How-To-Learn-Japanese.com

Tips, Tools and Reviews for People Studying Japanese

There Is No Such Thing As
"I Know Japanese"

First of all, you've never truly "learned" Japanese.

You can get real good at it, but there is always something more to learn. I've known people who speak it fluently but can't write it.

Even many natives spend years honing their calligraphy. It's an ongoing journey.

The Japanese language can also be different things to different people.

If you want to impress some friends by being able to order a couple items at a Japanese restaurant, all you need is to be able to string a few words together properly.

If you want to be able to read The Tale of Genji without a translation, then you'll need to put in a little elbow grease.

Whatever reason you want to learn Japanese, I'm going to guess that you don't want to waste any time doing it.

That's why I made this site. I show you some things I've learned to save you time and frustration.

I have wasted many hours going about learning Japanese the wrong way. Countless buckets of sweat and hours of frustration later, I found better ways to improve at the language, and would like to share them.

What I Show You

On this site, I cover the following…and I add new stuff all the time:

• Why four-character Japanese phrases are as fun to learn
  (and use) as four-letter English words
• A little book that uses manga art to shed light on those omnipresent katakana words
• It's tough trying to look up Japanese words, so I show you how to pronounce and write the words and kanji you look for
• It's tough trying to look up Japanese words, so I show you how to pronounce and write the words and kanji you look for
• Japanese pronouns are TOUGH.
  I offer tips to make them a bit easier
• The skinny on keigo (polite, honorific language)
• How you can laugh at people who don't know
  how to pronounce these Japanese words...
• How to avoid the pitfalls of the Japanese SAT II
• Some things that clear up kanji pronunciation
• The no-nonsense dump on the JLPT level 4
  kanji you simply have to know
• A great kanji dictionary
• A verb guide that may save your bacon
• A textbook that is a big reason why I miss my first and
  second-year Japanese courses
• Tips on the third-year intermediate Japanese textbook that you may be using in your class

What This Site Is NOT

My site is NOT a silver bullet that will magically show you how to speak perfect Japanese in a week.

But if you like knowing the inside word and tips and tricks that make it a little easier, you will find plenty here.

I also don't give every textbook review two thumbs up. I generally like most of the books I've used, but when I don't, I let you know which books have tough spots and also how to get past them.

If you have something you'd like to share about Japan or its language, I'd love to hear it.

Gambatte!

Did you know...
In Japan, when you receive a compliment, the polite thing to do is disagree.