Using Japanese subtitles can make learning the Japanese language more enjoyable and exciting. There is no doubt that learning the Japanese language can be challenging. Learning this language can be stressful with all the material you need to read, YouTube channels and podcasts you need to listen to, and flashcards you need to memorize. Anime is your go-to resource if you want to stay motivated and learn in a fun way.
Subtitles in Japanese are a popular way for Japanese language learners to improve their Japanese skills and enjoy their favorite shows. As a great learning tool, anime cannot teach you everything you need to know about the Japanese language, and in this regard, should use in conjunction with other resources.
To learn Japanese vocabulary and sentence structure from Japanese subtitles, I recommend that you understand the basics of the Japanese language before moving on to this phase. You will need to know the Japanese vocabulary, kanji, and grammar as a starting point. To understand the expressions used in the shows, you must first understand these basics.
Where Can I Get Japanese Subtitles? 9 Resources You’ve Gotta Try.
Fortunately, many websites and apps offer several anime TV shows or films. As you watch anime, you will also learn the language. Sites such as:
A massive library of movies and TV shows can be found on Netflix, without a doubt. As a result, it’s not surprising to find a lot of anime in it. Any Netflix anime will be of good quality; you can see and hear everything. Furthermore, Netflix’s subtitles will be of the highest quality, so you can be assured that they are correct.
The Netflix app should include an extension that allows you to use Yomichan. Moreover, Yomichan is designed to provide quality Japanese subtitles for anime with its built-in Japanese dictionary, and this will significantly aid your learning process.
Stream anime and other genres of movies and TV shows on this site. Unlike Netflix and other streaming services, Animelon offers a more extensive selection of incredible anime movies and series. Therefore, you will likely get anime that will help your learning here.
On this platform, you can get subtitles in Japanese, English, and aroma compared to Netflix and other streaming services, Animelon offers more than those on Netflix, but you should still be able to use it to learn Japanese.
Compared to Netflix and other streaming services, Animelon offers more content of the highest quality. Funimation also provides services in other places, such as the UK, New Zealand, and Australia.
Comparatively to Netflix and other streaming services, Animelon offers more favorite anime with a few restrictions for free users.
Another American website offering Asian music, Animelon has a more extensive selection of series than Netflix and other streaming services. While some anime titles are free on Crunchyroll, others are only available to paid subscribers.
Although Amazon isn’t so famous for movies and TV shows, it has a lot of good anime that can assist you in your learning. Japanese language learning can also be done with Hulu’s anime TV shows and films.
Itazuraneko is a site I’ve only recently heard about, but it has a large selection of subtitles. Subtitles from various sources are all hosted on Mega for easy downloading.
A large section of their site is dedicated to anime and subtitles for shows on Netflix.
Online anime can be free on Gogoanime with English subtitles and dubs. Your favorite anime episodes are updated in 1080p HD quality. For children and adults, this is the perfect place to relax and be entertained with anime about friendship, humor, magic, and travel around the world… Video 4.0 technology raises user experience to a whole new level. Various You can download or watch anime series online. You can easily search for your favorite anime on Gogo, and the anime archive is enormous.
There is no better anime online website than AnimeHeaven., where you can watch anime online for free. You don’t need to download anything, there are no surveys, and you can watch anime instantaneously. We provide you with the latest animes online & series animes of the highest quality. With AnimeHeaven, you can manage your favorite anime online on any mobile device with its responsive design and mobile-friendly interface.
With no restrictions on how much you can watch, watch the best anime from the comfort of your living room. There is no charge for AnimeHeaven.
Do you want to watch the latest Japanese dramas with subtitles? Here’s where you can find all the information you need!
Japanese TV shows and movies are available here, with a decent selection of romantic comedies dominating the library.
The company is also aware that viewers may be learning Japanese through their shows, so they have created a unique feature for those studying Japanese.
Dual subtitles in English and Japanese are available in Learn Mode. Videos can be navigated by subtitle track, and you can even replay segments to be sure you understand them.
If you’re an anime fan, this is the site for you. Both contemporary and classic anime subtitles are available on Kitsunekko. Note that Kitsunekko and the following websites provide subtitle files, not the shows. You can use them by downloading the .srt or .ass file you want and adding them to a browser extension or subtitle program (such as Aegisub).
The Best Places to Watch Japanese Subtitled Dramas, Anime, Movies, and More
Viki and Dailymotion are two streaming sites where you can watch the latest drama series with subtitles.
Additionally, YouTube has tons of subtitled content. To search specifically for subtitled content is to add the phrases 字幕 （じまく）and セリフ集（せりふあつ）to the end of your search.
On one of the above streaming sites, you can usually find the drama, anime, movie, etc., you are looking for in English or Japanese.
Anime sources like Netflix and Hulu are also worth mentioning!
You can learn subtitles yourself by joining a community called “fansubbing,” where fans create and share subtitles for popular shows. A popular one is D-addicts.
Can you learn Japanese from subtitles?
Watching anime can help you learn Japanese. However, your understanding of Japanese will be pretty basic, so you will only be able to understand simple conversations. You may not be able to speak Japanese well due to the casual nature of the learning. You will likely be unable to write Japanese if you only watch anime to learn the language.
It is because anime does not teach you the proper and standard grammar and vocabulary of the Japanese language. Additionally, you will miss out on many rules that govern the various writing systems of the Japanese language, such as hiragana, katakana, and kanji. You can also learn other languages through movies without joining any online or offline classes to learn the fundamentals of the language.
You will also be limited in how you can speak Japanese if you learn through anime. This is because anime characters speak differently from most real Japanese speakers. If you watch anime, you are probably accustomed to saying that way, so you may talk strangely.
8 Reasons Why Learn Japanese Through Entertainment and Subtitles?
We’ll discuss why learning Japanese with entertainment and subtitles is worth your time.
- It’s easier to comprehend dramas and animations.
Anime and dramas without subtitles require a high level of Japanese ability.
There is difficulty in hearing the lines in video works, such as dramas, due to the emotions involved, such as whispering and screaming. This is made more accessible by subtitles.
Even though there are both Japanese and English subtitles, let’s look at the Japanese subtitles first. Check the phrase with Japanese subtitles after that.
It isn’t easy to understand content using only a Japanese voice unless you are a relatively advanced Japanese speaker. To begin with, let’s use subtitles to improve your vocabulary and listening skills.
- As a Japanese teaching resource, anime and dramas are great.
Watching anime and dramas with subtitles is a great way to learn Japanese.
You can continue learning happily by using your favorite movies and news from the genre you are interested in as teaching materials.
It can be even more effective in combination with other learning methods such as dictation and shadowing. I will explain the specific process later in the article.
- Become familiar with foreign cultures and Japanese expressions
In anime and dramas, native Japanese is often spoken.
Therefore, textbooks can teach you natural expressions that differ from authentic Japanese.
Even in real-life conversations, you can easily use Japanese since you can learn it in one scene that everyone uses.
Characters in Western movies speak differently depending on their nationality and gender.
It’s essential to get used to the various accents since 80 percent of Japanese speakers are not native speakers.
Western movies and news can also teach you about Western culture (background).
A lack of cultural understanding can also prevent you from understanding Japanese.
- Using video apps, etc., you can learn Japanese cheaply.
The news can be watched for free with subtitles through many apps today.
Many apps are expensive and sold out for thousands of yen even when they are paid for.
With this, you can learn Japanese without spending much money once you buy it.
- You can make effective use of travel time.
People are too busy to study at their desks.
Utilize daily gaps such as commutes, waiting times, and lunch breaks.
You can learn Japanese on the go using a video distribution service like Netflix.
When watching videos, packet communication charges are a concern.
Choose a download-supported service as long as you don’t care about the maximum number of gigabytes.
You can watch the video without worrying about communication charges when you download the video in advance.
The best way to continue studying is to set aside a fixed time every day, such as while you commute.
- You can improve your reading skills by following the subtitles.
You can read better if you watch the video with Japanese subtitles.
Due to the subtitles, many lines are read extensively.
The subtitles that occur every few seconds can also be used to practice speed reading.
In order to improve your reading skills, you must be able to instantly understand different lines.
- There are various accents you can touch.
Overseas dramas and movies feature actors of all nationalities and races, so you can acquire practical listening skills.
Exposure to different Japanese languages is essential since 80% of the Japanese population is non-native.
Look at the accents, intonations, and accents while feeling the differences.
Whether or not you go to that country, you can enjoy movies and dramas while listening to Japanese from various countries.
- Communication with foreigners will begin here.
As you come into contact with foreign cultures in Japanese, you will be able to converse with foreigners about familiar topics.
Culture is just as crucial as Japanese ability when communicating in Japanese.
The conversation is sure to be lively if you examine familiar works.
It is also effective to find and talk with instructors who like movies and overseas dramas through online Japanese conversation to improve your Japanese ability.
5 Techniques How to Learn with Japanese Subtitles
To learn Japanese, subtitles are used as follows.
- Watch the content with English subtitles or dubbing
- Watch with English subtitles and answer any questions you have
- Stream the content with English subtitles
- You can watch it without English subtitles
- Play the role of a character and imitate it
1 Watch the content with English subtitles or dubbing
The first time you listen to Japanese without subtitles is quite challenging.
Let’s begin by incorporating dubbing and English subtitles into our understanding.
Whether you look at them in Japanese, choose the ones you think “I like” or “I don’t like.” It’s easier to hear if you choose a video or piece of news you already know. If you don’t know which one to pick, choose one you are familiar with.
2. Watch with English subtitles and answer any questions you have
As soon as you understand the story and the news content, you can try watching without subtitles.
Having the content in your head should make it easier to focus on the subtitles.
Check the subtitles while you listen and answer any questions you have.
You can switch to Japanese subtitles if you don’t understand them.
It’s better to put off complex phrases if you’re having fun.
You can proceed at a good tempo as you check the words and phrases you understand immediately. While having fun, “Is it expressed in Japanese like this?
3. Stream the content with English subtitles
Let’s watch all the English lines through after checking them.
It is not necessary to compare each line with the subtitles.
Take advantage of the fun of hearing phrases and words. It’s a lack of vocabulary if you can’t hear or enjoy it. To increase your vocabulary, lower your Japanese level or stop again and check the subtitles. You will not keep learning unless it is fun, even if you start with subtitles.
Stop and review with Japanese subtitles if “Japanese audio + Japanese subtitles” becomes painful.
4. You can watch it without English subtitles
The final step is to watch without subtitles in English.
It is not a big deal if you can’t hear it without subtitles, since it is very high level.
The sounds you can pronounce are also audible.
Check the subtitles and practice your pronunciation if you have trouble hearing it.
5. Play the role of a character and imitate it
Playing a role and imitating it will allow you to establish yourself more quickly.
Shadowing will be even more effective.
It becomes easier to acquire rhythm and intonation by manipulating and chasing the voice.
Additionally, by concentrating on the voice, you will also improve your listening skills.
To learn this method properly, it is recommended that you begin by listening to all the lines and then repeating them.
You can listen to Japanese by imitating your rhythm, intonation, and pronunciation.
Conclusion
Is watching anime an excellent way to learn Japanese? Anime is a great way to learn Japanese. Nonetheless, you won’t gain much knowledge of the Japanese language; therefore, you will be able to understand Japanese only casually. Due to the differences between anime characters and real people, you may also have trouble speaking the language or understanding what you listen to.
To gain a good understanding of Japanese, it is recommended that you combine learning through other means with watching anime. In addition to websites that teach the Japanese language, you can also choose to learn in a classroom. There are also vital resources like Genki I & II, Minna No Nihongo, A Dictionary of Basic Japanese Grammar, and much more.