You may be wondering: does anyone still read books? but you may be surprised to learn that books are still one of the best ways to learn a language.
now, why books?
You are reading: Japanese books for beginners
well, here are 5 important benefits of learning a language by reading books-
- Books are the cheapest way to learn. You don’t need to invest in an expensive language course or travel to a distant country to immerse yourself in a new language. you can even inherit a book, or you can trade books with other students; In short, there are numerous ways to show that learning by reading can be cheap.
- You get an excellent introduction to grammar rules, style, syntax, etc. native use by reading beginner language books.
- While reading fiction, when you encounter new words in the context of the story, you naturally develop your vocabulary.
- you don’t forget the learnings through reading easily. it’s because reading actively engages visual context in the learning process and is a great help, especially when you’re learning a new language.
- Also, you can learn at your own pace. that is, the books do not impose restrictions on the speed of learning. can be quick if you are already familiar with the language and are just brushing up on your knowledge. or you can learn by slowly absorbing all aspects of the language.
In the next section, we will discuss the Japanese books for beginners you can choose from to learn the Japanese language.
Japanese books for beginners
In this article, we will cover a variety of books, from recommended essential textbooks to popular Japanese books. Through these books you can get an introduction to Japanese culture and of course the language.
textbooks to learn Japanese
Knowledge of the fundamental rules of a language is important in your quest to learn a language. If you skip the grammar and usage part of the language, you will face difficulties in the long run. We have shortlisted some popular textbooks for scholars who are learning Japanese for the first time. here is our selection of Japanese books for beginners.
#1 New Nelson Japanese-English Character Dictionary
author: andrew n nelson
This book has been the kanji standard in the language industry for years. Kanji is a Japanese writing system that uses Chinese characters. The Nelson Dictionary contains enough characters for the knowledge needs of beginners. In addition, this book can be searched by radical, pronunciation, number of strokes, etc. this textbook is ideal for-
- improve Japanese vocabulary
- look up or look up a word through a variety of appendices and indices
- beginners
Japanese #2 from scratch!
authors: george trombley and yukari takeaka
This book is relatively new to the market but it is accessible and easy to use. is a series of textbooks with additional workbooks, which you can purchase separately as a learning aid. this book is ideal for-
- learning through a lesson-based structure covering grammar, vocabulary, writing, pronunciations, step by step.
- beginners and intermediate language learners
- practicing language as a companion book
#3 Japanese verbs & grammar basics
author: rita l lampkin
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is a comprehensive 160-page beginner’s guide to the Japanese language. The best thing about this book is the logical organization of the chapters for easy reference. the book also has a section with cultural information, which makes this book more interesting. this book is ideal for-
- gain a quick hand on important grammar concepts
- ready reference
Children’s books in Japanese
Children’s stories are easy to understand and introduce you to some of the pillars of Japanese popular culture. in fact, classic children’s books are a great way to enter a culture. In addition, the illustrations and language in children’s books are less complicated and incorporate redundant use of important words to fit into a child’s vocabulary.
In this section, we bring you popular Japanese children’s books, which you should read at least once on your learning path.
#4 arashi no yoru ni (あらしのよるに)
author: yūichi kimura
The title of the book translates as a stormy night. It is the story of a goat named Mei, who one night enters a barn seeking shelter from a storm. she meets another refugee in the barn and the story revolves around their friendship, love and a feeling of fellowship with each other. this book was first published in 1994 and is worth reading to realize how the Japanese value emotions.
#5 Brave Story (ブレイブ・ストーリー)
author: miyuki miyabe
The book is about the life of a little boy whose father abandoned him and his mother was hospitalized after a suicide attempt. the author portrays the boy as a brave man who strives to change his life and finally finds a magical world of vision. the story was originally serialized in Japanese newspapers.
#6 do you know new (新しいことを知っていますか？)
authors: mari takabayashi and jean marcello
This book contains beautiful illustrations and tender poems that recall people’s first attempt at the language.
Japanese popular culture books
#7 Crayon Shin-chan (クレヨンしんちゃん)
author: yoshito usui
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almost everyone knows shin-chan’s mischievous character. Crayon Shin-chan is an illustration book that portrays the importance of family through the cute daily adventures of this Japanese boy. is a Japanese manga series starring a troubled 5-year-old boy. manga is a style of Japanese comics and graphic novels, usually aimed at adults and children. It is definitely one of the Japanese books that beginners should read.
#8 Kiki’s Delivery Service (魔女の宅急便)
author: eiko kadono
This book is about a witty and brave Kiki girl who follows her mother’s tradition of witchcraft. she has the power of flight and sets out at the age of 12 to find her own city. In searching for her, she meets all kinds of people and has many adventures. she develops their confidence and self-awareness and makes people realize that everyone has some magic that makes them special.
#9 japanese fairy tale series (桃太郎)
author: hasegawa takejirō
is a series of 20 books comprising Japanese popular folklore. the books are printed on crepe paper and it gives a different feeling in reading. the illustrations in the book are suitable for preserving Japanese culture.
#10 yotsuba! (よつばと!)
author: kiyohiko azuma
This is a recommended book for people who are learning Japanese for the first time. it is easy to read and understand because the main character of the book is a boy. is again a popular Japanese manga like crayon shin-chan.
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