Fascinating Facts About the Japanese Language

The Japanese language is full of interesting details that make it both fun and unique to learn—especially for kids who are curious about how languages work around the world.

One of the most fascinating things about Japanese is that it uses three different writing systems: Hiragana, Katakana, and Kanji.

• Hiragana is used for everyday Japanese words and grammar.

• Katakana is used for foreign words, sound effects, and names from other countries.

• Kanji are characters borrowed from Chinese and are used to represent full ideas or meanings.

Even young children in Japan start learning these scripts in school, beginning with Hiragana. Many children’s books are written in Hiragana, making it the perfect starting point for language learners.

Did you know that Japanese is the second most spoken language in Brazil after Portuguese? This is because many Japanese families moved to Brazil over 100 years ago, and today there’s a large Japanese-Brazilian community that keeps the language and culture alive.

Some Japanese words are so popular that they’ve become part of everyday language in other parts of the world. Words like sushi, kimono, karate, and ikebana (flower arranging) are now recognized and used across many countries—even by people who don’t speak Japanese!

Pronunciation in Japanese is also quite different. For example, there are no separate R and L sounds in the language. Instead, there’s a sound that is somewhere in between, which can be tricky for English speakers at first—but fun to learn through songs and repetition.

Japanese also has many borrowed English words, called wasei-eigo (Japanese-made English). These words sound like English but can have completely different meanings. For example:

• Vacancy means “vacation” in Japanese-English

• Maker often means “manufacturer” or “brand”
  This can be surprising and fun to discover, especially for kids who already speak English!

Make Japanese Learning Easy and Fun with Dinolingo

If you want to introduce your child to Japanese in a playful and effective way, check out Dinolingo’s Japanese program—designed for ages 2 to 14. Kids can explore the language through animated videos, interactive games, storybooks, worksheets, songs, and more.

Dinolingo offers age-based learning paths, offline printables, and a parent dashboard to monitor progress. The platform works on web, iOS, and Android, and supports learning in over 50 languages with just one subscription—ideal for curious and multilingual families!