I've been learning Japanese off and on for over 20 years. After several starts and stops, it was only in 2024 that I forced myself to start reading novels in the language to boost my comprehension and acquisition.
I'll post my major milestones here.
Tools
Japanese novels
Currently reading Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. This is my first Japanese novel and it's not an easy read (thought it might seem like it should be). This copy has been on my shelf since 2010 and I'm finally getting through it.
Using a mix of intensive and extensive reading, listening to the Japanese audiobook, and rereading the original English, I'm getting a lot of mileage from it.
WaniKani
This is my primary vocabulary engine and has been since 2023. It's a GRIND. We're talking Super Nintendo era JRPG random encounter frequency type of grind.
But it's highly effective. What I really like is how it incorporates writing into the app. You don't just select answers, you have to type them in. That's made writing in Japanese much easier over time
Japanese keyboard
I have Japanese keyboard I've been using since 2023. The learning curve was steep. Took me a year to get used where the keys were. But now things are much faster.
I also have a 12-key Japanese keyboard as well as a finger-stroke keyboard on my phone. Switching between desktop and mobile is essential for using real Japanese today.
YouTube
At my level I can watch or listen to pretty much any Japanese content. I tend to gravitate toward podcasts and longplays of video games I'm familiar with.
Video games
Gaming in Japanese is tough. But it's a great way to force myself to use the language in real time. Currently working my way through the first Phoenix Wright Ace Attorney game.
All the characters are quirky and exaggerated. So it's great for dialect practice and building fluency. Of course I always read aloud.
Log
2026-04-02
Playing Phoenix Wright 1 in Japanese
2026-03-28
NEW IDIOMS FOUND
首を突っ込む → kubi o tsukkomu → Idiom: To poke one's head in (literal) OR to meddle/involve oneself deeply in something (figurative).
Etymological Breakdown: 首を突っ込む (Kubi o tsukkomu)
Unlike idioms born from specific historical texts or ancient Chinese literature, this phrase is a direct, vivid psychological metaphor based on physical action and human anatomy.
1. The Physical to Metaphorical Leap
When humans are curious about a commotion or a closed-off space, the instinctual reaction is to crack a door and literally "thrust the head inside" to observe. Because the head houses the primary sensory organs (eyes, ears) and the brain, physically projecting it into a space translates metaphorically to directing your total attention, curiosity, and consciousness there.
2. The Weight of 首 (Kubi / Neck & Head)
In Japanese idiom structure, 首 (kubi) represents more than just a body part; it symbolizes your social standing, livelihood, and vulnerability (e.g., kubi ni naru / 首になる — to be fired, literally "to be beheaded"). By thrusting your kubi into a situation, you are exposing a vulnerable part of yourself. This is why the phrase carries a heavier weight of personal involvement and potential risk than simply "taking an interest."
3. The Intrusiveness of 突っ込む (Tsukkomu)
The verb 突っ込む implies a forceful, sudden, or deep insertion. Combined with the head, it creates two primary nuances:
- The Meddler/Investigator (Negative/Cautionary): Intruding where you don't belong, often used when warning someone not to interfere in dangerous affairs, police investigations, or someone else's private trouble. You will see this constantly in legal and mystery narratives when a character forcefully inserts themselves into a closed case.
- The Enthusiast (Neutral/Immersive): Plunging headfirst into a new, complex hobby, subculture, or field of study out of intense, irrepressible curiosity.
Brief Contrast:
- 足を突っ込む (Ashi o tsukkomu / To poke a foot in): Focuses on presence and commitment. Taking a step into a new domain or getting involved in a bad crowd (like the criminal underworld).
- 首を突っ込む (Kubi o tsukkomu / To poke a head in): Focuses on curiosity, meddling, and mental involvement.
血が騒ぐ → chi ga sawagu → Idiom: Blood stirs/boils; to feel a surge of excitement, anticipation, or instinct.
Etymological Breakdown: 血が騒ぐ (Chi ga sawagu)
The origin of this idiom is not tied to a single historical event or classical text. Instead, it stems from traditional Japanese conceptualizations of physiology, where physical sensations were mapped directly onto human emotions and instincts.
1. The Cultural Concept of 血 (Chi / Blood) Historically, blood was viewed as much more than a biological fluid. In Japanese linguistic tradition, it serves as the vessel for two main concepts:
- Passion and Life Force: It represents the literal "heat" of human emotion (seen in related phrases like chi no ke ga ooi / 血の気が多い — hot-blooded or quick-tempered).
- Lineage and Inherent Nature: It carries ancestral traits, deeply ingrained habits, or true nature (e.g., shokunin no chi / 職人の血 — the blood of a craftsman).
2. The Internalization of 騒ぐ (Sawagu / To make noise, be agitated) While sawagu literally translates to making a physical racket or commotion, its classical and psychological usage extends to internal states. It describes a disruption of mental equilibrium—a state where one's inner calm is overtaken by restlessness, excitement, or undeniable urges.
3. The Synthesis: "The Blood Makes a Racket" When combined, the idiom literalizes the physiological rush of adrenaline. When your heart races, your blood pressure rises, and your skin flushes, this physical reality is interpreted as your blood "becoming agitated" or "shouting" at you to take action. It describes the exact moment when logical restraint is overpowered by raw instinct or irrepressible enthusiasm.
Typical Usage Contexts: You will most often see this idiom rooted in situations triggering an involuntary, almost genetic response:
- Festivals/Traditions: Hearing the taiko drums of a local matsuri (festival) and feeling an uncontrollable urge to participate.
- Former Lives/Habits: A retired warrior or athlete feeling the sudden urge to fight or compete when witnessing a battle or match.
2026-03-25
NEW IDIOM FOUND!
ところが、ネビルは、緊張するやら怖気づくやら、一人だけ地上に置いてきぼりを食いたくないのやらで、先生の唇が笛に触れる前に思いきり地面を蹴ってしまった。
Idiom Origin: 置いてきぼりを食う (Oitekibori o kuu)
Origin Story: This idiom comes directly from Edo-period folklore, specifically "The Seven Wonders of Honjo" (本所七不思議 - Honjo Nanafushigi).
The Lore: In the story, fishermen casting their lines in a certain local moat (堀 - hori) would suddenly hear a terrifying, disembodied voice shout from the water: 「置いてけ！」 (Oiteke! — "Leave it behind!"). If the fishermen ignored the ghost and fled with their catch, they would look in their baskets later only to find them completely empty.
Semantic Shift:
- Oiteke (Leave it) + Hori (Moat) = Oitekebori (The "Leave-It-Behind Moat").
- Over time, the pronunciation softened to Oitekibori, and the meaning shifted from a specific haunted location to the general state of being deserted or left behind.
- 食う (kuu - to eat): Used idiomatically here to mean "to suffer or receive a negative action" (similar to 罰を食う - to suffer a punishment).
2026-03-23
Harry Potter Ch. 8 Complete!
2026-02-25
Harry Potter Ch. 7 Complete!
2026-02-17
Reached WaniKani Level 28!
