Imagine you’ve decided to study abroad in Japan next year, or you just found out you’re going to Japan on a business trip in two months. How long does it take to learn Japanese? Is eight weeks or even a year enough time? Depending on the level of competency you’re aiming for, the answer may be yes or no!
No matter how long it takes you to learn Japanese, Rosetta Stone’s Dynamic Immersion method can help you achieve your goals by tapping into your innate ability to learn a new language. Learn everything from the basics to travel, dining, and more through a variety of activities and features.
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Does it take a long time to learn Japanese?
“Long” is relative, as is “fast” when asking about the fastest way to learn Japanese. It’s highly unlikely that anyone could become fluent in 30 days, but, by the same token, it won’t take 10 years to learn how to read the Japanese alphabets: hiragana (平仮名) and katakana (片仮名).
The length of time it will take you depends on a number of factors, including your goals, prior language experience, and existing study habits. Outlining these from the beginning is the first step to learning Japanese.
How long it takes to learn Japanese for travel: 2-3 months
Your basic language needs for a vacation in Japan will revolve around navigation and everyday expressions like common Japanese greetings.
Focus on Japanese words and phrases for travel to make sure you can ask for directions, check-in at your hotel, and enjoy your time in Japan. The basics of reading Japanese to better understand subway signs, safety instructions, menus, and more will also be important. With a little bit of studying each day—20 to 30 minutes—you can feel prepared with a few months of practice.
How long it takes to learn Japanese for business: 6 months to 2 years
The requisite time to learn enough Japanese to competently conduct business in Japan will depend on your circ*mstances.
If you work for a company that has branches in your country but is headquartered in Japan, there may be a general understanding that your knowledge of Japanese will be limited. Learning conversational Japanese and the nuances of being polite and formal in a business environment is the priority and will take at least half a year.
If you will be working in Japan for a prolonged period, several years of study are necessary for you to perform your job effectively. The intricacies of honorific Japanese, or “keigo” (敬語), will be essential to avoid committing social faux pas and to foster strong relationships with your coworkers and superiors. Even native Japanese speakers struggle with this unique aspect of the language, so be prepared to dedicate a few years of language learning with a focus on formal Japanese.
How long it takes to learn Japanese to live in Japan: 3 years or more
There are no limits when living in Japan is your goal. Some avenues allowing you to live in Japan require no previous knowledge of Japanese, such as the JET Program, which hires people with native-level English fluency to be teacher assistants in Japanese schools. Still, Japanese skills are highly recommended to enhance your experience and make your life easier.
Roughly three years of Japanese study is a good start for an extended stay in Japan. In addition to having strong reading skills, being able to fend for yourself in a country that has a low level of English proficiency means you will need to have at least moderate proficiency in Japanese to get by. Living in a foreign country includes not only day-to-day conversations but also filling out government forms, understanding the news, navigating bills and finances, and more.
Does speaking a language other than English make it easier to learn Japanese?
The time it takes to learn Japanese will also be influenced by your current skill level. If you’ve studied Japanese in the past, you have a significant head start that will shave time off your learning plan.
If you’ve studied other languages and are looking to add Japanese to that list, the study skills you picked up and your understanding of how different languages are structured will speed up your comprehension of Japanese. Since the Japanese language is a language isolate, meaning it does not fit into any broader language families, knowing how to approach a new language will make it easier for you to learn Japanese.
If you have previous experience with Chinese, you are at an advantage. While Japanese is unique, the Japanese writing system is heavily based on Chinese, using characters known as kanji (漢字). This means you will have an easier time with writing and reading than someone who only has experience in languages that use the Roman alphabet. This can cut your time by hundreds of hours, given that there are over 2,000 kanji to learn for even general fluency.
How quickly can you learn Japanese?
Language includes four core skills: speaking, listening, writing, and reading. Ideally, you want at least basic proficiency in all four, especially if your goal is to live in Japan or perform some kind of work in Japanese, such as translation.
How long it takes to learn Japanese will change depending on the level of proficiency you’re aiming for. These timelines will stack if you want advanced proficiency but are starting from scratch.
Beginner level Japanese: 3-6 months
How long does it take to learn Japanese as a beginner? With regular study (even as little as 10 minutes a day), this is easily achievable within three to six months.
The beginner level has the most easily predicted timeline. According to the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL), a Novice-level speaker is expected to have demonstrated proficiency in speaking simple words and phrases, including greetings and self-introductions. Take these estimates into account when setting your expectations:
- Learn hiragana and katakana: 5 days-1 week
- Become familiar with Japanese pronunciation: 1-2 weeks
- Use greetings correctly: 1-2 weeks
- Introduce yourself and others: 1-2 weeks
- Construct simple sentences and ask questions: 2-4 weeks
- Expand vocabulary: 4-8 weeks
If you’re learning how to read the alphabet for the first time, speak each letter aloud to practice pronunciation. You can also use speech-recognition technology like Rosetta Stone’s TruAccent. Comparing your pronunciation to that of a native speaker and receiving instant feedback will catch errors early and prevent bad habits from forming.
Intermediate level Japanese: 1-3 years
In addition to the time it takes to master beginner-level skills, expect at least another year before feeling comfortable at the intermediate level. A total of three years of regular study is a good expectation.
- Build conversation skills: 1-3 months
- Give and understand directions: 1-3 months
- Navigate emergency situations: 1-3 months
- Construct complex sentences with multiple verbs: 3-6 months
- Learn up to 500 kanji: 6-18 months
Here’s where things start to get more involved. An intermediate skill level is where a speaker is expected to start being more creative with their dialogue. Rather than just repeating memorized phrases, you will add some personality to them to keep a conversation interesting. Common topics like routine tasks, ordering food, and personal details (hobbies, family, preferences, etc.) will come easily.
At this point, the benefits of self-study start to drop off. To build your speaking skills, you need to have conversations in Japanese with others frequently. Engaging in Rosetta Stone Tutoring sessions is an easy way to get conversational practice with an expert Japanese speaker.
Advanced level Japanese: 3-5 years
When people ask how long it takes to learn Japanese, this is generally the level of knowledge they’re thinking about. It will take years, but the reward—comfortably communicating in Japanese—is worth it!
- Give presentations or conduct work in Japanese: 1-3 months
- Understand and use honorific language: 1-3 months
- Be able to apply nuanced grammar structures: 6 months-1 year
- Comprehend news programs and articles: 6 months-1 year
- Learn all standard kanji (2,136): 2-3 years
An advanced-level speaker can approach unexpected topics on the spot without needing to plan responses ahead of time. They’re also able to discuss more complex concepts, understand the daily news, and work around gaps in vocabulary knowledge by describing what they mean.
Advanced learners of Japanese can expect to be able to live in Japan and navigate day-to-day conversations with relative ease. You may even be able to teach others the basics of Japanese!
What does “fluency” really mean?
Fluency is a spectrum, with business-level fluency (being able to work in Japanese) or native-level fluency being commonly associated terms. Passing the Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) N2 or N1 exams (which only assess reading and listening skills) are generally required to work in Japan.
How long does it take to become fluent in Japanese? Estimates vary. The Foreign Language Institute suggests that it takes 2,200 hours to become fluent in Japanese, which equals about two years if you study for 20 hours per week.
On a more lenient timeline, many colleges advertise their fourth-year courses (401 and 402) as being roughly equal in proficiency to the ACTFL Advanced level, and they’re taught entirely in Japanese. This would be four years of college-level Japanese.
What’s the fastest way to learn Japanese?
Knowing what lies ahead, you can get a sense of your personal timeline based on the time you have, your skill level, and your goal.
Ultimately, consistency is key. You could cram a week’s worth of lessons into one afternoon instead of spacing it out, but the likelihood that you will retain it all a week later is slim. Above all, integrate your studies with the very language you’re trying to learn.
Set realistic goals
Be kind to yourself and establish reasonable expectations. You won’t be fluent in a week, but you can certainly achieve reading fluency in hiragana in a few days!
Instead of working from one big goal—like being able to read an entire novel in Japanese—break up your plan into smaller goals.
- Learn the alphabets: 5 days
- Be able to tell time: 1 week
- Memorize 50 kanji: 1 month
- Whatever your next step is!
You want to set a comfortable pace that you can commit to and stick to it.
Use effective resources
Language tools and aids will make your studies easier and faster. Narrow in on versatile and proven books, apps, and videos that align with your goals.
A dictionary, for example, is vital. For Japanese, you may want to consider one of the many dictionaries just for kanji. Language-learning apps like the Rosetta Stone app can provide you with practice anytime in all four essential skills, cultural information, and even live lessons.
The tool you use to track your progress may become your best friend. Use a journal to handwrite your achievements, or check them off in an app. Seeing how far you’ve come is an excellent motivator.
Start learning today!
