Learn Japanese with Spirited Away

Anime by Japanese level › N4 to N3

How hard is the Japanese in Spirited Away?

Ikkimi rates Spirited Away at N4 to N3 (everyday talk). What sets its level: a film, some old-fashioned speech. Of the 192 anime Ikkimi rates by hand, 16 are easier and 148 are harder.

Levels follow the Japanese Language Proficiency Test, from N5 (easiest) to N1 (hardest). They are Ikkimi’s estimate of how hard a show’s Japanese is to follow, from how fast people talk, how many unusual words there are and how clear the voices are. They are not official JLPT ratings.

Format, episodes, year and genres are from AniList’s entry.

The words in the title

The Japanese title, 千と千尋の神隠し, is a first lesson in itself. Its word, as a dictionary lists it:

How to learn Japanese with Spirited Away

Ikkimi lists Spirited Away on Netflix. What each service carries varies by country. Ikkimi does not stream anything: you watch on your own account, in Chrome on a computer, and Ikkimi adds a Japanese line you can click on top of the player.

On Netflix

On Netflix, turn on Japanese subtitles in the player, where your country’s Netflix has them for this title, and Ikkimi makes the line clickable. If there are none, open the Ikkimi popup, choose Find Japanese subtitles, and search Jimaku’s catalogue or load a file from your computer.

1. Add Ikkimi to Chrome

   Get the extension from the Chrome Web Store and sign in.

2. Play the film

   Open Spirited Away on Netflix. The Japanese line appears on top of the video.

3. Click the words you keep hearing

   The video pauses and the word opens: kana, romaji, meaning, JLPT level and a recording by a native speaker where one exists (never a computer voice; otherwise the line from the show plays again). Keep three to five words an episode, the ones that come up again.

4. Review them later

   Kept words come back as flashcards on the Ikkimi website, with the scene and the line they came from, just before you would forget them.

The film runs about 2 h 05, so you can split it over a few evenings and rewatch the scenes you liked.

Easier and harder shows

Shows within a level of Spirited Away, with the most genres in common first.

Easier

• N4Kiki’s Delivery Service魔女の宅急便a film, 1 h 43Netflix
• N5 to N4My Neighbor Totoroとなりのトトロa film, 1 h 26, children talkingNetflix
• N4Pokémonポケットモンスターmade for children, simple adventure talkNetflix

Also N4 to N3

• N4 to N3Dragon Ballドラゴンボールsimple adventure talk, shoutingCrunchyroll
• N4 to N3The Secret World of Arrietty借りぐらしのアリエッティa film, quiet family talkNetflix
• N4 to N3The Cat Returns猫の恩返しa film, school and fairy-tale talkNetflix

Harder

• N3NarutoNARUTO -ナルト-clear voices, ninja words that repeatCrunchyrollNetflix
• N3ONE PIECEloud and clear, pirate words that repeatCrunchyrollNetflix
• N3The Seven Deadly Sins七つの大罪fantasy titles, clear voicesNetflix

See every N4 to N3 anime or all 192 anime by Japanese level, and read how to learn Japanese by watching anime from zero.

Questions

Is Spirited Away good for learning Japanese?

Yes, as an early show. Ikkimi rates it N4 to N3 (everyday talk). What sets its level: a film, some old-fashioned speech. It is a step up from the very easiest shows, and a good second or third show.

What Japanese level is Spirited Away?

N4 to N3, on Ikkimi’s scale from N5 (easiest) to N1 (hardest). Of the 192 anime Ikkimi rates by hand, 16 are easier and 148 are harder. The level is Ikkimi’s estimate, not an official JLPT rating.

Where can I watch Spirited Away with Japanese subtitles?

Ikkimi lists Spirited Away on Netflix. What each service carries varies by country. On Netflix, turn on Japanese subtitles in the player where they are offered, and Ikkimi makes every word clickable.

What does the title 千と千尋の神隠し mean, word by word?

神隠し (kamikakushi) means “mysterious disappearance; being spirited away”.

How long is Spirited Away?

AniList lists Spirited Away as a film of about 2 h 05, released in 2001.

What should I watch before Spirited Away?

Shows a little easier than Spirited Away, with genres in common: Kiki’s Delivery Service (N4), My Neighbor Totoro (N5 to N4) and Pokémon (N4).

Sources: show details from AniList; meanings from JMdict (EDRDG, CC BY-SA 4.0); readings and word splits from kuromoji.js with IPADIC; JLPT word levels from Jonathan Waller’s unofficial lists. See Credits. Spotted a mistake? Tell us at hello@ikkimi.app.