Kanjijo Blog

Tips, guides and strategies to master Japanese Kanji & Vocabulary faster.

Mindset

How to Stay Motivated Learning Japanese

Beat burnout, set realistic goals, and build study habits that actually stick.

Grammar

Transitive vs Intransitive Verbs: 50+ Pairs

開ける vs 開く — the verb pair distinction explained with patterns and tricks.

Grammar

Japanese Te-Form: The One Form You Must Master

Conjugation rules + 15 essential uses of the Swiss Army knife of Japanese grammar.

Method

Learn Japanese Through Music

Turn your J-Pop playlist into a study session with the 4-step song method.

Business

Japanese Business Email: Templates & Keigo

Write professional Japanese emails with copy-paste templates and key phrases.

Culture

How Japanese Culture Shapes the Language

Uchi-soto, honne-tatemae, and why understanding culture makes grammar click.

Phrases

50 Daily Expressions That Make You Sound Natural

Skip the textbook — these are the phrases Japanese people actually use every day.

Reading

Japanese Reading Practice by Level

From graded readers to native novels — the reading roadmap for every JLPT level.

Tools

How to Type Japanese on Any Device

Set up Japanese typing on Windows, Mac, iPhone, Android in under 2 minutes.

Vocabulary

Japanese Time Expressions: Days, Months & Hours

Complete reference for every time word — including the tricky irregular readings.

Vocabulary

Japanese Onomatopoeia: 100+ Sound & Feeling Words

ドキドキ, ワクワク, ペラペラ — the sound and feeling words that make Japanese unique.

Pronunciation

Japanese Pitch Accent: The Secret Nobody Teaches

Why 箸 and 橋 sound different — and how to train natural pronunciation.

Grammar

Passive & Causative Forms Explained

受身形 and 使役形 — two of the trickiest verb forms, logically explained.

Grammar

Conditionals: たら vs ば vs と vs なら

Four ways to say "if" in Japanese — when to use each one with clear examples.

Kanji

Kanji Look-Alikes: 30 Confusing Pairs Decoded

大 vs 太 vs 犬 — the most commonly confused kanji pairs with memory tricks.

JLPT

N3 Grammar Patterns: The Intermediate Leap

Top 20 N3 grammar patterns that separate beginners from intermediates.

JLPT

N4 Grammar Patterns You Need to Know

Essential verb forms, conditionals, giving/receiving — the core N4 patterns.

JLPT

N5 Grammar: Your First Japanese Patterns

Copula, particles, existence verbs, te-form — the bedrock patterns for beginners.

Method

Japanese Immersion Guide

Create a full Japanese environment at home — 3 levels from quick wins to total immersion.

Tips

15 Common Japanese Mistakes to Avoid

Grammar, kanji, study method, and cultural mistakes — and how to fix each one.

Study

Japanese Writing Practice: Why Handwriting Matters

The neuroscience behind why writing kanji by hand boosts memory and recognition.

Method

Shadowing: The Fastest Way to Sound Natural

The 4-step technique polyglots use to perfect pronunciation and fluency.

Travel

100+ Japanese Travel Phrases

Essential phrases for restaurants, trains, shopping, and emergencies in Japan.

Conversation

Japanese Self-Introduction (自己紹介)

Templates for casual and business jikoshoukai — your most important conversation.

Basics

Japanese Numbers: Complete Guide

Both number systems, 1-100 million, sound changes, and the 万 grouping trick.

Kanji

Kanji Stroke Order: 7 Universal Rules

Why stroke order matters and the 7 rules that cover 95% of all kanji.

Grammar

Japanese Sentence Structure Explained

SOV word order, topic-comment, and why Japanese is more flexible than you think.

Culture

Learn Japanese from Anime

The 3-step method, best anime by level, and pitfalls to avoid.

Grammar

Japanese Adjectives: i-adj vs na-adj

Conjugation tables, trap adjectives (綺麗, 嫌い), and how to never mix them up.

Grammar

Japanese Verb Conjugation: Complete Guide

U-verbs, ru-verbs, irregulars — every conjugation form with charts and examples.

Culture

Japanese Keigo: A Practical Guide

Sonkeigo, kenjougo, teineigo — the three levels of politeness explained simply.

Method

How to Remember Japanese Vocabulary

7 proven methods to make new words stick — and 3 habits to stop immediately.

Resources

Best Japanese Learning Resources & Apps (2026)

Curated apps, textbooks, podcasts and tools — organized by learning need.

Grammar

Japanese Counters: The Complete Guide

15 essential counters, sound change rules, and the generic つ system.

JLPT

How to Pass the JLPT: Study Plans for N5 to N1

Level-by-level study plans, time estimates, and a 21-day exam sprint.

Kanji

On'yomi vs Kun'yomi: When to Use Which Reading

The golden rules for choosing the right kanji reading every time.

Kanji

Kanji Radicals: The Building Blocks You Must Learn

30 essential radicals that unlock thousands of kanji characters.

Reading

How to Start Reading Manga in Japanese

Beginner manga picks, the 3-pass reading method, and building real fluency.

Grammar

Japanese Particles Explained: は vs が, に vs で

The complete guide to every particle that trips up Japanese learners.

Planning

How Long Does It Take to Learn Japanese?

Realistic timelines from N5 to N1, with tips to cut your study time in half.

Culture

Kanji vs Hanzi vs Hanja: What's the Difference?

Same origin, different evolution — how CJK characters diverged across three languages.

Feature

Learn Japanese from Your Lock Screen

How home screen and lock screen widgets create passive kanji exposure.

Feature

How OCR Scanning Transforms Japanese Learning

Point your camera at any Japanese text and get instant kanji breakdowns.

Tips

The Best Daily Japanese Study Routine (30 Minutes)

A structured 30-minute daily schedule for consistent kanji mastery.

Beginner

Learn Hiragana & Katakana: The First Step

Master both kana scripts in 2 weeks with these proven techniques.

Method

Kanji Mnemonics: The Fastest Way to Remember Characters

Turn abstract strokes into vivid stories your brain can't forget.

Comparison

Kanjijo vs WaniKani vs Anki

An honest comparison of the three most popular kanji learning tools.

JLPT

JLPT N5 to N1: Complete Guide to Every Level

What each JLPT level requires, and how many kanji you need to pass.

Method

What Is SRS? The Science Behind Spaced Repetition

How the forgetting curve works and why SRS is the most efficient way to learn.

Guide

How to Learn Kanji: The Complete 2026 Guide

Radicals, mnemonics, SRS, writing practice — every proven strategy in one place.

Start Learning Kanji Today

Download Kanjijo free and master 2,000+ Kanji with smart SRS flashcards.