With カラオケ build on the 暗記 exercise by memorizing or looking up the 歌詞 ( kashi, lyrics) to a song you like and trying to sing along. Instead, you can just do it in the comfort of your own room, カラオケに安心して行ける日が来るまで ( karaoke ni anshinshite ikeru hi ga kuru made, until the day comes when people can go back to karaoke safely). Don’t panic: This doesn’t have to be in public. The second great way to learn Japanese through music is by singing along with カラオケ. So learning a new 言葉 ( kotoba, word/term) or 表現 ( hyōgen, expression) in the context of a song you like is a handy reference for your mind to latch on to. Scientists have called the brain an “association machine,” a device that constantly wants to connect new information to existing memories. This can feel like a lot of work, but providing 文脈 ( bunmyaku, context) to new vocabulary is a useful memory aid.
Finally, memorize the line as well as the corresponding meaning. Put unfamiliar words in the 和英辞書 ( wa-ei jisho, Japanese-English dictionary) and add them to your vocabulary list. Listen to a song and review it line by line, reading the lyrics in Japanese and in translation. The most basic and efficient way to make music work in your favor is by using 暗記 to build your Japanese 単語 ( tango, vocabulary). Let’s dive into how each of these study activities work, and then discuss potential songs to use for 初心者, 中級者 ( chūkyūsha, intermediate learners) and 上級者 ( jōkyūsha, advanced learners). Fortunately, there are three great ways to use music to learn Japanese: 暗記 ( anki, memorization), カラオケ ( karaoke) and 筆写 ( hissha, transcribing). Accordingly, more focused studying will have a more pronounced impact. Although listening to your favorite Japanese song, no matter the genre, can passively build familiarity with the language, Japanese still takes a long time to learn.