Learn Japanese with Movies & TV Shows
Most Japanese textbooks teach you polite classroom Japanese. Anime and movies teach you how people actually talk. Wordy gives you real clips from Japanese media with word-by-word breakdowns, so you can finally understand what your favorite characters are saying.
Why Learn Japanese?
Unlock anime without subtitles
There are over 10,000 anime titles, and most lose something in translation. Understanding Japanese lets you catch wordplay, cultural references, and humor that subtitles cannot convey.
Third-largest world economy
Japan is a global leader in technology, automotive, and gaming industries. Japanese language skills are valued by companies like Toyota, Sony, and Nintendo.
Unique and rewarding challenge
Japanese uses three writing systems and has a grammar structure completely different from English. It is hard, but that is also what makes it deeply satisfying to learn.
How to Learn Japanese with Wordy
Three steps to start picking up Japanese from real movies and shows.
Pick a Movie or Show
Browse Japanese content from our library of 15,000+ clips or connect your streaming service.
Watch and Tap Words
Tap any word in the subtitles for instant translation. Save words you want to remember.
Review with Flashcards
Practice saved vocabulary with spaced repetition flashcards linked to the original scene.
Popular Japanese Content for Learning
Great Japanese movies and shows to get you started.
Spirited Away
Studio Ghibli films use clear, standard Japanese with relatively simple vocabulary, making them perfect for beginners.
Death Note
Dialogue-heavy with a mix of formal and dramatic speech, great for learning how tone and register change with context.
Terrace House
Unscripted reality TV with natural, everyday Japanese conversation at a pace that is easier to follow than scripted shows.
Shoplifters
Quiet, naturalistic dialogue from Hirokazu Kore-eda, ideal for hearing how Japanese families actually speak at home.
Attack on Titan
Military and action vocabulary with intense emotional scenes, useful for understanding emphatic and commanding speech styles.
Tips for Learning Japanese from Movies
Learn hiragana and katakana first
You can learn both writing systems in about two weeks. Do this before watching with Japanese subtitles. Being able to read kana instantly makes every clip more useful.
Pay attention to speech levels
Anime characters often use casual, rough, or exaggerated speech. Compare how a character talks to friends versus strangers. This teaches you keigo (polite speech) versus casual forms naturally.
Shadow the dialogue out loud
Japanese pronunciation is straightforward, with only 5 vowel sounds. Pause after a clip and repeat what you heard. Copying the rhythm and intonation of native speakers is one of the fastest ways to sound natural.
Japanese Fun Facts
Japanese has three writing systems used simultaneously: hiragana (46 characters), katakana (46 characters), and kanji (over 2,000 in daily use). A single sentence can mix all three. (Source: Agency for Cultural Affairs, Japan)
There is no future tense in Japanese. The same verb form covers both present and future, and context determines the meaning. "Taberu" can mean "I eat" or "I will eat." (Source: A Dictionary of Basic Japanese Grammar, The Japan Times)
Japanese has over 1,200 onomatopoeia words, far more than most languages. "Doki doki" is a heartbeat, "pika pika" means sparkling, and "moshi moshi" is how you answer the phone. (Source: Journal of Japanese Linguistics)
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to learn Japanese?
How long does it take to learn Japanese?
About 2,200 hours according to the FSI, making it a Category IV language, the hardest tier for English speakers. That sounds daunting, but daily exposure through anime and movies accelerates listening comprehension significantly. Many learners reach conversational ability within 1 to 2 years of consistent study.
Can I learn Japanese from watching anime?
Can I learn Japanese from watching anime?
Anime is a powerful supplement, not a complete method. It builds your listening skills, teaches you natural expressions, and helps with pronunciation. But anime speech is often informal or exaggerated, so you need other resources for reading and formal Japanese. Wordy helps bridge that gap with vocabulary breakdowns for each clip.
Do I need to learn kanji to understand Japanese?
Do I need to learn kanji to understand Japanese?
Yes, eventually. You need about 2,000 kanji (the joyo kanji set) to read a newspaper. But for listening practice through movies and anime, you can start without any kanji knowledge. Focus on spoken comprehension first, then layer in kanji reading over time.
What anime is best for learning Japanese?
What anime is best for learning Japanese?
Studio Ghibli films like Spirited Away and My Neighbor Totoro use standard, clear Japanese. For series, Terrace House is ideal because it is unscripted daily conversation. Avoid starting with shounen battle anime, as the speech is often exaggerated and not how real people talk.
Start Learning Japanese Today
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