Learn Japanese by Playing a NDS Game

Written by: Makoto • Edited by: Tricia Goss
Updated Feb 25, 2011 • Related Guides: Japanese Language | Nintendo

Play Final Fantasy IV on the Nintendo DS to understand the general structure of the Japanese language.

Lesson 7

We are now at lesson 7 already! In this lesson, we will further explore the structure of Kanji in order to better understand them and learn them more efficiently. After this lesson, the Kanji won’t seem so mysterious anymore as I will reveal the secret to understanding them right now and then.

Last time we left of, we were sent on a mission to deliver a package to a nearby village. We are now free to explore Baron Castle.

Selecting the Kanji (A Fun Japanese Game to Learn Japanese)

Now that you have control of セシル (Cecil), I have a little assignment of my own as we’ll explore the castle a bit further.

Since we’ve been there a little while now, let’s leave the second floor. Head south and leave the current screen you are on to reach to first floor.

click to enlarge

You will then reach the first floor of the castle. If you look on your map, you’ll see three chests on the right side and this is where you want to go for now.

When you get there you will find a soldier standing guard next to three chests (press the switch to open the passageway to the chests). Most importantly, talk to this guard and pay close attention to what he says, in particular the two Kanji highlighted below:

click to enlarge

Now in order to understand the structure of Kanji, I will magnify each Kanji to allow you to see in greater detail what each one of them is made of:

The Structure of a Kanji (A Fun Japanese Game to Learn Japanese)

Now in order to understand the structure of Kanji, I will magnify each Kanji to allow you to see in greater detail what each one of them is made of:

click to enlarge

Look at the part of the Kanji highlighted in red… seems familiar? That is because both of those Kanji share the same element. Which brings me to the key realization in learning Kanji: they are written using a combination of limited elements.

In other words, each Kanji is merely a combination of various parts of the same limited pool of elements.

This is great news as instead of memorizing each stroke individually, all you need to do is to remember which combination of element each Kanji is made of.

The Strucutre of a Kanji: Second Example (A Fun Japanese Game to Learn Japanese)

Here’s another example:

Once again take control of セシル and head left and go down the stairs right there:

click to enlarge

This will take you to the room below where you’ll find three black mages. Talk to the one indicated in the picture below and pay attention to the Kanji which is highlighted.