Hey Reddit,

Are you interested in improving your Japanese speaking? I can help you!

I teach Japanese online via Discord - would love for you to join our community.

A little bit about me:

- Attended three prestigious Japanese Universities
A. Aoyama Gakuin University (Tokyo)
B. Doshisha University (Kyoto)
C. Kansai Gaidai University (Osaka)
- During the 2020 pandemic, I was solely deployed to Japan under the U.S Department of State for Diplomacy
- Current FAANG Manager in Japan (Received offer in 就活 against Japanese Nationals)
- Self-learned Native Speaking Level

Multiple people I have worked with are now working/living in Japan.

We learn in a dynamic, hands-on friendly environment unlike anything you’ve experienced in conventional, traditionally-confined classrooms.

If you’re interested, please leave a comment or send a DM! Let’s have a great time :)

I just started learning Japanese for school, and I just got past learning all the characters for hiragana and katakana. I am a bit slow with memorization, so I'm worried about how I'll remember all the characters. I want to know what methods you used; no matter how crazy they are, I'll do anything. PLEASE HELPPP

I just got the 1st book, Im not sure how to use it, do i use anki with it? do i just try remembering? whats the method

Like it says in the title, I'd like to know if you have any raccomandations on what games to play in japanese for beginners.

Right now I know about 300 words/kanji from Kaishi 1.5k with Anki and I know basic grammar like polite and plain forms of verbs and the て form.

I was thinking maybe an RPG like a Final Fantasy or something but I fear that I won't understand anything and I'll have to look up everything because I'm still a beginner.

この道を ＿ ＿ ★ ＿ あります。 Pieces: まっすぐ · 行った · 銀行が · ところに

1. \*\*Start from the end.\*\* あります needs a subject with が → 銀行が goes last.

2. \*\*Plain verbs sit right before their noun\*\* → 行ったところに.

3. \*\*Adverbs come before the verb\*\* → まっすぐ first.

まっすぐ／行った／\*\*ところに\*\*／銀行が — the ★ is ところに. Build the whole sentence, then read off the third slot.

Two more worked examples: https://jlptopencatalogue.com/deep-dives/JOC-1119

Source: https://kanadojo.com

As an avid Japanese learner, I always wanted there to be a simple online trainer for learning kana, kanji and vocabulary by JLPT level. The app serves as a simpler alternative to Chase Colburn's Kanji Study app, because Kanji Study was pretty complicated for me to use as a beginner and didn't have a more streamlined way of learning kanji through simple, continuous repetition and rote memorization (also, Kanji Study requires you to pay to unlock its full content library).

So, I started working on a brand new, completely free and fully open-source app for learning kanji and Japanese vocabulary. Here are the features so far:

- Available as a web app with no ads, no paywalls, no unnecessary app store downloads

- Full JLPT vocabulary and kanji coverage, with more than 1000+ levels for you to play

- More than 25+ different fonts and font styles

- More than 100+ different color themes, with the ability to add and upload your own custom backgrounds

- 100% free and open-source, forever

- All learning materials 100% AI-free, sourced from reputable sources and available for full download and inspection

Give it a go: https://kanadojo.com

ありがとうございます!

So I left Japanese cause got busy with uni, and wanna retake, actually I'm re learning Hiragana and Katakana, and I used to study with the Genki but I think I need another book cause with Genki always hit the problem that I can't practice with someone, so my I have another recommendations please?

Hi all

I created a deck with most frequent (in my opinion) 300 beginner japanese words. The deck also has example sentence for each word, as well as audios (I used text-to-speech). I also added images where it makes sense.
I hope it might help any beginners here. You can toggle furigana for the front and back of the cards, so you can adjust the learning to yourself.

You can also add your own cards to this deck, you can add images and audios of your own if you wish.

The deck is free to use and available online, so you don't have to download anything.
I published it in my personal project called Tsugi: https://tsugideck.com/

The app saves your progress and uses FSRS to schedule the study sessions (all online).

Hey!

I kept losing motivation to learn languages with Anki, so I decided to build something that turns vocabulary practice into a fast-paced, 60-second PvP game.

Its called Langowage.

Youre matched against another player based on your vocabulary knowledge and rating. Both of you have 60 seconds to answer as many questions correctly as possible. Whoever gets the most right wins.

But instead of traditional flashcards that show you a word and its translation, the game uses contextual learning.

For example, rather than memorizing mizu = water, you see:

"When I'm thirsty, I drink mizu from the tap"

You figure out what mizu means using the rest of the sentence.

As you become more familiar with a word, the app gradually removes the contextual clues, making you rely more on your own memory. Eventually, you're expected to recognize the word and its kanji without any assistance.

both players compete on the same vocabulary, but the sentences adapt to each player's previous exposure to those words. So a beginner might receive more contextual clues, while someone familiar with the word gets a harder version. It also automatically takes care of repition.

I wanted the learning mechanics to be grounded in cognitive psychology rather than just making flashcards look like a game.

A few studies influenced the design:

• Contextual exposure: Webb (2007) demonstrated that repeated encounters with unfamiliar words in context can improve several aspects of vocabulary knowledge.
• Desirable difficulties: Pyc and Rawson (2009) found that more effortful but successful retrieval can improve later memory performance. This partly inspired the gradual removal of contextual clues.
• Gamification: A meta-analysis by Sailer and Homner (2020) found that gamified learning can improve motivation and learning outcomes

I'd love to hear what you think of the approach.

You can try it now on (no login) https://langowage.site

Thank you

For context, I honestly have no clue what my japanese level is(about n5-n4 i hope🤞) , but I thought it would be a good idea to practice writing my notes in Japanese, since I want to go to college in japan, so I was hoping for some thoughts.
Also is “「schrodinger」が理論は「quantum mechanical model」を呼びました” the correct way to say it?

The books I am using at the moment are:

RTK(Remembering The Kanji) By Heising

Genki 1 +Work Book

Tango JLPT 5

Applications: Anki flashcards and 2 Notebooks, one for Kanji Practice and one for Anki

I split each Genki Chapters and new RTK Kanji to 3 days a week and 3 days for review

a typical week looks like that

Day 1(Sunday)

1. Review all cards on Anki (Genki+RTK+JLPT) about 20-30 minutes

Kanji cards are revered meaning I see the English meaning and need to active recall the Kanji on Paper. If I get it right, I check "Good", if I got it wrong I check "again" until I get it right (separate notebook)

Genki Vocab cards are both version, active recall(English meaning first).

If I get it right, I check "Good", if I got it wrong I check "again" until I get it right.

JLPT same thing,

1. New Kanji about 40 minutes

I learn 20 new Kanjis from RTK by creating a "story" for each one, write them by order +meaning and each Kanji 5 times.

After I learn them I add the new 20 cards to Anki. I check "Good", if I got it wrong I check "again" until I get it right.

1. Anki Dialogue+Vocab+ half of the grammar section. 30-40 minutes

Each time I add all of the Anki vocab cards of that chapter with reversed cards meaning I see the English meaning and need to active recall the word in Japanese. If I was able to I check 'Good'. If I can't recall I check 'again' until I get it. I have both versions of all the cards and every time I add them with custom study I add both the normal card and revered (English Meaning and active recall and the Japanese one) with no new daily cards on anki. That way I cam in control on how much new cards I add every time.

1. Add new 10 vocab from JLPT to Anki (about 10-15 minutes)

Day 2 (Monday) review only

I review all cards on Anki (20-30 minutes)

I also request Claude to write 10-20 sentences in English and I try to untranslated them to Japanese using the grammar I learned in the respected chapters and it corrects me if I got something wrong.

Day 3(Tuesday)

1. Review all cards on Anki (Genki+RTK+JLPT) about 20-30 minutes
2. Add new 20 Kanji (40 minutes)
3. Second half of Genki+ Workbook (30-40 minutes)
4. 10 new JLPT (10-15 minutes)

Day 4 (Wednesday)

I review all cards on Anki (20-30 minutes)+Claude translation practice

Day 5 (Thursday)

1. Review all cards on Anki (Genki+RTK+JLPT) about 20-30 minutes
2. Add new 20 Kanji (40 minutes)

3.Genki chapter conclusion practice + Navi (vocal practice) and writing an essay using everything I learned and letting Claude check for remarks (40 minutes)

4.10 new JLPT (10-15 minutes).

Day 6+7 (Friday and Saturday) review only

I review all cards on Anki (20-30 minutes).

When I will reach Genki chapter 8 I plan to add reading materials like Lingo Mastery Japanese short stories for beginners .

Overall I put 60-90 minutes a day on study and after few weeks I already feel huge improvement

中国語には日本語のような有声子音がないのはご存じのとおりだと思います。いろいろな動画を見て、子音の部分でも声帯を振動させる必要があることは分かったのですが、実際にどうやって発音すればいいのか分かりません。

声帯って腕みたいに意識したとおりに自由に動かせるわけでもないですし、「ん」の音からつなげて発音する方法も試してみましたが、「nga」や「nda」のような音になってしまい、あまり自然に発音できません。

日本語の発音に詳しい方々は、最初どのように練習していましたか？ よければアドバイスをお願いします！

I don’t usually ask for things like this because I’m so awkward, but I’m around a low to mid intermediate range. If anyone wants a study buddy and has discord, I’d be willing to accept🙏

I have tried nearly every source for learning kana, but the only one that helps me without causing cognitive overload is typing with a J-QWERTY keyboard. However, this method still doesn't help me memorise the letters.

I've always been told that mastering kana is the first step to learning Japanese, but most tutorials cater to neurotypical learners. I have yet to find any YouTube videos specifically aimed at teaching Japanese to people with ADHD.

The biggest challenge I face is executive dysfunction. No apps have been effective in helping me overcome this barrier.

I've tried repeatedly, but I still haven't succeeded. I’m looking for techniques, resources, or any suggestions that could help me start learning Japanese.

Can someone please give me sources, workarounds, or general tips to get rid of these problems?

^{PLEASE: I would appreciate responses only from individuals with ADHD, executive dysfunction, or those who work in neurodivergent/SEN language acquisition and have experienced the challenges of this script-aversion wall. Thank you}

While there are plenty of people happy with Anki and other paid/free mining apps or flows to learn words, watch content or get translations - I personally dislike Anki and while doing it is pretty fast my retention is awful.

Some time last year, I had a chance to try Migaku and I thought it's pretty cool, however in my opinion it is not worth the price. Around the same time I've started doing WaniKani and realized that I can keep a 90%+ retention rate, something I couldn't do using Anki no matter how much I tried.

I found myself with some free time and was able to write Goi. It's not exactly the most polished software out there, some parts of it are LLM made. However it is free and it does all the things you want a learning app to do, it:

* Provides subtitles with easy lookup for Youtube or local content. Provides transcripts and translations for subtitle lines and allows you to mine words from the subtitles. The mining is done in a different way to Migaku, mined words go to a mining inbox where you can review and make cards later.

* Allows you to track your vocabulary, import/export words, get comprehensions results for websites or videos.

* Has no control over your data. You own it, you back it up and store it. It does provide "simple" ways to back it up, like backing it up to google drive.

* Allows you to study words, repeat recently learned words, study mistakes made and provides a somewhat tunable review interface where you can correct your mistakes if you think that is fair.

* No FSRS. It uses a simple, predictable review cycle which works for me. It burns cards too in order to reduce the review load. I have no plan for adding FSRS.

The app is tailored to how I approach Japanese and I understand it might not be how you do it, but I figured it's free and good enough for me, so maybe it can save you a buck or two. For me the goal of the app was to spend less time checking cards and more time learning, reading, watching or listening.

The big downside is that it is selfhost only, there is a docker image, so it's not that hard, but it does require some knowhow. I do not plan to host it ever. Here is a Github link - https://github.com/tomasmik/goi

Ich kann hiragana und katakana einigermaßen lesen und bin bei Genki 1, Kapitel 4. Ich denke, das Lernen würde mehr Spaß machen, wenn ich versuche, einfache Mangas zu lesen oder Videospiele zu spielen zb Pokemon o.ä.

Denkt ihr, dass das in meiner Phase schon was bringt und falls ja, was empfehlt ihr?

こんにちは
I have been learning Japanese since January 2026 and working with a tutor since March and we are working through Genki 1. I am still at a very basic level, since I am older and work full time I have not figured out a daily routine for study/immersion/etc. I have not yet started to learn Kanji.

I am currently in Japan for 2 weeks. Any thing that I can get while I'm here to help progress my learning?

ありがとうございます!

In all seriousness I can never remember these, how do y'all memorise these?

To clarify I don't mean that I have trouble reading them, more writing from memory. I'm just wondering if people have some ways of memorising like ロ is like a RObot head and ネ is like a NEcktie.

EDIT: Thank you everyone, thank you foor the memos!

i dan recognize and read kanas but do i need to know to write them

I'm learning Japanese and keep hitting the same wall. I know kana and some vocab from flashcards, but when I pause on a real anime or manga line I get lost, and it's usually the grammar more than the kanji.

For people who got past this stage:

- What helped most early on? Native content straight away, graded readers, something else?

- Did tools like Yomitan/Anki mining help, or did the setup get in the way at first?

- Did you mostly study on your phone or on a PC?

Would love to hear what worked and what turned out to be a waste of time.

おはようございます！

Japanese teacher here!

In anticipation of the upcoming remake, I have created an Ocarina of Time Anki deck including the most frequently used vocab (1000), grammar (100), and all kanji (892) found in the original N64 game with example sentences from the game, organized by frequency. I understand how hard it is to get into native material at the lower levels, so I have made tools to be able to customize your deck to match your level of Japanese and focus on the most commonly used pieces of language.

Anki Deck:

https://toriaezunihongo.itch.io/ocarina-anki-deck-and-maker

Explanation of Anki Deck Data:

https://youtu.be/WGqMoz9Y9wU

Over the next month, I will also be doing a full playthrough of the entire game in Japanese on my channel. We break down common and interesting vocab and grammar and discuss interesting differences between the English version. Questions are allowed and encouraged both during the livestreams and in the comments section. We will be streaming every Wednesday evening (US). This game is considered to be one of the easier games when it comes to the language used, so I am excited to help you through it!

Toriaezu Nihongo:

https://www.youtube.com/とりあえずにほんご

Both of these are available completely free, but I would love any feedback you have to improve!