People often wonder if you can learn Japanese from anime.
The first objection to this method is that anime characters don’t speak like people do in real life. Granted, this objection also applies to many different forms of fictional media —I’ve yet to meet someone who speaks like a character in a Jane Austin novel, for instance.
It’s not uncommon for anime characters to speak in an informal, exaggerated, dramatized, and flamboyant style. While this style is entertaining to those who watch anime, you certainly don’t want to speak that way if you ever travel to Japan.
Japanese society places a lot of importance on politeness and using the proper level of formality required in each particular situation. If you are not careful, naively using anime-style language could make you sound rude.
That being said, if you are aware of the different levels of formality in the Japanese language, you can mitigate the risks of sounding like an anime character while still learning plenty of Japanese vocabulary words through watching anime.
If you decide to learn Japanese from anime, consider combining it with another method —such as textbooks, apps, or even Japanese movies— to increase your exposure to polite and formal Japanese.
That will help you recognize slang terms and informal speech patterns when you hear them in anime.
Pairing anime with other resources that contain more formal Japanese can help balance out the style of language you are learning.
On the flip side, learning some Japanese from anime will teach you some casual language that you might not encounter in some textbooks. That could turn out to be useful, depending on where and with whom you spend time while in Japan.
Before we jump into it, it’s important to understand that the Japanese used in anime is mostly casual and informal Japanese. Regardless of the situation, anime will almost always use this kind of language. While learning that kind of Japanese is useful, it’s not commonly used in many real-world situations.
Casual Japanese differs from the more commonly used polite variety in a bunch of ways. People use different pronouns, grammar gets simplified, and verbs are conjugated differently –and that’s just the start of it!
When learning Japanese from anime, it’s important to not only learn the meaning of words but also the correct context in which to use them.
See here for more detailed information on the levels of formality in the Japanese language.
Another thing to be aware of is the existence of gendered Japanese language: «danseigo» (masculine language) and «joseigo» (feminine language). When learning Japanese with anime, this is something one should watch out for.
When you're trying to decide which anime to watch, it can be a bit challenging to pick just one. You might think of watching a few shows at the same time –after all, you’re sure to learn something from all of them, right? However, my advice is to stick to a single show and focus on that.
There are a few reasons for this. The first is that by sticking to one show, you'll become familiar with the speech patterns of the main characters. That will make it easier to understand their dialogue, allowing you to focus more on following the storyline.
Another reason is that you’ll get used to the specific vocabulary that is used in that anime. For example, a sci-fi anime will feature very different terms than a romantic comedy. While encountering new vocabulary is part of learning from anime, you don’t want to overwhelm yourself.
If you're still eager to diversify what you watch, I recommend sticking to similar genres at the very least. That way, they’ll likely share some vocabulary, making your learning experience easier.
Watching anime but not taking notes of new words won’t teach you much at all. It’s important to take notes of new words and phrases that you hear. Afterwards, you should look them up in a Japanese dictionary, to understand both the definition and the context that they’re used in.
You shouldn’t stop there either! It’s important that you practice these new words and phrases. How you practice them is up to you. I like to use flashcards to practice vocabulary, so I make new flashcards. Whichever way you like to practice, make sure that you include your new anime vocabulary.
Everyone learns differently, and learning Japanese from anime works the same way. Everyone has their own system, and you should find what works best for you.
Some people prefer to watch episodes scene by scene, replaying them to ensure that they understand what’s happening. Others like myself prefer to first watch the entire episode uninterrupted, before taking a closer look at specific scenes.
You should also consider whether you plan to use subtitles or not. Many people find themselves simply reading the subtitles instead of listening to the anime, but they can be a great tool for beginners. Finding the right balance for your skills is key.
For more advanced students, it can be a good idea to test your understanding of an anime. I do this by watching a new episode of the anime and pausing it after each sentence.
I then write down an English translation of it, before unpausing the show. After a scene finishes, I replay it and compare my translation to the official subtitles of the show, or read the manga to see if I understood correctly.
Obviously, this is a tough challenge and not the best way to enjoy an anime. Do this too much and you’ll lose your motivation in no time. However, it is a great way of testing yourself, and I recommend giving it a go once in a while.
When it comes to picking an anime series to watch, it’s easy to pick up the first series that catches your eye. However, while personal taste is important, you should also consider whether or not it will improve your everyday Japanese language skills.
For instance, sci-fi and fantasy anime will have lots of peculiar vocabulary that probably won’t come up very often in real life.
Here are some of my recommended anime for learning Japanese:
A story that follows the lives of animals that visit the Polar Bear Cafe, this comedy story has been a hit with foreigners around the world. It’s a very light-hearted anime, full of jokes and humor. The vocabulary is very ordinary, which makes it a perfect first show to study Japanese with.
Centered around schoolboy delinquent Hanamichi Sakuragi, Slam Dunk is a story that follows his journey to becoming one of the best basketballers in Japan. Although rather old now (first aired in 1993!), the show still boasts a huge fanbase that continues to love it. You can expect to come across a fair few sports terms in this anime, as well as school-related vocabulary.
Hyouka follows a group of students aiming to solve a 45-year-old mystery. With twists and turns, the show balances mystery-solving with great character development, and is very popular. Some of the vocabulary used can get pretty complex, so be ready for a challenge!
So, ready to watch some anime? It’s a great way to add some excitement to your learning journey, so don't hesitate to give it a try! Even though it can be difficult at first, persevere and you’re listening comprehension and Japanese vocabulary will improve leaps and bounds! Good luck!