Notes

Do you want to learn how to speak Japanese, but don't know where to start? Below you will find lessons for beginners, writing lessons, information on pronunciation and comprehension, where to find dictionaries and translation services, information for travelers to Japan, and audio and video lessons.


Try not to be overwhelmed. The Japanese language will seem very different at first from your native language, but it is not as hard to learn as many people think. It is quite a logically laid out language and once you learn basic reading skills it will be easy to pronounce any word you can read.

Introduction to Japanese
Are you new to the Japanese? Familiarize yourself with Japanese and start learning basic vocabulary here.

Japanese Vowels: Learn the pronunciation and how to write them in hiragana.
Japanese Verb Conjugations: See the conjugations for the most common verbs.
Japanese Grammar: Learn the characteristics of how sentences are constructed.
Japanese Writing Systems: An overview of the three writing systems.
Greetings and Everyday Expressions: Useful for tourists.
First Meetings and Introductions: These tips will help in both business and social interactions.
Simple Japanese Phrases: Learn a variety of simple phrases.

Ai 1 愛, 藍, あい f Japanese
From Japanese 愛 (ai) meaning "love, affection", 藍 (ai) meaning "indigo", or other kanji with the same pronunciation.

Aiko 愛子, あいこ f Japanese
From Japanese 愛 (ai) meaning "love, affection" and 子 (ko) meaning "child", as well as other character combinations.

Aimi 愛美, あいみ f Japanese
From Japanese 愛 (ai) meaning "love, affection" and 美 (mi) meaning "beautiful". Other combinations of kanji characters are possible.

Aina 3 愛菜, あいな f Japanese
From Japanese 愛 (ai) meaning "love, affection" and 菜 (a) meaning "vegetables, greens", as well as other character combinations.

Airi 1 愛莉, 愛梨, あいり f Japanese
From Japanese 愛 (ai) meaning "love, affection" combined with 莉 (RI) meaning "white jasmine" or 梨 (RI) meaning "pear". Other combinations of kanji characters are possible.

Akane 茜, あかね f Japanese
From Japanese 茜 (Akane) meaning "deep red, dye from the Rubia plant". Other kanji or combinations of kanji can form this name as well.

Akari 明里, 朱里, 朱莉, あかり f Japanese
From Japanese 明 (aka) meaning "bright" or 朱 (aka) meaning "vermilion red" combined with 里 (RI) meaning "village" or 莉 (RI) meaning "white jasmine". Other combinations of kanji characters can also form this name.

Akemi 明美, あけみ f Japanese
In Japanese 明 (ake) means "bright" and 美 (mi) means "beautiful". Other kanji combinations are possible.

Aki 2 晶, 明, 秋, 亜希, 亜樹, 亜紀, あき f Japanese
From Japanese 晶 (aki) meaning "clear, crystal", 明 (aki) meaning "bright" or 秋 (aki) meaning "autumn". It can also come from 亜 (a) meaning "second, Asia" combined with 希 (ki) meaning "hope". Other kanji or combinations of kanji can form this name too.

Akihiko 明彦, 昭彦, あきひこ m Japanese
In Japanese 明 (aki) or 昭 (aki) both mean "bright" combined with 彦 (Hiko) meaning "boy, prince". Other combinations of kanji characters can also form this name.

Akihito 明仁, 昭仁, 章人, あきひと m Japanese
From Japanese 明 (aki) or 昭 (aki) both meaning "bright" combined with 仁 (hito) meaning "compassionate". Other kanji combinations are possible. Akihito (1933-), name written 明仁, was the emperor of Japan from 1989 to 2019.

Akiko 晶子, 明子, 秋子, あきこ f Japanese
From Japanese 晶 (aki) meaning "clear, crystal", 明 (aki) meaning "bright" or 秋 (aki) meaning "autumn" combined with 子 (ko) meaning "child". Other combinations of kanji characters are possible.

Akimitsu 昭光, あきみつ m Japanese
From Japanese 昭 (aki) meaning "bright" and 光 (mitsu) meaning "light". Other combinations of kanji can also form this name.

Akio 昭夫, 昭男, 昭雄, あきお m Japanese
From Japanese 昭 (aki) meaning "bright, luminous" combined with 夫 (o) meaning "man, husband", 男 (o) meaning "male" or 雄 (o) meaning "hero, manly". Other kanji combinations are possible.