Wonderful roadmap, and so many good resources! I really wish I had found something like this when I was just starting. My only suggestion is to treat it like climbing a mountain. Motivate yourself with your goal often, but most of the time simply worry about the next step you need to take. Each remembered word, each kanji, each grammar point is a victory✨
Hello. Very good roadmap (I listened everything without subtitles). Here are some additional tips: - it is possible to begin studying Japanese before learning kanas, but without using romajis: by using some course teaching basic phonetics, basic grammar and vocabulary, by heavily focusing on listening. It is inspired on children who are learning their mother language by listening before learning reading and writing. In fact, it can be good, because it can be easier to learn kanas if we already know Japanese phonetics (so that we have no misconception on how one kana is pronounced by using a "close" pronounciation related to our mother language) and basic vocabulary or grammar. Some people prefer that way of learning. - As a beginner, we use a basic textbook that we read from the beginning to the end, by following the order of the chapters. But when we are not beginner anymore, we can then use a "real" grammar book that is explaining grammar much more accurately, and that we can use from time to time, and not necessarily by following the order of the chapters (for example, the book we are reading or anime we are watching is using a grammar we do not understand, so we can check the suitable chapter of our grammar book).
Amazing. I'm a few years in my Japanese journey, sometimes I wonder what I would do if I had to start from zero / what I would recommend to others, and I came up with the exact same 3 steps plan. You learn best by doing the real thing, so whatever you're learning Japanese for should also be how you learn Japanese. As for learning the basics, I highly recommend Cure Dolly's organic Japanese video series. The production value is not great but the content is unrivaled.
Tanakasan, thanks so much for putting together this wonderful study guide. Your videos are always a joy to watch! All the best for you and your channel in 2025 ♥
I actually feel rewarded by studying Japanese, since it isn't 'difficult' - I'd say it has contexts and intricacies that are good at pushing you out of your comfort zone, but it feels awesome when you master them or begin to understand. For example, i have recently learned how to use location words, and that you use 'no' with them to indicate the location 'belonging' to that thing - like: 'The bookstore behind the bank is cheap' is LITERALLY: 'The bank's behind's bookstore is cheap.' (unless I'm misunderstanding it, the 'behindedness' has a 'no' because it's a kind of 'quality' of the bank, 'belonging' to being behind it. Maybe I'm wrong, but it's easier for me to understand that way! 'Ginkouno ushirono honya wa yasui desu'.
I love IRODORI, but there are also very specific topics and vocabulary for living and working in Japan. Even so, it's very visual with cute pictures, and there's an app for practice too. While Genki and Minna no Nihongo has classroom-related activities, IRODORI's activities (even the conversation ones) can be done by just one person. I was surprised it's free, I recommend it!
Also, I'm sometimes too busy for a sitdown study session, so I like listening to podcasts like Nihongo con Teppei during my commutes to get listening practice in everyday.
Really cute guide. If I can make a request for conversation practice playlist, things like "At the barber/salon", "At the mechanic", "At the bank". I have a difficult time finding relevant phrases for these to study. Thanks!
Great roadmap for beginners! I'm slowly making my way out of the beginner stage (it can take awhile, especially when your native language is English >.
Hello Tanaka-san. Thank you for making these great videos. I just wanted to say that I think your Kanji Camp playlist has the videos placed in the wrong order. I assume the playlist should have the videos ordered like day 1 → day 2 → day 3, etc. But your playlist has the videos in the opposite order, with the first video in the playlist being the final day 14 and going backwards like day 14 → day 13 → day 12, etc. I'm not sure if that was intentional or not, but it might be a good idea to reorder the videos in the playlist so people can watch them in the correct order more easily. Thank you again for all of your learning materials, we all really appreciate the work you do.
None of the steps are necessary. You can learn in many different ways. But you can learn Hiragana at a basic level in a few hours so it is a good idea. If learning Hiragana is too difficult then Japanese isn't for you. It's a difficult language and Hiragana is easy.
I don't think you have any qualifications. The first step in learning any language is to start with the familiar, such as names for things we have in common. To-kyo for instance is like Kyo-To isn't it? So what does KYO mean? Toyoda and Honda mean something to do with RICE. The DA is common to both (Toyoda family changed their brand name as the KANJI is easier! ) What about Kawa-saki? Sushi? Sake/OSake? Fuji-YAMA mountain. See?
Just one thing: we dont' say "Fujiyama". We say "Mount Fuji" in English, or "Fujisan" in Japanese. Anyway, knowing the etymology of proper nouns is not so interesting when we are beginner. I mean, for example, is it so important for someone learning English the meaning of a proper name like Kevin? What can be useful instead as a beginner is knowing the real Japanese pronounciation of Japanese names that are used or famous in other languages, so that we can learn Japanese phonetics from the beginning.
Starting with familiar things can help with motivation, but etymology seems to be a very specific interest, especially with regards to reading kanji. I really love the etymology of kanji too, but it's not helpful for communication/conversation. If place names, etymology, or kanji (reading skill, maybe writing skill) is your focus then that's great, but for people who want to watch anime (listening skill) or talk to others (speaking skill), then it's not a great place to start or focus on. The great thing about the roadmap is that anyone can decide where they start and what they want to focus on depending on their priorities :)
![30 min [Intermediate] Japanese Immersion 🎧 | Routines and Household Chores w@yuyunihongopodcast](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/C_NOkYXwVPY/mqdefault.jpg)
Feel free to use the comment section to share your recommended study materials and methods with other Japanese learners!
Japonca öğrenmemiz için elinden geleni yapıyorsun, bu kanalı gerçekten sevdim!❤
Wonderful roadmap, and so many good resources! I really wish I had found something like this when I was just starting.
My only suggestion is to treat it like climbing a mountain. Motivate yourself with your goal often, but most of the time simply worry about the next step you need to take. Each remembered word, each kanji, each grammar point is a victory✨
ありがとうたなかーさん！ major beginner here. Your encouragement is lovely ❤
I was vacationing in Osaka last month, and I saw your book “Handy Japanese Conversations” in a coffee shop and bought it.
Thank you so much! Hope you enjoyed the book!
Hello. Very good roadmap (I listened everything without subtitles). Here are some additional tips:
- it is possible to begin studying Japanese before learning kanas, but without using romajis: by using some course teaching basic phonetics, basic grammar and vocabulary, by heavily focusing on listening. It is inspired on children who are learning their mother language by listening before learning reading and writing. In fact, it can be good, because it can be easier to learn kanas if we already know Japanese phonetics (so that we have no misconception on how one kana is pronounced by using a "close" pronounciation related to our mother language) and basic vocabulary or grammar. Some people prefer that way of learning.
- As a beginner, we use a basic textbook that we read from the beginning to the end, by following the order of the chapters. But when we are not beginner anymore, we can then use a "real" grammar book that is explaining grammar much more accurately, and that we can use from time to time, and not necessarily by following the order of the chapters (for example, the book we are reading or anime we are watching is using a grammar we do not understand, so we can check the suitable chapter of our grammar book).
Amazing.
I'm a few years in my Japanese journey, sometimes I wonder what I would do if I had to start from zero / what I would recommend to others, and I came up with the exact same 3 steps plan.
You learn best by doing the real thing, so whatever you're learning Japanese for should also be how you learn Japanese.
As for learning the basics, I highly recommend Cure Dolly's organic Japanese video series. The production value is not great but the content is unrivaled.
I second this!
Cure Dolly's videos are among the best when it comes to accurate Japanese grammar explanations.
This is very helpful! I’m really confuse when I’m learning Japanese because I don’t know where to start. Thanks for sharing!
Tanakasan, thanks so much for putting together this wonderful study guide. Your videos are always a joy to watch! All the best for you and your channel in 2025 ♥
I actually feel rewarded by studying Japanese, since it isn't 'difficult' - I'd say it has contexts and intricacies that are good at pushing you out of your comfort zone, but it feels awesome when you master them or begin to understand.
For example, i have recently learned how to use location words, and that you use 'no' with them to indicate the location 'belonging' to that thing - like:
'The bookstore behind the bank is cheap' is LITERALLY: 'The bank's behind's bookstore is cheap.' (unless I'm misunderstanding it, the 'behindedness' has a 'no' because it's a kind of 'quality' of the bank, 'belonging' to being behind it. Maybe I'm wrong, but it's easier for me to understand that way!
'Ginkouno ushirono honya wa yasui desu'.
Thanks!
Thank you for your support! ありがとうございます
I love IRODORI, but there are also very specific topics and vocabulary for living and working in Japan. Even so, it's very visual with cute pictures, and there's an app for practice too. While Genki and Minna no Nihongo has classroom-related activities, IRODORI's activities (even the conversation ones) can be done by just one person. I was surprised it's free, I recommend it!
Also, I'm sometimes too busy for a sitdown study session, so I like listening to podcasts like Nihongo con Teppei during my commutes to get listening practice in everyday.
Really cute guide. If I can make a request for conversation practice playlist, things like "At the barber/salon", "At the mechanic", "At the bank". I have a difficult time finding relevant phrases for these to study. Thanks!
Kanji Camp is wonderful thank you 🙂
初めまして、私はインドネシアから来ました どぞよろしくお願いします
kamu orang Indon?
Hi Tanaka-san, hope you are felling better!
Great roadmap for beginners!
I'm slowly making my way out of the beginner stage (it can take awhile, especially when your native language is English >.
Hi Tanaka, do you also offer 1 on 1 japanese lessons??❤
Hello Tanaka-san. Thank you for making these great videos. I just wanted to say that I think your Kanji Camp playlist has the videos placed in the wrong order. I assume the playlist should have the videos ordered like day 1 → day 2 → day 3, etc. But your playlist has the videos in the opposite order, with the first video in the playlist being the final day 14 and going backwards like day 14 → day 13 → day 12, etc. I'm not sure if that was intentional or not, but it might be a good idea to reorder the videos in the playlist so people can watch them in the correct order more easily. Thank you again for all of your learning materials, we all really appreciate the work you do.
Oh, I didn't notice that! I just fixed the order ✅Thank you for letting me know!
6:13 does this mean I can translate my choir's short song into Japanese?
thank you tanaka sensei, We need someone to create a group for us to learn together!
❤💯
もう二回もコメント書きましたが、送ったそばからなぜか消えました。すでにぼくに合わせた勉強の方法を見つけましたが、最後まで観ました。楽しいリスニング練習になりました、ありがとうございます。
Can understand a fair bit of the video without subtitles
"Is this the power of the Ultra-Instinct?"
Bro, lock in 😂
ブラジルのアンドレです。始めましてどうぞよろしくお願いします。
No ablo ingles ni japones ablo español:(
You can add español subtitles
@@skylarubyxgracias
I've found out that there's a bit of a debate as to whether the first step is necessary.
None of the steps are necessary. You can learn in many different ways. But you can learn Hiragana at a basic level in a few hours so it is a good idea.
If learning Hiragana is too difficult then Japanese isn't for you. It's a difficult language and Hiragana is easy.
@@KenjaTimu What a disparaging comment.
@@neilritson7445 why? Is Hiragana too difficult for you? I hope you don't forget how to breathe.
ruclips.net/video/poyb5WY-X2w/видео.html
I don't think you have any qualifications. The first step in learning any language is to start with the familiar, such as names for things we have in common. To-kyo for instance is like Kyo-To isn't it? So what does KYO mean? Toyoda and Honda mean something to do with RICE. The DA is common to both (Toyoda family changed their brand name as the KANJI is easier! ) What about Kawa-saki? Sushi? Sake/OSake?
Fuji-YAMA mountain. See?
Just one thing: we dont' say "Fujiyama". We say "Mount Fuji" in English, or "Fujisan" in Japanese.
Anyway, knowing the etymology of proper nouns is not so interesting when we are beginner. I mean, for example, is it so important for someone learning English the meaning of a proper name like Kevin?
What can be useful instead as a beginner is knowing the real Japanese pronounciation of Japanese names that are used or famous in other languages, so that we can learn Japanese phonetics from the beginning.
Starting with familiar things can help with motivation, but etymology seems to be a very specific interest, especially with regards to reading kanji. I really love the etymology of kanji too, but it's not helpful for communication/conversation. If place names, etymology, or kanji (reading skill, maybe writing skill) is your focus then that's great, but for people who want to watch anime (listening skill) or talk to others (speaking skill), then it's not a great place to start or focus on. The great thing about the roadmap is that anyone can decide where they start and what they want to focus on depending on their priorities :)