How to Learn Japanese from Scratch: A 7-Step Guide from Zero to N5

Where do you start with Japanese? Every beginner asks. The good news for Hindi speakers is that much of Japanese will feel familiar. Like Hindi, Japanese puts the verb at the end (subject, object, then verb: “I tea drink”), and Japanese particles work like Hindi postpositions (ne, ko, se, mein). Pronunciation is also clear, because each character has a fixed sound. This guide shows how to learn Japanese from scratch: a 7-step plan from zero to JLPT N5.

Prefer Hindi? यह पोस्ट हिंदी में पढ़ें.

7 steps to learn Japanese

Step 1: Hiragana (1–2 weeks)

Reading and writing Japanese starts with hiragana: 46 basic characters, each with one sound. Start with the hiragana chart and make 10–15 characters solid every day.

Step 2: Katakana (about 1 week)

Next, katakana. The sounds are the same and only the shapes differ, and most katakana words are foreign words, so it sticks quickly. See the katakana chart.

Step 3: Greetings and numbers

Start speaking. Learn everyday greetings first, then numbers 1 to 100.

Step 4: The grammar foundations

• Word order: subject + object + verb.
• です / ます: finishing sentences politely.
• Particles: は (wa, topic), が (ga, subject), を (o, object), に (ni, time or place), で (de, place of action or means), の (no, “of”).

Example: 私は日本語を勉強します。 (Watashi wa nihongo o benkyō shimasu.) = “I study Japanese.” Here 私 = I, 日本語 = the Japanese language, and 勉強します = study.

Step 5: Everyday sentences and conversation

Learn short sentences and say them aloud. For work-related sentences, see Japanese Office Phrases.

Step 6: Start kanji

Kanji are characters that carry meaning. Learn 2–3 easy ones a day, such as 日 (day, sun), 月 (moon, month), 人 (person). Do not postpone kanji for too long, or reading will stall later. A fun way in: Demon Slayer kanji.

Step 7: Listening, speaking and the JLPT N5 goal

Build the habit of hearing and speaking Japanese, and set a goal. For beginners the usual goal is JLPT N5. See the JLPT N5 guide.

How long will it take? A rough guide

Time	What to do
Weeks 1–2	Master hiragana
Week 3	Katakana and greetings
Weeks 4–8	Grammar foundations, numbers and everyday words
Weeks 9–12	Start kanji, listening and short spoken sentences
3–6 months	JLPT N5 preparation and mock questions

This is only an estimate, because everyone’s time and daily practice differ. People who study 45–60 minutes a day typically move within this range.

Five useful study habits

• A small amount every day: 30–45 minutes daily beats one long session a week.
• Read aloud: say each new sentence five times.
• Keep reviewing: use flashcards for old words too.
• Make your own sentences: for example, write five sentences about yourself.
• Rely less on romaji: it helps at the start, but get used to reading hiragana quickly.

Four common beginner mistakes

• Trying to learn everything at once, when skipping solid hiragana makes everything harder.
• Only reading, never speaking.
• Postponing kanji until the end.
• Stopping midway. A little every day works better.

Start with LearnLingo

LearnLingo’s Japanese Foundations course (Early Access) is explained in English, with a Hindi-explained version as well, and the early units are free. Start with the English version.

Frequently asked questions

Can I learn Japanese without a class?

Yes, up to a beginner level, if you practise daily and follow a clear plan. For speaking, practise with someone or with a tool such as an AI chatbot (the same prompt ideas work for Japanese).

What should I learn first in Japanese?

Hiragana first, then katakana, then greetings and numbers, and after that the grammar foundations.

Is Japanese hard for Hindi speakers?

Kanji and some new grammar patterns can feel hard, but word order and pronunciation are easy for Hindi speakers. Details: Is Japanese Hard for Hindi Speakers?.

What should I learn for a job in Japanese?

After the basics, business Japanese and keigo help: Business Japanese and Keigo.

Related reading

• Hiragana Chart: All 46 Characters
• Katakana Chart: All 46 Characters
• Can You Learn Japanese from Anime?
• JLPT December 2026 Study Plan