is japanese easy to learn?

Answer 1

I would have to say no.
I'm taking Japanese, and although I think I am making a lot of progress, I am nowhere near the point where it will actually become useful.
Things that make it difficult:
---Writing systems: There are three different writing systems, hiragana, katakana, and kanji. Kanji are very extensive, and while hiragana and katakana are like alphabets, kanji are used in place of words, and it's impossible to read Japanese without them. Stroke order, and balance are important when writing kanji, and many people find this difficult(I know I do! My kanji look terrible!)
---Intonation: I often have trouble with intonation. The way that you say a word, the pitch, affects the meaning sometimes, because certain words that use the same sounds can mean different things. Example(although it was already said) ame=rain and candy
---Verbs: although verbs in Japanese are not conjugated by subject (like in Spanish) there are different forms you need to learn. Example: "te" form is commonly used in different combinations, as well as "nai" form, which is informal negative. I won't go into detail about that.
---Grammar: The placement of words in a sentance can get confusing the longer and more complex a sentance gets. Combine this with the numbers of particles you need to learn, the kanji, and the vocab, and even the most simple of sentances(To a Japanese person) can seem daunting.
---Politness and respect: Like mentioned before, there are different ways to say what you want, depending on who you are talking to. Talking to and acquaintance is different than talking to a friend, obviously. But there are also specific ways to address people, such as bosses and teachers.

Japanese is very complex, and so is their culture. It's difficult, but if you have a knack for language, it can still be fun!

Answer 2

I took Spanish one million, two and three in high school and determined it a LOT less complicated than Japanese. I took each external of institution and used to be ready to take hold of Spanish less complicated considering it makes use of the equal characters and a few phrases are very identical. Now I can learn Spanish just about fluently and will realize a couple of terms spoken :) I'm nonetheless within the procedure with Japanese regardless that.

Answer 3

Complicated question...

For some it is, and others not. It all depends on your native facility for picking up languages.

It's easy, in that the toughest part of learning a foreign language is almost always verb conjugations. In Japanese most verbs are not conjugated making it simple. The "I, you, he/she/it, we, You, they" that makes other languages difficult is simple in Japanese.

To Understand = Wakarimasu.
I Understand = Wakarimasu
You understand = Wakarimasu
He/she/it understands = Wakarimasu. etc, etc,...

The tough part of Japanese is twofold: reading it, and understanding "place."

Japanese has three styles of writing: Kanji, Hitigana & Katagana.
Unfortunately they must all be memorized; and many westerners find this impossible to do.

Also, there is the problem with "place." Japan is a very highly structured society -- very hierarchical. Thus there are different speech patterns for speaking to ones peers, subordinates and superiors. There are five ways of saying everything; and every one of them is appropriate for a certain place in the hierarchy of things:

Thank You = Domo
= Arigato
= Domo Arigato
= Domo Arigato Go-ziamasu
= Domo Arigato Go-ziamasu-shita.

If you can work your way through that -- the rest is easy...

Hope this helps. Cheers, mate.

Answer 4

I found it quite easy to pick up simple phrases and terms. Some of the other answers you've already received have been quite good.

I found listening to a CD/Mp3 to learn Japanese very helpful- before I moved ot Japan I already knew alot of basics to get by. I reccommend Pimsleurs' Learn Japanese as it's quite easy to follow.

Japanese phrases are very short and simple. They take only a few words to say alot and get your point across. It's all about the pacing and rhythm of the words. In comparison, I had a much harder time learning French all those years in high school & elementary.

The audio guides were a lot easier to use and retain knowledge than some Japanese book, although Japanese for Dummies book is good as a reference guide.

Answer 5

Extremely difficult for me anyway. Been playing with learning Japanese for 2 years. My daughter-in-law is Japanese and she loves when I butcher her native language. She says it's funnier than anything she has heard in her life. She still won't tell me what some of the phrases I butcher really mean. :)

Answer 6

♡I think it all depends on a few things, at least in MY case it did...
WHERE you're learning it, HOW you're learning it and from WHOM you're learning it.
I will admit that it is difficult!
The language wasn't the hardest thing for me to pick up, I live with a Japanese husband here in Japan, so that helped me a lot.
The hardest part has been the kanji～Ahhhh, the kanji!
As with everything, some people learn faster than others do too. So, it all depends...
Good luck if you decide to learn Japanese.
Ganbatte ne!♡

Answer 7

I was a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints for 2 years and for foreign speaking missionaries we go to the MTC (missionary/language training center) in the States.

Those going to Sth America/spanish speaking are there for 2 weeks or so, and upon leaving many are pretty much fluent in Spanish.

But those going to Japan are there for 2 and a half months, and leave with conversational/teaching level Japanese.

After a few months to a year in Japan most of the gaijin missionaries are fluent, and the Japanese missionaries pick up English pretty quick too.

Its all about immersion and determination and study habits.

Answer 8

It is easy to pick up and pronounce as it is romanized. The only problem may be the grammar and the writing system.

There are 3 sets of writing/characters; Hiragana, Katakana and Kanji. Hiragana is the basic Japanese writing system, Katakana is used to pronounce western words and Kanji is basically Chinese characters.

Answer 9

Nothing is difficult unless you try and learn.
In how many years did you learn your native language? you know you did not learn in 6 months.

But any second language you could learn because you don't have to learn 100%. According to your question, I could not guess if you mean Speaking only or Reading, Writing and speaking.

There was a time when education was hard to learn but by using new techniques such as speed learning, we can learn fast. It depends on person.

Answer to your question is yes Japanese is easy if you first learn the base.

I can bet, in one month you can speak good Japanese if you want.

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Answer 10

Not really...?

Bottom line...

If you native language is a Subject-Object-Verb
(as in "Sam oranges eats") it'd be quit easy.

If you speak Korean as your native language (or as a foreign language with a decent fluency) it's gonna be very easy.

Nevertheless, if you study hard, interact with natives as much as possible (better yet, study abroad in Tokyo!), and adopt the Japanese culture as a second nature, etc. you'll be on your way to speak Japanese well!

It takes lots of hard work and effort (esp. for languages like Chinese, Arabic, Japanese, Korean, Latin, etc.) but once you get the hang of it, you'll start thinking in that language, etc. and it's wonderful and crazy at the same time.

Best wishes in learning Japanese.