Should you learn to speak or write first?

If you are more comfortable with reading and writing to start with, then, by all means, start there. If you want to learn how to speak the language, know that you will eventually need to practice it through actual speaking.

Is it easy to write Japanese?

There are over 1500 Kanji characters used on a daily basis (eg. newspapers, media, etc). This is what makes Japanese a difficult language to write. However, Chinese has approximately 10,000 characters (not an exaggeration) so by comparison, Japanese is not so hard as you may imagine.

Is it easier to read a foreign language or speak it?

In most cases it is easier to read than speak it because in reading you can take your own time and there is usually no doubt about what word is used. In speaking you need an active knowledge of words, their meaning, and pronunciation. That is just a lot more than a passive knowledge required for reading.

Can you teach yourself Japanese?

Yes, you can learn a lot of Japanese on your own. You can learn Hiragana, Katakana, and Kanji. You can learn to read. You can improve your listening comprehension by watching Netflix and YouTube.

How do Japanese say happy birthday?

Otanjoubi omedetou
4 Ways To Wish A Happy Birthday In Japanese

English	Japanese	Pronunciation Guide
Happy birthday	おたんじょうび おめでとう / お 誕生 日 おめでとう	Otanjoubi omedetou
Happy birthday	おたんじょうび おめでとう ございます	Otanjoubi omedetou gozaimasu
Happy birthday	はっぴーばーすでー	Happi Baasudee / Happy bazde
Happy (age) birthday	ーさい の たんじょび おめでとう	[Number]-sai no tanjoubi omedetou

What should I listen to first when learning Japanese?

As a linguist and language lover, I advise you to first listen to the way Japanese sounds before anything. Pay attention to the native speakers and how the language sounds. It’s funny because as for myself, I actually prefer to start with writing and reading first with any foreign language because I learn quickly by writing and reading.

How to learn Japanese writing for beginners?

Japanese Writing for Beginners – Introduction to Japanese writing and understanding how kanji, hiragana, and katakana are used. Kanji – 100 Most Frequent Characters: With thousands of different characters, these are the meanings of the top 100. Familiarizing yourself with the sounds and rhythms of the language is a good place to start.

Is the Japanese language hard to learn?

The Japanese language will seem very different at first from your native language, but it is not as hard to learn as many people think. It is quite a logically laid out language and once you learn basic reading skills it will be easy to pronounce any word you can read. Are you new to Japanese?

How long does it take to learn Japanese with Duolingo?

Learn Japanese in just 5 minutes a day with our game-like lessons. Whether you’re a beginner starting with the basics or looking to practice your reading, writing, and speaking, Duolingo is scientifically proven to work. Bite-sized Japanese lessons.