Learning a new language may be stimulating and enriching, exposing one to different ways of life and providing opportunities for professional and personal development.

Many people are interested in learning Japanese because of its unique culture, long history, and widespread impact. However, one must take certain precautions to ensure quick and practical learning before setting out on this linguistic trip.

Many people who set out to learn Japanese make frequent mistakes along the way that impede them from becoming fluent. These blunders can cause a lot of unnecessary stress and time loss, not to mention the formation of terrible linguistic habits. To prevent such frustrations, knowing what not to do when studying Japanese is essential and putting the right things at the forefront from the get-go is essential.

In this article, we’ll review some of the most common errors made by Japanese language learners and why you must avoid them. By illuminating these pitfalls and their consequences, we can arm future Japanese language learners with the tools they need to succeed.

The proper way to study Japanese lays a solid groundwork for future Japanese language learning.

This requires more than just learning a set of rules for using a language. It entails trying to master the nuances, cultural background, and correct target language pronunciation.

Acquiring these skills can open up endless doors for you in your personal and professional life and increase your awareness of Japanese culture and your ability to connect with native speakers.

Join us as we explore the main errors to avoid and learn the importance of learning Japanese correctly, whether you are a beginner just starting out with Japanese or someone looking to fix prior mistakes. Let’s lay the groundwork for a productive and enjoyable time learning a new language.

Common Mistakes That You Must Avoid When Studying Japanese

It is always challenging to learn a new language. Learning a new language is like embarking on an arduous trip filled with hardships and hurdles, each of which we must face and figure out how to overcome on our own.

This includes learning new vocabulary, new alphabets, and new grammar structures. If you’re an English speaker who has ever attempted to learn Japanese, you know from personal experience how difficult it is.

For many, learning essential phrases like “Konnichiwa” (hello) and “Arigatou” (thank you) is as far as their Japanese language education goes. Many people quit; others try again but ultimately give up for good. And even fewer persist to the point where they can speak it fluently.

Making mistakes is necessary for learning and improving, so don’t worry if you mess up while studying Japanese (or any other language). You can avoid specific frequent errors in your study habits, though. The most common mistakes encountered by Japanese language learners are outlined below.

With No Plans Or Objectives

There are instances when the mere appearance of a foreign tongue makes us want to study it. However, many people study Japanese for their reasons, like the desire to watch their favourite anime without the need for translation.

Your learning might be hindered in two ways: not having a goal at all or establishing an impossible one. There will be times when you want to give up on learning Japanese, either because of how difficult it is or because you need to make progress. It would be best to have a powerful motivation to keep studying Japanese.

If you attempt to learn Japanese without an apparent reason for doing so, you will:

• Have a habit of giving up when the going gets tough and are quickly discouraged.
• They feel discouraged and decide they don’t want to learn Japanese again (since they associate failure with wasting time).
• Don’t bother trying to learn the language (you will only be able to put in the necessary study time with solid motivation).
• Put all that you’ve learned into long-term memory storage and forget about it (you won’t need it for anything, so you have nothing to lose).
• Don’t bother studying (it’s not vital, and no one will perish if you don’t), so just don’t.

If you set a challenging yet achievable goal for yourself, you will:

• It would be best if you studied because you voluntarily choose to.
• Improve your abilities since you want to come out on top.
• Don’t ever give up hope. If you give up, you’ll keep coming back until you win.
• Have pressure (if people are counting on you, like a boss, a partner, or a family member) to keep you going, and use that to your advantage.
• Improve your ability to retain new information. (It is intended for a particular purpose).

Speaking Japanese takes a lot of work. A strong desire (cause, purpose, or goal) is necessary to keep you going. The fact that you find the language intriguing or believe it would be nice to speak is not a sufficient reason to study it.

That won’t get you through the bad times. It would be best if you concentrated on something you want intensely. You have to desire it badly.

As a way to keep yourself motivated while learning Japanese, setting a goal is beneficial. Setting an enormous target like passing the Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) Level 1 is unnecessary. A good aim can be accomplished while still being pleasant.

You decided to study Japanese to have a conversation with your dinner companions. You wanted to use Japanese to place your order, specify which cutlery you’d want, and request payment. Once you’ve accomplished your initial goal, you can challenge yourself by setting new, more difficult ones.

Ignore the Pronunciation

Pronunciation is often overlooked in favour of more essential components of learning a new language, such as kanji reading, grammar, and politeness. It’s not the most crucial factor, so you shouldn’t spend too much time fretting about it but shouldn’t ignore it. Communication relies heavily on several linguistic features, including long vowels and double consonants.

Numerous Japanese words have the same sound but distinct intonations and terms with remarkably similar sounds, so poor pronunciation can easily lead to confusion. 

It takes work to pick up the pronunciation on our own. You can get a feel for Japanese pronunciation by listening to podcasts, watching videos, or talking to native speakers. Shadowing is another learning method where you can listen to someone speak and simultaneously repeat what they said. Also, when learning a new language, pay attention to the subtle differences in intonation, such as how HAshi means chopsticks, but haSHI means bridge.

Methods of Memorisation

Memorisation has a few drawbacks:

• It does its job but at a snail’s pace. Repeating the definition mechanically will help you internalise it.
• Words and ideas that are particularly difficult to grasp tend to be forgotten or mixed up with simpler ones. Repeatedly consulting a dictionary is required.
• The process of ‘idea formation’ in your brain is sidestepped. It’s meaningless noise to you because you have no context for it. With context, learning a word is like learning a sign, but with the meaning, you can put it to practical use. And long to be fluent in their use. It would help if you had some cognitive ability to use it. Unfortunately, memorisation isn’t often accompanied by comprehension.

You should take the new term and create a tonne of little example sentences that prove you’re using the word appropriately (whether it’s a verb, noun, or adj). Make them as strange, silly, or risqué as you like; nobody will care.

Stop reciting the explanation of the new term repeatedly and start using it in your thought processes. You can either write or read aloud the sample sentences below. This will help you comprehend the meaning of the word and make it easier to recall. This is how a term comes to be YOURS. And this is how you’ll have no trouble picking the appropriate Japanese words.

Putting Too Much Emphasis on a Few Skills

For those who don’t need to read or write Japanese at work, the temptation to only focus on speaking in everyday life can be substantial. On the other hand, some people have a solid grasp of language and kanji but seldom use their knowledge in real-world situations.

Acquiring a new tongue requires a well-rounded set of abilities. Even if you’re exceptional at one form of communication, it’s difficult to claim you’re fluent in all of them.

No one is perfect, so don’t beat yourself up if you aren’t. You can improve your overall performance by identifying your weakest area and devoting more time and energy to it until it reaches the same level as your vital areas.

If you want to improve your talents and have fun doing it, try using various resources. Grammar can be learned from books, vocabulary and kanji through an app, and listening can be improved by watching videos on YouTube.

Taking Lessons from Anime

Anime is entertaining, and watching it may motivate you to study the Japanese language. Many fascinating new phrases await you here that you won’t discover in any book. Why? Because you wouldn’t dream of using those terms in everyday conversation!

Anime may not be the best place to start learning Japanese because, despite the inherent politeness of the language, its speakers are very casual and full of slang.

It’s totally fine to use anime as a reference when learning Japanese. It’s a great way to spice up your Japanese study, but it shouldn’t be your sole method. Learn new kanji by watching the show with subtitles, then watch it again without them to practise listening to and writing down the unfamiliar language. It’s also smart to double-check the appropriateness of the anime’s vocabulary for everyday use and how real people employ these terms before adopting them yourself.

Having Everything Interpreted Into Your Mother Tongue

It’s natural to compare your first language when learning a second (or third) one, whether you’re speaking, reading, or listening. Words, syntax, and sentence construction can vary significantly from one language to another.

To give just one example, you might say “eat” medicine in your original tongue but “take” or “drink” in English and Japanese, respectively, leading to statements that seem awkward or even erroneous. 

Give the language a shot as it is written. Rather than trying to memorise Japanese grammar or vocabulary by comparing it to your tongue, memorising examples of how they are used in Japanese is more effective.

Many Japanese expressions, such as ” (ame ga fumarate), are notoriously difficult to render in other languages. The negative connotation of “you have been rained on” may sound off-putting in English, but it’s merely a Japanese idiom.

When Comparing Yourself to Others

One size does not fit all when it comes to learning. Some people have a natural talent for picking up foreign tongues, whereas others may struggle. The other foreigners you encounter may occasionally be better than you.

You can’t predict how quickly they’ll pick up the material, especially if they’ve been learning it for a while or have more time to study than you. When learning a new language, it’s easy to get discouraged if you compare yourself to others and conclude that you need to be better and smart enough to keep up.

Stop comparing yourself to others. This is easier to say than to do because it goes against our habits. Contrast your current self with your past self if you must compare yourself to someone. Remember how far you’ve come since you first began studying Japanese when you’re feeling down. 

Neglecting to Speak Japanese Regularly

Putting a new tongue to practical use is the finest method for mastering it. To become truly fluent in a language, you must do more than memorise grammar rules and word lists. Many folks don’t like to raise their hands in class because they’re frightened of looking stupid. However, it is only through failure that we may grow and develop our abilities.

Have an opportunity to use Japanese? There are several ways to learn Japanese, including taking lessons, using apps, and meeting native speakers through language exchanges.

It’s great to practise Japanese whenever possible, whether in a restaurant, conbini, or railway station, even if you aren’t in an environment where you have to speak Japanese every day. Reading simple news articles, listening to podcasts, and keeping a journal are great ways to improve your Japanese language skills beyond just speaking. 

The Proper Way to Begin Studying Japanese

It’s crucial to get out on the right foot when learning Japanese by adopting a systematic strategy from the get-go. You should begin by learning the three components of the Japanese writing system: Hiragana, Katakana, and Kanji.

Start with the Japanese phonetic alphabet, Hiragana, which is used for writing most Japanese words. Acquiring fluency in this script will lay the groundwork for reading and pronouncing the language.

The next step is Katakana, which is typically reserved for borrowed terms from other languages. Learning these two scripts can help you read and write Japanese much more fluently.

Put in the time and effort to study fundamental grammar and vocabulary at the same time. You can do this with the help of books, the Internet, and language-learning software. You might also find a language partner or participate in a language exchange.

Learn Japanese more effectively by exposing yourself to native-language media, such as Japanese films, music, and books. Finally, consistently work towards your goals and make sure they’re reasonable. Success in learning Japanese requires regular study along with enthusiasm and determination.

Conclusion

Learning a new language can be intellectually interesting and personally enriching, opening doors to new horizons in one’s career and life. Nonetheless, many people make frequent blunders that hinder their fluency. Stress, lost time, and bad language habits are just a few of the negative outcomes that can result from these gaffes. To keep from running into these sorts of problems, it’s important to be aware of what not to do when learning Japanese and to prioritise the proper things from the get-go.

Mastering the nuances, cultural context, and precise target language pronunciation are just some of the many benefits of studying Japanese the right way. Possessing these abilities can broaden one’s horizons in many ways, including one’s professional prospects, one’s knowledge of Japanese culture, and one’s capacity to communicate with Japanese speakers.

Learners of Japanese often err by, among other things, not setting goals or making plans, aiming too high, neglecting pronunciation, and forcing themselves. Having a target to strive for makes the journey more rewarding and challenging.

There are several important aspects of a new language to learn besides pronunciation, such as kanji reading, grammar, and politeness. While not the most important consideration, it is nonetheless important. Pronunciation of Japanese is difficult to master without hard work, podcasts, videos, native speakers, and shadowing.

The three components of the Japanese writing system are Hiragana, Katakana, and Kanji, and memorising them is the first step in learning Japanese. You should begin with Hiragana, the Japanese phonetic alphabet used for transcribing most Japanese words. If you want to read and write Japanese more smoothly, you should study Katakana, the Japanese alphabet used for foreign loanwords. Learn the basics of the language quickly by combining textbooks, online resources, and software. Get yourself a language buddy or join a language swap.

Content Summary

• Learning a new language may be stimulating and enriching, exposing one to different ways of life and providing opportunities for professional and personal development.
• However, one must take certain precautions to ensure quick and practical learning before setting out on this linguistic trip.
• Many people who set out to learn Japanese make frequent mistakes along the way that impede them from becoming fluent.
• To prevent such frustrations, knowing what not to do when studying Japanese is essential and putting the right things at the forefront from the get-go is essential.
• By illuminating these pitfalls and their consequences, we can arm future Japanese language learners with the tools they need to succeed.
• The proper way to study Japanese lays a solid groundwork for future Japanese language learning.
• Acquiring these skills can open up endless doors for you in your personal and professional life and increase your awareness of Japanese culture and your ability to connect with native speakers.
• Join us as we explore the main errors to avoid and learn the importance of learning Japanese correctly, whether you are a beginner just starting out with Japanese or someone looking to fix prior mistakes.
• For many, learning essential phrases like “Konnichiwa” (hello) and “Arigatou” (thank you) is as far as their Japanese language education goes.
• Making mistakes is necessary for learning and improving, so don’t worry if you mess up while studying Japanese (or any other language).
• You can avoid specific frequent errors in your study habits, though.
• Your learning might be hindered in two ways: not having a goal at all or establishing an impossible one.
• There will be times when you want to give up on learning Japanese, either because of how difficult it is or because you need to make progress.
• It would be best to have a powerful motivation to keep studying Japanese.
• Don’t bother trying to learn the language (you will only be able to put in the necessary study time with solid motivation).
• A strong desire (cause, purpose, or goal) is necessary to keep you going.
• The fact that you find the language intriguing or believe it would be nice to speak is not a sufficient reason to study it.
• It would be best if you concentrated on something you want intensely.
• As a way to keep yourself motivated while learning Japanese, setting a goal is beneficial.
• You decided to study Japanese to have a conversation with your dinner companions.
• Once you’ve accomplished your initial goal, you can challenge yourself by setting new, more difficult ones.
• Pronunciation is often overlooked in favour of more essential components of learning a new language, such as kanji reading, grammar, and politeness.
• You can get a feel for Japanese pronunciation by listening to podcasts, watching videos, or talking to native speakers.
• The process of ‘idea formation’ in your brain is sidestepped.
• With context, learning a word is like learning a sign, but with the meaning, you can put it to practical use.
• You should take the new term and create a tonne of little example sentences that prove you’re using the word appropriately (whether it’s a verb, noun, or adj).
• Stop reciting the explanation of the new term repeatedly and start using it in your thought processes.
• For those who don’t need to read or write Japanese at work, the temptation to only focus on speaking in everyday life can be substantial.
• On the other hand, some people have a solid grasp of language and kanji but seldom use their knowledge in real-world situations.
• Even if you’re exceptional at one form of communication, it’s difficult to claim you’re fluent in all of them.
• Anime is entertaining, and watching it may motivate you to study the Japanese language.
• It’s a great way to spice up your Japanese study, but it shouldn’t be your sole method.
• Learn new kanji by watching the show with subtitles, then watch it again without them to practise listening to and writing down the unfamiliar language.
• It’s also smart to double-check the appropriateness of the anime’s vocabulary for everyday use and how real people employ these terms before adopting them yourself.
• It’s natural to compare your first language when learning a second (or third) one, whether you’re speaking, reading, or listening.
• Rather than trying to memorise Japanese grammar or vocabulary by comparing it to your tongue, memorising examples of how they are used in Japanese is more effective.
• Many Japanese expressions, such as ” (ame ga fumarate), are notoriously difficult to render in other languages.
• Reading simple news articles, listening to podcasts, and keeping a journal are great ways to improve your Japanese language skills beyond just speaking.
• It’s crucial to get out on the right foot when learning Japanese by adopting a systematic strategy from the get-go.
• Start with the Japanese phonetic alphabet, Hiragana, which is used for writing most Japanese words.
• Put in the time and effort to study fundamental grammar and vocabulary at the same time.
• Learn Japanese more effectively by exposing yourself to native-language media, such as Japanese films, music, and books.