10 Common Mistakes Beginners Make in Japanese (And How to Avoid Them Like a Pro)-by Soyogi
So you’ve decided to learn Japanese? Sugoi! Whether you’re dreaming of watching anime without subtitles, planning a trip to Tokyo, or just love a good language challenge, Japanese is an amazing choice. But let’s be real—it’s not all sakura blossoms and sushi menus. Japanese has its quirks, and if you’re not careful, some innocent mistakes can make you sound totally off or just plain confusing.
Don’t worry, though. Every learner trips up at first. The trick is to know where the banana peels are on the road. Let’s break down 10 of the most common (and totally avoidable) mistakes beginners make in Japanese—and how to dodge them like a ninja.
- Mixing Up は (wa) and わ
Ah, the classic hiragana trap. In writing, the topic particle は is pronounced “wa”, not “ha.” So when you want to say “Watashi wa Emma desu,” don’t write “わ.”
🔴 Wrong: わたしわエマです
✅ Right: わたしはエマです
👉 Pro tip: Anytime you’re using “wa” as a topic marker, write it as は.
- Relying Too Much on Romaji
Romaji (Romanized Japanese) might feel like your BFF at first, but it’s kind of like training wheels—you won’t get far with them forever. Relying on romaji too long stops you from learning hiragana, katakana, and eventually kanji.
👉 Pro tip: Master hiragana and katakana within your first few weeks. It’s like unlocking the Matrix. You’ll suddenly see the language differently.
- Translating Directly from English
Japanese is not English with funny symbols. Word order, context, and culture change everything.
🔴 “I am 20 years old.” → Watashi wa nijuu sai imasu ❌ (Nope!) ✅ Correct: Watashi wa nijuu-sai desu ✔️
Why? Because “to have an age” in Japanese isn’t expressed with the verb “to have” at all. You just are that age.
👉 Pro tip: Learn sentence patterns, not translations.
- Confusing Particles Like に, で, and を
Particles are the glue of Japanese sentences, but they’re tiny and tricky.
に shows direction or time.
で shows the location of an action.
を marks the direct object.
🔴 “I eat sushi at a restaurant” → Watashi wa sushi wo resutoran ni tabemasu ❌
✅ Correct: Watashi wa resutoran de sushi wo tabemasu ✔️
👉 Pro tip: Think of particles as road signs. They’re not just optional flair—they tell your sentence where to go.
- Ignoring Politeness Levels
You can’t just memorize one sentence structure and use it everywhere. Japanese has levels of formality, and what you say to your friend is not what you say to your boss or your host family.
🔴 “What’s up?” → Nani? ❌ (Rude to strangers!)
✅ Try: Nan desu ka? or even more polite, Nan deshou ka?
👉 Pro tip: Start with polite forms (ます/です). Learn casual later.
- Not Using Context Clues
In Japanese, context is king. People often omit subjects, objects, and even verbs if it’s obvious from context.
🔴 “Watashi wa watashi no pen wo watashi no baggu kara torimashita.” ❌ (Too much “I”!)
✅ Better: “Pen wo baggu kara torimashita.” (The listener knows you’re talking about yourself.)
👉 Pro tip: If it sounds robotic or repetitive, you’re probably over-explaining.
- Mispronouncing Long Vowels and Double Consonants
Japanese is a rhythmic language. A tiny change in length can completely change meaning.
おばさん = aunt
おばあさん = grandmother
Big difference, right? Also watch for っ (small tsu) indicating a doubled consonant:
kita (came) vs kitta (cut)
👉 Pro tip: Train your ear and tongue! Mimic native pronunciation, even if it feels silly at first.
- Skipping Kanji
Yes, kanji looks scary. But avoiding it is like trying to learn English without the alphabet. You’ll get lost fast. Kanji isn’t just for writing—it shows meaning and pronunciation in ways kana can’t.
👉 Pro tip: Start small. Learn kanji with the most common words (like numbers, days, family). Use spaced repetition apps like Anki.
- Thinking “I Have to Be Fluent to Speak”
This mindset is a confidence killer. Japanese people love it when you try, even if you make mistakes. Speak from day one.
Even simple phrases like:
おはようございます (Good morning)
ありがとう (Thanks)
ごめんなさい (Sorry)
…can make your day brighter and your learning deeper.
👉 Pro tip: Don’t wait. Use what you know now, however little it is.
- Forgetting That Language Is Culture
Japanese is deeply cultural. How you speak reflects humility, hierarchy, and harmony. If you say “yes” (はい) to a question, you might not mean agreement—you might mean “I hear you.”
Understanding Japanese isn’t just about grammar. It’s about reading the air (空気を読む)—a skill Japanese people value a lot.
👉 Pro tip: Watch Japanese shows, observe interactions, and absorb the vibe.
Final Thoughts: Embrace the Journey 🇯🇵
Learning Japanese is not a straight road—it’s more like a mountain trail with some wild turns, stunning views, and maybe a few stumbles. Mistakes aren’t signs you’re failing—they’re signs you’re trying. And that’s exactly how every fluent speaker started.
So laugh at your awkward sentence. Bow too much. Say “sumimasen” when you mean “arigatou.” It’s all part of the story.
Keep learning, keep speaking, and most importantly—keep having fun.
またね！(See you later!)