Learn Japanese

Learn Japanese online: a free course for complete beginners

Japanese is often perceived as one of the most complex languages in the world. This impression usually comes from its writing systems and its very different grammatical logic compared to European languages. In reality, Japanese is an extremely structured and logical language. When approached through real usage, clear patterns, and repeated exposure, beginners can make steady and reassuring progress from the very first lessons.

The Loecsen Japanese course is a free online Japanese course for complete beginners. It is designed to help learners start from zero and reach a practical CEFR A1 level, focused on understanding and communicating in everyday situations.

The Japanese language: history and continuity

Japanese is a language with a long and complex history. Its spoken form evolved independently in the Japanese archipelago, while its writing system developed through centuries of contact with Chinese culture.

Between the 5th and 9th centuries, Chinese characters were introduced to Japan. Over time, the Japanese adapted them to fit their own language, creating a unique system that combines:

• Chinese-origin characters (kanji)
• Two phonetic syllabaries (hiragana and katakana)

Modern Japanese is therefore not “Chinese-based”, but a fully independent language that uses borrowed writing tools in a highly organized way.

The three Japanese writing systems explained clearly

1. Hiragana: the grammatical backbone

Hiragana is a phonetic syllabary. Each symbol represents one sound. Its main function is to express grammar and sentence flow.

Hiragana is used for:

• Verb endings
• Particles (は, を, に, で, が…)
• Polite forms (です, ます)
• Common words without kanji

Example from the Loecsen corpus:

Here, hiragana carries grammar:

• を marks the object (what you speak)
• せます marks politeness and ability (can speak)
• か marks the question

2. Katakana: foreign words and visual clarity

Katakana is also phonetic, but it serves a very specific purpose: it visually marks foreign or special words.

Katakana is used for:

• Loanwords (ホテル, レストラン)
• International concepts
• Brand names
• Occasional emphasis

Example from Loecsen:

3. Kanji: meaning and efficiency

Kanji represent meaning units. They are used for the core concepts of a sentence.

Kanji typically represent:

• Actions (行く, 来る)
• People (人)
• Objects (水, 電車)
• Time (日)

Example from Loecsen:

How the three systems work together in real sentences

Japanese sentences combine the three systems in a highly systematic way.

• 日本語 → kanji (meaning)
• を → hiragana (grammar)
• 話せます → kanji + hiragana (verb + politeness)
• か → hiragana (question)

Example from the Loecsen corpus: how everything fits together

Let’s look at a real beginner sentence used in this course:

This single sentence shows the logic of Japanese writing:

• 日本語 – “the Japanese language” (kanji = meaning)
• 話 – “to speak” (kanji root = action)
• を – marks the object (hiragana = grammar)
• せます – polite + ability form (hiragana = grammar)
• か – question marker (hiragana = grammar)

This is why Japanese remains readable and predictable once the roles of each system are understood.

What to learn first: Hiragana, Katakana, or Kanji?

1) Hiragana: the absolute starting point

Hiragana is the foundation of Japanese. It is used for:

• Grammar (particles, verb endings)
• Native Japanese words
• Making all sentences readable

There are 46 basic hiragana. Once learned, you can:

• Read any Japanese sentence
• Pronounce words correctly
• Understand grammatical structure

To make this step easy and intuitive, Loecsen provides an interactive sound-based hiragana table further down on this page. Each character can be seen, read, and listened to, allowing learners to connect shape, sound, and pronunciation from the very beginning.

2) Katakana: fast and practical

Katakana is used mainly for:

• Foreign words (ホテル, コーヒー)
• Brand names
• Emphasis

It also has 46 basic characters, and is usually learned quickly after hiragana.

3) Kanji: learned gradually, through usage

Kanji carry meaning. They are NOT learned all at once.

At beginner level (A1), learners only encounter a limited, highly repetitive set of kanji, always inside real sentences:

• 人 (person)
• 日 (day / sun)
• 行 (go)
• 見 (see)
• 食 (eat)

Example from the Loecsen corpus:

Here:

• Kanji give the core meaning (日本語, 話)
• Hiragana provide the grammar and readability

How Japanese is written: direction and reading order

Japanese writing can look confusing at first because it supports two different writing directions. Both are correct and used in real life.

1) Horizontal writing (left → right)

This is the most common format for learners and for modern content:

• Textbooks and language courses
• Websites, apps, subtitles
• Everyday signs mixed with numbers or English

Example (horizontal):

2) Vertical writing (top → bottom, right → left)

This traditional format is still widely used in:

• Books and novels
• Newspapers
• Manga
• Calligraphy and traditional media

When written vertically, Japanese is read:

• Top to bottom within a column
• Right to left across columns

Japanese grammar through real usage

Japanese grammar is often simpler than expected because it does not use:

• Verb conjugation by person
• Grammatical gender
• Plural forms in most cases

Meaning is expressed through:

• Word order
• Particles
• Stable sentence patterns

Examples from Loecsen:

A practical and effective learning routine with Loecsen

Learning Japanese works best with short, regular practice sessions and repeated exposure to the same expressions.

• Practice a little every day, even a few minutes.
• Listen carefully and repeat sentences out loud.
• Focus on understanding before producing perfect forms.
• Reuse familiar expressions in new situations.
• Accept approximation as part of the process.
• Use listening mode to train your ear.
• Practice with AI dialogues to simulate real situations.
• Trust spaced repetition (SRS) and Super Memory.

Staying motivated while learning Japanese

Feeling uncertain at the beginning is normal, especially with a visually different language.

• Reduce your daily goal instead of stopping.
• Return to expressions you already understand.
• Focus only on listening on low-energy days.
• Trust repetition more than explanations.

How the Loecsen course supports beginners

The Loecsen Japanese course is a free online course designed specifically for complete beginners.

It focuses on essential everyday expressions, reinforced through listening, repetition, contextual explanations, speech recognition, AI dialogue, and spaced repetition.

With this structured progression, learners gradually reach a functional CEFR A1 level, allowing them to understand and communicate in real-life situations.

Frequently asked questions about learning Japanese

Is Japanese extremely difficult?

Japanese is different, not illogical. When learned through usage and repetition, it becomes very approachable.

Can I really learn Japanese on my own?

Yes. With a structured online course focused on listening and real usage, autonomous learning is fully realistic.

Do I need to master all kanji?

No. Beginners only need a limited set of high-frequency kanji, learned in context.

How long before I understand basic Japanese?

With regular practice, learners start recognizing patterns and understanding basic sentences within a few weeks.