No More Rote Learning! Master Japanese Writing with a 'Cooking' Mindset

So, you want to learn Japanese, but as soon as you come face-to-face with Hiragana, Katakana, and Kanji – those 'three towering mountains' – do you instantly feel like throwing in the towel?

Many share this sentiment. Initially, we all look for shortcuts, thinking, "Surely, I only need to learn how to speak? Wouldn't just using Romaji be sufficient?"

But you'll quickly discover that this is a dead end. Without mastering the writing system, it's like someone who wants to learn to swim but only ever dares to do warm-up exercises on the shore – they'll never truly be able to dive into the deep waters of the language.

But fear not, today we're going to change our approach. Mastering Japanese writing isn't actually as daunting as it seems.

Learning Japanese is Like Preparing a Grand Feast

Forget those complex linguistic terms. Instead, let's imagine learning Japanese writing as learning how to prepare a delicious Japanese meal. Hiragana, Katakana, and Kanji are simply the three indispensable sets of tools in your kitchen.

1. Hiragana = The Basic Seasonings

Hiragana are like the salt, sugar, and soy sauce in your kitchen.

They are the most fundamental and core flavours that constitute any dish. In Japanese, Hiragana connect words, form grammatical structures (such as particles like ‘te, ni, o, ha’), and indicate the readings of Kanji. They are ubiquitous, flowing smoothly and softly, perfectly blending all the 'ingredients' together.

Without these basic seasonings, even the finest ingredients would just be a scattered mess, unable to form a delicious meal. Therefore, Hiragana are the most fundamental tools you must master first.

2. Katakana = The Imported Spices

Katakana, on the other hand, are like the butter, cheese, black pepper, or rosemary in your kitchen.

They are specifically used to season 'foreign' ingredients – that is, words borrowed from abroad, such as 'computer (コンピューター)' and 'coffee (コーヒー)'. Their strokes are typically harder and more angular, instantly conveying an 'exotic flair'.

Once you've mastered Katakana, your 'dishes' will become more modern and international, allowing you to easily handle a vast array of trendy vocabulary in daily life.

3. Kanji = The Core Main Course

Kanji are the centrepiece of this grand feast – they are the meat, the fish, the essential vegetables.

They determine the core meaning of a sentence. For instance, words like '私' (I), '食べる' (to eat), and '日本' (Japan) give true substance to a sentence.

And for us, this is incredibly good news!

Because we inherently recognise these 'ingredients'! We don't need to learn what 'fish' looks like from scratch; we only need to learn its unique 'cooking method' within the Japanese culinary context – that is, its readings (on'yomi, kun'yomi). This gives us a massive advantage over learners from any other country in the world.

Why Are All Three Indispensable?

Now you understand why Japanese requires three writing systems to coexist?

It's like trying to make 'Buddha Jumps Over the Wall' (佛跳墙) with only salt.

• Using only Hiragana, sentences would be a jumbled mess, without proper spacing, making them difficult to read.
• Using only Kanji, grammatical structures and conjugations cannot be expressed.
• Without Katakana, foreign culture cannot be naturally integrated into the language.

They each perform their distinct roles, collaborating to form a sophisticated, efficient, and aesthetically pleasing writing system. They are not your enemies; rather, they are the indispensable tools in your linguistic toolbox, each with its own specific function.

The Right Way to Become a 'Language Chef'

So, stop treating them as a bunch of symbols to be memorised by rote. You should, like a master chef, familiarise yourself with your tools:

1. First, master the basic seasonings (Hiragana): This is the foundation; dedicate a week or two to thoroughly mastering it.
2. Next, familiarise yourself with the imported spices (Katakana): With a solid grasp of Hiragana, you'll find Katakana remarkably easy.
3. Finally, cook the core main course (Kanji): Utilise your native language advantage to learn their 'preparation methods' (readings and usages) in Japanese, one by one.

Of course, learning to 'cook' takes time, but you don't need to wait until you become a master chef to share your culinary creations with others. Along your learning journey, you can start genuine communication at any time.

If you want to start chatting with Japanese people immediately while learning, try Lingogram. It's like having an AI translation chef right by your side, ready to translate conversations for you in real-time. This way, you can not only practise your newly learned 'recipes' in real-life contexts but also make the learning process more enjoyable and motivating.

Let go of the frustration. You're not memorising meaningless symbols; you're learning the art of communication.

With the right mindset and tools, you'll not only easily understand anime and Japanese dramas but also confidently communicate with the world. Now, step into your 'kitchen' and start cooking your first 'Japanese feast'!