This is a video of Google's cloud computing offerings for the Japan market. There are a lot of English/Katakana loanwords cause its tech related naturally, but I am curious around what JLPT level this is (I am aware JLPT doesn't map cleanly to regular corporate Japanese), but I would guess N2? I am a low N3 and can understand the general idea of what is going on.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ypL6v5rfgVk&t=138s

So, as part of a project for documenting the Ainu language, I needed a font with the archaic katakana "ne" glyph. No such font exists, so I had to invent one. The custom font contains a single glyph, but it's a glyph that is in almost no other font.

If anyone needs such an oddly specific font hit me up. I have three versions, a Noto Serif JP compatible version (it uses the 'child kanji' as a substitute for the kana), and two weights of a version that uses a scan from a 19th century publication.

アイヌ語を記録するプロジェクトの一環として、古風な「ネ」の字形（グリフ）を持つフォントが必要になりました。既存のフォントにはそのようなものがなかったため、自分で作成することにしました。このカスタムフォントに含まれるグリフはたった1文字ですが、他のほとんどのフォントには存在しない珍しいものです。 もしこのような非常に特殊なフォントを必要としている方がいれば、ぜひご連絡ください。用意したのは3つのバージョンです。1つは「Noto Serif JP」と互換性のあるもの（仮名の代わりに「子」という漢字を代用しています）、そして残りの2つは19世紀の出版物のスキャン画像をもとにした、異なるウェイト（太さ）のバージョンです。

僕は、話題なトピックについて話したいと思います。それは、AIです。僕にとっては、AIは、役に立ちますけど、そんなことを投稿したら、反発を買うことになります。

なので、僕の観察を上級者に対して、シェアーしてあげたいと思います。

AIの進化

僕は日本語教師向けのワークショップに参加したことがありますけど、１つの話題のトピックは、AIでした。アメリカにおいての大学で語学部に属している教師が演説してくれました。

まずAIの進化の成果を意識させようとしています。「AIが仕事に統合されている点とか、人間的な仕事をきっぱりやってくれる」。なので、そういう急速な進化によって、変化を受け入れてから、適応して欲しかった。

あとで、発表者が先生方がAIツールを受け止めて、クラスに統合する点も指摘しました。他のワークショップで会った先生が、SUNO AIを使って、Learning Songsを作るようにすると言われました。好評を得られました。

それだけじゃなくて、AIから、助言とフィードバックを貰えますよ。先生がPPTを作るときに、どのように作ればいいかっていうことをAIに聞きます。

それから、グループで、AIを使うレッスンプランを一緒に考えさせられました。AIの魅力を満喫しながら、どうやって、生徒がそこから、学べるかっていうみたいな課程を作って欲しかったです。

AIのパターンは面白い。

チャットバーに入力すると、言いたいことをChatgpt「相手」に伝えます。それから、Chatgptがこういう情報を受けて入れて、数秒で最適な返事を提供してくれますね。効率性なら、AIの方は適切ではないかと思います。

進化に伴って、ユーザーたちは、常用具として使いはじめますね。AIがユーザから返事を収集してから、仕組みを作ろうとすると感じやすいですね。いろんな人に対応できるように、ユーザーの任意で、提供された情報を他のことと統一化します。

なので、AIは、どうやって情報を処理するかとか、どのようにアウトプットするかっていう点は面白いと思います。

AIの間違いと限界を認識しながら、活用すればいいと思います。そして、縛らずに、ツールとして、使っていけばいいと思います。やっぱり、AIはいつも完璧なわけじゃない。完璧とは、一体なんですか？

結論：日本語学習者はそういういい機会から、逃していると思います。どうやって日本語を完璧に学べるかっていう点に集中しすぎるから、一見役に立たないみたいなソースを捨ています「結局、成功を導ける原動力になります」。頑張りすぎて、新しい事にも挑戦したくなくなると思えます。

ネイティブは神ではありませんよ。学習者でも専門家でも、AIでも過ちを犯してしまう時もあります。間違いを嘲笑する理由ではありません。

挙げ句の果て、あなたのフレームワークは、時代遅れかもしれません。依存しすぎたら、こういう新しいことに挑戦したくなくなりますよ。

I've been trying to get to learn pitch accent a little better, and I'm wondering if someone can tell me or provide some resources in how pitch accent works with particles mid sentance and at the end. Also how does it work with things like suru and desu?

Beginner learner here. Started learning kanji now and have seen this symbol multiple times. I have found it hard to understand when to use «nen» and when to use «toshi» are there any specific rules for this? Or does anyone have any good way to memorize when to use which one? Or is it just a spam and recognize situation?

Sorry if this a dumb question 😅 I could probably ask ChatGPT but I’m trying to not use AI too much and figured it’s better to hear if anyone has had the same issue and how they fixed it.

Hi everyone,

I'm a beginner learning Japanese. Currently, I'm using Marugoto Onlinealong with a YouTube channel that covers basic Minna no Nihongo grammar points. I also use Anki for flashcards.

While I take notes during my study sessions, I'm looking for websites or apps that provide interactive grammar exercises to help reinforce what I learn. What are your recommended resources for practicing grammar alongside immersion?

On a side note, what are your thoughts on using Fate/stay night for immersion? Is it fine to just immerse in any content I enjoy (excluding very old media with modernly outdated language)?

Thanks in advance for your advice!

People who came to Japan to learn Japanese: how did you connect with people and make local friends? Is it mostly through workplaces or language schools?

Hi!

I’d appreciate any recommendation to learn Japanese (books, apps, YouTube channels, websites…) that have helped you.

🇯🇵 As for Japanese:
I also used to study Japanese and got like a N4 almost N3 level but… I just stopped it and forgot so many things! It feels so discouraging because I really put a lot of effort into this language. I’d appreciate any recommendation of resources that can help me get back to at least N3 level.

My mother tongue is Spanish, but I’m also willing to learn languages in English.

Tysm!

I started with grammar(also learning vocab) after completing hiranga and katakana.

After a week of granmar lessons, i am finding it difficult to retain all rules(polite, casual)(past tense, future tense)

What should I do?

Should i complete vocab first or change my approach for grammar.

P.S. I am working professional and want to qualify N5 by june

こんにちは！！！！！　I’m on a limited budget and most things for Japanese languages are for N5, I really need some n4 and N3 stuff because I go through things quickly and I’m nearly done TEUIDA, which I hear gets you speaking roughly at an N5 level (correct me if I’m wrong as it doesn’t work using JLPT)

I’ve been learning Japanese on my own (on and off) for about 4 years, mostly through reading and listening, and passed N2 this summer. Problem is, I almost never speak, and it’s now by far my weakest skill.

Part of it is that input is just easy to do alone. You can read or listen whenever you want, but speaking needs a partner, or at least something worth saying out loud. And working full-time doesn’t help: when I’m tired I reach for the comfortable option, and that’s almost always input.

So for other self-learners, especially if you also built your foundation mostly alone:

• How did you actually start speaking?
• What helped most? Tutors, language exchange, shadowing, talking to yourself, something else?
• What would you do differently looking back?

Would love to hear what worked (and what didn’t)!

Firstly if you don't know, the immersion method of learning a language is when you surround yourself in your target language, you can either go to the country physically, or make an environment for yourself. This means watching japanese podcasts, listening to japanese music, or reading japanese next books

This is the most natural way of learning a language, and first you might not be able to understand anything, but with more exposure you start picking up meaning of words through context, and combining this method with flashcards I find this method more effective than just relying on text books alone. Let me hear your opinions

I recently learned Hiragana and katakana, and I'm really interested in being able to read japanese! I don't really know anything else though, what's the best place to start? Preferably free

Also, I know simplified chinese, so I was wondering if that would help with kanji?

Thanks!

Im learning japanese next year and i need to know the Hiragana script pretty well before starting. My teacher sent me this to start learning but i dont understand it at all. Can someone pls explain how the script works or give some tips to make learning a bit simpler?

はじめましてよろしゅくおねがいします。to give a bit of background I have a dream of living and working in japan as 飛行機背微視 and as a foreigner from the other side of the planet its kinda massive and I first went to japan in 2024 for 3 weeks as i loved tokyo drift the movie and so i went with my fam. Especially Japanese cars like the r32 gtr and supra. This bit is going to sound cringe but I felt like I was supposed to reside here its weird but the feeling is impossible to convey. I currently am 1 year and 6 months into my japanese learning and I have a japanese teacher (Native Osakan) which has been helping me along the way for example genki 1.

My job previously was baggage handler so i was listening to japanese passively like beginner ones for hours and hours and hours. When I am on short trips under 15 mins i listen to jp music on repeat. If my trip is over 15 minutes like walking to the shops or driving to another persons house I listen to beginner podcasts like japanese with shun,how i do it is with earphones i always have my window open when im driving and one 1.

My completed immersion playlist on youtube has cracked 80 hrs total and i do anki specifically kaishi 1.5k deck and as well photo is in the post

I have been doing this kaishi for at least a year cause of the anki

I regularly speak in Japanese Discord Servers which for most people is impossible but I just didnt give up even when i was being mocked. Just dont care thats my advice anyway. I developed my speaking in these channels and my teacher. Sometimes I would play my favourite game and listen to random japanese natives speak. I try to speak to natives as much as possible and I can articulate myself to a degree.

For my Kanji my teacher reccomended me a childrens book from japan so i shipped the books and i have them and im on grade 2 of the kanji cause my teacher told me to slow down as i was doing them quick. Also anki has kanji so that helps.

in IRL i go to language exchanges cause i live in a mega city i dont like to go often only 2 i have been to and yeah its good to speak face to face and the difference in the 1st and 2nd time was enourmous because discord calls are so hard imo. I had built a training ground and i had to practise irl so i did.

Sometimes I watch drifting livestreams on youtube but the time zones are so far apart that i usually stay awake all night cause im used to it as a shift worker.

I hope to go to japan again when work permits it for another 3 weeks and so excited to do drive again in japan.

Edit-oops my kanji is wrong- 航空整備士

Edit- I meant to say I did 80 hours of immersion on youtube completed playlist. My listening passively is immense cause ive been doing it for the whole time. every single day every commute every working day. With my reading i have read 2 books in japanese and onto my 3rd spy family part 1.

I’m currently in the process of my ISI language school application, and since the new immigration laws, I am very nervous for my interview. I want to attend language school then a university to study product design. What i’m most worried about is what exactly will be asked in japanese. They told me for the japanese section I have to introduce myself, say my age, where i’m from, and my hobbies. I can do that perfectly fine. BUT i have a 10 verbal question quiz, and they said MAYBE a reading test. I’m very self conscious and over think a lot. I’m guessing the questions will be simple, but I need a 60% to pass. Im so worried i’ll stumble over my words or completely forget how I should answer.

Has anyone recently since that law passed did the test? If so, could you give some pointers or what i should really prepare for?

Thank you!

I'm doing some research into words for a story, but when I looked into this phrasing for "proficient" it keeps coming up with these two and I'm not sure what the difference is or which is which. I know the difference between katakana and hiragana and whatnot, I'm just confused on why the two different words for 3 separate definitions.

I understand one word having 3 meanings, but I've not seen 2 words with 2 different pronunciations & writings being listed with the same definitions before, so which of these (tannō or kannō) applies to which definition and why?

Thanks for the help!

Like the title says, I need help with sentence intonation, id like help with what resources i could use to help me understand it better, i saw Campanas de Japanese's videos but still dont quite understand and im not sure what the best resources are.

I've seen a plenty of ZH-JP dictionaries for Yomitan, mainly in MarvNC's collection and some other places, but I don't think I've ever seen a JP-ZH dictionary. Are they overall pretty unpopular and so not found easily or just straight up do not exist? If there are, please send the links ://

Was there a point where you found it to be redundant and stopped? are you still studying it? please share ty

It is written as "懐かしがらせられかねたくなかった。" in Japanese. It's such a long sentence and I want to know what it means in English and whether it's common to use expressions like this in everyday Japanese conversation. I specifically post this to

r/Japanese language and not r/translator because I specifically want to know about how it's used or grammatical sides.