The oldest and most recognized test of Japanese proficiency is the Japanese Language Proficiency Test offered through the Japan Foundation and the Japanese Educational system. After 2009, the N3 test was added to the original 4 levels as a way of adding another option for intermediate level students learning Japanese.

The N5 is the most basic test and designed to cover introductory level Japanese. The N4 is designed to show an understanding of basic Japanese, and the N3 demonstrates some everyday language ability. Each test has some slight variations in the material and question types asked.

Below, we will take a look at each of the levels, the content of the test, length of the test, and type of questions to expect.

Level N5 of the Japanese Language Proficiency Test

N5 is the most basic level of the JLPT offered. The written part covers hiragana and katakana, the two basic phonetic writing systems used in Japanese, and some of the most basic and common kanji (characters similar to or based on Chinese characters).

The N5 JLPT is a total of 105 minutes long not including breaks, instructions, and other formalities. The vocabulary section is 25 minutes long, followed by a grammar and reading section which is a total of 50 minutes long. The listening section is 30 minutes.

A detailed and technical description of the types of questions on the test can be found here: N5 JLPT Test Question Types.The basic description is as follows:

The vocabulary section has 4 types of questions

• Kanji reading will be tested by having test-takers choose the corresponding hiragana for a given kanji.
• Katakana and kanji ability will be tested by asking testers to choose the correct kanji or katakana for a given word in hiragana.
• Some vocabulary may also be tested through use of context (often with drawings illustrating a situation), or having test-takers choose sentences or phrases with a similar meaning to that in the question item.

The grammar section focuses on:

• Selecting the correct grammar form – Test takers choose the correct particle, phrase, or grammatical form to complete the sentence.
• Sentence composition – 4 sentence parts are taken out of a sentence, you have to think about the proper wording to complete the sentence. All of the missing sentence parts are in the list of answers. You choose the one that fits the spot marked with a star.
• Short to medium length passages will also be used to test vocabulary by choosing the correct terms to fit the context of a part of the passage, as well as reading comprehension ability. The shorter passages will be around 80 characters in length, while the medium length passages will be around 250 characters.

The Listening Section focuses on:

• Comprehension of key points
• Understanding of conversational Japanese expressions
• Task based comprehension – which requires test-takers to retrieve information and use it somehow to infer other information.
• Quick response questions – in which test-takers have limited time to answer between test items.

The N4 Japanese Language Proficiency Test

The N4 tests Japanese learners on a larger number of basic kanji than the N5, and expects candidates to be able to handle readings and listening passages on familiar everyday topics. The listening section is spoken slowly and covers common day to day type conversations.

The N4 test is a total of 125 minutes, with 30 minutes dedicated to vocabulary, 1 hour dedicated to grammar and reading, and the final 35 minutes for listening. Most of the questions are similar to those on the N5 test with a higher difficulty level. A detailed list of all the question types can be found here: JLPT N4 Test Question Types.

The vocabulary section on N4 adds one question type to the N5 types. On N4, test-takers will be given a word, and then 4 sentences from which to choose the one sentence for which the word is used correctly. This can be difficult because it requires understanding the sentences to get the context in addition to understanding the usage of the vocabulary word in question.

The questions on the grammar and reading section, as well as the listening section are basically the same as those found on the N5 test, however done with more difficult topics and more advanced vocabulary and grammar.

The Japanese Language Proficiency Test – Level N3

The N3 test is the new test introduced in 2009 to close the gap in difficulty between the previous test levels 2 and 3. The pre-2009 level 3 is most similar to the current N4 test described above. N3 is the highest of these intermediate levels.

If you previously took the JLPT and passed level 3, continued to study and are wondering what test to take, you may have a good shot at passing the next sequential level which is N3, though students who have advanced a great deal may even want to give the N2 level a try.

The N3 level of the Japanese Language Proficiency Test features a 30 minute vocabulary section (the same length as the N4), a 70 minute grammar and reading section, and an slightly longer listening section of 40 minutes. The actual test time of the N3 is a total of 140 minutes all together.

The vocabulary question types are the same as level N4, but with much more advanced vocabulary and sentences. By N3, test-takers are expected to be relatively proficient with familiar or everyday topics and words. More specific content, topics, and vocabulary should be mastered by this time, and test-takers should also be able to understand such things as newspaper headlines or summaries of information.

Slightly difficult reading passages are also introduced here with more difficult concepts being explained with alternative and easier to understand language. The N3 test also introduces longer passages into the reading and grammar section of the test.

In the listening test, longer and more “natural” conversations are introduced. The speed with which the speakers speak is also faster than levels N4 and N5. The N3 conversations are said to take place at “near-native level speed”. Listeners are expected to also pick up and infer information from conversations, such as the relationships between speakers among other things.

The listening section on the N3 test also introduces a cultural element, or gleaning a speaker’s intention based on their words. This may not always be direct, and so requires some familiarity with Japanese language communication strategies.

The JLPT N3 listening test also tests usage of verbal expressions using drawings and asking test-takers to choose the correct expression for a given situation. A person in a drawing of a situation is indicated by an arrow. Test-takers listen to a question asked and must respond as the person indicated should, using correct and appropriate Japanese conversation.

Conclusion and Further Investigations

The JLPT provides a sample question for each type of question found on each level of the JLPT. This can be useful for people who are just trying to choose a level to start studying for, or people who want to know what the questions on the test actually look at. JLPT Sample Questions by Level.

The tests can be a great way to self-check your Japanese language ability, or also to network with other people learning Japanese in your area. Knowing the question types and choosing the appropriate test level can ensure that taking the Japanese Language Proficiency Test can be both enjoyable and productive for you. Now that the exam is offered twice a year, the JLPT can be a regular part of any Japanese curriculum.

The next article will look at the N1 and N2 JLPT exams for people learning Japanese at higher levels.

The most long standing and accepted way to demonstrate Japanese language ability is called the Japanese Language Proficiency Test, called the JLPT for short. The Japanese name for the test is the Nihongo Noryoku Shiken (日本語能力試験).

About the Japanese Language Proficiency Test

The JLPT is a collaboration of the Japan Foundation and Japan Educational Exchanges and Services. The Japan Foundation was created by the Japanese government in 1972 to promote international exchange. It was privatized in 2003. The foundation coordinates several programs for international awareness, including the Japanese Language Proficiency Test. It has 22 offices worldwide at which people can participate in art and cultural exchange programs, or even learn Japanese.

Japanese Educational Exchanges and Services (JEES) offers scholarship programs for studying abroad, support for study abroad students, and other programs in addition to the JLPT.

The test was created in 1984, and has grown over the years, reporting over 770,000 test-takers worldwide in 2009. The test is administered within Japan by the JEES, and abroad by the Japan Foundation in cooperation with local educational institutions.

Overview and Objectives of the JLPT

The stated objective of the test is to “evaluate and certify proficiency in Japanese of non-native speakers.” People take the exam for a wide variety of reasons including for job applications, to qualify for promotions, for entrance or placement in colleges and universities, and other similar reasons. The largest number of people, over 30% list “to measure my own level of proficiency” as the reason they decided to take the exam.

Japanese Language Proficiency Test Levels

There are a total of five levels of the test, which was revised slightly in 2009. The levels are in descending order of difficulty, N1, N2, N3, N4, and N5. Scores from the older test, which consisted of levels 1 to 4 are still valid. The newer version of the test has simply added a level in the middle, the N3, as a bridge between the level 2 and level 3 on the old test. People who passed Level 1 before 2009 should likewise be able to pass N1. While N3 is new, N4 corresponds to the old level 3, and N2 corresponds to the old level 2.

N1 is the highest or most difficult level to pass. It is described as showing the ability to understand the Japanese used in a variety of situations.

N2 shows the ability to understand Japanese in everyday situations, and to some degree in other situations.

People who have passed N3 are said to demonstrate the ability to understand Japanese used in everyday situations to some degree.

N4 demonstrates the ability to understand basic Japanese.

N5 demonstrates the ability to understand some basic Japanese.

For a resume or other business purposes, the N2 and N1 tests are the most important ones because they show proficiency outside of everyday Japanese, essentially showing the ability to use Japanese in a business or other more formal setting where more difficult words and expressions are used. N3, N4, and N5 are great ways to gauge your progress in learning Japanese, and may also be recognized by some schools or study abroad programs.

Registering for the Japanese Language Proficiency Exam

The JLPT is offered twice a year, once in summer and once in winter. Before 2009, the test was only offered the first Sunday in December, but a test date in July has also been added. The registration process varies by country. The registration for the test begins in August/September for the December test, and March to April for the July testing, but if taking the test outside of Japan, be sure to check the registration dates and processes early.

Registering for the Test in Japan:

The registration packet is sold at most major bookstores in Japan. . It can generally be found in the testing section, but may be hard to find so it is worth it to practice a little Japanese and ask one of the clerks to help you. Here is a good site to sign up online in the US.

In Japan, once you buy the packet, you can fill out all of the forms, pay for the test at the post office and send them off. A few months later you will receive your test voucher from JEES. Bring the voucher with you when you take the test, and about 2 months after your test, your results should arrive in the mail.

Registering for the JLPT outside of Japan:

When taking the JLPT outside of Japan, the first and most important decision to make is where and when to take it. Please check the JLPT web site (mentioned earlier) for a complete list of cities where the test is offered.

Once you have chosen a good location and testing date to suit your schedule and area, it is time to register. Clicking a location on the map on the JLPT Oversees Testing Page will lead you to a list of locations and the organization handling registration.

In the United States, for example, the test is offered in 11 cities around the country (in 2011). In Canada, however the test is only offered in Edmonton, Vancouver, and Toronto. The registration organization will provide information on the exact process for registering for and taking the exam. If you are not in a country where the test is offered, you may need to travel to take the test, or make a pilgrimage to Japan for a bit of immersion before the exam.

There are several reasons to learn about Japanese culture while you are studying Japanese. Some of these reasons are very obvious and a few are not so obvious. Of course it can be interesting and learning about the history and customs of a place makes it easier to travel there. In fact I would say that the number one way to avoid culture shock is to properly educate yourself about the lifestyle of the culture whose language you are studying; in this case Japanese. I spent two years studying Japanese before I first went to study for a summer semester in college. I found myself having a much adjusting to Japan and Tokyo than a lot of my classmates. The main reason for this, I think, is that I created an immersion situation where true immersion was impossible, as I mentioned in a previous article. I became as familiar as I could with music, movies, television (which I barely watch otherwise), and other forms of media.

Japanese Media

Media alone couldn’t have protected me from culture shock, as many western Otaku may come to realize when they first come to Japan. Drama is a caricature of daily life, it doesn’t reflect perfectly. I read all kinds of articles; Japan’s English newspapers to learn what issues were currently being talked about, tourist books, studies on cultural phenomenon and aspects of culture (including the salaryman, NEET, gender issues in Japan, suicide, hikokomori, dialects, and so on). I didn’t limit myself to one outlook and always looked for another perspective from both natives and foreigners and most importantly, never assumed I understood very well, even after reading extensively. I also made sure to stick to textbooks which provided cultural information as well and learned about gift giving, in and out groups, ancient culture that has survived modernization such as tea ceremony and flower arranging. I did my own research on all of these as well.

Japanese Culture

Culture is like a giant web that you get more and more entangled in. The easiest way to get a grasp on culture is to build on what you already know. Here is an example. When I first decided to study Japanese, I would compare what different kinds of people said about different places in Tokyo and in Japan. I recognized the name Ikebukuro as a town my friend lived in when I heard of a drama called Ikebukuro West Gate Park. I watched the drama and became used to the way the town looked and experienced a dramatic representation of it. Then I did some of my own research, asked a friend how much was realistic about the show (much was not) and when I first went to Japan went to see it for myself. From this show I also became familiar with many other cultural issues, notably subcultures. After doing my own research on subculture and labels that people use for different kinds of people in Japan, I learned of the term salary-man and found the concept interesting and from there I learned a lot about the working culture of Japan.

When you just study about culture it doesn’t have any real meaning to you. It’s all facts. Rather than just studying a guide book from front to back, read about the places and topics you already know and start with topics that interest you. From there build on your knowledge with related issues and topics that you encounter as part of your Japanese study.

Learning about culture puts the language in context but it also gives you more to talk about. Some Japanese students who come to Japan even with good conversation skills find themselves stuck in very basic conversations. Aside from international issues and world-famous media, they have nothing to talk about. Japan obviously has a very rich culture and Japanese people bring up some aspect of it in every conversation. The same way your American friends may bring up South Park or the democratic or republican party or local diners, a Japanese person is likely to bring up Downtown, Shuushoku Katsudo (the process of looking for a job in Japan), or Fami resu. If you know what they are talking about, the conversation continues smoothly, and if you don’t but make a note of it, it will next time. You can create a much more dynamic and fun experience when you study Japanese if you let yourself enjoy about all the different aspects of culture.

Everyone who chooses to study Japanese hears horror stories about the complexity of the Chinese characters known as Kanji. These characters are supposed to represent some kind of meaning but at first glance, most of them look like abstract scribbles. It is often said that fluency means mastering 2000 kanji. On top of that, many of them have multiple pronunciations. In order to balance out all the dread you may be feeling about all this, here are 5 reasons why Kanji rock and should be embraced rather than feared.

Even native Japanese forget Kanji

I have corrected Japanese friends on how to write Kanji on numerous occasions, even before I could be considered fluent. Even simple words, like cafe (喫茶店), can contain characters that rarely occur in other words (喫, for example）. It is not uncommon for Japanese to make mistakes when writing these, especially in the digital age. It’s important to realize that even your native language isn’t perfect. Language is extremely complex and varies from person to person and between communities and forms of print. If you don’t recognize a character, don’t fret. Sure you’re Japanese is lacking but in all likeliness, so is your English.

2,136 Kanji fluency is subjective

2,136 is the official number considered necessary for fluency but the matter is much more complex. Sure you may need all 2,136 and then a few more in order to read a scientific report with 100% understanding but, as I suggested above, how many native speakers know every word thrown at them? When you study Japanese, it is important to realize that not all characters are created equal. The first 100 presented in most textbooks and curriculum are worlds more important than some others considered “necessary”. The first 1000 is, without a doubt, much more important than the next 1000. Once you learn a few hundred kanji, you should be able to navigate your way around basic texts and may even be able to jump into novels or manga. Taking out your dictionary every once in a while is not a bad thing!

Simplify Complex Kanji

The most complex characters are often just a mix of simpler characters. These parts are called radicals and they can even give you hints about the meaning and pronunciation of the Kanji. If you develop a basic understanding of these, complex kanji begin to look much simpler. A 20 stroke character will become a combination of 4 characters that you already know, making it much easier.

Kanji work like the root of a word

Studying Latin and Greek will give you a better understanding of the English language. You may understand the meaning of an English word just from the prefixes and suffixes. Kanji works in a similar way. Once you break 1000 and start to approach 2000, you start to guess the characters used in words you’ve never heard before and have a much easier time understanding the meaning from context. In addition to this, you may understand the meaning and pronunciation of a written word you’ve never seen before because it’s characters are ones you are very familiar with and paint a clear picture.

Kanji are actually fun

Characters work very different from alphabets and the learning experience is a very interesting one. On top of this, there is an artistic aspect and they also give you a way to benchmark your progress as you study Japanese. Sure, that 2,136 mark is not completely objective but it gives you nice goal to measure yourself against. Use this to motivate yourself to continue studying Japanese and reach fluency.

I live in Tokyo. It seems unnecessary to say, but it’s an excellent city to live in, and also an ideal location to conquer that wild, spitting squid known as the Japanese language. This ditty will act as part-one in a series that will attempt to delve into common day to day living and moving through Tokyo (or any large Japanese city), and how one might use the city’s many tangled limbs to better your Japanese proficiency while exploring its many strange wonders.

Tokyo Morning Practice

You wake. Your apartment/hostel/dorm/hotel is hot and muggy. Start your morning with a much needed shot of caffeine and a quick Japanese lesson to get your mind on the right track. You turn on your computer and open one of the many language software programs you’ve come to love: Rosetta Stone, Transparent Japanese, Anki, SmartFM, etc… They’re all good. Waking up with a lesson and studying before you go to sleep are good ways to begin and end the day. The human mind requires constant reminders. Install the language in your head as often as possible.

Moving about in the heart of a Tokyo summer can be a life changing experience. The heat and humidity boils unprepared human flesh on a daily basis. Forget it! You’ll power through. Take a cold shower, throw on some shorts and grab your smart phone that you’ve loaded up with Japanese dictionaries and language apps. You’re going to to need it.

Items around Tokyo

First you begin by grabbing a cold can of coffee from one of the millions of vending machines around the city. Your read the sign on the brightly colored machine:

安い. ¥100 (Yasui. Hyaku Yen.)

やすい

What does it mean? You contemplate, and then it strikes you. Cheap! One hundred yen! It’s perfect and you buy of cold, green tea(お茶/ ocha) and drink it in one go, tossing the empty bottle in the recycles bin placed conscientiously next to the machine.

You make your way to the local metro station. You want to go to Shinjuku, so you find the Kanji you’ve worked hard to memorize using endless hours of study on the computer.

新宿 (Shin, which means new and Juku, meaning lodging or station. Shinjuku: the busiest station on the world!)

You approach a train attendant and ask him how much it costs to get to Shinjuku. You ask as simply as possible.

新宿に行きたい. いくらですか
Shinjuku ni ikitai. Ikuradesuka?
“I want to go to Shinjuku. How much is it?”

The train man points to your price.

ひゃくろくじゅうえん
“Hyaku roku-Ju yen,” he says. ¥160

You pop you coins in the slot and grab your ticket and you’re on your way.

The train stops at Shinjuku station. Your stomach rumbles and you decide to pop in to a popular Gyudon (牛丼) shop. You pull out your trusty phone and look up the meaning, where you see that Gyu (beef) don (bowl) is a popular fast food in Japan that consists of thinly sliced beef, onions cooked in a sauce and served over a bowl of rice. Sounds good.

You sit at the bar. A young waitress approaches. The menu is ridden with difficult Japanese and you have no idea what it means.

ちょっとまってください
Chotto matte kudasai,” you say. Which means “one moment please.”

You spy a mountain of beef and onions with a raw egg atop a steaming bed of rice with miso soup and a salad. That’s it, you think. I must have it.

これおください
“Kore o kudasai.”
“This one please,” pointing to the picture. Pointing to pictures while using the phrase “Kore o kudasai,” works wonders. It may seem juvenile, but it works and is the easiest way to choose something when you don’t how to say it in Japanese. The food arrives.

Smells good, you think.

いいにおいする

“Ii nioi suru,” you say.

The waitress smiles. The day awaits!

Although counting sequentially in Japanese, “Ichi, ni, san, shi, go…” is not that difficult. Many intermediate level students in the process of learning Japanese are surprised to learn that the way you identify the numbers or amounts of things in Japanese is determined by the nature or shape of what you are counting.

The list of numbers everyone learns first is fine when counting for counting’s sake, however different endings are used when counting other things. Categories also have a very cultural slant to them, for example flat things use a certain counter ending “-mai”, while books use another, “-satsu”. This can even be confusing for native speakers of Japanese at times, and even more so for Japanese learners.

How to Say the Numbers in Japanese

The numbers themselves may go by many names in Japan, at least as many names as there are readings for the kanji used.

1. One is usually “ichi”, but the “chi” part can be cut out in some combinations.
2. Two is usually “ni” or “futa” when used with some endings.
3. Three is usually “san” or “mi”.
4. Four is usually “shi” or “yon” or “yo” when counting, and is usually “yon” or “yo” in combinations.

5. Five is “go” or can also be “itsu” which can make it hard to tell from one sometimes.
6. Six is “roku” but can also often be “mu” in combinations.
7. Seven is “shichi” or “nana” when counting, but can be “nana” or other pronunciations when combined with a counter ending.

8. Eight is “hachi” when counting, but can also be read as “ya” among other pronunciations.
9. Nine is usually “kyu” but also has some alternate readings such as “kokona” in rare cases.
10. Ten is “ju” but can also be “to” sometimes.

One very interesting fact about Japan is how 4 and 7 are said by native Japanese speakers when counting forward or backward. When counting forward, the 4 is called “shi” and the 7 is called “shichi”. When counting backward, they usually refer to 4 as “yon” and 7 as “nana”. If you meet someone who is a native speaker, please ask them to do the counting and see if they fit the pattern. They may not even realize it themselves.

Learning How to Use Counter Endings in Japanese

There are many ways of learning the counters that are used as endings on numbers in Japanese. Most Japanese textbooks tend to group them by the type of object that is being counted. Separating the counters of types of things, those that have to do with people, and more abstract things including those that have to do with time is one valid way to do it.

Another trick to remembering them is to separate the regulars from the irregulars. The regulars are those counters that work perfectly well with the numbers as you learn them.

Counters that Take Regular Japanese Numbers

One example of a regular kind of counter is “-mai” which is used to count flat things such as paper, DVDs, and shirts. “Mai” can just be tagged onto the end of the Japanese numbers – “ichimai”, “nimai”, “sanmai”, “yonmai”… and so on.

Ordinal numbers, showing the order of something work the same way, adding “-ban”. There are even some people who never learned Japanese who are familiar with the word “ichiban” which means “first” or “number 1”. The rest of the ordinal numbers in Japanese follow suit. “Ichiban”, “niban”, “sanban”, “yonban”, “goban”, for as long as necessary.

The formal way to count people also follows this style. The ending “-mei” is used in a formal way to count people instead of the informal “-nin”. If you go into a Japanese restaurant, one of the first things you will be asked is “Nanmei-sama deshoka?” Which is restaurant language for “How many people in your party?” The “nan” part with before the “-mei” ending here means “how many”.

When answering, people will refer to themselves using the “-nin” ending. The “-nin” ending is also easy to remember because it follows the regular numbers for the most part. The only exception comes when referring to one person “hitori” or two people “futari”. After that, the numbers follow the easy, original pattern.

Several other endings fit this pattern and can be conveniently remembered because of their ease. Other examples are “-wa” the counter used for birds, “-dai” for counting machines and vehicles, and “-gatsu” as a way of naming the months of the year.

Still others are similar to “-nin” in that they follow the pattern after the first two numbers. “-kai”, used to count the floors of a building, and “-satsu” for counting books and magazines, and “-sai” for counting ages (as in “Watashi wa go-sai desu,” or “I am 5 years old.”) are just a few of these. The majority of counters seem to fit this pattern.

Japanese Numbers that Use Alternative Pronunciations with Counters

Other Japanese numbers use more irregular patterns, and for the most part need to be remembered individually. One counter that gives even native speakers trouble sometimes is “-hiki”. This is used to count animals that crawl or walk, but not usually livestock which is counted with “-to”. If you have three cats, there are “sam-biki”. The “hi” part will change in pronunciation based on the number before it.

The most important of the irregulars is the one used most often and can be used to count anything including ideas, or things for which you don’t know the counter. It can be helpful to remember this one as it is and use it whenever in doubt about the counter. It is as follows:

1. Hitotsu
2. Futatsu
3. Mittsu
4. Yottsu
5. Itsutsu
6. Muttsu
7. Nanatsu
8. Yattsu
9. Kokonatsu
10. To (with a long vowel)

For amounts above 10, the number itself can be used. This list is a good one to remember for counting and using it well will look very good.

Conclusion

Although counting in Japanese will come naturally with a little practice, it’s certainly nothing to stress over as you will often see native Japanese speaking friends spend time considering what counter to use for something. When in doubt the final list of native Japanese numbers can be useful. Another counter commonly used for objects with no other specific counter is “-ko” which uses “ikko” to refer to one thing, but follows the original number pattern after that.

Proper counting will really show mastery of the language and help you communicate better and more precisely when learning Japanese.

I bet many times you have seen Japanese words or place names with the letter F, and many times people pronounce it as the F sound in English. No idea why the government decided to use the letter F for that particular sound, but the truth is, there is no F sound in the Japanese language.

Pronouncing F in Japanese

When you see the words like Fukushima, Fukuoka or furikake and pronounce those names with the English F sound, people would understand you. However, that makes you sound totally “a foreigner”. If you want to become more hip and more native-like, I recommend you should use the following way.

Think of when you blow off the candles on a birthday cake. You make your lips round and exhale, right? Make that lip shape and say “hu”! That’s more like the sound Japanese would make. It’s more similar to H sound, rather than F sound. So Fukushima is more like Hukushima. Mt. Fuji (Japanese call it Fuji-san) is more like Mt. Huji, or Huji san.

The reason the government used F instead H is probably (I might be wrong) that they considered of the people who speaks languages with silent H sound, such as French or Italian. However, if you are an English speaker, replacing F with H works.

Pronouncing R in Japanese

Another troublesome pronunciation is the R letter. You probably have heard of that the Japanese speakers cannot make differences between L and R, and that’s totally true.

When you see R letters in a Japanese word, that R is more like “D” sound or “L” sound. Technically speaking, the Japanese “R” is the exactly same sounds as the “flap” sound in American English. Think of the sound of the “tt” part or “dd” part of the words such as “better”, “butter”, “ladder”, etc. in American English, that’s the Japanese R sound! For most people, it should sounds close to “D” sound.

But it is actually difficult to extract those “tt” or “dd” sound and apply it to a Japanese word, especially because it’s not really a D sound! If it’s very hard for you, it’s much closer to pronounce “L” sound, instead of “R” sound, if you didn’t want to sound totally foreign. So when you say “Thank you” in Japanese, don’t say “ah-ree-gah-tow!” but more like “ah-lee-gah-toh!”

If you change these sounds as recommended, your pronunciation will become much better and you won’t sound as foreign as before. One more important thing to make people understand your Japanese is to speak loud enough and clearly! Most of the time, people are too shy to speak foreign language feeling it’s embarrassing to make mistakes, but talking with confidence is the most important thing. Good luck!

After you have met and had a number of initial conversations with Japanese people in Japanese, you will start to notice certain conversational patterns repeatedly appearing.

While this might feel slightly disconcerting, it also enables you to become familiar with the particular topics that are likely to come up and to handle such conversations fairly proficiently, even early on in your studies.

Introductions in Initial Conversations

Of course, any conversation with someone you haven’t met before is likely to begin with you giving your name (なまえ,名前) and your home country (くに,国). Talk may then progress to one’s job (しごと,仕事). This often includes mentioning the name of one’s company, if it is well known, and, for Japanese, one’s job status, using a set of terms that specifically and universally define one’s place in the company hierarchy. The question about how long (どのぐらい) you have been in the country may also be raised.

After these pleasantries, one might expect that the conversation would branch off into any number of other possible topic areas, precluding a beginner from being able to prepare or practice any phrases that might be useful. However, in fact, the conversation’s flow may not be as unpredictable as you might think (note that the involvement of alcohol might dramatically increase the unpredictability of your conversation’s path).

Other Common Topics in Japanese

After introductions have been made, foreigners will then surprisingly often be asked what their favorite Japanese food (にほんりょうり,日本料理) is, or indeed whether they can eat Japanese food or specifically raw fish at all. This may reflect a widely held conception in Japan that Westerners don’t eat fish (we do indeed eat less).

After you have convinced your interlocutor of your taste for sushi (すし,寿司), okonomiyaki (Japanese savoury pancakes), or takoyaki (octopus dumpling balls), you will often find the issue of your favorite hobbies (しゅみ,趣味) being raised. You may be taken aback if your typical response back home to such a question would be “beer and sleeping,” but the ‘hobby’ is a serious business in Japan, often a focus of dedication and pride rather than a lighthearted way to spend a few free hours from time to time. An additional and key question that may arise is ‘Nihon wa dou desu ka?’ (日本はど うですか, What do you think of Japan?). Here a number of responses are available.

One possible reply is ‘Sumeba miyako’ (住めば都,すめばみやこ, roughly translatable as ‘Wherever you live is best’) or, even better, ‘Daisuki desu’ (大好きです,だいすきで す, I love it!).

Japanese grammar, although it has its share of irregular forms, and can be a challenge to master, often has a logic to it that makes it suited for learning through pattern practice. Pattern practice is a way of remembering a certain grammar form, not by remembering where the verb and noun go and how they work together, but by remembering a pattern and doing substitution of one or more of the parts.

Pattern practice is especially useful for learners who remember best by “doing” or “speaking” or “acting” on the language. The repetitive nature of this type of study can also be of great benefit to learners who learn through rote.

With many languages, pattern practice usually means replacing the subject or verb or adjectives in a sentence. When speaking Japanese, there is often a predetermined grammar pattern that only requires changing the form of the verb and fitting it in.

Examples of Japanese Pattern Practice

As I mentioned above, there are often mouthfuls of predetermined grammar or wording in Japanese that only needs a properly formatted verb in it to work.

One example of this is how we say “You HAVE TO…” or “You MUST…” in Japanese. There are many ways to say this, and most of them work well with pattern practice.

A common form is, using the verb “suru” or “shimasu” which means “to do”, would look something like this:

“…suru hitsuyo ga arimasu”

In this case, the dictionary form of “suru” is used followed by “-hitsuyo ga arimasu” which doesn’t change no matter what verb is used. The ending part literally means “– there is a necessity.”

Now using the pattern, a Japanese learner can make as many sentences as verbs they know, and even more with the help of an English – Japanese dictionary.

Here are some examples of this pattern in action:

Given that “to work” is “hataraku” or “shigoto suru”, we can say:

“Hataraku hitsuyo ga arimasu.” Or “Shigoto suru hitsuyo ga arimasu.” Both of these mean “I have to work.”

Any dictionary form of a Japanese verb can be used in this place from “love” or “ai suru” to “sing” or “utau” to “dance” or “odoru”.

Using Patterns When Teaching Japanese

As valuable as pattern practice can be to people learning Japanese independently, it can be an indispensible way for teachers and tutors to add a little fun, action, and practicality to their classes. With speaking exercises, a teacher or study partner can show a flashcard with a written word on it and the student can then substitute it into the trend.

A list of words can also be provided for students to substitute in. Trend practice is also a great way to teach new Japanese vocabulary by giving students a chance to use new words in an actual sentence. An example of this is if the class were practicing with adjectives, all that is needed is a base sentence and a list of adjectives to start.

Words can be given to make students use the trend making their own creative changes…

“Chocoreto wa amakute oishii desu.” = Chocolate is sweet and delicious.

If the word “wasabi” is thrown out to students, they could respond:

“Wasabi wa karakute oishii desu.” Using the adjective “karai” which means spicy to correspond with the given word “wasabi”.

A series of vocabulary words pertaining to foods and flavors can be reviewed through pattern practice, while also practicing adjective lists as well.

Pattern Practice for Learning Japanese Independently

Another great use of the trend sentence is that it can be done individually to practice grammar and vocabulary. All a person needs is a good sentence and a list of words that might fit the model, and a great, quick, and highly effective study session can be had. Even if the grammar formula and substitution makes for some non-sensical sentences, often it’s enough to be using and becoming accustomed to the language fast. For this, pattern practice is invaluable.

Conclusion and Applying Pattern Practice in the Real World

When learning Japanese, you can’t prepare for every situation you might meet when actually speaking with people or using Japanese in the real world. However, experience with patterns can prepare learners to use new or unfamiliar words effectively. Native Japanese speakers can often guess the missing word based on the pattern used and the context of a conversation.

Some of the same things that make Japanese culture so accommodating, fascinating, and wonderful to be involved with can also pose challenges to people who want to learn Japanese. For people learning Japanese, it can help to be prepared for these challenges and have some insight about what to do to overcome them.

Japanese Will Try to Use English

For short time visitors to Japan, or people who are not interested in learning the language, the willingness of many Japanese people to use English can come as a great relief. In fact, many people will try to use English even when spoken to in Japanese. This can be a huge source of frustration for Japanese learners who want to try their best to use it.

As someone who wants to speak Japanese, there are several things you can do. First, it’s important to remember that most people are using English because they think it’s the courteous, friendly thing to do. As soon as you let them know you’d like to practice your Japanese, some of them will be so strict that they won’t even revert to English when you’re floundering.

In shops and stores, the best thing to do is be insistent. Remember that the clerks mean no harm when they respond in English to Japanese, but it’s important to hold your ground and continue to speak Japanese. It may be some consolation when they are responding in English to what you said in Japanese because at least it shows that they understood what you said!

Compliments and Feedback on Your Japanese Skills

Sometimes people in Japan are so happy to see someone from another country attempt to master their language, they will compliment you in excess of your actual skill. I know of people who have been turned off of Japanese after they were complimented on their poorly spoken Japanese. One friend said, “Why should I bother learning the right way to say something if they’ll compliment me for saying “Arigato” which everyone knows anyway?”

It can be a bit demotivating to be complimented in such a way. This is related to the problem of feedback as well. People will also very kindly tell you how well you speak Japanese even if you know you are making mistakes. As stated above, this all comes from a very good place and people mean well, however, they often don’t have many other non-Japanese friends to compare. In that sense, based on their experience, your Japanese may be quite good.

One thing you can do to get more accurate and useful feedback about your speaking is to be specific. When a chance arises during a conversation, repeat your last sentence and ask if you’d said it correctly. Ask for sample sentences for new words. Ask them how they would have said the same thing.

Other Challenges Presented by Japanese Culture

One other challenge that Japanese culture poses to people seeking to learn Japanese is that there are a slew of terms, vocabulary, and situations that are uniquely Japanese. There are many simple vocabulary words – foods, animals, household items that are uncommon in other countries and so may not be defined very well in dictionaries.

There are also single words that express concepts that may require complete sentences in English. The reverse is also true. One example of this is the word “Yappari” which can best be described as meaning “as expected” but is used far more frequently in Japanese than in English. With different intonations, this simple term can be used to show either a positive or negative feeling about a result, and may even be used to imply that something was inevitable.

In addition to what is mentioned above, it is helpful to remember that although everyone in Japan is different, there are a lot of ideas shared by people raised in Japan. When asked to draw the hands on a clock, an overwhelming majority of people raised in Japan will draw them indicating 3 o’clock. The reason? This is the traditional time for oyatsu or a snack… and possibly the first time that many kids actually teach themselves to recognize. It is this kind of cultural consistency that can be daunting, but also a lot of fun for people to experience and accept when learning Japanese.