How to learn Japanese language quickly

4. Use language exchange apps

If you are too busy to sit at a desk, let’s try language exchange apps such as Hello Talk, Duolingo and Tandem.

Hello Talk and Tandem can be categorized as the same type app. You will find language partners from around the world and just chat with them. Hello Talk has a time-line platform named memory like Facebook but Tandem doesn’t.

Duolingo is one the best free app for learning app so far. It’s available on its website and app as well.  You don’t need to find partners on Duolingo.

There are several types of lessons such as choosing vocabulary, writing sentences, repeating what you hear from the app. Lessons will be given step by step once you complete certain amount of lessons.

The world has become convenient thanks to technology. If those apps existed when I was young, my English would be better. I wish I could speak few more languages such as Spanish (yo hablo espanol un poco), French and Arabic.

Japanese Kanji for Beginners (JLPT Levels N5 & N4)

created by Rinker

• Amazon
• 楽天市場
• Yahooショッピング
• Rakuten

Tinder in Japan works as finding language partners since Japanese are looking for them too. Some foreigners complain about it as they are not on Tinder for teaching English or learning Japanese though. You’d better clearly write that you want language partners.

5. Check the stories behind kanji

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Kanji is probably the biggest headache for Japanese learners.

Each Kanji has the meanings respectively. Basic Kanji were invented based on their visual structure. Complicated looking Kanji are mainly just combinations of basic ones.

There are reasons for the combinations which I call the stories.  Let me give you some examples.

1.  Forest : 森

Forest ( 森 ) contains three trees ( 木 ) because forest is a large area of land covered with trees. If two trees are combined as in 林, it becomes grove meaning that small forest-like area. So the basic Kanji is tree ( 木 ), and it can be developed into grove ( 林 ) and forest ( 森 ).

Tree → Grove → Forest ; 木 → 林 → 森

2. Parent : 親

Parent ( 親 ) contains standing ( 立 ), tree ( 木 ) and looking ( 見 ). This is based on the belief that parent is someone who looks after children by standing behind a tree. It means that no matter what happens, parents will be always care about their children even if they are living far away.

3. Anger : 怒

Anger contains woman ( 女 ), hand ( 又 ) and heart ( 心 ). And woman ( 女 ) + hand ( 又 ) =  奴 meaning “female slave”. And then, female slave ( 奴 ) + hear ( 心 ) = 怒. This means that the inside of the heart of female slaves is anger.  These days Kanji of hand ( 又 ) is used as “or” and currently hand is written as 手.

Learning Japanese Kanji Practice Book Volume 1

created by Rinker

• Amazon
• 楽天市場
• Yahooショッピング
• Rakuten

As you can see, you have already learned 12 Kanji from 3 Kanji by going through the stories behind. When you memorize Kanji like that, as in connecting related Kanji to another,  those Kanji will stay longer in your mind. It is more difficult if you memorize them individually.

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