“Japanese is one of the hardest languages in the world.”
You hear this a lot. But is it true?
Honest answer: some parts are hard, some parts aren’t.
This guide breaks down what’s actually difficult about Japanese — and what’s surprisingly easy.
The Hard Parts
1. Three Writing Systems
Japanese uses three scripts.
- Hiragana (46 characters): あ、い、う、え、お…
- Katakana (46 characters): ア、イ、ウ、エ、オ…
- Kanji (2,136 common-use characters): 日、本、語、難、簡…
English has 26 letters. Japanese has over 2,000 characters to learn.
This is the biggest barrier. Reading and writing take time to develop.
2. Multiple Readings for Kanji
One kanji can have several readings.
Example: 生
- 生きる (ikiru) — to live
- 生まれる (umareru) — to be born
- 生える (haeru) — to grow
- 先生 (sensei) — teacher
- 生ビール (nama biiru) — draft beer
Same character, five or more readings. This is genuinely hard.
3. Keigo (Formal Language)
Japanese has a complex honorific system.
- Teineigo: Polite (desu/masu)
- Sonkeigo: Respectful (elevating others)
- Kenjougo: Humble (lowering yourself)
You need to choose based on the situation and your relationship with the person. Getting it wrong can be rude.
Even Japanese people don’t use keigo perfectly.
4. Different Word Order
English: I eat sushi. (SVO: Subject-Verb-Object) Japanese: 私は寿司を食べる。(SOV: Subject-Object-Verb)
The verb comes last. English speakers need time to adjust.
5. Context-Heavy
Japanese omits a lot. Subjects often disappear.
Example: 「行く？」(Going?) 「行く。」(Going.)
Who? Where? When? All omitted. You need context to understand.
6. Massive Vocabulary and Expressions
Japanese has an enormous number of words and set expressions.
There are often multiple words for the same concept, each with subtle differences in nuance or formality. Onomatopoeia alone has thousands of expressions.
This takes years to absorb.
The Easy Parts
1. Simple Pronunciation
Japanese has few sounds. Just 5 vowels (a, i, u, e, o).
No complicated sounds like English “th,” no tricky r/l distinction, no subtle vowel differences.
Japanese pronunciation is relatively easy for English speakers.
2. Few Grammar Exceptions
Japanese verb conjugation is regular.
English is full of irregular verbs (go-went-gone, eat-ate-eaten). Japanese has patterns — learn the patterns, apply them to most verbs.
3. No Articles
No “a,” “an,” “the.”
“I saw a dog” vs. “I saw the dog” — this distinction doesn’t exist. One less thing to worry about.
4. No Grammatical Gender
Unlike French or German, nouns don’t have gender. No memorising whether a table is masculine or feminine.
5. No Plurals
English: one cat, two cats Japanese: 猫1匹、猫2匹
The word itself doesn’t change.
6. Simple Tense System
Japanese has two tenses: “past” and “non-past.”
No complex tenses like present perfect progressive or past perfect. Much simpler than English.
Comparison with Other Languages
The U.S. Foreign Service Institute (FSI) ranks language difficulty for English speakers.
Category 1 (Easy): Spanish, French, Italian — ~600 hours Category 4 (Hard): Japanese, Chinese, Korean, Arabic — ~2,200 hours
Japanese is in the “hard” category. But this is specifically for English speakers.
What Determines Difficulty?
Language difficulty is relative.
It depends on your native language:
- Chinese speakers → Can read kanji → Japanese is easier
- Korean speakers → Similar grammar → Japanese is easier
- English speakers → Different writing and grammar → Japanese is harder
It depends on your motivation:
- Love anime → Learning is fun → Progress faster
- Need it for work but no interest → Struggle → Progress slower
It depends on your environment:
- Living in Japan → Use it daily → Progress faster
- Once-a-week class only → Progress slower
Tips for Getting Through the Hard Parts
1. Don’t Skip Reading and Writing
Learn hiragana and katakana first. You can do it in 2-3 weeks.
If you rely on romaji, you’ll never be able to read.
2. Kanji: A Little Every Day
Don’t try to learn everything at once. 5-10 kanji per day. Consistency matters.
3. Keigo Can Wait
Start with desu/masu. Sonkeigo and kenjougo can come at N3 level or later.
4. Don’t Aim for Perfection
Making mistakes is fine. Japanese people appreciate that you’re trying to speak their language.
5. Find Ways to Enjoy It
Anime, drama, music, games. Learn through content you love and you’ll stick with it.
6. Use Japanese in Real Life
Go to Japanese restaurants, hair salons, or supermarkets where staff speak Japanese. Real interaction accelerates learning.
Summary
Is Japanese hard?
Yes, some parts are hard. Especially kanji, vocabulary, and keigo.
But it’s not impossible. Pronunciation is simple, grammar is regular.
The key is not using “it’s hard” as an excuse. It’s hard, but if you do a little every day, you will improve.
Related Articles
- How Long Does It Take to Learn Japanese?
- How to Learn Hiragana and Katakana Fast
- Can You Pass JLPT Through Self-Study?
Written by Ayaka Uchida – CEO of A-Digital Works, founder of Nihon GO! World.