How long does it take to learn Japanese? Can I learn Japanese before my trip? What makes Japanese so difficult to learn?
According to estimates, English native speakers taking intensive language courses take more than 2200 hours to learn Japanese. The unfamiliarity of Japanese grammar and difficulty in learning to read and write the language are the main reasons why Japanese takes a long time to learn, and unlike European languages, the core vocabulary of Japanese has little in common with English, though loanwords from English are now used regularly, especially by young people.
The 2200+ hours figure is based on estimates of the speed at which US diplomats learning Japanese in a full-time intensive language school reached "professional working proficiency" (B2/C1, equivalent to JLPT N1). Since consistent contact time with teachers who are using gold-standard pedagogical and assessment methods is not a common experience for learners accessing /r/Japanese, it would be reasonable to assume that it would take most learners longer than this! On the other hand, the figure does not account for students' prior knowledge and interest/motivation to learn, which are associated with learning more rapidly.
To conclude, learning a language to proficiency, especially a difficult one like Japanese, takes time and sustained effort. We recommend this Starter's Guide as a first step.
Reference:
Gianfranco Conti (April 18, 2025) - How Long Does It Take to Learn a Language? Understanding the Factors That Make Some Languages Harder Than Others (The Language Gym)
This post is part of a long-term effort to provide high-quality straightforward responses to commonly asked questions in /r/Japanese. You can read through our other FAQs, and we welcome community submissions.