Learn Japanese

How to learn Japanese on your own? Start with an easy, free, and practical online course!

We’ve designed a simple and effective method to help you start speaking Japanese quickly, without spending months on grammar: we begin with everyday essential phrases. Whether you’re planning a trip to Japan or are passionate about Japanese culture, this course gives you the tools to express yourself from day one.

You’ll gradually learn useful words and expressions, organized by practical themes (greetings, travel, restaurants, transport, emergencies…). The idea is to listen, read, and repeat aloud in a natural and intuitive way. The more you practice aloud, the better your pronunciation – even without knowing the Japanese alphabet!

🎧 Speaking out loud is the key! Start today by saying Japanese words out loud, like “arigatō” (thank you) or “sumimasen” (excuse me), whether you're at home, commuting, or walking… Your ears and mouth will get used to the sounds. Result? When you arrive in Japan, the language will already feel familiar and natural!

📖 Our method also lets you use a visual and audio dictionary to easily find any word or enrich your vocabulary. It’s a true pocket resource you can take anywhere.

Why learn Japanese for travel?

Japan is a fascinating country, combining cutting-edge technology with centuries-old traditions. It’s also a dream destination for many travelers: Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, Hiroshima, Okinawa… iconic cities offering unique experiences to those who dare to take the first steps in the language!

At the crossroads of tradition and technology
Made up of over 6,500 islands, Japan is one of the world’s top economic powers. Its companies—Toyota, Honda, Canon, Panasonic, Sony, Nintendo—are globally recognized. The country invests heavily in research, particularly in robotics, making it one of the world’s most advanced nations in the field.

Japan’s quality of life is remarkable and reflected in its high ranking in the Human Development Index (HDI), with one of the world’s highest life expectancies.

In terms of tourism, Japan’s rich cultural heritage attracts travelers from around the world: from natural and architectural treasures like Mount Fuji, imperial palaces, Buddhist temples and zen gardens, to museums showcasing Japanese ceramics, calligraphy, literature, and swordsmithing (samurai swords included).
Contemporary pop culture is also a major draw, with the worldwide popularity of manga and anime. Japanese cuisine is equally beloved and can be found all around the globe.

Learning a few words of Japanese allows you to:

• ✨ Create genuine connections with locals
• 🍣 Order at a local restaurant with confidence
• 🚆 Read signs, understand announcements at stations or airports
• 🎌 Better understand local customs and cultural nuances

💬 Saying a few words in Japanese is always appreciated! A simple “Konnichiwa” (hello) or “Arigatō gozaimasu” (thank you very much) can go a long way. And with our method, you’ll remember them effortlessly!

Learning the Japanese writing system – yes, without stress!

You don’t need to be a kanji expert to start speaking Japanese. But if you're curious or passionate, we also offer an introduction to Japanese syllabaries:

• 🎴 Hiragana: used to write native Japanese words
• 🈂️ Katakana: used for foreign words (like “konpyūtā” for computer)
• 🈶 Kanji: Chinese-origin ideograms used for word roots

Further down this page, you’ll find clear explanations to understand how the Japanese writing system works.
These resources include clear charts, traceable characters, audio-supported syllabaries, and visual examples. You’ll be able to recognize, trace, and pronounce the most useful characters… all at your own pace!

How to get good pronunciation quickly?

The key is repetition aloud, guided by native audio. Our method allows you to hear the correct pronunciation, repeat it immediately, and associate it with an image and real context.

Here are some tips to progress quickly:

• 🎤 Repeat each word several times aloud, without reading the translation
• 📱 Listen to the audio while commuting or cooking
• 🧠 Visualize the situation (restaurant, airport, hotel…)

Thanks to this method, you'll achieve correct pronunciation in under a week, and start having simple conversations within days.

A method built on immediate use

Loecsen is based on a simple idea: we remember what we use right away. Our lessons are built around phrases you can use today. You’re not learning abstract rules, but words that make you operational fast.

And best of all: it’s free, no sign-up required, and available anywhere! 🌍

Ready to begin? Join thousands of learners using our method and start speaking Japanese today — at home or while traveling!

🇯🇵 がんばってください！(Ganbatte kudasai!) — Good luck and have fun!

Introduction to the Japanese Writing System: Hiragana, Katakana, and Kanji

Japanese is a fascinating language, especially because of its unique writing system, which combines three different types of characters: hiragana, katakana, and kanji. Understanding how these work is essential to start reading and writing in Japanese.

The Three Types of Characters

1. Hiragana (ひらがな)
   Hiragana is a syllabary made up of 46 basic characters. It is mainly used to write native Japanese words, grammatical particles (like は, の, に), verb endings, and words that either lack kanji or are written in hiragana for simplicity. This is the first writing system Japanese children learn.
2. Katakana (カタカナ)
   Like hiragana, katakana is a syllabary with 46 characters representing the same sounds. It is primarily used for foreign words (e.g., コンピュータ for "computer"), scientific names, onomatopoeia, and some proper nouns. Katakana characters are more angular and often look more modern.
3. Kanji (漢字)
   Kanji are characters borrowed from Chinese. Each kanji carries one or more meanings and can have different readings depending on context. There are thousands of kanji, but about 2,000 are commonly used (known as the "Jouyou kanji"). They are used for the roots of nouns, verbs, adjectives, and complex concepts.

How Do They Work Together?

A typical Japanese sentence combines all three writing systems:

わたし は コンピュータ を 使います。

Watashi wa konpyuuta o tsukaimasu.

Translation: I use a computer.

In this sentence:

• わたし (watashi) – hiragana → "I"
• は (wa) – hiragana → topic particle (pronounced "wa")
• コンピュータ (konpyuuta) – katakana → "computer" (a foreign word)
• を (o) – hiragana → direct object particle (pronounced "o")
• 使います (tsukaimasu) – kanji + hiragana → "to use" (polite form)

The verb 使います is made up of the kanji 使 ("to use") and the hiragana ending います for conjugation.

So this sentence clearly shows:

• Hiragana: わたし, は, を, います
• Katakana: コンピュータ (loanword)
• Kanji: 使

Why Three Writing Systems?

Although having three writing systems might seem complicated at first, each one serves a clear and distinct purpose. This division helps readers quickly identify the type and role of each word in a sentence:

• Hiragana – used for native Japanese words, grammatical particles, and verb/adjective endings
• Katakana – used for foreign loanwords, emphasis, onomatopoeia, and technical or scientific terms
• Kanji – used for the core meaning of most nouns, verbs, adjectives, and to convey concepts efficiently

This combination allows for smoother and faster reading, since the visual style of each script provides immediate clues about a word’s function and origin.

This distinction improves reading fluency and comprehension.

Tip for Beginners

If you’re just starting to learn written Japanese, we strongly recommend beginning with hiragana, followed by katakana, before moving on to kanji. This guide provides a solid foundation for understanding the syllabaries and how to use them. Consistent practice, active memorization, and real exposure (books, manga, anime, newspapers) will help you progress effectively.

Basic Sounds

Our Tip for Beginners

To start learning written Japanese, it’s highly recommended to master hiragana first, then katakana, before moving on to kanji. This guide gives a strong foundation to understand and use the syllabaries. Regular practice, active memorization, and exposure to real Japanese (books, manga, anime, newspapers) will help you progress efficiently.

Sounds with Diacritics (濁音 Dakuon & 半濁音 Handakuon)

In Japanese, diacritics are small marks added to certain hiragana or katakana characters to change their sound. There are two types:

🔵 濁音 (Dakuon) – Voiced Sounds

• Use two small marks (〃) called dakuten (濁点).
• They transform "voiceless" sounds into "voiced" ones.

🗣️ Example:
• はな (hana) = flower
• ばなな (banana) = banana

🟢 半濁音 (Handakuon) – Semi-Voiced Sounds

• Use a small circle (°) called handakuten (半濁点).
• Only applies to the "ha" row of sounds.

🗣️ Example:
• はし (hashi) = bridge
• ぱん (pan) = bread

Complete Diacritics Table

Combinations (拗音 Yōon)

Yōon (拗音) are combined sounds in Japanese. They are formed by combining a base character with a small vowel character: や (ya), ゆ (yu), or よ (yo).

🔤 Simple Definition:
Yōon allow sounds like:

• きゃ (kya) instead of き + や
• しゅ (shu) instead of し + ゆ
• ちょ (cho) instead of ち + よ

The second letter is written smaller (ゃ, ゅ, ょ), which changes the pronunciation completely.

🎧 Common Yōon Sounds:

They appear across multiple consonant lines:

• K: きゃ, きゅ, きょ → kya, kyu, kyo
• S: しゃ, しゅ, しょ → sha, shu, sho
• T: ちゃ, ちゅ, ちょ → cha, chu, cho
• Also in N, H, M, R, etc.

Modified sounds also exist: gya, bya, pyo, and so on.

⚠️ Important:
Don’t confuse:

• きや (kiya) = two separate sounds (ki + ya)
• きゃ (kya) = one combined sound

🎓 Why is this important?
These combined sounds are very common in modern Japanese, especially in:

• First names (e.g., Ryōko, Kyōko, Shun)
• Everyday verbs (e.g., miyou, aruyou)
• Loanwords (e.g., ミュージック = music)

Most Common Yōon Sounds

Tips to Learn Japanese Effectively

1. Start with the basics

Learn Hiragana, then Katakana, and slowly discover Kanji. Practice writing and pronunciation together for best results.

2. Build your vocabulary

Start with useful words for travel, food, greetings, numbers... Use flashcards, mobile apps, or Loecsen’s themed lessons to memorize in context.

3. Practice speaking

Repeat words and phrases aloud. Use language exchanges like ConversationExchange or iTalki to find native speakers.

4. Immerse yourself

Watch Japanese films, anime, dramas. Listen to music or NHK Easy Japanese to train your ear and deepen your cultural understanding.

5. Use trusted resources

• NHK World – Easy Japanese: Audio lessons with scripts and clear grammar explanations.
• JLPT Sensei: Vocabulary and grammar by JLPT level.

6. Learn with a teacher

Online or in-person lessons with a native teacher can speed up your learning and clarify difficult concepts.

7. Be consistent

Practice daily—even 10 minutes helps. Write, listen, repeat. Over time, your skills will grow steadily.

Bonus: Read aloud and write by hand

Speaking improves pronunciation. Writing reinforces character memory and stroke order. Use our “Read Aloud” tool to train your voice and recall.

Ready to begin?

Start learning Japanese now with Loecsen – free, fun, and fast!