How to Learn to Read Japanese: Step-by-Step Order
To learn to read Japanese, the order is: first hiragana (one week), then katakana (one week), then the first 100 kanji and in parallel texts with furigana — reading aids written above the characters. You can read 'adult' texts without furigana from about 600–800 characters, i.e., from the N3 level.
The main mistake is to start reading manga in the original. Japanese text has no spaces, and until the syllabaries are automated, the eye cannot even determine where a word ends. So the first two weeks are spent not on reading, but on stopping to decipher letters.
Step-by-Step Order
- Hiragana — 46 characters, 5–7 days. Learn it with writing from the start: the hand reinforces the shape faster than the eye.
- Katakana — another 46 characters, the same amount of time. It is needed for loanwords, which are numerous in texts.
- Read simple kana-only texts aloud — children's tales, captions, dialogues from textbooks. The goal is not to understand, but to stop stumbling.
- First 100 kanji (numbers, days, basic nouns) plus texts with furigana: the reading is written above, so an unfamiliar character does not stop you.
- From 300–400 characters, move to graded readers; from 600–800, to regular texts without reading aids.
What is furigana and why it is difficult without it
Furigana is small kana above a kanji, indicating the reading. In children's books and manga it is almost always present; in adult texts, only for rare characters. Until your vocabulary is less than 600 kanji, look for texts with furigana: otherwise, every second word becomes a trip to the dictionary.
What to Read at Each Stage
| Level | What to read | Why it suits |
|---|---|---|
| kana only | children's tales, textbook captions | no kanji, trains speed |
| 100 kanji | manga with furigana, short dialogues | reading is annotated, everyday vocabulary |
| 300 kanji | graded readers level 1–2 | vocabulary is deliberately limited |
| 600 kanji | NHK Easy news, blogs | simple syntax, partial furigana |
| 1000+ kanji | regular books, articles | furigana only for rare characters |
How much to read per day
Better 15 minutes every day than two hours on Sunday: reading is a recognition skill, it grows with the frequency of repetitions. And don't translate every word: if you understand 80%, move on, the rest will be picked up from context at the next encounter.
Start with the Syllabary
Trace the hiragana character along the guides — the system will evaluate each stroke.
FAQ
- How to learn to read Japanese from scratch?
- First hiragana (about a week), then katakana, then the first 100 kanji and texts with furigana. Reading without annotated readings is comfortable from 600–800 characters.
- What is furigana?
- Small kana above a kanji, indicating the reading. It is present in children's books and manga; in adult texts, only for rare characters.
- How long does it take to start reading?
- The syllabaries take two weeks. Simple texts with furigana — after 1–2 months. Regular texts without annotations — approximately at the N3 level, i.e., after a year to a year and a half of regular study.
- Can I learn to read with manga?
- Yes, if it has furigana — then an unfamiliar character does not stop you. Starting with manga without annotated readings is pointless: too much is unknown at once.
Updated: 2026-07-25