It is well-known that the Japanese language is considered one of the hardest languages to learn. According to the Foreign Service Institute (FSI), which trains U.S. diplomats and government officials in languages and cultures, Japanese is classified as a “Super-Hard” language. But there’s an important caveat: FSI’s rankings are based on how long it takes native English speakers to learn a language.

Around the world, Chinese speakers can often learn Japanese significantly faster, mostly due to the similarities between Chinese characters and Japanese kanji. This is no surprise, since Japanese kanji are largely based on traditional Chinese characters.

Yet, despite these surface-level similarities, Japanese and Chinese belong to entirely different language families. There are aspects of Japanese where a Chinese language background may not help. So, how easy is it for Chinese speakers to study Japanese? How much of a shortcut does prior knowledge of Chinese really provide? This article will explore Japanese from the perspective of a Chinese learner and discuss how long it typically takes for Chinese speakers to learn Japanese.

Why Chinese Speakers Learn Japanese Faster

1. Kanji knowledge

Kanji are logographic characters that originated in China and were introduced to Japan around the 5th century AD. At the time, Japan didn’t have its own writing system. By the Heian period, Japan had developed readings and interpretations for kanji that fit the Japanese language.

For native Chinese speakers or anyone who has studied Chinese, kanji knowledge is a huge advantage. This is because how long it takes to learn Japanese often depends heavily on your familiarity with kanji. They are used not only for reading and writing but also for building vocabulary, since each character represents an idea and can be combined with others to form words.

To give you a better picture, according to Coto Academy, a typical student might need around 787 hours to study for the JLPT N4 level. But for students who already know kanji, it could take only about 550 hours. This is because learners accustomed to Roman letters face a steep learning curve with Japan’s three writing systems.

Note that Japanese kanji are mostly based on traditional Chinese characters. If you’re only familiar with simplified Chinese characters, like those used in Mainland China or Singapore, some kanji may look different. It doesn’t make learning harder—it just requires a little adjustment.

Read More: Hardest Kanji to Learn

2. Shared Vocabulary (Sino-Japanese Words)

Not only do some Japanese kanji look like Chinese characters, but in some cases, they also sound similar. Take the word “kanji” itself: it uses the same characters as in Chinese, 漢字, and the pronunciation is somewhat similar: kanji in Japanese, hanzi in Chinese.

Why does this happen? Japan adopted many Chinese words over centuries, especially during periods of heavy cultural exchange. While the pronunciation often shifted in Japanese, the meaning and the characters generally stayed the same. This is why Chinese speakers can sometimes understand written Japanese vocabulary even before fully learning Japanese grammar.

That said, not all words work or sound the same. Japanese kanji readings are divided into two main systems: onyomi and kunyomi. Onyomi is the “Chinese-style” reading and is closer to the original Chinese pronunciation when the kanji was borrowed. Many Sino-Japanese words use onyomi, which is why Chinese learners often recognize them. On the other hand, kunyomi is the native Japanese reading, used when the kanji represents a purely Japanese word or concept. These readings usually do not resemble the Chinese pronunciation and can be confusing for beginners.

Take the kanji 水, which means “water,” as an example. In Chinese, it is pronounced shuǐ. In Japanese, the same character has two readings: sui when used as onyomi, and mizu when used as kunyomi. Often, when multiple kanji are combined to form compound words, the pronunciation tends to follow the onyomi reading. This is why some Japanese words sound more similar to their Chinese counterparts, making them easier for Chinese speakers to recognize.

3. Familiarity with Logographic Writing

We touched on this briefly earlier, but it’s worth exploring in more detail. If you grow up speaking English, you’ve likely spent your entire life reading and writing with an alphabetic system, where each symbol (letter) represents a sound rather than a whole word or idea. By combining letters, you form syllables, words, and sentences.

In contrast, a logographic system is one where each character represents a word, idea, or concept rather than a sound. You usually need to memorize each character individually. Chinese, for example, is a logographic language.

For learners from alphabetic-language backgrounds, a large portion of the initial study time when learning Japanese is often spent just getting familiar with the writing system. This is because Japanese uses a mixed writing system, combining logographic and syllabic elements across three scripts: kanji, hiragana, and katakana. Kanji are logographic characters, borrowed from Chinese, while hiragana and katakana are syllabaries where each character represents a syllable or sound. These are not alphabets but phonetic characters used for grammar, word endings, and foreign loanwords.

This mixed system is one of the main reasons Chinese learners often have an advantage: they can recognize many kanji immediately and focus more on grammar and pronunciation, while learners from alphabetic-language backgrounds must learn three separate writing systems from scratch.

Challenges for Chinese Learners When Learning Japanese

Now that we understand why Chinese speakers often get a head start in learning Japanese, we need to remember that this advantage doesn’t make them completely immune to the common challenges and growing pains of studying the language.

1. Grammar differences

Chinese grammar generally follows the subject-verb-object (SVO) order, which is straightforward and familiar to most learners. Japanese grammar, however, follows a subject-object-verb (SOV) order, which can feel unusual at first. 

For example, in Chinese, if you want to say “I want to eat rice,” you would say:

我想吃饭
Wǒ xiǎng chī fàn

This literally means “I want eat rice.”

In Japanese, the sentence structure is different, and the object comes before the verb:

私はご飯を食べたいです
Watashi wa gohan o tabetai desu.

Translating it literally according to its order will give you, “I rice eat want.”

Even with the advantage of kanji knowledge, Chinese learners still need structured guidance to master grammar, sentence patterns, and proper usage in context. This is where Coto Academy’s Japanese lessons can make a real difference. Our courses are designed to help students of all levels, from beginners to advanced learners, build a strong foundation in grammar, expand vocabulary, and develop practical communication skills.

Coto Academy’s approach emphasizes real-life conversation and immersive practice, so you’re not just memorizing kanji and grammar. Ready to be fluent in Japanese? Contact us for a free level check below!

2. Words that look similar but mean differently

Some kanji look identical or similar to Chinese characters, but the meaning in Japanese may have shifted over time. These are often called “false friends.” For example, the character 手紙 means “letter” in Japanese (tegami), but in Chinese, 手纸 literally refers to “toilet paper.” Relying on visual similarity alone can therefore be misleading.

How Much Faster Does It Take for Chinese Speakers to Learn Japanese

JLPT Level	Chinese Learners (Hours)	Other Learners (Hours)	Time Saved
N5 (Beginner)	350	462	~25% faster
N4	550	787	~30% faster
N3	800–900	1,300	~35–40% faster
N2	1,475	2,200	~30% faster
N1	2,150	3,900	~45% faster

According to our data, Chinese learners progress through Japanese and the JLPT about 25–45% faster than other learners. For example, reaching JLPT N5 typically requires around 350 study hours for Chinese learners, compared to roughly 462 hours for others. This advantage becomes even more pronounced at higher levels. For JLPT N2, Chinese learners may need about 1,475 hours, while other learners often require around 2,200 hours. At JLPT N1, the gap widens further, with Chinese learners averaging 2,150 hours compared to 3,900 hours for others.

How Long Does It Take Chinese Speakers to Learn Japanese and Pass the JLPT

Yet despite these challenges, Chinese speakers generally learn Japanese faster than learners from alphabetic-language backgrounds, thanks to shared kanji knowledge, similar vocabulary, and familiarity with logographic writing.

It’s important to note that this comparison focuses on learning the language itself — reading, writing, listening, and speaking — not on mastering social cues or using the correct expressions in context. Those are skills that all foreign learners must develop to be truly fluent in Japanese. Here’s a breakdown of typical progress:

1. Beginner to JLPT N5 (Basic Level)

Estimated time: 3–6 months (350 hours)

For Chinese speakers, reaching the JLPT N5 level typically takes around 350 hours, which may translate to roughly 3–6 months of consistent study at 1–2 hours per day. Their prior knowledge of kanji and some shared vocabulary gives them a head start in reading and recognizing words compared to learners from alphabetic-language backgrounds.

2. Reaching JLPT N4

Estimated time:6 – 12 months (550 hours)

To reach JLPT N4, Chinese learners may need around 550 study hours. The JLPT N4 level is considered upper-beginner Japanese. At this stage, you only need to learn about 300 kanji characters, which is manageable for Chinese learners but still challenging for those from alphabetic-language backgrounds. 

300 kanji sounds like a lot in the first place, btu you still have a long way to go. To be considered “fluent,” you need to memorize the Joyo kanji, a set of 2,136 characters considered essential for everyday Japanese.

3. Reaching JLPT N3

Estimated time: 12 – 24 months (800 – 900 hours)

To reach JLPT N3, you need knowledge of roughly 650 kanji. For Chinese learners, this can take about 800–900 hours, whereas learners without kanji experience may need around 1,300 hours. Here, the advantage of prior kanji knowledge becomes more pronounced, especially for reading comprehension and vocabulary acquisition.

4. Advanced Fluency: JLPT N2 and N1

Estimated time: 18 months – 3 years (1,475 – 2,200 hours)

The gap between Chinese learners and others becomes most noticeable at advanced levels. JLPT N2 requires knowledge of around 1,000 kanji, while JLPT N1 demands mastery of over 2,000 kanji. Reaching N1 typically means achieving advanced proficiency: being able to read newspapers, understand TV shows, and use formal Japanese in both everyday and professional contexts — a level that can take several years for many learners.

For example, students with prior kanji knowledge may need around 1,475 hours to reach N2, while other learners often require about 2,200 hours, roughly 30% more. The gap widens further at N1, with Chinese learners averaging 2,150 hours compared to 3,900 hours for others — almost double the time!

Of course, kanji knowledge alone is not enough. Mastering grammar nuances, honorifics, and native expressions still requires extensive practice and immersion, even for Chinese speakers.

What’s Next? Start Learning Japanese at Coto Academy!

In short, Chinese speakers often have a bit of a head start when learning Japanese, thanks to their familiarity with kanji, shared vocabulary, and experience with a logographic writing system. That said, becoming truly fluent still takes work. Grammar, verb conjugations, particles, politeness levels, and cultural nuances all need to be mastered, and even with kanji knowledge, challenges like pronunciation differences, false friends, and using the right expressions in context can trip up any learner.

This is where Coto Academy’s intensive Japanese and JLPT lessons really help. Our courses are built to support learners at every level, from beginners to advanced, helping you strengthen grammar, grow your vocabulary, and practice using Japanese in real situations. With experienced teachers, immersive lessons, and a clear, step-by-step approach, Chinese learners can make the most of their kanji advantage while tackling the areas that need extra attention. 

Why join Coto Academy?

• Small classrooms with only up to 8 students for personalized support
• Professional native Japanese teachers, all trained to help you succeed
• Over 60 different Japanese classes across 18 levels, tailored to your needs
• A fully online Japanese language school so that you can learn anywhere, anytime!

Ready to start your learning journey?

FAQ

Is Japanese easier for Chinese speakers to learn?

Yes, Chinese speakers may find Japanese easier to learn because of shared Kanji characters and some similar vocabulary. However, grammar and pronunciation differences still require effort.

How long does it take to become fluent in Japanese for a Chinese speaker?

Fluency can take anywhere from 2–5 years, depending on study intensity, learning methods, and prior language experience. Intensive programs may shorten this time.

Can I learn Japanese faster if I already know Chinese characters?

Absolutely. Knowledge of Chinese characters (Kanji) gives you a head start in reading and writing Japanese, which can speed up learning significantly.

Which one is harder: Chinese or Japanese language?

Japanese is generally harder than Chinese for most learners because of its complex grammar, three writing systems, and honorifics, while Chinese has simpler grammar but requires mastering tones and many characters.