Studying Japanese

Difficulty

Japanese usually tops the charts of difficult languages. But this should not discourage anyone interested in Japanese. Especially in the beginning, one can be charmed by the logical structure of this language. This is due to the absence of usual grammatical categories, common in Indo-European languages. It brings clarity, yet, on the other hand, a certain level of ambiguity as well. But practice makes perfect.
The challenging aspects of Japanese are, for example, the sophisticated system of expressing politeness or the set phrases for every situation imaginable, like introduction, giving gifts or asking where the toilet is.

Writing ability

One of the biggest hurdles to overcome when studying a foreign language, such as Japanese, is the writing system. There are several types of script intertwined throughout the text which is like a jigsaw puzzle. First of all, the syllabaries (hiragana and katakana) are crucial for any attempt to master Japanese, but they can be managed pretty quickly. The Kanji characters usually scare people off. But this complex writing system is what gives Japanese its uniqueness. And it would be a shame to be denied this layer of a beautiful language that Japanese definitely is.

Use of Japanese

The actual use always depends on what the goal of studying Japanese is for every single student. The interest in exotic languages, namely Japanese, has been constantly increasing in recent years. The motivation of the language-learners may vary. It can be an effort to improve one’s professional profile, the desire to travel independently, the interest in history or modern culture and, of course, mastering a new language can also be just a hobby for one’s own amusement. In any case, Japanese is a source of many curious facts and can enrich your life significantly.

Meet (the) Japanese

Most of us cannot tell the difference between Asian languages when hearing them. If you listen more carefully and know at least a little bit about them, you should be able to distinguish at least Japanese and Chinese.

Knowing Japanese can be an advantage while seeking a new job or when going to study abroad. There are also many other positive effects. Every Asian language is closely connected to culture. Therefore studying Japanese is an insight into the Japanese way of thinking and how Japan works. For instance, there are words that don’t have an adequate equivalent in other languages and need proper explanation, which is often an interesting fact about Japan itself.

Enjoy stepping up

The Japanese are known for their politeness and easy-going nature. Even a clumsy attempt to speak Japanese is rewarded by the Japanese with enthusiasm and admiration, which can raise the motivation to study. A mere “konnichiwa” is granted to be accepted with applause.

A beginner’s first achievements are being able to read a sign here, a product name there etc. You can feel well-deserved joy when you decipher a taxi sign, which is read as TAKUSHII. And there are plenty of such amusing tidbits in Japanese waiting for you to be discovered.

Widen your horizons

Putting the fun aspect of studying of Japanese aside, effort is crucial as well. With a little effort, the student is soon able to follow basic conversation, do some shopping or order a meal in a restaurant. Reading newspapers is a bit trickier task, but understanding manga comic books or parts of movies is within grasp for diligent intermediate students.

In addition, acquiring new vocabulary, grammar, phrases and combining Chinese characters are an effective intellectual training and it develops mental processing. Japanese is such a complex language; you won’t need any crosswords to sustain your mental health if you stick to it long enough.