Learn Real Japanese

Here are our lessons, guides, and resources to help you learn useful and natural Japanese. Our Japanese lessons are written by people who have lived or are still living in Japan and know the language well. We also have a team of native Japanese speakers who check and edit every article to provide you with the best materials for learning Japanese.

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Best Resource for Learning Natural Japanese

JapanesePod101 Review: An Awesome Way to Learn Japanese Fast

Best Books for Learning Japanese

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How to Read and Write Japanese

The Complete Guide to Learning Hiragana (With Video)The Complete Guide to Learning Katakana
How to Learn Kanji: The Best Method

Learn Japanese: Step-by-Step Guides

Learn Japanese Part I: Absolute BeginnersLearn Japanese Part II:  Beginners (prerequisite: can read hiragana)
How to Count in Japanese – Numbers You’ll Actually UseColors in Japanese: A Complete Guide
The Most Useful Japanese Counters You Need to KnowHow to Tell Time in Japanese: A Step-by-Step Guide
Japanese Honorific Titles: San, Sama, Chan, Kun, and MoreUnderstanding Japanese Keigo: The Honorific Language of Japan
The Days of the Week in Japanese: How to Use it NaturallyDays of the Month in Japanese
Who, What, When, Where, Why, and How in JapaneseHow to Introduce Yourself in Japanese: The Complete Guide to Jikoshōkai
A Guide to Vegetable Names in JapaneseAsking and Giving Directions in Japanese: A Basic Guide

Japanese Grammar Lessons

Japanese Verb Conjugation for Beginner’sMastering Japanese Past Tense Verbs
All About Transitive & Intransitive Verbs in JapaneseJapanese Adjectives & Conjugations
How to Use ある (Aru) and いる (Iru)Expressing Desire in Japanese:  The Tai Form
The Japanese Potential FormThe Causative Form in Japanese: A Detailed Guide
How to Use the ~Tari Form: Listing Actions & QualitiesThe ばかり (Bakari) Form in Japanese: A Complete Guide
Sou Desu in Japanese: One Of the Most Useful Words You’ll LearnThe Tsumori Form in Japanese: I Intend To ~ / I’m Going To ~
The Zu Form in Japanese: Classical Negative FormUsing the Sou Form: It Looks Like ~ / I Hear That ~
Te Iku & Te Kuru: More Than Just Coming and GoingHow to Use と思います(To Omoimasu) in Japanese
Using べき (Beki) in JapaneseHow To Use Desu , Da, & Deshō in Japanese
The Japanese Conditional Form たら (Tara)The Ba Form in Japanese
The Volitional Form in JapaneseThe と (To) Conditional in Japanese
Kamoshiremasen: How to Say Maybe in Japanese
Using 欲しい (Hoshii) in Japanese: A Way to Express Desire
Using もう (Mō) and まだ (Mada) in Japanese: An In-Depth GuideJapanese Te-Form: A Complete Guide on Conjugation and Usage
What Is なければならない (Nakereba Naranai) In Japanese?What is 方がいい (Hou Ga Ii) in Japanese?
The Many Meanings of ところ (Tokoro) in Japanese: A Complete Guide

Japanese Particles

An Introduction to Japanese Particles: (は, が, に, へ, で, を)Japanese Particles Wa vs Ga: What’s the Difference
How to Use the さ (Sa) Particle in Japanese

How to Say ~ in Japanese?

These lessons may seem basic, but many of them cover advanced level Japanese concepts, facts, and insights.

How to Say Hello in Japanese How to Say Goodbye in Japanese
How to Say Thank You in Japanese: Expressing Gratitude How to Say You’re Welcome in Japanese
How to Say Beautiful in Japanese How to Say I Love You in Japanese
How to Say Yes in Japanese How to Say No in Japanese
How to Say Mother in JapaneseHow to Say Wife in Japanese
How to Say Father in JapaneseHow to Say Husband in Japanese
How to Say Brother in JapaneseHow to Say Sister in Japanese
How to Say Friend in JapaneseHow to Say Please in Japanese
How to Say “I” in Japanese How to Say “You” in Natural Japanese
How to Say Congratulations in Japanese How to Say Happy Birthday in Japanese
How to Say Boy in JapaneseHow to Girl in Japanese
How to Say Shut Up in JapaneseHow to Say “Only” in Japanese
How to Say the Four Seasons in Japanese How To Say Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner Japanese
How to Say Wear in Japanese: 6 Different Ways to Put Things OnHow to Say Family in Japanese (And Names of Family Members)
How to Say Sorry in Japanese: 7 Different WaysHow to Say Cat in Japanese: A Complete Guide
How to Say “I’m Hungry” in Japanese How to Say Snow in Japanese and More: A Guide to Winter in Japan
“Are You Okay?” in JapaneseHow To Say “Stop” in Japanese
How to Say Rice in JapaneseHow to Say Because in Japanese: 5 Ways
How to Say “No Problem” in Japanese: 7 Different Ways How to Say Flower in Japanese: Words and Expressions
How to Say Moon in Japanese: Words and Related ExpressionsHow to Say Poop in Japanese: 7 Ways to Be An Expert in Excrement!
How to Say Sun in Japanese: Words and Related Expressions8 Ways to Say “What’s Up” in Japanese
How to Say I Miss You in Japanese: 3 Natural WaysHow to Say Good Luck in Japanese: 4 Different Ways
How to Say Hot and Cold in Japanese7 Ways to Say Happy in Japanese
11 Natural Ways to Say “Come Here” in JapaneseHow to Say Good in Japanese Naturally: いい (Ii) Vs. 良い (Yoi)
6 Natural Ways to Say “I Don’t Know” in Japanese10 Ways to Say “Okay” in Natural Japanese
15 Natural Ways to Say Laugh in Japanese9 Ways to Say “I’m Tired” in Japanese
How to Say “Dream” in Japanese and MoreHow to Say Happy New Year in Japanese and Other Important Greetings
How to Say “How Old Are You?” in JapaneseHow To Say “What Are You Doing?” In Japanese
13 Ways to Say Ugly in Japanese

Learning Japanese Resources

Pimsleur Japanese Review: Is It Worth It?Rosetta Stone Japanese Review: Does it Really Work?
Free Websites to Learn Japanese: Reading, Writing, & SpeakingiKnow Japanese Review: Is It Worth Paying For?
Best Resources for Learning JapaneseThe Best Apps for Learning Japanese

Learn to Speak Natural Japanese: Useful Words

13 Amazingly Useful Japanese Words20 Cool Japanese Slang Words Being Used Right Now
Daijoubu in Japanese:  The Most Useful Word EverSugoi in Japanese: Amazing! Awesome! Wow! 
Itadakimasu and Gochisousama Deshita: Eating in JapanComing & Going: Ittekimasu, Itterasshai, Tadaima & Okaerinasai
Naruhodo: I See, I Got It, and More!The Most Useful Kanji for Tourists Traveling in Japan
Yoroshiku Onegai Shimasu in JapaneseWhat Does Chotto Matte Mean?
What Does Mendokusai Mean?Shitsurei Shimasu: Essential Japanese Etiquette
How to Use Sumimasen Naturally Ganbaru & Ganbatte in Japanese
Kakkoii in Japanese: What it Really MeansUrusai: Does It Really Mean “Shut Up?”
Dame! An Essential Word to Know in JapaneseYabai! in Japanese: A Useful Word with Many Meanings
Super Useful Japanese: What Does Kimochi Mean?What Does Oishii Really Mean?
100 Essential Japanese Phrases and Words You WILL Use40 Useful Japanese Anime Phrases
What Does Moshi Moshi Mean in Japanese? Does It Really Mean “Hello?”What Does 助けて (Tasukete) Mean in Japanese?
What Does Doki Doki in Japanese Mean?What Does しょうがない (Shōganai) Mean?  A Guide to Shōganai and Shikata Ga Nai
What Does お久しぶり (Ohisashiburi) in Japanese Mean?What Does どうも (Dōmo) in Japanese Mean? 7 Ways to Use it Naturally
Award-Winning Japanese Words You Should KnowWhat Is “さすが (Sasuga)” in Japanese? How Do You Use It?
40 Body Parts in JapaneseWhat Is ばか (Baka) in Japanese? How Is It Used?
What Does 断る (Kotowaru) Mean?What is よかった (Yokatta) In Japanese?
What is やめてください (Yamete Kudasai)?あなた (Anata) In Japanese: Why You Should NEVER Use It
Using まじ (Maji) and まじで (Maji De) Naturally in Japaneseうまい (Umai): A Super Useful Japanese Word
How to Use 大変 (Taihen) in Japanese NaturallyWhat is お元気ですか (Ogenki Desu Ka)? And Why Native Speakers Don’t Use It
What Does やった (Yatta) Mean in Japanese?

Learning Japanese Tips & Tricks

The Best Way to Learn Japanese: Tips and TricksTop 5 Mistakes Everyone Makes Learning Japanese
How Long Does it Take to Learn Japanese?The 5 Best Things I Did to Learn Japanese
How to Practice Speaking Japanese by YourselfHow to Speak in Japanese if You’re Shy
How to Learn Japanese Fast8 Ways to Make Your Japanese Sound More Natural

Living in Japan: Useful Japanese

How to Order Food in Any Restaurant in Japan like a ProUseful Phrases for Meeting People in Japan
Going to the Doctor in Japan: A Quick GuideJapanese Phrases for the Doctor’s Office
How to Introduce Yourself in Japanese: The Complete Guide to Jikoshōkai

Fun Japanese Lessons

21 Cool Japanese Words That Are Hauntingly Beautiful10 Useful Japanese Proverbs to Sound Like a Pro
10 Japanese Tongue Twisters That Will Challenge YouThe Best Japanese Pick-Up Lines For Guys and Girls
10 Funny Japanese Phrases That You Can Actually Use in ConversationJapanese Names For Boys: Crazy, Popular, and Traditional Names
Japanese Names For Girls: Common, Popular, and Unconventional NamesThe Complete Japanese Zodiac And Astrological Signs Guide
Popular English Names in Japanese

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