The 5 Common Mistakes Japanese Learners Make Part 2: Intermediate ✈️

Once you're past the basics, you enter the intermediate phase where the mistakes shift from simple conjugation errors to nuance, syntax, and inappropriate word choice. If you feel stuck, it's probably one of these areas.

1. Misusing Transitive (を) vs. Intransitive (が) Verbs

This is a subtle, but continuous, grammar trap.

• The Mistake: Mixing up pairs of verbs that mean the same thing but have different grammatical roles (e.g., 開(あ)く vs. 開(あ)ける).

• The Rule: Intransitive verbs show a change of state (the subject changes—ドアが開(あ)いた). Transitive verbs show someone causes the change (the subject acts on the object—私がドアを開(あ)けた).

• The Fix: When learning a new verb, always check if it is transitive or intransitive and learn the corresponding particle (を or が).

2. Clumsy Use of te-form for Linking Actions

The te-form is the first linking tool learned, but relying on it too much makes speech robotic.

• The Mistake: Using the simple te-form (〜て) to link every sequential action or complex idea.

• The Rule: Use more specific conjunctions to convey precise timing or cause: 〜た後(あと)で (after doing), 〜ながら (while doing), or 〜ので (because).

• The Fix: Consciously replace generic te-form linkages with more specific structures to sound more nuanced and fluent.

3. Incorrect い-Adjective Conjugation in Advanced Forms

Students often forget the conjugation rules for い-adjectives when forming derived structures.

• The Mistake: Attempting to treat an い-adjective like a な-adjective, especially in negative or adverbial forms.

• The Rule: When an い-adjective is used as an adverb, the final い is replaced by く(e.g., 早(はや)く走(はし)る - Run fast). The negative is formed with 〜くない.

• The Fix: Confirm the word's category and adhere to the い-conjugation rules, as generalising is where errors happen.

A. The Negative Form Mistake (Using じゃない instead of くない)

Target	な-Adjective	い-Adjective
It is not clean. きれいな	きれいじゃないです。	—
It is not cold.	—	❌ 寒(さむ)いじゃないです。
寒(さむ)い		✅ 寒(さむ)くないです。

B. The Adverbial Form Mistake (Using い instead of く)

When an adjective modifies a verb (e.g., "speak loudly," "run fast"), it acts as an adverb. な-adjectives use に, but い-adjectives drop the い for く.

Target	な-Adjective Pattern	い-Adjective
She speaks quietly.  静(しず)かな	静(しず)かに話(はな)す。	—
Please eat quickly.	—	❌ 早(はや)い食(た)べてください。
早(はや)い		✅ 早(はや)く食(た)べてください。

4. Misusing Potential Form with を

The particle changes when a verb enters the potential state.

• The Mistake: Using the object marker を with the potential form (〜できる or 〜れる/られる).

• The Rule: The resulting state of being able to is typically marked by the subject particle が.

• The Fix: When the verb changes from V(を) to V potential (が), make the particle switch too.

Example:  ✅おすしを食(た)べる(I eat sushi) ✅おすしが食(た)べられる (I can eat sushi)

5. Sticking to Textbook Forms in Casual Speech

This is the barrier between being correct and being natural.

• The Mistake: Strictly adhering to the full, non-contracted form of every word or phrase in casual conversation.

• The Rule: Casual Japanese uses heavy contractions. 〜ている becomes 〜てる, 〜なければいけない becomes 〜なきゃ or 〜なくちゃ.

• The Fix: Actively seek out and labour to integrate common contractions into your casual speech to instantly sound more native.

Formal (Textbook) Structure	Casual (Contracted) Form	Example Sentence (Casual)	English Translation
〜ている	〜てる	いま、ご飯(はん)食(た)べてる。	I'm eating meal right now.
〜なければいけない	〜なきゃ / 〜なくちゃ	早(はや)く行(い)かなきゃ！	I gotta go quickly!
〜てはだめだ	〜ちゃだめだ	ここで走(はし)っちゃだめだよ。	You mustn't run here.
〜てしまう	〜ちゃう	ごめん、宿題(しゅくだい)忘(わす)れちゃった。	Sorry, I accidentally forgot my homework.

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