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Japanese learning resources

Tools for learning Japanese across the full climb: kana and kanji acquisition, particle-driven grammar, listening and pitch, and the dictionaries that tie it together.

Optimized for Japanese · Learners balancing kana, kanji, and listening fluency.

Showing 8 resources

Tofugu kana guides

beginner

Free mnemonic-based guides for learning hiragana and katakana fast, the prerequisite for everything before kanji begins.

Kana & kanjiFreeGuides2-3 hours total
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WaniKani

beginner

SRS-based kanji and vocabulary system that teaches radicals, mnemonics, and on'yomi/kun'yomi readings in a sensible order; scales far past rote copying.

Kana & kanjiWeb app20-30 minutes/day
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Genki textbook series

beginner

The standard beginner course that introduces particles and verb conjugation in a structured order, so は/が and に/で are taught properly.

Grammar & particlesTextbookOngoing

Tae Kim's Guide to Japanese Grammar

intermediate

A free, well-regarded grammar guide that explains particles and sentence structure from a Japanese logic rather than English translation.

Grammar & particlesFreeOnline guideOngoing reference
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OJAD pitch-accent dictionary

advanced

Online accent dictionary that shows pitch patterns for words and verb conjugations, so you can get pitch right early instead of fixing it later.

Listening & speakingFreeOnline dictionaryOngoing reference
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Nihongo con Teppei podcast

intermediate

Graded Japanese-only podcasts spoken at manageable speed; trains your ear for natural rhythm and sentence-final particles like ね and よ.

Listening & speakingFreePodcast10-15 minutes/episode

Jisho.org dictionary

beginner

The go-to free Japanese-English dictionary with radical and handwriting lookup, readings, and example sentences for every entry.

Dictionaries & SRSFreeOnline dictionaryOngoing reference
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Anki with a core 2k/6k deck

beginner

Daily spaced repetition of the most common Japanese words with kanji, reading, and audio together; keeps vocabulary and readings from decaying.

Dictionaries & SRSFreeDesktop & mobile app20 minutes/day
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FAQ

How should I use these japanese learning resources?

Choose one foundation resource, one practice resource, and one review loop before opening more tabs.

Should I use free resources first?

Yes. Start with free resources until your error log shows a specific gap that needs a paid course, book, or tutor.

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Japanese learning resources
Focus target: Japanese
Block 1 (25 min): closed-book recall or one timed practice set.
Break (5 min): mark confusing items without opening a new task.
Block 2 (25 min): correct misses and write the next first step.
Done: one score/error note plus one queued task for tomorrow.
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