Free online Japanese course
Learn practical Japanese through short, usable chunks.
240 chunk-based lessons for real conversation
Learn Japanese through useful chunks
Japanese rewards you for showing up often rather than showing up exhausted. Each lesson is short enough to finish on a commute, and long enough to teach something real.
That’s chunk learning — ready-made phrases and words you can actually say.
Every lesson comes with Japanese audio, a short story or dialogue, a short practice, and a line you can record.
Your Japanese learning path
The course runs from A1 to B2, in lesson order.
A1: Your first words and survival phrases
You start with the greetings, questions, and everyday phrases that get you through a first conversation. By the end of A1 you can understand simple sentences and introduce yourself without panicking.
A2: Everyday talk, from food to directions
Now you handle restaurants, transit, and small talk in everyday polite Japanese. The lessons lean on the phrases you'll hear in cafés, shops, and stations.
B1: Opinions, stories, and longer reading
You move from surviving to actually chatting, with opinions, past events, and short texts. This is where listening and reading start to feel less like decoding and more like understanding.
B2: Work, news, and real conversations
The last stretch: longer talks, work and news topics, and saying what you mean with more nuance. By the end you can hold your own in a real conversation, not just get by.
A free Japanese course that’s actually useful
Order coffee at a kissa, chat with a neighbor, or follow a drama with fewer subtitles. These lessons aim at the Japanese people actually use in everyday life.
Every Japanese line comes with audio, a romaji reading, and furigana over the kanji.
Tiny lessons, tiny wins. That’s the deal.
The tone stays friendly. The learning logic is still serious: useful input, retrieval, context, then saying it out loud.
Bookmark this page. If you work through the lot, figure on about 60 hours, not a weekend miracle.
Progress stays as long as your cookies stay. We might add Google or Apple login later.
Built on practical, effective language-learning theory
A few choices we made on purpose, because Japanese has three scripts and a few rules of its own.
The aim is simple: get you understanding and speaking Japanese faster than a grammar-first approach would.
Listening before speaking
You hear and understand a phrase long before you're asked to say it on your own. Listening first, speaking next, sanity throughout.
Audio on everything
Kanji don't show how a word sounds, so hearing each word while you learn it keeps pronunciation anchored.
Say it
Say the line out loud, and the lesson checks what it heard.
Browse all Japanese lessons
Lessons 1–60In course order
In course order. The level on each card is that lesson’s level.
- 01Hello, how are youA1 · Greet someone, say good morning, good afternoon or good evening, and answer how you are.
- 02Come in, sit downA1 · Welcome someone in, offer a seat, and bounce the question back.
- 03What's your nameA1 · Say your name, ask someone's name, and give a name to call you.
- 04Nice to meet youA1 · Say you are pleased to meet someone, say where you come from, and say you are new.
- 05Please and thank youA1 · Ask for something politely and say thank you and you're welcome.
- 06Excuse me, sorryA1 · Get attention, pass through a crowd, apologise, and accept an apology.
- 07See you tomorrowA1 · Say goodbye, say you have to go, and say when you will see someone again.
- 08Safe trip and take careA1 · Wish someone well when they leave, travel, or head home.
- 09I'm off, I'm homeA1 · Use the set phrases for leaving home and coming back, and answer them.
- 10Yes and noA1 · Answer yes-or-no questions clearly, not only with a bare yes or no.
- 11Is it or isn't itA1 · Ask a yes-or-no question with か, check with ですよね, and answer yes or no.
- 12Say what? I don't understandA1 · Say you did not understand, ask what a word means, and say how much you follow.
- 13Slower, pleaseA1 · Ask someone to repeat, slow down, write it, or say how to say something.
- 14I'm learning JapaneseA1 · Say you are learning Japanese, that you can't read kanji yet, and ask for hiragana.
- 15What is thisA1 · Ask what, who, and when about things in front of you.
- 16This one, that oneA1 · Point with this, that and that over there, and ask which one.
- 17Numbers one to tenA1 · Count from one to ten and say zero.
- 18How much is itA1 · Ask the price and say a price in yen.
- 19Bigger numbersA1 · Say numbers from eleven to a thousand and understand a bill in yen.
- 20One cup, one bowlA1 · Count items, cups, and bowls when you order.
- 21Tickets, books, people, petsA1 · Count tickets, books, people, animals, and machines.
- 22Order breakfastA1 · Order a breakfast item and a drink at a kissaten and say that is all.
- 23Eat here or take awayA1 · Say whether you will eat in or take it away, and refuse extras at a food counter.
- 24I wantA1 · Say what you want and what you need.
- 25No thanks, that's enoughA1 · Turn things down politely and say that is enough.
- 26I haveA1 · Say what you have and don't have.
- 27Whose is thisA1 · Say whose something is and whether it is yours.
- 28Where is itA1 · Ask where something is and say it is here or there.
- 29In front, behind, besideA1 · Say where one thing is in relation to another.
- 30What time is itA1 · Ask and tell the time on the hour and the half hour.
- 31Days of the weekA1 · Say today, tomorrow, yesterday, and the days of the week.
- 32Where shall we meetA1 · Set a simple meeting: what time, where, and whether that is okay.
- 33Can I?A1 · Ask permission to do something and answer yes or no.
- 34What's allowedA1 · Say what you can and cannot do in a place.
- 35Can you help meA1 · Ask for help and thank people for it.
- 36Borrow a phoneA1 · Ask to use a phone, call someone, and say what to do.
- 37Something's wrongA1 · Say something is lost, broken, or will not work.
- 38I forgot and I'm lateA1 · Say you forgot something, missed something, or are late.
- 39Coffee at the kissaA1 · Order a coffee at a kissaten and say hot or iced, with or without milk and sugar.
- 40Looking for somethingA1 · Say what you are looking for in a shop and ask if they have it.
- 41Pay with cash or cardA1 · Say how you will pay, split or combine a bill, and ask for change.
- 42The convenience-store counterA1 · Answer a clerk about a bag, heating food, a receipt, and a points card.
- 43Where is the metroA1 · Ask where a station, a shop, or a toilet is.
- 44Straight, left, rightA1 · Follow directions: go straight, turn, and say which side it is on.
- 45Can I walk thereA1 · Ask how to get to a place, whether you can walk, and how far it is.
- 46Metro and transit cardA1 · Enter the metro, tap a transit card, and find the platform and exit.
- 47Top up a transit cardA1 · Top up a transit card and handle a low balance.
- 48Where I liveA1 · Say where you live and what the place is like.
- 49Keys from the landlordA1 · Receive keys from the landlady and ask about the floor, mailbox, and rubbish day.
- 50Your phone numberA1 · Give and take a phone number and an email address.
- 51Add me on the appA1 · Add a friend on LINE and send a QR code, a sticker, or a location.
- 52My familyA1 · Say who is in your family and how many people there are.
- 53Wake up, sleep, and mealsA1 · Say when you get up, eat, and go to bed.
- 54Months and datesA1 · Say the month, day, and date, and ask when.
- 55Colours and sizesA1 · Describe something by colour and size.
- 56What I likeA1 · Say what you like, love, and don't like.
- 57I think it's goodA1 · Say what you think in a few words, and leave a choice to someone else.
- 58Food I can't eatA1 · Say what you don't eat, and ask if something has an ingredient.
- 59Hot, cold, rainyA1 · Describe today's weather.
- 60Write it down for meA1 · Ask for something to be spelled, written, or shown.
Lessons 61–120In course order
In course order. The level on each card is that lesson’s level.
- 61Is this okayA1 · Check that something is right and say it is fine or probably fine.
- 62San, sensei and excuse meA1 · Address shop staff, older people, and strangers politely.
- 63Do you have a minuteA1 · Get someone's attention politely and ask if now is a good time.
- 64Are you from around hereA2 · Ask a neighbour where they live, how they got here, and keep in touch.
- 65Co-working small talkA2 · Make small talk about a busy day, the weekend, and getting a coffee.
- 66Running into the same personA2 · Welcome a coworker you have heard of, check in on a project, and not keep them.
- 67And then what happenedA2 · Ask follow-up questions that keep a story going.
- 68Tell me moreA2 · Ask for an example, a reason, and how often it happens.
- 69Say it a different wayA2 · Ask someone to rephrase, raise their voice, or confirm what you heard.
- 70What the neighbourhood is likeA2 · Describe the area where you live.
- 71How my family isA2 · Say how old family members are, where they live, and what they do.
- 72What do you doA2 · Say your job and ask about someone else's.
- 73My work scheduleA2 · Say your hours, when you start, finish, and take time off.
- 74School and studyA2 · Say what you study, when classes are, and what you like best.
- 75Homework and testsA2 · Say you are late with work, ask for more time, and how a test went.
- 76Asking your teacherA2 · Ask the teacher to repeat, explain, or answer a question.
- 77What we're doing in classA2 · Say what you need and ask what to do in class.
- 78Free timeA2 · Say what you do in your free time and ask what others do.
- 79How good I amA2 · Say how long and how well you do a hobby and why you like it.
- 80Evening and weekend routineA2 · Describe a longer daily routine in order.
- 81What I usually doA2 · Say what you usually do on weekdays and weekends.
- 82First this, then thatA2 · Say the order of what you do and what you do before or after.
- 83Once a weekA2 · Say how many times and for how long.
- 84Always, often, neverA2 · Use frequency words from always to never.
- 85This one or that oneA2 · Choose between two things and say why.
- 86Foods I love and skipA2 · Describe food you like and dislike with details.
- 87Sharing a tableA2 · Ask to sit with others and say who is still coming.
- 88Getting a tableA2 · Ask for a table, a booking, and for the wait.
- 89Questions at the caféA2 · Ask what is in a dish, whether it comes with something, and fix the bill.
- 90Try it onA2 · Ask to try something, ask for other sizes and colors, and decide.
- 91Refunds and holdsA2 · Ask about exchanges, refunds, and putting an item on hold.
- 92Excuse me, may I?A2 · Interrupt, join a queue, and take turns politely.
- 93Visiting a homeA2 · Arrive at someone's home, offer a small gift, thank them, and leave politely.
- 94Borrow and returnA2 · Borrow something from a neighbour and say when you will return it.
- 95Everyday etiquetteA2 · Ask to leave your bag or take a photo, and say you will be right back.
- 96Small everyday reactionsA2 · React briefly and softly to what someone just said.
- 97Soft repliesA2 · Say later or not now without a flat no, and leave work politely.
- 98Maybe and almost thereA2 · Say you are on your way, you might make it, or it is too late.
- 99Good news, bad newsA2 · React to good news and bad news.
- 100Wow, really?A2 · React to a surprise, from disbelief to delight.
- 101Agree and go alongA2 · Agree, go along, and accept a plan.
- 102Give a reasonA2 · Ask why and give a reason.
- 103More, less, sameA2 · Compare two things as more, less, or the same.
- 104Taking the busA2 · Ask which bus goes where and when it leaves.
- 105Getting offA2 · Ask to get off, say you missed your stop, and check how to pay.
- 106High-speed railA2 · Buy a shinkansen ticket, find the platform, and pick a reserved or non-reserved seat.
- 107Hail a taxiA2 · Tell a taxi driver where to go and ask how long it takes.
- 108Left something in the carA2 · Report something left in a taxi and sort out the fare.
- 109Hotel bookingA2 · Check in at a hotel, ask about breakfast, and ask the check-out time.
- 110Hotel problemsA2 · Report a problem with the hotel room.
- 111Where it hurtsA2 · Name body parts and say where it hurts.
- 112At the clinicA2 · Sign in at a clinic and answer the receptionist.
- 113Telling the doctorA2 · Tell the doctor your symptoms, how long they have lasted, and how bad they are.
- 114The doctor's questionsA2 · Answer the doctor about tests, allergies, and what to do next.
- 115At the pharmacyA2 · Ask for medicine at a pharmacy and say what you need it for.
- 116How to take itA2 · Ask how often, how many, and when to take medicine.
- 117Filling in the formA2 · Ask what to write on a ward-office form, whether to sign, and what to do if a scan fails.
- 118Making an appointmentA2 · Make an appointment and ask which times are free.
- 119Change or check an appointmentA2 · Move or cancel an appointment and check what to bring.
- 120Making plansA2 · Invite someone, suggest a time, and ask what works.
Lessons 121–180In course order
In course order. The level on each card is that lesson’s level.
- 121Fix the time and placeA2 · Agree on a time and place to meet and confirm the plan.
- 122Cancel plansA2 · Say you cannot make it, give a reason, and thank someone for understanding.
- 123Reschedule a planA2 · Suggest a new day or time and say you might be late.
- 124Last weekendA2 · Say what you did last weekend and react to someone else's weekend.
- 125This weekendA2 · Say what you are doing this weekend and ask about someone else's plans.
- 126What I did todayA2 · Say what you did today and what you have not done yet.
- 127Have you everA2 · Say you have or have never done something, and whether you know it.
- 128When it happenedA2 · Say when something happened in the past and how it went.
- 129Trip storiesA2 · Say where you went on a trip, what was best, and what surprised you.
- 130Plans for laterA2 · Say what you plan to do and what you have not decided yet.
- 131Looking aheadA2 · Say what you are looking forward to, what you are saving for, and what you will not do.
- 132What I can doA2 · Say what you can and cannot do, and how easy or hard it is.
- 133Still learningA2 · Say what you are still learning, what you have never tried, and that you need practice.
- 134Calling for helpA2 · Call for help in an emergency and give Japan's emergency numbers.
- 135Emergency helpA2 · Tell people what to do in an emergency and how to stay safe.
- 136Phone callsA2 · Ask for someone on the phone, say who is calling, and leave a message.
- 137Bad signalA2 · Talk about a missed call, a bad signal, and getting a message.
- 138Looking for a flatA2 · Ask whether a flat is free, what it costs, and when you can move in.
- 139Signing the leaseA2 · Ask what to prepare for a lease, who handles repairs, and how to give notice.
- 140What's in the flatA2 · Name things in a Japanese apartment and say what is broken or missing.
- 141Rent and billsA2 · Ask when rent is due, how to pay bills, and whether you can pay at the konbini.
- 142Street food stallA2 · Order street food at a stall and ask what is in it.
- 143Fruit and bargainingA2 · Buy fruit, ask the price per bag, and ask for a little extra.
- 144Phone, charger and Wi-FiA2 · Ask for Wi-Fi, a charger, and a power outlet, and say the phone is dead.
- 145Packages and deliveryA2 · Pick up a parcel or tell a driver where to leave a delivery.
- 146The usualA2 · Ask for your usual order and talk about a stamp card.
- 147Treating friends to dinnerA2 · Pay for a meal, offer to treat, split the bill, and toast.
- 148Weather forecastA2 · Read a weather forecast and ask if it will rain tomorrow.
- 149The typhoon is comingA2 · Get ready for a typhoon: stock up, stay home, and check if trains will stop.
- 150The lost umbrellaA2 · Describe a lost item and ask for lost and found.
- 151A birthday at the kissaA2 · Wish someone a happy birthday and give a small gift.
- 152A small shrineA2 · Visit a small shrine quietly and talk about luck as everyday custom.
- 153Put it thereB1 · Say where you put or moved something, and ask someone to put it away.
- 154It got takenB1 · Say what happened to you or to something, using the passive.
- 155Understood, found, finishedB1 · Say you understood, found, or finished something, including when it is already done.
- 156Come in, go upB1 · Say someone came in, went out, or went up, and ask them to do so.
- 157Explaining a problemB1 · Explain what is wrong and what has changed.
- 158What happened firstB1 · Describe the steps that led to a problem and what you think the cause is.
- 159Set up a meetingB1 · Ask for a work meeting time and agree on an agenda.
- 160The meeting runs longB1 · Move a meeting along and say what is left.
- 161Project updatesB1 · Give a short progress update: done, in progress, or blocked.
- 162A polite work messageB1 · Write a short polite work message.
- 163What do you thinkB1 · Ask and give opinions about something.
- 164Mixed feelingsB1 · Say you have mixed feelings and weigh both sides.
- 165I agreeB1 · Agree with different strengths.
- 166I disagreeB1 · Disagree politely and say what you think instead.
- 167Soften the noB1 · Add a cushion before disagreeing.
- 168Going along with itB1 · Agree with a plan or a view in a natural way.
- 169Why that wayB1 · Explain why you chose something and why it happened.
- 170For exampleB1 · Give an example to explain a point.
- 171When that happensB1 · Describe typical situations.
- 172On the one handB1 · Contrast two options in a longer sentence.
- 173The short versionB1 · Give the point first, then explain.
- 174In other wordsB1 · Restate, explain a rule, and say what it means.
- 175A trip that went wrongB1 · Tell what went wrong on a trip and how you got through it.
- 176Planning a weekend tripB1 · Plan a weekend trip to Kyoto: the shinkansen, a hotel, and what to eat.
- 177How it turned outB1 · Say how things turned out, in hindsight.
- 178The wrong trainB1 · Deal with a wrong train and ask station staff what to do.
- 179The famous snackB1 · Order a famous Kyoto sweet and say what it tastes like.
- 180Old streets and a templeB1 · Describe an old street and a temple, and a little of its past.
Lessons 181–240In course order
In course order. The level on each card is that lesson’s level.
- 181The story growsB1 · Retell something and notice how a story grows with each telling.
- 182Wait, what?B1 · Follow up on a surprise and ask what happened.
- 183That must be hardB1 · Respond when someone has had a hard day.
- 184Listening to a friendB1 · Say you are there and that their feeling makes sense.
- 185It's not your faultB1 · Comfort and reassure someone.
- 186Keep goingB1 · Encourage someone who is learning or struggling.
- 187We'll do it togetherB1 · Share the effort and tell someone they tried their best.
- 188What I'm intoB1 · Talk about a new interest and why.
- 189Never gets oldB1 · Share recommendations and what you like to hear about.
- 190My goalsB1 · Say what you want to achieve and what it takes.
- 191Small stepsB1 · Report progress, what is hard, and the next small goal.
- 192Are you followingB1 · Check someone is following and offer to repeat.
- 193What's unclearB1 · Ask which part is unclear and whether the answer helps.
- 194Thinking out loudB1 · Use fillers while you think.
- 195Change the subjectB1 · Bring up another topic.
- 196Linking what you sayB1 · Connect two points smoothly.
- 197Being unsureB1 · Buy time and say you are not sure.
- 198Moving onB1 · Close a topic and move to the next.
- 199Storm day indoorsB1 · Spend a rainy-season day inside and listen to a half-told story.
- 200Cooking at homeB1 · Follow and give a simple recipe in steps.
- 201How I'm feelingB1 · Describe your mood and what caused it.
- 202Online shopping and returnsB1 · Order online, track the delivery, and send it back.
- 203Giving adviceB1 · Give friendly advice.
- 204Asking for a recommendationB1 · Ask for and give recommendations for food and places.
- 205Making the deadlineB1 · Say when something is due and whether you can make it.
- 206If, thenB1 · Make conditions and predictions.
- 207Although, butB1 · Concede a point and still make your own.
- 208A leaking tapB1 · Report a repair in the apartment and arrange a visit.
- 209At the post office and bankB1 · Send a parcel, change money, or ask about a bank account.
- 210Taking a day offB1 · Ask your team lead for a day off and explain why.
- 211I heardB1 · Say what you heard from others and pass it on, without pretending it is certain.
- 212Pass on a messageB1 · Pass on a message accurately, and check what someone actually said.
- 213Festivals and traditionsB1 · Greet people at Japanese festivals and talk about New Year, cherry-blossom viewing, summer festivals, and Obon.
- 214Run the meetingB2 · Open, chair, and close a short work meeting, and sum up what was decided.
- 215Say no kindlyB2 · Disagree with a client or friend without losing the relationship.
- 216Give feedbackB2 · Say what works, what doesn't, and what to change, and thank someone for feedback.
- 217A short presentationB2 · Open a short talk, present three points, close, and invite questions.
- 218Sound naturalB2 · Use native-sounding fillers and hedges while you think or soften a point.
- 219Steer the conversationB2 · Take the lead in a conversation, move it on, and bring it back on track.
- 220Link a storyB2 · Move through a story with linking words so a listener can follow the order.
- 221Correct yourselfB2 · Correct yourself mid-sentence and say what you actually meant.
- 222If onlyB2 · Express wishes and what would have been, and say whether it is still too late.
- 223Not what I expectedB2 · Say that something turned out unlike what you expected, for better or worse.
- 224Persuade someoneB2 · Make a case, answer a worry, and ask someone to decide.
- 225A polite complaintB2 · Complain at a shop in polite Japanese and ask for a fix.
- 226The repair argumentB2 · Argue politely with the landlady about a repair and who pays.
- 227The noise next doorB2 · Raise a neighbour noise problem without making enemies, and ask for a solution.
- 228Accepting a complaintB2 · Receive a complaint, apologise formally, and offer a fix.
- 229Helping a newcomerB2 · Help a newer visitor order at the kissa and explain no tipping, paying at the register, and when to take shoes off.
- 230The neighborhood meetingB2 · Take part in a residents' meeting: propose, object, and vote.
- 231Everyday idiomsB2 · Use a handful of common Japanese sayings in ordinary speech.
- 232Back home and hereB2 · Compare life back home with life in Tokyo fairly, without ranking one as better.
- 233Say thanks properlyB2 · Write a formal thank-you and a short farewell note.
- 234News and opinionsB2 · Talk about a local news item and give a balanced view.
- 235Let it restB2 · Close a topic with grace and leave the rest unsaid.
- 236Retelling the yearB2 · Tell the story of your year with a point, from the first weeks to now.
- 237The trip storyB2 · Retell one trip story with details and a punchline.
- 238Renew the leaseB2 · Agree to renew the lease with Ono-san, ask what changes, and say you will stay.
- 239Everyone around the counterB2 · Thank people one by one at the kissa and say what you will keep doing.
- 240The last morningB2 · Share a last breakfast, remember an old order, and say a real goodbye.
