Learn Japanese

Browse 41 free Japanese learning guides.

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100 Essential Japanese Words Every Beginner Needs

Learn the 100 most important Japanese words for beginners. Grouped by category: greetings, numbers, food, daily life, and more.

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20 Japanese Proverbs (Kotowaza) With Meanings

Explore 20 Japanese proverbs (kotowaza) with literal translations, figurative meanings, cultural context, and English equivalents. Learn the wisdom embedded in the Japanese language.

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30 Simple Japanese Sentences for Beginners

Learn 30 essential Japanese sentences for beginners. Full breakdowns covering introductions, daily life, asking questions, expressing feelings, and making plans.

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50 Must-Know Japanese Phrases for Daily Life

Learn 50 practical Japanese phrases for greetings, shopping, dining, travel, and daily conversation. Start speaking real Japanese today.

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Animals in Japanese — Cat, Dog, and More

Learn animal names in Japanese including 猫 (neko, cat), 犬 (inu, dog), and 50+ more. Common animals, pets, and animal-related expressions.

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Baka Meaning in Japanese: Idiot, Fool, and More

What does baka mean in Japanese? Learn the full baka meaning, how it compares to aho, and when it is playful vs. actually rude.

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Counting in Japanese: Numbers, Counters, and Tips

Learn to count in Japanese from 1 to 10,000. Covers basic numbers, tens, hundreds, and the Japanese counter system with mai, hon, hiki, nin, and more.

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Essential Japanese Travel Phrases You Need to Know

The essential Japanese travel phrases for your trip to Japan. Airport, hotel, restaurants, shopping, directions, and emergencies - all with romaji and pronunciation tips.

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Good Morning in Japanese: Ohayou Gozaimasu Guide

Learn how to say good morning in Japanese. The difference between ohayou and ohayou gozaimasu, when to use each, and morning routine vocabulary.

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Hello in Japanese: 10+ Ways to Greet People

Learn how to say hello in Japanese with 10+ greetings for every situation. From konnichiwa to casual slang, find the right greeting for any moment.

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How to Say Beautiful in Japanese

Learn how to say beautiful in Japanese with 美しい (utsukushii), 綺麗 (kirei), and more. Compliment words for people, nature, and things.

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How to Say Cheers in Japanese

Learn how to say cheers in Japanese with 乾杯 (kanpai). Drinking etiquette, toasting customs, and essential izakaya vocabulary.

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How to Say Goodbye in Japanese

Learn how to say goodbye in Japanese with さようなら (sayounara), じゃあね (jaa ne), and more. Farewell expressions for every situation.

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How to Say Happy Birthday in Japanese

Learn how to say happy birthday in Japanese with お誕生日おめでとう (otanjoubi omedetou). Birthday wishes, songs, and cultural traditions explained.

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How to Say How Are You in Japanese

Japanese has no direct translation of "how are you." Learn the phrases Japanese people actually use, from casual to formal, and when to use each one.

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How to Say I Love You in Japanese

Learn how to say I love you in Japanese with 愛してる (aishiteru), 好き (suki), and more. Understand when and how Japanese people express love.

How to Say Yes and No in Japanese

Learn how to say yes and no in Japanese with はい (hai), いいえ (iie), うん (un), and more. Context matters — Japanese has many ways to agree and disagree.

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How to Say You're Welcome in Japanese

Learn how to say you're welcome in Japanese with どういたしまして (dou itashimashite) and common alternatives. Welcome greetings explained too.

How to Tell Time in Japanese: Hours, Minutes, and More

Learn how to tell time in Japanese including hours, minutes, AM/PM, and useful time phrases. Covers irregular readings like 4時 and 7時.

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Itadakimasu Meaning: Why Japanese Say It Before Eating

Learn what itadakimasu means in Japanese, why it's said before every meal, and how it expresses gratitude to food, farmers, and cooks.

Japanese Adjectives: i-Adjectives vs na-Adjectives Explained

Learn Japanese adjectives including i-adjectives and na-adjectives. Covers conjugation, common adjectives list, and how to use them in sentences.

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Japanese Cat Names: 50+ Popular Names with Meanings

Discover the most popular Japanese cat names with meanings, readings, and kanji. From Sakura to Kuro, find the perfect name for your cat.

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Japanese Colors: Names, Kanji, and Cultural Meanings

Learn the Japanese words for colors with kanji, readings, and romaji. Discover i-adjective vs na-adjective color forms and the cultural meanings behind Japanese colors.

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Japanese Days of the Week: Names, Kanji, and Tips

Learn the Japanese days of the week with kanji, readings, and romaji. Discover the elemental origins (sun, moon, fire, water, wood, metal, earth) and useful scheduling phrases.

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Japanese Greetings: The Complete Guide

Learn all the essential Japanese greetings: hello, goodbye, good morning, how are you, nice to meet you, and more. Covers formal, casual, and business situations.

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Japanese Honorifics — San, Kun, Chan, Sama Explained

Learn Japanese honorifics: さん (san), くん (kun), ちゃん (chan), さま (sama), and more. When and how to use name suffixes correctly.

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Japanese Last Names — 100+ Common Surnames and Meanings

Explore common Japanese last names (surnames) with kanji, meanings, and origins. From 佐藤 (Satou) to 田中 (Tanaka), discover Japan's most popular family names.

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Japanese Numbers: How to Count from 1 to 10,000+

Learn Japanese numbers from 1 to 10,000 and beyond. Covers counting, big numbers, counters, and practical tips for prices and phone numbers.

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Japanese Onomatopoeia: The Complete Guide to Sound Words

Learn Japanese onomatopoeia including giongo, gitaigo, and giseigo. Master sound words like ドキドキ, ワクワク, ピカピカ and more.

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Japanese Particles Explained — は, が, を, に, で, and More

Learn Japanese particles は (wa), が (ga), を (wo), に (ni), で (de), and more. Simple explanations with examples for each particle.

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Japanese Slang: 30+ Words They Don't Teach in Textbooks

Learn 30+ Japanese slang words used in real conversations. From やばい to エモい, master the casual Japanese your textbook skips.

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Katakana Chart: Complete Guide with Pronunciation

The complete katakana chart with all 46 characters, dakuten, combos, and pronunciation tips. Your go-to reference for reading and writing katakana.

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Konnichiwa Meaning: How to Say Hello in Japanese

Learn the meaning of konnichiwa (こんにちは), Japan's most iconic greeting. Discover its origin, when to use it, and how to say hello in Japanese.

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Months in Japanese: Names, Kanji, and Seasonal Traditions

Learn all 12 months in Japanese with kanji, readings, and traditional month names. Includes seasonal vocabulary and cultural context.

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Moshi Moshi Meaning: Why Japanese Say It on the Phone

Learn the meaning of moshi moshi, the classic Japanese phone greeting. Where it comes from, how to use it, and when to skip it.

Nani Meaning in Japanese: What Does 何 Really Mean?

Learn what nani (何) means in Japanese, how to use it, pronunciation tips, and why it sounds different in anime vs real conversation.

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Otaku Meaning in Japanese: The Real Definition

What does otaku really mean in Japanese? Learn the true definition, its history, the stigma, and how it differs from Western usage.

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Senpai Meaning in Japanese: More Than You Think

Senpai means more than anime memes. Learn the real meaning of senpai in Japanese, how it differs from sensei, and how it actually works in school and work life.

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Sensei Meaning in Japanese: Not Just 'Teacher'

What does sensei mean in Japanese? It goes way beyond the classroom. Learn who gets called sensei, how it differs from senpai, and how to use it naturally.

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Sorry in Japanese: Sumimasen vs Gomen Nasai

Learn how to say sorry in Japanese. Understand the difference between sumimasen, gomen nasai, and more formal apologies, plus when to use each one.

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Thank You in Japanese: From Casual to Formal

How to say thank you in Japanese for every situation. Learn arigatou, arigatou gozaimasu, and other ways to express gratitude naturally.