Thread: Learning Japanese: Is grammar or vocabulary more important?
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RickOShay (Offline)
JF Old Timer
  
Posts: 604
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: USA, formerly Shizuoka for 7 years.
01-23-2011, 06:10 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by p7m13 View Post
Hi all, I'm sure a lot of people are currently studying Japanese on this forum. I've already passed JLPT N4 so I've pretty much got the basic grammar structure memorized but otherwise I'm just wondering about how to go on from there.

I know that grammar is important but it'd be pointless to know a lot of grammar when you don't know the vocabulary being used in the sentence. I feel that even if you don't really understand the grammar you can sometimes guess what is being said if you know the vocabulary.

There's only so much time in a day and it takes time to memorize vocabulary (there are thousands out there) so is it wise to concentrate more on vocabulary than grammar at this point of time?

What do you folks concentrate on when you're studying Japanese?

I'm currently living in Japan so communication skills are more essential at this point of time.

Thanks in advance!
I say vocab all the way. Once you have a basic understanding of grammar I would put 75% of my effort into acquiring new vocab and kanji. You will be surprised how much you understand and can communicate by just being able to say and pick up keywords.
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