Kana: The Foundation of Japanese Learning
One of the most crucial steps in learning Japanese is mastering Hiragana and Katakana, two essential components of the language's writing system. Together, they are known as "Kana," and these phonetic scripts represent sounds rather than meaning, unlike Kanji, which conveys specific ideas or concepts. Understanding the role of Kana is fundamental because these characters will form the building blocks of your Japanese journey.
At first glance, Japanese might seem overwhelming with its three writing systems—Hiragana, Katakana, and Kanji. But don’t worry! Your initial task is simply to get familiar with Hiragana and Katakana, which are much easier to learn than Kanji. The beauty of Kana is its simplicity—each character represents a distinct sound, and once you’ve mastered it, you’ll be able to pronounce almost anything written in Japanese.
Understanding Hiragana and Katakana
Although Hiragana and Katakana represent the same sounds, their usage differs. Hiragana is typically used for native Japanese words, grammar particles, and expressions, while Katakana is used for foreign loanwords, names, and sound effects. For example, both 「あ」 in Hiragana and 「ア」 in Katakana represent the sound “a,” but you’ll see Hiragana in words like 「ありがとう」 (thank you) and Katakana in words like 「コーヒー」 (coffee), which is borrowed from English.
If you're coming from an alphabet-based language, you might be tempted to rely on Romaji, the system of writing Japanese words using Roman letters. However, moving beyond Romaji as quickly as possible is critical. While Romaji can help you initially, it won't provide the full picture of how Japanese works. For example, the word "ame" in Romaji could mean "rain" or "candy," but only by learning the Kana and Kanji would you truly understand the difference between 雨 (rain) and 飴 (candy). As textbooks like Genki demonstrate, Romaji disappears after the first chapter, so you’re better off immersing yourself in Kana right away.
The Process of Learning Kana
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Familiarize Yourself with the Chart
Your first step is to study a Kana chart. The chart is organized by vowel and consonant sounds, which helps you see the pattern behind each character. For example, the character 「か」 is found in the "K" row and the "A" column, so it’s pronounced “ka.” Keep this chart handy as you study—it’ll serve as your primary reference.
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Watch a YouTube video
To get started, I recommend watching a thorough video tutorial on Hiragana and Katakana. Videos often provide a helpful visual and auditory approach to learning, giving you a well-rounded introduction to the sounds of each character.
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Kana Grinding Game
Once you’ve watched the video, the next step is practice. Try using a Kana grinding game to reinforce your memory. You can start by selecting Hiragana and guessing the pronunciations until you're confident. Then move on to combinations and eventually to Katakana. It might take you a few days or even weeks, but consistency is key. Everyone moves at their own pace, so don’t worry if it takes time. Use this stage to get familiar with the system before diving into more complex material.
How to play
- Click "show/hide options".
- Click "check all" for Hiragana.
- Start guessing how the hiragana are pronounced.
- Repeat until confident (may take a few days or weeks), and then do the same thing but with all "Hiragana combinations" also checked.
- Repeat until confident, then do it with all "Katakana" also checked, and then with all "Katakana combinations" also checked.
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Reading Practice with Kana
One of the most effective ways to solidify your knowledge of kana is through practical reading. While Japanese writing often uses a combination of kana and kanji, early on, you’ll likely face challenges when trying to read material that heavily incorporates kanji. However, in some cases, especially in beginner texts, kana is added above or beside kanji as a reading aid. This helpful guide, known as furigana, allows you to read and understand kanji without needing to fully know them. For example, take the word 日本語 which means “Japanese language”—you’ll often see the pronunciation (にほんご) written above the kanji in hiragana as a support.
To reinforce your kana learning, I highly recommend practicing with simple, beginner-friendly texts. An excellent resource for this is Tadoku graded readers. These texts are specifically designed for learners, using controlled language to help you build confidence and familiarity with kana in real sentences. The best part is, even if you don’t fully understand all the content, engaging with these materials helps you get used to recognizing kana patterns and pronunciation within real Japanese contexts. Over time, this immersion into reading will accelerate your ability to process kana naturally and will build a strong foundation for later integrating kanji into your studies.
The Heisig Method: A Memorable Approach
One method that’s often recommended for memorizing Kana and Kanji is the Heisig Method. Developed by James Heisig, this technique involves creating vivid stories or images for each character to aid in memory retention. For instance, you might remember the Hiragana character の by visualizing it as an eye looking at "no"thing. While this method may not work for everyone, many learners find it effective in associating characters with visual cues.
for example: Hiragana-Page, Katakana-Page.
How Long Will It Take?
The time it takes to master Kana varies for each person. Some learners can pick up both Hiragana and Katakana in a week, while others may need a month. It all depends on how much time you dedicate each day and how consistently you practice. If it takes longer, don't be discouraged. As you continue studying, you’ll find that mastering Kana opens the door to immersing yourself more deeply in the Japanese language.
Vocabulary & Kanji
Kanji, the Oddball
Kanji, meaning "Chinese characters," is one of the writing systems used in Japanese. These logographic characters are far more complex than kana and come in much larger variety. While there are around 2000 to 3000 kanji used in Japanese, don’t let that number discourage you. Unlike kana, kanji should not be memorized in isolation or by grinding.
Kana is phonetically consistent and has fewer characters, which makes it easy to learn in a short time. Kanji, however, work differently. They are not phonetic or logical in the same way kana is. Let me explain with an example.
Since kana represents sounds, you can write any word— even non-Japanese words— as long as you use the correct kana. For instance, writing the English sentence “I am learning Japanese” in kana would look like:
Of course, this would be ridiculous. No one writes like that in real life, but it shows the flexibility of kana. You wouldn’t be able to do this with kanji without the sentence being incomprehensible. So why do we use kanji? Because kanji are used in words, and that’s where they make sense.
Each language has countless words, and in Chinese and Japanese, kanji were chosen to represent those words. That’s why there are so many of them. But don’t be overwhelmed; kanji are learned naturally as you learn words. It wouldn’t make sense to try to learn all the kanji before you even start learning how to read words, right?
One challenging part of reading Japanese is learning kanji. When you see a kanji like 今日, you might not know how to read it or what it means. A dictionary can help; looking it up would tell you it’s read as きょう and means “today.” With practice, looking up words becomes a learning tool, and resources like Jisho.org or Yomitan can speed up the process.
Kanji Composition
There’s a long-standing debate about the best way to study kanji. One common issue beginners face is how similar kanji can look to one another, especially when their shapes seem arbitrary.
But kanji are not random shapes. They are made up of components(or composition) called radicals, which appear in many kanji. For example, the kanji 雪 (the icon for this website) is formed from tow common radicals that you’ll see in other kanji as well. There are only about 200 of such basic components.
If you're having trouble differentiating kanji, it can help to study them by their components. Anki decks (explained later) are available for this kind of study. You can find such decks here.
Types of readings
Kanji have two types of readings: on-yomi (Chinese-derived) and kun-yomi (native Japanese). On-yomi is usually used in compound words, while kun-yomi is more common when kanji stand alone or combine with hiragana. For instance, 力 (power) is read as ちから (chikara) in its kun-yomi and りょく (ryoku) in compounds like 能力 (nouryoku – ability).
Generally, on-yomi is used in compounds, while kun-yomi is used when kanji stand alone or in verbs and adjectives. However, there are exceptions. Some kanji have unique readings, making learning Japanese an exciting challenge.
Kanji Learning Methods
- In-Context Vocabulary Study: Learn kanji through vocabulary, focusing on words rather than individual kanji. This mirrors how native speakers acquire language and builds practical understanding.
- Out-of-Context Study: If you prefer a more systematic approach, study kanji in isolation using mnemonics. Resources like "Remembering the Kanji" by James Heisig or KanjiDamage break down kanji into their fundamental parts for easier memorization.
- Guided Kanji Systems: Systems like WaniKani or "The Kodansha Kanji Learner’s Course" offer structured learning paths, helping you stay organized while learning kanji.
- JLPT-Based Study: JLPT textbooks can guide you through kanji based on difficulty level, providing a gradual progression from beginner to advanced.
- Stroke Order and Writing: Mastering stroke order is essential for kanji learning. Writing kanji reinforces memorization, and apps like Japanese Kanji Study can help you practice.
- Mnemonic Techniques: Use mnemonics to make kanji memorable. Associate each kanji with an image or story that helps you recall it later. "Japanese Kanji Study - 漢字学習" for Android and "Learn Japanese! - Kanji" for IOS.
- Flashcard Drills: Regular practice through spaced repetition apps like Anki helps retain kanji knowledge over time. Make sure to review both meanings and readings regularly, use All in One Kanji. Deck
- Immersive Reading: Engage with Japanese media like manga, literature, or news websites to reinforce your kanji knowledge in a natural, enjoyable way.
Start with the Most Common Kanji
After you’ve got the kanas and radicals down, your next question would probably be along the lines of “Which kanji should I learn first?” or “In what order should I learn kanji?”
If I’m being honest, there’s no “right or wrong” order to learning kanji—not for non-native Japanese speakers anyway. (Japanese students typically learn kanji from the least to the most complex in terms of meaning or definition.)
In the next few sections, I’m going to walk you through some possible systems you can use to learn kanji. Again, these methods aren’t prescriptive. Just go with whatever works for you, even if it’s not mentioned here!
With that out of the way, one method is to start with the 75 most common kanji below:
Setting Realistic Goals
Setting manageable goals is essential for kanji learning. Aim for something realistic, like learning six or seven kanji daily. This pace would allow you to reach around 2,200 kanji in a year. Track your progress with tools like the MLC Kanji Level Check or by noting your ability to read more over time.