Reading and writing Japanese is a huge challenge – but learning punctuation can make it easier. Learn all about Japanese punctuation and how to use it.
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Moshi moshi is a useful telephone phrase for casual conversations. But it isn’t suitable for every situation. Learn all about when you should and shouldn’t use it, with some alternative phrases.
Watching anime is a legitimate – and fun – way to learn Japanese. We’ve listed the best anime for people who want to learn Japanese.
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Speaks Ukrainian (Native)
HK$156
per lesson
4.75
8 reviews
Certified tutor with 20 years of experience” – Grammar and talking through playing methods. Reading and writing. Discussing topics. I can prepare for exams, including IELTS and TOEFL as well as for school exams. You will overcome you fear of talking if there. My lessons are intetresting and effective for people of any age.
Speaks Japanese (Native)
HK$133
per lesson
5
1 review
JLPT & Daily Talk: Your Dedicated Tutor's Here!🍀 – Hi! I'm Haruka. In my lessons, I aim for the solidification of "practical Japanese" by practicing and reviewing within conversations. Continuity is the key to language learning, but it is one of the most difficult parts. I will support you in continuing your learning through enjoyable lessons. ☺️
Speaks Japanese (Native)
HK$195
per lesson
4.89
9 reviews
15 Years Experienced 🪭 Fun Native Japanese Teacher!🦸🏻♂️ – Konnichiwa! 😃 🇯🇵 I was born and raised in Japan. I now live in the Netherlands. 📚 I was the company owner of a language school in Shinjuku, Tokyo for 8 years. We specialised in teaching Japanese from beginner to business levels. I also taught Japanese as a headteacher in addition to training other Japanese teachers.
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What our Japanese students say
What our Japanese students say
Miiko
5
Aug 3, 2022
Mai is very nice! She takes time to teach and she will ask you what you want to learn. Really enjoyed her class ☺️
Hana
5
Aug 3, 2022
I have been taking Miyuki-sensei's lessons for a couple months now: she excels at providing high quality lessons that incorporate culture and current events into learning the Japanese language. If you want a teacher that knows exactly how to customize your lesson to improve your skills in the most efficient way possible I would give her a try!
Clark
5.01
Aug 3, 2022
From the first lesson, she made me feel comfortable for me to learn Japanese by her. She is easy to learn from and talk to. She’s patient with teaching and time it take for me to learn. I know I still have a long road ahead to perfect my Japanese. But I have to say “thank you Sayaka”. You rock!
Eliene
5
Aug 3, 2022
I’ve been learning Japanese with Iyo for about over a month.Iyo makes even grammar lessons very interesting to listen to.She is also incredibly nice even when i make mistakes.She is also very open to questions.No problems with her Japanese and is very fun to communicate with her.Overall a great teacher and i hope to keep having her teach me!
Diena
5
Aug 3, 2022
I'm so glad to have Rena as a teacher. She is really amazing and always takes her time to explain every question I've got. She fully commits to me as an individual, which I really appreciate since it's an important matter to me. Thanks to her I'm able to improve my japanese skills way more than only studying with a book or some bigger class / course.
Learn Japanese with online courses
If you've always wanted to learn Japanese, you're not alone at all. And it's no surprise! Japanese is a beautiful language with deep meaning and a fascinating linguistic background. However, you may have several questions about how to start or why it's even beneficial. The great news is that learning Italian is definitely worth it. With the proper tools to assist you on your path, you'll witness the rewarding outcomes of your hard work.
How to learn Japanese online
There are a huge number of resources for learning Japanese online. When you’re first starting out, you might want to focus on just a few simple ways to study, like using lessons and flashcards to learn the basics. As you continue to study Japanese online, look for other kinds of learning tools. You’ll find courses, apps, ebooks, videos, and websites for learners of all levels. Japanese podcasts for learners can improve your vocabulary and listening skills. Mobile apps can help you master Japanese symbols and characters. A variety of videos can expose you to everyday, conversational Japanese.
Learn to speak Japanese fluently
What most online resources lack is a natural way to practice speaking Japanese. Live conversation is key to becoming fluent. By speaking Japanese frequently with a conversation partner or personal tutor, you can make sure that you are saying Japanese words correctly. The more you speak, the more words and phrases you learn in context. As you gain confidence through practice, speaking Japanese will become more familiar and comfortable. A Japanese tutor can help you improve your pronunciation, understanding, and confidence, moving you steadily toward fluency.
Study Japanese grammar
If you’re a native Korean speaker, you might find Japanese grammar familiar. For speakers of many other languages, Japanese grammar can be a puzzle. Small words called “particles” are used often in Japanese. They’re somewhat like prepositions, such as “to” or “from,” but they can serve other functions. For example, ね (ne) is placed at the end of a question, も (mo) means “too” or “also,” and で (de) tells you where something happens. Keigo, or “respectful language,” is more than just formal titles — it can also change the way you form sentences, use verbs, and make requests. Working 1-on-1 with a tutor, you can practice different scenarios and learn how to use the proper levels of humbleness, politeness, and respect.
Learn Japanese for beginners
As a beginning Japanese learner, your focus will be on learning the sounds and writing systems of Japanese. Some of your first Japanese words will be basics like greetings, numbers, and colors. You’ll also study some fundamentals of grammar and discover how to address people politely. Of the three standard Japanese writing systems, most beginners start with hiragana. This is the most-used Japanese script and the easiest to learn. A similar system, katakana, is used mostly for writing foreign words, technical or scientific terms, and various sounds — like クシュ (“kushu”) for a sneeze, or モーモー (“mo-mo-”) for the sound a cow makes. Hiragana and katakana are similar to alphabets used in other languages because their symbols stand for the sounds of Japanese. The third major writing system is kanji. Based on Chinese characters, kanji represents the meaning of words, rather than their sounds. Most beginners study kanji after they know hiragana fairly well.
Frequently asked questions
If you want to teach yourself Japanese using online resources, you’ll need a study plan. First of all, decide on your goals: Do you want to learn Japanese online so you can enjoy anime without subtitles? Are you planning to travel to Tokyo next year? Do you want to speak Japanese with friends, or do you need to be fluent in Japanese for your job? Look for online resources that focus on the skills you need to strengthen most, like speaking or reading. It’s best to study Japanese a little each day, so you make steady progress. Try to work your way completely through one set of lessons before moving on to another, to build a solid foundation for fluency.
A number of websites and apps offer mostly free Japanese lessons and exercises. You’ll also find many free videos that cover grammar and vocabulary, as well as tools like flashcards for memorizing Japanese writing systems and words. These resources let you hear, see, and practice the Japanese language. It’s best if you can also find a conversation partner or tutor, so you can get comfortable speaking Japanese. After all, no matter how many Japanese words and grammar rules you memorize, the only way to become a fluent speaker is by using the language in live conversation.
If your native language is very different from Japanese, it might take you almost two years of daily study to reach a near-native level of fluency. That said, you could learn enough Japanese to travel, hold basic conversations, or read beginner-level manga (graphic novels) in just a few months. Having a skilled Japanese tutor, like those you’ll find on Preply, can speed up your Japanese learning. Not only will you get regular Japanese speaking practice, but you’ll also have a trusted guide who can answer your questions about the language and personalize your learning plan to focus on your goals.