From a teacher's point of view of textbooks mentioned above, "Genki" is a good way to start learning sentence structures and grammar points. You can practise all four macro skills (i.e. reading, writing, speaking & listening) within one text book. If you seek more practice, workbook is also available. Negative side is, it can be difficult to do group/pair work yourself. However, if you have a study buddy, you can start making a small conversation with him/her in Japanese as soon as chapter 3. "Minna no nihongo" is more focused on grammar points and covers them more than "Genki". Thus, it is probably more friendly textbook to autodidacts. However, all the explanations are in a separate book, so it may not be as convenient as "Genki". Other workbooks are also available and if you collect all of the series, it would be quite bulky. But, you can gain thorough knowledge from them for sure. Each textbook has pros and cons, so at the end it all depends on your learning style, purposes of learning and preferences. Good luck to you all with your studies and enjoy!
FAQs
Is Minna no Nihongo or Genki better for self study? ›
It really breaks down the pronunciations, how to write the kana, an introduction to kanji, grammar structures, and gives you a decent arsenal of vocab you'll use in most situations. If you are self-learning, use Genki. But if you have someone's teaching you, use Minna no Nihongo.
Which one is better Minna no Nihongo or Genki? ›"Minna no nihongo" is more focused on grammar points and covers them more than "Genki". Thus, it is probably more friendly textbook to autodidacts. However, all the explanations are in a separate book, so it may not be as convenient as "Genki".
Is Minna no Nihongo good for learning Japanese? ›If you're planning to move to Japan, or want to learn the language as thoroughly as possible, then Minna no Nihongo is a great starting point. You'll get a strong understanding of the grammar and learn a lot of vocabulary.
What level of Japanese is Minna no Nihongo? ›It is reserved for people wishing to reach an intermediate level, equivalent to the N2 of the official Japanese Language Proficiency Test.
Is Genki 2 enough for N5? ›The Genki 1 & 2 books also have sections for Kanji and these will cover the majority of the N5 kanji. Some people find it easier to learn the meaning first and then the readings, but I found it was easiest to learn both at the same time, and if possible, learn vocab that uses that kanji.
Is Minna no Nihongo enough for N5? ›While the Minna no Nihongo or Genki are N5-level, they're not necessarily targeted to students who want to take the JLPT. For that, the Goukaku Dekiru JLPT book series is by far the most popular choice for test-takers. The textbook breaks down the JLPT into two parts.
Is Minna no Nihongo enough for N4? ›Popular JLPT N4 book series
Minna no Nihongo is another option that should not be overlooked. The books in the Shokyu 2 series are perfect if you want to take the N4 exam and you have already started learning Japanese with Shokyu 1 books.
Genki I is 99% of N5. Genki II is the majority of N4. (Not sure about the newest editions as I used the 2nd edition.) This is because there isn't really a definitive list for the JLPT and things move around over time.
Will Genki make you fluent? ›But there is no way your reading/speaking/listening/writing is anywhere near a 5th grader by the time you complete Genki I and II. Fact is, if we could do all those skills like a 5th grader by the end of the beginner books, we would be essentially fluent.
Should I study Japanese everyday? ›Those who spend more hours daily learning and practicing will probably progress faster than those who only dedicate a few hours per week. So for those looking to learn the language as a secondary language, at least 2—4 hours should be spent in a day learning and practicing the language.
Should I learn Japanese by myself? ›
Can you even learn Japanese by yourself? Absolutely, you just need a reliable guide to get you through the first few steps. So, this is the best way any Japanese beginner can start learning. Discover how to learn Japanese easily by yourself or with the help of others.
Is Minna no Nihongo 2 for N4? ›While this book is not meant as a study aid for the Japanese Language Proficiency Test, upon completing the book, the student is roughly at the N4 level of the Test. For those without access to a CD player, the audio content on the CD accompanying the Main Text can be streamed or downloaded.
What is the difference between Minna no Nihongo 1 and 2? ›Minna no Nihongo I is the introductory and lower beginner text; Minna no Nihongo II is the upper beginner text.
What is the hardest level of Japanese? ›The JLPT has five levels: N1, N2, N3, N4 and N5. The easiest level is N5 and the most difficult level is N1. N4 and N5 measure the level of understanding of basic Japanese mainly learned in class. N1and N2 measure the level of understanding of Japanese used in a broad range of scenes in actual everyday life.
What level is fluent Japanese? ›It measures language ability in 6 levels (C2, C1, B2, B1, A2, A1 from fluent to beginner). C2 level holders are regarded as fluent as a native language speaker, or are referred to as business level.
Is Genki good for self studying? ›Genki is very good for giving you a solid foundation (reading, writing and speaking). In the beginning, I hated the drawing Kanji exercises but they actually helped me a lot in better recognizing kanji.
Can you learn Japanese from Genki alone? ›Can Genki be used for self-study? The grammar explanations have been written in plain English with minimal jargon so that students can prepare for lessons on their own. Because of this straightforward design, solo learners should have no difficulty in using Genki for their Japanese studies.