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Japanese • Beginner Guide
Your First Week of Japanese: Master Kana with Our Interactive Charts
If you learn Hiragana and Katakana in your first week, everything that follows—vocab, grammar, and kanji—gets 10× easier. This guide shows you exactly how to use our new interactive Kana charts and a simple 7-day plan to lock them in.
➜ Open the charts: Kana hub · Hiragana chart · Katakana chart
Why start with Kana?
- Hiragana writes native words and grammar endings.
- Katakana writes loanwords and onomatopoeia (“コーヒー” = coffee, “ゲーム” = game).
- Reading kana early removes romaji crutches—your pronunciation improves fast.
Tip: Aim for recognition first (see → sound). Writing by hand can wait until week 2.
How to use the interactive charts
- Use the tabs: Gojuuon (basic grid), Dakuten (゛), Handakuten (゜), Combinations (ゃ/ゅ/ょ).
- Toggle Show Romaji to check readings—then hide it for recall practice.
- Click any cell to copy the kana. Paste into your notes or flashcards in seconds.
- On mobile: swipe the page; the chart buttons are designed for thumb reach.
Quick peek (Hiragana basics):
| あ a |
い i |
う u |
え e |
お o |
| か ka |
き ki |
く ku |
け ke |
こ ko |
The 7-day Kana plan (≈ 20–30 mins/day)
| Day | Focus | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hiragana Vowels + K | Learn あいうえお + か行. Toggle romaji on → off. Copy characters you miss and paste into a note. |
| 2 | S / T rows | Focus on し/ち/つ special readings (shi/chi/tsu). Do a 2-minute speed scan. |
| 3 | N / H rows | Watch ふ (fu) and へ (he). Mix with earlier rows. |
| 4 | M / Y / R / W + ん | Practice や/ゆ/よ gaps; finish with ん. Quick 10-word drill below. |
| 5 | Dakuten/Handakuten | Switch to the Dakuten tab. Read ガ/ザ/ダ/バ and パ rows aloud. |
| 6 | Combinations (ゃ/ゅ/ょ) | Do きゃ/きゅ/きょ etc. Hide romaji; reveal only to check. |
| 7 | Katakana sweep | Repeat Days 1–6 quickly for Katakana using the Katakana chart. You’ll recognize tons of loanwords. |
60-second micro drills
Read each line aloud, then cover it and rewrite from memory:
ひらがな：あかさたな はまやらわ きしちに ふへほ かたかな：アカサタナ ハマヤラワ キシチニ フヘホ コンボ：きゃ しゅ ちょ にゃ りゅ ぴょ
Stuck on a cell? Tap it in the chart to copy → paste into your notes for spaced review.
Common pitfalls (and easy fixes)
- し vs ち vs つ: Say them slowly: shi / chi / tsu. Pair each with vowels to cement: し→しあ しお / ち→ちゃ ちょ / つ→つい つえ.
- へ vs ほ: Picture へ as a simple “angle”, ほ has the extra circle.
- ソ vs ン (Katakana): ソ strokes lean out, ン slopes in. Say them while tracing with your finger.
Pro move: Keep romaji off most of the time. Use it only to check yourself.
Where to go next
- Browse the full Kana charts whenever you need a quick refresh.
- Start Kanji: Learn (guided cards) or jump into Kanji: Study if you’ve unlocked reviews.
- Skim the Japanese Blog for more bite-size practice ideas.
Questions or tips that helped you? Drop a comment below—your advice might be the boost another learner needs.