Your first words.
Your first Japanese story.
Learn Japanese for absolute beginners
You don’t need to know a single word of Japanese. Meet a few words with pictures and audio, practice them with guidance, then see them come together in a story.
Module 1 needs no account. Create a free account to save progress and unlock module 2.
Start recognizing Japanese in meaningful pieces
Japanese uses several writing systems. You can begin by connecting the written words you see with a picture, meaning and recording, without trying to master every character first. Revisit short expressions and notice how the same word appears in different scenes.
Begin with recognition
Meet a manageable set of words with visual and listening support. You can repeat before moving on.
Practice in small steps
Follow the module’s guided activities, check your understanding and revisit unfamiliar words.
Grow into stories
Milestone stories bring earlier vocabulary together, so your practice has a clear destination.
Your Japanese beginner course
Start at the beginning and build on familiar words. Explore any module below to see its goal and vocabulary before opening the course.
- 1TRY WITHOUT SIGNUP
A Picture at Home
Recognize and use eight foundational Japanese words while looking at and describing a picture.
わたし · え · これ - 2FREE WITH YOUR ACCOUNT
What’s in the Boxes?
Recognize and use simple words for asking about objects, describing their size, and saying that they exist.
はこ · それ · おおきい - 3CONTINUE IN THE APP
Who Is in the Picture?
Recognize and use simple words for people, identity, and location while looking at a family picture.
ひと · おとこのこ · おんなのこ - MILESTONE STORY
The Picture in the Box
Read a short story about identifying a box, a picture, and the people shown in it.
- 4CONTINUE IN THE APP
A Friend Comes Home
Understand simple statements about going to a house, coming to a house, and identifying a friend today.
いえ · ともだち · きょう - 5CONTINUE IN THE APP
A Teacher on the Way to School
Recognize words for school, teacher, and names, and understand simple exchanges about asking and saying a name.
がっこう · せんせい · なまえ - 6CONTINUE IN THE APP
Paper on the Desk
Recognize and use words for a desk, paper, holding, putting, doing, and identifying who performs an action.
つくえ · かみ · が - MILESTONE STORY
The Picture in the Box
Follow a short story about finding a picture, asking who is in it, and meeting that person.
- 7CONTINUE IN THE APP
Walking to the Shop
Understand and use simple words for walking, running, stopping, buses, shops, moving slowly, and starting from a place.
バス · みせ · あるく - 8CONTINUE IN THE APP
At the Bedroom Door
Understand and use words for a door, a room, opening, entering, leaving, waiting, and saying something does not happen.
ドア · へや · あける - 9CONTINUE IN THE APP
A Letter for Her Brother
Understand and use simple words for writing a letter, understanding it, sharing an opinion, and responding politely.
てがみ · かく · おもう - MILESTONE STORY
The Letter in the Little Box
Read a short story about finding a letter and discovering who it is from.
- 10CONTINUE IN THE APP
A Familiar Voice
Recognize and use words for the face, eyes, and voice, address someone affectionately, and understand very and a little in short everyday scenes.
かお · め · こえ - 11CONTINUE IN THE APP
Water for the Pot
Understand and use words for a hand, water, a pot, taking something, offering it, and describing it as delicious.
て · みず · なべ - 12CONTINUE IN THE APP
Flowers by the Old Tree
Read and understand simple descriptions of flowers, trees, stones, age, quantity, and change.
はな · き · いし - MILESTONE STORY
The Little Box
Follow a complete story about making, finding, and sharing a small gift.
- 13CONTINUE IN THE APP
Birds Over the Sea
Recognize words for the sky, sea, birds, standing, now, and an action continuing over time.
そら · うみ · とり - 14CONTINUE IN THE APP
A Quick Trip to the Shop
Understand and use words for parents, being alone, regular routines, and limiting something to only one choice.
おかあさん · ちち · ひとり - 15CONTINUE IN THE APP
From Tears to Laughter
Understand who is together and follow a simple change from crying to laughing.
ふたり · みんな · わらう - MILESTONE STORY
The Old Box
Read a complete story about finding, opening, and understanding an old box.
Your progress comes with you.
Try module 1 here without signing up. Create a free account to save your progress and complete module 2 on the web. Then continue in the Inklingo app.
Already have an account? Sign in to that same account in the app. Use the same sign-in method as on the website. You don’t need a new account or to start again.
The free app includes the first 3 modules and the first milestone story. Premium learners can continue through the full course.
Open Foundations
Before you start
What does A0 mean?
Inklingo uses A0 for the starting point before A1: absolute beginners who are building their first vocabulary. You don’t need a placement test or previous lessons to start Foundations.
Do I need an account for the first module?
No. You can try module 1 as a guest. Create an account when you are ready to continue so your completion is saved and available across the web and app.
Can I use the course on a computer?
Yes. The first two modules are available to free learners on the web; module 2 requires an account. Continue free starter access in the app, or use your existing Premium access for the full web course.
What should I practice after Foundations?
Try beginner Japanese stories. Keep using audio and word meanings while you build reading confidence. You can also explore the Japanese vocabulary library.