Hello everyone! I'm a long-time anime and manga fan, and recently, I’ve fallen in love with the Japanese language. My main goal is to reach a level where I can enjoy anime and manga without relying on translations. Eventually, I’d also love to visit Japan for a few months and have real conversations.
However, after researching the language, I’ve started to feel discouraged. Many people say anime is like a second language compared to standard Japanese, and even after years of study, reaching 90% understanding seems difficult. I understand that learning Japanese isn’t a quick process, and I have no problem with that, but it seems near impossible to reach the same level of understanding as I would have with English shows—even with easier slice-of-life anime. I know anime uses a less formal version of Japanese, and that’s fine, but I often see people mention pausing every few words to look things up, which sounds frustrating and could take the joy out of anime.
I know fluency takes years, and I’m okay with that. But as someone who won’t be living in Japan permanently, I just want to know—has anyone here actually reached a point where they can enjoy anime effortlessly, like watching a cartoon in their native language? If you’ve had a positive experience learning Japanese and enjoying media without constant interruptions, I’d love to hear about it! I'd just like some reassurance that all the effort could eventually pay off.
by ElementalHazard_