Study Resources
Purpose
Collect Japanese learning resources and guidance for language study.
When to Use
Use this page for tool recommendations, study plans, dictionaries, grammar references, and practice resources.
Resource Notes
- Fast traveler baseline: learn greetings, apology/attention phrases, ordering, directions, numbers, and allergy/emergency language before deeper grammar.
- NHK WORLD-JAPAN Easy Japanese is the default free beginner course recommendation because it is structured, travel-friendly, and maintained by a public broadcaster.
- Use Jisho or another JMdict-based dictionary for quick word lookup. Confirm nuance with examples or a native speaker before using a phrase in sensitive contexts.
- Tae Kim’s guide is useful for grammar foundations and self-study, but it is a study resource rather than a travel phrase authority.
- Use Anki or another spaced-repetition tool for kana, numbers, station words, food words, and personally relevant phrases.
- For a two-week travel prep plan: days 1-3 kana recognition and survival phrases; days 4-7 numbers, ordering, transport, and address phrases; days 8-14 allergy/emergency cards, listening practice, and daily five-minute review.
- Keep a small phrase card in phone notes with Japanese text first, then romaji and English. Include allergies, medications, lodging addresses, emergency contacts, and “please speak slowly.”
Gotchas
- Recommendations can drift; verify pricing, availability, and supported platforms before relying on them.
- Do not use machine translation alone for allergy, medication, legal, or emergency wording.