So, you want to learn Japanese… but you have absolutely no idea where to start?

Hiragana? Katakana? Kanji? Grammar? Vocabulary?

When you first look at Japanese, it can feel like there are so many things you need to learn at the same time.

But here’s the good news:

You don’t need to learn everything at once.

Japanese can be challenging, but learning it doesn’t have to be stressful. You just need to start with the right things, one step at a time.

Here’s how I recommend complete beginners start learning Japanese.

1. Start With Hiragana

Before worrying about kanji, complicated grammar or hundreds of vocabulary words, start with hiragana (ひらがな).

Hiragana is one of the three main writing systems used in Japanese:

If you're completely new, focus on hiragana first.

You don't have to memorise everything in one day. Try learning five characters at a time.

For example:

あ — a
い — i
う — u
え — e
お — o

Once those feel comfortable, move on to the next group.

Little by little is still progress.

2. Learn Useful Japanese Before Complicated Japanese

One mistake beginners sometimes make is trying to understand complicated grammar too early.

Instead, start with Japanese that you can actually imagine yourself using.

For example:

こんにちは。
Konnichiwa.
Hello.

ありがとうございます。
Arigatō gozaimasu.
Thank you.

すみません。
Sumimasen.
Excuse me / Sorry.

わかりません。
Wakarimasen.
I don't understand.

もう一度お願いします。
Mō ichido onegai shimasu.
One more time, please.

These phrases give you something useful immediately.

And honestly, being able to say “I don't understand” is pretty useful when you're learning Japanese. 😂

3. Learn Basic Sentence Patterns

You don't need to understand every Japanese grammar rule before you start making sentences.

Start with simple patterns.

One of the easiest is:

A は B です。
A wa B desu.
A is B.

For example:

私はユヤです。
Watashi wa Yuya desu.
I am Yuya.

You can then reuse the same structure:

私はマレーシア人です。
Watashi wa Marēshia-jin desu.
I am Malaysian.

私は先生です。
Watashi wa sensei desu.
I am a teacher.

Instead of memorising isolated words, learning simple patterns helps you understand how Japanese sentences work.

4. Don't Try to Memorise Every Kanji

When beginners discover that Japanese uses thousands of kanji, the reaction is usually something like:

“Never mind lah.” 😂

Don't worry.

You do NOT need to learn thousands of kanji before you can start speaking or understanding basic Japanese.

Start small.

For example:

人 — person
日 — day / sun
月 — month / moon
山 — mountain
水 — water

You'll encounter common kanji again and again as you study.

Let yourself become familiar with them naturally while gradually building your knowledge.

5. It's ok to Start with Romaji

Romaji means writing Japanese sounds using the Roman alphabet.

For example:

ありがとう → arigatō

Romaji can be helpful when you're completely new.

But try not to depend on it forever.

Once you become more comfortable with hiragana and katakana, slowly challenge yourself to read the Japanese first.

Instead of:

Watashi wa gakusei desu.

Try reading:

わたしは がくせいです。

Eventually, you'll be surprised that you can look at Japanese characters and actually understand them.

That feeling is very satisfying!

6. Study a Little, But Study Regularly

You don't necessarily need to study Japanese for three hours every day.

For many adults, that's simply unrealistic.

You have work.

University.

Children.

Housework.

Responsibilities.

Life happens.

Instead, try 10–20 minutes of Japanese regularly.

You could:

Learning a language is not a race.

Consistency is more important than studying perfectly.

7. Start Speaking Before You Feel “Ready”

A lot of learners tell themselves:

“I'll start speaking Japanese when my Japanese is good enough.”

But speaking is part of how your Japanese becomes good enough.

Start with very simple sentences.

今日は暑いです。
Kyō wa atsui desu.
It's hot today.

お腹がすきました。
Onaka ga sukimashita.
I'm hungry.

コーヒーが好きです。
Kōhī ga suki desu.
I like coffee.

It doesn't have to sound perfect.

Make mistakes.

Correct them.

Try again.

That's language learning.

8. Learn Japanese That Matches Your Goal

Ask yourself:

Why do I want to learn Japanese?

Maybe you want to travel around Japan.

Maybe you enjoy anime or Japanese dramas.

Maybe you want to work for a Japanese company.

Maybe your partner or family is Japanese.

Maybe you want to take the JLPT.

Or maybe you simply think Japanese is interesting.

Your reason matters because it can help you decide what to focus on.

If your goal is travelling, prioritise practical conversation.

If your goal is JLPT, you'll eventually need more structured grammar, vocabulary, kanji and reading practice.

You don't have to follow exactly the same learning journey as everyone else.

A Simple Japanese Learning Roadmap

If you're starting completely from zero, I recommend this order:

You don't need to master one step perfectly before touching the next one.

Think of this as a direction rather than a strict rule.

Japanese Doesn't Have to Be Stressful

There will be days when you forget vocabulary you studied yesterday.

There will be particles that make you think:

“Why is it は here but が there?!”

And there will probably be kanji that you have seen 20 times and somehow still forget.

That's okay.

You are learning another language.

You don't have to become fluent quickly.

You don't have to sound like a native speaker.

And you definitely don't need to understand everything before you're allowed to use Japanese.

Learn a little. Use it. Make mistakes. Learn some more.

That's the approach I believe in at No-Stress Japanese.

Starting Japanese From Zero?

I created No-Stress Japanese: Practical Real-Life Japanese book especially for complete beginners who want a simpler introduction to Japanese.

The goal isn't to overwhelm you with complicated explanations. It's to help you understand the foundations and start using practical Japanese step by step.

And if you're learning with me through my classes, don't worry about making mistakes.

That's what class is for. 😊

Take your time, enjoy the process, and 一緒に頑張りましょう！

Issho ni ganbarimashō!
Let's do our best together!

— Yuya Sensei
No-Stress Japanese