Kotoba StreetJapanese through mangaSaved phrases

75 lessons · 11 recommended phases

Build foundations first, then practice one real-life task at a time.

This roadmap gives one recommended order: one Start Guide, then 74 task-focused lessons. It is not a test or a rule. If you need Japanese for something happening today, use Start or Situations first and return later.

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1

Follow from the foundations

Start at Phase 1 when scripts, sounds, and first exchanges are still new.

Begin with Phase 1

2

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Phase 1 · Lessons 1–5

Choose your route and decode the basics

Use the Start Guide to choose a path, then learn the scripts and sound cues that make later examples easier to read and hear.

  1. 01
    Start Guide · OrientationLearn Japanese for Beginners: Choose Your First Route

    Choose one immediate Japanese need, select a route, and open its first useful lesson.

  2. 02
    Hiragana, Katakana, and Kanji: How Japanese Writing Works

    Identify the hiragana, katakana, and kanji parts of one mixed Japanese word or message.

  3. 03
    Hiragana Chart for Beginners: Learn the 46 Basic Characters

    Read the five vowel hiragana and identify the main sound rows.

  4. 04
    Katakana Chart for Beginners: Read Japanese Loanwords

    Recognize common katakana words on menus and signs.

  5. 05
    Japanese Pronunciation Guide: Vowels, Rhythm, and Long Sounds

    Pronounce the five Japanese vowels and hear the difference made by sound length.

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Phase 2 · Lessons 6–10

Open, close, and repair a short exchange

Practice greetings, introductions, thanks, attention, and a request for slower speech before adding practical transactions.

  1. 06
    Japanese Greetings: 15 Useful Phrases for Everyday Life

    Choose an appropriate Japanese greeting for the time and relationship.

  2. 07
    How to Introduce Yourself in Japanese

    Give a 20-second Japanese self-introduction.

  3. 08
    Arigatou Meaning: 7 Natural Ways to Say Thank You in Japanese

    Thank someone in casual and polite everyday situations.

  4. 09
    Sumimasen Meaning: Sorry, Excuse Me, or Thank You?

    Use sumimasen to get attention, make a small apology, or acknowledge another person's effort.

  5. 10
    How to Say “Please Speak Slowly” in Japanese

    Ask a speaker to slow down or repeat, then confirm one recovered detail without ending the conversation.

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Phase 3 · Lessons 11–16

Complete a purchase or meal safely

Move from prices and pointing to shopping, ordering, payment, and stating a food restriction.

  1. 11
    How to Say “How Much Is This?” in Japanese

    Ask one item's price, confirm the yen amount, and use it to make a budget decision.

  2. 12
    20 Japanese Shopping Phrases You Can Use Today

    Move through a simple store interaction from finding an item to paying.

  3. 13
    Kore, Sore, and Are: This and That in Japanese

    Point to nearby and distant objects with the correct Japanese demonstrative.

  4. 14
    How to Order Food in Japanese: A Simple Step-by-Step Guide

    Order a menu item, quantity, and drink, then ask for the check.

  5. 15
    25 Japanese Restaurant Phrases for Travelers and Residents

    Handle common restaurant questions from arrival through payment.

  6. 16
    Japanese Phrases for Food Allergies and Dietary Restrictions

    State a food allergy, ask about ingredients and shared preparation as separate facts, and decide whether to order from the restaurant's current answer.

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Phase 4 · Lessons 17–23

Find a place, check in, or ask for help

Use location and transport questions, then practice hotel, health, and emergency handoffs where clarity matters.

  1. 17
    How to Ask for Directions in Japanese

    Ask where a destination is and confirm the first route step.

  2. 18
    Japanese Train Phrases: Tickets, Platforms, and Transfers

    Find the right platform and ask where to transfer.

  3. 19
    How to Ask “Does This Train Go to…?” in Japanese

    Confirm a train's destination and recognize when a transfer is required.

  4. 20
    Japanese Convenience Store Phrases: What the Staff Is Asking

    Answer common convenience-store checkout questions with short responses.

  5. 21
    Japanese Hotel Phrases: Check-in, Requests, and Problems

    Check in and make one clear request at a hotel.

  6. 22
    Japanese Phrases for Visiting a Doctor

    Describe one symptom, body location, and duration, then confirm medicine timing.

  7. 23
    Japanese Emergency Phrases: How to Ask for Help

    Ask for emergency help and give a simple location and problem.

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Phase 5 · Lessons 24–30

Join daily routines and build sentence control

Add workplace and neighbor exchanges, then learn the sentence frame, politeness, particles, and verb forms behind them.

  1. 24
    Japanese Workplace Greetings for Your First Week

    Greet coworkers on arrival and leave work politely.

  2. 25
    Japanese Greetings for Meeting Your Neighbors

    Introduce yourself as a new neighbor and close the exchange naturally.

  3. 26
    Japanese Sentence Structure: The Beginner’s Guide

    Build a simple Japanese sentence with a topic, information, and final verb or predicate.

  4. 27
    What Does Desu Mean? Japanese Polite Sentences Explained

    Make basic polite noun and adjective statements with desu.

  5. 28
    Wa vs Ga: How to Choose the Right Japanese Particle

    Use wa to establish a topic and ga to identify or present focused information in basic sentences.

  6. 29
    Ni vs De in Japanese: Place and Action Particles

    Use ni for a destination or existence and de for where an action happens.

  7. 30
    Japanese Masu Form: Present, Past, Negative, and Past Negative

    Say what you do, do not do, did, and did not do in polite Japanese.

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Phase 6 · Lessons 31–37

Recover when a journey changes

Handle buses, taxis, flights, lost items, delays, and IC-card top-ups without treating the first problem as the end of the trip.

  1. 31
    Japanese Bus Phrases: Boarding, Paying, and Getting Off

    Board a local bus, follow the payment flow, and confirm where to get off.

  2. 32
    How to Ask “Does This Bus Go to…?” in Japanese

    Ask whether a bus goes to a destination and act on the driver's answer.

  3. 33
    Japanese Taxi Phrases: Destination, Stops, and Payment

    Give a taxi destination, confirm the stop, and complete payment.

  4. 34
    Japanese Airport Check-in Phrases for a Simple Departure

    Check in for a flight and confirm baggage, seat, and the next departure step.

  5. 35
    Japanese Lost Item Phrases: Ask at a Station or Store

    Report one lost item and provide the place, time, and identifying details.

  6. 36
    Japanese Train Delay Phrases: Ask What Happens Next

    Identify a train delay and confirm one workable next travel step.

  7. 37
    How to Ask to Charge an IC Card in Japanese

    Ask to add a chosen amount to an IC card and confirm the new balance.

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Phase 7 · Lessons 38–42

Pause, check, and follow the current instruction

For health, disaster, and non-emergency police situations, identify the current instruction and keep decisions with the appropriate service.

  1. 38
    Japanese Pharmacy Phrases: Ask for the Right Help

    Describe one symptom and confirm whether and how to use a pharmacy product.

  2. 39
    Japanese Clinic Reception Phrases: Appointment and Forms

    Check in at a clinic and confirm the form, waiting, and language-support steps.

  3. 40
    Japanese Earthquake Phrases: Understand Immediate Instructions

    Recognize one immediate earthquake instruction and confirm where to move next.

  4. 41
    Japanese Typhoon Phrases: Understand Warnings and Closures

    Recognize one typhoon warning and confirm the current local action.

  5. 42
    Japanese Police Station Phrases: Ask for Non-emergency Help

    Explain one non-emergency problem and follow the next police instruction.

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Phase 8 · Lessons 43–50

Handle parcels, waste, and housing facts

Complete delivery handoffs, ask about current local waste rules, and report one utility, repair, or rental fact precisely.

  1. 43
    Japanese Post Office Phrases: Send a Parcel

    Present a parcel and confirm the destination, service, form, and payment steps.

  2. 44
    Japanese Missed Delivery Phrases: Arrange Redelivery

    Use a missed-delivery notice to request and confirm redelivery.

  3. 45
    Japanese Delivery Time Phrases: Receive a Parcel

    Confirm and complete a simple home-delivery handoff.

  4. 46
    Japanese Trash Sorting Phrases: Ask Which Category

    Ask which local waste category one item belongs to.

  5. 47
    Japanese Trash Day Phrases: Confirm When and Where

    Confirm when and where one waste category is collected.

  6. 48
    Japanese Utility Problem Phrases: Water, Gas, and Power

    Report one utility problem and follow the provider or manager's immediate instruction.

  7. 49
    Japanese Apartment Repair Phrases: Report a Problem

    Describe one apartment fault and confirm the next repair step.

  8. 50
    Japanese Rental Viewing Phrases: Ask About the Room

    Ask and record the basic facts of one rental property viewing.

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Phase 9 · Lessons 51–60

Complete forms, payments, and service requests

Follow staff instructions at public and financial counters, then confirm one supported payment, return, or everyday service request.

  1. 51
    Japanese City Hall Phrases: Ask About Address Registration

    State the address-registration task and follow the staff's document, form, and counter instructions.

  2. 52
    Japanese Residence Certificate Phrases: Request a Copy

    Request the intended residence-certificate copy and confirm the collection process.

  3. 53
    Japanese Health Insurance Desk Phrases: Ask for Guidance

    Present one health-insurance administrative issue and follow the official next instruction.

  4. 54
    Japanese Form Filling Phrases: Name, Address, and Help

    Complete the identity and address fields of a basic form with staff guidance.

  5. 55
    Japanese Bank Account Phrases: Ask About Opening an Account

    Ask about account opening and follow the bank's current document and application instructions.

  6. 56
    Japanese ATM Words and Phrases: Withdraw Cash

    Recognize and complete the visible steps of a basic cash withdrawal or stop safely when it fails.

  7. 57
    Japanese Bill Payment Phrases: Pay at a Counter

    Present one payment slip and confirm whether and how it can be paid.

  8. 58
    Japanese Payment Method Phrases: Cash, Card, or Mobile

    Ask which payment methods are accepted and complete one supported payment.

  9. 59
    Japanese Return and Refund Phrases: Ask Store Staff

    Explain one purchase problem and understand the store's return or exchange response.

  10. 60
    Japanese Hair Salon Phrases: Explain the Cut You Want

    Show and confirm a basic haircut request before the cut begins.

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Phase 10 · Lessons 61–70

Coordinate orders and workplace handoffs

Move from service and food orders to help, deadlines, reports, time off, phone calls, and confirmation at work.

  1. 61
    Japanese Dry Cleaning Phrases: Drop Off and Collect Clothes

    Leave one clothing item for cleaning and confirm collection details.

  2. 62
    Japanese Restaurant Reservation Phrases: Book a Table

    Request and confirm one restaurant reservation.

  3. 63
    Japanese Takeout Phrases: Order Food to Go

    Place and collect one simple takeout order.

  4. 64
    Vegetarian and Vegan Japanese Phrases: Check Ingredients

    Explain one dietary boundary and act on the staff's ingredient answer or uncertainty.

  5. 65
    Japanese Workplace Help Phrases: Ask a Coworker

    Request focused workplace help and agree on the next action.

  6. 66
    Japanese Deadline Phrases: Confirm When Work Is Due

    Confirm the exact due date, time, and expected deliverable for one task.

  7. 67
    Japanese Completion Report Phrases: Say the Task Is Done

    Report one completed task and clarify its delivery and remaining check.

  8. 68
    Japanese Time-off Request Phrases: Start the Conversation

    State a requested absence and understand the workplace's next procedural step.

  9. 69
    Japanese Phone Call Phrases: Introduce, Ask, and Confirm

    Open one phone call, state its purpose, and confirm the next action.

  10. 70
    Japanese Workplace Confirmation Phrases: Prevent a Misunderstanding

    Restate one workplace instruction and obtain confirmation or correction.

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Phase 11 · Lessons 71–75

Communicate with schools and local support

Report a school need, follow up with a teacher, meet other adults, join one event, and reach the appropriate consultation desk.

  1. 71
    Japanese School Absence Phrases: Notify the School

    Report one child's absence or lateness and confirm the school's next request.

  2. 72
    Japanese Teacher Meeting Phrases: Ask and Confirm

    Ask a teacher about one concern and agree on a follow-up action.

  3. 73
    Japanese Parent Introduction Phrases: Meet Other Families

    Make a short adult-to-adult introduction through a child or school connection.

  4. 74
    Japanese Community Event Phrases: Join and Help

    Confirm the practical details of one community event and join appropriately.

  5. 75
    Japanese Consultation Desk Phrases: Find the Right Support

    Explain one practical problem and follow a confirmed referral to the right support.

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