๐Ÿ‘‹ New to Learning Japanese? Start Here

Ready to learn Japanese from zero? Begin with Hiragana, Katakana, and core grammar to get the foundations down for reading, writing, and understanding Japanese. Once youโ€™ve got these down, youโ€™ll be able to enjoy immersive content like Bentoโ€™s graded readers and blog articles with confidence.

STEP 1

Learn Hiragana๏ผˆใฒใ‚‰ใŒใช๏ผ‰

The basic alphabet of Japanese. Used for native words, particles, and verb endings โ€” itโ€™s where every learner should begin!

  • Master the sounds: ใ‚ใƒปใ„ใƒปใ†ใƒปใˆใƒปใŠ
  • Recognize key particles like ใฏ, ใŒ, ใ‚’, ใฎ
  • Start reading simple sentences
Go to Hiragana Guide โ†’
Learn Hiragana
STEP 2

Learn Katakana๏ผˆใ‚ซใ‚ฟใ‚ซใƒŠ๏ผ‰

Katakana is used for foreign words, brand names, and emphasis. Youโ€™ll spot it on menus, train signs, and even in convenience stores.

  • Read words like ใ‚ณใƒผใƒ’ใƒผ, ใ‚ณใƒณใƒ“ใƒ‹, ใƒกใƒ‹ใƒฅใƒผ
  • Get used to small ใƒฃใƒปใƒฅใƒปใƒง and long vowels ใƒผ
  • Boost recognition speed with quick drills
Go to Katakana Guide โ†’
Learn Katakana
STEP 3

Understand Japanese Grammar๏ผˆๆ–‡ๆณ•๏ผ‰

Learn some basic Japanese grammar. Start small and read L0 graded readers to start building confidence.

  • Core sentence: AใฏBใงใ™ โ€” โ€œA is B.โ€
  • Learn particles: ใฏใ€ใŒใ€ใ‚’ใ€ใฎใ€ใซ
  • Use common verbs and daily phrases
Go to Grammar Guide โ†’
Learn Japanese Grammar

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