A clear next step.
Begin with simple shapes, then kanji meanings and readings. New words build on familiar characters, in a prepared learning order.
Learn Japanese kanji online
A little practice.
A little practice.
A remarkable
journey.
Build the kanji and vocabulary foundation to read more Japanese. Learn meanings and readings step by step, with guided lessons and reviews organised for you.
Your first three levels are free.
No time limit. No card required.
Brand new to Japanese? Try our free hiragana and katakana guides.
小さな一歩、大きな旅 · A SMALL STEP, A GREAT JOURNEY
Meet Kanji. Your fellow beginner.Earn an illustrated story chapter with each level.
A guided path into Japanese reading.
60course
levels
levels
2,136kanji to
make your own
make your own
6,000+vocabulary
words
words
Your pacean adjustable
lesson goal
lesson goal
Guided lessons. Scheduled reviews.Learn a little.
Learn a little.
Remember a little more.
A prepared path takes you from simple shapes to kanji and useful words. We organise what comes next, so you can focus on learning.
A selected level 4 course example
From familiar pieces to a word you can read.
亻person+木tree→休rest
Give the meaning a memory.
A standing person leans against a tree. The tree bends its branches into a hammock, and the tired gingerbread person gratefully takes a rest. Even a tree knows when you need a break!
Remember how to say it.
Picture a queue of tired walkers waiting to rest. The English word “queue” helps you remember kyū, one way to pronounce 休. The line over ū marks a longer “u” sound.
kyū · きゅう
A character can be pronounced differently in different words. You’ll learn those pronunciations through vocabulary.
Meet the word
休日kyūjitsu
day off
day off
Put 休 (“rest”) and 日 (“day”) together to make 休日, “day off”. Here, 休 is pronounced kyū and 日 is pronounced jitsu, making kyūjitsu (きゅうじつ).
One building block for reading
休日は本を読みます。
Say it: Kyūjitsu wa hon o yomimasu.
Meaning: I read books on my days off.
Look for 休日, the word for “day off”, at the start. Understanding the whole sentence also takes grammar and context.
Then practise remembering.
You’ll practise remembering what the character means and how to say it. Type kyuu using familiar letters, and the app writes きゅう (kyū) for you. Your first review arrives a few hours after learning; later gaps depend on your answers.
Example answers shown休rest · kyū (きゅう)
Try remembering.
Recall the English meaning and Japanese pronunciation. Type with familiar letters and we turn the sounds into Japanese for you. Shape-only building blocks ask for a meaning.
Let the gaps grow.
Correct reviews gradually move further apart. Mistakes keep items on a shorter review schedule. This is spaced repetition, or SRS: revisiting what you learn over time.
Build a habit that fits your life.
Start with due reviews, then choose a few available lessons when you’re ready. Set your new-lesson goal to a manageable pace.
Bring the Japanese you love a little closer.
Build a foundation for manga, games, books and everyday Japanese. Practising recall across days and weeks helps strengthen memory; grammar, listening and other study help you put those building blocks to use.
Every beginning is welcome
First, make friends with kana.
Brand new to Japanese? Start with hiragana and katakana, the scripts that represent its sounds. Explore our free charts and romaji typing practice. No account needed.
A few things before you begin.
Where should I start?
You can start learning kanji meanings at level one now. We recommend learning hiragana and katakana alongside the course to help you read Japanese. Everyone starts at level one; there’s no placement test or level skipping.
Is this a complete Japanese course?
Kanji are characters used to write Japanese. MasterKanji teaches their meanings, readings and vocabulary. Use it alongside grammar, listening and conversation practice as you build your Japanese reading skills.
What happens if I miss a day?
Your progress stays saved and due reviews wait for your return. Begin with reviews and add new lessons at a pace you can manage. Review time varies with how much you’ve learned.
Planning a longer break? Pause learning in Settings to freeze your study schedule until you resume. Existing overdue reviews will still be waiting. Pausing study does not pause, cancel or extend your paid membership.
What can I learn for free?
The first three levels include components, kanji, vocabulary and their story chapters, with no time limit or card required. Scheduled reviews across your first three levels. Paid membership opens the later levels as you progress.
New to kanji, kana or reviews? Read our quick getting-started answers