Learn Japanese with When Marnie Was There

Anime by Japanese level › N4 to N3

How hard is the Japanese in When Marnie Was There?

Ikkimi rates When Marnie Was There at N4 to N3 (everyday talk). What sets its level: a film, quiet speech, two girls talking. 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, 思い出のマーニー, is a first lesson in itself. Its word, as a dictionary lists it:

How to learn Japanese with When Marnie Was There

Ikkimi lists When Marnie Was There 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 When Marnie Was There 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 1 h 43, so you can split it over a few evenings and rewatch the scenes you liked.

Easier and harder shows

Shows within a level of When Marnie Was There, with the most genres in common first.

Easier

• N4Kiki’s Delivery Service魔女の宅急便a film, 1 h 43Netflix
• N4K-On!けいおん!school club chatter, everyday wordsNetflix
• N4Pokémonポケットモンスターmade for children, simple adventure talkNetflix

Also N4 to N3

• N4 to N3Spirited Away千と千尋の神隠しa film, some old-fashioned speechNetflix
• N4 to N3Kimi ni Todoke: From Me to You君に届けschool romance, a polite leadNetflixCrunchyroll
• N4 to N3The Girl Who Leapt Through Time時をかける少女a film, teenagers talking, everyday wordsCrunchyroll

Harder

• N3The Promised Neverland約束のネバーランドchildren talking, plans explained step by stepCrunchyrollNetflix
• N3 to N2Tokyo Ghoul東京喰種トーキョーグールdark inner monologue, invented termsCrunchyrollNetflix
• N3 to N2Rascal Does Not Dream of Bunny Girl Senpai青春ブタ野郎はバニーガール先輩の夢を見ないquick banter, some science wordsCrunchyroll

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 When Marnie Was There good for learning Japanese?

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

What Japanese level is When Marnie Was There?

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 When Marnie Was There with Japanese subtitles?

Ikkimi lists When Marnie Was There 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 思い出のマーニー mean, word by word?

思い出 (omoide) means “memories; recollections; reminiscence”.

How long is When Marnie Was There?

AniList lists When Marnie Was There as a film of about 1 h 43, released in 2014.

What should I watch before When Marnie Was There?

Shows a little easier than When Marnie Was There, with genres in common: Kiki’s Delivery Service (N4), K-On! (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.