Searching for the best book to learn Japanese?
With so many applications, programs, and online resources available to learn Japanese, you may be overlooking one of the finest and most straightforward ways to get started or continue studying Japanese: books!
These books were put together by editors and specialists, and they have stood the test of time, selling hundreds of thousands of copies, making them a surefire way to enhance your Japanese. Don’t forget that for hundreds of years; people have been learning this language through literature.
But where do you begin when there are so many books to pick from? We’ve compiled a list of the 20 best books to learn Japanese for beginners and advanced learners.
Table of contents
- Why Study Japanese Through Books? in 2023
- Benefits Of Learning Japanese
- 1. It Makes it easier for people to understand each other on a global scale
- 2. Sets you up for a brighter future
- 3. Enables you to comprehend Japanese culture
- 4. It Makes you realize how much you value your own culture and language
- 5. Enhances your ability to learn other academic subjects
- 6. In Japan, you can earn a certificate as an English teacher
- 7. It serves as a springboard to other Asian cultures and languages
- 20 Best Books To Learn Japanese
- 1. Japanese from Zero! 1: Proven Techniques to Learn Japanese for Students and Professionals
- 2. GENKI I: An Integrated Course in Elementary Japanese (English and Japanese Edition)
- 3. Japanese for Everyone: A Functional Approach to Daily Communication
- 4. Elementary Japanese Volume One
- 5. A Guide to Japanese Grammar: A Japanese approach to learning Japanese grammar
- 6. Yookoso! An Invitation to Contemporary Japanese
- 7. Japanese the Manga Way: An Illustrated Guide to Grammar and Structure
- 8. A Dictionary of Basic Japanese Grammar
- 9. Essential Japanese Vocabulary: Learn to Avoid Common (And Embarrassing!) Mistakes
- 10. An Illustrated Dictionary of Japanese Onomatopoeic Expressions
- 11. Modern Japanese Vocabulary: A Guide for 21st Century Students
- 12. Read Real Japanese Fiction: Short Stories by Contemporary Writers
- 13. Pimsleur Japanese
- 14. Learn Japanese: Word Power 101
- 15. Shadowing: Let’s Speak Japanese
- 16. Japanese: The Spoken Language, Part 1
- 17. Japanese Short Stories for Beginners
- 18. Japanese Stories for Language Learners: Bilingual Stories in Japanese and English
- 19. 50 Japanese Short Stories for Beginners
- 20. Am I Small? (Children’s Picture Book)
- Conclusion
- Frequently Asked Questions
- References
- We Also Recommend
Why Study Japanese Through Books? in 2023
Here are a few reasons why you should study Japanese through books:
- Japanese books teach the basics of the language in a systematic manner:- The best textbooks for learning Japanese have a structure that guides you toward fluency as you study grammatical points, vocabulary, and speech styles.
- Japanese grammar is explained in detail:- Non-native speakers, particularly English speakers, will find Japanese grammar confusing at first. Japanese grammar books can help you get over this stumbling block.
- Self-learners can benefit from multimedia tools in Japanese books: – Worksheets, glossaries, and audio lessons are frequently included in textbooks. These resources will provide you with a great learning experience if you’re self-studying.
SEE ALSO: 20 Profitable Benefits of Learning A Second Language
Benefits Of Learning Japanese
Learning Japanese is one of the many foreign languages that students in the United States and elsewhere can benefit from.
1. It Makes it easier for people to understand each other on a global scale
The Pacific Rim and Asia are becoming increasingly important on a global scale. The geopolitical and economic importance of the US-Japan relationship cannot be overstated. As a result, it is vital that more Americans learn Japanese.
The Japanese are known for being extremely nationalistic, and even if they can speak and write in another language, they prefer to have their written writings written in Japanese. As a result, knowing the language may make it easier to obtain information. Fluency in Japanese allows people to improve their communication while also learning more about Japan as a country and culture.
READ ALSO: 15 Best Ways To Learn A Language For The First Time
2. Sets you up for a brighter future
As the Asian economy grows, more job opportunities will open up. Japanese, like French, German, and Spanish, is a language that is not widely taught or studied. Learning Japanese will help you advance in your career.
When you learn Japanese, you’ll be in a better position to compete for jobs in fields including business, social sciences, humanities, technology, science, journalism, and tourism.
When compared to other more regularly taught languages, you have less competition if you want to work as a government translator or as a language services provider if you speak Japanese.
Speaking a foreign language, such as Japanese, increases your chances of being allocated to an overseas branch if you work for an international firm.
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3. Enables you to comprehend Japanese culture
The culture of Japan is unlike any other. It’s a hybrid of traditional and contemporary methods. In most cases, social behavior is not something you’ll observe in the West. The people, young and old, are deeply rooted in their cultural traditions, which govern how they react, interact, and behave.
These traits can also be seen in the way they write, read, listen to, and speak. Younger generations may adopt more modern behaviors, and speak and dress in various ways, but they nevertheless adhere to the traditions that their elders instilled in them.
Understanding the Japanese language will allow you to gain a better understanding of Japanese culture, history, martial arts, entertainment, and fashion.
SEE ALSO: 10 Best Japanese Language Schools In Japan In 2023
4. It Makes you realize how much you value your own culture and language
Because it improves your communication and cognitive skills, learning Japanese will help you appreciate your own culture as well as your own language. Experiencing a culture that is quite different from your own will increase your awareness of the differences between cultures and languages.
5. Enhances your ability to learn other academic subjects
Learning Japanese as a student provides you with new views, better thinking skills, and learning methodologies that you may apply to your other academic disciplines.
6. In Japan, you can earn a certificate as an English teacher
Your ability to communicate in Japanese could pave the way for you to teach English in Japanese high schools or perhaps work for the government in some local Japanese organizations.
The Japan Exchange and Teaching Program (JET) is an annual program that allows international students to stay and teach in Japan for a full year if they meet the criteria and go through the approval procedure. It’s a program aimed at promoting internationalization by fostering mutual understanding between Japan and other nations. Its goal is to improve Japanese foreign language education. During your stay, you can continue to study the Japanese language.
7. It serves as a springboard to other Asian cultures and languages
Other Asian countries, such as Korea, China, and India, had a significant impact on Japanese history. Although Asian cultures are diverse, they do share some commonalities that you will be able to detect as you study the language. You’ll see that they share many of the same values as the rest of the country, such as aesthetics, ethics, and religious views.
It will also assist you in learning other Asian languages. Korean and Japanese grammar is very similar. Both have sophisticated honorific systems in place to convey respect to higher-ranking individuals, older family members, and strangers. Because their writing system is comparable to the Chinese writing system, learning and understanding either Chinese or Korean will be easy.
20 Best Books To Learn Japanese
We’ve compiled a list of 20 books for beginners to advanced learners to aid you along your Japanese journey.
1. Japanese from Zero! 1: Proven Techniques to Learn Japanese for Students and Professionals
This is one of the most popular books for learning Japanese because it is excellent for both children and total novices. The series consists of four books, with the first introducing the hiragana writing system, fundamental grammar and vocabulary, and pronunciation.
This book teaches over 800 words and expressions in a combination of hiragana (Japanese alphabet) and romaji (Japanese character set) (English letters). It also digs into some Japanese cultural features. The lessons are well-structured and simple to understand. There is no companion CD included; however, audio and video assets are available for free on the website.
Click to: Buy on Amazon / Buy on Book Depository
2. GENKI I: An Integrated Course in Elementary Japanese (English and Japanese Edition)
One of the most popular Japanese beginner’s books is Genki. Reading, writing, listening, and speaking abilities are taught through engaging dialogues with cute pictures. The grammar elements are clearly presented in English, and the vocabulary classes are simple to understand.
This book also covers level 5 of the Japanese Language Proficiency Examination (JLPT), making it ideal for test-takers. This second version incorporates cultural annotations to aid studying in the context of Japanese culture. It also comes with an audio CD that may be used for listening and speaking practice.
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3. Japanese for Everyone: A Functional Approach to Daily Communication
This Japanese language instruction book seeks to teach genuine, real-life Japanese, as its name suggests. This course covers grammar structure and vocabulary through practical dialogues and idioms, as well as cultural notes, and is divided into 27 courses.
This book starts with sophisticated grammar and gives you a good understanding of the structure before moving on to more difficult sections. You’ll also get a lot of written and speaking practice. To help you learn hiragana and katakana (a specific alphabet for foreign words) quickly, romaji is used sparingly. The only disadvantage is the scarcity of kanji (logographic Chinese characters).
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4. Elementary Japanese Volume One
You’ll enjoy Elementary Japanese whether you’re learning on your own or with an instructor. This beginner’s Japanese book includes comprehensive grammar explanations based on conversations and basic terminology.
14 lessons with use and grammar notes, exercises, new vocabulary, and new kanji are included in this book. The hiragana and katakana tutorials are also quite useful. The book includes a CD-ROM containing printable PDFs and MP3 audio files, which may also be downloaded from the publisher’s website.
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5. A Guide to Japanese Grammar: A Japanese approach to learning Japanese grammar
Tae Kim’s Guide to Learning Japanese is a must-have for anyone studying Japanese grammar online. This book’s information is duplicated in the grammar guide available on the official website, iOS app, and Android app. If you prefer a tangible copy, this is the sole reason to buy it.
Casual speech is used to explain grammar points, which is uncommon in most textbooks. This makes even complex words simple to understand for learners, especially beginners. It does go on to show you how to use polite forms, so you can learn both.
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6. Yookoso! An Invitation to Contemporary Japanese
The succinctness of Yookoso! is its strength. If you prefer to learn by example, this is one of the most effective books for learning Japanese grammar.
This book’s grammar explanations are succinct but thorough. Sample phrases and sentences are used to drill down on certain grammar points. To put the language training in context, contemporary and traditional Japanese culture concepts are briefly discussed.
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7. Japanese the Manga Way: An Illustrated Guide to Grammar and Structure
This book will show you that learning Japanese grammar can be enjoyable. If you don’t want too academic, dull lectures, The Manga Way is one of the greatest books to learn Japanese. If you like manga, you’ll find it difficult to put this book down.
This non-traditional approach to learning is based on “actual manga, real Japanese.” This indicates that real-life language is being used. Grammar is taught through genuine manga scenarios, resulting in a fun and engaging learning experience.
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8. A Dictionary of Basic Japanese Grammar
While vocabulary dictionaries are ubiquitous in English, considering the complexity of Japanese grammar, it should come as no surprise that the Japanese have grammatical dictionaries.
This dictionary compiles basic grammatical knowledge, including parts of speech, definitions, and all conceivable meanings. There are also usage examples, sample sentences, collocations, and associated notes accessible. The comprehensiveness of this book is praised by many Japanese language students.
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9. Essential Japanese Vocabulary: Learn to Avoid Common (And Embarrassing!) Mistakes
Essential Japanese Terminology is a self-study and classroom resource that provides a vocabulary that is used in everyday situations, cutting out forms that are unneeded or infrequently used. It also covers important grammar points.
The text is written in kanji and kana and is clearly explained. Cultural awareness aids readers in comprehending vocabulary and grammar more quickly. There’s also a dictionary of grammatical words. In addition, if you need a refresher on what you’ve already learned, this is one of the greatest books to learn Japanese.
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10. An Illustrated Dictionary of Japanese Onomatopoeic Expressions
Simply described, onomatopoeia is a set of words that represent a sound. Consider the sounds of meows, oinks, booms, and buzzes. More onomatopoeia can be found in Japanese than in any other language. As a result, purchasing a Japanese vocabulary book such as this one makes sense.
This book includes simple drawings of gitano (onomatopoeia that defines conditions and states), as well as English and Japanese pronunciations and explanations. If you’re a beginner to intermediate Japanese learner, this is easily one of the most enticing books.
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11. Modern Japanese Vocabulary: A Guide for 21st Century Students
Relevant vocabulary is required while choosing books to learn Japanese, regardless of your learning aim. The internet, modern politics, culture, and commerce are all covered in Modern Japanese Vocabulary.
This includes homonyms, Sino-Japanese verbs, prefixes, and suffixes, in addition to essential vocabulary. The categories are used to organize the entries. This makes it one of the best Japanese kanji books available since you study kanji that are relevant to your interests. The pronunciation keys, however, are only in kana and not in romaji.
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12. Read Real Japanese Fiction: Short Stories by Contemporary Writers
Real Japanese Fiction allows you to learn new Japanese terms while reading stories by some of Japan’s most daring and well-known current authors. If you ask me, it’s the best of both worlds.
On each page, the Japanese text flows from top to bottom and from right to left. The original Japanese language is on one side of the double-spread, while English translations of difficult portions are on the other. There’s also a Japanese-English dictionary, as well as grammar and culture notes.
Not only does this book aid in vocabulary development. It also comes with a CD with audio narrations, which makes it an excellent method of learning Japanese.
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13. Pimsleur Japanese
Pimsleur is one of the most efficient ways to learn Japanese. All you need is 30 minutes of listening and speaking practice per day if you use the scientifically proven approach of spaced repetition.
Audio lessons with native speakers are included in Pimsleur Japanese. Additional extra learning tools, such as flashcards, speed round games, and quizzes, can be used to supplement these fundamental teachings. There are also reading lessons accessible.
Click to: Try Pimsleur Japanese for free
14. Learn Japanese: Word Power 101
While high-quality Japanese classes are worthwhile investments, we don’t have to forego free materials. If you want to study Japanese for free, this audiobook by Innovative Language is a good option.
This Japanese audiobook will teach you not only 101 frequently used vocabulary but also phrases and sentences recorded by a native speaker.
You don’t even need to be fluent in English to use this. Simply choose your native language and begin studying!
Click to: Buy on Amazon
15. Shadowing: Let’s Speak Japanese
This is a great book that offers an amazing method to learn Japanese and speak it immediately.
Shadowing is a type of training in which you listen to a tape and then instantly replicate it as accurately as possible. This strategy allows you to process Japanese quickly and pronounce it like a native Japanese speaker.
The CD includes a 65-minute audio recording of real-life Japanese words and sentences. The physical book contains the transcript, which is written entirely in kanji and includes translations into English, Chinese, and Korean. If you want to start speaking Japanese right away, this is one of the greatest books to learn from.
Click to: Buy on Amazon
16. Japanese: The Spoken Language, Part 1
It’s advisable to approach this book with the intention of speaking Japanese rather than writing. You won’t be learning kana or kanji because the Spoken Language is written in romaji. This romaji is fantastic since it aids in the development of improved pronunciation skills.
This book includes audio recordings for practicing listening and speaking. Pitch accent can be learned, making it much more valuable. It teaches in-depth grammar and uses practical vocabulary in drills and discussions.
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17. Japanese Short Stories for Beginners
The best learning books It is not necessary for Japanese to be scholarly all of the time. It’s not always necessary to be completely immersed in order to recall information.
Japanese Short Stories for Beginners has 20 short stories that are simple to read and enjoyable to read, allowing you to develop your Japanese vocabulary. The text is written in kanji; however, if you don’t know how to read it, you can read the English translation instead. You can also listen to a native speaker with the free Audible version.
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18. Japanese Stories for Language Learners: Bilingual Stories in Japanese and English
Japanese Stories for Language Learners is one of the greatest books for learning Japanese since it takes readers on an interesting linguistic and cultural trip. It has five gripping stories, each with an English and Japanese version on opposing pages.
The book includes translation notes, vocabulary lists, grammar points, and kanji, kana, and grammar exercises. The story also includes audio elements, which you can listen to voices of native speakers. Word repetition also enhances remembering.
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19. 50 Japanese Short Stories for Beginners
If you’re not seeking planned courses, this is one of the greatest books to learn Japanese from. It includes 50 fun Japanese short stories written in kana and kanji for beginners and intermediate learners. If you can’t read Japanese, don’t worry; there are line-by-line English translations available.
This book is a fantastic place to start learning basic kanji reading and expanding your vocabulary. It also comes with a reading guide that covers the fundamentals of the language and its characters so you won’t be caught off guard.
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20. Am I Small? (Children’s Picture Book)
Is it true that I’m small? Philipp Winterberg was not born in Japan. If you’re a complete newbie or raising a multilingual child, it’s worth a look. This short story about a girl who is self-conscious about her size has been translated into over 175 languages and dialects, including Japanese.
This book will readily hold your attention because of its inventive, vivid illustrations and well-written plot. The hiragana text, romaji for pronunciation, and English translation are all included in the English-Japanese edition. This book is excellent for expanding vocabulary, despite the fact that it is not structured or academic.
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Conclusion
That is all there is to it. You’re more prepared than ever to begin studying Japanese with this comprehensive collection of books. You’ll be fluent in no time if you practice consistently and with perseverance. Good luck with your studies!
Frequently Asked Questions
Learning Japanese is one of the many foreign languages that students in the United States and elsewhere can benefit from.
Japanese books teach the basics of the language in a systematic manner.
Japanese textbooks teach you the basics of the language in its most correct form. They guide you step-by-step through major grammar points, crucial vocabulary, and forms of speech.
The best books for learning Japanese are Japanese from Zero! 1: Proven Techniques to Learn Japanese for Students and Professionals, GENKI I: An Integrated Course in Elementary Japanese (English and Japanese Edition), Japanese for Everyone: A Functional Approach to Daily Communication, Elementary Japanese Volume One,
A Guide to Japanese Grammar: A Japanese approach to learning Japanese grammar
Yookoso! An Invitation to Contemporary Japanese
References
- 20 Best Books to Learn Japanese for Beginners to Advanced Learners
- Learning Japanese? Here Are 12 Books I Highly Recommend
- Learn Japanese by Reading: 20+ Guided Reading Suggestions for Eager Students
- Best Books To Learn Japanese
