I’m kinda a weeb as the westerns would call it and that’s sorta half the reason why I want to learn the language (i want to read those light novels dammit xd) But I’m kinda embarrassed about learning because of that reason hahaha kinda stupid eh <–(im canadian) I know Chinese so I think it should be easier for me to read since I recognize some of the words (i believe its called kanji?) anyways I’m wondering of there’s a place where I can get started either a site or app I can use to help me learn how to read and speak it.
(not sure if this type of post is allowed mods just remove if so or someone tell me and ill remove)
Thanks for reading
18 comments
Just learn it.
Start with Lingodeer
http://www.n-lab.org/library/shiryo/image.html?from=groupmessage
My Japanese teacher gave me this.
Hope it can help you.
If you’re looking to read, start with[ hiragana](https://www.tofugu.com/japanese/learn-hiragana/) and [katakana](https://www.tofugu.com/japanese/learn-katakana/). Afterwards, I recommend [Wanikani](https://www.wanikani.com) for learning kanji. You can do the first three levels for free. For grammar, I recommend starting with [Tae Kim’s guide](http://www.guidetojapanese.org/learn/grammar) and maybe moving to a textbook like Genki later if you want. After you learn some Japanese grammar and kanji, pick up a dictionary, grab a light novel, and start trying! The best way to become better is to jump into raw Japanese material. Just make sure it isn’t too difficult, or you might get discouraged. As for speaking, that’s a little more difficult, but there are apps and websites that you can use to find practice partners. Good luck!
If your friends make fun of you for something you’re interested are they really your friends? Do whatever you want man, life’s short!
I can’t say for your group of friends but in Japan no one cares. I’ve seen perfectly ordinary people read manga on the bus, walk into anime merch stores, and even use gachapon machines. I once asked a Japanese person whether or not they cared if foreigners came to Japan because they liked anime and he answered something along the lines of “of course not, we like anime too after all”. So at least in that regard you needn’t worry. As for your friends, there shouldn’t really be a need to be embarrassed. Anything needs a reason to start out, and chances are the reasons for which you’ll want to keep going will be different. Oftentimes it’s completely trivial after all. If it really bothers you you could always just lie.
Go for it man. for me it’s the most rewarding feeling when I’m able to read something or say something in Japanese.
Just do it, you can’t let others decide what you want to do with your life. Do something fun, something you think you’ll enjoy 🙂
Having these interests and acting socially awkward/obsessed are two different things. They don’t have to go hand in hand.
Don’t feel weird about it. I started learning it to be able to consume Japanese content like LNs, manga, anime and video games that don’t make it over west. I’d like to make some friends over there I could communicate with as well. Knowing the little I know was helpful when I visited Japan last year. My wife and I talked about yearly trips to Japan in the next couple of years so I can have a reason to continue to build my ability.
Everyone has a reason to learn a language 🙂 It’s whatever motivates you to get it done.
I don’t really have any suggestions for you but knowing Chinese/kanji should definitely help. And also many people learn languages just to learn them so having a reason to learn it isn’t really a detriment whatever it may be. If you’re embarrassed you can just make up some random excuse anyways
So I’m a westerner living in Japan. When I meet people for the first time here I sometimes get asked “what anime do you like?”. They assume that because I’m a westerner living in Japan, I’m one of those “weabos” (is that spelled right?), but I’m not. I just tell them that “I don’t watch anime”, and the conversation ends there. I would imagine that if people put you in that category, but you deny it immediately and don’t otherwise act like one, then why would continue to think so?
If you already know Chinese that’s going to help you a lot with understanding the meaning of kanji, but the pronunciation and grammar is completely different.
/r/cringe
Use Duolingo, the Japanese course is an amazing start and you will learn all the kana with some kanji naturally, がんばって！！！！
I’m Chinese as well and the learning method for people who can read Chinese would be a bit different from my experience. You won’t have to learn how to write kanji much and even if you run into one that you don’t know how to write, you would know it in 20 seconds just by putting a little bit of effort in it. I write in simplified Chinese but for my friends who write traditional Chinese it’s even easier to learn. The downside of that is, you can’t just assume they always mean the same thing because they don’t and sometimes will throw you off really hard.
I started off by memorizing hiragana and katakana, and then using either the Chinese textbook 新标准日语 or 大家的日语 (minna no nihingo). 沪江日语 is a Chinese website that has complete video lessons ranging from level N5 to N1. The common English textbook series here used in universities is Genki, which you might find quite easy because you know Chinese, but it’s super straightforward to follow, good for self-studying. On youtube there are also tons of resources and lessons available as well.
You’re not a real weeb until you have two inches of dandruff snow on your shoulders because you refuse to bathe, you only know 5 phrases in Japanese and they’re all Edo samurai style, and you start carrying a katana in your car.
If anyone thinks you’re a weeb just because you study Japanese and like light novels, they can fuck right off.
I started learning Japanese for weeby reasons many many years ago. But as you learn a language you will almost invariably learn more about the culture as well, and most likely you will also find things you never expected that you like. I got really into classic movies, for some it’s literature, or shibari, or martial arts, or tea ceremony, or music, or tattoos, or the fascinating language itself. Just start learning if you have the motivation, and soon you’ll have ten possible answers to anyone asking why you are studying Japanese.
I also went from Chinese to japanese. Its definitely helpful when memorizing kanji but not so much reading an actual text. Japanese from Zero is a really good source that I use. There is a series of textbooks that aren’t that expensive, that are not a total bore and have good exercises. They sort of build up reading hiragana, katakana and then kanji instead of just dumping everything on you like some textbooks do but they also don’t leave out anything necessary like others Ive tried do. The author is a native english speaker who understands what english speakers are challenged with the most. They also have all of the lessons on youtube for free which the author instructs. So you can get listening practice too or just try it out.
To be honest if you’re that embarrassed you don’t have to tell people. Just learn by yourself. Or make up a reason other than your real reason.
I think /r/learnjapanese has some resources and you should consider taking a class too.