As a Chinese native speaker, kanji will be easier for you, but you'll still need to learn hiragana and katakana. Speaking will be trickier due to different grammar, but you can manage basic conversations in three months. Writing will require more time, as Japanese uses kanji differently than Chinese. (this hanzi doesn't exist in Chinese is 働 (はたらく, hataraku), which means "to work" in Japanese. This character was created in Japan by combining elements from existing kanji, and it’s unique to the Japanese language.)


Language Centers: Good for fast progress with structured lessons.
Online: Use apps like WaniKani (kanji), Lingodeer (grammar), and italki (speaking).
Self-Study: Textbooks like Genki and YouTube channels like Japanese Ammo with Misa.

In three months, you can learn the basics, especially in reading and speaking. Fluency will take more time, but a mix of methods works best.

Fun fact: 和製漢語 Wasei kango are words that use kanji but were actually created in Japan, not imported from China. A fun example is 電話 (でんわ, denwa), meaning "telephone." While both kanji (電 for "electricity" and 話 for "talk") are Chinese in origin, the combination as a single word for "telephone" was invented in Japan and later influenced other languages, including modern Chinese!

Not so fun fact: You will struggle a bit with speaking in Japanese. Sorry, it has been quite a phenomenon with learners who are Chinese-ed, where pronunciation is always a problem. This is where you need to work extra hard, and in case you're wondering BANANA CHINESE somehow don't have problems in this area.

This post has been edited by Hoka Nobasho: Oct 3 2024, 01:24 AM