Learning to read Japanese can feel like climbing a steep mountain. The combination of kanji, hiragana, katakana, and a different grammatical structure can be overwhelming at times. But with the right strategies, you can make steady progress. Here are five tips that have helped me on my journey to improving my Japanese reading skills.
1. Break Down Sentences Backwards
One of the most useful strategies I've found is to break down Japanese sentences backward. Since English grammar and Japanese grammar are effectively reversed, this approach helps to make sense of complex sentences. Start with the verb or the main point of the sentence and work your way to the subject and other details. By doing this, you can unravel the sentence more naturally without getting lost in the word order.
For example:
Japanese: 彼女は明日、東京に行くつもりです。
Reverse breakdown: The verb 行く (to go) reveals that someone is going somewhere, then look at 東京 (Tokyo) as the destination, and finally, identify 彼女 (she) as the subject. Putting it together, "She plans to go to Tokyo tomorrow."
Breaking sentences down backward helps maintain clarity and prevents you from getting stuck.
2. Find Out the Subject: Where is the は or が Particle?
Identifying the subject of a sentence is crucial when reading Japanese. Look for the は (topic marker) or が (subject marker) particle to find out who or what the sentence is about. This will anchor the rest of your understanding.
For instance:
犬は走っています (The dog is running)
友達が来ます (A friend is coming)
Finding the は or が particle early on will help you figure out the key subject of the sentence, which in turn helps you make sense of the following information.
3. Break Down Each Clause
Japanese sentences often contain multiple clauses that can be tricky to navigate. Take your time to break down each clause separately and understand how they fit together. Pay special attention to adjectives and where they apply.
For example:
マーケットを買った青いドレス (The blue dress that I bought at the market)
マーケットで青いドレスを買いました (I bought a blue dress at the market)
In the first sentence, the clause マーケットを買った (that I bought at the market) describes the dress. In the second sentence, the action of buying takes place マーケットで (at the market), followed by the object 青いドレス (blue dress). Breaking down each clause can prevent misunderstandings and ensure that you’re getting the full picture.
4. Take Your Time
Learning Japanese is a marathon, not a sprint. It’s important to take your time and not stress over every detail. Japanese is hard, and it’s okay to move at your own pace. If a sentence is taking you too long to understand, give yourself permission to take a break and come back to it later. Patience is key—each sentence you work through is progress, even if it feels slow at times.
Remember, it's perfectly normal to struggle at first, so give yourself grace as you continue to learn.
5. Mix Things Up: Balance Between Looking Up Words and Reading Freely
It’s tempting to look up every unknown word while reading, but this can slow you down and make the process feel tedious. Sometimes it’s more beneficial to allow yourself to read through a page or two without being as strict. This will help you build a natural flow and boost your reading confidence.
Try alternating between intensive reading (where you look up every word you don’t know) and extensive reading (where you focus more on general comprehension without stopping for every word). Both approaches are valuable and will contribute to your overall understanding and fluency.
Learning to read Japanese takes time, but these strategies can make the process easier and more enjoyable. By breaking down sentences, identifying key particles, and balancing study methods, you'll find yourself improving steadily. Remember, the goal is progress, not perfection. Happy reading!
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