Japanese for Beginners: Hiragana to Conversation

A beginner-friendly study material that starts with hiragana and katakana and builds toward simple conversations. It explains basic grammar, polite speech, numbers, greetings and everyday vocabulary, with short reading and writing exercises so you can introduce yourself, ask questions and handle common situations in Japanese.

Levels4

Starting from235 credits

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About this study guide

Designed for complete beginners, this learning material introduces Japanese one step at a time. It opens with hiragana and katakana, showing stroke order, pronunciation and how the two scripts are used, before bringing in a small set of common kanji. From there you will study sentence structure, particles such as wa, ga, wo and ni, verb forms and the polite desu and masu style. Vocabulary is grouped by theme, including greetings, numbers, time, food, shopping and directions. Short dialogues show how the language is used when meeting people, ordering food or asking for help. Four levels, Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced and Expert, take you from reading your first words to handling longer everyday conversations, and you can work through each one at your own pace.

Each level is unlocked on its own

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Compare the levels below and add the one that fits you to your cart

Level 1 / 4

Beginner

What you will study

You will learn all 46 basic hiragana, voiced sounds and small characters, plus correct pronunciation and pitch basics. Early vocabulary covers greetings, numbers, days and common objects, with simple sentence patterns such as X wa Y desu.

Who this level is for

This level is for complete beginners with no prior knowledge of Japanese. It starts with the sounds of the language and the hiragana script, giving you a solid foundation before you move on to words and phrases.

What you will be able to do

By the end of this level, you should be able to read and write hiragana, pronounce Japanese sounds accurately, greet people politely and build short sentences to introduce yourself and describe simple things.

Level 2 / 4

Intermediate

What you will study

Topics include katakana for loanwords, a first set of common kanji, verbs in the polite masu style, particles such as wa, ga, o, ni and de, and question words. Dialogues cover ordering food, asking prices and making arrangements.

Who this level is for

Aimed at learners who can read hiragana and use basic greetings. This level introduces katakana and your first kanji, and turns isolated phrases into short, practical conversations about daily routines, shopping and plans.

What you will be able to do

After this level, you should be able to read katakana and common beginner kanji, use polite verb forms correctly, choose the right particles and manage short everyday exchanges in shops, restaurants and around town.

Level 3 / 4

Advanced

What you will study

You will study the te-form, plain forms, potential and conditional forms, and conjunctions for linking ideas. Reading practice uses short texts with more kanji, while speaking tasks cover explaining opinions, giving directions and talking about past experiences.

Who this level is for

This level suits learners who handle simple polite Japanese and want to express more complex ideas. It develops plain and casual speech, connected sentences and the grammar needed to explain reasons, compare options and describe experiences.

What you will be able to do

Once you complete this level, you should be able to switch between polite and casual speech, connect ideas into longer sentences, read short everyday texts and hold conversations that go beyond fixed phrases.

Level 4 / 4

Expert

What you will study

This stage covers keigo, including honorific and humble forms, indirect expressions, sentence-ending particles and common set phrases. You will read longer texts, practise formal and informal conversations, and study how to decline, request and apologise politely.

Who this level is for

Designed for learners who are comfortable with everyday Japanese and want to communicate with greater accuracy and sensitivity. It focuses on respectful language, natural expression and understanding how context shapes what people say.

What you will be able to do

At this final level, you should be able to use keigo in suitable situations, read longer everyday texts, express nuance through tone and word choice, and adjust your Japanese naturally to the person you are speaking with.

Levels are unlocked with credits from your balance. You can buy more credits whenever you need them.