3 Best Advanced Japanese Grammar Books in 2022 (Japanese Tutor-Reviewed)

A good reference book will also help you to differentiate the minute differences between similar usages and forms.

For those who are sufficiently advanced, it would be good to look for a textbook completely in Japanese. Not only will you be able to more fully understand the nuances in the language, but it can also serve as a good practice tool.

If you’re learning Japanese for work, you’ve probably already figured out that Japanese work culture is pretty formal. Unsurprisingly, that also applies to the language used. Business situations often require not just different vocabulary, but also different grammar than you’d normally come across in everyday conversation.

In order to sound professional, you’re going to have to know how to use them together (after all, it can sound odd and amateurish to use formal honorific sonkei-go grammar patterns with informal kenjou-go vocabulary).

So, you want to find a comprehensive book that teaches you both grammar and vocabulary, preferably with some good examples and cultural notes to show you how it’s done. (Yes, because there is a proper depth to bow–depending on your situation, you should either bob your head, go down 45 degrees, or a full 90.)

Look for some kind of hands-on approach, like short-answer and translation quizzes. Simple quizzes with only one right answer, such as fill-in-the-blank and multiple-choice questions, are good if you’re studying on your own, as you can check your answers against a key. 

If you are one of the lucky few that has a native friend or mentor–maybe you meet up with a language buddy at a café every week–then look for freer exercises like essay writing. You can’t check it against a key, but essay-writing is an important first step in teaching you to express your thoughts fluidly in conversation and talks.

Unlike English, in Japanese, your grammar often reflects the amount of respect you’re showing to another person and your personality. There are feminine and masculine grammatical patterns, as well as casual and polite.

There are grammatical patterns that are used exclusively in writing and some that are used exclusively in conversation. There are old-fashioned and defunct grammatical patterns you will hear if you like watching historical anime or NHK samurai dramas.

No matter the setting, explanations about the contexts in which it’s appropriate to use a certain grammar point are necessary for intermediate and advanced learners.

For those who need a little more stimulation, many Japanese textbooks have manga sections, since that’s what draws in a lot of learners to begin with.

Some books come with CDs with audio instruction and practice. CDs can reinforce the grammar point and help you remember it. Shadowing a CD can help with pronunciation and intonation, but only if the speakers on the CD sound natural and not robotic! You can also look for books made especially with shadowing in mind.