# Learn Japanese with When Marnie Was There

> How hard its Japanese is, real words from it with kana and romaji, where to watch it, and what to watch before and after.

[Anime by Japanese level](https://ikkimi.app/anime-by-japanese-level/) › [N4 to N3](https://ikkimi.app/anime-by-japanese-level/#n4-to-n3)

**The short answer:** Ikkimi rates **When Marnie Was There** N4 to N3 for learning Japanese: a film, quiet speech, two girls talking. **Good for a beginner? Yes, as an early show.** It is a step up from the very easiest shows, and a good second or third show.

Ikkimi lists When Marnie Was There on Netflix. What each service carries varies by country. On Netflix, turn on Japanese subtitles and every word becomes clickable.

The Ikkimi web app and Chrome extension come on one plan. The iPhone app is coming soon.

## 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.

| Fact | When Marnie Was There |
| --- | --- |
| Ikkimi’s level | N4 to N3 (everyday talk) |
| Why | a film, quiet speech, two girls talking |
| Japanese title | 思い出のマーニー |
| Format | Film |
| Running time | 1 h 43 |
| Released | 2014 |
| Genres | Drama, Mystery, Psychological |
| Where to watch | [Netflix](https://www.netflix.com/search?q=When%20Marnie%20Was%20There) |

Format, episodes, year and genres are from [AniList’s entry](https://anilist.co/anime/20555).

## 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:

| Word | Kana and romaji | Meaning |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 思い出 N3 | おもいで omoide | memories; recollections; reminiscence |

## 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](https://chromewebstore.google.com/detail/ikkimi-%E2%80%94-learn-japanese/kknpmodmojiodjhbgapdgpabdehpnfcb) 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

| Show | Level | Why | Where |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| **[Kiki’s Delivery Service](https://ikkimi.app/anime/kikis-delivery-service/)** 魔女の宅急便 | N4 | a film, 1 h 43 | Netflix |
| **[K-On!](https://ikkimi.app/anime/k-on/)** けいおん! | N4 | school club chatter, everyday words | Netflix |
| **[Pokémon](https://ikkimi.app/anime/pokemon/)** ポケットモンスター | N4 | made for children, simple adventure talk | Netflix |

### Also N4 to N3

| Show | Level | Why | Where |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| **[Spirited Away](https://ikkimi.app/anime/spirited-away/)** 千と千尋の神隠し | N4 to N3 | a film, some old-fashioned speech | Netflix |
| **[Kimi ni Todoke: From Me to You](https://ikkimi.app/anime/kimi-ni-todoke-from-me-to-you/)** 君に届け | N4 to N3 | school romance, a polite lead | Netflix, Crunchyroll |
| **[The Girl Who Leapt Through Time](https://ikkimi.app/anime/the-girl-who-leapt-through-time/)** 時をかける少女 | N4 to N3 | a film, teenagers talking, everyday words | Crunchyroll |

### Harder

| Show | Level | Why | Where |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| **[The Promised Neverland](https://ikkimi.app/anime/the-promised-neverland/)** 約束のネバーランド | N3 | children talking, plans explained step by step | Crunchyroll, Netflix |
| **[Tokyo Ghoul](https://ikkimi.app/anime/tokyo-ghoul/)** 東京喰種トーキョーグール | N3 to N2 | dark inner monologue, invented terms | Crunchyroll, Netflix |
| **[Rascal Does Not Dream of Bunny Girl Senpai](https://ikkimi.app/anime/rascal-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 | N3 to N2 | quick banter, some science words | Crunchyroll |

See [every N4 to N3 anime](https://ikkimi.app/anime-by-japanese-level/#n4-to-n3) or all 192 [anime by Japanese level](https://ikkimi.app/anime-by-japanese-level/), and read [how to learn Japanese by watching anime](https://ikkimi.app/learn-japanese-with-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](https://anilist.co); 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](https://ikkimi.app/credits/). Spotted a mistake? Tell us at [hello@ikkimi.app](mailto:hello@ikkimi.app).

Tonight’s episode is a lesson.

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Source: https://ikkimi.app/anime/when-marnie-was-there/ · Updated 2026-10-30 · Contact: hello@ikkimi.app · More: https://ikkimi.app/llms.txt