i am so confused which alphabet is used most and when your writing something do you use all the letters or some of them and if there is 3 different alphabets are they all together or what i cant learn to read or speak japanese if i dont know what the letters are and which ones im supposed to be using i just dont get and i just cant seem to learn im trying to learn my 5th language and i cant learn this one its just TO HARD!!!!!!! hElP mE!^_^

@sayaka
Great question, sayaka. You’re definitely not alone. I know a lot of people who get confused by the 3 Japanese alphabets.

Strictly speaking, hiragana is your most basic alphabet. It’s the first alphabet that Japanese children learn, and the first alphabet we’d learn if you or I took a beginner Japanese course. Technically, you can spell all the words in the Japanese language using this alphabet. Unfortunately for us learners of Japanese, everything *isn’t* written in hiragana.

Katakana is a copy of hiragana, except with different letters. In other words, there is a katakana for every hiragana and vice versa. So you’re probably thinking, “why have 2 alphabets with the same sounds and different symbols??” Well, the katakana alphabet is mainly used to write borrowed words from foreign languages and distinguish them from standard Japanese words.

For example, the Japanese word for “bus” is “basu.” The two sound similar right? That’s because they “borrowed” the word “bus” from English and made it Japanese. So, instead of writing it as ばす (hiragana), they write it as バス (katakana) to differentiate it from ordinary Japanese words. It’s easy to tell the difference between the two alphabets because hiragana looks more rounded and smooth, whereas katakana look more rigid with lots of short, straight strokes.

Last, but not least, there’s kanji. Kanji are actually a subset of Chinese characters. The Japanese use kanji to help convey meaning and to make it easier to read written text (…unfortunately, it sometimes makes it harder for us non-native people to learn!)

Here’s an example:

明日、動物園に行かない? (Sentence using hiragana & kanji) vs.
あした、どうぶつえんにいかない？ (Same sentence with only hiragana)

As you can see, it’s easier to tell where one word starts and another ends and easier to scan the sentence (assuming you know what the kanji means)

Here’s an example of where Kanji can be useful for meaning:

All of the following words say “toru” but each have a different meaning:
とる (hiragana…it can mean a number of things!)
撮る (to take a picture)
取る (to take something/pick something up)
盗る (to steal something)

As tough as it is to learn, kanji is very important to the Japanese language useful for the above reasons.

To learn to completely read Japanese, you will unfortunately need to learn all 3 alphabets. Sounds overwhelming, I know, but stick to it and in time I know you’ll learn to get it!

Start with hiragana because that will give you a good foundation and make it easy to pick up katakana. It’s like a 2 for 1. Kanji is a struggle for almost everyone learning Japanese, so it will take longer to master. Set some realistic goals for yourself and get as much exposure to Japanese as possible. Personally, I’ve found that learning by immersion has been the most effective and quick way to learn Japanese!

Wow…sorry for the long post!

Hope this helps & good luck!!

0_o … and I thought that my language (Polish)is difficult

hi my god how do i know how to make symbols from kanji &hiragana

Well the japanese have it tough but then again there born in an enviorment that uses it more than anywhere else im guessing, its almost like learning english for someone whos born in a family and goes into an enviorment that uses that language (this being english) they are bound to understand it in a heartbeat. Or I could be wrong and it just takes practice

Where can I find the kanji characters for “Mens Room” and “Womens Room”?

hi i wanted to know the japanese kanji symboles for
samuari
love
courage
devotion
patience
honesty
thank you!

its quite impresive , you people out there can memorixe and use those letters. is it more easier to write or speak?

Arrgghh I have just started learning japanese and I have a small question..:What should I learn first?Speaking or Writing?:S

you are so beautiful kevin!!!!!!!!!!! kireiiii!!!

i want to learn English, who can teach me?i am Chinese.

@sayaka
The most commonly used alphabet is kanji, katakana is used for foreign words & names, and hiragana is used as all the words which there are no kanji for, or sometimes the hiragana translation (or romaji) of the kanji is writen above or next to the kanji to make it easier for people who dont know kanji well like kids or foreigners

thanks now i can write kanji perfectly. also its not hard at all.

Hi thanks for the nice informations you gave.I’ve got a question ,for a foraigner is it easier to learn japanese or chinese????

Kevin help i got this Japanes game Mother 3 and i dont understand then i go to the Nintendo Japan website and more Kanji!

I’d like to learn the kanji simbol for “sea” or “ocean”.

thank you!

ooooh my god

it is hard to learn … but easy to speak ^_^

I love this language … how can I learn??

with my respect,
Emy

I have an old military pin and need to know what it says - or if is even Japanese. It has two symbols: the first looks like a person running to the left with a detached head swoosh, the second resembles a 4 or a capitol A. I’d be happy to send a picture. Thanks, Peggy

so basically kanji is Chinese characters? I noticed the numbers are written the same in Japanese and in Chinese, they are just said differently.

yo arron,yo kev
i got your podcasts and i just have 2 say; you both would be so kool to hang with, so funny loool. i watch certain parts over and over again lol.

japanese is so kool
also thank you both for helping me through the understanding of hand gestures and the culture of the japanese people, you both have inspired me.

from a young man to two kool men
hope you both are well:)
GOD BLESS

nataly :hi i wanted to know the japanese kanji symboles forsamuarilovecouragedevotionpatiencehonestythank you!

i know some of the words in japanese:)

@kenny its hard to speak and its alot harder to write

Aaron :@yuuki-chanHi Yuuki-chan! It really depends on what your goals are. If your primary goal is to be able to read books, comics, etc. then you might be better off starting with learning to read/write (Hiragana, then Katakana, then Kanji in my opinion). If on the other hand, your primary interests lay in traveling, making friends, or watch TV, then learning to understand and speak in conversation will be more important to learn first.
Generally speaking, I think it takes a lot more time to learn the alphabets than it does to get a basic grasp of spoken Japanese, but don’t let that deter you if your interest is in reading/writing. Also, learning to read and write will greatly help your ability to speak and understand the culture on a deep level. Hope this helps!
Aaron

im new here and im kenny lewis

naruto :hi my god how do i know how to make symbols from kanji &hiragana

who’s naruto

So how much did white elephant pay you two to do that. A professional job on the advertising!, ‘cept for one thing…. WHERE DO YOU BUY THEM?

To you learn completely read Japanese, you will unfortunately need to learn all 3 alphabets. Sounds overwhelming, but stick to it and in time I know you’ll learn to get it!

Chinese is WAY harder than japanese. The pronounciation is more difficult to master than Japanese I think.But I guess it is easier to memorize Chinese characters…@Ada