Learning Japanese Made Simple: Start with These Basics

Recently updated

Learning Japanese Made Simple: Start with These Basics (For Kids)

Learning a new language can be exciting, especially for kids who love to explore new ideas and cultures. Japanese is a fun and unique language that opens up a world of stories, cartoons, songs, and adventures. From reading manga and watching anime to understanding Japanese signs and speaking with new friends, learning Japanese can be both useful and enjoyable.

Although Japanese may seem hard at first, kids can start with simple steps. With colorful letters, catchy sounds, and fun phrases, children can build a strong foundation in Japanese while having a great time. This guide introduces basic Japanese in a kid-friendly way, helping young learners begin their journey with confidence and curiosity.

Why Learn Japanese?

Kids love discovering new things—and Japanese is full of interesting surprises. The language uses cool characters (called Hiragana, Katakana, and Kanji), fun expressions, and polite manners. Learning Japanese can help kids:

• Understand anime and manga (like Pokémon, Doraemon, and Totoro)

• Talk to Japanese friends or pen pals

• Travel to Japan and read signs or menus

• Explore a new culture filled with traditions, games, and yummy food

Most of all, it boosts memory, focus, and creativity. Let’s start with the basics and make learning Japanese easy and fun!

Step 1: Meet the Japanese Alphabets

Japanese has three writing systems. That might sound like a lot, but don’t worry—kids can learn them one by one.

1. Hiragana (ひらがな) – This is the first alphabet kids in Japan learn. It has 46 simple symbols that represent sounds like “a,” “ka,” and “sa.” Once you learn Hiragana, you can read many basic Japanese words.

   Examples:

   • あ (a)

   • い (i)

   • う (u)

   • ねこ (neko) = cat

   • さくら (sakura) = cherry blossom

2. Katakana (カタカナ) – This is used for words that come from other languages, like “banana” or “ice cream.” It also has 46 symbols.

   Examples:

   • バナナ (banana) = banana

   • アイスクリーム (aisu kuriimu) = ice cream

3. Kanji (漢字) – These are picture-like characters from China. Each one has a meaning, like “tree,” “sun,” or “person.” Kanji can be tricky, so it’s okay to learn just a few at first.

   Examples:

   • 木 (ki) = tree

   • 日 (hi) = sun/day

   • 人 (hito) = person

Fun tip: Start with Hiragana using games, songs, and colorful flashcards!

Step 2: Easy Greetings and Words

Kids can begin by learning friendly Japanese phrases. These are fun to say and great for practice:

• こんにちは (Konnichiwa) – Hello

• おはよう (Ohayou) – Good morning

• さようなら (Sayounara) – Goodbye

• ありがとう (Arigatou) – Thank you

• ごめんね (Gomen ne) – I’m sorry

• はい (Hai) – Yes

• いいえ (Iie) – No

• たのしい (Tanoshii) – Fun

• かわいい (Kawaii) – Cute

Try using one new word each day and say it during playtime or at the dinner table!

Step 3: Numbers, Colors, and Animals

Learning numbers, colors, and animals in Japanese is super fun—and useful too!

Numbers 1–10 in Japanese:
1 – いち (ichi)
2 – に (ni)
3 – さん (san)
4 – し / よん (shi / yon)
5 – ご (go)
6 – ろく (roku)
7 – しち / なな (shichi / nana)
8 – はち (hachi)
9 – きゅう / く (kyuu / ku)
10 – じゅう (juu)

Colors in Japanese:
Red – あか (aka)
Blue – あお (ao)
Green – みどり (midori)
Yellow – きいろ (kiiro)
Black – くろ (kuro)
White – しろ (shiro)

Animals in Japanese:
Dog – いぬ (inu)
Cat – ねこ (neko)
Bird – とり (tori)
Fish – さかな (sakana)
Horse – うま (uma)

Use drawing games or coloring sheets to help remember them!

Step 4: Say Simple Sentences

Japanese sentences are short and easy to start with. Try these:

• わたしは〇〇です。
  Watashi wa ___ desu. = I am ___ (say your name!)

• これは〇〇です。
  Kore wa ___ desu. = This is a ___.

• 〇〇がすきです。
  ___ ga suki desu. = I like ___.

Examples:

• わたしはケンです。 (Watashi wa Ken desu.) = I am Ken.

• これはねこです。 (Kore wa neko desu.) = This is a cat.

• いぬがすきです。 (Inu ga suki desu.) = I like dogs.

Let kids play with sentence cards or act out the meaning for fun learning!

Step 5: Practice With Fun Activities

Learning Japanese doesn’t have to feel like homework. Try these fun ways to practice:

• Watch Japanese cartoons or songs with subtitles

• Sing Japanese children’s songs like “Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes” in Japanese

• Play memory card games with Japanese words and pictures

• Draw and label pictures in Japanese

• Use apps like LingoKids, Gus on the Go, or Duolingo for Kids

• Read picture books like Ellie The Tiny Little Chick in Japanese if available!

Final Thoughts

Learning Japanese can be a wonderful journey for kids. With bright characters, fun words, and creative activities, children can explore a new language while boosting their brains and building confidence. Starting small—with the alphabet, greetings, and everyday words—makes everything easier and more fun.

So, grab some crayons, sing a song, and say “こんにちは!” The world of Japanese is waiting, and learning it can be one of the most joyful adventures your child ever takes.