i don't have time i go to the gym after school and then when i get home i'm so tired that i'm dead untill dinner after dinner i have to do my homework and go to bed cuz my circadian rhythm is really fucked up and i have to get up at like 04.30 in the morning gawd
When I saw this vid in my recomended line up I thought "A secret to learning Japanese." (Sacastically) The only secret to learing Japanese is practice and hard work, though I do also watch subbed anime but that's just because I haven't studied hard enough and One Piece only goes to 205 in english. Xp It's one of my resatutions this year to work hard on learning Japaese and writing my book.
where do you get the articles from. I searched them but only found some in kanji alone. I want to be able to read them through hiragana first. It's probably difficult to understand what im trynna say. Help...
If anyone wants me to I can send them a link to a really easy and simple way to learn Japanese or really any language. PM me and I'll shoot you a link to download Pimsleur's Japanese program. (the link won't work between midnight and noon Eastern Pacific time.)
There actually is a way to learn Japanese quickly and easily, it's called Pimsleur. A unique audio method that teaches you just like a child would learn.
i had to laugh sooo hard when you said "I'm watching Anime, with english subtitles " xD
because at first i thought i could learn japanese if i watch animes long enough xD
it worked with my english....i watched a lot of movies and Tv shows and now i'm quite good at it...but i knew at least some basics from school...in japanese i know...NOTHING !!xDso its even harder..i don't know where i should start to learn..today i learned the numbers xD but whats with the grammar or..idk...where do i start?
@Jessileinx3 Buy some reputable textbooks. My first university used Yookoso but I've heard Genki is good, too. They can be expensive but they're more 'fluid' than trying to use random grammar reference books and vocab books without instruction. They come with textbook, workbook and a CD set per level. From intro to advance we used two (more like one and a half) textbooks from Yookoso. Memorise the alphabets first (hiragana and katakana), and.. eh, the book paces you through it all. :)
@Jessileinx3 Couple it with listening and reading (dictionary on call!) to learn more vocab. Japanese websites, simple manga (Doraemon and Shinchan, maybe even Pokémon or DB/DBZ are some I've heard are elementary level). Speaking is the hard part if you're learning alone. Skype maybe? ^^;
I speak 3 Languages and its not about "hard work" its more about "Immersion".
I Learned fluent English(My grammar was even better) within 10 months of living in Canada, most of that time spending at home in the winter(which lasts around 7-8 months) playing video games and reading interesting books and articles on line.
Tofugu makes it sound like work but it isn't, Get the Alphabet down(achievable in about a week or 2) some basic Kanji and start immersing. have fun!!
@spetznas101 Any tips on learning the kanji? I have an android if there is a specific app your recc). I really would LOVE to learn Japanese and have always been really stumped on where to start, and what you have said is so obvious yet no other source has stated such a thing! :O
@spetznas101 I disagree, English is a different beast with only 26 letters. Japanese has thousands of characters. Immersion may be a definite plus, but if you keep hiding the fact there hardwork is involved, you'll get disappointed with your progress.
Immersion is not just a plus its the Main thing you need, hard work is the plus.
Hiragana has 48 "letters" and like mentioned earlier you can pretty much learn it within 2 weeks, same with Katakana. Its about Baby steps, you cant just say "Im gonna learn Japanese, and Gonna start by Remembering all 2000 Kanji" its just not realistic.
wanna know the #1 reason people give up? its because they set their goals impossibly High.
@spetznas101 I agree to everything you said except your point of immersion.
Immersion does not HAVE to be your main basis in learning languages, the holistic technique does just fine also, thats how my dad learned 2 languages with very little immersion.
you: do you guys wanna know the secret to learning japanese?
me: ... (i was thinking this btw) ... uhhh ur panda hat?
you : its not my panda hat.
lol wow >_>'' anyways imma check your site out, i hope u have japanese in writing/ typed, i rly need to practice besides using my old japanese workbooks (long story short i got transfered to a school with no japanese classes on my 4th yr of learning it T_T IM DOOMED! >_>)
I agree completely. At best, anime/japanese music/dramas are a supplement. It's important to be exposed to the language you are learning so that it feel's and sounds more natural to you, but it's very hard to learn a langue just by watching tv, and more often than not, you'll learn things incorrectly if that's all you do.
i study by writing a few symbols on my hand and their romaji below it before i go to bed at night and practice writing them throughout the day. then when i get home review what i know. write new symbols on my hand then repeat. :D
personally, i picked up quite a few words from watching anime... and then when i heard the words that i actually studied in anime it made the words that much more memorable. although i can count, say the alphabet (i think i'm pretty good with the "r" sound. ) and know some simple conversational japanese, i have absolutely no clue how to build a sentence... or write kanji (bought a book to work on). Anyone have any tips? Isshoukenmei ganbaru!!!
Once you get some basic words and principals of the language down, it all begins to kind of... flow together. Sometimes like a smooth gentle ride through Venice... and sometimes like a waterfall, in which you hit every rock on the way down with your head.
He's right u can't literally learn any language JUST by watching anime or any TV program or movie in general. The Best way to learn any language I THINK is by practicing with someone who is already fluent.. Because honestly by JUST reading text books and learning vocabulary you will not learn either...You need to combine everything that's how you best learn.... ALTHOUGH i do have to say I learned English in high school JUST BY listing to songs and translating them...so everything is possible...
For those who're siting Ken, who says he learned through anime, he might used it as a vehicle, but he still worked his ass off and put in literally thousands of hours into learning, memorizing and researching context,grammar etc etc.. What tofugu means, is that you can't learn Japanese literally by just sitting there and watching anime. It will not happen. Ever.
Well you know? I know enought english I dont need to much english listening, I was specting you to speak more japanesse. Now about leraning japanesse I have very simple trick I use to write histories, I only started translating them in hiragana all the letters that I can using it like a kind of code, the bad thing is that it may not work for you english speaking people, but its your fault for pronounce and write in different ways.
I completely agree! people do not realize that learning a language takes time! haha I'm learning Japanese Chinese and Korean right now. but Mainly Japanese. I stopped using anime as a source because I noticed a lot of the subbing was wrong. Now if they watch a show that uses a lot of normal conversation they can learn a lot of simple phrases which can be helpful. But in order to speak it fluently you have to practice it every day and get proper lessons so you can learn it correctly.
Well some people say that its not good to learn several languages at once, but I think that when they are similar (like in this case) or even from the same root, one language can help you with the other.
@olvvvvlo well I'm mainly focusing on Japanese right now (I speak and write it daily) but I am starting to pick up Korean and Chinese. also I agree. It just depends if a person can handle that many languages. I keep them in order for example. I say something in English that I know in Japanese so I will then say it in Japanese, then if I know it in a different language I will say that language next... and so forth. I love language so much! that I just can't help myself :)
I wanted to take Japanese at university, but unfortunately there are EVIL timetable clashes with my major... I guess I'll just have to teach myself! :(
@lismcorb you say phrases. Not grammar. Meaning, you could never make a sentence by yourself. Because you have know knowledge of grammar from anime. And if you went to Japan, you wouldn't understand a thing, and you will be yelled at for being impolite. Anime speaks mostly in slang. (and by the way, this is coming from a person with Japanese relatives). You are wrong.
I tried learning Nihongo through Dragonball, but I only learned how to grunt and yell for extended periods of time. At least Naruto has actual dialogue.
from watching anime, i think i understand certain words like suki,kirai, hana..yeah you need to study seriously if you want to understand and speak japanese correctly. im agree with that.
i honestly watch alot of anime, but that's not all why i want to learn Japanese, i am also interested in they're culture, so yea i am willing to make it a priority, i think one of my goals in life is to learn, a language that i would like to learn. but sadly no one will teach me...
I completely agree with you on the whole "watching anime makes me learn NAO durr hurr" people. Weaboos. Watcha gonna do, eh?
I've been trying very hard over the last three months to learn Japanese... I keep forgetting the stuff I learn lol XD Any extra tips? Other than forcing yourself to read atricles in Japanese (because I've been doing that now lol)?
@PushMyCarr You're right. But the way people speak Japanese in Anime is completely different from real life so if you're learning Japanese from Anime, you may develop a weird Anime accent.
@ZXShadow1 I used to watch a lot of American cartoons back when I was learning English, say Invader Zim for example. I most certainly didn't adopt his weird accent. ^^ Don't worry. =)
@PushMyCarr The problem with anime, is that they usually use very rude speech. So if you learned it that way, then you would sound really rude when you spoke it. Plus you wouldn't learn all of the daily said things in Japan. How about you answer these simple questions in Japanese.
Ogenki desu ka?
Onamae wa?
Anata wa otoko desu ka?
On'na desu ka?
I bet that at the most, you only know what half of them mean. I you learn Japanese from anime, you won't learn the basic things.
@PushMyCarr I know I might be to late for you but, be careful there are many "phrases" in Japanese that are used in anime that would be considered unacceptable to use in conversation. This doesn't matter if your just gonna watch anime. however don't plan on doing business out there using "anime slang"
@Patchplays Like I said to someone else here,I am not native English speaker and I learned my English by watching cartoons like Scooby-Doo, and let me tell you I would never use phrases like "Jinkies!" and "Jeepers!" in any situation, not to mention business ones.
So don't worry about slang (witch is actually quiet important to know if you ask me), and don't underestimate the power of human brain (witch evolved in the first place in order to accommodate human speech).
@PushMyCarr You might be able to learn fundamental words and basic complete sentences through anime in like plain form, but learning the structures and all the different forms and tenses and verbs (there are so many verbs), takes years of study and a lot of practise.
@PushMyCarr what he meant was that you can't make anime ur main source for learning japanese!, and subs are not that accurate, taking lessons from text books, teachers, blogs, or even flash cards wud get you on the right road! make learning form anime a secondary choice not a main one!
@Linaq1994 So true. I always prefer subs over dubs because subs don't have the whole issue of lip synch to push them off even further from a direct translation but they can be pretty far in the first place.
So funny, bro. You deserve an award. Thanks. What's funny is I've been studying Japanese for only a few days and I understood a lot of what you said. I WILL persevere...so...thaat...I can finally watch hot anime hentai without the subtitles blocking their hot cartoony bodies. lololol.
I spend several hours a day learning/memorizing Kanji. Usually by doing something like writing them hundreds of times by hand on blank paper. And sometimes by doing things like writing my file folders and other things in Kanji. For instance, renaming music folders 音楽. I assume that's a good study practice.
3 things,1. you are EPIC, the video about the R made my life exponentally better. 2. Naruto = Death, there are so much better animes.(which I'm sure you know, just Naruto,.... not a fan.) 3. I have actually learned phrases like "I am sorry" and " fool" (baka) by watching subbed anime. It's simple association, But no seriously... you are amazing! <3 Arigato!!
i know spanish and english and it JUST NOW occurred to me to learn japanese D; lolz im 18 now and i love to draw (i always have), and manga (just like most cases) inspired me ^-^<3 gah....ima keep persevering :3 at least i know how to count to 20 :DD<3
my method is to start with the "alphabet" like people do for all languages. In less than a week "studying" less than 20 minutes every 2 days I've managed to learn all the Hiragana and Katakana kanas lol I've been watching animes for like 2 weeks now, and that is a HUGE help, I can understand like 20 % of what they say and they mostly speak slang, so it's kinda hard to study that.
You are absolutely write, PERSEVERANCE is the key!
hi i have a question, recently i started to try to learn japanese alone, and start browsing about anyone who has any information about how to start learning, what i notice is that almost everybody who learned by themselves thinks that the traditional way to learn a language its just to slow, and there is better methods, i wonder if for me where its important being able to read, hear and talk what method should i use, i really dont care for writing at least for now, do you have any sugestions.
i go to a ghetto school and they don't teach us anything but Spanish. it sucks. so,, i'm learning Japanese through other programs and places on youtube:P its confusing.. サラ (//_^)
would I just hurt myself if I tried to learn katakana and hiragana at the same time? I figured I would make up some flash cards in both. then quiz myself and practice writing both. but everyone is always saying that they learn one and then the other,.,.,seems like a waste of time to me.
Agreed...I have been learning it for almost three months solid and I AM STILL HORRIBLE AT IT! I have ALWAYS wanted to learn Japanese...even before I knew about anime! Like he says KEEP AT IT! I am slowly but surely able to hold a conversation!!
get a japanese male friend and thats the best way to learn jpnz. but if you got a female one, your jpnz will sound like a gay. yeah i know that anime is good for learning jpnz, but you may become stranger than a stranger in japan(but dont worry im a jpnz and i may be stranger than anybody...wellcome to the club!)
I study every day, listed closly to the locals, hired a tutor, and will be starting collage classes soon! Japan is fuckn' great! Havn't seen any Naruto sence I've been here. However, OnePiece is EVERYWHERE.
lol kinda true. learning japanese through game and anime isn't that easy. it only work if you have real interest towards it. it took me about, few years just to learn the basic of the basic of japanese by playing japanese game and watching anime. taking classes now , it help a lot. :D
Being a self-study person, I find it morally uplifting to watch you emit so much positive attitude, the panda hat has done it's work :) *continues studying*
This was fantastic XD I've been learning by myself using all the genki books (I,2, Intermediate) and if you apply the time to your studies, it really does pay off. I've been studying for about 3 years now, but I have to say that watching copious amounts of anime on the side HAS helped. But ONLY because it gives me more examples of what I have learned. There is no way to just learn Japanese by just watching anime. That would be silly. I can understand a lot without subs, but I still use them.
i know this is a very old video of yours and you probably will dismiss this comment but i just want to tell you that i very much liked your video and it inspires me to continue to learn japanese. I an a newbie to learning and it is pretty difficult to getting the hang of the language (especially learning the kanji) but i am motivated and my goal is to become fluent. Thanks for motivating me!!
HE'S LYING!! THE SECRET IS THE PANDA HAT!!! also im an otaku, i cosplay, watch anime, read manga, do everything, i also study japanese culture, im trying my heardest to learn japanese, most of the time i watch animes w/ subs but sometimes i watch without subs just normal japanese language (no im not trying to learn japaenes from watching animes), i seriously try everything to learn japanese, ive printed out so many things, made a japanese folder... and it all makes sence.. i need a panda hat...
I am an otaku, but i learn japanese from studying and not from anime. i mean, i learn some slang from anime, but i don' use it to learn the actual language. ^^ i don't like it how people go and try to learn the whole language from anime with english subs. btw, i love your hat. =)
Well done sir, you caught my attention in just one video lol. I was pissing and moaning over how hard learning was after I've spent like 3 days with Rosetta Stone. I've been on it like 1.5-2 hours every day and right when I understand what it's teaching me, it throws something else out and trips my ass up lol. But none the less I'll keep it up knowing that this will be hard as shit. ありがとございます
for me i start with memorizing phrases becuase that way i wont neccisarily need to know the grammer and i wont feel too over whelmed. even if i was to learn the grammer i wouldn't have much to show for it if i didnt know what to say. im also currently learning kanji grade 1. so hopefull in 4 years when i get my diploma i will know japanese and be able to survive there
I really want to learn japanese , cause someday i want to go to japan so i could watch anime , and its latest episode , 4 that reason alone i want to learn japanese , just 4 anime , ahahha , i buy and read japanese dictionaries but , my head hurts after hours of reading ,ahahah , im only 14 , but i want to learn japanese because of anime , ahahah,
by the way , you are great in the video , you could penetrate on peoples heart , CHAR !! ahaha , cause you know what we were goin thru , ahahha
I learned English through Cartoon Network... In Norway we are expected to be fluent in English by the age of 16(When I say fluent, I do mean FLUENT.), and like I said, I learned English(at least my foundation) from American cartoons. Do you want to know what my grades in English are? Straight 6's every single semester(6 is the best possible grade in Norway).
However, I understand that there are many sides of Japanese which are near impossible to learn through anime, like the "alphabets".
@lizthedreamer Build listening comprehension first. What's the point of speaking if you can't understand a single word that's coming out of their mouths? Listening is by far more important than speaking. Also learn Kanji at the same time. Babies learn to listen first, and THEN they develop speaking. Because if your listening skills are garbage, you cannot speak, period. Anyone can learn to speak a Japanese sentence, but if they can't understand the response..then it's pointless.
haha i have been writing/practicing Japanese for a few months now and when i first started anime did help me learn how to pronounce the words i didn't haven to listen to anything so anime helps a little
i study by using my ipod...there are lots of great free apps that help you first understand the hiragana,katakana, and kanji. not to mention they also help with your grammer....its like reteaching what you learned in grammer school except in japanese.
i have dreams when I wake one morning and i can't speak english anymore. I can only speak Japanese (or French) and everyone thinks im lying and no one understands what I'm saying....it was awesome.
hahahaha! xD You´re funny! :D
phes1enmi 10 minutes ago
X'D love it!
good job man! .... amazing! ;D
kYOxNOxKoKORo 5 hours ago
i don't have time i go to the gym after school and then when i get home i'm so tired that i'm dead untill dinner after dinner i have to do my homework and go to bed cuz my circadian rhythm is really fucked up and i have to get up at like 04.30 in the morning gawd
lovehurtsfuckers 4 days ago
i dont watch anime with english sub. i watch anime thats english dub.
icepods 5 days ago
@icepods
Do you have any idea how bad voice acting in anime between Japanese/American voice actors.
Japanese voice actors= A diamond encrusted gold ferrarri that goes from 0-60 in 22 seconds
American voice actors= the cardboard box you had in kindergarten that you drew wheels on and shouted "vrrooooooom" "Beep Beep"
thebeardlessman 19 hours ago
I tried learning Japanese through animes once...
I only learned like 5 words, the honorifics.
Lol and I had to search up how to form basic sentences in Japanese...
DO NOT TRY TO LEARN JAPANESE BY WATCHING ANIME.
GTFOVevo 1 week ago
i agree with him.....
animeballetnya 1 week ago
are you fucking kiddin' me ...
Grey0002 1 week ago
When I saw this vid in my recomended line up I thought "A secret to learning Japanese." (Sacastically) The only secret to learing Japanese is practice and hard work, though I do also watch subbed anime but that's just because I haven't studied hard enough and One Piece only goes to 205 in english. Xp It's one of my resatutions this year to work hard on learning Japaese and writing my book.
VampireLilyHellsing 1 week ago
where do you get the articles from. I searched them but only found some in kanji alone. I want to be able to read them through hiragana first. It's probably difficult to understand what im trynna say. Help...
kingcrash5 1 week ago
If anyone wants me to I can send them a link to a really easy and simple way to learn Japanese or really any language. PM me and I'll shoot you a link to download Pimsleur's Japanese program. (the link won't work between midnight and noon Eastern Pacific time.)
Thatguywiththelaptop 1 week ago
@Thatguywiththelaptop That is unless I send you a message telling you otherwise.
Thatguywiththelaptop 1 week ago
There actually is a way to learn Japanese quickly and easily, it's called Pimsleur. A unique audio method that teaches you just like a child would learn.
Thatguywiththelaptop 2 weeks ago
@Thatguywiththelaptop tell me more please?
Matt2779 1 week ago
@Matt2779 I need to be your friend to send you a link to everything.
Thatguywiththelaptop 1 week ago
OH LAWD. "I'm always Sakura, 'cause I like hentai . . ." LOL.
JelloFlavoredSkittle 2 weeks ago
lol
loco200069 2 weeks ago
i had to laugh sooo hard when you said "I'm watching Anime, with english subtitles " xD
because at first i thought i could learn japanese if i watch animes long enough xD
it worked with my english....i watched a lot of movies and Tv shows and now i'm quite good at it...but i knew at least some basics from school...in japanese i know...NOTHING !!xDso its even harder..i don't know where i should start to learn..today i learned the numbers xD but whats with the grammar or..idk...where do i start?
Jessileinx3 2 weeks ago
@Jessileinx3 Buy some reputable textbooks. My first university used Yookoso but I've heard Genki is good, too. They can be expensive but they're more 'fluid' than trying to use random grammar reference books and vocab books without instruction. They come with textbook, workbook and a CD set per level. From intro to advance we used two (more like one and a half) textbooks from Yookoso. Memorise the alphabets first (hiragana and katakana), and.. eh, the book paces you through it all. :)
Duriretlan 8 hours ago
@Jessileinx3 Couple it with listening and reading (dictionary on call!) to learn more vocab. Japanese websites, simple manga (Doraemon and Shinchan, maybe even Pokémon or DB/DBZ are some I've heard are elementary level). Speaking is the hard part if you're learning alone. Skype maybe? ^^;
Duriretlan 8 hours ago
2;19 lol
thewelshgal97 2 weeks ago
I know a very good way to improve learning speed when it comes to almost anything including languages is downloading Megamemory.
Thatguywiththelaptop 2 weeks ago
you Sir, are Hilarious ;D
CloudXSoldier7 3 weeks ago
I go to school. :D
Wildpaw0 3 weeks ago
The Best Book is the Genki Book!
MCHSLASC 3 weeks ago
wow... I am gonna learn Japanese. and you are right.
going to make it part of my schedule and part of my life.
thank for opening my eyes
marioncullen16 3 weeks ago 3
"I'm always Sakura, because I like Hentai." I shat laughter.
DELTA38g 3 weeks ago
I disagree with him.
I speak 3 Languages and its not about "hard work" its more about "Immersion".
I Learned fluent English(My grammar was even better) within 10 months of living in Canada, most of that time spending at home in the winter(which lasts around 7-8 months) playing video games and reading interesting books and articles on line.
Tofugu makes it sound like work but it isn't, Get the Alphabet down(achievable in about a week or 2) some basic Kanji and start immersing. have fun!!
spetznas101 3 weeks ago 17
@spetznas101 8 months of winter? where in canada did you live?! I live in canada, and winter is definitely not 8 months.
savannahhewson 2 weeks ago
@savannahhewson
Northern Alberta.
and Yes What I consider winter lasts 8 months.
spetznas101 2 weeks ago
@spetznas101 Any tips on learning the kanji? I have an android if there is a specific app your recc). I really would LOVE to learn Japanese and have always been really stumped on where to start, and what you have said is so obvious yet no other source has stated such a thing! :O
EasternShoreVegan 2 weeks ago
@spetznas101 He is japanese (i think) so they are all about hard work
maxprezas92 1 week ago
@spetznas101 I disagree, English is a different beast with only 26 letters. Japanese has thousands of characters. Immersion may be a definite plus, but if you keep hiding the fact there hardwork is involved, you'll get disappointed with your progress.
soulersteam 6 days ago 2
@soulersteam
Immersion is not just a plus its the Main thing you need, hard work is the plus.
Hiragana has 48 "letters" and like mentioned earlier you can pretty much learn it within 2 weeks, same with Katakana. Its about Baby steps, you cant just say "Im gonna learn Japanese, and Gonna start by Remembering all 2000 Kanji" its just not realistic.
wanna know the #1 reason people give up? its because they set their goals impossibly High.
spetznas101 6 days ago
@spetznas101 I agree to everything you said except your point of immersion.
Immersion does not HAVE to be your main basis in learning languages, the holistic technique does just fine also, thats how my dad learned 2 languages with very little immersion.
soulersteam 6 days ago
@spetznas101 What you said is partly correct.
The incorrect part sis to start immersion you'll need basic understanding of the language, so a beginner text book is necessary at first.
ZaifoTube 1 day ago in playlist tofugu
yay Canada Dry ginger ale! Oh, right, and Japanese.
DrunkyMcSwervencrash 4 weeks ago
anime sucks. the japanese language is fascinating, though. i used pimsleur to be able to at least speak it, semi-proficiently.
thaiguysabu 1 month ago
is ur name kouichi? xD anyways lol
you: do you guys wanna know the secret to learning japanese?
me: ... (i was thinking this btw) ... uhhh ur panda hat?
you : its not my panda hat.
lol wow >_>'' anyways imma check your site out, i hope u have japanese in writing/ typed, i rly need to practice besides using my old japanese workbooks (long story short i got transfered to a school with no japanese classes on my 4th yr of learning it T_T IM DOOMED! >_>)
AlyssaMrx 1 month ago
"..It's not my panda hat" DANG IT!
spongenote 1 month ago
I agree completely. At best, anime/japanese music/dramas are a supplement. It's important to be exposed to the language you are learning so that it feel's and sounds more natural to you, but it's very hard to learn a langue just by watching tv, and more often than not, you'll learn things incorrectly if that's all you do.
TheStarrysea 1 month ago
omg he's so weird but its funni
MrsDeathberry 1 month ago
i took the serum!!!
cyde01 1 month ago
This has been flagged as spam show
Now.. Europe should stop importing everything from JAPAN.. they are polLUted by radiation there's no future in this country
jieun9404 1 month ago
well i learn English with anime. Not Japanese.
andreadesmocedici 1 month ago
your so funny!!!!!! i was laughing the whole time but what you said is true about learning a language
elipps17 1 month ago
"I'm always Sakura because I like Hentai" hahahahahaha xD..what? xD
kekepop20 1 month ago
the only reason i wanted to learn japanese was so i could watch seven samurai without the subtitles. and now i can.
ilikepenguins100 1 month ago
i want your hate ^-^ give it me lol
WICKEDRetribution09 1 month ago
i study by writing a few symbols on my hand and their romaji below it before i go to bed at night and practice writing them throughout the day. then when i get home review what i know. write new symbols on my hand then repeat. :D
lilchocomilkshake 1 month ago
Didn't have to make it so nerdy :I
Keonzin 1 month ago
haha I can't take him seriously with that cute panda hat XD it's so cuuute and it intesifies his cuteness :)
Gothicanime8 1 month ago
personally, i picked up quite a few words from watching anime... and then when i heard the words that i actually studied in anime it made the words that much more memorable. although i can count, say the alphabet (i think i'm pretty good with the "r" sound. ) and know some simple conversational japanese, i have absolutely no clue how to build a sentence... or write kanji (bought a book to work on). Anyone have any tips? Isshoukenmei ganbaru!!!
animegirl13pain 1 month ago
well i dont have a teacher iam teaching my self witch is really hard but iam never going to quit becouse i love japan
lolitamisa77 1 month ago
Once you get some basic words and principals of the language down, it all begins to kind of... flow together. Sometimes like a smooth gentle ride through Venice... and sometimes like a waterfall, in which you hit every rock on the way down with your head.
Kevill 1 month ago
im trying to learn it. i go on Google translate. im trying to find a video for the numbers 20 - 100 Google isnt helping me with numbers :(
radjinjr 1 month ago
He's right u can't literally learn any language JUST by watching anime or any TV program or movie in general. The Best way to learn any language I THINK is by practicing with someone who is already fluent.. Because honestly by JUST reading text books and learning vocabulary you will not learn either...You need to combine everything that's how you best learn.... ALTHOUGH i do have to say I learned English in high school JUST BY listing to songs and translating them...so everything is possible...
lsysnsn 1 month ago
For those who're siting Ken, who says he learned through anime, he might used it as a vehicle, but he still worked his ass off and put in literally thousands of hours into learning, memorizing and researching context,grammar etc etc.. What tofugu means, is that you can't learn Japanese literally by just sitting there and watching anime. It will not happen. Ever.
xilix 2 months ago
Well you know? I know enought english I dont need to much english listening, I was specting you to speak more japanesse. Now about leraning japanesse I have very simple trick I use to write histories, I only started translating them in hiragana all the letters that I can using it like a kind of code, the bad thing is that it may not work for you english speaking people, but its your fault for pronounce and write in different ways.
olvvvvlo 2 months ago
I completely agree! people do not realize that learning a language takes time! haha I'm learning Japanese Chinese and Korean right now. but Mainly Japanese. I stopped using anime as a source because I noticed a lot of the subbing was wrong. Now if they watch a show that uses a lot of normal conversation they can learn a lot of simple phrases which can be helpful. But in order to speak it fluently you have to practice it every day and get proper lessons so you can learn it correctly.
passion4MUSIC11 2 months ago
@passion4MUSIC11
Well some people say that its not good to learn several languages at once, but I think that when they are similar (like in this case) or even from the same root, one language can help you with the other.
olvvvvlo 2 months ago
@olvvvvlo well I'm mainly focusing on Japanese right now (I speak and write it daily) but I am starting to pick up Korean and Chinese. also I agree. It just depends if a person can handle that many languages. I keep them in order for example. I say something in English that I know in Japanese so I will then say it in Japanese, then if I know it in a different language I will say that language next... and so forth. I love language so much! that I just can't help myself :)
passion4MUSIC11 1 month ago
I wanted to take Japanese at university, but unfortunately there are EVIL timetable clashes with my major... I guess I'll just have to teach myself! :(
Socratena 2 months ago
you are so hilarious thank you for the good times.
FairyGothMother88 2 months ago
Maybe you can't learn through anime, but you can learn through music :d languagebymusic,blogspot,com
ByMay9th 2 months ago
i wuv ur hat ^.^ Kawaī! were did u get it?
xxhellowkitty1xx 2 months ago in playlist Liked videos
Go to manga-de.com Go to it... learn some real Japanese. I only study 2 hours a week and my sensei thinks I'm a great student. So stfu and gtfo.
DigiVixen 2 months ago
im learning japanese and im only 10 and i think its fun!
TheFanMan06 2 months ago
I learned so many phrases, commonly used phrases from watching anime. You are immensely wrong
lismcorb 2 months ago
@lismcorb you say phrases. Not grammar. Meaning, you could never make a sentence by yourself. Because you have know knowledge of grammar from anime. And if you went to Japan, you wouldn't understand a thing, and you will be yelled at for being impolite. Anime speaks mostly in slang. (and by the way, this is coming from a person with Japanese relatives). You are wrong.
RivernightPro 2 months ago
Nihongo wa asameshimae desu.
billstocksupreme 2 months ago
I tried learning Nihongo through Dragonball, but I only learned how to grunt and yell for extended periods of time. At least Naruto has actual dialogue.
billstocksupreme 2 months ago 34
1:35 LOL
squawk7777 2 months ago
Impressive. Though I do admire that you know the language!
sgal88 2 months ago
i tried that and i get better all the time im working hard
FMSKirkham 2 months ago
Wanna translate your favorite English songs to Japanese to study off of? asiabymusic,com
ByMay9th 2 months ago
U ASSHOLE!! I wanna speak Japanese NOW!!!
AjahDawn 2 months ago
from watching anime, i think i understand certain words like suki,kirai, hana..yeah you need to study seriously if you want to understand and speak japanese correctly. im agree with that.
wingedtales 2 months ago
i honestly watch alot of anime, but that's not all why i want to learn Japanese, i am also interested in they're culture, so yea i am willing to make it a priority, i think one of my goals in life is to learn, a language that i would like to learn. but sadly no one will teach me...
blakeslanime 2 months ago
Haha, hilarious xD.
I can still wear the panda hat though, right :c?
link99912 3 months ago
laughed my ass off with the serum
LilSofus 3 months ago
Hilarious. I would listen to him talk about anything.
flatlined904 3 months ago
what would you suggest to start with when beginning to learn the language and culture?
ArekesuChan 3 months ago in playlist More videos from tofugu
@ArekesuChan going to Japan or taking a Japanese class! But to master it takes years!
Rikiboii 3 months ago
I want a panda hat....
StoneBear07 3 months ago
I completely agree with you on the whole "watching anime makes me learn NAO durr hurr" people. Weaboos. Watcha gonna do, eh?
I've been trying very hard over the last three months to learn Japanese... I keep forgetting the stuff I learn lol XD Any extra tips? Other than forcing yourself to read atricles in Japanese (because I've been doing that now lol)?
Mileyfan17034 3 months ago
YAY!
Elithial 3 months ago
your japanese voice is the coolest.
SuperTheguy1234 3 months ago
I completely disagree. Watching anime (or anything really) with subs every day is a perfect way to learn any language and have fun at the same time.
Comes from a guy who learned English by watching cable with NO SUBS whatsoever!!! And the funny part is that I wasn't even trying to learn.
I'm learning Japanese right now (by watching anime) and I'm doing pretty well. Learning writing will be a different story.
He is right about one thing though. It does take time. English took me 5 years.
PushMyCarr 3 months ago 16
@PushMyCarr anime doesn't teach you polite Japanese. Most of it is slang.
RivernightPro 3 months ago
@PushMyCarr You're right. But the way people speak Japanese in Anime is completely different from real life so if you're learning Japanese from Anime, you may develop a weird Anime accent.
ZXShadow1 2 months ago
@ZXShadow1 I used to watch a lot of American cartoons back when I was learning English, say Invader Zim for example. I most certainly didn't adopt his weird accent. ^^ Don't worry. =)
PushMyCarr 2 months ago
@PushMyCarr Yeah I know, just saying that sometimes something weird like that may happen.
ZXShadow1 2 months ago
@PushMyCarr I learned english by watching Scrubs with subs xD
That is literally all.
Well, of course ever since I started "learning" english, I have spoken to Americans over skype EVERY day non stop for the past 6 years.
megacoolerman 2 months ago in playlist megacoolerman's favorites
@PushMyCarr So, you used it as a supplement to you learning the language, or you used it solely as your teaching source?
seg162 1 month ago
@PushMyCarr true lol i do do that ALOT i usually repeat things from animes C; glad im not the only one to think that
HurpTheDerp 1 month ago
@PushMyCarr The problem with anime, is that they usually use very rude speech. So if you learned it that way, then you would sound really rude when you spoke it. Plus you wouldn't learn all of the daily said things in Japan. How about you answer these simple questions in Japanese.
Ogenki desu ka?
Onamae wa?
Anata wa otoko desu ka?
On'na desu ka?
I bet that at the most, you only know what half of them mean. I you learn Japanese from anime, you won't learn the basic things.
xSRGDarknessx 1 month ago
@PushMyCarr I know I might be to late for you but, be careful there are many "phrases" in Japanese that are used in anime that would be considered unacceptable to use in conversation. This doesn't matter if your just gonna watch anime. however don't plan on doing business out there using "anime slang"
Patchplays 1 month ago
@Patchplays Like I said to someone else here,I am not native English speaker and I learned my English by watching cartoons like Scooby-Doo, and let me tell you I would never use phrases like "Jinkies!" and "Jeepers!" in any situation, not to mention business ones.
So don't worry about slang (witch is actually quiet important to know if you ask me), and don't underestimate the power of human brain (witch evolved in the first place in order to accommodate human speech).
PushMyCarr 1 month ago
@PushMyCarr You might be able to learn fundamental words and basic complete sentences through anime in like plain form, but learning the structures and all the different forms and tenses and verbs (there are so many verbs), takes years of study and a lot of practise.
KasumiChan1347 1 month ago
@PushMyCarr what he meant was that you can't make anime ur main source for learning japanese!, and subs are not that accurate, taking lessons from text books, teachers, blogs, or even flash cards wud get you on the right road! make learning form anime a secondary choice not a main one!
good luck thou~
Linaq1994 1 month ago
@Linaq1994 So true. I always prefer subs over dubs because subs don't have the whole issue of lip synch to push them off even further from a direct translation but they can be pretty far in the first place.
DrunkyMcSwervencrash 4 weeks ago
@PushMyCarr I'm thirteen, English took me about.. one, two years? I just knew how to spell and stuff right away.
KimaiiChan 2 weeks ago
you should donate to my blog, and saving to go japan this summer dude, need all the help
ikimikiss 3 months ago
This guy made my day.
面白い人
Sunbreaker7 3 months ago
So funny, bro. You deserve an award. Thanks. What's funny is I've been studying Japanese for only a few days and I understood a lot of what you said. I WILL persevere...so...thaat...I can finally watch hot anime hentai without the subtitles blocking their hot cartoony bodies. lololol.
BedStuyBro 3 months ago
I spend several hours a day learning/memorizing Kanji. Usually by doing something like writing them hundreds of times by hand on blank paper. And sometimes by doing things like writing my file folders and other things in Kanji. For instance, renaming music folders 音楽. I assume that's a good study practice.
JapanDeservesLove 3 months ago
3 things,1. you are EPIC, the video about the R made my life exponentally better. 2. Naruto = Death, there are so much better animes.(which I'm sure you know, just Naruto,.... not a fan.) 3. I have actually learned phrases like "I am sorry" and " fool" (baka) by watching subbed anime. It's simple association, But no seriously... you are amazing! <3 Arigato!!
TheNaughtylilduckie 3 months ago
飲むと日本語を話せるようになるセラム？本当に怖ぇｗｗ
I knew Kirkland was putting something funny in their water. Now it all makes sense...
Spiffyster 3 months ago
hot, and sexy, and cartoony. lol
gamerkelly 3 months ago
i know spanish and english and it JUST NOW occurred to me to learn japanese D; lolz im 18 now and i love to draw (i always have), and manga (just like most cases) inspired me ^-^<3 gah....ima keep persevering :3 at least i know how to count to 20 :DD<3
iamyourimagination 3 months ago
dude, you are hilarious! xD
my method is to start with the "alphabet" like people do for all languages. In less than a week "studying" less than 20 minutes every 2 days I've managed to learn all the Hiragana and Katakana kanas lol I've been watching animes for like 2 weeks now, and that is a HUGE help, I can understand like 20 % of what they say and they mostly speak slang, so it's kinda hard to study that.
You are absolutely write, PERSEVERANCE is the key!
I love your videos!
PtahSGirl 3 months ago
1:39 i thought he was drinkng pine sol
quaritine22 3 months ago
wow, you use your thumbs really often!
Peetjuh1000 3 months ago
i just wanna learn so i don't have to wait years for the games i like to be localized
bagelsofDEATH 3 months ago
I've been watching tokusatsu lately, and I don't try to learn a language from it, but I love it when I spot a lonely subtitle.................
PokemonUnlimited1 4 months ago
Where did you get that panda hat? I love pandas!!!
anime8explode 4 months ago
hi i have a question, recently i started to try to learn japanese alone, and start browsing about anyone who has any information about how to start learning, what i notice is that almost everybody who learned by themselves thinks that the traditional way to learn a language its just to slow, and there is better methods, i wonder if for me where its important being able to read, hear and talk what method should i use, i really dont care for writing at least for now, do you have any sugestions.
animejoao 4 months ago
people should try listening to japanese music and get the ja[anese lyrics then translate word per word. i do it but its pretty useful.
9kiko90 4 months ago
@9kiko90 useful but so difficult especially if your still learning grammer lol
cheesesmiles 4 months ago
Would you suggest the Rosetta Stone course?
MsJOMii 4 months ago
@MsJOMii no.
RivernightPro 3 months ago
i go to a ghetto school and they don't teach us anything but Spanish. it sucks. so,, i'm learning Japanese through other programs and places on youtube:P its confusing.. サラ (//_^)
MrBubblyxDlikeaboss 4 months ago
konosto wa baka metai translation: this person looks stupid
leilanisbirds 4 months ago
@leilanisbirds
it would be kono hito wa baka mitai. この人はバカ見たい。
anime8explode 4 months ago
Tofugu: Everyone here is busy
Me: You said it man!
Tofugu: Busy loitering around youtube!
Me: Yeah ..
muffeCx 4 months ago
CONICHIGUA
CONACHIMASTA
kerno83 4 months ago
where did u get ur panda hat??...I luuuuuuuv it nekos rool :3 nya
Okamithewolfgirl 4 months ago
would I just hurt myself if I tried to learn katakana and hiragana at the same time? I figured I would make up some flash cards in both. then quiz myself and practice writing both. but everyone is always saying that they learn one and then the other,.,.,seems like a waste of time to me.
mostangrypirate 4 months ago
@mostangrypirate I would suggest you learn them separately because you might find it hard to tell the alphabets apart otherwise.
eliisekate 4 months ago
Agreed...I have been learning it for almost three months solid and I AM STILL HORRIBLE AT IT! I have ALWAYS wanted to learn Japanese...even before I knew about anime! Like he says KEEP AT IT! I am slowly but surely able to hold a conversation!!
NaruSaitoCo 4 months ago
a week ... A Week lol. no most people give up in the first 5 minutes.
IIIArrow711 4 months ago
this vid cracked me up :D
11m4357r0 4 months ago
How to learn japanese.
Step 1. Be asain.
shadowninja553 4 months ago
@shadowninja553 SO tru!!!
XOcutie901 4 months ago
Hoooly crap, kirkwood bottled water is Japan juice!
miza1492 4 months ago
This has been flagged as spam show
get a japanese male friend and thats the best way to learn jpnz. but if you got a female one, your jpnz will sound like a gay. yeah i know that anime is good for learning jpnz, but you may become stranger than a stranger in japan(but dont worry im a jpnz and i may be stranger than anybody...wellcome to the club!)
bottomOFair 4 months ago
Comment removed
bottomOFair 4 months ago
you're great, man! thanks for the vid!
Goat5611 4 months ago
I LOVE YOUR PANDA HAT ^_^
daniellarae07 4 months ago
*joins the military*
"all right! goin' to Vergini-"
"Here are your orders."
"HOLY. SHIT."
I study every day, listed closly to the locals, hired a tutor, and will be starting collage classes soon! Japan is fuckn' great! Havn't seen any Naruto sence I've been here. However, OnePiece is EVERYWHERE.
TwistedWinds64 4 months ago
I laughed my ass off. :3 I've tried to teach people what I know and they always give up within a week. -.-
RushindanoDensetsu 5 months ago
lol kinda true. learning japanese through game and anime isn't that easy. it only work if you have real interest towards it. it took me about, few years just to learn the basic of the basic of japanese by playing japanese game and watching anime. taking classes now , it help a lot. :D
Ryuga11 5 months ago
@LifeFirst
As one who self-studies Japanese, I am envious that you even took classes.
marillblu 5 months ago
I only click because of the silly funny hat.
Goso321 5 months ago 17
=^.^= You look so adorable in your panda hat =^.^=
UnifiedLovelessWings 5 months ago
Being a self-study person, I find it morally uplifting to watch you emit so much positive attitude, the panda hat has done it's work :) *continues studying*
Kitifiend 5 months ago
took you so long to get to the secret, and it wasn't even a secret
ErtomicV 5 months ago
I like ur video !!!! :D
guardianang 5 months ago
I....actually learned Japanese from watching anime...
Is that bad? D:
SimplyAnniex3 5 months ago
@SimplyAnniex3 well lots of the sub title in anime are wrong , so if you learnt it like that it would probably be wrong :) just check it in case :D
mewtashi 5 months ago
This was fantastic XD I've been learning by myself using all the genki books (I,2, Intermediate) and if you apply the time to your studies, it really does pay off. I've been studying for about 3 years now, but I have to say that watching copious amounts of anime on the side HAS helped. But ONLY because it gives me more examples of what I have learned. There is no way to just learn Japanese by just watching anime. That would be silly. I can understand a lot without subs, but I still use them.
YorozuyaNeesan2010 5 months ago
I've been learning English for about 6 years. I am so proud I can understand what you're talking. T.T
Agavaaa 5 months ago 3
i know this is a very old video of yours and you probably will dismiss this comment but i just want to tell you that i very much liked your video and it inspires me to continue to learn japanese. I an a newbie to learning and it is pretty difficult to getting the hang of the language (especially learning the kanji) but i am motivated and my goal is to become fluent. Thanks for motivating me!!
STephany9638 5 months ago
HE'S LYING!! THE SECRET IS THE PANDA HAT!!! also im an otaku, i cosplay, watch anime, read manga, do everything, i also study japanese culture, im trying my heardest to learn japanese, most of the time i watch animes w/ subs but sometimes i watch without subs just normal japanese language (no im not trying to learn japaenes from watching animes), i seriously try everything to learn japanese, ive printed out so many things, made a japanese folder... and it all makes sence.. i need a panda hat...
thesims3luver 5 months ago
I am an otaku, but i learn japanese from studying and not from anime. i mean, i learn some slang from anime, but i don' use it to learn the actual language. ^^ i don't like it how people go and try to learn the whole language from anime with english subs. btw, i love your hat. =)
Bakuhatsu37 5 months ago
Well done sir, you caught my attention in just one video lol. I was pissing and moaning over how hard learning was after I've spent like 3 days with Rosetta Stone. I've been on it like 1.5-2 hours every day and right when I understand what it's teaching me, it throws something else out and trips my ass up lol. But none the less I'll keep it up knowing that this will be hard as shit. ありがとございます
EthanWyatt360 5 months ago
I love your hat
eliisekate 5 months ago
for me i start with memorizing phrases becuase that way i wont neccisarily need to know the grammer and i wont feel too over whelmed. even if i was to learn the grammer i wouldn't have much to show for it if i didnt know what to say. im also currently learning kanji grade 1. so hopefull in 4 years when i get my diploma i will know japanese and be able to survive there
strawberry505643 5 months ago
I really want to learn japanese , cause someday i want to go to japan so i could watch anime , and its latest episode , 4 that reason alone i want to learn japanese , just 4 anime , ahahha , i buy and read japanese dictionaries but , my head hurts after hours of reading ,ahahah , im only 14 , but i want to learn japanese because of anime , ahahah,
by the way , you are great in the video , you could penetrate on peoples heart , CHAR !! ahaha , cause you know what we were goin thru , ahahha
DaRkeR004 5 months ago
0:30 -0:50
Explains 99% of the kids i know,...all self proclaimed proud to be OTAKU
Arriss3 5 months ago 47
im 11 but i just want to learn
YourCoachingMatters 5 months ago
that's a cool hat
GammerGirl389 5 months ago
Do you guys kill pandas too!!??
Luv11518 5 months ago
Comment removed
Luv11518 5 months ago
"no. its not my panda hat."
But i still want it(:
*Takes hat and runs* its so soft! :O
XxXEmoNinjaXxXD 5 months ago
where'd you get your hat?
tokyoseoul1 5 months ago
I think I love you.
Seriously.
soCUTEemo 6 months ago
I learned English through Cartoon Network... In Norway we are expected to be fluent in English by the age of 16(When I say fluent, I do mean FLUENT.), and like I said, I learned English(at least my foundation) from American cartoons. Do you want to know what my grades in English are? Straight 6's every single semester(6 is the best possible grade in Norway).
However, I understand that there are many sides of Japanese which are near impossible to learn through anime, like the "alphabets".
gangster301 6 months ago
lol, im taking a japanese class this year and im trying to learn how to write it first
but i was wondering if i should learn to write it first or learn to speak it first? lol
i was thinking about this because a baby learns to speak before they write and i was wondering if i was starting with the wrong this lol
lizthedreamer 6 months ago
@lizthedreamer Build listening comprehension first. What's the point of speaking if you can't understand a single word that's coming out of their mouths? Listening is by far more important than speaking. Also learn Kanji at the same time. Babies learn to listen first, and THEN they develop speaking. Because if your listening skills are garbage, you cannot speak, period. Anyone can learn to speak a Japanese sentence, but if they can't understand the response..then it's pointless.
LifeFirst 6 months ago
haha i have been writing/practicing Japanese for a few months now and when i first started anime did help me learn how to pronounce the words i didn't haven to listen to anything so anime helps a little
729mana 6 months ago
i study by using my ipod...there are lots of great free apps that help you first understand the hiragana,katakana, and kanji. not to mention they also help with your grammer....its like reteaching what you learned in grammer school except in japanese.
kingcrash5 6 months ago
I'm learning japanese now by useing [Rosetta Stone] $379.00 with Torrent Free :)
I use it 1h every day ... sometimes not
I want to say something for you guys ..
If your language is arabic ...u can learn any language easy
HedrzVTC 6 months ago
This has been flagged as spam show
@HedrzVTC i like the :If your language is arabic ...u can learn any language easy sentence :p
bahcbouch 6 months ago
i have dreams when I wake one morning and i can't speak english anymore. I can only speak Japanese (or French) and everyone thinks im lying and no one understands what I'm saying....it was awesome.
Blondyman1305 6 months ago
OH GOD
i realized i learned enpough random words to understand simple sentences
i have gone from kindergarten to grade 1 in japanese LOL
except have a hjard time with kanji LOL im sutck writing in hiragana and katakana
ShayneSkyeSama 6 months ago