Learn to Speak Japanese

So you want to learn to speak Japanese, but don't know where to start? This page will direct you to where you should begin. Below you will find lessons for beginners, writing lessons, information on pronunciation and comprehension, where to find dictionaries and translation services, information for travelers to Japan, audio lessons, culture lessons and articles about the culture of Japan. You can also check out my blog , which is updated frequently.

Introduction to Japanese - Are you new to Japanese? Familiarize yourself with Japanese and start learning basic vocabulary here.

• Introductory Lessons
• Audio Phrasebook
• Simple Japanese Phrases

Japanese for Beginners - Learn the basics of Japanese grammar and useful expressions.

• Basic Lessons
• Grammar/Expressions
• Word of the Day

Learning Japanese Writing - There are three types of scripts in Japanese: kanji, hiragana and katakana.

• Japanese Writing for Beginners - Introduction to Japanese writing
• Hiragana Lessons
• Katakana Lessons
• Kanji Lessons

Pronunciation and Comprehension - It is essential to hear a native speaker when practicing pronunciation.

• Audio Phrasebook
• Lessons with Sound Files
• Japanese Language Videos
• Phrase of the Day
• Word of the Day

• How do I know which syllables to stress in Japanese words?

Dictionaries and Translations - Choosing the right words for a translation can be difficult.

• Top 3 Japanese Dictionaries
• Top 10 Online Dictionaries
• Learning About Translating
• Online Translations

Japanese for Travelers - If you need quick survival skills for your trip, try these.

• Audio Phrasebook
• Simple Japanese Phrases
• Japanese for Travelers
• Shopping at a Department Store
• How to order at a Restaurant
• Japanese Culture

Learning Japanese Culture - Culture makes a language more interesting to learn.

• Articles about Japanese Culture
• Let’s Learn Hiragana with Japanese culture
• Namiko's Blog Lessons

You can email me at japanese.guide@about.com with your questions, comments, suggestions or just to say hello! I am happy to answer your questions when I can.