Hiragana, katakana and kanji: what each script is, how to learn them, and how to read, say and type them.
12 articles in Kana & writing
October 4, 20268 min read
Your name in Japanese is your name in katakana, spelled by sound: Smith is スミス. How to write it, why spellings differ, and a free name converter.
Read MoreSeptember 29, 20268 min read
The small tsu っ (sokuon) holds the next consonant for one beat, doubling it in romaji. How to read, say and type it, and how to tell ツ from シ.
Read MoreSeptember 25, 20268 min read
Romaji is Japanese written in the Latin alphabet (ローマ字). Hepburn vs Kunrei, the 2025 official change, long vowels, and when to move on to kana.
Read MoreSeptember 14, 20264 min read
The kanji for love is 愛 (ai). 恋 (koi) is romantic longing. Their meanings, readings, stroke counts, key words, and what to check before a tattoo.
Read MoreSeptember 3, 202617 min read
To type in Japanese, add the Japanese keyboard, type romaji and press space. Steps for Windows, Mac, iPhone, Android and Chromebook, plus ん, っ and fixes.
Read MoreJuly 31, 20269 min read
How long to learn hiragana? About a week for the 46 basic characters and 1 to 3 weeks for all 104, then katakana takes as long again. A realistic daily plan.
Read MoreNovember 12, 202514 min read
Master the rules for when to use hiragana, katakana, and kanji in Japanese writing. Learn the patterns, exceptions, and practical examples with clear explanations.
Read MoreNovember 12, 202512 min read
Master proven techniques and strategies to memorize all 92 kana characters quickly and effectively. Learn the best methods for long-term retention.
Read MoreNovember 12, 202511 min read
Learn what kanji is, how many characters there are, how kanji works in Japanese, and how to start learning step by step with this comprehensive guide.
Read MoreMarch 23, 20258 min read
Learn about hiragana, the most basic Japanese writing system. Discover its history, usage, and how to start learning all 46 characters.
Read MoreMarch 23, 20258 min read
Explore katakana, the Japanese script used for foreign words, emphasis, and technical terms. Learn its purpose and the complete character set.
Read MoreMarch 23, 202510 min read
Understand the differences between hiragana and katakana, when to use each script, and how they complement each other in Japanese writing.
Read MoreLooking to start learning Japanese? Check out our quiz games!
Start Playing
