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Learn Japanese

Build Japanese vocabulary from what you read

In short

Japanese (日本語) is a language that combines three scripts with context-dependent grammar and levels of politeness. With Rememberry, translate words on the page, save the meanings you need and review them as flashcards in the mobile app. You can also generate Japanese cards for a topic you choose.

How to start learning Japanese

Start with the writing systems and useful sentences. Add new words to what you can already read and say.

  1. 1

    Read hiragana, then katakana

    Learn to recognize the kana in short words and phrases. Use audio as you read, especially for long vowels, small っ and ん. Move beyond romaji as soon as you can read familiar kana.

  2. 2

    Use short sentences to learn grammar

    Practice greetings, introductions and everyday requests. Notice what particles do and how polite verb forms change the sentence. Read and listen to each example before memorizing its parts.

  3. 3

    Add kanji through words you use

    Learn a kanji with a word, its reading and an example sentence. You do not need a large character list before you begin reading beginner material.

A small daily routine

Read and listen to a short beginner dialogue. Keep a few useful words or sentences, review yesterday’s cards, then say or write one sentence of your own. As you read more Japanese online, save the words you want to meet again.

Build Japanese vocabulary from real reading

Keep a word's script, reading, particles and level of politeness attached to a short example.

  • Translate Japanese in place

    Select a word or phrase in Japanese while reading and compare the available meanings, parts of speech and pronunciation near the text.

  • Remember with spaced repetition

    Rememberry schedules saved Japanese words from your review history and recall difficulty.

  • Hear it spoken

    Listen to Japanese with text to speech, or use Playback to hear your cards in sequence.

  • Generate cards for a topic you choose

    In the mobile app, generate Japanese cards for a topic you choose, then study them or practice in your own AI chat.

Japanese at a glance

See how Japanese writing, pronunciation and grammar shape what you need to notice.

Writing and sound

Japanese combines three scripts: kanji for much of the core meaning, hiragana for grammar and many native words, and katakana for loanwords and emphasis. Mora timing matters, so long vowels and doubled consonants can distinguish words.

Grammar and usage

Japanese is usually verb-final, while particles label the topic, subject, object and other roles. Subjects are often omitted when context is clear, and plain versus polite forms help set the social tone.

What to notice as a learner

Learn words in their normal script and inside a short sentence, not only in romanization. Separate cards for contrasting readings or forms can make kanji, kana timing and particles easier to recall in context.

Interesting facts

  • A single Japanese sentence can naturally mix kanji, hiragana and katakana, with each script doing a different job.
  • Kana tracks mora-sized beats: a long vowel, doubled consonant or final ん adds timing that can distinguish one word from another.

How to save and review words

  • Select a word or phrase in Japanese while you read. The translation opens near the text, so you stay on the page.
  • Compare meanings, hear the pronunciation and save the sense that fits as a flashcard.
  • Review cards with spaced repetition. Your cards and study progress stay in sync between the extension and app.
  • When that vocabulary shows up on pages you visit, Rememberry highlights it so you meet Japanese words in context.
  • Continue in the mobile app with synced cards, offline study, Playback and card generation for a topic you choose.

Try flashcards with basic Japanese words and phrases

Add these cards to a deck, then review them in Rememberry.

  • 家

    home

  • 本

    book

  • 本を持っています。

    I have a book.

  • 家にいます。

    I am at home.

Start with beginner Japanese decks

Browse starter decks in the app, preview the cards and add the decks you choose.

Start your Japanese deck

Add Rememberry to your browser, then open the mobile app to keep learning Japanese from what you read and the decks you generate.