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Japanese learning guides
Clear, practical guides for learning to read Japanese, from your first hiragana to JLPT N5 kanji.
Getting started
- 4 min readHiragana vs Katakana vs Kanji: The Three Japanese Scripts ExplainedHiragana, katakana and kanji explained side by side: what each script is for, how many characters each has, how they combine, and which to learn first.
- 4 min readHow to Learn Hiragana Fast: A Simple 7-Day PlanLearn hiragana fast with a 7-day plan: study the chart row by row, use memory hooks for each shape, watch for look-alikes, and read real words from day one.
- 6 min readHiragana Mnemonics: A Memory Picture for Every KanaA memory picture for each of the 46 hiragana, where the shapes came from, how to split look-alikes like ぬ and め, and when to let the pictures go.
- 5 min readSmall Tsu and Long Vowels in JapaneseHow small tsu (っ) doubles a consonant, how long vowels are spelled in hiragana and with ー in katakana, and how to hear the difference between きて and きって.
- 5 min readDakuten and Handakuten in JapaneseWhat dakuten (゛) and handakuten (゜) do, the 25 kana they create, when to write ぢ and づ instead of じ and ず, and how to read, write and type the marks.
- 5 min readKatakana Words: How English Loanwords Work in JapaneseHow English words become katakana: the sound rules for extra vowels, ー and ッ, l and r, v and th, plus clipped words like パソコン and false friends to avoid.
- 5 min readHow to Type in Japanese on iPhone, Android, Mac and WindowsHow to type in Japanese on iPhone, Android, Mac and Windows: add the Japanese keyboard, type in romaji, convert to kanji with Space, and pick the right layout.
- 4 min readHow Many Kanji Are There, and How Many Do You Need?How many kanji exist, how many Japanese adults use, and how many you need for JLPT N5 to N1, newspapers and everyday reading, with the official lists explained.
- 4 min readHow Long Does It Take to Learn Kanji?How long it takes to learn kanji, worked out from daily pace: 2,136 jōyō kanji at 10 a day is about 7 months of new cards, plus review. Timelines by goal.
Learning kanji
- 4 min readHow to Learn Kanji: A Step-by-Step Method for BeginnersA practical way to learn kanji: master kana first, learn radicals, study each kanji inside real words, review with spaced repetition, and write by hand daily.
- 5 min readHow to Remember Kanji: Techniques That Actually StickHow to remember kanji for good: break them into parts, use short mnemonics, test yourself with spaced repetition, write from memory and read them in real words.
- 5 min readKanji Mnemonics: How to Build One That Sticks, With N5 ExamplesHow to build a kanji mnemonic that sticks: name the parts, pick one keyword, picture a short scene, then test it. Worked examples from over 20 N5 kanji.
- 4 min readKanji Radicals Explained: The Building Blocks of KanjiKanji radicals explained for beginners: what a radical is, the seven positions and their Japanese names, which radicals to learn first, and how they give hints.
- 6 min readThe 20 Most Common Kanji Radicals, With ExamplesThe 20 most common kanji radicals, counted across all 2,136 jōyō kanji: water, person, hand, tree and more, with Japanese names, example kanji and look-alikes.
- 5 min readKanji Stroke Order Rules: The Basics, With ExamplesLearn the basic kanji stroke order rules, from top to bottom and left to right to enclosures and piercing strokes, with clear examples and the main exceptions.
- 5 min readJapanese Handwriting Tips: How to Write Neater Kana and KanjiJapanese handwriting tips for learners: fit each character in a square, balance its parts, end strokes cleanly, tell fonts from handwriting, and practice daily.
- 4 min readOnyomi vs Kunyomi: How Kanji Readings WorkOnyomi vs kunyomi explained: where the two kanji readings come from, simple rules for guessing which one a word uses, common exceptions, and how to study them.
- 5 min readKanji vs Chinese Characters: What Is the Difference?Kanji vs Chinese characters: their shared origin, how Japanese shinjitai differ from simplified Chinese, why readings differ, and kanji created in Japan.
- 5 min readThe History of Kanji in JapanThe history of kanji in Japan: how Chinese characters arrived, how they became hiragana and katakana, why kanji have several readings, and the modern reforms.
- 5 min readJapanese Numbers: 1 to 100 and BeyondJapanese numbers from 1 to 100 and beyond: kanji numerals, readings, sound changes like さんびゃく and はっせん, counting with 万 and 億, and native ひとつ, ふたつ.
- 5 min readDays of the Week in JapaneseDays of the week in Japanese: 月曜日 to 日曜日 with readings, the seven kanji behind them (moon, fire, water, wood, metal, earth, sun) and easy memory hooks.
- 5 min readThe Most Common Kanji in JapaneseThe most common kanji in Japanese, from 日 and 一 to 国 and 人, ranked by newspaper frequency and grouped by theme, with readings, example words and study tips.
- 5 min readJapanese Counters: The 10 Every Beginner NeedsJapanese counters explained: the 10 beginners need, from つ and 人 to 本, 枚 and 匹, what each one counts, and the sound changes behind いっぽん and さんびき.
- 4 min readTelling Time in JapaneseTelling time in Japanese: 時 for hours and 分 for minutes, the irregular readings よじ, くじ and いっぷん, 半 for half past, 午前 and 午後, and 24-hour times.
- 5 min readJapanese Dates: Months, Days and YearsHow to say and write dates in Japanese: 年, 月 and 日 in year-month-day order, the twelve months, irregular day readings like ついたち and はつか, and era years.
- 5 min readColors in JapaneseColors in Japanese with kanji and readings: 赤, 青, 白, 黒 and more, which colors are i-adjectives like 赤い and which take の like 緑の, and why 青 can mean green.
- 5 min readFamily Members in JapaneseFamily words in Japanese with kanji and readings: 母 vs お母さん, 兄 vs お兄さん, plain words for your family, polite ones for someone else's, and how to address them.
- 4 min readHow to Read Prices in JapaneseHow to read Japanese prices: saying amounts with 円 and 万, tricky readings like よえん, tax labels like 税込 and 税抜, sale signs like 半額 and 3割引, and menu words.
- 5 min readWhat Is Furigana?Furigana are small kana printed next to kanji to show how they are read. See where they appear, why some are katakana, and how to stop relying on them.
- 6 min readOkurigana ExplainedOkurigana are the hiragana endings after kanji, like べる in 食べる. Learn why they exist, the official rules and exceptions, and how they help you read kanji.
- 4 min readJukujikun and Ateji ExplainedJukujikun are readings like きょう for 今日 and おとな for 大人 that belong to the whole word, not each kanji. Learn how they differ from ateji, with common examples.
- 5 min readRendaku ExplainedRendaku is the sound change that turns かみ into がみ in 手紙 and ひと into びと in 人々. Learn how it works, when it is blocked, and how to learn it word by word.
Study plans and habits
- 5 min readHow to Pass the JLPT N5How to pass JLPT N5: the three test sections, the 80/180 pass mark and sectional minimums, every question type, and a study order for kana, kanji and grammar.
- 4 min readHow to Study JLPT N5 Kanji: A 10-Week PlanA 10-week plan for JLPT N5 kanji: about 100 beginner kanji grouped by theme, a daily routine, review weeks, and why there is no official N5 kanji list.
- 5 min readHow to Study JLPT N4 Kanji: A 14-Week PlanA 14-week plan for JLPT N4 kanji: about 180 new kanji after N5, grouped by theme, with a weekly routine, review weeks, and how N4 tests kanji.
- 4 min readSpaced Repetition for Japanese: A Practical GuideHow spaced repetition works for Japanese: why spaced reviews beat cramming, what to put on kanji and vocabulary cards, and a daily routine that avoids burnout.
- 4 min readLearn Japanese on Your Lock Screen: A Guide to WidgetsLearn Japanese with Lock Screen and Home Screen widgets: why short, repeated exposure helps, how to add widgets on iPhone, and how to turn glances into recall.
- 5 min readHow to Learn Japanese with MangaHow to learn Japanese with manga: when you are ready, which manga print furigana, how to read vertical pages and sound effects, and a simple chapter routine.
- 4 min readA Daily Japanese Study Routine for Busy LearnersA realistic Japanese study routine for busy learners: 15, 20 and 30 minute daily plans, what to do each day of the week, and how to restart after missed days.
Choosing an app
- 5 min readBest Apps to Learn Kanji in 2026The best apps to learn kanji in 2026 compared honestly: Moji, WaniKani, Anki, renshuu, Kanji Study and Duolingo, with who each suits and October 2026 prices.
- 5 min readWaniKani AlternativesWaniKani alternatives sorted by what you want instead: a free tool, handwriting practice, a phone app, your own pace or grammar, with November 2026 prices.