Learning Hub ยท Japanese Learning Guides
Learning Hub
Find clear answers about Japanese, from kana to sentences, then practice with word cards.
A simple path into Japanese
- Read kana
Match hiragana and katakana to their sounds.
- Understand short sentences
Use particles to see how the words fit together.
- Say something of your own
Try a sentence about yourself using the polite form.
Featured beginner articles
Writing & Pronunciation
How to Read the Japanese Kana Chart: A Beginner’s Guide
Make sense of the gojuon chart, connect hiragana with katakana, and start reading short words instead of memorizing the chart only in order.
Writing & Pronunciation
What Is Hiragana? How It Works and How to Start Learning
See how hiragana carries words, particles, and verb endings, then build a practice routine that connects each shape with a sound and a useful word.
Writing & Pronunciation
How to Read Katakana: Loanwords, Long Vowels, and Common Traps
Start with familiar words such as コーヒー and テレビ, then learn to notice long-vowel marks, small kana, and easily confused character shapes.
Keep exploring
Writing & Pronunciation
Dakuten and Handakuten: Reading が, ざ, だ, ば, and ぱ
Learn what the two dots and small circle do, compare hiragana and katakana, and practice the sound distinctions inside familiar Japanese words.
Writing & Pronunciation
Small ゃ, ゅ, ょ: How Japanese Combined Sounds Work
Read combinations such as きゃ and しゅ as one beat, compare hiragana with katakana, and hear why びょういん and びよういん are different words.
Writing & Pronunciation
What Is Furigana? A Guide to the Small Readings Above Kanji
Learn what ruby readings tell you, how they differ from romaji and okurigana, and when to use them as support while reading Japanese.
Grammar Basics
Japanese Word Order: Finding the Verb and Following the Particles
Learn why Japanese often places the verb at the end, how particles show relationships, and why a natural sentence may leave the subject unsaid.
Grammar Basics
Japanese Particles for Beginners: は, が, を, に, and で
Use short sentences to understand topics, subjects, objects, and locations without trying to give each Japanese particle a single English translation.
Verbs & Conjugation
Japanese Verb Groups: Godan, Ichidan, and Irregular Verbs
Understand the labels used by textbooks and dictionaries, learn useful clues, and avoid treating every verb ending in る as an ichidan verb.
Verbs & Conjugation
The Japanese Masu-Form: Polite Verbs Made Practical
Build polite verb forms by group, then practice positive, negative, past, and past-negative endings in short, useful sentences.
Verbs & Conjugation
The Japanese Te-Form: Conjugation Rules and Everyday Uses
Organize godan sound changes, handle ichidan and irregular verbs, and put the te-form to work in requests and permission questions.
Vocabulary & Expressions
Japanese Greetings: When to Say Ohayou, Konnichiwa, and Konbanwa
Choose a greeting that fits the time and the relationship, learn the standard spellings, and keep evening hellos separate from bedtime goodbyes.
Kanji & Readings
On’yomi and Kun’yomi: Why Kanji Have Different Readings
Use real words built with 山, 水, and 人 to understand the two reading categories—and learn why the whole word matters more than a one-reading rule.
Study Guides & JLPT
JLPT Levels N5 to N1: Choosing a Useful Study Goal
Understand the direction of the five JLPT levels, use official sample questions to find a starting point, and plan beyond vocabulary totals alone.