Advice for learning Japanese and building vocabulary?

Hi. I've been studying Japanese for a while and have got a pretty decent handle on a good bit of it. Particles, pronunciation, sentence structure, hiragana and basic grammar are not much of a problem. However, I've been having trouble with learning vocabulary. I seem to move very very slowly through it and would like to know if anyone has any tips or learning programs (written, audio, whatever) that would help.





Also, if anyone knows where I can find a list of more important/useful words (other than extreme basics such as ';hai,'; ';watashi,'; ';konichiwa,'; etc) then that would be of great help.





I'm currently using Japanese for Busy People, Living Language's Ultimate Japanese, Subliminal Japanese (not helping.) and making about 20 new flash cards a week.Advice for learning Japanese and building vocabulary?
Use them in sentences.


Write the sentence in English, with the English meaning of the word.


The next day translate it int Japanese. Check if it correct, and if not, make another sentence with the mistaken word, which to translate the next day.





For example, if the word is shacho (president of a company)


you can write


1st day: Mr Yamada is the president of this company


2nd day (translation) Yamada -san wa kono


kaisha no shachou desu.


It worked for me...It's worth trying,then you'll comprehend , not memorize the meaning and usage of the words.Advice for learning Japanese and building vocabulary?
You are doing the right thing..but you focus a lot on textbooks..the best is to have lots of Japanese friends or attend any meetings or parties that you would encounter native speakers.. Get out and explore..go to park, watch Japanese movies, karaoke.take a short trip..etc .then you'll see the difference.. and improvement..then review your textbooks.


listening is the key...as Beth says...you learn as you hear the words over and over again...


.then go to the next level...





keep up the good work...


btw..are you in Japan?


OK..thanks for the reply..


If there is any community event or schools with International students from Japan..then attend one..it is open for everyone. or try students exchange program or homestays....internet is one of the cheapest and fastest source of learning languages.


Have fun..
best to find a Japanese girlfriend, quickly
I hate a lot of the vocabulary books out there because they're all romanji, which is a complete waste of time for anybody who needs a book to expand their vocabulary! I have ';Japanese Vocabulary for Speakers %26amp; Readers'; (ISBN 4590007061) which I purchased at Kinokuniya San Francisco. It's cool because it's got the kana, and it's divided into useful categories, so you can choose vocabulary that actually interests you and that you are likely to learn.





I think you also reach a point where you just have to read to get the vocab up. You will notice that you keep coming across the same words over and over again. Keep some paper handy, and create your vocab lists as you go. That way you are hopefully learning the most commonly used, useful terms first.





I also love to get those flashcards with the ring through them and toss them in my purse/ car, etc. When you have 2 minutes at a red light or 10 minutes at the post office, instead of staring off into space, I am learning the word ';shamoji,'; which is that flat wooden rice spatula thingy.





Who knew?
Sounds like you are putting a lot of effort into it! What has been helping me is having a teacher teach me privately (you could probably find someone online or through a chat room). We have been doing the text ';Minna no Nihongo'; its all in hiragana and Kanji (with furigana) but I have the translation version as well so I can pretty much do self study if I have the time. It also helps to do a lot of repitition and sentence practice, to try using the words in different contexts to practice their usefulness. Sometimes I do this on my own, then ask her if it is correct later on.





I also ask her questions about how to say certain things and she tells me. I write them all down. A lot of words I have completely forgotton over the years, but I have looked in my notes and remembered them. Also, living in Japan helps a lot, because once you learn a word, you hear it over and over and over and over again!





Ganbatte!
Watch Japanese News and other Shows.





I learned English that way.