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Llearny Blog

Practical advice for learning a language — speaking, alphabets, and study habits that stick.

Japanese characters あ, ア and 漢 on a violet gradient with ripple circles

The Japanese Writing System: Hiragana, Katakana, and Kanji

Why Japanese mixes three scripts in one sentence: what hiragana, katakana, and kanji each do, how they split the work between them, and how many kanji you actually need to read real texts.

Japanese character 道 (way) inside a ring on a teal gradient

The Best Way to Learn Japanese for Beginners

Kana first, speak from day one, learn words in context, layer your review, lean on trusted materials, and aim at one clear goal — the method that actually builds the ability to speak.

Japanese character 難 (difficult) with a question mark on an orange-red gradient

Is Japanese Hard to Learn? An Honest Answer

Some parts of Japanese really are hard; others are far easier than English speakers expect. Here is what's genuinely difficult, what's surprisingly simple, and how the right method makes it doable.

Japanese character 時 (time) inside a ring on a blue gradient

How Long Does It Take to Learn Japanese?

There's no single number — it depends on your goal. Realistic timelines for reading kana, holding a basic conversation, and reaching fluency, plus what actually speeds you up.

Hiragana particles は, の, も and か on a pink gradient

Japanese Particles for Beginners: は, の, も, か

The little words that make Japanese work. Meet は (topic), の (linking and possession), も (also), and か (question) — with clear examples, romaji, and the beginner mistakes to avoid.

Japanese word こんにちは written vertically on a teal gradient

Japanese Greetings and Honorifics: さん, くん, ちゃん, せんせい

Greet people right and know what to add after a name. Time-of-day greetings, はじめまして, and the honorifics さん, くん, ちゃん and せんせい — when to use each, and the mistakes to avoid.

Japanese word はじめまして written vertically on a purple gradient

How to Introduce Yourself in Japanese

Your first real conversation: say your name, where you are from, and a polite 'nice to meet you' — with natural phrases, romaji, and a ready-to-use self-introduction you can say out loud today.

Japanese numerals 一, 十 and 百 (one, ten, hundred) in a vertical column on an orange-red gradient

Japanese Numbers: Counting From 0 to 100

Learn to count in Japanese — 0 to 10, how to build every number up to 100, the two readings to watch for, telling your age, and a first look at counters.

Katakana character ア inside a ring on a blue gradient

Learn Katakana: A Beginner's Guide

Katakana is hiragana's angular twin — the same sounds with sharper shapes. Here is what it is for, a fast way to learn it, the look-alikes that trip everyone up, and how to read loanwords like コーヒー.

Hiragana character あ inside a ring on a pink gradient

Learn Hiragana in a Week

A realistic seven-day plan to read all 46 hiragana — a few rows a day, with mnemonics, the dakuten and combination rules, the look-alikes to watch for, and short daily review that actually sticks.

Japanese character 話 (speak) on a teal gradient

Why You Should Speak From Day One

Recognizing a word is easy; saying it out loud is the hard part — and the part that actually teaches you. Here is the five-step loop Llearny uses to turn passive knowledge into real speech, and why it kills the fear of speaking.