I mean, think of it this way: it comes down to how often you come across words in any language including English (even in ENG: you may forget how to spell words correctly if you don’t use or encounter them often), kind of the same logic with Kanji: a Japanese person doesn’t know all Kanji in the same way English speakers doesn’t know every single word that exists in ENG.
There are over 5000 Kanji but only about half of that is used in Japanese or closer to 2136 while the remainder consist of ones only present within technical jargon (medicine, science, politics, etc.). or certain Kanji only has limited uses in some words (but mostly written in kana). That is also accounting for grammar being “straight forward” more than English or Euro languages.
The “real” hard part is numerous readings (depending whether it’s paired with kana or another kanji, reflected from kunyomi & onyomi plus nanori when applied in people’s names). What I hate about most online translators is that it often gets lost in translation (like words used in the wrong context but on their own it’s correct, however not right for the situation or topic at hand).
Well what would be an easier language ? French? Dutch? Not German, that one looks atrocious. If it’s not relative then all foreign languages are hard to newcomers I guess. Personally I remember that learning enough English so I can somewhat communicate was quite easy because of the mass of available content to read / listen to / watch.
Spanish and Portuguese would probably be easier to learn than English, same for French. If you knew German and/or English, Dutch might actually be a little easier than you’d think!
The amount of entertaining media out there definitely works in favor of English though, I have to agree with you there.
I’m 40 years into trying to become fluent-ish in Dutch and it’s going to need another lifetime to get there unfortunately. So English to Dutch ain’t much of a passerelle.
Back in the days it is said that our Dutch speaking neighbours had an « easier » time learning English because they didn’t had much in the way of local content. Whereas as a French speaker we have all dubbed so less pressure to get introduced early to English.
I find it super funny that you position French as easier than English. In what language are you native? From my anecdotal evidence discussing with a sizeable amount of foreigners French is among the most hated / difficult western language to learn. Possibly because of all the prononciation shenanigans, it’s not like in Dutch and English where sounds are somewhat logical.