Today, I’d like to talk about the Japanese language—specifically, how native Japanese speakers learn to read and write. Japanese is often described as one of the most complex languages in the world, and I’d say that’s pretty accurate—even for us native speakers, it’s not always easy!
The Three Scripts of Japanese
One of the things that makes Japanese so unique is its writing system. It uses three different types of characters:
- Hiragana (ひらがな)
- Katakana (カタカナ)
- Kanji (漢字)
Hiragana and Katakana are both phonetic alphabets with about 46 basic characters each, and they’re used to represent sounds.
Hiragana is used for native Japanese words and grammar, while Katakana is mainly used for foreign words, names, and emphasis. You can write basic Japanese using just these two scripts, but it would look overly simplistic or even childish.
That’s where Kanji comes in. Kanji are Chinese-origin characters that convey meaning as well as sound, and they’re essential for fluent reading and writing. They add nuance and readability to the language, especially in formal or long texts.
How Japanese Children Learn to Read and Write
Most Japanese children start learning Hiragana and Katakana in kindergarten or early elementary school. Since these scripts follow a consistent pattern (the 50-sound syllabary), they’re relatively easy to memorize.
Kanji, on the other hand, is where things get tricky. Children begin learning Kanji in elementary school and continue through junior high school, gradually building up their knowledge. By the end of junior high, students are expected to know about 2,000 to 3,000 characters.
What makes Kanji particularly difficult is that each character can have multiple readings and meanings depending on the context.
Some Kanji are simple and easy to remember (like the ones for numbers or nature), but others are more complex and take time to master. For example, a character like 味 (meaning “taste”) combines several elements and has multiple readings based on whether it appears alone or in combination with others.
Being able to read Kanji greatly enhances comprehension and communication.
Although you technically can live in Japan without mastering Kanji (especially with the help of furigana or romaji), your ability to read newspapers, signs, books, or even text messages will be very limited.
Advice for Japanese Learners: Where to Start?
If you’re a non-native learner wondering where to begin with Kanji, I recommend starting with elementary school-level Kanji workbooks. These are designed to teach Kanji in a logical and progressive order, just as Japanese children learn them.
Alternatively, if you’re more motivated by your interests, you might consider learning Kanji through your favorite anime, manga, or games. Picking up characters that appear frequently in the media you enjoy can help reinforce vocabulary naturally. However, be aware that this approach may skip the structured progression, so it’s best combined with formal resources.
The key takeaway here is: Don’t rush it. Even native speakers spend years learning how to write properly. If you’re serious about reading and writing Japanese, following the same gradual steps as a native learner is the most effective strategy.
Lastly, although writing is important, don’t underestimate the value of building a solid foundation in spoken grammar and sentence structure first. Being able to express yourself clearly in speech will also make reading and writing feel more intuitive later on.
📚 Recommended Kanji Learning Resources
If you’re just getting started with Kanji, here are a few great tools and books—some even native Japanese children use!
🏫 Beginner Books (Same as Japanese kids use!)
- [Kanji Practice Notebook 1st Grade (小学生の漢字ドリル)]
A great starter workbook written entirely in Japanese. Good for serious learners who want an immersive experience.
Search on Amazon Japan: 「漢字ドリル 1年生」 - [Let’s Learn Kanji (by Yasuko Kosaka Mitamura)]
ISBN: 978-4-7700-1978-0
A structured English-language guide to Kanji with stroke orders and vocabulary examples.
🌐 Online Tools
- WaniKani – A gamified Kanji learning platform with spaced repetition.
- Jisho.org – An excellent online Kanji dictionary (great for looking up readings, meanings, and stroke orders).
- KanjiAlive – Free visual database of over 1,000 common Kanji with stroke animations and readings.
📱 Mobile Apps
- Kanji Tree (Android/iOS) – Simple and effective flashcard app for beginners.
- Anki + Kanji Decks – SRS-based memorization using downloadable decks for JLPT N5–N1 Kanji.
Thanks for reading! If you’re learning Japanese or curious about how native speakers acquire literacy, I hope this gave you some insight. Feel free to reach out or leave a comment with your own experience!