Editor’s Note: I post this despite the protests I know it will inspire in many. It is a strange, but interesting piece. As the author states at the end, the essay is a joke and should be taken like one. Anyway, I don’t specifically endorse anything said but neither do I apologize for posting it.
So You Want To Learn Japanese.
You’ve eaten at a few Japanese … [ Read more ]
Subject: Articles
Typing in BOTH Japanese and English WITHOUT switching between the two in IME.
Switching IME modes is a real pain. Have you ever wondered if there is a better way? Well, there is. Actually there are two ways:
Subject: Language Learning Tips
Update: It seems that Hitomi Hirayama is now offering the original PDF files on her own website (yay!). I have updated the individual list of files below but it would probably be easier to just click through to her website.
This was a great short (1-page PDF) Japanese language learning column written by Hitomi Hirayama and carried every five weeks in the Daily … [ Read more ]
Source: Hitomi Hirayama | Subject: Pera Pera Penguin
The kanji methods war is broken up into several camps, which I will be naming the following:
– Repetition
– Vocabulary & Context
– Reading Reading Reading
– Heisig’s
– Mnemonics With Readings
As I go through each “Way Of The Kanji,” I’d like to look at the positives, negatives, and history of each (if possible).
Source: Tofugu | Subject: Kanji
Slime Forest Adventure is a learning RPG which aims to teach a basic set of Japanese language skills. The free demo version of the game teaches the user how to identify all hiragana and katakana characters, along with up to 200 kanji, and also contains supplementary grammar training. There are two premium versions of the game: Gradeschool Kanji expands the kanji covered to 1,000 and … [ Read more ]
Source: Darrell Johnson | Subject: Kanji
Kanji Games is a site offering two Kanji learning games, to be used either on the site or via iOS apps. Kanji Connect is a fun way to learn JLPT kanji/vocabulary and the full version (not free though a free ‘lite’ version is available) contains over 1125 kanji (45 levels x 25 kanji), covering JLPT N5 to N2. The Lex Flashcard Game app is a … [ Read more ]
Source: Oliver Rose | Subject: Kanji
RomajiDesu is another free online Japanese ⇆ English dictionary. You may type a word in Japanese, Hiragana, Romaji or English. A mobile-friendly version is available as well. Other features include sample sentences, audio pronunciation, kanji information and stroke order diagrams.
Source: Bui Hoang Hai | Subject: Translate
Koichi at Tofugu offers up an excellent primer on identifying unknown kanji characters and lists some useful resources. Even more useful resources are mentioned in the comments, so check them out as well.
Source: Tofugu | Subject: Kanji
Looks like a non-Japanese (aka USA, for now) Amazon Kindle store now stocks books in the Japanese language. This opens up some huge opportunities for study, though it does currently have its share of problems. Koichi spent the weekend reading terrible books and trying things out, though, so he’d be able to share them with you.
Source: Tofugu | Subject: Reading Material
Since it’s normally pretty hard for beginners to find reading resources, Tofugu put together a list of resources for beginners to study with, listing them with a little bit about each including some suggestions on how to study with them.
Source: Tofugu | Subject: Reading Material
Koichi at Tofugu has come up with a list of ten things he really wishes he had known during the days of his youth that would have made my Japanese-learning life so much easier.
Source: Tofugu | Subject: Language Learning Tips
Your mission, if you choose to accept it Mr. Hunt, is to master the meaning and writing of 2,042 “Standard Use Kanji” (常用漢字・じょうようかんじ) in 90 days. This feat normally takes the Japanese themselves all the way through the end of junior high school, and most non-native learners of Japanese never make it even after years of study.
But worry not! Armed with the right psychology and … [ Read more ]
Source: John Fotheringham | Subject: Kanji
Sample sentences covering the JLPT N3 level kanji.
Source: Anonymous | Subjects: JLPT Exam, Kanji
Sample sentences covering the JLPT N4 level kanji.
Source: Anonymous | Subjects: JLPT Exam, Kanji
Sample sentences covering the JLPT N5 level kanji.
Source: Anonymous | Subjects: JLPT Exam, Kanji
The Japanese YouTube scene is more sparsely populated than its American counterpart. However, there is definitely a rising J-vlogging scene. But as with all things up and coming, sometimes it’s hard to tell where to start and find out what’s worth your time. Fortunately, I’ve found several awesome Japanese YouTubers for you.
Source: Tofugu | Subjects: Multimedia, Video / Audio
Translating documents from desktop applications is always a bit difficult due to inadequate translating resources provided (if at all) by applications, such as, text editors, word processors and messenger application. Transmiti is a Google Powered portable application which is capable of translating text from any application. It can translate selected text or entire documents using a hotkey. You can either copy the translation to clipboard … [ Read more ]
Source: Arlt Software Solutions | Subject: Translate
A collection of Japanese stories with audio files.
Source: 心尽 (こころじん) | Subject: Books
This is a “cheat sheet” for the Japanese language. It is an attempt to condense and organize as many of the basic elements of the language onto one sheet of paper as possible. The intended use of this document is for you to download it, print it on two sides of one sheet of paper and keep it wherever you need it (in your Japanese … [ Read more ]
Source: Nihonshock | Subject: Miscellaneous | Other
A collection of Japanese expressions, words and other amusing bits and pieces discovered on a Japanese learning journey.
Subject: Vocabulary / Phrases