The most important thing to learn first when starting Japanese is hiragana.
Hiragana is a phonetic script that represents syllables. Learning hiragana will allow you to read and write basic Japanese words and phrases. You can think of it like the alphabet in English. Once you know hiragana, you can start learning basic vocabulary and grammar.
Here are some reasons why hiragana is the best starting point:
- Foundation for reading and writing: Hiragana is essential for reading and writing Japanese, even if you are learning through Romaji (the romanized version of Japanese).
- Pronunciation: Hiragana helps you learn the sounds of Japanese, which can be challenging for English speakers.
- Vocabulary building: Once you know hiragana, you can start learning basic vocabulary and recognize words in context.
- Grammar: Hiragana is used in many grammar particles, which are essential for understanding Japanese sentence structure.
You can learn hiragana through various resources, such as:
- Online resources: Numerous websites and apps offer free hiragana lessons.
- Textbooks: Japanese language textbooks typically introduce hiragana in the first few chapters.
- Flashcards: Flashcards are a great way to memorize the hiragana characters.
Learning hiragana is a crucial step in your Japanese learning journey. It lays the foundation for reading, writing, and understanding the language.
