日本語を学ぶ
Learn Japanese.
Start here.
Lessons built for English speakers going from zero to conversational. Covers the writing system, grammar, vocabulary, and kanji, all mapped to JLPT levels.
Not sure where to start? Find your JLPT level in 2 minutes →
Start free, no signup. An account remembers what you learn and keeps your reviews going on any device.
One character.
One story.
Every character in every lesson comes with a visual memory story. You are not memorising shapes. You are remembering pictures.
Here is a real example from the Hiragana lesson.
See all 46 characters →Memory story
A person doing a yoga pose, arms stretched wide open, mouth wide open, "Ahh!" The curve is their bent arm. The vertical stroke is their spine.
7 lessons are ready
Free to start, no account needed to begin.
The N5 Course
N5コースThe whole N5 in ten ordered units: words, grammar, kanji, reading and listening, with checkpoints and a daily session.
- Content
- 10 units
- Level
- N5
- Time
- 3, 4 months
Hiragana
ひらがな46 characters, each with a visual mnemonic that makes it stick.
- Content
- 46 characters
- Level
- N5
- Time
- ~1 week
Katakana
カタカナ46 characters used for loanwords and foreign names.
- Content
- 46 characters
- Level
- N5
- Time
- ~1 week
Kanji
漢字All JLPT kanji from N5 to N1, with readings, meanings, and examples.
- Content
- N5 to N1
- Level
- All levels
- Time
- Long term
Grammar N5
文法 N5Core sentence patterns for JLPT N5, explained from scratch.
- Content
- 90 patterns
- Level
- N5
- Time
- 6, 8 weeks
Vocabulary N5
語彙 N5The N5 vocabulary, grouped by topic with example sentences.
- Content
- 684 words
- Level
- N5
- Time
- 8, 10 weeks
Speaking
会話Shadowing drills and conversation patterns for daily use.
- Content
- Drills + dialogues
- Level
- N5, N4
- Time
- Ongoing
Get the free phrase pack
100 real-life Japanese phrases, by situation, sent straight to your inbox.
How Japanese Compass is structured
Each track builds on the last. Start at step one and work forward.
- The N5 Course N5コース Open now10 units N5 3, 4 months
The whole N5 in ten ordered units: words, grammar, kanji, reading and listening, with checkpoints and a daily session.
Open The N5 Course → - Hiragana ひらがな Open now46 characters N5 ~1 week
46 characters, each with a visual mnemonic that makes it stick.
Builds on The N5 Course
Open Hiragana → - Katakana カタカナ Open now46 characters N5 ~1 week
46 characters used for loanwords and foreign names.
Builds on Hiragana
Open Katakana → - Kanji 漢字 Open nowN5 to N1 All levels Long term
All JLPT kanji from N5 to N1, with readings, meanings, and examples.
Builds on Katakana
Open Kanji → - Grammar N5 文法 N5 Open now90 patterns N5 6, 8 weeks
Core sentence patterns for JLPT N5, explained from scratch.
Builds on Kanji
Open Grammar N5 → - Vocabulary N5 語彙 N5 Open now684 words N5 8, 10 weeks
The N5 vocabulary, grouped by topic with example sentences.
Builds on Grammar N5
Open Vocabulary N5 → - Speaking 会話 Open nowDrills + dialogues N5, N4 Ongoing
Shadowing drills and conversation patterns for daily use.
Builds on Vocabulary N5
Open Speaking →
What this is
Japanese Compass started as a daily Japanese lesson page on Instagram. This website is where those lessons live in a more permanent and usable form.
Every lesson maps to a JLPT level, so there is always a clear path forward. Explanations are written specifically for English speakers, which means no assumed knowledge of other languages or writing systems.
- JLPT-mapped Full N5 to N1 coverage
- Written for English speakers No assumed prior knowledge
- Free core lessons No account or payment to start
Daily lessons on Instagram
New vocabulary, grammar, and sentence examples posted every day at @japanesecompass.
Follow @japanesecompass →Follows JLPT N5 to N1
Content is organised around official JLPT levels, so you always know where a lesson fits in your overall progress.
See curriculum →One Japanese lesson, every day.
Vocabulary, grammar, and real-life examples posted daily at @japanesecompass. Free. No algorithm to fight.
七転び八起き
nana korobi ya oki
"Fall seven times, stand up eight."
The most important thing in language learning is not being perfect. It is starting.
Want the phrase pack first?
100 real-life Japanese phrases, grouped by situation. Free, and yours by email before you even start hiragana.
Start with Hiragana.
46 characters. One mnemonic each. Most learners finish in a week. It is the foundation everything else builds on.
Open the free Hiragana lessonFree to start, no signup. Works on any device.