Japanese learning blog
Practical guides on speaking, grammar, pronunciation, listening, and study planning, written for learners who want to use Japanese in real life.
All articles · Page 187
Furigana and How to Read Real Japanese Text
Furigana is the small kana printed beside kanji to show how it is read. Used well it speeds you up; used as a crutch it quietly prevents your kanji recognition from ever forming.
12 min readHow to Memorise Japanese Vocabulary That Lasts
Most Japanese vocabulary is forgotten not because your memory is poor but because the word was stored with nothing attached to it. Give each word a sentence, a particle, and a situation, and it stays.
13 min readWhich JLPT Level Should You Take First?
Choosing a JLPT level is a planning decision, not a compliment you pay yourself. The right level is the one you can show you are close to, on paper, before registration closes.
15 min readA Three-Month JLPT Study Plan That Actually Fits
Most three-month plans are written for someone with empty evenings. This one assumes a job, a commute, and at least one week that goes badly wrong.
15 min readJLPT Reading Strategy: Beating the Clock
Most candidates who fall short on the JLPT do not fail because the passages were impossible. They fail because the clock ran out while they were still translating.
15 min readJLPT Exam Day: What to Expect and How to Pace
The JLPT rewards candidates who have already lived the day once in their head. Knowing the order of events and the pacing cues leaves your attention free for the Japanese.
15 min readHow to Use JLPT Mock Tests Properly
Most learners take mock tests. Far fewer use them. The score is the least useful thing a practice paper gives you, and the error log is the most useful.
13 min readIs the JLPT Worth It for Getting a Job in Japan?
The JLPT is worth having and it is not enough on its own. It gets your application read; the interview is still a conversation, and the certificate cannot hold that conversation for you.
12 min readThe Gap Between JLPT N3 and N2, and How to Cross It
N2 is not simply N3 with more vocabulary. It asks you to do different work with Japanese, and knowing which five things change makes the gap crossable.
13 min readJLPT Vocabulary Strategy for Every Level
The JLPT vocabulary section does not reward the size of your word list. It rewards knowing what each word does inside a sentence.
13 min readWhat to Study After Passing JLPT N1
N1 is the top of the exam ladder, not the top of the language. The useful question is which of the three remaining directions you need most, and what your first project in it will be.
13 min readJLPT Level Versus Real Japanese Ability
A certificate and a conversation are two different achievements. Knowing exactly which parts of your Japanese the exam measured, and which it never looked at, tells you what to practise next.
12 min readPractical guides
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