Once you get the hang of basic Japanese grammar structure, you will want to form more complex sentences. After all, you’re not going to master the Japanese language by just learning how to say “それはいぬです” (that is a dog). What happens if you want to say that the dog is cute? Or short? Or friendly? This is where Japanese adjectives come in: to make you express more, rather than just stating the obvious. (Sure, that is a dog, but what about it?)

Japanese adjectives aren’t just used to describe physical appearance or behavior. They’re used as quantifiers — to express emotions and detail dimensions. They’re used to modify a noun. While they function similarly to English, the grammar rules of Japanese adjectives are a little bit complex, too.

This will be a self-study guide on Japanese adjectives, complete with example sentences. We’ll talk you through the two kinds of adjectives and how to use them, but if you want to get more support and direction from native instructors, we suggest you take a look at our online Japanese course.

Before we go further into the article, note that this article will mostly use hiragana, so prior knowledge of them is a must. If you’re still learning them, don’t worry — take a look at our hiragana chart to review them.

Also check out our video explaining い-adjectives and な-adjectives!

Tyes of Japanese Adjectives (And How to Use Them)

Japanese adjectives are categorized into two: な-adjectives and い-adjectives. Their main function is to describe nouns, but these adjectives can also be transformed into nouns themselves.

The easiest way to separate な-adjectives and い-adjectives is by checking the adjective’s ending. More precisely, if the word ends with い or not. Of course, this is a rule of the thumb, but there are exceptions you need to note as well. What you need to note are the grammar particles and changes (to past, negative or past-negative forms) — what’s required to join an adjective to a noun.

We’ll be introducing a few Japanese vocabularies, so make sure you know all the basic Japanese words before moving forward. We have like, a hundred of them (yes, literally).

To know all the Japanese adjectives, check out the 100 most common adjectives we’ve collected.

い-adjectives in Japanese

The い-adjective is easy to identify: they end in い and are written in hiragana. Some い-adjectives might also have a double い (いい), but its stem form will usually stay the same regardless of the form it takes.

In this case, we’ll be using the example 高い (たかい), which means high (height) or expensive (price). Briefly, this is how you will transform an い-adjective into different tenses and forms.

Present Tense for I-adjectives

To express an い-adjective in the present tense, simply let it take its original stem form and add an 〜い (already joined). A tricky thing to keep in mind is that the Japanese language doesn’t recognize present and future tense. Rather, they consider it one. Take a look at the sentence below.

今日の天気はいいです。
きょうのてんきはいいです。
The weather is nice today.

明日の天気はいいです。
あしたのてんきはいいです。
The weather (will be) nice tomorrow.

Negative (Present) Tense for I-adjectives

To make a present-tense い-adjective negative, replace the 〜い with 〜くない

さむい　→　さむくない

今日は寒くないです。
きょうはさむくないです。
It is not cold today.

Past Tense for I-adjectives

To express an い-adjective in the present tense, you must omit the 〜い from the word’s stem form and join it with a 〜かった.

たかい　→　たかかった

あの車が高かったです。
あのくるまがたかかったです。
That car was expensive.

Negative (Past) Tense for I-adjectives

For this, similar to negative and past adjectives, you can change the 〜い with a new conjugation, which is a combination of くない and かった: 〜くなかった.

たかい　→　たかくなかった

Exceptions and What You Need to Know for I-adjectives

Remember what we say about stem forms for adjectives will stay the same regardless of the form and tense it takes? There’s one exception to the rule: the Japanese adjective いい (good; well).

Why? The word, in its kanji form, is written 良い, which can also be read as よい (yoi). When it’s in a positive and present tense, you can use either one and it’ll be as fine (although よい has a more formal sound to it). However, when you want to transform the word to negative or past tense, the stem word becomes よ instead of い

The same thing can be said with かっこいい. When it becomes a negative form or past tense, the stem changes to よ. Instead of かっこいくない, change it to かっこよくない.

One last thing: also it seems like it, きれい (pretty or clean) and きらい (hate or dislike) is actually a na-adjective even though the word ends with い, so be careful!

野菜がきらくない。
Yasai ga kirakunai.
I don’t hate vegetables. (Wrong)

野菜がきらいじゃない。
Yasai ga kirai ja nai.
I don’t hate vegetables. (Correct)

Casual Form for I-adjectives

For the polite form of い-adjective, you will need to add the auxiliary verb of です. For negative and past adjective forms, follow the same conjugational transformation as well.

Making it a casual form is easier; simply remove the です and leave it as it is. However, note that this only applies when the adjective is put at the end of the sentence.

A lot of Japanese people will even shorten the adjective and omit the い. For example, when talking with friends in a good mood, people will say すげー instead of すごい to express something amazing, or うまー instead of うまい to compliment a very delicious meal.

な-adjectives in Japanese

Unlike い-adjectives, you can’t modify conjugations in な-adjectives directly to express tense or form. Instead, think of them as nouns (although they’re not, so be careful). This is because the way you modify its value is the same as how you would with nouns. What you want to do instead is to change the auxiliary verb of the whole sentence or phrase：です、ではありません、 でした or ではありませんでした.

The way you can identify a な-adjective is by looking at the particle attached to it: な. For example, 元気な人・げんきな人, which means a healthy (or happy, depending on the context) person. A lot of people find な-adjectives to be easier to learn because of their simple (and easy modification) rule.

Like い-adjectives, you can put a  な-adjective before a noun. When you do so, the adjective-noun combination becomes the subject.

Adjective + な + Noun + です | ではありません | でした | ではありませんでした

You can also put a な-adjective at the end of a sentence. When that happens, the form is like this:

Adjective + です | ではありません | でした | ではありませんでした

In this case, we’ll be using the example 元気, which means happy or healthy. Briefly, this is how you will transform an な-adjective into different tenses and forms.

Present Tense for Na-adjectives

The most basic form of な-adjectives — meaning, positive value in the present tense — is followed by the auxiliary verb of です (polite) or だ (casual). Keep in mind that, similar to い-adjectives, present and future tense uses the same form. To describe a noun, you need to put the particle な in the middle of the adjective and the noun (hence, it’s called na-adjective). Take a look at the example below.

好きな人は田中さんだ。
すきなひとはたなかさんだ。
The person I like is Tanaka-san.

As we mentioned before, the conjugation rules for な-adjectives are the same as nouns, so even when the adjective is put at the end of the sentence, you will still use だ.

田中さんが好きだ。
たなかさんがすきだ。
I like Tanaka-san.

Negative (Present) Tense for Na-adjectives

Similarly, too conjugate the auxiliary verb to get to the negative form for な-adjective, add 〜じゃありません. You can also use 〜ではありません that has the same meaning (negative value), but sounds more polite and is usually used in written Japanese.

To make it casual, you can shorten it into 〜じゃない or 〜ではない.

あのウェイターはお客さんに親切ではない。
あのウェイターはおきゃくさんにしんせつではない。
That waiter is not kind to guests.

あまり歌っていなくて、カラオケが上手じゃない。
あまりうたっていなくて、からおけがじょうずじゃない。
Because I don’t sing so much, I’m not good at karaoke.

You can also put a negative な-adjective before a noun.

元気じゃない人はカフェに入れません。
げんきじゃないひとはカフェにはいれません。
Unhealthy people are not allowed to enter the cafe.

Past Tense for Na-adjectives

To indicate that something was true before (and is not now), you will need to add だった (casual) or でした (polite) at the end of the sentence or phrase with a な-adjective.

あの歌手は有名な人だった。
あのかしゅはゆうめいなひとだった。
That person was once a famous singer.

子供の頃、お風呂が嫌いだった。
こどものころ、おふろがきらいだった。
When I was a kid, I hated taking a bath.

Negative (Past) Tense for Na-adjectives

As with previous Japanese adjective modification, to make a Na-adjective negative and in the past tense, simple add じゃありませんでした or ではありませんでした。

You can make it more casual by just transforming the auxiliary verb like this:

じゃありませんでした 　→　じゃなかった
ではありませんでした　→　ではなかった

この街は静かじゃなかった。
このまちはしずかじゃなかった。
This town wasn’t peaceful (before).

リノベーションの前に、ホテルはきれいではありませんでした。
リノベーションのまえに、ホテルはきれいではありませんでした。
Before the renovation, the hotel wasn’t pretty.

Casual Form for Na-adjectives

We’ve touched up how to change polite forms to casual forms for な-adjective, but we’ve made a table to sum it all up.

Exceptions and What You Need to Know for Na-adjectives

You can immediately modify な-adjectives into a negative value, past tense — or both and join it with a noun. However, keep in mind that this is only applicable if you use casual auxiliary verbs.

Here are a few examples:

元気じゃない人
Genki ja nai hito. (Correct)

元気じゃありません人
Genki ja arimasen hito. (Wrong)

元気だった人
Genki datta hito. (Correct)

元気でした人
Genki deshita hito. (Wrong)

Another thing to keep in mind is an exception: the Japanese adjective おなじ・同じ. Even though it is technically a な-adjective, you will have to remove the な when you combine it with a noun.

君は僕と同じな背の高さです。(Wrong)
きみはぼくとおなじなせのたかさです。
You are as tall as I am.

君は僕と同じ背の高さです。(Correct)
きみはぼくとおなじせのたかさです。

Learning to use and modify Japanese adjectives can be tricky, especially with the exceptions and grammar rules to remember. However, mastering the distinction between い-adjectives and な-adjectives will help you add more color and detail to your sentences.

Once you’ve learned some Japanese adjectives, we recommend practicing them with immersive Japanese listening conversations. Our Japanese podcasts are a great way to do this. Additionally, the NHK World Japan Audio Shows offer excellent listening practice for learners at any level.

Learning Japanese? Let’s Make It Easy

Studying Japanese doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Whether you’re starting out or advancing, with the right class, becoming confident in speaking is easier than you think.

Master Japanese in weeks with Coto Academy! Learn to speak Japanese with our intensive, part-time or online Japanese courses and  reach your goals faster!

FAQ

Omoshiroi is a Japanese word that means many things. It can be used to describe something as “Interesting, Amusing, Fascinating, Funny, Enjoyable, Entertaining, Fun” and more!
The Kanji for Omoshiroi is written as 面白い and in Hiragana as おもしろい.
Omoshiroi is an I adjective, and it’s a JLPT N5 Level Vocabulary word – so chances are, you will encounter it very early in your Japanese learning.

Example Sentences using Omoshiroi (面白い)

The term is primarily used to either mean Interesting or funny.
It’s hard to describe exactly how you draw the line between when and how to use it. In English, it would be similar to someone telling you, “You’re interesting.” So, this phrase could mean several things depending on the tone of voice you use.
Omoshiroi in Japanese is very similar – depending on the tone of voice that you are using, it can change the meaning of the sentence entirely.

その本は面白いと思います。

• sono hon wa omoshiroi to omoimasu

• I think that book is interesting.

トランプはとても面白い。

• Toranpu ha tottemo omoshiroi

• Playing cards is very fun!

あなたは面白い人です

• Anata wa omoshiroi hito desu

• You are a funny person.

ピアノを弾くことは面白い。

• Piano wo hiku koto wa omoshiroi

• Playing the piano is fun

そのアニメはとても面白いです。

• Sono anime wa tottemo omoshiroidesu.

• That anime is very interesting

When NOT to use Omoshiroi

One important thing to note is that you should not use it to describe tragic events. Just like when speaking English, there is a time and a place for certain words. Describing an unfortunate situation or a tragic event with this word could be seen as very rude or strange.
Friend 1: “Did you see a large fire in an apartment building?”
Friend 2: “That’s funny!” <—- See how this is inappropriate?
So, for example, you would not say that a very sad movie is Omoshiroi. You could—and some people do—but you really have to know how to use the word appropriately to avoid creating uncomfortable situations for the people with whom you are speaking Japanese.
For a general rule of thumb, think of it as a word meant to describe interesting, amusing, entertaining, and fun things.
So, for interesting things with a sad or bad component, skip it!

Learning Japanese? Let’s Make It Easy

Studying Japanese doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Whether you’re starting out or advancing, with the right class, becoming confident in speaking is easier than you think.

Master Japanese in weeks with Coto Academy! Learn to speak Japanese with our intensive, part-time or online Japanese courses and  reach your goals faster!

Ganbare (頑張れ) or ganbatte (頑張って) is a Japanese phrase that means “Come on!” “Let’s go!” or “Go for it!” in English. It means “Do your best,” and it can be used to cheer for your favorite team during a sporting event.

If you want to know more about using those words in Japanese, watch the YouTube video below, and read our full guide!

Meaning of Ganbare, Ganbatte and Ganbarimasu

The Japanese word for ganbare, ganbatte and ganbarimasu is based on the same Japanese verb: ganbaru.

頑張る is a very commonly used Japanese verb that means to do one’s best

Ganbaru combines the kanji 頑 (stubborn, firm) and 張 (to stretch or extend).

So in a literal sense, 頑張る conveys the idea of stretching yourself to your limit or pushing through something with effort and determination.

The Spirit of Ganbare or Ganbatte in Japanese Culture

Although a seemingly simple term, ganbare, ganbatte, or their other modifications have roots in Japanese culture and a view on perseverance and determination, you’ll hear it chanted in sports competitions and anime series, mostly to encourage the other party to do their best and never give up, no matter how hard the challenge.

Saying those words isn’t just preserved for special occasions, though. From a young age, Japanese people are exposed to ganbatte through various mundane activities: doing homework, studying for a test, or fighting with friends.

The word ganbare is ingrained in almost every stage of life in the Japanese community. As you grow old, you’ll face even more significant problems, like finding a job, overcoming a hard breakup, or confronting a problem at work. In the end, the spirit of ganbatte reminds individuals in Japan that even in times of great hardship, you need to trust your ability.

Japanese Kanji and Writing for Ganbare or Ganbatte

The Japanese word for ganbatte originated from the verb 頑張る (read as ganbaru), which means “to do your best” or “to work hard.” However, people tend to follow the first definition more in many social contexts more. The Japanese kanji 頑 (gan) means “tough” or “stubborn”, while the last character 張る (haru) means “to be prominent”.

Ganbare vs Ganbatte

How did it turn to ganbare or ganbatte? The term ganbatte (頑張って) is the conjunctive form of 頑張る. Ganbatte is the shortened form of てください, which is to turn a plain Japanese verb into a polite command or request: “I would ask you to (verb).”

The longer version of ganbatte is ganbatte kudasai (頑張ってください), but this might sound a bit too formal if you’re speaking to your friends or close family members. This is why sometimes people just opt to say “ganbatte”. It can be written in kanji as 頑張って, in hiragana as がんばって, or in katakana as ガンバッテ.

You might wonder: ganbatte is not a loanword that the Japanese language takes, so why can we use katakana? This is because katakana emphasizes things, especially on signs, advertisements, or texts. Examples are gomi (ゴミ) and megane (メガネ), each meaning trash and glasses, respectively. When you type ガンバッテ, it shows you want the reader to pay attention to your words of encouragement.

It may also be said as “ganbatte ne”( 頑張ってね) or “ganbatte yo” (頑張ってよ) for more emphasis on overcoming the task at hand.

You can also add ね or よ for more emphasis.

頑張ってね!
Ganbatte ne!

頑張ってよ!
Ganbatte yo!

Ganbare (がんばれ), on the other hand, stems from the same verb, but it’s in a command form. The verb conjugation changes action in solid commands, and it’s less polite than saying ganbatte kudasai (がんばってください),

The Best Time to Use Ganbare or Ganbatte

Ganbare has a positive connotation; you need to use it with empathy and without being flippant or joking, which could be seen as insensitive.

• A coworker or friend is taking an exam or a test
• A friend is playing in a sporting match or running a marathon
• A friend will do something difficult, like asking someone to marry them.
• A friend has expressed a worry about a big event or challenge that they have coming up.

Inappropriate Situations to Use Gabare or Ganbatte

Despite the versatility of ganbare and ganbatte, there are some situations where it’s far from appropriate. Sometimes, the best thing to do is to face your vulnerability. When someone is facing genuine trouble, read the room and show empathy. Saying, “Let’s do our best!” to someone having a hard time can make us sound tone-deaf and insensitive instead.

Here are a couple of situations where saying ganbare or ganbatte is not advisable.

• A friend has had something tragic happen to them or their family
• A friend is expressing a deep level of sadness or worry

Video Transcript

頑張れ！頑張れ！
Ganbare! Ganbare!
Ganbare! Ganbare!

皆さん、「頑張れ」この言葉聞いたのことがあすか？
Minasan, “ganbare” koto kotoba kiita no koto ga arimasuka?
Hi everyone, have you heard the word “ganbare” before?

「頑張れ」は試合毛ていると応援する時に使う言葉です。
“ganbare” wa shiai geteiru to ouensuru toki ni tsukau kotoba desu
When people are at a sporting match and they are supporting their team, they will use this word!

例えば、野球の試合を呼びに行きます好きな選手が出ています。
Tatoeba, yakyuu no shiai o yobini ikimasu suki na senshu ga deteimasu
For example, next time you go to a baseball game and your favorite player appears,

「頑張れ！頑張れ！」
“ganbare! ganbare!”
You can scream “Ganbare! Ganbare!”

ラグビーやサッカーのワールドカップオリンピックでも「頑張れ頑張れ」と応援することができます。
Ragubi ya sakka no Warudokapu orinpikku demo “ganbare ganbare” to ouensuru koto ga dekimasu.
You can use the word to support your team at the Rugby and Soccer World Cup, and the Olympics.

「頑張れ」この言葉は「頑張って」や「頑張ってください」よりも
“ganbare” kono kotoba wa “ganbatte” ya “ganbatte kudasai” yori mo
The word “ganbare” is similar to “ganbatte” or “ganbatte kudasai.”

強いの言葉です。
tsuyoi no kotoba desu.
But it has a stronger meaning.

すこし、男っぽくて強い言葉なので試合を応援する時に使います。
Sukoshi, otokoppokute tsuyoi kotoba nano de shiai o ouensuru toki ni tsukaimasu.
It’s a very manly word that you can use to support your team during a sporting match.

試合はワクワクドキドキしますね、ですから女の人も試合の時は「頑張れ」と言ってもいです。
Shiai wa waku waku doki doki shimasune, desukara onna no hito mo shiai no toki wa “ganbare” to itte mo idesu.
When you get excited during a football match or a baseball game and you want to support your team, women can also use “ganbare”.

「頑張って」この言葉は色々なシチュエーションでいろことができます。
“Ganbatte” kono kotoba wa iro iro na tsuchinoeshion de iro koto ga dekimasu.
“Ganbatte” is a word that can be used in many different types of situations.

例えば、友達がこーいます「あ、明日試験があるんだ」
Tatoeba, tomodachi ga koiimasu : “a, ashita shiken ga arunda.”
For example, when your friend tells you: “Ugh, I have an exam tomorrow.”

「頑張って！」
“Ganbatte!”
“Do your best!”

「あ、明日彼女にプロポーズするんだ」
“a ashita kanojo ni puopozu surunda”
“I’m going to propose to my girlfriend tomorrow.”

「頑張って！」
“Ganbatte!”
“Do your best!”

「頑張って」はカジュアルの表現なので家族や恋人友達に使ってください。
“Ganbatte” wa casuaru no hyougen nanode kazoku ya koibito tomodachi ni tsukatte kudasai.
“Ganbatte” is a casual expression that you can use when talking to family and friends.

最後に、もう一つ「頑張ります」を紹介します。
Saigo ni, mou hitotsu “ganbarimasu” o shoukai shimasu.
Finally, we have one more word to introduce: “ganbarimasu.”

「頑張ります」はいつ使うのでしょうか？
“ganbarimasu” wa itsu tsukau no deshouka?
When should we use “ganbarimasu”?

そうれでは説明します。
Sourede wa setsumenshimasu.
Let’s break it down.

実は私来年の3月に東京マラソンに出ます。
Jitsu wa atashi rainen no sangatsu ni toukyou maranson ni temasu.
I will really be running the Tokyo marathon next year in March.

そのことを先輩や他の先生に言うと先輩や他の先生はこう言いました「え～すごいね。頑張ってね！」
Sono koto wo senpai ya hoka no sensei ni iyuto senpai ya hoka no sensei wa kouiimashita: “e~ sugoi ne. Ganbatte ne!”
So my coworkers, and other more senior teachers, told me: “oh wow, do your best (good luck)!”

その時私はこう言います「ありがとうございます、頑張ります！」
Sono toki watashi wa kouiimasu: “arigaritou gozaimasu, ganbarimasu!”
At that time, I replied by saying: “Thank You so much, I will try my best!”

「頑張ります」は自分より上の人
“Ganbarimasu” wa jibun yori ue no hito
“Ganbarimasu” is used when people that are above me,

例えば、上司や先輩の人が頑張ってねと
tatoeba joushi ya senpaino hito ga ganbattene to
like my boss or my senior coworkers tell me to do my best.

応援してな時に
ouen shitenatoki ni
When they show their support

「はい、頑張ります」と答えます。
“hai, ganbarimasu” to kotae masu.
I can answer them by saying: Yes, I will try my best!

はい、皆さん、今日のビデオはここまです。
Hai, minasan, kyou no bideo wa koko made desu.
Okay, everyone! That is all for today’s video.

皆さんは日本語の勉強頑張っていますね！
Minasan wa nihongo no benkyou ganbatte imasune!
Everyone, you’re all doing your best to learn Japanese!

皆さん、頑張って！
Minasan, ganbatte!
Everyone, do your best!

もし質問があったたら、是非このコメントに残してください。私たちが答えられるかもしれません。
moshi shitsumon ga atta tara, zehi kono komento ni nokoshite kudasai. Watashitachi ga kotae rareru kamoshiremasen.
If you have any questions, please share them in the comment section. We might answer them!

それでは皆さん、頑張ってね！
Sorede wa minasan, ganbatte ne!
So then, everyone, go for it/do your best!

Start taking Japanese lessons and learn Ganbare, Ganbatte, Ganbarimasu and more!

FAQ

There’s a running joke among foreigners living in Japan: when they encounter something they don’t understand in a Japanese conversation, they will say, “そうです (Sou desu)!” But why is that? Think of そうです and its other variations as sort of a safety net. The concept here is that sou desu expresses affirmation, which accompanies almost all statements.

今日、めっちゃ暑い！
Kyou, meccha atsui!
It’s really hot today!

そうですね！
Sou desu ne!
That’s right!

あの子はお母さんに怒鳴っていた。失礼ですね。
Ano ko wa okaasan ni donatte ita. Shitsurei desu ne.
That boy was shouting at his mom. He’s rude, isn’t he?

そうですよね…
Sou desu yo ne…
You’re right…

In other words, to say that we use そうです (sou desu) in a lot of situations is an understatement. It’s definitely on the top list of phrases that Japanese people — and learners — like to say, falling just behind hai (はい) and sumimasen (すみません). It has a lot of variations too, ranging from formal to casual forms. In terms of use, the different endings of そうです and intonations affect the implication of this phrase. Generally, however, they’re used to confirm or ask about the way things are.

When someone says “sou desu ka” or “sou desu” as a response, what exactly does it mean? Let’s look at some examples. At the end of this article, we hope you know how to use them — and understand why sou (そう) in Japanese will be one of the most useful words you’ll learn. 

This article will use hiragana. If you’re still learning them, don’t worry. Take a look at our hiragana chart to review them.

そうです (Sou Desu): That’s right. 

Let’s start with its most basic form: そうです. The expression is used to affirm a statement said by your conversation partner. It can both be a fact or an opinion. そうです (sou desu) means “It is so” or “That’s right.” Sometimes, it can also mean a simple “yes”. 

In this case, そうです is used as a positive affirmation to express that you agreed with what your partner said. As this article progresses, そうです and its variation can often be a subtle way to disagree. 

In casual speech, you can leave off です (desu) and just say そう (sou). Generally, you’ll hear people partner this word with other ways to say “yes” in Japanese, like hai (はい) or un (うん).

Let’s take a look at the example below. 

田中さんは学生ですね。
Tanaka-san wa gakusei desu ne.
Tanaka-san is a student, right. 

はい、そうです。
Hai, sou desu.
Yeah. That’s right. 

Sometimes, we can also use そうだ (sou da). This is also the informal version of そうです. だ (da) is the informal copula です (desu). 

昨日雨が降ったから、洗濯物が濡れちゃった。
It rained yesterday, so the laundry got wet. 

そうですか。残念ですね。
Sou desu ka. Zannen desu ne.
That’s right. It’s such a shame!

When you’re talking with your friends, you can omit the desu and da and repeat the word そう. This is usually to show excitement.

このコーヒー、めっちゃおいしいよ！
Kono koohi, meccha oishii yo!
This coffee, it’s really good! 

そうそうそう！
Sou sou sou!
Yeah, yeah, yeah!

そうですか (Sou Desu Ka): Is that so?

The か addition is a question particle you would often hear, like お元気ですか. This is partially true.  However, you need to know that the interpretation of そうですか depends on the intonation. 

The first one is a falling intonation at the end. This indicates an understanding of a situation as if you are saying, “Is that so,” in a flat tone.  With flat intonation, it’s closer to “I see.”

部長が、明日までに報告書を出すようにと…
Buchou ga, ashita made ni houkoku-sho o dasu you ni to…
The manager wanted you to submit the report by tomorrow… 

そうですか。わかりました。
Sou desu ka. Wakarimashita.
Is that so? I understand. 

Said with rising intonation, sou desu ka means closer to “Is that so?” The rising intonation makes it a question, which is often used in sentences to indicate doubt or ask for assurance. It can also be a response to something surprising, like saying, “Really?”

聞きましたか？田中さんが会社を辞めるそうです。
Kikimashitaka? Tanaka-san ga kaisha o yameru sou desu!
Have you heard? Tanaka-san quit the company!

えぇ？そうですか？
Ee? Sou desu ka?
What? Really?

 In casual Japanese, you can use そうか (sou ka) instead.

Because of this, そうですか can be used to express a different opinion or disagreement indirectly. Because you are not explicitly rejecting their statement, Japanese people will often find this a more polite way to keep a conversation going. 

今日の試験、簡単だったよ！
Kyou no shiken, kantan datta yo!
Today’s exam, was easy!

そうですか。難しかったと思うんですけど。
Sou desu ka. Muzukashikatta to omoun desu kedo.
Is that right? I thought it was hard, though…

“Sou desu ka?” is a general response to any new information and doesn’t have to necessarily imply any doubt about what was just said.

そうですね (Sou Desu Ne): That’s Right/Let Me See…

When said with a neutral intonation, the ね (ne) at the end of そうですね adds a layer of assurance to the confirmation.

雪の日は、温かいお茶が一番ですね。
Yuki no hi wa, atatakai ocha ga ichiban ii desu ne.
When it’s snowing, warm tea is the best, right?

そうですね。私もそう思います。
Sou desu ne. Watashi mo sou omoimasu.
That’s right. I think so too. 

You will also notice that Japanese people say sou desu ne with a long intonation. This is usually to show that they are considering how to respond to your comment. Generally, そうですね (sou desu ne) is used when agreeing with a statement.

In casual speech, そうだね can be used instead of そうですね, such as between friends.

最近、暗くなるのが早いね。
Saikin, kurakunaru no ga hayai ne.
Recently, it’s been getting dark fast. 

そうですね。もうすぐ冬ですね。
Sou desu ne. Mou sugu fuyu desu ne.
That’s right! It’s going to be winter soon!

そうですよ (Sou Desu Yo): That’s Right

Adding よ (yo) to yield そうですよ also adds a layer of affirmation of the fact to the listener. Unlike そうですね), which can sometimes be a way to express consideration,  そうですよ can also give authority to the speaker.

そうだよ is the casual form of そうですよ and can be used among friends and people of equal status.

ケーキには大量のカロリーが含まれています。
Keeki ni wa tairyou no karorii ga fukuma rete imasu.
The cake contains high amount of calories. 

そうですよ。食べ過ぎてはいけません。
Sou desu yo. Tabesugitehaikemasen.
That’s right. You can’t eat too much.

One thing to note is that the combination of そう and よ softens the way of affirmation. For example, if you replace the example sentence above with そうでね, you’ll find that it sounds more masculine (in this case, it doesn’t mean strictly men use them). 

そうですよ: That’s right

If そうですね expresses a firm agreement and そうですよ shows softer agreement, then the combination of ね and よ is a gentler way to show strong agreement. In conclusion, the variants, including yo and ne, all express agreement with what the other person just said.

ね and よ are added onto the sentence そうです to create a feeling of “Don’t you think so?” and “Definitely!” or “Absolutely!”  It’s more economical in Japanese to convey the sentiment with そうですよね or, more informally, そうだよねー.

Conclusion

“Sou desu” is a very versatile Japanese phrase, but we’re just scraping the surface of Japanese culture. Learning the Japanese language that you can use in real life can be tricky. Coto Academy offers lessons from beginner to advanced if you want to earn more.

If you’re an auditory learner, you might notice that you like to listen to educational podcasts to improve your Japanese listening skills.

Do you hate when people give you written directions? Do you often talk to yourself? Auditory learning is just one of the main methods that people use to learn new information; as the name suggests, auditory learners process information best when they can listen to it.

While you might already know what learning method suits you best, finding out how to apply this method in real life is often harder. What do auditory learners do to learn? And how can you use this knowledge to improve your Japanese?

Keep reading to see some Japanese learning strategies for auditory learners — and tips for making the Japanese language go in one ear and stay there!

 Jump to:

• What is an Auditory Learner?
• Strategy One – Record Information
• Strategy Two – Listen Carefully
• Strategy Three – Find Audio Resources
• Strategy Four – Talk Things Out
• Strategy Five – Don’t Neglect Other Ways of Learning
• Additional Tips and Tricks
• Conclusion

What is an Auditory Learner?

As mentioned earlier, auditory learners learn best by hearing information, but there’s more to it than that. Many auditory learners find it helpful to talk things out, express emotions through their voice (using pitch, tone, and volume), and tend to be very descriptive.

Others are easily distracted by sounds, enjoy dialogues and plays, and are great at remembering names. Additional characteristics include being musically gifted, quickly recalling the way things sound, and being able to pick up on social cues in speech.

Finally, talking to oneself and preferring classrooms where discussion is encouraged is also common.

By answering questions about different scenarios, you can see how you usually learn information and how this corresponds to a particular learning style.

Many people also use multiple learning styles so that you may discover a new aspect of yourself! If you are also a visual learner, you can check out our guide for visual learners here.

If you’re definitely an auditory learner, keep reading to learn how you can use this style to make your Japanese learning much easier and more effective!

Strategy 1: Record Information

No, we don’t just mean taking notes (though that is also really good)! If you learn best by hearing, you should try to listen to the information as often as possible; repetition is a key factor in making new ideas stick in your mind.

As a result, try to audio-record information whenever you can – record your lectures, record yourself reading the lessons out loud, and record practice conversations. Then listen to these recordings as often as possible – during a walk, driving to work or school, or just doing tasks around the house!

The more times you hear the information, the more likely it is to stick with you.

You can use a voice memo app, such as Apple’s Voice Memo app, Alice (which also automatically transcribes your recordings), or Tape-a-Talk (for Android).

Strategy 2: Listen Carefully

This is probably the most obvious of our strategies! If you learn best by hearing, you need to have a purpose in your listening—you can’t just listen passively.

It can be easy to let your mind wander during lectures or to get distracted by other sounds, but being intentional with your attention can make all the difference. One way to do this is to take notes on the taught topics.

Another way is to pay attention to how people are speaking. What tone are they using? What speed are they talking at? What does this say about the subject they are talking about?

You can also listen better by reducing the number of distractions around you; try sitting in quiet areas, sitting closer to your teacher, staying away from doors and windows (where sounds come in from outside), or using noise-canceling headphones when listening to recorded information.

If you prefer to listen to music while studying, avoid music with lyrics (as this can divert your attention from your lesson).

By the way, did you know that Coto has several podcasts, including Coto Sounds, Coto Radio, and Coto Hajime? Here are some episodes you can start with!

Strategy 3: Find Japanese Audio Resources

While we already talked about recording and listening to your lectures and notes, it’s also a good idea to find other resources that will allow you to practice hearing and understanding Japanese.

One of the best ways to do this is to find Japanese podcasts. JapanesePod101 is a great option for learners of all levels; when listening to Japanese speech, you can choose your learning level and speech speed, get word lists and line-by-line breakdowns for each episode, and even record yourself speaking the lesson to practice your pronunciation!

Learn Japanese Pod offers Japanese mini-lessons; you can listen to the whole lesson or just the dialogues, see the Romanji and English transcriptions, and even join their discord server!

The Japanese Page offers a variety of different podcasts – language lessons, listening practice, Japanese stories – whatever you think is interesting!

Aside from podcasts, using the audiobook version of your textbook (if it is available) is also a good idea; you could listen and follow along in your book at the same time!

You can also use Radio Garden, a free site that allows you to listen to radio stations all over the globe, to tune into Japanese talk shows and music.

If you’re a fan of Japanese anime or film, try watching a scene with the subtitles on; then, rewatch the same scene without the subtitles and try to pay attention to the dialogue.

As long as you are learning something new and having fun while doing it, you can’t go wrong with these options! 

Strategy 4: Talk Things Out

This may sound counter-intuitive at first, to talk rather than to listen. However, talking about what you’re learning (either to yourself or with others) and hearing the information spoken out loud is very helpful; many auditory learners find it helpful to process information by speaking about it.

This may look like reading aloud, discussing material with friends or teachers, or sounding out vocabulary. You can also talk through given problems and rephrase lessons in your own words.

Participating in class discussions is also important; if you don’t feel comfortable speaking up, you can always whisper your answer to yourself or take notes about what everyone else is saying. (Don’t be afraid to ask questions, though!)

If you want to talk with native speakers, the language exchange app HelloTalk, which connects you to Japanese people learning English, is a great place to start; you can text, send voice messages, call, or video chat!

If you prefer talking in person, why not attend a Japanese language exchange event and talk with a partner? Check out our list of language exchange events in Tokyo here or search in your area at Meetup!

You can also use talk-to-text apps to have these verbal exchanges written down in text format. Some of the best options for these are Notta (which can also sync to Notion), Just Press Record (only available for Apple users), and Speechnotes (which works on PCs).

Strategy 5: Don’t Neglect Other Ways of Learning

It might be tempting to focus solely on listening and not put much effort into other learning methods. However, these are still important ways for you to review lessons and understand what is being taught.

You still need to read your textbook, take notes, make flashcards, practice writing kana and kanji, read in Japanese, and so on.

Once you do these things, you can use the strategies above to really cement them in your mind – reword your notes, say your flashcards out loud, or discuss kanji with others, for example. The main point is to use listening as a tool, but not your only tool!

Additional Tips on Japanese Learning Strategies for Auditory Learners

– Try using rhymes and other mnemonics to help you remember vocab or grammar points.

– Using songs or different sounds to remember information can be really helpful; try making a song that lists all of the week’s vocab items, for example! Or, you can check out other songs on YouTube, such as this one for hiragana!

– Many auditory learners can also associate songs with different topics. When you study, try listening to different music for different topics. (For example, classical music for grammar and lo-fi for vocabulary!)

– When studying, reciting information with your eyes closed can help to reduce distractions and help you focus on what you are saying.

– Try role-playing with a friend or classmate to practice dialogues. How would a student communicate a message? How would a teacher? This can be a great way to incorporate Japanese societal etiquette into your practice!

– When taking notes, leave extra space for any realizations that may come about as a result of discussions.

– If you are taking a Japanese class, make sure to attend all of the lectures and discussion groups; being able to hear information in settings like these is very useful (especially if you have questions)! If there isn’t a discussion group already, consider making one! There will probably be other auditory learners in the class that would benefit from this as well.

– Don’t give up on forming new habits; it can be hard to stick to a new routine or a new learning strategy, but you will thank yourself in the end!

Conclusion        

Sometimes, when learning a new language, it seems like information comes in one ear and immediately goes out the other! It can be hard to recall exactly what you have learned, even if you regularly study.

Now that you have these new strategies, however, you will be much better equipped to hear that new information and keep it with you! You’ll be listening to and understanding Japanese like a pro in no time!

Still, keeping an ear out for extra learning opportunities? Why not check out courses at Coto Academy? By accommodating a variety of different learning styles and paces, these classes are sure to help you achieve your Japanese language goals!

If you’re learning Japanese, you’ve probably heard of kanji — those intricate characters that make up a significant part of the written language. But with over 50,000 kanji characters, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed and wonder if you’ll ever be able to read and write kanji.

The good news is that you don’t need to know all 50,000 characters to be able to read and write proficiently in Japanese. Mastering just a few hundred kanji can take you a long way. 

But how do you know which ones to focus on? In this ultimate guide to mastering kanji, we’ll explore the most commonly used characters, how to learn them efficiently, and tips for retaining and applying your newfound knowledge. 

If you need personalized advice or support, don’t hesitate to contact us directly.

What is kanji? 

Kanji is one of the three main scripts used in Japanese writing, along with hiragana and katakana. It consists of characters borrowed from the Chinese writing system, each representing a specific concept or idea. 

Why learning Kanji is important

Kanji is an essential component of the Japanese language. Unlike Hiragana and Katakana, which are phonetic scripts, Kanji is a logographic script that uses symbols to represent words or ideas. Japanese sentences can contain a mix of Kanji, Hiragana, and Katakana, making it necessary to understand all three scripts to read and write in Japanese fluently.

Kanji is used extensively in Japanese literature, newspapers, magazines, and everyday communication. Kanji is also used in the names of businesses, streets, and buildings, making it an essential part of Japanese culture. Therefore, learning Kanji is crucial for anyone who wants to become fluent in Japanese.

But beyond that, as you improve your Japanese language skills, you’ll notice that reading texts with kanji is easier than just hiragana and katakana. Why? Kanji characters provide visual cues and help break the text into meaningful units. 

You must remember that, unlike English, written Japanese does not have spaces between particles or words. For example:

わたしはいぬがすきです。
Watashi wa inu ga suki desu.

Imagine reading a text in English like this:

Ilikedogs.

Not so readable, right? Now, if we change some of the hiragana into kanji, it would look like this:

私は犬が好きです。

Unlike hiragana or katakana, which consist of phonetic symbols, kanji characters have distinct shapes and visual patterns. Using kanji, written information can be conveyed more concisely than using only hiragana or katakana. This means you have a better chance of quickly grasping the overall meaning of a sentence.

How many kanji should you learn in a day?

The number of kanji characters you can learn daily will vary depending on various factors, including your learning style, available study time, and personal capabilities.

For now, we’ll reference the curriculum in Japanese classes. Most beginner to intermediate language classes will spend a section of the lesson learning 5 to 10 kanji characters per day. 

Now, this is different from more intensive classes, where you can expect to learn 20 kanji characters daily! Remember that the more advanced you get, the more complicated and less common the kanji will be, making learning even more difficult.

So it’s safe to say that learning around 5-10 kanji characters per day is manageable. Some people may be able to handle more, but most learners make the mistake of cramming as much kanji as possible before a test.

Our tip is: don’t do it. It’ll lead you to burnout, and you won’t be able to retain any of the new things you learned. It’s crucial to balance quantity with quality. Spending sufficient time to understand and retain each kanji’s meaning, readings, and stroke order is vital for long-term retention.

How many kanji do you need to know?

First, let’s use the number of kanji characters covered in each JLPT level.

For JLPT N5, which tests you on basic Japanese that you can often learn in a classroom environment, you’ll need to learn 100 kanji characters. If you learn 5-10 kanji per day, you’ll be able to reach your target in around 10-20 days.

For JLPT N4, you’ll have to learn additional 200 kanji characters — 300 kanji in total! Ideally, you can learn this in one to two months!

The JLPT N3 exam covers around 650 kanji. Of course, you do not have to know all of them to pass, but it’s impossible to predict which ones will be on the exam.

You’ll need to learn 1,000 kanji for JLPT N2, while it takes 2,000 kanji for JLPT N1!

By the time you are studying for the N1, you probably have already formed a solid study routine for Japanese kanji and vocabulary. Because the JLPT N1 tests you on a lot of kanji and vocabulary, it is most efficient to memorize the kanji based on its usage rather than its individual meaning and pronunciation. 

Now, to be considered fluent in Japanese, you need to know 1,500 to 2,500 kanji — roughly N2 or N1 level. 

While there are technically more than 50,000 kanji characters, there is something known as the joyo kanji  (常用漢字). Joyo kanji refers to a list of kanji characters that are designated as “regular-use kanji” by the Japanese government. The term “joyo” (常用) translates to “regular use” or “daily use.”

The current Joyo Kanji list was established by the Japanese Ministry of Education in 1981 and has undergone revisions since then. The list originally consisted of 1,945 kanji characters, but it was expanded to 2,136 characters in 2010. These characters are taught in Japanese schools and are considered fundamental for literacy in Japan.

8 steps to learning Kanji effectively

1. Learn basic Japanese words and writing systems first

If you are taking a beginner-level Japanese class, don’t expect the teachers to dive straight into kanji on the first day! Learning basic Japanese words and the writing systems of hiragana and katakana is generally recommended before diving into kanji. Understanding hiragana and katakana is fundamental for reading and writing Japanese because they represent the phonetic sounds of the language.

Building a foundation of basic vocabulary is also important because it allows you to understand and communicate in Japanese even without kanji. Learning essential words, phrases, and grammar structures will help you develop a solid understanding of the language’s structure and enable you to form simple sentences.

Once you grasp hiragana, katakana, and basic vocabulary, you can gradually introduce kanji into your studies. 

2. Set realistic goals

While making studying kanji a daily habit is important, let’s not forget about setting achievable goals! Think about how quickly you want to master the approximately 2,200 kanji needed for “newspaper fluency.” Is it realistically feasible for you?

Let’s say you want to tackle this kanji challenge within a year. That means you’ll need to learn around six to seven new kanji daily.

Would you be able to spend every day learning the new kanji? What about days when you are on vacation or when you are sick?

If you can commit to learning new kanji every day, that’s absolutely fantastic!

However, if you feel that learning at such a pace might be too much, don’t worry! Consider extending your timeline to two years or finding a pace that suits you best. Remember, it’s not a race! The key is to find a balance that makes learning kanji a sustainable part of your life without overwhelming yourself.

3. Learn kanji radicals

Kanji radicals, also known as bushu in Japanese, are the building blocks or components that form kanji characters. Radicals are essentially smaller, standalone characters or elements within a kanji character. They can convey meaning, provide a clue about pronunciation, or serve as a semantic indicator.

Learning radicals helps you understand kanji characters’ structure, meaning, and connections. It provides a foundation for building your kanji knowledge and makes learning more accessible and enjoyable. Let’s break it down with an example:

Imagine you come across a new kanji character: 森 (mori), which means “forest.” It consists of three tree radicals (木) stacked on each other.

 By recognizing the tree radical, you can make an educated guess about the general meaning of the character. Since you know that 木 means “tree,” you can infer that 森 might have something to do with trees or a forest.

Here are some common Japanese radicals along with their meanings and example kanji characters:

4. Compounds

If radicals are the smaller components or building blocks within kanji characters, then compound words in Japanese comprise multiple kanji characters. 

That’s right: when kanji characters are combined, they create new words called kanji compounds or jukugo. It’s similar to how letters form words. With enough kanji knowledge, you can start understanding the meaning and pronunciation of these compound words!

Here’s an example: Let’s take the kanji characters “日” (which means “sun” or “day”) and “本” (which means “origin” or “book”). Individually, they have their meanings, but when you put them together, you get the word “日本” (pronounced as “Nihon” or “Nippon”), which means “Japan.”

An important thing for learners is not to abandon learning kanji compounds. For example, you might know the kanji 人 (hito, nin), but what happens when this character is combined with other kanji? They can be:

• 二人: futari (two people)
• 社会人: shakaijin (working adult)
• 人間: ningen (humanity)

As you can see, when you are learning 1,000 kanji characters, you might also need to learn other mutations of the kanji compounds! By learning kanji compounds, you can understand and use a wider range of words in Japanese.

5. Practice writing kanji

Even if you are not a kinesthetic or visual learner, learning kanji is very much a visual aspect. We always find it more effective to practice writing kanji characters regularly to reinforce our understanding and muscle memory. Use grid paper or practice sheets that show the correct stroke order.

If you don’t have the time (or paper) to practice kanji on your desk, there are a lot of useful kanji learning apps like Kaizen that allow you to practice kanji strokes on your phone!

6. Learn the stroke orders

Learning the stroke order of kanji is useful for several reasons. Firstly, it ensures accuracy and legibility in your writing, as following the correct sequence and direction of strokes leads to consistent and clear characters. Secondly, understanding stroke order aids in character recognition and differentiation, as slight variations can distinguish between similar kanji. It also contributes to the memorization and retention of characters, as practicing stroke order reinforces visual and kinetic memory. Additionally, stroke order is important for calligraphy, enhancing the aesthetics and balance of your written kanji. Learning stroke order improves writing accuracy, character recognition, and memorization and contributes to the visual appeal of written kanji.

7. Utilize flashcards or spaced repetition 

Learning to read kanji is just as important as learning to write them. One easy way to practice reading kanji is using smartphone apps like Anki or Flashcards Deluxe. These apps use a special technique called spaced repetition, which helps you remember kanji more effectively.

Here’s how it works: You can create your flashcards with kanji on one side and their meanings or pronunciations on the other. You can also make flashcards with sentences that include kanji or even try to write the kanji for words in your native language. The great thing about spaced repetition is that it learns from you. If you get a kanji right, it will show up less frequently. But if you struggle with a particular kanji, it will appear more often until you get the hang of it.

Using these apps makes learning kanji fun and personalized to your needs. Give it a try and see how your reading skills improve!

8. Incorporate a lot of reading 

You don’t have to be an advanced Japanese language student to start reading Japanese media.

If you’re an intermediate-level learner, try reading your favorite Japanese manga in Japanese. Thankfully, most of them use day-to-day Japanese, and the kanji are equipped with furigana. This gives you a good cushion to transition from reading in full hiragana and katakana to reading in kanji!

Websites, blogs, and social media platforms are excellent resources for finding Japanese texts to immerse yourself in. Explore topics that interest you, whether Japanese language, culture, or specific genres. Make your study sessions exciting by incorporating materials that you love.

If you prefer audiovisual content, websites like Crunchyroll offer cartoons and movies. Aim for kids’ anime and turn on the Japanese subtitles. You can watch and follow along to improve your listening and reading skills simultaneously.

NHK’s News Web Easy is another valuable resource. It provides simplified news articles in simple Japanese, allowing you to gauge your kanji level and practice reading in a real-world context.

Check out: 10 Most Difficult Kanji

Common mistakes to avoid when learning Kanji

Learning Kanji can be challenging, and beginners make some common mistakes. Here are some mistakes to avoid when learning Kanji:

1. Neglecting Stroke Order

Pay attention to the correct stroke order when writing kanji. Following the proper stroke order helps with character recognition and writing fluency. Skipping or altering strokes may make it harder to recognize and reproduce kanji accurately.

3. Focusing Solely on Memorization

Don’t approach kanji as mere memorization of individual characters. Understand the meaning, radicals, and components of kanji. Recognize how kanji are combined to form words and grasp their context and sentence usage.

4. Overlooking Context and Vocabulary

Kanji should be learned in context. Learning the meaning and readings of kanji characters without understanding their usage in words and phrases can limit your comprehension. Study vocabulary and phrases that incorporate the kanji to reinforce their practical application.

Ignoring Reading Variations: Kanji characters can be read multiple times, including on-yomi (Chinese) and kun-yomi (Japanese). Avoid assuming that a single kanji has only one reading. Pay attention to the context and usage of the kanji to determine the appropriate reading.

For example, let’s look at the kanji character for “book” (書)

Learning the individual kanji character is useful, but understanding that it represents “book” and is commonly used in words such as “library” (図書館) or “reading” (読書) provides important context for its usage.

5. Rushing Through the Learning Process

Kanji is a complex aspect of the Japanese language that requires time and consistent practice. Avoid rushing through large numbers of kanji without proper understanding or retention. Focus on quality over quantity and establish a regular study routine.

Avoid attempting to learn many kanji characters in a short period. Instead, focus on studying a manageable amount each day and reinforce your understanding through practice and review.

6. Lack of Review and Reinforcement

Regular review is crucial for retaining kanji knowledge. Without proper reinforcement, kanji characters can be forgotten over time. Incorporate review sessions and practice writing kanji to strengthen your memory and recognition skills.

This is also why it’s still good to do regular flashcard drills. Try to spend 30 minutes a day to drill the kanji you have learned previously!

Remember, don’t just review the kanji shape itself. Review both the meaning, kanji compounds, and different onyomi and kunyomi.

7. Not Using Various Learning Resources

Utilize a variety of resources to enhance your kanji learning experience. Combine textbooks, online resources, flashcards, mnemonic techniques, and even kanji games to reinforce your understanding and retention of kanji.

Conclusion

Learning Kanji can be challenging, but it can be an enjoyable and rewarding experience with a step-by-step approach. Start by learning the basics, including the radicals and strokes, and then move on to learning the Joyo Kanji characters. Remember to practice regularly, use online resources, and avoid common mistakes. Following these tips and tricks, you can become a Kanji master and open up new opportunities in Japan.

Start taking Japanese lessons and master kanji!

Let us know how we can help you achieve your Japanese language target. If you’re unsure where you are, we provide a Japanese level check. 

FAQ

Japanese tongue twisters are called hayakuchi kotoba (早口言葉), which translates to “fast mouth (hayakuchi) words (kotoba).” Just like Japanese slang, learning these tongue twisters is a fun and exciting way to practice speaking the language. Specifically, it helps condition you to make that Japanese pronunciation you’ve wanted to nail. You can make it your daily routine to repeat one tongue twister daily. That’s right — we want you to start saying “Kono kugi wa hikinukui kugi da” while brushing your teeth and doing laundry. Totally normal stuff.

There are many popular tongue twisters in English — let’s not forget the classic “She sells seashells by the seashore” — but what about Japanese tongue twisters? We’ve categorized these Japanese tongue twisters in their order of difficulty. It’s time to try these tongue twisters to track your trek. (See what we just did there?)

Easy Japanese Tongue Twisters

These few Japanese tongue twisters are relatively easy to master. You need to be careful of the sudden consonant changes and those few repetitive consonants. Otherwise, their shorter length helps beginners and aspiring tongue-twister-enthusiast to catch their breath.

1. 生麦生米生卵

Pronunciation: namamugi namagome namatamago

Hiragana: なま むぎなまごめなまたまご

English Translation: Raw wheat, raw rice, raw egg. 

2. 坊主が屏風に上手に坊主の絵を書いた

Pronunciation: bouzu ga byoubu ni jouzu ni bouzu no e o kaita

Hiragana: ぼうずがびょうぶにじょうずにぼうずのえをかいた

English Translation: The monk skillfully drew a picture of a monk on a screen

3. 赤巻紙, 黄巻紙, 青巻紙

Pronunciation: akamakigami, kimakigami, aomakigami

Hiragana: あかまきがみきまきがみあおまきがみ

English Translation: Red scroll, yellow scroll, blue scroll

4. バスガス爆発

Pronunciation: Basu gasu bakuhatsu

Hiragana: バスガスばくはつ

English translation: Bus gas explosion

5. ブタがブタをぶったのでぶたれたブタがぶったブタをぶった。

Pronunciation: buta ga buta o butta node butareta buta ga butta buta o butta.

English Translation: The pig beat the pig. Therefore, the beaten pig beat the beater pig.

6. 赤パジャマ黄パジャマ茶パジャマ

Pronunciation: aka pajama, ki pajama, cha pajama

Hiragana: あかぱじゃま　きぱじゃま　ちゃぱじゃま

English Translation: Red pajamas, yellow pajamas, and brown pajamas

Intermediate Japanese Tongue Twisters

Is rolling your tongue for the above phrases too much of a breeze? We’ll bump up the difficulty a notch. These tongue twisters are only getting longer, with more repetitive and similar consonants.

7. この釘は引き抜くい釘だ

Pronunciation: kono kugi wa hikinukui kugi da

Hiragana: このくぎはひきぬきにくいくぎだ

English Translation: This nail is difficult to pull out.

8. 李も桃、桃も桃、李も桃も桃のうち。

Pronunciation: sumomo mo momo, momo mo momo, sumomo mo momo mo momo no uchi.

Hiragana: すもももももももももも、すもももももももものうち。

English translation: A Japanese plum is a peach, a peach is also a peach, and both Japanese plums and peaches are a kind of peach.

9. 蛙ぴょこぴょこ三ぴょこぴょこ合わせてぴょこぴょこ六ぴょこぴょこ

Pronunciation: Kaeru pyokopyoko mipyokopyoko awasete pyokopyoko mupyokopyoko

Hiragana: かえるぴょこぴょこみぴょこぴょこあわせてぴょこぴょこむぴょこぴょこ

English translation: The frogs jump, three (times) jump, together jump, six (times) jump.

10. バナナの謎はまだ謎なのだぞ

Pronunciation: banana no nazo wa mada nazo na no da zo

Hiragana: ばななのなぞは、まだなぞなのだぞ

English Translation: The mystery of the banana is still a mystery

11. 鹿もカモシカも鹿の仲間, しかしアシカは鹿ではない 

Pronunciation: shika mo kamoshika mo shika no nakama, shikashi ashika wa shika de wa nai

Hiragana: しかもかもしかもしかのなかま、しかしあしかはしかではない

English Translation: both the deer and the antelope are part of the deer family, but surely the sea lion is not a deer

12. 飲むなら乗るな、乗るなら飲むな。

Pronunciation: Nomu nara noru na, noru nara nomu na.

Hiragana: のおむならのるな、のるならのむな

English Transaction: If you drink don’t drive, if you drive don’t drink.

13. 親亀の上に子亀、子亀の上に孫亀。

Pronunciation: Oyagame no ue ni kogame, kogame no ue ni magogame.

Hiragana: おやがめのうえにこがめ、こがめのうえにまごがめ。

English Translation: The parent turtle is the child turtle, and the child turtle is the grandchild turtle.

Hardest Japanese Tongue Twisters

These tongue twisters require more focus and practice. Still, even if you don’t speak any Japanese, that doesn’t mean you can’t try out some of these!

14. タコベルのタコは高くなかった

Pronunciation: takoberu no tako wa takakunakatta

Hiragana: タコベルのたこはたかくなかった。

English Translation: Taco Bell’s tacos aren’t expensive at all.

15. にゃんこ、子にゃんこ、孫にゃんこ、ひ孫にゃんこ。

Pronunciation: nyanko, konyanko, magonyanko, himagonyanko.

Hiragana: にゃんこ、こにゃんこ、まごにゃんこ、ひまごにゃんこ。

English translation: Kitty, kitten, grand-kitten, great-grand kitten.

16. シャンソン歌手、新春シャンソンショー

Pronunciation: Shanson kashu, shinshun shansonshu.

Hiragana: しゃんそんかしゅ、しんすんシャションシュー

English Translation: Chanson singer, New Year chanson show.

17. 暖かくなったから、暖かい服を使った

Pronunciation: Atatakakunakattakara, atatakai fuku o tsukatta

Hiragana: あたたかくなかったから、あたたかいふくをつかった。

English transaction: Because it wasn’t warm, I used warm clothes.

Notice that the word atatakai (warm) is heavily modified? This is because Japanese i-adjectives conjugate themselves. To learn more about this, visit our guide to Japanese adjectives.

18. 右目右耳 右耳右目

Pronunciation: Migime migi mimi migi mimi migi me

Hiragana: みぎめみぎみみみぎみみみぎめ

English translation: Right eye, right ear, right ear, right eye

19. 隣りの客はよく柿食う客だ 

Pronunciation: tonari no kyaku wa yoku kaki kuu kyaku da

Hiragana: となりのきゃくはよくかきくうきゃくだ

English translation: The guest next door eats a lot of persimmons

20. この竹垣に竹立て掛けたのは竹立て掛けたかったから、竹立て掛けた

Pronunciation: kono takegaki ni take tatekaketa no wa take tatekaketakattakara , take tatekaketa

Hiragana: このたけがきにたけたてかけたのはたけたてかけたかったから、たけたてかけた

English Translation: I laid this bamboo against the bamboo fence because I wanted to lay bamboo against it

21. 裏庭には二羽, 庭には二羽鶏がいる

Pronunciation: ura niwa ni wa niwa, niwa ni wa niwa niwatori ga iru

Hiragana: うらにわにわにわにわにわにわにわとりがいる

English Translation: There are two chickens in the backyard and two chickens in the front yard

22. 東京特許許可局長

Pronunciation: toukyou tokkyo kyokakyokuchou

Hiragana: とうきょうとっきょきょかきょくちょう

English translation: Director of Tokyo Patent Licensing Bureau

23. トラをとるならトラをとるより鳥をとれ、鳥はおとりにトラをとれ。

Pronunciation: Torawo torunara torawo toru yori toriwo tore, toriwa otorini torawo tore.

Hiragana: とらをとるならとるとらをとるよりとりをとれ、とりはおとりにとらをとれ。

English Translation: Instead of catching the tiger, catch a bird and use the bird as bait to catch the tiger.

If you want to practice some more tongue twisters here you have some with audio!

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