Should I Learn Hiragana or Kanji First? A Beginner's Guide
For most learners it feels right to start with hiragana, then katakana, then kanji. Hiragana carries the sounds, particles, and verb endings you need to read almost anything in Japanese, so it gives you the fastest path to reading real sentences. There is no single rule here, only what fits your goals. Pick the order that keeps you reading and enjoying the language.
The Short Answer: Start With Hiragana
Begin with hiragana. It is the set of 46 phonetic characters that appear in almost every Japanese sentence.
Once you know hiragana, you can sound out words, read children’s books, and understand the small grammar pieces that hold sentences together. After that, katakana is a quick second step, and kanji becomes something you grow into over time rather than a wall you have to climb first.
If you only remember one thing: hiragana opens the most doors for the least effort. That is why it is the common starting point.
Why Hiragana Comes Before Kanji
Hiragana does three jobs that make early reading possible.
- It spells out the sounds of Japanese, so you can pronounce any word.
- It writes the particles (small words like は, が, を) that show who does what in a sentence.
- It forms verb and adjective endings, which change to show tense and politeness.
Kanji carries meaning, but it sits inside a sentence that is glued together by hiragana. A line like 私は本を読む mixes kanji (私, 本, 読) with hiragana (は, を, む). Without the hiragana, you cannot tell how the words connect.
So hiragana is not just a beginner step you leave behind. You will keep using it at every level, all the way from N5 to N1.
What About Katakana? Where It Fits
Katakana is the natural second stop. It has its own 46 characters, and here is the good news: they stand for the same sounds as hiragana.
That means you are not learning new sounds, only new shapes. Many people pick up katakana faster than hiragana for this reason.
Katakana is mostly used for:
- Borrowed words from other languages (コーヒー for coffee, テレビ for television)
- Foreign names and place names
- Some product names, sound effects, and emphasis
You can start katakana right after hiragana, or let a little overlap happen. Both work. There is no single right way; do what feels right for you.
When It Feels Right to Start Kanji
You do not have to wait until your kana is perfect. A gentle overlap is fine and often helpful.
A good signal that you are ready: you can read most hiragana without stopping to think, and katakana is coming along. At that point, a few simple kanji will feel like a welcome shortcut rather than a burden.
Start small. Numbers (一, 二, 三), days, and common words like 人 (person) and 日 (day) are friendly first kanji. Learn each one inside a real word you will actually use, not as an isolated symbol. That way the meaning sticks, and you build reading and writing at the same time.
How Long Does Each One Take?
Timelines vary by person and by how much you practice each day. Here is a realistic, gentle range for short daily sessions.
| Writing system | What it is for | How many characters | Rough time to learn | When to start |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hiragana | Sounds, particles, word endings | 46 basic | About 1 to 2 weeks to read comfortably | First |
| Katakana | Borrowed words, names, emphasis | 46 basic | Often faster, same sounds as hiragana | Right after hiragana |
| Kanji | Meaning of words | 2,136 jouyou total | Months to years, grown gradually | A few once kana feels easy |
These are recognition timelines, meaning you can read and identify the characters. Smooth, fast handwriting takes a bit longer, and that is completely normal.
The key idea: hiragana and katakana are short, finite projects. Kanji is a slow garden you tend over time. Treat them differently and the whole thing feels lighter.
How Many Kanji a Beginner Actually Needs
The number 2,136 scares a lot of beginners. It should not. That is the full jouyou list a Japanese student finishes by the end of high school, not an entry ticket.
Here is what you actually need for common goals:
| Goal | Roughly how many kanji |
|---|---|
| Read everyday signs and simple menus | A few dozen to a couple hundred |
| Pass JLPT N5 (beginner level) | About 80 to 100 |
| Read most daily life material with growing ease | A few hundred to around 1,000 |
| Read native books and news comfortably | Toward the full 2,136 over time |
So you can do a lot with a small set. Reaching the first hundred kanji unlocks far more than the number suggests, because common kanji appear again and again. You are never trying to memorize 2,000 things at once.
A Gentle Order That Works for Most People
Here is a simple week-by-week starter roadmap. Adjust the pace to your life; slower is fine.
- Week 1: Hiragana, first half. Learn the first rows of hiragana and practice reading them in short words. A few minutes a day is plenty.
- Week 2: Hiragana, second half. Finish the set and read simple words and short sentences. Aim for recognition, not speed yet.
- Week 3: Katakana. Same sounds, new shapes. Practice with borrowed words you already know, like coffee and menu items.
- Week 4: Lock it in, add first kanji. Reread everything to build speed, then meet a handful of easy kanji like numbers and 人, 日, 月.
- Ongoing: Kanji inside vocabulary. Add a few kanji at a time through real words, and let smart reviews bring them back before you forget.
This order keeps you reading actual Japanese almost from day one, which is the part that keeps practice fun.
Common Worries (and Why They Are Okay)
New learners share the same fears. Every one of them is normal, and none of them should stop you.
“It feels overwhelming.” You are only ever working on a small piece. Hiragana is 46 characters, learned a few rows at a time. The big totals are long-term horizons, not today’s task.
“I keep forgetting characters.” Forgetting is part of learning, not a sign you are failing. Spaced reviews, which bring a character back right before you would forget it, are built for exactly this. Each time it comes back, it sticks a little longer.
“My handwriting looks messy.” That is true for everyone at first. Tracing in correct stroke order, with guides that fade as you improve, makes your hand steadier over weeks. Neatness follows practice.
“I am too slow.” Speed is the last thing to arrive, and it always arrives. Focus on reading and recognizing first; fluency in writing builds quietly underneath.
There is no single right way to practice. Reading-recognition and handwriting are complementary, and both are valuable. Use whichever fits your day.
You can keep a free printable hiragana chart and stroke-order reference nearby for the first few weeks, and watch an animated stroke-order demo when a character’s order is unclear.
How Kana Conbini can help
Kana Conbini is one friendly option among many, free to start, on iPhone and Android.
- Read in context with Conbini Run, a convenience-store game where you recognize hiragana, katakana, and kanji to serve customers.
- Practice handwriting in Write Kanji (書き取り), tracing all 46 hiragana, 46 katakana, and the 2,126 kanji in correct stroke order, with guides that fade as you improve.
- Grow your kanji through real words, with 10,000+ vocabulary words across the full JLPT range, N5 to N1, and native Japanese voice on every word.
- Remember more with smart reviews that bring each card back right before you would forget it, plus visual mnemonics whose hints fade as you master them.
- Start for free with no subscription. You can explore the learn hub or the home page to see what fits your goals.
FAQ
Should I learn hiragana or kanji first?
For most learners, hiragana first feels right. Hiragana carries the sounds, particles, and verb endings you need to read and pronounce Japanese. Kanji is easier to add once you can already read the kana around it.
Should I learn hiragana or katakana first?
Hiragana usually comes first because you see it everywhere in everyday Japanese. Katakana shares the same sounds and is mostly used for borrowed words and names, so many people learn it right after hiragana.
Do I need to learn hiragana before kanji?
You do not strictly need it, but it helps a lot. Hiragana shows the grammar and word endings that sit between kanji, so reading real sentences is much smoother once you know it.
Can I skip hiragana and just use romaji?
You can at the very start, but romaji tends to slow you down later. Real Japanese is written in kana and kanji, so learning hiragana early lets you read native material and trust your own pronunciation.
How long does it take to learn hiragana?
Many learners read all 46 hiragana within one to two weeks of short daily practice. A few focused days can be enough to recognize them, with a little longer to feel fast and confident.
How many kanji does a beginner actually need?
Far fewer than the full list suggests. Around 80 to 100 kanji cover the JLPT N5 beginner level, and a few hundred handle most everyday signs and menus.
How many kanji are there in total?
The Japanese government lists 2,136 jouyou (regular-use) kanji taught through high school. You do not need them all to start reading; they are a long-term goal, not an entry requirement.
Where should I start learning Japanese writing?
Start with hiragana, then katakana, then a slowly growing set of kanji learned inside real words. This order lets you read and sound out sentences early, which keeps practice motivating.
What is the difference between hiragana, katakana, and kanji?
Hiragana and katakana are two sets of 46 phonetic characters that each stand for a sound. Kanji are characters borrowed from Chinese that carry meaning, and Japanese text mixes all three together.
How can I practice Japanese writing for free?
Free printable charts and stroke-order references are a great low-cost start. Apps like Kana Conbini are free to begin too, with reading practice and handwriting modes you can try without a subscription.