How to Start Learning Japanese: 11 Easy Steps

Learning Japanese may seem overwhelming at first, but with the right approach and resources, you can make steady progress and enjoy the journey. Whether you're learning for travel, career opportunities, or personal interest, following a structured approach will help you build a strong foundation in the language.

11 Easy Steps Learning Japanese

1. Understand Why You Want to Learn Japanese

Before you start, it’s important to know why you want to learn Japanese. This will keep you motivated throughout your learning journey.

Common Reasons to Learn Japanese:

✔️ Travel – Make your trip to Japan more enjoyable by understanding the language.
✔️ Career Opportunities – Work in Japan or with Japanese companies.
✔️ Anime, Manga, and J-Pop – Enjoy your favorite Japanese content without subtitles.
✔️ Culture & History – Understand Japanese traditions and customs.
✔️ Personal Growth – Learning a new language is a great challenge!

💡 Tip: Write down your reasons and set small, achievable goals to track your progress.

2. Learn the Japanese Writing Systems

Japanese has three writing systems, and learning them is the first step in your journey.

✅ Start with Hiragana & Katakana, then move on to basic Kanji.

📌 Resources:

• Apps: Kana Quiz, Dr. Moku, Tofugu’s Hiragana Guide
• Books: Remembering the Kana by James Heisig

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3. Master Japanese Pronunciation

Japanese pronunciation is straightforward because each syllable has a consistent sound.

🎯 Key Pronunciation Rules:

• Vowels: a (ah), i (ee), u (oo), e (eh), o (oh)
• No silent letters: Everything is pronounced.
• No tones: Unlike Chinese, Japanese doesn’t use tonal pronunciation.

🎧 Practice Tips:

• Listen to native speakers and repeat after them.
• Use apps like Forvo for pronunciation practice.

4. Start with Basic Japanese Grammar

Japanese grammar is different from English, but it follows consistent patterns.

📌 Basic Sentence Structure:
✅ Subject + Object + Verb (SOV)
❌ "I eat sushi" → "I sushi eat" (私 は 寿司 を 食べる / Watashi wa sushi o taberu)

📌 Essential Grammar Rules:

• です (desu): Used for polite statements (e.g., これはペンです – "This is a pen.")
• Particles (は, が, を, に, で, と, も): Indicate the role of words in a sentence.
• Verb Conjugations: Start with ます (masu) form for polite speech.

🔹 Recommended Resources: Genki I or Tae Kim’s Guide to Learning Japanese.

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5. Build Your Vocabulary with Common Words

To hold simple conversations, start with everyday vocabulary.

📌 Essential Words & Phrases:
✔️ Greetings: こんにちは (Konnichiwa – Hello), ありがとう (Arigatou – Thank you)
✔️ Numbers: 一 (ichi – 1), 二 (ni – 2), 三 (san – 3)
✔️ Common verbs: 食べる (taberu – eat), 見る (miru – see)

📌 Best Tools:

• Anki flashcards for vocabulary review.
• Apps: Duolingo, LingoDeer, Wanikani.

6. Learn Basic Kanji Characters

Kanji can be challenging, but learning basic characters early will help with reading.

📌 Start with 100 Basic Kanji:

• 日 (hi/nichi) – Sun/Day
• 月 (tsuki/getsu) – Moon/Month
• 水 (mizu/sui) – Water

🔹 Use Mnemonics & Flashcards to memorize kanji more effectively.

7. Practice Speaking and Listening Daily

Speaking and listening are crucial for fluency.

📌 Daily Practice Tips:
🎧 Listen to Japanese Podcasts (e.g., NHK Easy Japanese)
🎙️ Practice Speaking with a Language Partner (e.g., HelloTalk, iTalki)

8. Use Flashcards and Apps for Memorization

Flashcards help reinforce vocabulary, kanji, and grammar.

✅ Best Apps:

• Anki (Best for kanji & vocabulary)
• Wanikani (Great for kanji learning)
• Bunpro (Grammar review)

9. Read Simple Japanese Texts

Reading is essential for comprehension and grammar practice.

📌 Best Beginner Reading Resources:

• NHK Easy News (Simple articles)
• Yotsuba&! (Manga with easy dialogue)
• Graded Readers (Beginner-friendly books)

10. Watch Anime, J-Dramas & Listen to Japanese Music

Watching Japanese media helps with listening skills and natural expressions.

🎬 Recommended Anime for Beginners:

• Shirokuma Café (Slow and simple speech)
• Doraemon (Basic vocabulary for daily life)

🎶 Listen to J-Pop & Podcasts for natural exposure.

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11. Find a Language Partner & Join a Learning Community

Studying alone can be tough, so joining a community helps with motivation.

📌 Best Places to Find Language Partners:

• HelloTalk, Tandem (Chat with native speakers)
• Reddit (r/LearnJapanese)
• Discord servers for language learners

Learning Japanese takes time and dedication, but following these 11 steps will give you a solid foundation.