic Mousepad

6285978_13097

Kira Yamada Graphic Mousepad

Cart
JPN Graphic Mouse Pad

8391363_13097

JPN Graphic Mouse Pad

Cart
JPN Vogue Trendsetter Laptop Backpack
JPN Vogue Trendsetter Laptop Backpack
JPN Vogue Trendsetter Laptop Backpack

2998648_9063

JPN Vogue Trendsetter Laptop Backpack

Cart
JPN Men&
JPN Men&

3128734_8850

JPN Men's Crew Neck T Shirt

Cart
Don&
Don&

9608733_8884

Don't Worry Women's T-Shirt

Cart
Don&
Don&

8418757_8850

Don't Worry Minimalist Graphic T Shirt

Cart