Japanese Kana Learning Guide

Tips, techniques, and answers to common questions about learning hiragana, katakana, and Japanese pronunciation.

How to Start Learning the Japanese Alphabet
A step-by-step guide to learning hiragana, katakana, and kanji — which to learn first and how to build a daily practice routine.
Hiragana vs Katakana: What's the Difference?
Understanding when and why Japanese uses two different phonetic scripts, and how to know which one to use.
Japanese Vowel Sounds: A Complete Pronunciation Guide
Master the five Japanese vowels (a, i, u, e, o) with tips on mouth position, common mistakes by English speakers, and audio-friendly practice methods.
Japanese Consonants That Trip Up English Speakers
How to pronounce the Japanese R, tsu (つ), fu (ふ), and other sounds that don't have exact English equivalents.
Long Vowels and Double Consonants in Japanese
Why おばさん and おばあさん mean completely different things, and how to hear and produce the difference.
Is Stroke Order Important for Hiragana and Katakana?
Why writing kana in the correct stroke order matters for readability, speed, and muscle memory.
Common Kana Mistakes Beginners Make
The most frequently confused hiragana and katakana characters — like き vs さ, シ vs ツ — and how to tell them apart.