Bella Chaos

Dreamer. 25. Reader. Free Spirit. Definitely a Cat Person. Infp. Jesus Follower. Studying French, Czech, and Italian.

[saiaku]

very necessary ramen appreciation

[jpn-langblr]

Japanese Kana Practice Printables

Yup, I’ve gone ahead and done it, created a printable (the illustration is kinda bad bc I messed up some proportions BUT STILL). This is a very simple one for absolute beginners at Japanese, who need to practice their kana, particularly the order they come in (which is handy knowledge to have in case you’re going to use a Japanese dictionary!).

Features:

2 charts like the one pictured above with a few kana filled in for reference, one for hiragana, one for katakana

2 completely empty charts for practice, print more of those for infinite practice

Sweet illustrations by irasutoya just because it’s nice

Download them here

You can find the complete, filled out hiragana and katakana charts and use them to check yourself; credit for this beautiful resource rightfully goes to @hinodestudies.

If you use these, please let me know! I’d love to know if these were beneficial at all to anyone.

[fuckstudy]

Studying Japanese: Resources! 

In lieu of a ‘how to study’ Japanese post, here’s a few online resources which have helped me with studying Japanese throughout the years. 

The resources listed below;

Range from beginner’s level to advanced level

Are appropriate for studying for the JLPT (N4- N1)  

Are appropriate for self study

Most are free, or come with a free trial period! (excluding textbooks. but trust me, i’ve got your back)

Essential Websites and Extensions

IN RIKAIKUN WE TRUST

Rikaikun:The one-stop shop for all your browsing needs. Hover over any kanji compound and this app will do all the translating for you. I found this incredibly useful for reading practice (esp. on news articles etc.).

Jisho.org: One of the best dictionaries out there. Sorts most kanji according to JLPT level.

Tofugu: A good general starting place to find resources and read interesting articles about Japanese culture, ex-pats working in Japan and Studying in Japan. They also have a special series on applying for the JET Program! 

Grammar

Particles? Verbs? Subjects? Conjugations? 

JGram: All grammar is sorted by JLPT Levels. A good overview of common grammar structures. 

Tanos: Also JLPT sorted  

Introduction to Japanese Syntax, Grammar and Language: a comprehensive overview for beginners

NHK World: Lessons from the Japanese Public Broadcaster NHK. Largely Beginner’s Level.

Dictionary of Japanese Grammar (beginners) (advanced)

Handbook of Japanese Verbs: Beginners guide. Very handy pocket size so great for revision for the beginner-intermediate level.

How to Tell the Difference between Japanese Particles: Comparisons and Exercises: something to help with those pesky particles! 

Writing (Hiragana, Katakana, Kanji)

Learn your alphabet(s) gdi! 

Japanese Lesson

@ryohkei is a Japanese calligrapher who handwrites beautiful characters + stroke order and definitions. Very informative, given that handwritten kanji may differ from their typed counterparts. 

@kanji-a-day​

Practice Writing Sheets  

Charts (hiragana, katakana)

Networks

Get you in touch with other native learners!

Lang-8 

Hi Native 

RhinoSpike 

Forvo 

Renshuu.org 

Textbooks

Genki: perfect for beginners

Sou Matome: easy daily lessons and weekly review. All levels (sorted by JPLT level)   

Kanzen Master 

Tobira: highly recommended for those who are in the awkward intermediate - advanced plateau! Traditional Textbook format. 

Tanki Master 

500 Essential Japanese Expressions: A Guide to Correct Usage of Key Sentence Patterns: really useful for revision and to bridge the intermediate-advanced gap. 

This blogspot: Lifesaver. Just, trust me on this. Please. 

Multimedia (Youtube, Podcasts)

…because heck, learning a language is more than memorising charts and structures! 

Bilingual Chika! One of my favourites. She recently published her own textbook!

 Japanese Podcast 101

Watch Japanese TV at Jpopsuki

More?

A masterlist of free resources by @nihongogogo

This resource post by @study-ings

A list of N2 resources by @learningkakumei

This beginner’s resource post by @solarstudy​​

Stay tuned for later parts to this series incl. going on exchange, studying japanese, “wtf this kanji looks like a scribble”

All the best! 

- fuckstudy 

Masterposts are posted every other Sunday (asia pacific)/ Saturday (everywhere else). See previous masterposts here. Feel free to request topics here. 

Previous topic: dealing with failure 

[blood-of-the-moon]

NEWS WEB EASY is great if you want to practice reading, it’s a Japanese News site targeted towards kids and every kanji has Furigana attached to it.

Kanji Alive is also great if you are trying to learn Kanji.

[mujistudies]

|  sources |

studying japanese resources by @fuckstudy

japanese resources by @gachagachagogo

hiragana chart by @linguajunkie

hiragana matching game by @dolleye

japanese learning cheat sheets by misshoneyvanity

300 basic words by @nihongogogo

onomatopoeic words by @tsunbutt

giant guide to self-teaching japanese by @mikuyami

japanese learning resources + advice by @deskowl

ultimate japanese resource list by @benkyogo

guide to self-studying japanese by @benkyogo

useful japanese learning shit by @4000yearsofexperience

cute doodle cheat sheets by kirakiradoodles

japanese learning resources by @japanese-revision

japanese studying resources by @nihongotime

japanese language learning websites by @saintlydemon

japanese grammar packet by @teijin

language learning masterpost by @z-co​

online japanese textbooks by @moonprincess​

japanese learning resources by hangukdrama

japanese textbooks by hangukdrama

resources by tofugu

resources by gakuu

resources by @nihongokudasai​

best sites for learning japanese by nihongoshark

| dictionaries |

Jisho.org 

Jim Breen’s JDIC

Yamasa Kanji Dictionary 

Kodansha Kanji Learner’s Dictionary 

Dictionary of Japanese Grammar

| textbooks |

Textfugu 

Minna no Nihongo 

Genki

Heisig’s Remembering the Kanji 

Tobira

This blog has a ton of pdf files

| grammar |

Tae Kim’s Guide to Learning Japanese

Marugoto

The Japanese Page 

Tim’s Takamatsu

Visualising Japanese Grammar 

Nihongo Resources 

Sci Lang Japan FAQ 

JGram

Renshuu

Tatoeba

Learn Japanese with Erin 

Tanos

An Introduction to Japanese - Syntax, Grammar & Language

| vocabulary |

Memrise 

WordReference Forums 

Renshuu

6000 most used words

Large Phrase List 

Japanese Onomatopoeia 

Keigo Cheatsheet 

| kana |

Hiragana 42 

RealKana 

Hiragana & Katakana Shape Comparison 

Tofugu Hiragana Chart

Tofugu Katakana Chart 

Introduction to Japanese Characters

| kanji |

Reviewing the Kanji 

Read the Kanji 

Kanji Radical Stroke Order 

GSCE Picture Kanji Cards 

WaniKani 

Kanji Damage

Kanji Repeater 

Go Kanken 

| tools + apps |

Rikaichan / Rikaikun

Rikai

Hiragana Megane 

Kantango 

Anki

Lang-8

Renshuu.org

Rhinospike 

Skritter

Hi Native

Forvo

FluentU

| reading |

Tokyo International University Reading Tutor 

Hiragana Times

Choko Choko Reading Section 

JLPT Example Questions 

Maggie Sensei 

List of Japanese Audiobooks and Transcripts 

TUFS Learning Resources 

Kotonoha 

Tatoeba 

NHK News

The Great Library 

Famous Stories

Read More Or Die

Macaronics

The Great ChokoChoko Library

Japanese Reading Practice For Beginners

Kodomo Asahi (Kid’s Asahi News)

Yahoo! Kids Japanese Papercraft

Read Manga Online

Chunichi Kid’s News

Real World Japanese

Japanese Class News Reading 

ECIS インタネット放送局

| listening |

Erin’s Challenge!

RhinoSpike

NHK Easy News 

KeyHole TV 

NHK WORLD TV

Documentaries About Japan You Can Watch For Free

Studying with J-Drama 

Nihongo de Kurasou 

Stream Japanese TV Online 

Beb & Alex Podcast

どぉ～でもいいNEWS

坂本真綾 from everywhere 

恋愛心理学知りたい！

相手の気持ち

NHKラジオニュース 

* The ones in bold are my faves

* But I advise you to watch LearningJapanese!! Like this guy literally taught me from Kana to Intermediate Grammar, which has been a very good improvement

[jimothyandpamela]

fam goals

[littlestudybugs-deactivated2018]

Study breaks are really important, but sometimes it can be difficult to think of what to do, or even know what kind of break to take. So here are some suggestions for breaks depending on how you’re feeling at the time. 

Some generic multipurpose breaks:

Yoga or guided meditation.

Moisturise your hands, or paint your nails.

Go to the toilet, and get a drink.

Go for a walk.

Play a game online.

Listen to some music.

Write down a bit of your daydream.

Make a meal.

Play with a pet.

Read an article/wiki page

For when you’re overwhelmed:

Have a relaxing shower with a favourite body wash.

Make sure to step away from your study space, this is important.

Go for a walk; do a short yoga routine, or a 15 minute guided meditation.

Talk to a friend or parent, see if they can give you some support.

Give yourself a treat - like a packet of chocolate buttons, or something small you enjoy. Eat them, and savour them, away from your desk.

For when nothing seems to be coming together:

Make a to-do list of what needs to be done.

Look at the task as if you’ve never seen it before.

Have lunch or a snack, or nice drink. Do it away from your desk.

Do something you enjoy, like reading a bit of a book, or playing a playlist you like.

Talk to someone about the problem; ideally a supportive parent, friend, or teacher

For when you are stressed and want to rip your hair out:

Shower, or have a bath.

Watch funny videos online, or read those funny reviews, like the Haribo gummy bears ones.

A short yoga or guided meditation video can really help (and I’m not one of those ‘yay, yoga’ people, but it can really help).

Do something you are capable of doing without much stress - this could be a chore, a hobby, or something random you like.

Make yourself a drink you enjoy, make it as special as you can, and then find somewhere else to drink it.

When you are bored:

Engage in productive procrastination.

Learn a new skill - such as a basic crochet stitch, or how to start a fire without a lighter.

Watch a TedTalk, or short documentary on YouTube.

Make a study playlist, try to include some music you’ve not heard before.

Find a new recipe to try / place to visit.

Play a quick game online - bingo, pictionary, etc.

When you are hungry, but the bored kind of hungry:

Try eating something that takes longer to prepare. Not just a snack that’s quick to grab, but something that takes a little more time. Cut up your fruit, make it look nice; make several snacks that can be stored for latter or another day.

Take a few minutes to some pictures of your study space or notes, edit them and make them into a post ready to pop on your blog.

Go for a wander. It needn’t be outside, even walking around the stacks in a library and looking for some interesting titles can give you a break (and an inflated reading list, so do this one at your peril).

Paint your nails, or do some cuticle maintenance by moisturising them.

Spend five minutes on Pinterest looking at ideas for crafts or something you enjoy (make sure to set a timer for this, it’s easy to be distracted).

When you haven’t taken a break in a while because breaks are for wussies:

Read about the Pomodoro method and how it helps boost productivity. Use a free timer app to give it a go.

Zentangle, relaxation colouring, going to the toilet, etc.

Just chil-lout. Seriously, do something to relax yourself. You need a break!

When literally anything is more interesting than what you’re supposed to be doing:

Go for a short walk, or do a few stretches away from your study space.

Watch a TedTalk on something interesting or a totally random subject.

Find an article/wiki page on something you know nothing about. Remember to limit yourself, time-wise, on this sort of thing.

Organise your bag/folder/pencil case (anything small you have on you).

Listen to some music in a target language/language you would like to learn.

When something keeps distracting you:

If it’s something you can get rid of, try to do that.

If it’s something you need to do, if possible, then to do it.

If it’s a thought that won’t go away, take five minutes and write it down in as much detail as you can, and then put it away for later.

Leave your study space for a moment, get up and walk around a bit, maybe stretch your neck, back and arms.

Tell your pet what’s wrong. Bonus if you do this in another language.

For when you feel like giving up:

This is a good time to step away from your work and doing something else entirely for a little while. Take a longer break, watch an episode of a show you like, or browse for some new music, read a bit of a book.

Take a shower.

Make yourself a drink and something to eat, and eat it away from your desk. Relax a bit while you’re doing so, and set up a pomodoro-style timer when you get back to studying, so you can remember you’ll soon have another break.

Engage in a small act of kindness.

Pet a cute fluffy friend.

When you feel entirely unproductive:

Perform some productive procrastination! Vacuum the house; wipe down a window, scrub the kitchen tiles, reorganise your underwear drawer. Pick a chore that needs doing and do that. Honestly, even just tidying a bookshelf, or taking your washing out of your room, or packing away some clothes can help. Do something where you will be able to see a visible difference that your actions have made.

Spend half an hour on a hobby you like - knit, make origami swans, fiddle around with a robotics project.

That thing you’ve been putting off? Go on, go and do it, and tick it off your check-list.

I hope that these give you a few ideas for much-needed, and productivity-boosting breaks.

[dannyegan]

john krasinski sweetest laugh in existence??

[superaxolotl]

John Krasinski when he smiles his really heartfelt and happy smile just at the right moment into the camera at The Office is really one of the worlds most beautiful wonders

[foreverinraptures]

Just. Beauty.

[the-bookshop]

Source.

[the-bookshop]

Source.

[the-chosen-half-of-one]

Sticks and stones may break my bones, but movies, tv shows and books will emotionally scar me for all eternity

[ellievhardy]

[studyandstorms-deactivated20250]

Small Accessories That Can Completely Transform A Study Space

Cute, cheap and creative decor ideas that can make your desk a much more inviting placing to be for those long readings and math problems.

Fairy Lights

Jar/mug as pencilholder **

House plants

Clock

Photographs **

Polaroid photo arrangement **

Lamp

Posters

Motivational prints

Paintings/Art **

Nice Chair

Bookshelf

Books

Banners **

Figurines

Maps

Organizers

Whiteboard

Cool rocks & gemstones

Sticky note arrangement **

Stickers

Glass bottles

Terrariums **

Washi Tape Wall Art **

Bold= My favourites **= Possible to DIY

[fiti-vation]

[mamabearteacher]

Lunch ideas

[mamafox18]

@magicalmissb I thought of you!

[andimtheteacher]

Needed this!

[onlyoneovaryohgress]

This could be the most useful post on tumblr I’ve ever seen. Ping @samiholloway

[monnichi-blog-aka-legend-of-sora]

Where was this post all my life?

[justaminorthreat]

I needed this so bad

[4ins-deactivated20200426]

Every once and a while you get a glimpse of the person you could be. Grab that. Hold on to that. Work for it. Nothing is out of reach.

[violet-studying]

Reading in your target language just got so much easier

This cool little website, called readlang, allows you to upload your book, in your target language, from epub form into their website, right? And you just read your book from there. When you don’t know a word, what do you do? Do you go to google dot com and type in that word? Nope. You fucking click it. And it tells you the word. 

I am currently reading the 100 (this is the book that the tv show came from) and I can already tell reading this way is so much easier. I highly suggest making an account. It’s free, and works for more than 80 languages!

[untitled61064]

small talk in french 💬

⭐️ (for beginners) ⭐️

When talking to french people, focus on innocuous topics like the weather, current events (“avez-vous lu à propos de..?” Have you read about…?), and cultural topics like food, movies, art, music, and so on. And remember to use vous instead of tu!

I only speak a little French. Je ne parle qu'un peu le français.

I am learning French, but I am only a beginner. J'apprends le français mais je ne suis qu'un débutant.

I have been learning french for 2 days / 2 weeks / 2 months / 1 year / 2 years. J'apprends le français depuis deux jours / deux semaines / deux mois / un an / deux ans.

Will you please correct me? Peux-tu me corriger, s'il te plaît?

What does ___ mean? Que veut dire ___?

What does that mean? Qu'est-ce que ça veut dire?

Can you explain in French/English to me? Peux-tu m'expliquer en français / anglais?

What does that mean in this context? Qu'est-ce que ça veut dire dans ce contexte?

What is the French word for ___? Quel est le mot français pour ___?

Is this/that correct? C'est juste?

Am I wrong? Je me trompe?/Est-ce que j'ai tort?

Am I correct? Est-ce que j'ai raison?

Do you understand? Est-ce que tu me comprends?

I do not understand. Je ne comprends pas.

I want to improve my level in French. Je veux améliorer mon niveau de français.

I need to practice French. J'ai besoin de pratiquer le français.

Do you have time to speak with me? As-tu le temps de parler avec moi ?

Can you help me to learn French? Peux-tu m'aider à apprendre le français?

Do you mind if we speak in French? Ça te dérange si nous parlons en français?

Can you please speak in French? it helps me to learn. Peux-tu me parler en français s'il te plaît? Ça m'aide à apprendre.

How do you say ’___’ in French? Comment dit-on ’___’ en français ?

I struggle with spelling / reading / writing / listening / pronunciation. J'ai du mal avec l'orthographe / la lecture / l'écriture / la compréhension orale / la prononciation.

Can you please repeat? I did not understand. Pouvez-vous répéter s'il vous plaît ? Je n'ai pas compris.

I don’t speak French fluently. Je ne parle pas couramment le français.

I am confused. Je suis perdu(e).

I don’t know how to say it in French. Je ne sais pas comment le dire en Français,

Sorry (or ‘pardon’), what did you say? Pardon, qu'est-ce que tu as dit?

I’ve never heard of that. Je n'ai jamais entendu ça.

That makes sense. Ça se tient.

That does not make sense. Ça n'a aucun sens.

What’s happening? / What’s going on? Qu'est-ce qui se passe?

What do you mean by ’___’ ? Qu'est-ce que tu entends par ’___’? / Qu'est-ce que tu veux dire par ’___’?

⭐️ Personal Stuff ⭐️

Here is a list of phrases you can use and practice when giving and asking for personal information. Take note that the list makes use of the formal “vous”.

Comment vous appelez-vous? What is your name?

Je m'appelle Christine. My name is Christine.

Quel est votre nom? What is your name?

Comment allez-vous? How are you?

Je vais bien, merci. I am doing well, thank you.

Très bien, merci. Very well, thank you.

Quel âge avez-vous? How old are you?

J'ai # ans. I am # years old.

J'ai trente ans. I am thirty years old.

J'ai quarante-deux ans. I am forty two old.

Quelle est votre nationalité? What is your Nationality?

Je suis canadien(ne). I am Canadian.

Je suis américain(e). I am American.

Je suis chinois(e). I am Chinese.

Je suis coréen(ne). I am Korean.

Où habitez-vous? Where do you live?

J'habite en Californie. I live in California.

Quel est votre numéro de téléphone? What is your phone number?

Mon numéro de téléphone est le … My phone number is …

Où êtes-vous né(e)? Where were you born?

Je suis né(e) à… I was born in…

Êtes-vous marié(e)? Are you married?

Oui, je suis marié. Yes, I am married

Non, je ne suis pas marié. No, I am not married

Je suis célibataire. I am single

Est-ce que vous avez des frères et soeurs? Do you have any brothers and sisters?

Je suis fille unique. I am an only child/daughter

Je suis fils unique. I am an only child/son

J'ai - frère(s). I have - brother(s).

J'ai - soeur(s).  I have - sisters(s).

Je n'ai pas de frères. I don’t have any brothers.

Je n'ai pas de soeurs. I don’t have any sisters.

Quel est votre métier? What is your job?

Quelle est votre profession? What is your profession?

Que faites-vous dans la vie? What do you do for a living?

Je suis ingénieur. I am an engineer.

Je suis boulanger/boulangère. I am a baker.

Je suis médecin. I am a doctor.

Je suis infirmier/infirmière. I am a nurse.

⭐️ Interests ⭐️

Quel est votre sport préféré? What is your favorite sport? (formal)

Quel est ton sport préféré? 

What is your favorite sport? (informal)

Mon sport préféré est… My favorite sport is….

J'aime faire du sport et garder la forme. I like to do sports to keep fit.

Quelle saison préférez-vous? What season do you prefer? (formal

Quelle saison préfères-tu? What season do you prefer? (What season is your favorite?) (informal)

Quels sont vos passe-temps préférés? What are your favorite pastimes? (formal)

Quels sont tes passe-temps préférés? What are your favorite pastimes? (informal)

Mes passe-temps préférés sont… My favorite pastimes are…

Qu'est-ce que vous faites dans votre temps libre? What do you do in your free time? (formal)

Qu'est-ce que tu fais dans ton temps libre? What do you do in your free time? (informal)

Est-ce que vous avez un animal de compagnie? Do you have a pet?(formal)

Est-ce que tu as un animal de compagnie? Do you have a pet? (informal)

Non, Je n'ai pas un animal de compagnie. No, I don’t have a pet.

Oui, J'ai un chat. Yes, I have a cat.

Oui, J'ai un chien.Yes, I have a dog.

Qu'est-ce que vous aimez? What do you like?

J'aime le jazz. I like jazz.

J'aime le rock. I like rock.

J'aime le hip-hop. I like hip-hop.

Je n'aime pas le rap. I don’t like rap.

Je n'écoute pas de la musique très souvent. I don’t listen to music very often.

J'aime les films d'amour. I like romance films.

J'aime les films d'aventures. I like adventure films.

Je n’aime pas faire du ski. I don’t like skiing.

Qu'est-ce que vous aimeriez faire dans la vie? What would you like to do in life ?

J'aimerais être chef. I would like to be a chef.

J'aimerais être un bibliothécaire. I would like to be a librarian.