can you really learn japanese from anime

by Mr. Stevie Kreiger PhD 9 min read
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Why Anime Helps You Learn Japanese

  • 2.1. It can become a listening exercise. You may have found it impossible to learn Japanese only with anime. ...
  • 2.2. It helps you learn about Japanese history, geography and culture. ...
  • 2.3. You can understand the Japanese way of thinking and sense of values. ...
  • 2.4. You can see the negative side of Japan. ...
  • 2.5. To change the mood. ...

The good news is, it's possible! You can absolutely use anime to boost your Japanese studies, to a degree. While it'd be unwise and difficult to attempt to learn Japanese entirely from anime, there's no reason you can't leverage a love of anime to help you learn Japanese if you're smart about it.Aug 26, 2021

Full Answer

Can you really learn Japanese from Anime?

You may have found it impossible to learn Japanese only with anime. However, watching anime is very effective for studying Japanese. The reason is that anime is suitable for Japanese listening. The voices of the anime characters come from voice actors. In Japan, the profession of voice acting is now very popular.

Is anime more enjoyable after learning Japanese?

Yes. Well, no. Or... probably rather "neither": * "Yes" because as soon as you are no longer slavishly dependent on the subtitles, your eyes can spend a lot more time on the characters faces, enjoying the art and action more fully, spotting add...

How long would it take to learn Japanese for anime?

Some estimate that it takes English-language students (or non-Asian, without prior kanji knowledge) about 4800 hours to reach true Japanese fluency and pass the JLPT N1 exam. On a Reddit thread about how long it take to learn Japanese, users shared that it took about 800 hours of study time to be able to watch anime with full comprehension.

What is the best anime in Japan?

Which anime has the best story?

  • . Baccano!
  • . Neon Genesis Evangelion. ...
  • . Gurren Lagann. ...
  • . JoJo's Bizarre Adventure. ...
  • . My Hero Academia. ...
  • . Hajime no Ippo. ...
  • . Golden Kamuy. ...
  • . Bleach. Bleach will take you on an exhilarating ride of the soul society, making it one of the most memorable fiction ever. ...

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Is learning Japanese from anime good?

It is wonderful to feel familiar and learn Japanese in a joyful manner, isn't it? Watching Japanese anime is one of the most enjoyable methods to learn Japanese, and there are not a few non-native Japanese speakers who learn Japanese through Japanese anime or are inspired to study Japanese by the Japanese pop culture.

How long will it take to learn Japanese from anime?

On a Reddit thread about how long it take to learn Japanese, users shared that it took about 800 hours of study time to be able to watch anime with full comprehension. Others said it takes 2-5 years of effort to reach mastery, adding that you could survive in the language after one year.

Can you learn Japanese from watching Japanese shows?

0:3813:20Learn Japanese by Binge-Watching Shows - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipYou aren't learning the culture and the gestures along with the language you will never truly beMoreYou aren't learning the culture and the gestures along with the language you will never truly be fluent. So that's why watching Japanese dramas is actually a great use of your time to study Japanese.

How many people learn Japanese from anime?

Why are more young Americans studying Japanese? At the 2018 Japan Bowl, a US-based Japanese language and culture competition for high school students, 42 percent of participants said they started studying Japanese because of anime and manga, and 28 percent said it was because they liked Japanese culture.

Does watching anime without subtitles help with learning Japanese?

The context and visuals convey so much nuance that the actual spoken dialogue become periphery to one's understanding of the story. In other words, it's very easy to understand the gist of anime without subtitles even if you possess very limited Japanese.

Do you need kanji to watch anime?

You don't really need to know any kanji to watch anime but it can really help. Anime has a lot of visual cues so you can get away with having less vocabulary skills to fill in the blanks. Kanji can be helpful watching anime as there are often signs or subtitles on screen.

What Japanese learners should watch?

Japanese TV Shows for BeginnersDoraemon– This is a very popular anime in Japan and great for beginners due to its basic vocabulary. ... Chirubii– This is another animated series with simple vocabulary perfect for beginners. ... Sazae-San– This show was inspired by a comic series that was released in 1946.

Can I learn Japanese by watching TV?

Whether you're a beginner or an advanced learner of the Japanese language, watching Japanese television series and shows offers you hours of fun and immersive opportunities to learn practical and conversational Japanese.

Should I watch Japanese shows with Japanese subtitles?

They can give your Japanese the boost it needs to eventually survive without them. Whether you're watching Japanese dramas, binging anime, enjoying a Japanese movie or anything in between, taking advantage of subtitles is the key to turning your favorite entertainment into quality learning material.

Can you learn Japanese while sleeping?

It's unlikely you'll learn Japanese when you're asleep Even if you are asleep listening to the best Japanese course on the planet, your brain is unlikely to register anything you hear, because while you're sleeping you're not really “hearing” it at all. While it's not possible to learn new information while you sleep.

What language do most people watch anime in?

Anime can be watched in its original Japanese version, or translated to other languages.

Can you learn Japanese in a year?

You can become fluent in a year. As in, incredibly fluent. But the majority of people simply do not have the time, let alone mental ability (as in, they'd burn out from over study) and funds to do this. Basic conversations are easy and 18 months is a long time.

How long does it take to learn Japanese from anime?

It’s a question I get asked regularly, so here’s my answer. This article is written for someone with little to no exposure to Japanese. It assumes that you live in (or are willing to move to) Japan and that you will learn through immersion (e.g., at school or work).

Is there an anime that teaches you Japanese?

Doraemon was created with children and aimed to teach them the most basic Japanese words and phrases. The anime’s characters speak in Tokyo dialect, so learning this type of speech will help you familiarize yourself with informal Japanese.

What are some words you should learn in any language?

Some of the first words you should learn in any language are the greeting. There are a couple of anime genres in particular that will be most useful for hearing and learning these, for instance, school-based anime and slice of life animes.

What is Shoujo anime?

Shoujo anime, the kind usually intended for a female audience, focuses a lot on feelings, and in particularly those of teenagers at school. It’s likely you’ll have seen all the Valentine’s Day and Christmas episodes, unrequited loves, declarations of love, they’re not to be missed.

What is the best known trio in anime?

–Chan, kun and san : the best known trio. San is the most generic, a form of respect for people that you don’t know if anyway.

What is the difference between Chan and Kun?

The main difference is that chan is more commonly used with girls, and kun with boys. –Sensei: literally, “teacher / professor” or “doctor”.

Can anime be used in Japan?

Well actually anime can be a great accompaniment to your Japanese language studies (although definitely not a replacement). In particular it can help you get used to hearing Japanese spoken in a casual manner so when you’re out in Japan it won’t seem so new and confusing.

Is anime good for the workplace?

Anime can even be useful in the workplace if you watch the right variety.

What does it feel like to watch anime?

It’s a pretty cool feeling when you’re watching anime and you actually comprehend what the characters are saying for the first time! It’s also super motivating!

How long does it take to watch anime twice?

Since most anime episodes are about 20 minutes long, watching it twice in a row will take about 40 minutes in total. Make sure you pick a good one, since you don’t want to get board on that “Japanese only” replay. Also, all of this is going to be harder if you’re just starting out with Japanese.

Why do we want to study and learn words?

You will want to study and learn those words on your own so that you brain knows that these new words are important to you. In other words, your brain will know what to look for (listen for?).

How long does it take for a baby to learn a language?

Babies literally take years to learn a language this way. And a lot of times people talk to them in short, simple sentences. Plus, babies tend to participate with the language more than most people who passively listen to it.

Can Japanese listen to anime?

They are able to fully hear the different sounds of each language and there is very little crossover. How this applies to Japanese with anime is that when you are watching it, your brain is going to ignore the Japanese sounds that you’re not used to hearing.

Can you watch anime with subtitles?

You watch the anime once and you read the subtitles. Go ahead and fully read them without worrying at all about connecting it to the Japanese words that are being said.

Can Japanese anime help?

In fact, the way that most people use Japanese anime doesn’t really help them at all!

So I asked The Anime Man (Joey) if he thinks pitch-accent in Japanese actually matters.

I asked it on his patreon and he answered it in his 2021 June QA patreon-only video at timestamp 39:05. I can't post that video so I will post the transcript instead, I'm curious what your guys thoughts are on his view:

Don't be afraid to cut corners

I see a lot of people on this subreddit agonize over the details of how they should study. It's perfectly understandable, of course you don't know what works and what doesn't when you're starting a new activity, but it's perfectly fine to adapt the routine to your needs even in pretty drastic ways. In fact, you probably have to.

主義: political ideologies in Japanese

主義 means principle or doctrine, but is also used for political ideologies. Here are some examples.

Announcing the first 2000 sentences of the Japanese Foundation deck

After a successful closed beta, we're releasing the first 400 sentences of the Japanese Foundation deck into open beta today. We're also launching a larger closed beta of the first 2000 sentences. Apply for that here.

Thoughts about this regarding studying Japanese (and other languages)

Someone told me that it's actually easier to learn Japanese if you don't translate the words into English, rather you think of the object what the word is referring to.

着 - So what's up with this bad boy meaning both "to wear" and "to arrive"?

I find this one strange. Does anyone know why the same kanji is used for such wildly different things?

1. ( The Scariest Tip!) Remove English Subtitles

This is by far the most daunting thing you can do whilst watching anime, especially if you’ve never tried to properly study the Japanese language before. However, just as with many new hobbies and activities, throwing yourself into the deep end may just do the trick!

2. Language Shadowing

Language shadowing is a learning technique that people use to practice how to pronounce words better. It involves listening to the audio, in this case. of the anime, and attempting to simultaneously verbally echo what they hear.

3. Write Down New Words

Another way to learn through anime is pausing and writing down new words that stand out to you. Whilst there may be no rhyme or rhythm to this method, if you listen carefully to dialogue over time, you might be able to pick out what words are used for conversation flow and what words have specific meaning.

4. Create Flashcards & Make A Game Of It

If you’re the type to learn things through fun and games, take the previous tip and bring it a step further. Create flashcards and make a game out of trying to learn how to read the word, how to say the word, and what it means.

5. Be Selective With Your Anime Genre

This might not be an obvious one, but it is an important one! If you’re setting out to try and learn Japanese with anime, it will definitely help you in the long run to be selective about the genre.

6. Read the accompanying manga to the anime (if possible!)

Many anime series will have an accompanying manga. Take your language skills to the next level by purchasing the manga and reading it out loud.

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Greetings!

Honorific Suffixes

  • You may already have come across honorifics and realised just how important they are in life in Japan. Anime and mangacan be a great way to get a broad overview of all the different types but remember to be careful as it’s easy to seem rude if you get these wrong. –Chan,kun and san:the best known trio. San is the most generic, a form of respect for people that you don’t know if any…
See more on gogonihon.com

Expressing Feelings – in and Outside of School

  • Shoujo anime, the kind usually intended for a female audience, focuses a lot on feelings, and in particularly those of teenagers at school. It’s likely you’ll have seen all the Valentine’s Day and Christmasepisodes, unrequited loves, declarations of love, they’re not to be missed. Here are the most common phrasesand words that are used in these situations! Kiritsu! Rei! Chakuseki!(きり …
See more on gogonihon.com

Sort of Insults

  • As a society centred around politeness and etiquette, insults don’t really exist in the way we know them in other places. As such most of the words that are insults are more normal words and phrases said with an aggressive tone. It’s an expansive and unusual area to explore so we’ve picked our favourites from the anime world. Hentai: “Pervert!”; it’s a classification of the porn ge…
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An Introduction to Keigo

  • Anime can even be useful in the workplace if you watch the right variety. If you’ve started studying Japanese then you may be familiar with the difficulties of keigo. Aside from honorifics, there’s an entire honorary language. The best place to start tackling this tricky part of Japanese is with some commonly used phrases that you’ll hear a lot (pa...
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The (Wrong) Way That People Use Anime to Learn Japanese

The Two Things That Hold You Back

  • Now that you know how most people go about it and the general reasons why it doesn’t work, let’s take a look at the “behind the scenes science” of why it doesn’t work. Afterwords we will get to some ways of approaching it that actually do work! First off, you have to understand two things about the human brain: (1) – Babies can hear every sound, but adults can’t. (2) –You brain is des…
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How to (Actually) Learn Japanese Using Anime

  • Make certain Japanese words importantto your brain. How do you do that? You first study them in isolation, that is, not while watching anime. And then you watch the anime afterwords to hear the words that you studied in action. Here are the steps: (1) Get a listof the most common words used in the specific anime that you watch to watch. This part may be a challenge if you want the word…
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Anime Makes Learning Japanese Fun

  • Perhaps the best part about using anime to learn Japanese is that it makes it a lot of fun! You get to learn a language and be entertained at the same time. Watching a fun show and then recognizing certain words that the characters say is a very rewarding experience that keeps you coming back for more. And when you see learning Japanese as a fun ga...
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