how to understand japanese in anime

by Mr. Eliezer Emmerich Sr. 7 min read
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How To Learn Japanese From Anime The Guide You've Been Waiting For

  1. Ditching (Then Unditching) The Subtitles First thing is first. You have to get rid of the subtitles… kind of. ...
  2. Laying The Groundwork This is where things get… study-y. Certain subtitle types will have trouble with this. ...
  3. Break Out The Vocab Go through each word and make sure you know the meaning of it. ...
  4. Can You Read It? ...
  5. Shadowing

7 tips on how to learn Japanese whilst watching anime
  1. Practise active listening. ...
  2. Use re-watching to your advantage. ...
  3. Choose your content wisely. ...
  4. Keep an eye out for Japanese writing. ...
  5. Wait right there. ...
  6. Take notes. ...
  7. Practise shadowing (wisely) ...
  8. Read the manga.
Aug 26, 2021

Full Answer

What is the best way to learn Japanese by watching anime?

It involves listening to the audio, in this case. of the anime, and attempting to simultaneously verbally echo what they hear. This technique is designed to force you to focus on the sounds of the Japanese language and over time, develop the correct pronunciations that mimic the language.

Why are there so many uncommon Japanese words used in anime?

The reason why uncommon Japanese words are naturally used in anime is because it makes it easier to symbolize the way characters speak, not to mention the way they look, in order to seek strong characters that will be remembered. Also, if you use “…DATTEBAYO” to communicate with Japanese people, they will think, “This person imitates Naruto.”

How hard is it to study Japanese via anime?

I don’t want to bring anyone down, since we’re talking about turning enjoyable anime into gross and disgusting studying, but I should warn all of you: Studying Japanese via anime is incredibly difficult for low-level students. I love using my anime flashcards for improving my Japanese, but I already know 95% of the words showing up in those cards.

Is it possible to master Japanese just by watching anime?

We definitely recommend that you expose yourself to a lot of resources in their original language such as anime, movies, drama, music… for the reasons mentioned above. But you will never master Japanese just with those resources. It is best to see Anime as a Japanese learning complement.

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How much Japanese do I need to know to understand 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.

How do I speak Japanese like anime?

2:0934:41How To / How Not To Speak Like ANIME characters in JapaneseYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo instead of just oyshe task it you say oishinya oishina or kawaii kawaina otsukaretanya nihongoaMoreSo instead of just oyshe task it you say oishinya oishina or kawaii kawaina otsukaretanya nihongoa mozukashinya so on so in english if you say i'm tired meow that sounds so weird uh whilst.

Is the Japanese spoken in anime different?

It might technically be the same language, but polite Japanese is essentially a separate dialect. Hearing Japanese from anime constantly might make you more comfortable with the language and its structure, but taken by itself, it can really throw off your language studies.

Is it easier to learn Japanese If you watch anime?

This is because the Japanese language lacks the reach that the other many Asian languages as well as other languages have gotten. However, the advent of Anime has provided a lot of people with an easier access to the Japanese language and also the much needed motivation to learn the language.

What is the senpai?

What does senpai mean? In Japanese, a senpai is an upperclassman who mentors an underclassman, or kohai. This term is used most often in English in reference to anime and manga.

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 is I love you in anime language?

Readers of manga and lovers of anime will tell you that “I love you” in Japanese is most often expressed by the colloquial “suki desu / da”, “好きです/だ”.

What language is Naruto?

EnglishJapaneseNaruto/Languages

What language is most anime?

Anime or アニメ is the Japanese word to describe any type of animation, regardless of style. However, outside of Japan, anime is categorized as a common style of Japanese animation, which is hand-drawn and computer-animated.

How long would it take to become fluent in Japanese?

Learning Japanese isn't easy and it will take time. It's probably fair to say that you can expect a commitment of at least three years in order to achieve something resembling fluency. The average learner gets to the advanced level in three or four years.

Can you pick up Japanese from watching anime?

Japanese language Yes, people can learn at least a bit watching anime! Although it may be tricky at times, it is possible to enjoy and learn Japanese at the same time.

How do you speak anime?

0:525:11How to Speak Anime - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAdd sniffles and sound like you're crying. And it looks like an apology scene from an anime.MoreAdd sniffles and sound like you're crying. And it looks like an apology scene from an anime. Commentary calling someone an idiot or stupid.

Step 1: Ditching (Then Unditching) The Subtitles

First thing is first. You have to get rid of the subtitles… kind of. If there’s English (or any language you’re proficient in) anywhere on the video screen then you’re doing yourself a disservice. The human brain will take the easy way out if you let it (like, 99.9% of the time).

Step 2: Laying The Groundwork

This is where things get… study-y. Certain subtitle types will have trouble with this. Others will work a-ok. Using a text editor (or often cases an application you’d use to do programming with, like Sublime Text) open up the subtitle file. You may need to change the encoding of the file to Japanese as well. Just something else to look out for.

Step 3: Break Out The Vocab

Go through each word and make sure you know the meaning of it. If you’re having trouble figuring out what word something is, try pasting it into (beta) Jisho, which will help you to break down the sentence into usable pieces. I’d recommend writing down all the words you don’t know or putting them in a spreadsheet.

Step 4: Can You Read It?

Make sure you can read everything on the Japanese subtitles. Read it out loud, because this is a lot more telling than reading it in your head. You don’t have to be able to read it at the speed of the anime (yet), but you do need to be able to read it at a moderate speed. Once you are able to read it it’s time to fire up the video file (finally!).

Step 5: Shadowing

Now we’re going to do something called “language shadowing.” This involves reading the text along with the speaker, in this case the anime character, narrator, or whatever. This is a lot like singing along with a song.

How To Learn Japanese From Anime: Improve Over Time

The good things about this method of study are that it teaches you a lot of vocab over a long period of time, it helps with pronunciation, and is hopefully fun for you. Also, it will naturally bring up and show you the most common vocabulary and grammar, just because that’s what’s going to show up the most in real life.

How to learn Japanese?

In this “learning Japanese through anime” guide, we’re going to look at a detailed process for putting all that crazy Japanese deep into your brain. Specifically, we’ll go over: 1 Learning every word of every episode (including how to do so). 2 Systematically toggling subtitles. 3 Listening to your chosen anime. 4 Drilling each anime episode into your brain.

What is anki flashcard?

For those that don’t know, Anki is a spaced repetition system (SRS). In other words, they’re smart flashcards. You can download Anki for free here, and you can learn more about how to use Anki in our free guide to learning Japanese, which you can get by signing up for our (pitifully infrequent) newsletter on awesome tips, tools and lessons for students of Japanese.

Can you really learn Japanese without much effort by watching anime?

We always see this kind of advice on the Internet: “You should watch Japanese drama, it helped me to quickly progress” or “There is nothing better than anime without subtitles for learning Japanese”.

Anime as a complement to your learning tools

It is best to see Anime as a Japanese learning complement. You need to acquire a certain amount of vocabulary and grammar in order to better comprehend a Japanese video or conversation.

The myth of learning by only watching Anime

The “watch anime and learn Japanese” concept is just a myth. A lot of high school students improve their English level by reading books and comics, or watching dramas and movies in English with subtitles in their own language. You, meanwhile, might watch all 700 episodes of One Piece or Dragon Ball in Japanese but still not make any progress!

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.

Why is it impossible to learn Japanese only with anime?

1. You must learn words. First of all, you have to learn Japanese words. Just like when you understand your mother tongue, you need to study words when you learn Japanese.

Why is anime good for learning Japanese?

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. However, watching anime is very effective for studying Japanese. The reason is that anime is suitable for Japanese listening.

What is the Japanese yokai?

For the Japanese, yokai is not something to defeat but to coexist, which is the Japanese value and religious view. This is based on Shinto, the only indigenous belief in Japan. Although Shinto worships deities, it is believed that deities do not reside alone but possess the nature and objects around them.

What do you learn in Chihayafuru?

In “Chihayafuru” you can learn the sense of respect, attitude and admiration towards teachers and others who teach you. There are some simple honorific expressions used by seniors and juniors, but there are also some honorific expressions and humble expressions used for teachers. Also, I want you to watch it carefully because it shows how much respect I have for my teacher. Also, the main character has a strong sense of belonging to the Karuta school, and people of his generation who play the Karuta school treat them as if they were friends.

Why is anime so popular in Japan?

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. Therefore, there are many training schools specializing in voice acting, and only those who are good at it can become voice actors.

What can you learn from Tokyo Magnitude 8.0?

And, of course, there are also animations where you can learn about Japanese geography and food culture. In “ Tokyo Magnitude 8.0 ” you can learn about Japan’s geography, the fact that Japan is an earthquake-prone country, and how Japanese people behave in times of emergency. For example, you can learn about the dangers of wearing sandals while on the move after a disaster, the existence of a disaster message board, and other information useful in the event of a disaster.

How to learn Japanese without subtitles?

Then, after you get the answers yourself, you confirm them with English subtitles. This is how you can develop the attitude of learning Japanese through anime .

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