Topic
beginners
20 articles on beginners for Japanese learners.
JLPT N5 Grammar List: Everything You Need, Grouped by What It Does
The complete JLPT N5 grammar set — particles, verb forms, adjectives, sentence patterns — grouped by what each one actually does, not alphabetically.
Japanese Sentence Structure: Why the Verb Comes Last
Japanese word order for English speakers: SOV, particles instead of position, dropped subjects, and modifiers before nouns — with clear examples.
Japanese Numbers and Counters: A Practical Guide for Beginners
How to count from 1 to 10,000 in Japanese, why 4 and 7 have two readings, and how counters like 人, 枚, 本 and 個 work — with the ones you really need.
Japanese Greetings and Basic Phrases (And When Not to Use Them)
Konnichiwa, arigatou, sumimasen — the Japanese greetings and phrases beginners need, plus the register traps that make textbook Japanese sound wrong.
Is Japanese Hard to Learn? An Honest Answer for English Speakers
Japanese is ranked one of the hardest languages for English speakers. What is genuinely hard, what is surprisingly easy, and how long it really takes.
い-Adjectives vs な-Adjectives: The Difference
Japanese has two adjective classes that conjugate differently. How to tell them apart, the full conjugation grid, and the exceptions that catch everyone.
How to Learn Japanese by Yourself (A Realistic Self-Study Plan)
A month-by-month self-study plan for learning Japanese without a class: what to study in what order, what to pay for, and the traps that stall you.
How Many Kanji Do You Actually Need to Know?
2,136 jōyō kanji is the number everyone quotes, and the wrong target for most learners. What each range of kanji actually buys you, by JLPT level.
Learn Hiragana and Katakana Free: Inside Cotobara’s Kana Course
Cotobara's free 32-lesson hiragana and katakana course: audio, three quiz types, an 80% pass mark, and skippable if you already read both scripts.
The Best Way to Learn Kanji (Without Burning Out in Month Two)
Radicals, mnemonics, RTK, handwriting, or kanji inside real words — the main approaches compared, and how to pick the one that fits your goal.
The Best Apps for Learning Japanese in 2026
Duolingo, WaniKani, Anki, Bunpro, renshuu, Cotobara — what each app is genuinely good at, and how to combine two or three into a complete setup.
The 50 Most Common Japanese Words for Beginners
The most common Japanese words and why frequency order pays off faster than any themed list — plus how far the first 1,000 words actually get you.
Essential JLPT N5 Vocabulary: 80 Words Every Beginner Needs
The most essential JLPT N5 vocabulary, grouped by theme with kanji, readings and meanings — plus how to actually make the words stick.
The 50 Most Common Japanese Verbs (with Readings and Verb Groups)
The most common Japanese verbs with readings, meanings and example sentences — grouped by conjugation type so you can use them, not just recognise them.
Japanese Particles Explained: は, が, を, に, で, and More
は, が, を, に, で, と, の and more — what each Japanese particle does, with clear examples and the distinctions beginners get wrong most often.
How Long Does It Take to Learn Japanese?
How long it really takes to learn Japanese, by goal: travel-functional, conversational, JLPT N3, and fluent — with the study hours behind each.
は vs が: The Difference Explained Simply
は marks the topic, が marks the subject — the most-asked question in Japanese grammar, explained with clear examples you can actually rely on.
Japanese Verb Conjugation for Beginners: The Three Verb Groups
Japanese verbs split into three groups, and once you can tell them apart conjugation becomes predictable. How to identify each group and conjugate it.
Hiragana and Katakana: Your First Step in Japanese (Beginner Guide)
Learn hiragana and katakana in about two weeks: what each script is for, the characters that trip everyone up, and why romaji costs you time later.
How to Start Learning Japanese: A Beginner Roadmap
A step-by-step roadmap for absolute beginners: kana first, then core vocabulary, grammar and kanji — in the order that actually keeps you going.