There’s no getting around it: Learning to write in Japanese can be difficult. Whether you decide to take on Kanji (), Hiragana (), or Katakana (), you’ll discover that there’s a lot more to understanding written Japanese than you might imagine. With that in mind, here are some suggestions on which Japanese writing system you should learn first.
Kanji
Kanji is the most widely-used of the Japanese writing systems and, for good reason, too. Kanji is highly practical and can be used to write everything from phrases and words to names and addresses. Additionally, it’s fairly easy to learn how to write Kanji if you already know how to write in English. Finally, learning to write in Kanji will greatly expand your linguistic horizons because there are over a 100,000 characters in the Japanese dictionary!
On the downside, Kanji can be quite hard to write. There are over 100,000 Kanji in existence, but only a small number of them are commonly used. Additionally, if you want to be able to write names and words accurately, you’ll need to learn how to write them phonetically. Finally, Kanji does have its quirks. You’ll need to learn how to write symbols as words and vice versa. The best thing about Kanji is that once you learn it, you’ll never forget it. If you decide that you want to learn more about Japanese culture and language, Kanji is the perfect choice.
Hiragana
Hiragana is the simplified Japanese counterpart to Kanji. For some people, the jump from Kanji to Hiragana might be difficult because it requires you to unlearn a lot. In the same way, to switch from English to French you’ll need to learn a new set of rules. While the number of Hiragana characters is much smaller than Kanji’s, it is used in everyday life and there are fewer quirks associated with it. Additionally, the fact that it’s a simplified version of Kanji means that you can learn it relatively easily.
On the downside, because it’s a simplified form of Kanji, learning to write in Hiragana can be quite daunting. Even for native speakers, writing in Hiragana can be difficult because it requires a lot of practice. Finally, because it’s a simplified version of Kanji, there are certain quirks and exceptions that you’ll need to know. For instance, you’ll need to know that 一 means ‘one’ in Hiragana but ‘one’ in Kanji. When you reach a point where you think you’ve mastered Hiragana, you’ll discover that there are still some quirks that you didn’t know about. It’s all part of the learning process.
Katakana
Katakana is the Japanese script used for writing words that are derived from Chinese characters. For example, the character for mountain, 雲, is written in Katakana as 夕漫月 and is pronounced ‘yomi’. The number of Katakana characters are relatively small compared to Kanji and Hiragana, which is why it’s sometimes referred to as the ‘Japanese syllabary’. Because Katakana is based on Chinese characters, there are some commonality between them that you need to be aware of.
On the upside, Katakana is the easiest of the three Japanese writing systems to learn. In fact, even for English speakers, it’s not difficult to learn how to write in Katakana. Additionally, because it’s based on Chinese characters, there are already many rules and examples you can utilize. Finally, like Hiragana, Katakana is used everyday and there are fewer exceptions and quirks associated with it. If you’ve ever watched Japanese movies or plays, you’ll have probably seen words written in Katakana. It’s a great choice for beginners.
The downside is that if you want to write in a professional manner, you’ll need to learn how to write in Katakana properly. For instance, all three of the kanji that I’ve mentioned so far are written in a style called ‘natural kanji’, which is how you’ll generally see them in manga and some types of comics. To write in Katakana in a professional manner, you’ll need to learn how to write them in an unnatural style. Additionally, sometimes words will be written in katakana, but the kanji will be included for emphasis or for etymological reasons. This is called ‘forced kanji’ and it’s not difficult to identify. If you ever come across words like 一語 or 二度 that are written in katakana, it’s a good indication that the writer is trying to write in a more formal manner. If you want to learn more about Japanese culture, this might be a good place to start, but you’ll need to brush up on your Japanese writing skills first!
When Do You Learn Which Script to Use?
As a beginner, your tutor will guide you on which one of the three Japanese writing systems to learn first. You can start with Kanji, move to Hiragana, or go for Katakana. It really depends on your interests and the kind of writing you plan on doing. What’s important is that you start to familiarize yourself with one of the three and, after that, you can move on to the other two. If you have a goal in mind (like having your own manga), you’ll want to start with Kanji. Additionally, if you want to work in an office environment, you’ll want to learn Kanji or Hiragana first and then go for Katakana. Or, for the very adventurous, you can go for all three at once!
As you advance in knowledge and become more fluent in Japanese, you might want to reconsider which script you learn first based on the situation you’re in. For example, if you’re in a country where the majority of the people speak English, you’ll want to learn Kanji so that you can read manga and anime titles that were originally penned in Japanese. Additionally, it’s fairly easy to learn Kanji, so even if you don’t intend to become a professional writer, it’s not a bad idea to learn it as a second language! One more thing: If you want to become a manga artist or an anime director, learning how to write in Kanji is imperative because it will help you understand the process of storytelling in comics and animations!