u/StillStudyingTokyo

I was having coffee with a friend the other day, we both came to Japan around the same time.

We were talking about the long term project of studying Japanese, new iOS apps we had been trying out from the app store, and my new Japanese school I had just entered etc.

I found myself complaining that after so much effort, still don't think we have turned the corner on Japanese yet. Though admittedly I realized didn't even know what that meant.

I could guess something like passing N2, but is that the only benchmark? What has been people's turning point in their Japanese learning journey?

Canadian living in Meguro for 5 years here. I feel like my entire Japanese vocabulary is just built on a foundation of public embarrassment at this point.

I think I might have been over a year deep into living here when I was ordering food. The staff asked me what size rice I wanted, rapidly firing off the words for 小 (small)、中 (medium)、and 大 (large). I just completely froze. I had to awkwardly turn to my friend in an absolute panic, "What did they just ask me?!" while the staff member just stood there staring at us.

When my friend explained, I felt so stupid, I instantly learned it, and am reminded about it constantly when I see it.

What was your ultimate "I can't believe I didn't know that" moment?