Learning Japanese

Table of Contents

Learning a new language can be a rewarding yet challenging endeavor. Japanese, with its unique script and cultural nuances, offers a fascinating linguistic journey. This comprehensive 30-day course will guide you through the essentials of Japanese, covering the basics of grammar, vocabulary, pronunciation, and cultural insights. By the end of this course, you’ll have a solid foundation in Japanese and be ready to further your language studies.

Introduction

Why Learn Japanese?

Japanese is the gateway to understanding Japan’s rich culture, technology, and business opportunities. Whether for travel, work, or personal growth, learning Japanese opens numerous doors.

Course Structure

This 30-day course is divided into daily lessons focusing on different aspects of the language. Each lesson includes vocabulary, grammar points, practice exercises, and cultural tips.

Day 1-5: Getting Started

Day 1: Introduction to Japanese Scripts

  • Hiragana: Learn the basic characters and their pronunciations.
  • Katakana: Understand the usage of katakana for foreign words.
  • Kanji: Introduction to basic kanji characters.

Day 2: Basic Greetings and Expressions

  • Greetings: Ohayou (Good morning), Konnichiwa (Hello), Konbanwa (Good evening)
  • Common Phrases: Arigatou (Thank you), Sumimasen (Excuse me), Onegaishimasu (Please)

Day 3: Numbers and Counting

  • Basic Numbers: 1-10 (ichi, ni, san, shi, go, roku, shichi, hachi, kyuu, juu)
  • Counting Objects: How to count different objects (hitotsu, futatsu, mittsu, etc.)

Day 4: Introducing Yourself

  • Self-Introduction: Watashi wa [name] desu. (I am [name].)
  • Basic Questions: Anata wa? (And you?), O-genki desu ka? (How are you?)

Day 5: Pronunciation Tips

  • Vowel Sounds: A, I, U, E, O
  • Consonant Pronunciation: Practice common consonant sounds

Day 6-10: Building Vocabulary

Day 6: Family Members

  • Immediate Family: Haha (Mother), Chichi (Father), Ani (Older brother), Ane (Older sister)
  • Extended Family: Oba (Aunt), Oji (Uncle)

Day 7: Daily Activities

  • Common Verbs: Taberu (to eat), Nomu (to drink), Neru (to sleep), Asobu (to play)
  • Routine Vocabulary: Gohan (meal), Mizu (water), Uchi (home)

Day 8: Days of the Week and Time

  • Days of the Week: Nichiyoubi (Sunday), Getsuyoubi (Monday), etc.
  • Telling Time: Ji (o’clock), Fun (minutes), Han (half past)

Day 9: Colors and Descriptions

  • Basic Colors: Aka (red), Ao (blue), Shiro (white), Kuro (black)
  • Descriptive Adjectives: Ookii (big), Chiisai (small), Kirei (beautiful)

Day 10: Food and Drink

  • Common Foods: Gohan (rice), Sakana (fish), Niku (meat), Yasai (vegetables)
  • Beverages: Ocha (tea), Kohii (coffee), Mizu (water)

Day 11-15: Grammar Essentials

Day 11: Sentence Structure

  • Basic Sentence Order: Subject-Object-Verb (SOV)
  • Particles: Wa (subject marker), O (object marker), Ni (location/time marker)

Day 12: Verb Conjugation

  • Present Tense: Masu form (tabemasu – eat, nomimasu – drink)
  • Negative Form: Masen (tabemasen – do not eat, nomimasen – do not drink)

Day 13: Adjectives and Their Forms

  • i-Adjectives: Atsui (hot), Samui (cold)
  • na-Adjectives: Kirei (clean/beautiful), Shizuka (quiet)

Day 14: Asking Questions

  • Question Words: Nani (what), Doko (where), Itsu (when), Naze (why)
  • Forming Questions: Adding “ka” at the end of a statement

Day 15: Using Particles

  • Topic Marker (wa): Watashi wa gakusei desu. (I am a student.)
  • Object Marker (o): Ringo o tabemasu. (I eat an apple.)

Day 16-20: Practical Conversations

Day 16: Shopping and Numbers

  • Shopping Phrases: Kore wa ikura desu ka? (How much is this?), Kaemasen ka? (Can I buy this?)
  • Currency: Yen (¥) and common prices

Day 17: At the Restaurant

  • Ordering Food: Menyu o kudasai. (Please give me the menu.), Kore o kudasai. (This please.)
  • Polite Expressions: Itadakimasu (I humbly receive), Gochisousama (Thank you for the meal)

Day 18: Directions and Transportation

  • Asking Directions: Doko desu ka? (Where is it?), Massugu (straight), Migi (right), Hidari (left)
  • Transport Vocabulary: Densha (train), Basu (bus), Takushi (taxi)

Day 19: Making Plans

  • Scheduling: Ashita (tomorrow), Kyou (today), Raishuu (next week)
  • Inviting: Issho ni ikimasen ka? (Would you like to go together?)

Day 20: Expressing Preferences

  • Likes and Dislikes: Suki desu (I like), Kirai desu (I dislike)
  • Preferences: Sukina tabemono wa nan desu ka? (What is your favorite food?)

Day 21-25: Deepening Understanding

Day 21: Cultural Insights

  • Etiquette: Bowing, removing shoes, gift-giving customs
  • Important Festivals: New Year (Shogatsu), Cherry Blossom Festival (Hanami)

Day 22: Intermediate Grammar

  • Past Tense: -mashita form (tabemashita – ate, nomimashita – drank)
  • Conditional Form: -tara (tabetara – if you eat, mitara – if you see)

Day 23: Complex Sentences

  • Conjunctions: Soshite (and), Demo (but), Dakara (therefore)
  • Relative Clauses: Watashi ga katta hon (the book that I bought)

Day 24: Honorifics and Formality

  • Levels of Formality: Using -san, -sama, -kun, -chan
  • Polite Speech: Keigo forms

Day 25: Writing Practice

  • Hiragana and Katakana Practice: Writing simple sentences
  • Kanji Practice: Common kanji characters and their meanings

Day 26-30: Advanced Topics and Review

Day 26: Advanced Vocabulary

  • Workplace Terms: Kaisha (company), Kaigi (meeting), Joushi (boss)
  • Technology Terms: Konpyuutaa (computer), Intaanetto (internet)

Day 27: Listening and Speaking Practice

  • Listening Exercises: Watch Japanese shows or listen to podcasts
  • Speaking Practice: Conversing with language partners or using language apps

Day 28: Reading and Comprehension

  • Reading Practice: Simple books, manga, or articles
  • Comprehension Questions: Answering questions about the text

Day 29: Writing and Composition

  • Writing Essays: Short essays on familiar topics
  • Feedback and Correction: Reviewing and correcting mistakes

Day 30: Final Review and Next Steps

  • Comprehensive Review: Revisiting all topics covered
  • Planning Further Studies: Resources and tips for continued learning

Conclusion

Learning Japanese in 30 days is a challenging yet achievable goal with dedication and consistent practice. This course provides a structured approach to mastering the basics of Japanese, setting a solid foundation for further studies. Remember, language learning is a continuous journey, and regular practice will help you achieve fluency.