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70 best Japanese
We find ourselves often giving recommendations of products to learn Japanese with, and we thought itd be useful to compile a list for your reference.
We have included a number of our own products, only where we are convinced that they are deserving of their place in the list, and we have included paid and free resources without discrimination. The list is broken up by category and each item is clearly marked as to what JLPT level it targets. Everything on this list deserves your attention, but resources were particularly fond of, the kind wed use ourselves, are additionally marked with a little star.
1. Japanese textbooks 2. Reviewing vocab & kanji 3. Serious games 4. Grammar reference 5. Dictionaries 6. Practice & radio 7. Podcasts & audio lessons 8. Vodcasts & video blogs 9. Cheat sheets 10. Other
Japanese textbooks
Japanese LinguaLift E-Textbook
N5 N4 N3 N2 N1 +
Our very own textbook. Not written in a hold your hand style that some require, but clear and comprehensive, covering all that is needed to prepare for the JLPT exams and most day-to-day situations. Those who prefer romaji should look elsewhere, but the native audio, interactive elements and assessments make it a perfect study and revision tool.
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Genki
N5 N4 N3 N2 N1 +
The end of smart.fm 100 top resources to learn Japanese What is the JLPT? Top 5 applications to learn Japanese on your iPhone
Probably the most popular Japanese textbook, published by The Japan Times, is well worth its reputation. Everything is well laid out, with clear grammar explanations, engaging dialogues, and helpful exercises. Best used with a teacher, working towards taking the JLPT.
N5 N4 N3 N2 N1 +
You can think of this textbook as Genki III. Same publisher, similar presentation and structuredefinitely one of the best intermediate-advanced paper textbooks on the market.
Authentic Japanese
N5 N4 N3 N2 N1 +
Another good intermediate-advanced textbook. Pretty much all of the content, including grammar explanations, is in Japanese so be prepared to brush up your kanji and vocabulary before your begin.
Kana101
N5 N4 N3 N2 N1 +
Our free 14-day hiragana & katakana course. We strongly believe that you should avoid romaji and learn kana as soon as possible, and this course will make sure you stick to it and succeed.
Human Japanese
N5 N4 N3 N2 N1 +
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Probably the only Japanese textbook distributed as a desktop application has recently also become available on all kinds of mobile devices. Well organized lessons with engaging cultural notes and native pronunciation audio, but it doesnt go beyond the very basics.
Japanese LinguaLift
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Erins Challenge!
N5 N4 N3 N2 N1 +
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Professional, fun and practical videos, helpful games & exercises, a unique user interface and engaging social features if youre into that kind of thing. Erin wont teach you everything, but youll learn a lot, and youll enjoy the ride.
You and 1,284 others like Japanese LinguaLift.1,284 people like Japanese LinguaLift.
TextFugu
N5 N4 N3 N2 N1 +
Textfugu is a good choice for a total beginner who needs the basics broken down into extremely manageable chunks. The language taught can be a little contrived, and the approach to kanji learning is unorthodox, but the creators are friendly and happy to help if you encounter difficulties.
We'reon
N5 N4 N3 N2 N1 +
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As long as you get the kana-version, this can be a pretty good textbook. The title is somewhat misleading though as the textbook is best used in classroom setting and alternatives such as Genki or our Japanese E-Textbook are much better adapted for sporadic one-point learning.
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Minna no Nihongo
N5 N4 N3 N2 N1 +
Quite a good textbook, especially in classroom setting. The content is very comprehensive
but the book focuses more on examples than explanations, and there is no English throughout unless you buy the Translation and Grammar Notes volume separately, which can be daunting if you are a complete beginner.
N5 N4 N3 N2 N1 +
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This textbook is more dense than the others and goes at a much faster pace than for example Genki. If youre a diligent and motivated learner and other textbooks feel too slow for you, this might be a better choice.
Japanese in Mangaland
N5 N4 N3 N2 N1 +
This series of text and workbooks uses manga to illustrate what youre learning, and it does work surprisingly well, especially if youre into Japanese comics. Give it a tryit might be just what youre looking for.
Colloquial Japanese
N5 N4 N3 N2 N1 +
Were not fans of its extensive use of romaji in early chapters, and its slow, progressive introduction of hiragana and katakana, but it is otherwise a decent beginner textbook, worth taking into consideration.
Nakama
N5 N4 N3 N2 N1 +
With a hefty price tag, mediocre grammar explanations and boring content this is not a good textbook for self-learners, but good organization and decent activities make it a viable choice in classroom setting.
In this kanji learning & reviewing tool were trying to avoid rote-learning obscure characters and readings, instead teaching them in context, through useful compounds, example sentences with audio pronunciation, and mnemonics. The application comes with a handy, colourful kanji grid & look up feature providing an quick overview of your progress.
N5 N4 N3 N2 N1 +
An SRS vocabulary learning web app full of useful compounds, accompanied with native pronunciation audio and nifty stroke order animations, and tested in a variety of different ways.
iKnow
N5 N4 N3 N2 N1 +
Formerly smart.fm, this site has pretty interface and a very well done spaced repetition quiz with high quality curated lists of Japanese vocabulary. Its not particularly well adapted for reviewing kanji, but its vocabulary-learning features more than make up for it.
Skritter
N5 N4 N3 N2 N1 +
Skritter does one thing, and it does it wellit is the only online offering that lets you actually write the Chinese characters using a tablet or your your mouse, and then assesses your speed and stroke order.
Kanji Koohii
N5 N4 N3 N2 N1 +
If youre following Heisigs Remember the Kanji methodology (not that were particularly big fans of it), this is the site for you. It has lots of creative community-sourced mnemonic devices which will help you remember the most complicated of kanji, and a simple but functional SRS quiz using an algorithm similar to that in our Kanji Academy.
N5 N4 N3 N2 N1 +
One of the first online kanji reviewing tools. Very streamlined and featuring an aesthetically pleasing user interface but somewhat repetitive and limited in question types.
kanji+
N5 N4 N3 N2 N1 +
A recent arrival to the kanji reviewing market, Kanji Plus tries to handle the problem in a slightly different manner by asking you to complete the blanks in Japanese compounds, and it does work pretty well indeed.
Desktop
Anki
N5 N4 N3 N2 N1 +
If youre a dedicated learner and have the time and determination to spend perfecting your reviewing habits and environment, Ankione of the leading SRS applicationsmight be the product for you.
Kleio
N5 N4 N3 N2 N1 +
Kleio is a recently launched competitor to Anki, and while its still very young and lacks some of the more advanced features, the app is actively developed and can be found on platforms where Anki is not available. Unfortunately there arent many good Japanese decks just yet, so youre best off creating your own.
Print
WRP Flashcards
N5 N4 N3 N2 N1 +
The famous White Rabbit Press kana and kanji flashcards are well worth the price if you prefer learning away from your computer but dont have the time to create your own set.
N5 N4 N3 N2 N1 +
A huge, beautiful, laminated wall poster of all jy kanji categorized by JLPT level. If youre following Heisigs Remember the Kanji method, check out the other Kanji Poster instead.
Games
Japanese Frenzy
One of the few kana games that doesnt bore the death out of you. Practice your IME skills and reinforce your kana knowledge. Expert level is particularly challengingeven for natives.
Japanese Blocks
The only resource on the internet that targets Japanese synonyms. The highest difficulty level can be challenging even to proficient speakers, and can be especially helpful as a review tool for higher levels of the JLPT.
Grammar reference
Print
Dictionary of Japanese Grammar
N5 N4 N3 N2 N1 +
Indispensable for any serious Japanese learner, this book consists of three volumes covering almost every aspect of the Japanese grammar from the very basics up to truly advanced concepts in a clear and concise manner. If you buy just one book, this is the one to go for.
N5 N4 N3 N2 N1 +
This handy book covers over 100 particles in alphabetical order, explaining them with sample sentences for each meaning, illustrations and exercises for those who wish to test their knowledge of particle usage.
N5 N4 N3 N2 N1 +
Not so much a grammar reference as an overview of grammar patterns in the English language and how they relate to Japanese. If youre having trouble getting your head around Japanese grammar, this reverse approach may be the solution.
Online
Japanese Language and Usage
N5 N4 N3 N2 N1 +
The new addition to the excellent Stack Exchange network, Japanese Language and Usage is the place to ask your intermediate-advanced grammar questions. Dont forget to do a quick search first, as much has been answered in great detail already.
N5 N4 N3 N2 N1 +
Were trying our best to make the LinguaLift E-textbook not only a place to learn the language, but also a handy reference tools. Each chapter is divided into sections dedicated to different grammar points, and all are easily searchable both in Japanese and in English.
Maggie Sensei
N5 N4 N3 N2 N1 +
This site features extremely thorough and fairly well organized lessons covering all kinds of Japanese grammar topics from the very basics up to advanced and colloquial concepts and expressions, and is extremely culturally sympathetic.
N5 N4 N3 N2 N1 +
Part grammar reference, part Japanese textbook, Tae Kims website is a classic. The grammar guide is not the easiest to navigate, but it covers most beginner-intermediate grammar including colloquial variations and is available in many different formats and languages.
Jgram
N5 N4 N3 N2 N1 +
J-gram tried to be the Wikipedia of Japanese grammar, but the result is wanting. The site does have a very extensive grammar database but it can be difficult to find what you need, and errors and inconsistencies can easily lead you off track. Make use only when necessary and make sure to read the discussion in the comments.
Wikipedia
N5 N4 N3 N2 N1 +
If all else fails, Wikipedia generally comes to the rescue, especially if youre ready to wander into its Japanese language territory. You can find many Japanese grammar points discussed at least in some detail, as well as use it to check how a certain construction is used by searching it in Japanese articles.
About.Japanese
N5 N4 N3 N2 N1 +
About.com has pretty good articles on virtually every topic, and Japanese language is no exception. Their grammar explanations are particularly helpful and generally explain things in simple language without unnecessarily going into too much detail.
Dictionaries
Desktop
Tagaini
Tagaini is an open source application based on the EDICT database by Jim Breen from Monash University which is also used by most online dictionaries. While the content itself is in no way special, the software is very well done with some unique features, especially in the kanji search department.
Babylon
Babylon is an application that sits in the tray and allows you to translate anything by clicking it and pressing a keyboard shortcut at the same time. What is available for free is nothing special, but what makes it unique, is the immense amount of premium dictionaries which can be loaded into it, including gems such as Genius Unabridged and Meikyo listed below.
Online
nciku
This site started as a leading Chinese dictionary but later expanded into Japanese. Unique features include kanji handwriting input, autocomplete, pronunciation audio, example dialogues and a thematic picture dictionary. Unfortunately, the site tends to be very slow.
Tangorin
The best online EDICT dictionary with tons of unique features and a functional user interface. Search kanji by radicals, filter through the results with utmost precision, look up example sentences, create exportable vocab lists and more.
Denshi Jisho
Whether its for its simple domain name, or some of the unique features it has under the hood, Jisho.org is by far the most popular EDICT-based dictionary outside of Japan.
Yahoo Dictionary
This site is all in Japanese, but the UI is simple enough to navigate even if you dont understand all of the labels. This is the dictionary for intermediate-advanced learners, especially valuable due to its accurate definitions, many example sentences, and synonyms look-up ().
ALC Dictionary
Another good Japanese dictionary, but only really useful for advanced learners. The content is crowd-sourced and targeted at translators so lots of definitions are too intricate, confusing, or quite simply wrong.
Kanji Networks
This is by far the most comprehensive Japanese kanji etymology dictionary on the internet. Search by character, reading or English definition to find out more about historical origins of Chinese characters, including illustrations of related pictographs and cultural tidbits.
ABCLoop
Another, younger site similar to Lang-8. Its more focused on Japanese language corrections with a streamlined user interface and fewer social features than its older sibling. Its easier to get into the habit of ABCLooping as youre expected to write less than a Lang-8 entry, so its a good starting point.
N5 N4 N3 N2 N1 +
Graded readers are a great way to practice your Japanese. Each book has a collection of engaging texts using kanji and vocabulary at your level. No need to wade through the dictionary every sentence, looking up words and kanji you might never see again in your life.
N5 N4 N3 N2 N1 +
Reading Japanese novels is an engaging experience and a great way to learn, but it can be a daunting task, especially if kanji are not your forte. This books presents well known works with furigana on the first occurrence of the kanji, translations, helpful explanations and downloadable audio recordings.
N5 N4 N3 N2 N1 +
Another great source of real, contemporary Japanese stories with translations and detailed explanations of nuance, usage, grammar, and culture. The book includes a free CD with the texts recorded by professional narrators.
N5 N4 N3 N2 N1 +
Quite a few texts on all kinds of topics, at all the different levels. The texts are in PDF format, well formatted and followed by vocabulary lists.
N5 N4 N3 N2 N1 +
Aesops fables are well known all over the word and thus it comes as no surprise that his writings were also translated into Japanese. An entire year of daily reading material with an intuitive interface, beautiful illustrations, and mp3 recording of most of the texts.
N5 N4 N3 N2 N1 +
Free audio recordings of engaging Japanese and bilingual bedtime stories with PDF transcripts. New ones are added several times a year.
Fanta jikan
N5 N4 N3 N2 N1 +
Wonderful stories by NTT, professionally narrated and accompanied with lovely illustrations. Some are also available as subtitled videos with a voiceover, as well as mobile applications.
N5 N4 N3 N2 N1 +
A list of free audio books, in Japanese, with transcripts and occasionally English translations. These are famous works from both Japanese and world writers and so the content is fairly advanced.
N5 N4 N3 N2 N1 +
An extensive database of Japanese texts compiled by University of Virginia and easily searchable by author, title and chronological period. Theres even a hand handy option to display the text vertically or display furigana.
Radio Nikkei
N5 N4 N3 N2 N1 +
Japanese radio shows on all kinds of topics, from market trends, through horse racing, all the way to podcasts on being an ecological mother and news from Russia. Natural speed but clear and professional which makes them easier to follow than most amateur broadcasts.
Probably the best Japanese language podcast. Great grammar lessons at all difficulty levels, interesting cultural tidbits, and more.
JapanesePod101
N5 N4 N3 N2 N1 +
Another great podcast. Its not particularly well organized, and all the intro sounds and marketing messages do get annoying over time, but some of the lessons are really good.
Pimsleurs Japanese
N5 N4 N3 N2 N1 +
This is in no case the fastest way to learn the language, but what you will learn youll probably remember forever. Fairly enjoyable, well thought out lessons, but beware of the hefty price tag.
N5 N4 N3 N2 N1 +
Very professional, free Japanese audio lessons. Each starts with a simple dialogue around one or several useful expressions and then goes on to discuss every word and sentence in more detail.
Victor aka Gimmeabreakmans videos are full of helpful tips on learning Japanese and lessons on all kinds of topics at all difficulty and politeness levels. Especially check out his Japanese for Morons series.
ThatJapaneseGirl
N5 N4 N3 N2 N1 +
One of the few Japanese video bloggers. Shell speak Japanese, and teach you some every once in a while too.
BobbyJudo
N5 N4 N3 N2 N1 +
If you like Japanese food, this is the channel for you. Bobby Judo will show you how to cook, and teach some handy vocabulary at the same time.
Hikosaemon
N5 N4 N3 N2 N1 +
Hikosaemon speaks in fluent Japanese on all kinds of topics from current events to random thoughts. If youre beginner or intermediate, check out his Genki Japan videos which might be closer to your proficiency level.
Ciaela
N5 N4 N3 N2 N1 +
Beautiful videos on all aspects of the Japanese culture. Some are in Japanese with English subtitles, some in English with Japanese subtitles, all equally worth watching.
Tofugu
N5 N4 N3 N2 N1 +
Koichis wonky videos on Japan and the Japanese language. Great for beginner learners if you like this kind of style.
JapanesePod101
N5 N4 N3 N2 N1 +
Shady, annoying marketing tactics dont do their content justice. If you manage to wade through the ads, intro animations and misleading claim, JapanesePod101 has some of the most professional video lessons out there.
Cheat sheets
Nihonshocks Ultimate Japanese Cheat Sheet
The Japanese cheat sheet of all cheat sheets. Nihonshock managed to cover all the fundamental Japanese grammar into two compact, yet readable A4s. Print, laminate, and dont let out of your sight.
If youre having remembering all the many Japanese verbs forms, this conjugation cheat sheet is for you.
Other
Advanced expressions and grammar
Making Sense of Japanese
Previously known as Gone Fishin, this book is an American scholars attempt to convey his conviction that the Japanese language is not vague. Rubin explains how to find the subject in a subjectless sentence, explains a number of confusing expressions, and teaches how to properly read and analyze Japanese texts. Unfortunately, all examples are written in romaji.
This is a quick and concise way to build difficult specialist vocabulary across many topics from law and politics, through business and science, all the way to philosophy and religion. Also helpful to better understand some of the more advanced kanji and how theyre used in compounds.
Thorough keigo (formal, humble Japanese) lessons with videos and assessment quizzes for advanced learners of the Japanese language.
Dirty Japanese
Another book on colloquial Japanese. From slang, through insults and swear words, all the way to explicit sex terms, Dirty Japanese teaches the casual expressions heard every day on the streets of Japan. Again, be sure to check what you learn with a native as some of the content might be outdated or potentially offensive.
This is a great book for those of you whod like to expand your history and geography related vocabulary. The book is full of pictures and is made to be easy to understand, but it does require good knowledge of kanji.
Japanese verb conjugation (cheat sheet)
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+Philip Seyfi is a Russian new media developer, designer, and entrepreneur. He is the author of NihongoUp and co-founder of EduLift. All posts | Homepage | Twitter
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Alexandre Lveill
4 months ago
That is the most impressive list I've seen. All with the N# levels too. Wow, good work!! You might be interested to add Japan Activator and their Android app: JA Sensei. I use the app frequently to look up Kanji or as a all-in-one offline resource.
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vijay
6 months ago
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Eastern Odyssey
7 months ago
Great list of Japanese language learning resources. Normally hard to find these sort things. Takes a google few hours searching.
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Ashwini
9 months ago
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Secret
9 months ago
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Grayson Koonce
a month ago
Blown away this doesn't include my favorite kanji learning tool wanikani.com
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Jo Somebody
>
I am a new user to WK and I think it's great too. But it was in Alpha 9 months ago and hasn't been in Beta that long. Maybe when it is fully ready and public it can be added to the list.
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NihongoMaster
3 months ago
What a fantastic list of resources! We'd love to make it 101 by adding our own link. It's new (which is why it wasn't around 6 months ago). We're an online resource for learning Japanese and Kanji. We've broken down the lessons so they're not so scary, adding in achievements and points to keep you motivated.. our community is rocking it out and growing by the day. We'd love to see some new faces come our way! http://nihongomaster.com
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AhmadMDev
7 months ago
why jishop (http://www.jishop.com) is not in the list .. for me ,i think it's the best program to learn kanji characters .. anyway i'm making a program that I hope it'll be in a similiar list someday .. it's name JapWrite (http://tinyurl.com/amdev-Japwr... and it's (till now) have all Hiragana/Katakana characters .
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foozlesprite
8 months ago
Great list but you have a small/hilarious typo: "Skritter does one thing, and it does it wellit is the only online
offering that lets you actually write the Chinese characters using a table or your your mouse." I'm rolling with laughter trying to imagine someone writing kanji with a table :D
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seifip Mod
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David ab
9 months ago
There's missing Japanese for Young People in the textbook section, I belive.
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10 months ago
No mention of the excellent iKana or iKanji for Mac and iPhone? Great for reviewing kanji and kana.
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seifip Mod
>
10 months ago
I've tried to limit the list to resources that can be accessed on any computer, regardless of the operating system, which is why mobile apps and iKanji/iKana have not be included. We'll publish separate lists for major mobile platforms and operating systems in the near future :)
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zonjineko
>
Thanks Philip but Kleio is Windows only so can't be used on "any computer" really :) Fantastic list BTW just missing one really great website ;) I'd prefer to see the major iOS/Android apps listed here so then there is one list that covers everything. I second the votes for iKana and iKanji - great apps!
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Ollie Capehorn
>
We do have a separate post for iPhone apps and a (albeit slightly out of date) post on Android apps too. Philip will soon be doing one for Windows Phone too.
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