New Location, New Courses.

It’s not uncommon for students of the Japanese language to spend months with textbooks, only to realize the significant differences between what they’ve learned and real-life Japanese.

It would be so much better if there was a short class focusing on practical Japanese

Well, there wasn’t, but there is now!

Official name: Japanese Crash Course for Beginners at Shibuya

Start Date: August 28, 2023 – Sep 22, 2023 (4 weeks)

Price: ¥ 136,000

Location: Shibuya (4-minute walk from the Shibuya station)

Days of the week	Monday – Friday
Time	9:30 – 12:20 or 14:10 – 17:00

First things first, let us give you an overview of what you might get in our course in Shibuya:

No Japanese knowledge needed: No requirements, no judgements, no reason to worry.

Learning Common Expressions: We don’t teach the Japanese in textbooks that are so different from the one that is actually used.

The main purpose of us is to help you, not to learn, but to use Japanese.

Plus, Shibuya is like a hub of entertainment in Tokyo. What can be better than exploring the city using what you have just learned?

Learning Goals

• Hiragana, Katakana, and some Kanji
• Greeting and introducing yourself in Japanese
• Giving orders in restaurants, supermarkets…
• Traveling around using trains or buses; asking for directions if need to
• Talking about your impressions of Japan

Class structure

In Coto Academy, there are 2 things that we focus on and are proud of: Small-size classes & Interacting environment.

That would be exactly what you will experience in our Shibuya Japanese Course.

In the class, instead of focusing on Japanese grammar, we prioritize key Japanese phrases and simple words that you can immediately apply in your daily lives.

Through immersive practices, you will learn 2 to 3 key phrases per chapter.  

Important: We also have longer options for you: An 8-week and a 20-week course. Sign up for these courses before August 31st to save from ¥ 27,000 to ¥ 60,000.

Interested? Fill out the form below to attend our classes.

First, choose Shibuya as the location.

Then, you will see our list of courses: Intensive Course, Part-time Course, Private Lessons, and JLPT Prep Course. Tick the “Intensive Course” box.

After, we will contact you, very very soon. Just let us know how many weeks you want to study with us.

Of course, you can join other courses as well, we are waiting for you!

For Japanese learners, a significant milestone to aim for is the JLPT N5 exam, which evaluates basic proficiency in the language. But whether you’re taking the test or not, you’ll come across JLPT N5 grammar points either way — especially during the first year of your study, as it covers the very basic foundation of the Japanese language.

Although mastering these 30 grammar points alone won’t make you speak Japanese like a native, they are incredibly common and widely used in everyday conversations regardless of your fluency. So, let’s delve into some essential JLPT N5 grammar points that are crucial to know!

Jump to:

• だ/です (da/desu)
• にいます/あります (ni imasu/arimasu)
• に/へ (ni/e)
• も (mo)
• ～があります (ga arimasu)/～がいます (ga imasu)
• だけ (Dake)
• ～ませんか (masenka)
• ～ましょう (mashou)
• ～ましょうか (mashouka)
• ～てください (te kudasai)
• ないでください (naide kudasai)
• ～てはいけません (tewa ikemasen)
• ～てもいいです (te mo ii desu)
• から (kara)
• ～ている (te iru)
• ～にいく (ni iku)
• ～てから (te kara)
• ～のがじょうず/へたです (no ga jouzu/heta desu
• ～のほうが～より (no hou ga ~ yori)
• ～のなかで～がいちばん～ (~no naka de ~ ga ichiban)
• ～く/ ～になる (~ku/~ni naru)
• ～たことがある (~ ta koto ga aru)
• や (ya)
• ～たり …～たりする (~tari…~tari suru)
• V stem + たいです (tai desu)
• つもりです (tsumori desu)
• がほしい (ga hoshii)
• ～んです (n desu)
• ～すぎる (sugiru)
• 前に (mae ni)

1. だ/です (da/desu)

This is the most basic grammar point that you’ll learn right after hiragana and katakana.

In Japanese, “da” (だ) and “desu” (です) are both copula verbs used for different levels of politeness and formality that make up the very basic sentence pattern. They serve as the equivalent of the English verb “to be” and are used to make statements or descriptions about nouns or noun phrases. 

“Da” is the informal form of the copula verb and is commonly used in casual conversations or when speaking with close friends and family. It is often used in plain sentences or in informal situations. For example:

これはペンだ。
Kore wa pen da.
This is a pen.

“Desu” is the polite form, and it’s widely used in formal situations, polite conversations —  or when addressing people you are not familiar with. For example:

彼は学生です。
Kare wa gakusei desu.
He is a student.

You can conjugate だ/です (da/desu) into negative, past tense, and past-negative forms that are similar to the English language.

Present	Negative	Past tense	Past negative
です	じゃありません/ではありません	でした	ではありませんでした/じゃありませんでした
だ	じゃない/ではない	だった	じゃなかった/ではなかった

2. にいます/あります (ni imasu/arimasu)

For basic Japanese grammar rules, に (ni) is used as a general preposition that means “in” in English to indicate the location of a person or object.  If you are just starting to learn the language, the sentence structure you should first be learning is below:

Subject + Location + に + います/あります 
(Subject) is in (Location)

います and あります are both Japanese verbs used to indicate the existence or presence of animate and inanimate objects, respectively. あります is used for inanimate objects or things, while います is used for animate objects or people.

3. に/へ (ni/e)

In Japanese, both “に” (ni) and “へ” (e) are particles used to indicate direction or destination. While they can be translated as “to” or “towards” in English, they have slight differences in usage.

“へ” is a particle that describes a direction, while に is used to indicate the specific destination or target of an action. The basic structure for the N5 grammar point is below:

Subject + Location + へ + Verb

For example:

学校に行きます。
Gakkou ni ikimasu.
I am going to school.

公園へ行きます。
Kouen e ikimasu.
I am going to the park.

Of course, there are a lot of verbs you need to memorize to hold simple conversations with. aJapanese native. Check out our top 100 basic Japanese verbs here.

4. も (mo)

In Japanese grammar, the particle “も” (mo) is a versatile particle that has multiple uses and can be translated into English as “also,” “too,” or “even.” 

For beginner and N5-level Japanese grammar, the “も” (mo) particle replaces the topic maker は (ha). For example:

彼も学生です。
Kare mo gakusei desu.
He is also a student.

“も” (mo) can also emphasize a surprising or unexpected inclusion. It is used to express that the described action or situation is true even for the specific item or person mentioned.

彼は日本語を話すこともできます。
Kare wa nihongo o hanasu koto mo dekimasu.
He can even speak Japanese.

For a more comprehensive guide on basic Japanese particles and their functions, head here. 

5. ～があります (ga arimasu)/～がいます (ga imasu)

The phrase “～があります” (“ga arimasu”) is used in Japanese to indicate the existence or presence of something. It is typically used with inanimate objects or non-living things. 

つくえの上に本があります。
Tsukue no ue ni hon ga arimasu.
There is a book on the table. 

On the other hand, “～がいます” (“ga imasu”) is used in Japanese to indicate the existence or presence of animate objects or living beings. It can also be used to express the idea of someone or something “having” or “possessing” a certain characteristic or quality. For example:

猫がいます。
Neko ga imasu.
There is a cat or (I) have a cat.

6. だけ (Dake)

“Dake” (だけ) is a particle that is used to indicate “only” or “just.” It is used to specify a limited quantity or extent of something. “Dake” is placed after a noun or a quantity expression to indicate that there is no more than that amount or that it is the maximum.

Adjective/noun + だけ

Here are a few examples to illustrate the usage of “dake” in JLPT N5 Japanese grammar:

このチケットは子供だけ無料です。
Kono chiketto wa kodomo dake muryou desu.
This ticket is free for children only.

彼女は日本語だけでコミュニケーションができます。
Kanojo wa nihongo dake de komyunikēshon ga dekimasu.
She can communicate only in Japanese.

7. ～ませんか (~masenka)

For inviting someone or suggesting something, you can use the phrase “～ませんか” (“masen ka”). It is formed by adding the negative form of a verb and then attaching “か” at the end. It is commonly translated as “won’t you” or “shall we” in English. 

一緒に映画を見ませんか？
Goissho ni eiga o mimasen ka?
Would you like to watch a movie together?

8. ～ましょう (mashou)

“ましょう” (mashou) is a volitional form commonly used to make suggestions or propose an action. It can be translated as “let’s” or “shall we” in English. You’ll use this when you want to suggest your friends or the other speaker do something — just remember that it has to be a verb!

To conjugate a verb into this form, you simply remove the ます and add ましょう:

Verb ます + ましょう

映画を見ましょう。
Eiga o mimashou.
Let’s watch a movie.

9. ～ましょうか (mashouka)

“ましょうか” (mashouka) is a polite form derived from “ましょう” (mashou) by adding the question particle “か” (ka) at the end. It is used to make a polite invitation or ask for the other person’s agreement.

It has a similar meaning as ～ませんか (masenka), but it has a more direct nuance. Think of ～ましょうか as “Shall we?”, and ～ませんか as “Won’t you?”

10. ～てください (te kudasai)

ください is used when you want to get something from the other speaker or party. In English, we can translate it to “Please give me (this).” 

To form ～てください, you will need to know how to conjugate Japanese verbs into ~te (~て). There are three different conjugation groups, with some irregular verbs that have exceptions to the て form rules. If you haven’t learned them already, we’ve made a separate blog post on how to transform a verb into a ~te verb, complete with handy illustrated cards

ちょっとまってください。
Chotto matte kudasai.
Please wait a moment.

Check out: 20 Japanese N5 Textbooks to Ace JLPT 2022

11. ないでください (naide kudasai)

In Japanese N5 grammar, “ないでください” (“naide kudasai”) is a phrase used to make a negative request or ask someone not to do something. It is formed by combining the negative form of a verb and then adding “でください” (“de kudasai”) at the end. 

Verb ない form + でください

For example:

迷惑しないでください。
Meiwaku shinaide kudasai.
Please don’t be a nuisance to others.

12. ～てはいけません (te wa ikemasen)

The phrase “～てはいけません” (“te wa ikemasen”) is used in Japanese to express prohibition or to indicate that an action is not allowed. It is formed by taking the te-form of a verb and adding “はいけません” (“wa ikemasen”) at the end.

The structure of “～てはいけません” is as follows:

[Verb in te-form] + はいけません

For example:

入口から出てはいけません。
Iriguchi kara dete wa ikemasen.
You must not exit from the entrance.

Important: “～てはいけません” (“te wa ikemasen”) and “～ないでください” (“naide kudasai”) have similar meanings in that they both express prohibition or a request to refrain from doing something. However, there is a slight difference in tone and usage between the two. ～てはいけません emphasizes a strict prohibition or rule, while ～ないでください is a polite request to refrain from doing something.

13. ～てもいいです (te mo ii desu)

The phrase “～てもいいです” (“te mo ii desu”) is used in Japanese to express permission or give someone the option to do something. It is formed by taking the te-form of a verb or an adjective and adding “もいいです” (“mo ii desu”) at the end.

The structure of “～てもいいです” is as follows:

Form	Example (Japanse)	English
Verb て-formもいいです	食べてもいい	Tabete mo ii
い-adjective + いくてもいいです	赤くてもいい	Akakute mo ii
な-adjectve + でもいいです	きれいでもいい	Kirei de mo ii

You can also ask for permission with this grammar structure by adding a か in the end to indicate a question.

店で食べてもいいですか？
Mise de tabete mo ii desu ka?
Can I eat in the store?

14. から (kara)

“Kara” (から) is a conjunction in Japanese that is used to indicate a cause or reason. It is often translated as “because” or “since” in English. 

Verb	から
い-adjective	から
な-adjectve + だ	から
Noun + だ	から

It’s important to note that “kara” expresses a cause-and-effect relationship and focuses on the reason or cause preceding the resulting action or situation.

雨が降ったから、外出をキャンセルしました。
Ame ga futta kara, gaishutsu o kyanseru shimashita.
Because it is raining, we cancel our (plans) to go out.

15. ～ている (te iru)

“Te iru” (ている) is a verb conjugation in Japanese that indicates the progressive or continuous aspect. It is commonly used to describe ongoing actions or states. In English, this would be a present (or past) continuous tense marked by verb-ing. You can also conjugate it to past, negative and past-negative tense. 

Conjugation	Meaning
Verb -いる	Is doing
いない	Is not doing
いった	Was doing
いなかった	Wasn’t doing

私は勉強しています。
Watashi wa benkyou shite imasu.
I am learning.

16. ～にいく (ni iku)

“～にいく” (～ni iku) is a commonly used phrase in Japanese that means “to go to” or “to go towards.” It is formed by combining the particle “に” (ni), indicating the direction or destination, with the verb “いく” (iku), meaning “to go.”

Verb ます (stem form) + に行く

In Japanese, the combination of a verb followed by “にいく” (ni iku) indicates the action of going somewhere to perform that verb’s action. It expresses the movement or direction toward a specific location for the purpose of engaging in the described action. 

クラスの前に食べに行きましょうか？
Kurasu no mae ni tabe ni ikimashouka?
Before class, should we go out to eat?

17. ～てから (te kara)

“～てから” (te kara) is a Japanese grammar construction used to indicate the sequence of events or actions. It signifies that one action takes place after another action has been completed. For example:

手を洗ってから食事をします。
Te o aratte kara shokuji o shimasu.
After you wash your hands, we eat.

18. ～のがじょうずです/～のがへたです (no ga jouzu desu/ no ga heta desu)

The phrase “～のがじょうずです” (no ga jouzu desu) and “～のがへたです” (no ga heta desu) are used in Japanese to express proficiency or lack of proficiency in a particular skill or activity. Let’s break it down:

Verb/Activity + のが (no ga)	+ じょうずです (jouzu desu)	Indicates proficiency or skillfulness.
Verb/Activity + のが (no ga)	+ へたです (heta desu)	Indicates lack of proficiency or being unskilled.

In both cases, the structure starts with the verb or activity in its dictionary form, followed by “のが” (no ga), which acts as a nominalizer, turning the verb or activity into a noun. Then, it is followed by either “じょうずです” (jouzu desu) or “へたです” (heta desu).

This sentence structure is particularly handy when you are talking about your hobbies and interests in Japanese. Take a look at a few examples below!

日本語を書くのがじょうずです。
Nihongo o kaku no ga jouzu desu.
I am good at writing in Japanese.

歌うのがへたです。
Utau no ga heta desu.
I am bad at singing.

19. ～のほうが～より (~no hou ga ~ yori)

Imagine you have two options or things to compare, and you want to express a preference or make a comparison. That’s where “～のほうが～より” (no hou ga ~ yori) comes in! It’s a JLPT N5 grammar that helps you highlight one option over another. The structure will look like this:

(Option A) + のほうが + Option B + より (yori) + Adjective

Let’s take a look at an example using this JLPT N5 grammar!

この映画とあのドラマ、どちらが面白いと思う？
Kono eiga to ano dorama, dochira ga omoshiroi to omou?
Which do you think is more interesting, this movie or that drama?

僕はこの映画のほうがあのドラマより面白いと思うよ！
Boku wa kono eiga no hou ga ano dorama yori omoshiroi to omou yo!)
I think this movie is more interesting than that drama!

20. ～のなかで～がいちばん～ (~no naka de ~ ga ichiban ~)

This grammar pattern, ～のなかで～がいちばん～ (naka de ga ichiban), is used to express that something is the most among a certain group of things.

With this pattern, you can express your preference or opinion about a certain group of things. It’s a useful way to make comparisons in Japanese and it’s commonly used in everyday conversation. The sentence structure will typically look like this:

(Category) + のなかで + option + がいちばん + adjective + です

Let’s take a look at an example using this JLPT N5 grammar!

行った旅行の中で、京都が一番素敵でした。
Itta ryokou no naka deu, kyouto ga ichiban suteki deshita.
Of all the travels I’ve made, Kyoto was the prettiest.

21. ～く/ ～になる (~ku/~ni naru)

Both “~ku naru” and “ni naru” are Japanese verb phrases used to express a change or transformation — translated to “to become” in English. 

• Noun + になる
• な-adjective+ になる
• い-adjective + いく+ なる

Let’s take a look at an example using this JLPT N5 grammar!

暗くなる前に、電気をつけましょう。
Kuraku naru mae ni, denki o tsukemashou.
Before it gets dark, let’s turn on the lights.

22. ～たことがある (~ta koto ga aru)

“～たことがある” is a Japanese grammatical expression that conveys the experience of having done something or having a certain experience in the past. It is used to indicate that an action or event has occurred at least once in a person’s life.

The structure “～たことがある” is like this:

Past tense form +  こと + ある

If you conjugate ある into its negative form, the sentence will change the meaning into, “I have never been (action).”

Let’s take a look at an example using this Japanese Language Proficiency Test N5 grammar!

ヨーロッパに行ったことがありません。
Yooroppa ni itta koto ga arimasen.
I have never gone to Europe.

23. や (ya)

 “や” is used to list multiple items or examples without specifying an exhaustive or complete list. It is very similar to the grammar と (to), which also means “and”, but や implies that there are other items that could be included — identical to “etc”. 

To use this, you just have to add や after a noun: Noun + や + Noun + や 

For example:

私は動物園でライオンやゾウを見ました。
Watashi wa doubutsuen de raion ya zou o mimashita.
In the zoo, I saw lions and elephants.

24. ～たり …～たりする (~ tari … ~tari suru)

The grammar pattern “～たり … ～たりする” in Japanese is used to list multiple actions or states in a non-exhaustive manner. It indicates that the actions or states mentioned are just a few examples among many possibilities. 

It has a similar meaning to や that we explained above, but instead of a noun, this is typically used to indicate actions.  

Verb-た	りする
Noun	だったりする
い-adj	いかったりする
な-adj	だったりする

For example:

彼は週末に映画を見たり、友達と遊んだりすることが好きです。
Kare wa shuumatsu ni eiga o mitari, tomodachi to asondari suru koto ga suki desu.
He likes to watch movies and play with (his) friends on the weekends. 

In this sentence, the speaker mentions watching movies and hanging out with friends as examples of activities the person likes to do on weekends. However, it doesn’t mean these are the only activities they engage in; there could be other things they do as well.

25. V stem + たいです (~tai desu)

Next, someone who is a beginner Japanese student should also know how to express desire or wish to do something. This is where “Verb + たいです” in Japanese is used to express a desire or a wish to do something. It is used when you want to convey that you want to do a certain action or engage in a certain state.

To make this grammar point, cut the ます from the ます form of verbs and add たい.

English	Dictionary Form	ます　form (polite)	たい form
To eat	食べる	食べます	食べたい
To see	見る	見ます	見たい
To buy	買う	買います	買いたい
To go	行く	行きます	行きたい
To do	する	します	したい

26. つもりです (tsumori desu)

To speak about your plans or intentions, you can use つもりです (tsumori desu). The grammar point “tsumori” is a Japanese construction used to indicate one’s intention or plan to do something. It is often translated as “intend to” or “plan to” in English. The structure is formed by attaching the verb’s stem or the noun to the stem of a verb followed by the auxiliary verb “tsumori” (つもり).

Note: The difference between “tsumori” (つもり) and “verb-tai desu” (verb-たいです) lies in the nuance of expressing intention or desire. Verb-tai desu” is used to express one’s personal desire or preference to do something. On the other hand, “tsumori” is used to express one’s intention or plan to do something. It implies a stronger commitment or determination to carry out the action.

Structure:

• Verb (dictionary form) + つもり
• Verb (ない form + つもり

For example:

高校を卒業して専門学校に入学するつもりです。
Koukou o sotsugyou shite senmongakkou ni nyuugaku suru tsumori desu.
After I graduate high school, I intend to join a vocational school.

27. がほしい (ga hoshii)

In Japanese, the phrase “noun + ga hoshii” is used to express a desire for something. 

Noun + が + ほしい

It’s important to note that the adjective “hoshii” always follows the noun it modifies and agrees with the subject of the sentence marked by “ga.” For example:

ケーキがほしい。
Keeki ga hoshii.
I want cake.

28. あとで (ato de)

In Japanese, “あとで” (ato de) is an expression used to indicate that something will be done or happen at a later time. It is often translated as “later” or “afterwards” in English. Let’s break down its grammar:

• Verb (た form) + あとで
• Noun + の + あとで

For example:

食事のあとで、映画を見ましょう。
Shokuji no ato de, eigo o mimashou.
After a meal, let’s watch a movie!

29. ～すぎる (~sugiru)

The grammar structure “~sugiru” in Japanese is a useful construction that conveys the idea of exceeding a certain limit or going too far. It is commonly attached to the stem of verbs or adjectives to express actions or states that are excessive or beyond what is expected or desired.

Verb ます (stem form) + すぎる
な-adjective + すぎる
い-adjective い + すぎる

30. 前に (mae ni)

“前に” (mae ni) is a Japanese phrase that translates to “before” or “prior to” in English. When combined with a verb, the phrase that uses “前に” (mae ni) expresses that the action took place before a certain point in time or event.

Noun + 前に 
Verb plain form + 前に 

Here are some examples:

バスに乗る前にチケットを買っておく。
Basu ni noru mae ni chiketto o katte oku.
Buy the ticket before getting on the bus.

What’s next after learning these essential JLPT N5 grammar points? Learn must-know grammar points for other JLPT levels!

• 20 Must-Know Grammar Points for the JLPT N4!
• 20 Must-Know JLPT N3 Grammar Points!
• 20 Must Know Grammar Points for the JLPT N2!

Want to master Japanese? Start taking Japanese lessons with us!

Learn Japanese in Shibuya, Tokyo, Yokohama, or online!

What is JLPT N5?

A1: JLPT N5, or Japanese Language Proficiency Test N5, is the first level of the Japanese Language Proficiency Test. It assesses basic Japanese language skills and is suitable for beginners.

What are some common JLPT N5 grammar points?

Some common JLPT N5 grammar points include:

• です (desu): A polite copula used for sentence endings.
• は (wa): A particle used to mark the topic of a sentence.
• が (ga): A particle used to mark the subject of a sentence.
• ですか (desu ka): A polite question-ending expression.
• の (no): A particle used to indicate possession or describe a noun.

How can I use the grammar point です (desu)?

The grammar point です is used to form polite sentences in Japanese. It is commonly used to state facts, describe things, and make general statements. For example: 私は学生です (Watashi wa gakusei desu) means “I am a student.”

When should I use ですか (desu ka)?

ですか is a polite question-ending expression. It is used to form yes/no questions in Japanese. For example: これはペンですか (Kore wa pen desu ka) means “Is this a pen?”

What does the particle は (wa) indicate?

The particle は is used to mark the topic of a sentence. It indicates the main subject or theme being discussed. For example: 私は日本人です (Watashi wa nihonjin desu) means “As for me, I am Japanese.”

How can Coto Academy help me learn Japanese?

From preparing JLPT to doing conversation practices, Coto Academy has differnent Japanese language courses that is tailored to differen needs. We are located in Shibuya, Iidabashi (Tokyo), and Yokohama. If you woud like to learn Japanese effectively in a small, fun class, contact us for a free level check and interview!

By now, you’ve probably heard about ChatGPT, the powerful language model developed by OpenAI that can whip human-like responses. It’s free, it’s on the web, and it’s available for anyone. And while some of us are only using it for fun, it has already changed how people work and create content, from drafting essays and generating codes to brainstorming ideas. That got us wondering if it can also revolutionize the way we approach language learning —  and if we can use ChatGPT to learn Japanese at all. If so, should we use ChatGPT to speed up our language-learning journey and abandon traditional learning resources altogether?

In this article, we will explore the ways in which ChatGPT can be used to learn Japanese, including its ability to accurate lessons, give language translations, and provide interactive conversation practice. 

Jump to:

• What’s ChatGPT?
• Can We Learn Japanese with ChatGPT, Then?
• Learning Basic Japanese with ChatGPT
• Use ChatGPT to Explain Japanese Grammar
• Use ChatGPT for English-Japanese Translation
• Can ChatGPT be Your Japanese Conversation Partner?
• Problems of ChatGPT for Japanese Language Learning
• Best ChatGPT Prompts to Learn Japanese
• Conclusion

What’s ChatGPT?

According to the AI tool itself, ChatGPT is “a language model developed by OpenAI that generates human-like text responses in a conversational style. It can understand and respond to prompts or questions from users, making it useful for various applications like virtual assistants, chatbots, language learning, and more.”

Many people compare ChatGPT to Google, assuming it functions as a search engine that provides information based on queries, which isn’t accurate. While ChatGPT is a language model that generates text-based responses, it doesn’t get or retrieve information from the internet.

ChatGPT used artificial intelligence to analyze data and learn relationships between words and phrases. It doesn’t always provide accurate truthful answers because it responds to a question based on what it feeds from its training data (more of that here).

In other words, when we give it a prompt, it generates a text that is the closest plausible answer. The “T” in ChatGPT stands for Transformer, which basically means it can remember stuff that is in the original prompt and can use that to make better guesses at what to generate next. The more specific the questions or prompts, the better output you’ll have. How effective ChatGPT is in learning something depends on how well you ‘train’ it. 

Can We Learn Japanese with ChatGPT, Then?

ChatGPT can be used as a virtual conversation partner for practicing Japanese language skills. By engaging in text-based conversations with ChatGPT, learners can improve their reading, writing, listening, and speaking abilities in Japanese.

Still, the general consensus is that using ChatGPT for learning Japanese is a bad idea. Think about this: you don’t want a teacher who guesses. You want a teacher who knows.

So first, we have to give AI a chance, so we asked ChatGPT that question. We threw “Can you learn Japanese with ChatGPT?” as our input.

Here is its answer: 

“Yes, as a language model, I can help you learn Japanese to some extent. I can provide you with information about Japanese grammar, vocabulary, pronunciation, and culture. I can also assist with practicing Japanese conversation, reading, and writing. However, please note that language learning is a complex process that requires consistent practice and exposure to the language in various contexts. While I can provide you with guidance and resources, it is important to complement it with other language learning methods such as studying with textbooks, taking lessons with a qualified instructor, and immersing yourself in Japanese-speaking environments for the best results.”

ChatGPT acknowledges that while it can help you learn Japanese, it’s just a supplementary tool. You’ll still need to seek additional feedback from native speakers, references from traditional, credible sources, or language instructors to improve your Japanese language skills. 

Unlike apps and textbooks, which are carefully curated by language experts to provide a structured learning experience, ChatGPT relies on generated responses that may not always follow a coherent lesson flow.

Learning Basic Japanese with ChatGPT

Can it give a headstart in learning Japanese? We ask ChatGPT to teach us Japanese letters and the Japanese alphabet. It gave us all the hiragana (ひらがな) and katakana (カタカナ) characters, all 46 characters each, and even include a side note:

Note that hiragana and katakana characters have the same sounds, but they have different visual appearances. Hiragana is typically used for native Japanese words and grammatical particles, while katakana is primarily used for loanwords from foreign languages, onomatopoeic words, and emphasis.

That’s a good start! Next, we ask them to give us a list of the top 100 Japanese words for beginners. The AI tool gave us a mix of basic greetings, adjectives, nouns, verbs, and adverbs — a good mix! In fact, it’s similar to own list of basic Japanese words. 

Now that we know that, ChatGPT can be used to generate lists of vocabulary words and phrases in Japanese, we want to see if it can build a quiz and design a learning strategy for us. We asked:

Build me a list of 10 questions for a vocabulary quiz for JLPT N5 level. 

Here’s its answer:

In general, the quiz gives you a solid mix of translation, kanji, and hiragana-reading questions. 

Of course, our own prompt might be too generic. It’s always possible to instruct ChatGPT to make vocabulary games, or narrow down your question to more targeted topics — like grouping the vocabulary based on verbs, nouns, adverbs, and more. For example, try to ask if it can make fill-in-the-blank exercises on JLPT N5-level verbs, or word matching!

We also requested a study routine for someone who has just begun learning Japanese that spans 60-90 minutes. Complete with a timeline, it provides a strategic breakdown of study topics, including katakana and hiragana, kanji and vocabulary, grammar, reading, listening, speaking, and pronunciation.

It’s a decent study routine that’s realistic, but what if we want a more solid syllabus? How many hiragana and katakana should you learn? How many kanji should you review? We asked ChatGPT to solidify the study plan.

Use ChatGPT to Explain Japanese Grammar

So far, we’ve seen how ChatGPT can help you build a strong list of vocabulary without room for much error — and create a simple study plan that you can keep up. Next, we test how good it can be as a tutor. 

Many Japanese textbooks lack concise and simplified explanations for grammar points, which can leave us struggling to understand the nuances of the language. This often leads to time-consuming searches and note-taking to fill the gaps. As a result, learners may face challenges in their Japanese language lessons. To address this, we turn to ChatGPT. Take one of the most confusing Japanese lesson:

“What are tadoushi and jidouhshi?”

The explanation of this is pretty accurate: tadoushi is a verb that requires an object, while jidoushi is a verb that can stand on its own. It even comes up with examples!

One of the cool things about ChatGPT is that you can use it to simplify complex topics — like tadoushi and jidoushi, where even advanced and intermediate learners have trouble following.

For these things, you can try to ask ChatGPT to explain concepts. Just add “explain like I’m 5” to your query and the chatbot will oblige. For example, when we asked it, it came out with:

“Tadoashi is like a toy that needs something else to work, while jidoushi is like a toy that works on its own. In Japanese grammar, tadoushi are transitive verbs that need an object, and jidoushi are intransitive verbs that don’t need an object.”

The outcome is a simplified explanation that may not be entirely accurate, but combined with cross-referencing, it’ll help you understand a concept easier — and faster.

Using ChatGPT for English-Japanese Translations 

You can learn and understand Japanese concepts in Japanese with ChatGPT. Now, you can also try to see if using the tool for translation is accurate.

For example, take the basic phrase, “What are you doing?”

At first, it translated the English text into a polite version: 何をしていますか?

But what if we want to capture the correct nuance in casual Japanese, the way native speakers would say it? Can ChatGPT accurately translate it in that context?

While ChatGPT, like DeepL and Google Translate, can provide translations from English to Japanese, it may not always capture the nuances perfectly. Additionally, it may occasionally choose inappropriate verb or word choices that sound unnatural when used in the wrong context. This brings us to the next and final point. 

Can ChatGPT be Your Japanese Conversation Partner?

Gone are the days when you need to find a conversation partner through language exchange apps or meetups. With ChatGPT, you can practice conversation even when you don’t have access to someone to speak with. They do this by engaging with you in text-based conversations, and providing responses and feedback based on your prompts. 

Or so people claim. To start a conversation, we started with the basic greeting: “Ogenki desu ka?”

This is where it gets tricky. ChatGPT does not have the capability to feel emotions and form independent thoughts. As a result, we find it pretty difficult to make a conversation with it. 

For example, we tried asking ChatGPT if he was happy. 

But what if we want to do a conversation with ChatGPT in Japanese? Did we ask a simple question: お元気ですか (ogenki desu ka)? It answered in pretty much the same way — only in Japanese.

Another issue that we encountered is that, despite instructing ChatGPT to use simple Japanese at the N5 level for conversations, it sometimes reverts back to using more advanced Japanese.

We spent a lot of time trying to “train” it to use easy Japanese but were unable to follow up with the interaction the way we want to.

So, we suggest this: instead of using it as your direct conversation partner, you can try to ask ChatGPT to build back-and-forth dialogue practice: 

Once ChatGPT has created a conversation, you can copy-paste the conversation to a text-to-voice software, or try the conversation yourself. When you use software to generate the voice, you can pause and repeat it for a better practice experience, especially if you’re an auditory learner. 

The Problem with ChatGPT for Japanese Language Learning

They’re Not 100% Accurate and Self-Verifying

A lot of ‘problems’ from ChatGPT come from the fact they can be inconsistent, or inappropriate, without providing corrections or explanations. For example, you might find the correct answer to a generic question, like “How do you say thank you in Japanese?”

A simple Google search will confirm that it’s the correct answer. But when you go a little deeper, the answers get a little rough around the edges. For example, we tried asking ChatGPT, “What is keimeishi?”

ChatGPT was happy to explain that keimeishi (形名詞) is a type of word in the Japanese language that functions as a noun but has characteristics of both adjectives and nouns. It goes on to explain the characteristics of keimeishi, like how it ends in the character “な” (na) when used directly before a noun. 

Sounds like it knows what it’s talking about, right? There’s just one problem, though: keimeishi is not an entirely made-up term in Japanese — it was created as a combination of “keiyoushi” (形容詞), which means i-adjective, and “meishi” (名詞), which means noun. This was done to mimic the structure of existing Japanese word categories. However, ChatGPT generated a lengthy explanation that interchanges the concepts of noun, na-adjective, and i-adjective without a clear understanding of their meanings or distinctions.

Remember that ChatGPT and AI models do not truly understand language in the way that humans do. They rely on patterns and associations found in the data they were trained on to generate responses — and try to “guess” what strings of words are most likely the reasonable answer. 

So while it’s trained to generate words based on a given input, it does not have the ability to truly comprehend the meaning behind it.

You’re likely to spend more time generating ChatGPT prompts than practicing the language itself.

You Can Spend More Time Creating Prompts Than Actually Studying

While we can delve into a more extensive article discussing the various applications of ChatGPT for learning Japanese, it’s important to note that it can be a slippery slope.

Unlike apps and textbooks, which are carefully curated by language experts to provide a structured learning experience, ChatGPT relies on generated responses that may not always follow a coherent lesson flow.

What does this mean? You’re likely to spend more time generating ChatGPT prompts than practicing the language itself. Generating responses with ChatGPT can require some trial and error. You might need to refine your questions or prompts to get the response you’re looking for.

Second, playing around with ChatGPT is fun and easier than doing the actual studying, and it’s tricky to focus on using most of your time to learn, rather than trying out cool features and creative prompts. Think about it: how much time have we dedicated to exploring ChatGPT, and get distracted? 

Japanese is Meant to Be Used by People

Most importantly, ChatGPT can’t replicate genuine, human interaction and give an accurate experience of what it’s like to converse in Japanese. Speaking with your Japanese friends or classmates as part of your practice will help you develop confidence and fluency — something that you probably won’t build by interacting with AI alone. The Japanese language is more than just building vocabulary, memorizing kanji, and knowing a lot of grammar. You have to know how to speak out your thoughts, listen to others, and understand the nuance of conversations. And that’s an integral part of learning a language that ChatGPT can’t replace. 

Prompts for ChatGPT to Help You Learn Japanese

ChatGPT is only effective when you have the right prompts or questions to ask. Here you’ll find prompts to copy and paste, and practice recommendations that will help you improve your Japanese language skills.

Prompts for ChatGPT
Let’s have a conversation about [topic] and suggest Japanese verbs I can use.
Correct my grammar mistakes in the following text.
Write 10 example sentences using [Japanese tense/grammar form].
Can you make a list of bank-related vocabulary and phrases in Japanese?
Can you show me how to use this [Japanese word] in its other meanings?
Please give the most commonly used expressions for part-time job at a convenience store.
Make a a practice plan for a JLPT N5-level student to practice grammar every day for 30 minutes.
Rewrite this text in a more informal/polite way.

Conclusion

There’s no denying that ChatGPT is a powerful tool to do, well, everything. But how effective ChatGPT can help you learn Japanese depends on how well you can train it, and how much you take precautions. It’s useful when you’re not taking the information at face value, and effective when you combine it with other learning methods. 

Lastly, remember that ChatGPT is mainly good for generating text. It’s a powerful tool to help explain complex grammar concepts, generate quizzes, and aid with conversations, but it can’t perform other language-related tasks such as speech recognition or understanding. For content, we would recommend using more reliable resources such as Japanese learning blogs like Coto Academy, as well as learning with a teacher who can provide reliable information and resources.

Want to study with a professional Japanese teacher? Contact Coto Academy to get in touch and get started on your learning journey!

Can ChatGPT help me learning Japanese?

ChatGPT is a large language model created by OpenAI that uses artificial intelligence to generate text-based responses. It can be used as a virtual conversation partner for practicing Japanese language skills. By engaging in text-based conversations with ChatGPT, learners can improve their reading, writing, listening, and speaking abilities in Japanese.

Is ChatGPT suitable for beginners who want to learn Japanese?

Yes, ChatGPT can be used by beginners who want to learn Japanese. It provides text-based conversations that are easy to follow and understand, making it a useful tool for beginners to practice basic Japanese language skills such as greetings, introductions, and simple conversations.

How can I use ChatGPT to practice speaking Japanese?

To practice speaking Japanese with ChatGPT, you can type out your responses in Japanese, and ChatGPT will generate text-based replies in Japanese as well.

Can I use other langue besides English to learn Japanese with ChatGPT?

Yes, ChatGPT supports multiple languages, including English and Japanese.

How can I make the most of ChatGPT for learning Japanese?

To make the most of ChatGPT for learning Japanese, you can:

• Practice regularly by engaging in text-based conversations with ChatGPT
• Focus on specific topics or areas of Japanese language that you want to improve
• Experiment with different sentence structures, grammar patterns, and vocabulary
• Review the feedback provided by ChatGPT and use it to refine your language skills
• Seek additional resources, such as textbooks or language exchange partners, to supplement your learning with ChatGPT.

Can ChatGPT correct my mistakes when learning Japanese?

While ChatGPT can provide feedback on your writing, it does not have full error-correction capabilities. It can generate text-based responses based on the input it receives, but it may not always catch all errors.

Ever wondered why it takes longer for you, a native English speaker, to learn Japanese compared to your other foreign friends? In our previous article, we discussed how while Japanese is already a challenging language to learn, it’s even more difficult if you grow up speaking English. Why is that?

The answer lies in the vast differences between the English and Japanese languages. From the writing systems and grammar structures to the contextual basis of communication, there are a few similarities that can speed up the learning process. Unlike Chinese and Korean speakers, who can draw upon some similarities in their own language, English speakers face additional hurdles. In this article, we’ll explore the reasons why Japanese is more difficult for English speakers to learn and provide insights on how to navigate these challenges!

Are there any similarities between English and Japanese?

While the differences between English and Japanese outweigh the similarities, there are some non-obvious traits that both language share. Hopefully, these similarities give you a piece of mind when you start learning Japanese. 

Japanese and English languages borrow words from each other

Loan words in Japanese, or gairaigo (外来語), are words borrowed from foreign countries other than China. While there are some loanwords that come from Europe like Dutch and Portuguese — but most of them come from English. In fact, 10% of the vocabulary of modern Japanese comes from English.

For example, besides arigatou gozaimasu, a lot of friends would say a Japan-ized “thank you” to each other casually. The Japanese alphabet doesn’t recognize the consonant “th, so instead,the “s” is used.

サンキュー
Sankyuu.
Thank you. 

Nowadays, a lot of Japanese people tend to prefer using English loanwords over their Japanese equivalents. Some people might even have a hard time identifying the pure Japanese word because they’re so used to using its loanword equivalent! For example:

English	Loanword	Japanese
Copy machine	コピー機 (kopiiki)	写真機 (shashinki)
Knife	ナイフ (naifu)	包丁 (houchou)
Table	テーブル (teeburu)	机 (tsukue)
Hotel	ホテル (hoteru)	客舎 (kyakusha)

Likewise, while the Japanese language has borrowed a lot of English words, we can say the same thing the other way around. Let’s take tsunamis, for instance. There’s no English word to describe huge tidal waves, so it was borrowed from the Japanese. Other examples include sushi, katsu, skosh (as in “just a skosh”) and tycoon. Read more loanwords that come from Japanese here!

Japanese and English Languages Start with a Subject 

This is a fundamental aspect of both Japanese and English. In English, we know that the subject of a sentence will always come first, followed by a verb, and then the object — this is the simplest grammar structure.

For example, in the word, “The dog is playing a ball”, “the dog” is the subject”, “is playing” is the verb, and “the ball” is the object.

While Japanese has a different structure (more of that later!), the subject is usually placed at the beginning of the sentence. Simple, right? Take a look at the sentence below.

私は犬を愛しています。
Watashi wa inu o aishite imasu.
I love dogs. 

Here, “Watashi” is the subject, “neko” is the object, and “aishiteimasu” is the verb.

Although there are some exceptions to these rules in both languages, such as in questions or certain types of emphasis, the general tendency is for sentences to follow this structure. 

Like Japanese, English Has Honorifics

If you have heard  -kun (くん), -chan (ちゃん), -san (さん), and -sama (さま) before, then you know that in Japan, you just simply do not call people by their names. To address someone or speak about someone, you need to use honorifics — a suffix that goes after the person’s name. For example:

佐藤さん
Satou san

田中様
Tanaka sama (sama indicates more respect) 

English also has its own list of honorifics, like Mr., Mrs., and Ms. They’re used to address people politely, and in formal situations. The only difference is that Japanese honorifics can also be used to address someone younger or socially lower than you — such as -kun (くん), used on friendly terms for male friends, and chan, used for children. Another thing is that English doesn’t use honorifics as regularly as Japanese. In fact, you won’t find someone calling you Mister or Miss on a casual meeting.

Differences Between Japanese and English

Different Writing Systems

While the English language only has 26 letters based on the Latin alphabet, the Japanese has not one, not two, but three writing systems. The first two, katakana and hiragana, are phonetic systems that share the same sounds. Katakana is usually used for foreign words while hiragana is used for everything else including particles.  

Hiragana and katakana are similar to the alphabet; these characters represent a syllable that when combined with other characters, makes up a Japanese word. 

The trickiest part that most foreigners have a hard time with is kanji — the third writing system in the Japanese language. Unlike hiragana and katakana, a kanji must be memorized separately as one character does not represent one “sound”, but one “meaning”. In other words, kanji are closer to ideograms that represent words and concepts instead of a writing system.

This is why there are thousands of kanjis there are thousands of them — approximately 4,400 kanji characters. Just as a reference, to pass JLPT N3, you’ll need to learn 650 kanji. 

Japanese has a different sentence structure

I want a cat. I read a book. You are drinking a cup of coffee. The English language follows the basic grammar pattern that we all use unconsciously: the subject-verb-object (SVO) pattern.

In Japanese, the basic sentence structure follows a subject-object-verb (SOV) pattern. For example:

私 Watashi	は wa	寿司 sushi	を食べます o tabemasu
Subject		Object	Verb

On the other hand, it will look like this in English.

I	am eating	sushi
Subject	Verb	Object

This means when you’re deciphering a Japanese sentence too literally, the translation can go awry. Take a look at another example below.

Subject	Subject Particle	Location	Location particle	Object	Object Particle	Verb
田中さん	は	喫茶店	で	コーヒー	を	飲んでいます。
Tanaka-san	wa	kissaten	de	koohii	o	nondeimasu
Tanaka		cafe	at	coffee		is drinking

Doesn’t make sense, right? If you’re used to speaking in a language that adopts the basic SVO pattern, you might need some time before getting used to the Japanese sentence pattern. 

The Japanese Language Likes to Omit Subjects

As you learn to speak Japanese in real situations or listen to conversations, you might notice that a lot of Japanese people like to omit subjects, especially when it indicates the first person.

In English, removing a subject from a sentence is grammatically incorrect. You can’t just say “want eat” to someone, as this is technically an incomplete sentence. Who wants to eat?

In Japanese, however, when the subject is obvious and heavily implied in the context of the conversation, a sentence would not require one. For example, imagine a scenario where you just got home from the convenience store. Your mom was there waiting for you at the entrance, and she asks:

Mom
何を買ったの？
Nani o katta no?
What did (you) buy?

You
ファミチキを買った。
Famichiki okatta.
(I) bought a Famichiki. 

Noticed how even the mom omits “you” in her question? The right sentence would be, あなたが何を買ったの (anata ga nani o katta no). However, when spoken, it will sound unnatural because, at this point, we know that your mom is directly asking a question to you. 

The same goes for your answer. You can say, 私はファミチキを買った (watashi wa famichiki o katta), but it’s clear that you’re referring to yourself. 

Another example will be when you are feeling a headache. In English, this will simply be, “I have a headache.”

In Japanese, the literal translation will be

私は頭がいたい。
Watashi wa atama ga itai. 

However, as you study more advanced Japanese, you realize that “ha” is used to put emphasis on the subject. Therefore, when you say, “私は頭がいたい,” you are claiming, “I am having a headache.”

Of course, the meaning doesn’t change, and it’s not dramatically incorrect. However, it’ll affect. the overall nuance of your statement.

Keep in mind that the use of subject omission in the Japanese language is a complex cultural and linguistic phenomenon that has developed over time due to various social and linguistic factors. Japanese is a language that places a high value on brevity and efficiency in communication, and omitting the subject can help to make sentences shorter and more concise. If a sentence contains a lot of obvious possessive determinators and subjects, we can clean it up. For example:

私は私のカバンを忘れてしまいました。
Watashi wa watashi no kaban o wasurete shimaimashita.
I lost my bag. 

Here, if you are declaring that you are losing your own bag, you can simply say:

カバンを忘れてしまいました。
Kaban o wasurete shimaimashita.
(I) lost (my) bag. 

There are also other ways in which the Japanese language can help indicate if someone is performing the action for someone else — without explicitly mentioning the subjects. These are done through conjugations like 〜てあげる, 〜てくれる, and 〜てもら. If you want to read more about that, head here. 

The Japanese language has different levels of formality

English has its own system of formal language, but it’s generally less complex than Japanese. To put it into perspective, English ‘formal’ language relies more on vocabulary and syntax rather than specific verb forms and grammar rules. 

In the Japanese language, there is a special way of speaking called keigo which is used to show respect to people of higher social status. There are three main levels of keigo: sonkeigo (respectful language), kenjougo (humble language), and teineigo (polite language). Each keigo with its own set of verb forms, vocabulary, and grammar rules.

Which level of keigo to use depends on the relationship between the speaker and the listener. For example, if you are talking to your boss, you should use sonkeigo (尊敬語) to show the utmost respect.

On the other hand, when talking to a client, your boss becomes part of your in-group or uchi (内), and the client is perceived to be of higher social status. In this case, you would use kenjougo (謙譲語) to show humility towards the client. Complicated, right? 

In essence, keigo is used to show respect and maintain social harmony, but it can be hard to navigate as it depends on various social hierarchies and relationships.

English has more vowels than Japanese

Despite its intricate writing system, we can bet that Japanese is more simple in one thing: its pronunciation. The Japanese language has significantly fewer vowels sounds than English. 

Japanese has only five vowel sounds: /a/, /i/, /u/, /e/, and /o/ (あ, い, う, え, and お). These sounds are more consistent than in English because they are pronounced based on how they are written. For example, the word haha (母) is pronounced as it is: ha-ha.

This isn’t necessarily true for English. English has fifteen vowel sounds represented by the letters a, e, i, o, and u. This means that even when a word has the same vowel, it can be pronounced differently. For example, words like “able” (ay-ble) or “salt” are pronounced differently, even when it contains the vowel “a”.

Different Pronunciation

Now that we’ve gotten over the vowels, we can dive into how Japanese pronunciation differs from English. Japanese uses double consonants and long vowels more than English, which can be a bit of a tricky gap to overcome if you speak English all the time. 

For example, the grandpa and uncle are pronounced almost similar if not for the fact that grandpa, or ojii–san, in Japanese, has a long vowel.

おじいさん
Oji-i-san
Grandfather

おじさん
Oji-san
Uncle

This is another tricky part that foreigners have trouble with. English also has more consonant sounds in Japanese; 24 compared to 14 consonants. While this makes it seem like Japanese people will have a harder time learning English, native English speakers have found it tricky to nail pronouncing “R” in Japanese. The “r” in Japanese sounds like a middle point between the English “r” and “l”.

Japanese is a highly contextual language compared to English

お疲れ様です (otsukare sama desu). よろしく音がいします (yoroshiku onegaishimasu). We all have probably learned these basic phrases and started using the regularly. Intepreting their nuance and meaning, however, is another thing.

Both otsukare sama desu and yoroshiku onegaishimasu are one of the many phrases with multiple meanings. This is because Japanese is considered a high-context language. This means that in Japanese, a lot of meaning is conveyed through context, nonverbal cues, and implicit communication. What does this mean?

In Japanese, it’s common to use vague language and rely on context to convey the intended meaning. For example, if you’re asking someone on a date tomorrow, they might say:

明日は厳しいけど…
Ashita wa kibishii kedo…
Tomorrow is (a bit hard).

Here, we might be inclined to press further: what about the next day? Or the weekend? This is where you will need to read between the lines and realize that that person is indirectly saying no.

On the other hand, Englsih is a more direct language, and meaning is often conveyed through explicit and precise language. Nonverbal cues are less relied upon than in Japanese. English sentences usually include the subject and verb, and context is less important for understanding the meaning of a sentence.

Let’s Learn Japanese with Coto Academy!

Overall, there are a lot of differences between Japanese and English that can make studying the language hard. If you’d like to study Japanese with professional teachers, why not join Coto Academy? We have a range of courses ranging from beginner crash courses to business Japanese!

We also have an online lesson portal, where you can easily browse lessons and book a class.

If you’re ready to get started, fill out the inquiry form below for a free level check and course consultation!

Learning Japanese has never been easy. From memorizing vocabulary and new alphabets to studying different grammar structures, it’s like a long and difficult journey where there are so many struggles and challenges that we all have to face and have to figure out the best approach to tackle the obstacles by ourselves. 

It’s perfectly fine to make mistakes when learning Japanese or any new language because that is how we learn and improve our skills.

However, there are some common pitfalls in your study routine that can be avoided. Here are 10 common Japanese learning mistakes to be careful of.

Don’t have a goal or set the goal too high

Sometimes we want to learn a new language just because it looks interesting or cool. On the other hand, a lot of people have their own reasons to study Japanese, for example, they might want to understand their favorite anime completely without subtitles.

Either way, having no clear goal or setting a goal way too high can affect your learning experience. Japanese is not an easy language and you can feel like giving up when it gets to the point where it’s getting too hard or it’s not reaching where you aim to be.

Tip: It’s good to set a goal as a motivation to keep learning Japanese. When it comes to a goal, it doesn’t have to be something big like passing JLPT N1.

A goal should be something enjoyable and achievable. When I started learning Japanese, my goal was to be able to communicate in the restaurant. I wanted to order food, request any utensils and ask for the bill completely in Japanese by myself.

After you reach your goal, you can set a harder goal and so on to keep going with Japanese learning.

Read more: How long does it take to learn Japanese?

Learning Japanese too much and too fast

It’s always good when you set up your mind to learn the language and decide you will be fluent in Japanese as fast as you can. You study every day and try to learn as much as you can.

However, doing something in extreme can lead to the point where you become stressed and unmotivated especially when you don’t get the good result you expected.

Tip: The best way to avoid being overwhelmed in learning Japanese is to take things in a moderate way. It’s good to make a study plan to balance the study.

You can study one chapter a day or focus on different skills on each day. In this case, you don’t have to memorize too much vocabulary or kanji in one day and become stressed when you immediately forget the next day.

Me, I only study a chapter of a grammar book or a set of vocabulary or kanji per day. I also don’t study every day and set some cheat days to recharge myself.

Not being consistent in learning Japanese

Contrary to the previous point, you don’t have to study too hard but you shouldn’t study too little as well. Learning only a few hours a week won’t help much because you will completely forget what you have studied many days ago because you don’t really review it regularly enough.

If you find an excuse not to study today, you will find one tomorrow, and so on. When the motivation is gone, it’s really hard to get your head back into studying.

Tip: If you really don’t have time to study, just try your best to at least learn something. You can learn Japanese on a mobile app when you are on a train or listen to a podcast while cleaning the house. It’s better to study only 5 minutes a day and keep your motivation rolling than study nothing at all! 

Putting your eggs in one basket

There are so many resources to learn Japanese out there and it can be overwhelming. It’s good to read some reviews and decide which book series to study or what app to use. However, sticking with one resource or following what other people say might not be ideal. Some resources only focus on a particular skill and don’t teach much about others.

For example, apps like WaniKani are good to memorize vocabulary and kanji, but it doesn’t help with speaking or reading. You might be an auditory learner and like to listen to podcasts, but you’ll lack in reading skills if you only rely on audio learning.

It can be disheartening when you know so many kanji but can’t really speak well. On the other hand, some resources match someone’s learning style but not yours and you can easily lose interest because the book looks boring to read or too complicated to understand.

Tip: The best resources are the ones you pick by yourself! It’s always good to read any reviews to see how the books or the apps are. However, it’s better to check them by yourself.

You can go to the bookstore, check the online version or download the app to see whether they suit your style. It will be extremely discouraging if you have to give up on a book after a few pages because you can’t really stand it.

Learning from anime

Anime is fun and it can be a good inspiration to learn Japanese. You can also learn so many interesting words you don’t find in any textbook.

Why? Because you don’t really use those kinds of words in real life! As Japanese have a level of politeness, most Japanese in anime are quite casual and full of slang so it might not be suitable to use as a sole resource, especially for beginners.

Tip: It’s absolutely okay to use your favorite anime as one of the resources to learn Japanese. It makes learning Japanese fun, but don’t completely rely on it.

There are so many ways you can learn from anime such as watching it with subtitles to learn new kanji, then rewatching it without subtitles to practice listening or writing down some unknown vocabulary.

It’s also safe to check if the language used in the anime is appropriate for daily life, or how people actually use these words in real life before actually using them.

Focusing only on particular skills

Many people think that because they don’t really use Japanese in a professional environment, it’s okay to focus on speaking in daily life but don’t put any effort into reading or writing.

On the other hand, some people rely so much on textbooks and know so much grammar and kanji but don’t really go out there and actually speak it.

Learning a new language is all about balancing all the skills. You can be very good at one particular skill but if you don’t know the rest, it’s hard to say that you are actually able to communicate in every aspect.

Tip: It’s perfectly fine if you aren’t good at everything, no one is! Instead of focusing only on particular skills, you can find your weak point and put a little more effort into it so this skill becomes at a similar level as others.

Try using different resources that focus on different skills so you can practice and enjoy them at the same time. For example, you can read textbooks for grammar, use an app for kanji and vocabulary and follow some YouTubers for listening skills.

Don’t care about the pronunciation

A lot of people don’t care much about pronunciation because they are more worried about the other aspects of the language such as kanji reading, grammar structure, or a level of politeness.

You shouldn’t worry about it too much because it’s not the most important thing but it shouldn’t be completely neglected as well. There are things like long vowels and double consonants that are important in communiction.

A wrong pronunciation can create a misunderstanding as Japanese has many words with the same sound but different intonations as well as words with very similar sounds.

I had an experience when I said “there are a lot of houses (uchi) in this area.” However, I couldn’t pronounce “ch” and “sh” correctly so everyone ended up confused why there are so many cows (ushi) instead. (We have more wacky Japanese language mistakes here)!

Tip: It’s actually hard to learn the pronunciation by ourselves. However you can try to practice by yourself by listening to podcasts, videos or even talking to the native speakers to understand and be familiar with Japanese pronunciation.

There is also another learning technique called shadowing which you can listen to someone speaking and you repeat it back out loud at the same time.

Moreover, if you have a chance to learn a new vocabulary, you can take note of the different intonation such as HAshi means chopsticks and haSHI means bridge.

Translating everything into your native language

When you speak, read or listen to your second (or third) language, it’s normal that you want to compare it with your native language to make it easier to memorize or understand.

However, every language has different word choices, grammar structures or even how to form the sentences.

For example, in my native language, we use “eat” medicine, while “take” and “drink” are used in English and Japanese respectively so it can become unnatural or even completely wrong if you try to make sentences in Japanese while thinking from your native language’s perspective. 

Tip: Try to understand the language as it is. It’s good to learn vocabulary or grammar and how to use them by memorizing examples in Japanese, rather than comparing and memorizing them with your native language.

There are many examples that are hard to translate into other languages such as 雨が降られた (ame ga furareta)。It might sound weird in English to say “you have been rained on” but it’s just a Japanese way to state the negative nuance.

Don’t really use Japanese

The best way to learn any language is by using it in real life. If you know grammar and vocabulary by heart but you don’t really use it, it’s really hard to become fluent in the language.

Many people are afraid to speak because they feel embarrassed to make mistakes. However, making mistakes is how we learn and improve our skills.

Tip: Find a chance to use Japanese! You can try to meet Japanese people in language exchange, use some apps or join Japanese classes.

Even though you aren’t in an environment where you have to speak Japanese everyday, it’s still great to speak whenever you have a chance like in a conbini, restaurant or train station.

Besides speaking, you can practice other skills like reading easy news, listening to podcasts or writing diaries in Japanese. 

Read more: 10 Best Apps for Japanese Language Exchange

Compare yourself with others

Everyone learns in a different way, style and pace. Someone can learn a new language really fast while others might not be able to do so.

Sometimes you meet other foreigners and notice that they are better. However, you don’t really know their learning process because they might have been learning it for a long time or they have more time to study than you.

Comparing yourself to others can be very disencouraging and make you want to stop learning because you feel like you can’t keep up or you aren’t good or smart enough to learn a new language.

Tip: Don’t compare yourself with others! It’s easier said than done because it’s what we normally do. If you want to compare yourself with anyone, compare your current self with your previous self.

Everytime you feel disheartened, try to look back and see how far you have been from the day you started learning Japanese. 

Conclusion

In conclusion, it’s not easy to learn Japanese or any new language and we are prone to make mistakes along the way. However it’s best to avoid some common mistakes that will make your learning experience even harder than it should be.

The most important thing, however, it’s never giving up! If somehow you become stressed or unmotivated, just give yourself a little break and come back whenever you are ready again.

You might also want to consider guidance from a qualified teacher and learn Japanese in a structured and supportive environment. With Coto Academy’s immersive approach, you’ll not only learn the language but also gain valuable insights into the culture and society of Japan.

If you’re ready to start a new language journey, enroll in a course at Coto Academy today and take the first step towards mastering Japanese!

By offering intensive, part-time, JLPT-focused, and online classes, you are sure to find the option that fits you the best!

Start learning Japanese at Coto Academy today! Contact us for free level check and consultation.

What are the common mistakes people make when learning Japanese?

Some common Japanese learning mistakes people make when learning Japanese include not practicing speaking and listening enough, relying too heavily on textbooks and grammar rules, and neglecting to learn Kanji characters. To avoid these mistakes, it’s important to immerse yourself in the language as much as possible, practice regularly with native speakers, and focus on building a well-rounded set of language skills.

How can I avoid relying too heavily on Romaji when learning Japanese?

To avoid relying too heavily on Romaji (the Romanized version of Japanese), it’s important to start learning Hiragana and Katakana characters as soon as possible. These characters represent the basic sounds of Japanese and are used in combination with Kanji characters to write Japanese words and phrases

What are some common errors to avoid when using Japanese particles?

Common errors to avoid when using Japanese particles include using the wrong particle, using particles incorrectly in sentences, and failing to use particles at all when necessary.

How important is proper pronunciation in Japanese, and what are some common errors to avoid?

Proper pronunciation is essential for effective communication in Japanese. Common errors to avoid include failing to distinguish between similar sounds like “shi” and “chi,” mispronouncing long vowels, and pronouncing words too distinctly.

Like lol and jk, Japanese people have their own version of Japanese internet slang and texting lingo — also known as ネットスラング (netto surangu). Have you ever tried using social media platforms such as Facebook, YouTube, or Twitter in Japanese? Things are going fairly well! That is until you reach that one word. You’ve never encountered it before; it doesn’t even seem vaguely familiar. What on earth does it mean? Perplexed, you go to look up the word and, in the definition, you see the reason for your confusion: slang.

Japanese internet slang is confusing at the best of times. Words can change based on a speaker’s age, gender, accent, background, interests – and whether or not the conversation is in real-life or online. Worse, because Japanese internet slang terms aren’t official Jgapanese language, you can’t find them in textbooks. 

As confusing as they may be, Japanese internet slang terms are important to know if you want to be able to speak or text informally — or even make new Japanese friends. Plus, with so many places to practice Japanese online, knowing internet slang terms is especially important. While we’ve already covered some useful slang terms for in-person conversations here, take a look at the internet-based words below to start slinging slang like a native online! 

Jump to:

• About Japanese Internet Slang
• Popular Japanese Internet Slang Terms Used on Social Media
• Japanese Text Faces: Kaomoji

About Japanese Internet Slang

スラング (surangu) is a loanword from English that means “slang”. As with any language, you’ll come across numerous words, expressions, and abbreviations that are exclusively used on the internet or in text messages. Japanese internet slang terms can be difficult to understand because it doesn’t follow the same rule as the normal Japanese language. If you have Japanese friends on social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram, you may find it challenging to comprehend what they are saying. 

Like the regular Japanese writing system, which uses hiragana, katakana, and kanji, Japanese internet and texting slang uses romaji (ローマ字), or the roman alphabet. They are often shorter and more casual, incorporating English words and expressions. Additionally, they can change rapidly over time, making it essential to stay updated with the latest trends.

Furthermore, Japanese slang often uses wordplay, abbreviations, acronyms, and puns that may be difficult to decipher without an understanding of Japanese culture and context. For example, a common Japanese slang term “JK” refers to “joshi kousei,” which means high school girl, but the abbreviation itself doesn’t necessarily indicate its meaning to non-native speakers.

Take a look at the example below.

どこかから DQN が 現れて わりこんでいったよ！ムカつく！
Doko ka kara DQN ga arawarete warikonde itta yo! Mukatsuku!
A DQN appeared from somewhere and cut in the line! Annoying!

See the word DQN that sticks out among Japanese characters? Pronounced ‘Dokyun’, it’s used to describe someone who is stupid and acts without thinking. Because it’s technically written in romaji, we might quickly assume that the other text had made a typo — it’s actually not!

Popular Japanese Internet Slang Terms Used on Social Media

Using social media platforms such as Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube is super fun, but it’s important to know the text slang terms that are everywhere. This is especially true for Twitter, where brevity is key and phrases need to be shortened, or in text messages where speed-texting is more important. So let’s check out some awesome Japanese text slang terms that are frequently used on the internet!

1. 飯テロ

Reading: meshi tero
Meaning: food terror

Do you ever see a photo of really delicious food and get upset that you can’t eat it? This is exactly what 飯テロ is talking about! 飯 (meshi) means food, and テロ (tero) means terror or terrorist; combined, they refer to when someone uploads such pictures on social media and makes people hungry (especially late at night)⁴! The more appetizing the food, the more テロ (tero) is unleashed!

彼はパスタの写真をあげて、飯テロした。
Kare wa pasuta no shashin o agete, meshi tero shita.
When he uploaded those photos of pasta, he did “food terror.”

2. リア充

Reading: riajuu
Meaning: Someone who has a fulfilling life offline

We all know it’s not good to spend too much time on the internet. But, for many of us, the internet is key to countless hobbies and interests. However, for リア充, they tend to find most of their happiness in the real world. Taken from the phrase リアルが充実している (riaru ga juujitsu site iru), which means one’s real-world life is fulfilling, リア充 are usually characterized by having significant others, many irl friends, non-internet based hobbies, and active lifestyles³.  In other words, they have a satisfying life away from the internet!

彼女はピアノを弾いたり、絵を描くのが好きです。リア充です！
Kanojo wa piano o hiitari, e o kakitari suru noga suki desu. Riajuu desu!
She likes to play piano and paint; she is a riajuu!

3. w or 笑

Reading: wara
Meaning: laughing

This is the Japanese version of LOL! The “w” or 笑 is taken from the beginning part of the verb 笑う (warau), which means “to laugh.” Just like LOL, it’s usually used at the end of a sentence, and the more w’s you add, the harder you are laughing! 笑 is usually seen as the more “mature” way to write this, but many men just use “w” instead.

うちの猫、私の枕で寝てるwwww
Uchi no neko, watashi no makura de neteru wara
My cat is sleeping on my pillow lolll

4. 888

Reading: pachi-pachi-pachi
Meaning: clapping sound effects

What? This isn’t a word! It’s just numbers! Well, remember that the Japanese love to use onomatopoeias. The onomatopoeia for “clapping” is pachi-pachi-pachi, and 8 can be read as either hachi or patchi. So, if you put a bunch of 8’s next to each other, you get the clapping sound when you read it! Most of the time, you will use this to denote congratulations. Just like with “w”, the more 8’s you write, the more clapping you are doing!

言語学の学位をとったんですね! 888
Gengogaku no gakui o tottan desune! Pachi pachi pachi
You got your degree in Linguistics! (clap, clap, clap)

5. フロリダする

Reading: furorida suru
Meaning: to leave a conversation to have a bath

Usage: Yes, this does sound like Florida. No, it does not have anything to do with that state. Instead, this very specific verb is actually a combination of the words furo (bath) and ridatsu (to withdrawal), and refers to leaving a conversation (either online or through text) to hop in the bath or shower. A lot of Japanese people soak in the bath before bed, so this word probably came about because so many people need to take a break from the conversation!

彼女は、8:45にフロリダした。
Kanojo wa 8:45 ni furorida shita.
She left the conversation to shower at 8:45.

6. KY

Reading: keiwai
Meaning: A person who cannot read the room

It may be strange to see the Roman alphabet here, but it will make sense in a little bit! KY comes from the expression 空気読めない (kuuki yomenai); this literally means to be unable to read the air. Instead of typing all this out, however, many Japanese people just take the “k” from kuuki and the “y” from yomenai to make this abbreviation! People who are KY tend to have behaviors inappropriate to the situation at hand or are simply oblivious to what is happening around them. This is definitely not something you would want to be called!

彼氏と別れたばかりの友だちの前で、自分の彼氏自慢とか、あの子、KYすぎ。
Kareshi to wakareta bakari no tomodachi no mae de, jibun no kareshi jiman toka, ano ko, KY-sugi.
In front of a friend who just broke up with her boyfriend, she boasts about her boyfriend, and that girl (can’t read the room).

7. なう or ナウ

Reading:  nau
Meaning: Doing something right now, at a place right now

A lot of people like to use social media to show people what they’re up to. Sometimes, this means letting people know what they’re doing as they’re doing it! If you want to say what you’re doing now, you can just use the word なう (nau)… which sounds almost like now. This makes it pretty easy to remember!

京都なう/ たこ焼きナウ
Kyouto nau / takoyaki nau
I’m in Kyoto now / I’m eating takoyaki right now

8. 乙

Reading: otsu
Meaning: Good job! Well done!

Ever want to congratulate someone online, maybe for a good round in a game or in a video comment? 乙 is perfect for this! 乙 stands in for the Japanese phrase お疲れ様でした (otsukare sama deshita), which means thank you for your hard work. Many times, this is said at the end of a work day or after a big task. The kanji 乙 doesn’t have any relation to this phrase, by the way; it’s just used for its reading!

9. 炎上

Reading: enjou
Meaning: to be roasted on social media

Social media can be a wonderful place, but it can also be a harmful one as well; we’ve all seen how common it is for someone to be heavily criticized, or “roasted” online. Leaning into the fire analogy, Japanese netizens started using the word 炎上, which actually means flaming, to describe when this happens. Things can get pretty hot using this word!

彼はそのパンツを履いて炎上した。
Kare wa sono pantsu o haite, enjou shita.
When he wore those pants, he got roasted.

10. オワコン

Reading: owakon
Meaning: Dated content, no-longer-current media

Usage: With new content and trends being created every minute, things can get dated on the internet pretty quickly. To talk about content that has already passed its prime, オワコン is the perfect word. It’s formed from a combination of 終わった (owatta, meaning finished) and コンテンツ (kontentsu, contents)⁴. So, it’s content that’s finished being relevant! Now, I wonder how long it will take before this word goes out of date.

ゾンビ映画はオワコンになってしまった。
Zonbi eiga wa owakon ni natteshimatta.
Zombie movies became dated content.

11. △

Reading: sankakkei
Meaning: Mr./Mrs.___ is cool.

Alright. We’ve already had both the Roman alphabet and letters appear in this list. Now, what on earth is a shape doing here? Well, it’s a little complicated. The Japanese word for a triangle is sankakukei, but most people pronounce it as sankakkei as it’s easier. The san- in the beginning is pronounced the same as さん, or the honorific title meaning Mr. / Mrs. Then, –kakkei is a short form ofかっこいい (kakkoii), which means cool or attractive. So, put them together, and you get a reading of a triangle that can also mean so-and-so is cool. It’s a play on words that also saves time typing! (FYI: Many Japanese netizens will use this for celebrities or anime characters!)

みどりや△ 。
Midoriya san-kakkee.
Mr. Midoriya is cool.

12. ずっ友

Reading:  zuttomo
Meaning: friends for life

We all know the abbreviation for BFF – Best Friends Forever. But what if you want to say this in Japanese? Turns out you can just call your closest friends ずっ友! Like a lot of words on this list, ずっ友 is a combination of two words: ずっと (zutto), meaning forever, and 友達 (tomodachi), meaning friends³. It was first used by young girls taking pictures together, but now it’s expanded so anyone can use it³; sounds like the perfect word to say instead of “cheese”!

旅行の後、ずっ友になりました。
Ryokou no ato, zuttomo ni narimashita.
After their trip, they became BFFs.

13. Wkwk

Reading: wakuwaku
Meaning: to be excited

If you’re a fan of the series SPYxFAMILY, one of the popular anime series available on Netflix, you might already be familiar with ワクワク (wakuwaku). The adorable main character Anya says a lot! ワクワク is an onomatopoeic word meant to imitate excitement³; and if you’re excited about something, you may not want to spend too much time typing it out! Many Japanese internet users just type wkwk instead as a result, taking each letter from the beginning of each kana used. You can use wkwk in a myriad of situations, such as starting a new school or finding out your adoptive dad is really a spy in disguise!

アニャはピーナッツを食べたがっています wkwk。
Anya wa piinattsu wo tabetagatteimas wakuwaku.
Anya wants to eat peanuts!

Kaomojis (*^_^*)

Finally, we can’t finish an article about Japanese internet and texting slang without touching on kaomoji. Kaomojis, or literally face characters, are faces created using different elements and symbols found on your keyboard. You can almost think of them as old-school emojis! Just like emojis, kaomojis help to make the meaning of your words clear and to emphasize certain feelings. There’s a lot of focus placed on the kaomoji eyes, which makes them very expressive and particularly appealing to Japanese netizen^s. Many users place them at the end of a sentence or idea, or even just by themselves!

A lot of kaomojis are clear as to what they mean, such as (^_^;) being embarrassment or (-_-)zzz being sleeping. Some are a little harder, such as m(_ _)m being apologetic (bowing) or (＃`Д´) being anger. However, the more you see kaomojis and get used to them, the more you will be able to pick up on their meaning! To learn more about kaomoji usage and see a huge list of faces, try checking out this webpage!

Conclusion

Whether it’s on social media, online games, or just chatting with friends, slang is bound to pop up everywhere you go. Hopefully, now that you have this list of Japanese internet and texting slang, navigating the Japanese web will be a bit easier! The next time you reach that one word, you’ll already know what it means. For more useful tips about life in Japan and the Japanese language, keep following the Coto Academy blog!

Want to talk more like a Japanese native and get more practice in speaking Japanese? Why not check out some of our classes at Coto Academy? We focus on fun, practical lessons. We also have online courses, which would be the perfect place to practice what you’ve just learned! Fill out the form below for a free level check and course consultation.

What are some popular Japanese internet slang terms and expressions used on social media platforms?

Some popular Japanese internet slang terms and expressions used on social media platforms include “w” (short for “warai” meaning laugh), “www” (representing laughter).

Why is it important to know Japanese internet and text slang terms when communicating online with Japanese speakers?

Knowing Japanese internet and text slang terms is important when communicating online with Japanese speakers because it helps to improve understanding and connection with others. These terms are often used in social media, messaging apps, and other forms of digital communication.

How do Japanese internet and text slang terms differ from traditional Japanese language?

Japanese internet and text slang terms differ from the traditional Japanese language in various ways. They are often shorter and more casual, incorporating English words and expressions. Additionally, they can change rapidly over time, making it essential to stay updated with the latest trends.

Can Japanese internet and text slang terms be offensive or inappropriate to use in certain situations?

Yes, some Japanese internet and text slang terms can be offensive or inappropriate to use in certain situations. It is crucial to understand the context and appropriateness of these terms to avoid offending others or using them inappropriately. It’s always best to err on the side of caution when using internet slang in any language.