# Inku — full content snapshot > Inku is a calm app for learning Japanese. Curated flashcards with bundled audio, spaced repetition (FSRS), kana and JLPT N5 through N1 vocabulary, three phrase packs, and handwriting practice. Local-first, no account required, and no ads. Operator: Bao Hua, sole proprietor, Calgary, AB, Canada. Support: app@inkujapanese.com. Canonical: https://inkujapanese.com/ Sitemap: https://inkujapanese.com/sitemap.xml Blog RSS feed: https://inkujapanese.com/feed.xml Robots: https://inkujapanese.com/robots.txt Index (TOC): https://inkujapanese.com/llms.txt ## Verified facts about Inku - Platform: iPhone (iOS 18.0+). Android is not available yet. Local-first. No account or sync in v1. - Availability: download from the App Store. - Current curriculum: 208 kana; 2,701 vocabulary cards, including 2,461 JLPT cards from N5 through N1 and 240 topic cards; 429 kanji; 436 phrases in three packs; 16 unlocked study bundles. - Pricing: US $49.99/year or $3.99/week, 7-day trial on yearly. Web catalog is separate (`inku_annual_web` / `inku_weekly_web`). No iOS redemption. - Audio: bundled pronunciation audio for the main card library. Apple Japanese voice fallback for missing surfaces. - Scheduler: FSRS algorithm with parameters tuned for adult Japanese vocabulary retention. - Privacy: no account required, learning progress stored locally on the device, anonymous diagnostics only. No ads. - Habit: streak and progress tracking with a soft, ink-drop visual. Does not punish missed days. - Themes: Matcha, Sakura, Sun, Moon. ## Author ### Bao Hua — Founder of Inku URL: https://inkujapanese.com/authors/bao-hua Location: Calgary, Alberta, Canada Bio: Independent software maker. Building Inku, a calm app for learning Japanese, from Calgary. Knows about: Japanese language, Adult language acquisition, Spaced repetition, FSRS algorithm, Hiragana, Katakana, JLPT, iOS development, SwiftUI, Indie software Languages: en, ja Credentials: - Adult Japanese learner since 2022 - Built Inku full-time from Calgary, Alberta - 10+ years shipping software (iOS, web, internal tools) - Personally writes and audits every guide on this site Profiles: - Twitter: https://twitter.com/baothepenguin - Email: mailto:app@inkujapanese.com - GitHub: https://github.com/itsbaohua ## Pillar guides ### Learn Hiragana: Inku's Complete Guide URL: https://inkujapanese.com/guides/learn-hiragana Reading time: 28 min read (~6100 words) Description: Learn all 46 hiragana in three days with this complete illustrated guide. Audio, mnemonics, stroke order, and a printable worksheet. TLDR: Hiragana is the cursive Japanese script used for native words, grammar, and particles. Learn all 46 in roughly three focused sessions using mnemonic images, audio, and short recall drills. Keywords: learn hiragana, hiragana chart, hiragana mnemonics, hiragana guide ### Learn Katakana: A Practical Guide for Adults URL: https://inkujapanese.com/guides/learn-katakana Reading time: 22 min read (~4800 words) Description: The complete katakana guide. 46 characters, side-by-side with hiragana, pronunciation audio, and the loanword patterns that make katakana click. TLDR: Katakana is the angular Japanese script used for foreign loanwords and emphasis. Most adult learners pick up the 46 characters in 3 to 5 days once hiragana is under their belt. Keywords: learn katakana, katakana chart, katakana guide ### JLPT N5 Vocabulary: A 110-Word Beginner Core URL: https://inkujapanese.com/guides/jlpt-n5-vocabulary Reading time: 25 min read (~2600 words) Description: A focused 110-word N5 beginner core, organized by category with kana, romaji, and English meanings. TLDR: JLPT N5 is commonly estimated at roughly 800 words. This page teaches a focused 110-word beginner core; the current Inku N5 app bundle contains 551 cards for broader review. Keywords: JLPT N5 vocabulary, N5 word list, JLPT N5 words ### How to Learn Japanese: An Honest Roadmap URL: https://inkujapanese.com/guides/how-to-learn-japanese Reading time: 32 min read (~6400 words) Description: If I had to learn Japanese from scratch again, this is exactly what I would do. Six phases, real time estimates, specific tools. TLDR: Plan on 3 to 6 months to cover hiragana, katakana, and N5 vocabulary with 15 minutes a day. Reaching conversational (N4) fluency takes most adult learners 12 to 18 months of consistent work. Keywords: how to learn japanese, japanese roadmap, learn japanese adults ### Spaced Repetition, Explained Without the Hype URL: https://inkujapanese.com/guides/spaced-repetition-explained Reading time: 18 min read (~4200 words) Description: The memory science behind Anki, WaniKani, and Inku. Why spaced repetition works, where it breaks, and how to use it without wasting your time. TLDR: Spaced repetition schedules reviews at expanding intervals so you see each item right before you forget it. Done well it can cut the time to retain vocabulary by 3 to 5x compared with cramming. Keywords: spaced repetition, SRS explained, how spaced repetition works ### Japanese Particles: The Masterclass URL: https://inkujapanese.com/guides/japanese-particles-masterclass Reading time: 26 min read (~5300 words) Description: A complete, example-dense guide to every core Japanese particle: は, が, を, に, で, へ, と, から, まで, の, も, や. TLDR: Japanese particles are single-syllable markers that tell you how each word in a sentence relates to the others. The 12 core particles cover roughly 95 percent of real-world usage. Keywords: japanese particles, particles guide, japanese grammar particles ### Japanese Numbers 1 to 100 (and Beyond), With Readings URL: https://inkujapanese.com/guides/japanese-numbers Reading time: 11 min read (~1850 words) Description: Every Japanese number from 0 into the millions, with kanji, kana, and romaji readings. The build pattern, the alternate readings, and the sound changes that trip people up. TLDR: Japanese numbers are built from ten core words and a regular stacking pattern: 11 is ten-one (juuichi), 20 is two-ten (nijuu), 100 is hyaku, 1000 is sen. Once you know 1 to 10 you can build almost everything, as long as you learn three small wrinkles: the alternate readings for 4 (yon or shi), 7 (nana or shichi), and 9 (kyuu or ku); the sound changes at 300 (sanbyaku), 600 (roppyaku), and 800 (happyaku); and the fact that Japanese groups large numbers by ten-thousand (man) rather than by thousand. Keywords: japanese numbers, counting in japanese, japanese numbers 1-100, japanese number readings ### Kanji Radicals for Beginners: The Building Blocks URL: https://inkujapanese.com/guides/kanji-radicals Reading time: 9 min read (~1430 words) Description: What kanji radicals are, why they make kanji learnable, the position names, and ten common radicals with example characters for beginners. TLDR: A kanji radical (部首 bushu) is a recurring component used to build and index kanji. The traditional dictionary system organizes characters under 214 classical radicals. Radicals matter for beginners because they turn kanji from thousands of unrelated shapes into combinations of a few dozen repeating parts: once you can spot the water radical 氵(sanzui), you see it in 海 (sea), 池 (pond), and many other characters. Radicals often hint at a kanji meaning, though they are not a reliable guide to pronunciation. Keywords: kanji radicals, kanji radicals list, what is a kanji radical, kanji building blocks ### JLPT N3 Vocabulary: The Bridge Level URL: https://inkujapanese.com/guides/jlpt-n3-vocabulary Reading time: 9 min read (~1480 words) Description: What JLPT N3 vocabulary covers, how it differs from N4, representative example words, and how to study the bridge level without stalling. Estimates only, since the JLPT publishes no official list. TLDR: JLPT N3 is the bridge level between beginner Japanese (N5 and N4) and the advanced levels (N2 and N1). There is no official JLPT vocabulary list, but N3 is commonly estimated at roughly 3,750 words and around 650 kanji cumulatively, up from an estimated 1,500 words at N4. The words turn more abstract and more useful for real reading (influence, environment, expectation, to get used to), and the test stops providing furigana, which is why many self-learners find N3 the level where progress feels slower per word. Keywords: jlpt n3 vocabulary, jlpt n3 word list, jlpt n3 words, n3 vocabulary ### Japanese Learning Resources Worth Bookmarking URL: https://inkujapanese.com/guides/japanese-learning-resources Reading time: 9 min read (~1850 words) Description: A practical list of Japanese apps, guides, reading tools, and review sites to use at each stage of the language. TLDR: Use one tool for daily review, one source for grammar, and one source for real Japanese input. For most beginners, that means Inku for kana and vocabulary, a grammar guide such as Tae Kim or Genki, and a reading source like NHK Web Easy once kana is stable. Keywords: Japanese learning resources, best Japanese resources, learn Japanese online ## Blog posts ### Can You Actually Learn Japanese in 10 Minutes a Day? URL: https://inkujapanese.com/blog/10-minutes-a-day-japanese Reading time: 9 min read (~1900 words) Description: A brutally honest answer to the question every language app dodges. With real numbers from six months of self-logging. TLDR: Yes, if you are consistent and honest about what 10 minutes can cover. Ten minutes a day over a year gets most adults through hiragana, katakana, and JLPT N5 vocabulary. It will not make you fluent. ### Duolingo for 100 Days: What I Learned, What I Wish I'd Done Differently URL: https://inkujapanese.com/blog/duolingo-100-days Reading time: 11 min read (~2300 words) Description: A journal, a scoreboard, and a reckoning. Ninety-eight green owls later, what actually stuck. ### The Spaced Repetition Mistake That Wastes 90% of Learners' Time URL: https://inkujapanese.com/blog/spaced-repetition-mistake Reading time: 8 min read (~1700 words) Description: Most people set up SRS wrong on day one. Here is the fix that took my retention from 60 percent to 94 percent. ### Wasei-eigo: 50 English Words the Japanese Changed Beyond Recognition URL: https://inkujapanese.com/blog/wasei-eigo Reading time: 12 min read (~2500 words) Description: Why マンション (manshon) means apartment, not mansion. A tour through the English words Japan quietly rewrote. ### Moshi Moshi: Why Japanese Phones Aren't Answered Like Yours URL: https://inkujapanese.com/blog/moshi-moshi Reading time: 7 min read (~1600 words) Description: The real story behind もしもし, where it came from, and the ghost-related reason it sticks around. ### Why I Stopped Using Anki (and What I Built Instead) URL: https://inkujapanese.com/blog/why-i-stopped-using-anki Reading time: 10 min read (~2100 words) Description: Anki works. It is also a blank sheet of graph paper. After three years, here is why I stopped opening it. ### How Long Does It Take to Learn Japanese? A Brutally Honest Timeline URL: https://inkujapanese.com/blog/how-long-to-learn-japanese Reading time: 13 min read (~2700 words) Description: Working adults, be warned. Here is a realistic month-by-month plan from zero to conversational Japanese. ### The Best Way to Learn Hiragana in 3 Days URL: https://inkujapanese.com/blog/hiragana-in-3-days Reading time: 9 min read (~1900 words) Description: A schedule, a method, and a set of guardrails against the mistakes that cost most people a week. ### Japanese Pitch Accent: Why Most Apps Skip It and Whether You Should Care URL: https://inkujapanese.com/blog/japanese-pitch-accent Reading time: 10 min read (~2100 words) Description: Pitch accent is Japanese's invisible grammar. Here is when to study it, when to ignore it, and how to hear it for the first time. ### Kanji Learning Strategies That Actually Stick URL: https://inkujapanese.com/blog/kanji-learning-strategies Reading time: 11 min read (~2400 words) Description: Radicals, stories, writing practice, and the one strategy nobody recommends but everybody needs. ### I Built the Japanese App I Wanted After Quitting Noisy Language Apps URL: https://inkujapanese.com/blog/i-built-the-japanese-app-i-wanted Reading time: 4 min read (~850 words) Description: A short launch note about why Inku exists: Japanese that sticks, without a phone that yells at you. TLDR: Inku exists for learners who want Japanese to stick, but do not want their phone to yell at them. It is a calm Japanese flashcard app for kana, beginner vocabulary, phrases, audio-supported review, handwriting, progress, and a soft daily habit. ### Why Inku Teaches Five Cards at a Time URL: https://inkujapanese.com/blog/why-inku-teaches-five-cards-at-a-time Reading time: 4 min read (~820 words) Description: Why small review sets make Japanese easier to start, easier to finish, and easier to remember. TLDR: Inku teaches five cards at a time because small sets are easier to start and easier to finish. A tiny stack lowers pressure, keeps attention on the Japanese, and makes the daily habit feel possible. ### The Difference Between a Streak Trap and a Study Habit URL: https://inkujapanese.com/blog/streak-trap-vs-study-habit Reading time: 4 min read (~900 words) Description: A simple way to tell whether your Japanese app is helping you learn or just helping you come back. TLDR: A streak trap makes you protect the number. A study habit helps you remember the Japanese. Good habit design makes it easy to return without shame, review what is due, and leave with something learned. ### JLPT N4 Vocabulary: What to Learn After N5 URL: https://inkujapanese.com/blog/jlpt-n4-vocabulary Reading time: 9 min read (~1730 words) Description: What changes when you move from JLPT N5 to N4, how many words to expect, and how to study the next set without burning out. TLDR: JLPT N4 covers roughly 1,500 words cumulative versus about 800 at N5, adding around 700 new items focused on verbs, adjectives, abstract daily-life vocabulary, and compound kanji. The jump is real but manageable if you keep your N5 base warm while layering new words in small daily chunks using spaced repetition. ### The Japanese Te-Form, Explained Simply URL: https://inkujapanese.com/blog/japanese-te-form Reading time: 9 min read (~1840 words) Description: The te-form is the one conjugation that unlocks requests, linked actions, and the progressive. Here is how to form it and when to use it. TLDR: The te-form is a connector, not a tense. You attach it to a verb to link it to whatever comes next, whether that is a request, a continuing action, a sequence of events, or a question about permission. Every verb group forms it differently, but the patterns are small enough to memorize in one sitting. ### Wa vs Ga: The Clearest Explanation of は and が URL: https://inkujapanese.com/blog/wa-vs-ga Reading time: 9 min read (~1720 words) Description: The difference between は and が in plain English, with a simple mental model and many real examples so it finally clicks. TLDR: は marks the topic of a sentence, the thing you are already talking about or setting as background context. が marks the subject and typically introduces new or emphasized information. The clearest test: は says as for X, が says X is the one. ### Japanese Counters: Why You Cannot Just Count to Ten URL: https://inkujapanese.com/blog/japanese-counters Reading time: 8 min read (~1620 words) Description: Japanese uses different counters for flat things, long things, people, and animals. Here are the ones worth learning first and how to drill them. TLDR: Japanese counters are suffixes attached to numbers that change depending on what you are counting. Flat things take mai, long cylindrical things take hon, people take nin except for one and two which are hitori and futari. Learning the eight most common counters covers the vast majority of everyday situations. ### Is Japanese Hard to Learn? An Honest Answer for English Speakers URL: https://inkujapanese.com/blog/is-japanese-hard-to-learn Reading time: 9 min read (~1850 words) Description: Japanese has a reputation for being impossible. Here is what is genuinely hard, what is easier than you expect, and how long it really takes. TLDR: Japanese is genuinely one of the hardest languages for English speakers, classified by the US Foreign Service Institute as a Category IV language requiring roughly 2200 class hours to reach professional proficiency. That said, the difficulty is front-loaded: pronunciation is simple and consistent, early milestones arrive fast, and a calm daily habit of 15 to 30 minutes will carry most adults to conversational level within a year or two. ### Hiragana vs Katakana: When to Use Each URL: https://inkujapanese.com/blog/hiragana-vs-katakana Reading time: 8 min read (~1520 words) Description: Two kana scripts, same sounds, different jobs. Here is when Japanese uses hiragana, when it uses katakana, and which to learn first. TLDR: Hiragana and katakana each represent the same 46 basic syllable sounds but serve different jobs. Hiragana handles native Japanese words, grammar particles, and verb endings. Katakana handles foreign loanwords, foreign names, and emphasis. Learn hiragana first because most beginner study material and all grammar is written in it. ### Learning Japanese From Anime: What Works and What Wrecks Your Accent URL: https://inkujapanese.com/blog/learn-japanese-from-anime Reading time: 9 min read (~1720 words) Description: Anime is a real listening tool and a real trap. Here is what it is good for, what it teaches wrong, and how to use it without sounding strange. TLDR: Anime is a genuine listening resource and a real motivation engine, but it teaches speech patterns that sound rough, masculine, or theatrical in normal conversation. Use it alongside structured study, not instead of it, and be selective about which characters you imitate. ### Romaji Is a Crutch (and That Is Fine for Two Weeks) URL: https://inkujapanese.com/blog/romaji-crutch Reading time: 7 min read (~1310 words) Description: Romaji helps you start and then quietly holds you back. Here is the honest case for using it briefly and dropping it fast. TLDR: Romaji is fine for the first week or two as a way to start speaking without blocking on kana. After that it quietly stalls you by hiding real Japanese sounds, blocking you from reading anything authentic, and baking in mispronunciations. Learn hiragana in a few days and drop romaji as soon as it is ready. ### Japanese Greetings: The Phrases You Actually Need First URL: https://inkujapanese.com/blog/japanese-greetings Reading time: 10 min read (~1640 words) Description: The Japanese greetings worth learning first, from ohayou gozaimasu to itadakimasu, with when to use each and the casual and polite forms. TLDR: The Japanese greetings to learn first are the time-of-day set (おはようございます ohayou gozaimasu for morning, こんにちは konnichiwa for daytime, こんばんは konbanwa for evening), the meeting phrases (はじめまして hajimemashite and よろしくおねがいします yoroshiku onegaishimasu), and the everyday courtesies (ありがとうございます arigatou gozaimasu for thank you, すみません sumimasen for excuse me or sorry). They are high-frequency, need almost no grammar, and you can use them correctly on your first day. ### Days of the Week and Months in Japanese URL: https://inkujapanese.com/blog/days-of-the-week-and-months Reading time: 8 min read (~1320 words) Description: The seven days of the week and twelve months in Japanese, plus the irregular days of the month, with kanji, kana, and romaji and the patterns that make them easier. TLDR: The days of the week in Japanese all end in 曜日 (youbi) and are named after the sun, moon, and five classical elements: 日曜日 (nichiyoubi) Sunday, 月曜日 (getsuyoubi) Monday, through 土曜日 (doyoubi) Saturday. Months are simply a number plus 月 (gatsu), with three irregular readings to memorize: 4月 (shigatsu), 7月 (shichigatsu), and 9月 (kugatsu). The genuinely hard part is the days of the month: the 1st through 10th use special native readings (ついたち tsuitachi, ふつか futsuka, みっか mikka and so on), and after that most days are just the number plus にち (nichi). ### The Masu Form: Polite Japanese Verbs Made Simple URL: https://inkujapanese.com/blog/masu-form-conjugation Reading time: 9 min read (~1480 words) Description: How to conjugate the polite masu form of Japanese verbs: the three verb groups, the u-verb sound shift, the two irregulars, and the four masu endings. TLDR: The masu form is the polite present tense of Japanese verbs, built from a verb stem plus ます (masu). How you build the stem depends on the verb group: Group 1 u-verbs change their final -u sound to -i (のむ nomu becomes のみます nomimasu), Group 2 ru-verbs drop る and add ます (たべる taberu becomes たべます tabemasu), and the two Group 3 irregulars are just memorized (する suru becomes します shimasu, くる kuru becomes きます kimasu). Once a verb is in the masu form, four endings cover everything: ます (masu), ません (masen), ました (mashita), and ませんでした (masen deshita). ### Do Japanese Flashcards Actually Work? (The Honest Answer) URL: https://inkujapanese.com/blog/do-japanese-flashcards-work Reading time: 9 min read (~1850 words) Description: Yes — for kana and vocabulary, Japanese flashcards are one of the most efficient tools there is, when you use active recall and spaced repetition. Here is what they are good at, what they are not, and how to use them right. TLDR: Yes. For memorizing kana, vocabulary, and kanji readings, Japanese flashcards are among the most efficient methods available — because they force active recall and, with spaced repetition, time each review to just before you forget. They are weak for grammar, listening, and speaking, which need other practice. Use them for the memorization layer, not the whole language. ### What Is FSRS? The Spaced-Repetition Algorithm, in Plain English URL: https://inkujapanese.com/blog/what-is-fsrs Reading time: 8 min read (~1750 words) Description: FSRS (Free Spaced Repetition Scheduler) predicts the moment you are about to forget a card and schedules the review for then. A plain-English explanation, and how it compares to SM-2. TLDR: FSRS (Free Spaced Repetition Scheduler) is a memory algorithm that predicts the day you are about to forget a flashcard and schedules its review for then. It tracks three things per card: difficulty, stability, and retrievability. It also learns from your own review history. Anki added it in 2023; Inku uses it by default, and you never have to configure it. ### How to Stay Consistent Learning Japanese Without Streaks URL: https://inkujapanese.com/blog/stay-consistent-without-streaks Reading time: 8 min read (~1700 words) Description: A calm, research-backed way to stay consistent with Japanese without streak pressure: set a tiny daily minimum, make returning shameless, and protect the habit, not the number. TLDR: To stay consistent with Japanese, protect the habit, not the streak. Set a daily minimum so small it feels almost free: five cards, or two minutes. Let a missed day be a non-event. Habit research found that missing a single day does not measurably slow how a habit forms, while streak pressure quietly turns the number into the goal. ### How Long Does It Take to Pass JLPT N5? A Realistic Estimate URL: https://inkujapanese.com/blog/how-long-to-pass-jlpt-n5 Reading time: 9 min read (~1850 words) Description: A realistic estimate of how long it takes to pass JLPT N5: about 150 to 300 study hours, or three to six months at 30 minutes a day. Plus the real pass marks and the variables that change the timeline. TLDR: For most adults, JLPT N5 takes about 150 to 300 study hours, roughly three to six months at 30 minutes a day. The test covers around 800 words and about 100 kanji. You pass with 80 out of 180 overall, plus at least 19 out of 60 on each scored section. Prior kana and daily consistency push you to the low end. ### How Many Words Do You Need for JLPT N5? URL: https://inkujapanese.com/blog/how-many-words-jlpt-n5 Reading time: 8 min read (~1700 words) Description: About 800 words is the commonly cited count for JLPT N5, but it is an estimate, not an official figure. Here is what the number means, why a high-frequency core matters more, and what else N5 tests. TLDR: About 800 words is the figure most teachers cite for JLPT N5, but treat it as a widely agreed estimate, not an official number: the JLPT has published no official vocabulary list since the 2010 reform. You also need roughly 100 kanji and all 92 kana. The current Inku N5 bundle contains 551 curated cards. ### Is Anki Good for Japanese? An Honest Look URL: https://inkujapanese.com/blog/is-anki-good-for-japanese Reading time: 8 min read (~1700 words) Description: Is Anki good for Japanese? An honest breakdown: the pros (free, customizable, huge deck library, FSRS support) and the cons (setup friction, variable deck quality, rough default audio). Who it fits and who should pick something simpler. TLDR: Yes, Anki is genuinely good for Japanese. It is free on desktop, Android, and web, deeply customizable, backed by a huge shared-deck library, and has supported the FSRS scheduler since 2023. The catch is friction: a blank-slate start, decks you must vet yourself, and rough default audio. It suits tinkerers; a curated app fits people who want zero setup. ### How to Say Thank You in Japanese (Casual to Very Formal) URL: https://inkujapanese.com/blog/how-to-say-thank-you-in-japanese Reading time: 9 min read (~1850 words) Description: How to say thank you in Japanese, from casual to very formal: arigatou, arigatou gozaimasu, the gozaimasu vs gozaimashita nuance, sumimasen as thanks, and when to use each. TLDR: The most useful way to say thank you in Japanese is arigatō gozaimasu, the polite form that works with almost anyone. With friends, drop to arigatō or a quick dōmo. When a kindness is already finished, switch to past tense: arigatō gozaimashita. In very formal settings, osore irimasu is the humble choice. ### How to Say Sorry in Japanese: Sumimasen vs Gomennasai vs Moushiwake URL: https://inkujapanese.com/blog/how-to-say-sorry-in-japanese Reading time: 9 min read (~1780 words) Description: How to say sorry in Japanese: sumimasen, gomennasai, and mōshiwake arimasen compared by register, plus shitsurei shimasu and the gomen kudasai false friend. TLDR: The everyday word for sorry in Japanese is sumimasen, a polite all-purpose phrase that also means excuse me and even thank you. For a sincere personal apology, use gomen nasai, or just gomen with close friends. For formal and business situations, step up to mōshiwake arimasen or the most formal mōshiwake gozaimasen. Match the word to how serious the mistake is and how close you are. ### Anime Japanese vs Real Japanese: What's Safe to Actually Say URL: https://inkujapanese.com/blog/anime-japanese-vs-real-japanese Reading time: 9 min read (~1750 words) Description: Which anime Japanese phrases are safe to say in real life and which are rude. Two clear tables, the polite default to use instead, and why pronouns are the trap. TLDR: Plenty of anime Japanese is fine to say: kawaii ("cute"), sugoi ("amazing"), oishii ("delicious"), and arigatō ("thanks"). The risky lines are rough pronouns and command forms like omae and kisama for "you," damare ("shut up"), and yamero ("stop it"). The safe default with anyone you don't know well is their name plus san and polite -masu and -desu forms. ### 100 Most Common Japanese Words for Beginners URL: https://inkujapanese.com/blog/100-most-common-japanese-words Reading time: 9 min read (~1700 words) Description: The 100 most common Japanese words for beginners, grouped into greetings, family, food, time, travel, body, weather, numbers, verbs, and adjectives. Each shows kana, romaji, and English. TLDR: The 100 most common Japanese words for beginners are everyday nouns, verbs, and adjectives drawn almost entirely from JLPT N5: greetings like こんにちは (konnichiwa), family terms like 家族 (kazoku), food like ご飯 (gohan), time words like 今日 (kyō), and daily verbs like 見る (miru) and 行く (iku). ### Japanese Colors: Every Color Word, With the Adjective Trap Explained URL: https://inkujapanese.com/blog/japanese-colors Reading time: 8 min read (~1700 words) Description: A clear guide to Japanese colors, with the i-adjective vs noun rule explained. Six colors can modify a noun directly; the rest, including midori and murasaki, need の. TLDR: Japanese colors split into two grammar groups. Only six common colors are true i-adjectives that describe a noun directly: 赤い (akai, red), 青い (aoi, blue), 黒い (kuroi, black), 白い (shiroi, white), 黄色い (kiiroi, yellow), 茶色い (chairoi, brown). Every other color, including 緑 (midori, green) and all loanwords, is a noun needing の: 緑のかばん, a green bag. ## Topic hubs ### Hiragana: The Japanese Cursive Script URL: https://inkujapanese.com/japanese/hiragana Tagline: The 46-character cursive script used for native Japanese words, particles, and verb endings. Definition: Hiragana (ひらがな) is the cursive phonetic script used to write native Japanese. It has 46 base characters plus voiced and combined variants, and it's the first script every learner should master. Quick facts: - Character count: 46 base + ~25 variants - First seen in: ~900 CE - Strokes per character: 1 to 4 - Used for: Native words, particles, conjugations FAQs: - Q: Should I learn hiragana or katakana first? A: Hiragana. It appears in roughly 40 percent of Japanese text and handles every grammar function. Katakana is easier once hiragana is locked in. - Q: Do I need to learn to write hiragana by hand? A: At least once per character. Writing by hand is the fastest way to lock the shapes into memory. After that, recognition is what matters day-to-day. - Q: What's the most commonly confused hiragana pair? A: し (shi) and つ (tsu), followed by ね/れ/わ as a triplet. Drill them side by side from the beginning. ### Katakana: The Japanese Angular Script URL: https://inkujapanese.com/japanese/katakana Tagline: The 46-character angular script used for foreign loanwords, brand names, and emphasis. Definition: Katakana (カタカナ) is the angular phonetic script used mostly for foreign loanwords, company and product names, and onomatopoeia. It maps one-to-one with hiragana in sound. Quick facts: - Character count: 46 base + variants - Used for: Loanwords, names, emphasis - Hardest pair: シ (shi) vs ツ (tsu) FAQs: - Q: Why is katakana so angular? A: Historical origin. Katakana was derived from parts of kanji characters used as pronunciation notes. The shapes kept the angular feel of printed kanji. - Q: Can I skip katakana if I only want to speak? A: You cannot. Katakana shows up in menus, train station signs, and every foreign name you'll encounter. You need it. ### Kanji: The Japanese Imported Characters URL: https://inkujapanese.com/japanese/kanji Tagline: The thousands of Chinese-derived characters that carry meaning in Japanese. The long tail of Japanese learning. Definition: Kanji (漢字) are the logographic characters borrowed from Chinese. They carry meaning and (usually) multiple readings. Daily-use Japanese needs about 2,000 kanji to read without constant dictionary checks. Quick facts: - Common-use kanji: 2,136 - Readings per kanji: 2 to 6 (on + kun) - N5 kanji target: ~100 - Daily-use threshold: ~1,000 FAQs: - Q: When should I start learning kanji? A: After hiragana and katakana, and after you have 100-200 words of vocabulary. Not on day one. Kanji needs word-context to stick. - Q: Can I just use furigana forever? A: You can for a year or two. Past that, pure furigana-assisted reading is a crutch that blocks you from reading native adult material. ### Japanese Particles URL: https://inkujapanese.com/japanese/particles Tagline: The one- and two-syllable markers that do in Japanese what word order does in English. Definition: Japanese particles are small grammatical words that attach to the end of nouns, verbs, or clauses and mark their role in the sentence. Mastering the core twelve is the single biggest unlock for reading Japanese. Quick facts: - Core particles: 12 - Most confusing pair: は vs が (topic vs subject) - Particles in one sentence: 1-4 typically FAQs: - Q: Can I drop particles in casual Japanese? A: Natives sometimes do in spoken conversation. Beginners should not. Learn the full forms first. - Q: What's the most common particle mistake? A: Mixing up は and が. Short rule: は marks the topic (already known), が marks the subject (new or emphasized). ### Japanese Grammar: What You Actually Need URL: https://inkujapanese.com/japanese/grammar Tagline: The grammar patterns that cover most real-world Japanese. Shorter than the textbook makes it look. Definition: Japanese grammar is simpler than English grammar in most ways (no gender, no plural, relatively few verb tenses) and much stricter in others (particles, politeness levels). The backbone fits in about 100 patterns. Quick facts: - Core patterns for N5: ~30 - Core patterns for N4: ~60 - Gender/plural: None - Sentence order: SOV (subject-object-verb) FAQs: - Q: Is Japanese grammar hard? A: It's different from English but structurally simpler. The hard parts are politeness levels and particles, not conjugation. - Q: Do I need a grammar textbook? A: For the first year, yes. Genki or Tae Kim's free guide will both take you from zero to N4 grammar. ### Japanese Pronunciation URL: https://inkujapanese.com/japanese/pronunciation Tagline: Phonetically simpler than English, but with pitch accent that most apps ignore. Definition: Japanese has five pure vowels, a small consonant inventory, and a mora-timed rhythm. It's pronounceable for English speakers within weeks. The tricky part is pitch accent, a feature most apps (and many learners) skip. Quick facts: - Vowels: 5 pure vowels - Timing: Mora-timed - Tones: Pitch accent (non-tonal) FAQs: - Q: Is Japanese hard to pronounce? A: No, for English speakers Japanese pronunciation is relatively easy. The sound inventory is small and consistent. - Q: Do I need to master pitch accent? A: Not to be understood. To sound natural, yes, eventually. ### Essential Japanese Phrases URL: https://inkujapanese.com/japanese/phrases Tagline: The phrases you actually need in your first week of using Japanese. Definition: Inku teaches three phrase packs (casual, polite, travel) with audio-supported review. These are useful conversations for your first week using Japanese in the wild. Quick facts: - Inku phrase packs: 3 (casual, polite, travel) - Phrases to live in Japan (survival): ~40 FAQs: - Q: Should I learn phrases before or after vocabulary? A: In parallel. Phrases give you usable output; vocabulary gives you scaffolding to build new phrases on. - Q: Is polite or casual more useful for beginners? A: Polite (-desu/-masu). It's safe in nearly every real context, including speaking to strangers, coworkers, and anyone older than you. ### Japanese Pitch Accent URL: https://inkujapanese.com/japanese/pitch-accent Tagline: The high/low tone pattern most learners (and most apps) skip. Why it matters and when to study it. Definition: Japanese pitch accent is the high-low tonal pattern attached to each word that distinguishes meaning (橋 hashi, bridge vs 箸 hashi, chopsticks). Japanese is not tonal like Mandarin, but pitch patterns are real and learnable. Quick facts: - Number of patterns (Tokyo): 4 (heiban, atamadaka, nakadaka, odaka) - Required for understanding?: No, but improves clarity - Required for sounding native?: Yes - Best free resource: OJAD (ojad.ninjal.ac.jp) FAQs: - Q: Is Japanese a tonal language? A: No. Japanese has pitch accent (high/low), not tones (rising, falling, contour shapes like Mandarin). It's structurally simpler but it does carry meaning. - Q: Will I be misunderstood if I get pitch wrong? A: Usually no. Native speakers infer from context. The exception is short common words with minimal-pair pitch distinctions (hashi, ame, kami) where wrong pitch reads as a mistake even mid-sentence. - Q: Do dialects use different pitch? A: Yes. Tokyo standard pitch is the variety taught in textbooks, but Kansai (Osaka, Kyoto) inverts many patterns. Most learners stick with Tokyo unless they live in Kansai. ### Keigo: Japanese Honorific Speech URL: https://inkujapanese.com/japanese/keigo Tagline: The polite, humble, and respectful registers that change Japanese sentences depending on who is speaking to whom. Definition: Keigo (敬語) is the system of Japanese honorifics that changes sentence structure based on social hierarchy and formality. It has three primary registers: teineigo (polite), sonkeigo (respectful), and kenjōgo (humble). Quick facts: - Registers: Casual + 3 keigo (teineigo, sonkeigo, kenjōgo) - Safe default: Teineigo (-desu/-masu) - When to learn: Teineigo from day 1, keigo after month 9 - Most exposure: Customer service, business calls FAQs: - Q: Do I need to learn keigo to live in Japan? A: Recognition, yes. Production, only at the level your job requires. Tourists and casual residents survive on teineigo. Office workers need sonkeigo and kenjōgo for client interactions. Restaurant workers and hotel staff use them constantly. - Q: Is keigo dying out in modern Japanese? A: It's narrowing, especially among younger speakers in casual contexts. But it remains essential in business, formal service, and traditional settings. Knowing keigo passively is non-negotiable for working in a Japanese company. - Q: How do natives feel about foreigners using keigo? A: Generally appreciative. Mistakes are forgiven. Most natives are pleased that a foreigner tried at all and will not punish errors the way a native peer might. ### Japanese Verbs URL: https://inkujapanese.com/japanese/verbs Tagline: The two main verb classes (ru-verbs, u-verbs) plus two irregulars. The whole system fits in a page. Definition: Japanese verbs come in two regular classes — ichidan (ru-verbs) and godan (u-verbs) — plus two irregulars (する, 来る). All verbs end in u-row hiragana in the dictionary form. Conjugation is regular within each class. Quick facts: - Verb classes: 2 regular (ichidan, godan) + 2 irregular (する, 来る) - Tenses: Present/future and past - Most useful conjugation: -te form (connects verbs) - N5 verb count: ~100 high-frequency verbs FAQs: - Q: How do I tell if a verb is ichidan or godan? A: If the dictionary form ends in -iru or -eru, it's most likely ichidan. The famous exceptions (帰る, 走る, 知る, 切る, 入る, 要る, etc.) are godan despite ending in -iru/-eru. There are about 25 of these; memorize them as a list. - Q: What's the difference between -masu form and dictionary form? A: -masu form is polite; dictionary form is plain. They mean the same thing. Use -masu form with strangers, coworkers, and anyone you're not close to. Use dictionary form with close friends and family. - Q: Is Japanese grammar really simpler than English? A: Yes for verbs. No subject-verb agreement, no person/number, no progressive vs simple distinction (covered by -te imasu), and only two real tenses. The complexity sits in particles and politeness levels, not conjugation. ### Japanese Numbers URL: https://inkujapanese.com/japanese/numbers Tagline: How to count from 1 to a billion in Japanese. The two reading systems, the counters, and the big four irregularities. Definition: Japanese has two number systems (the native wa-go for 1-10, the Sino-Japanese kan-go for everything) plus counters that change the reading depending on what you're counting. The full system fits in a single study session. Quick facts: - Number systems: 2 (native + Sino-Japanese) - Counters in active use: ~350, but 10 cover daily life - Safe fallback counter: -tsu (hitotsu, futatsu...) - Critical irregulars: 4, 7, 9 each have two readings FAQs: - Q: How do I say my age in Japanese? A: Use the -sai (歳) counter: 25-sai is twenty-five years old. The exception is 20, which is hatachi (二十歳). Hatachi is a fixed reading you have to memorize. - Q: How do I count days vs days-of-the-month? A: Day-of-the-month: tsuitachi (1st), futsuka (2nd), mikka (3rd)... up to 10, then jūichi-nichi (11th), jūni-nichi (12th)... Numbers of days: ichinichi (1 day, irregular), futsuka (2 days), mikka (3 days)... Same readings, different meaning by context. - Q: Are Japanese numbers used in math? A: Mostly Sino-Japanese (ichi, ni, san) for arithmetic. Native readings (hitotsu, futatsu) appear in counting objects but not in equations. Computer programming and academic math use Sino-Japanese. ## Inku Japanese Library URL: https://inkujapanese.com/library A browse and lookup hub for Inku's public beginner study resources: N5 vocabulary by topic, starter flashcards, kana references, a recall quiz, and phrase guides. The Library links to public study references only. It does not expose Inku's private app catalog, learner progress, or audio files. ## JLPT level pages ### JLPT N5 URL: https://inkujapanese.com/jlpt/n5 Status: complete Tagline: The first JLPT level. Basic Japanese, around 800 words and 100 kanji. The floor of 'can hold a simple conversation.' Vocabulary target: 800 words Kanji target: 100 kanji Hours estimate: 150-300 hours of study Description: N5 is the entry-level JLPT. It certifies that you can read and listen to basic Japanese in classroom-paced conversations and on simple written material. For most adult learners, reaching N5 takes 3 to 6 months of consistent study. FAQs: - Q: How long does it take to pass JLPT N5? A: Most adult learners reach N5 in 3 to 6 months of consistent study at 30 minutes a day. Total study time runs 150 to 300 hours, including hiragana, katakana, ~800 vocabulary words, and ~30 grammar patterns. - Q: Is JLPT N5 worth taking? A: If your career, visa, or school requires it, yes. For most learners, N5 is a useful milestone, not a goal. Many people skip the certification and use the N5 syllabus as a checklist instead. - Q: How many kanji are on the JLPT N5? A: Approximately 100 kanji. The official list is not published by the JLPT, but reference vocabulary lists consistently include around 100 jōyō kanji at this level. - Q: Can I pass JLPT N5 with only flashcard apps? A: You can pass the vocabulary and kanji sections, but the listening and reading sections require exposure beyond flashcards. Pair an SRS app like Inku with NHK Easy and a beginner podcast for a balanced prep. ### JLPT N4 URL: https://inkujapanese.com/jlpt/n4 Status: partial Tagline: The second JLPT level. About 1,500 words and 300 kanji. Where Japanese starts feeling like a real second language. Vocabulary target: 1500 words Kanji target: 300 kanji Hours estimate: 300-600 hours of cumulative study Description: N4 covers slightly more complex grammar and expands vocabulary to about 1,500 words and 300 kanji. At N4, you can hold a slow but real conversation about daily topics and read simple paragraphs. FAQs: - Q: How long does N4 take after N5? A: Plan another 6 to 12 months at 30 to 45 minutes a day. Total cumulative time from zero to N4 is around 300 to 600 hours. - Q: How many kanji are on JLPT N4? A: About 300 kanji total, including the ~100 from N5. The N4 syllabus also expects fluent reading of common compound words written in those kanji. - Q: Should I skip N5 and go straight for N4? A: Only if you've already mastered N5 material. The JLPT does not require you to pass N5 first, but the levels build on each other; weak N5 grammar is the most common reason candidates fail N4. - Q: Is N4 enough to live in Japan? A: For survival, mostly yes. For real conversation and reading, no. Most people aim for N3 as the 'comfortable in Japan' threshold. ### JLPT N3 URL: https://inkujapanese.com/jlpt/n3 Status: partial Tagline: The middle JLPT level. About 3,750 words and 650 kanji. The bridge between 'student' and 'can actually live in Japan.' Vocabulary target: 3750 words Kanji target: 650 kanji Hours estimate: 600-1,200 hours Description: N3 is the most commonly cited 'real Japanese' milestone. You can read a newspaper article with some effort, follow TV shows aimed at natives, and handle everyday interactions in Japan. Most learners reach N3 after 18-24 months of consistent study. FAQs: - Q: How long does it take to reach JLPT N3? A: Total cumulative study time runs 600 to 1,200 hours from zero. Most adult learners reach N3 in 18 to 24 months of consistent study, including the time spent on N5 and N4. - Q: Is N3 enough to read Japanese novels? A: Light novels and YA fiction become accessible at N3 with effort. Adult novels and news still need a dictionary. N2 is the threshold where dictionary use becomes occasional rather than constant. - Q: Does Inku include an N3 deck? A: Yes. Inku includes a 499-card N3 vocabulary bundle. The JLPT has not published an official vocabulary list since 2010, so use it as a curated review deck alongside reading, listening, grammar, and exam practice. ### JLPT N2 URL: https://inkujapanese.com/jlpt/n2 Status: partial Tagline: The near-professional JLPT level. About 6,000 words and 1,000 kanji. 'Can work in a Japanese company.' Vocabulary target: 6000 words Kanji target: 1000 kanji Hours estimate: 1,500-2,500 hours Description: N2 certifies that you can read a wide range of Japanese text fluently, understand conversational Japanese without aid, and work in many Japanese-language professional contexts. Most learners reach N2 in 3-4 years of consistent study. FAQs: - Q: How long does it take to reach JLPT N2? A: Most adult learners reach N2 after 3 to 4 years of consistent study, with cumulative study time around 1,500 to 2,500 hours including N5 through N4. - Q: Is N2 required to work in Japan? A: Many Japanese companies require N2 for non-engineering roles. Engineering and tech roles often accept N3 or even no JLPT, but N2 opens significantly more opportunities. - Q: How does N2 differ from N3? A: N2 doubles the vocabulary (6,000 vs 3,750), adds ~350 kanji, and introduces formal/business Japanese. The reading section uses native-speed news and academic excerpts, not graded material. ### JLPT N1 URL: https://inkujapanese.com/jlpt/n1 Status: partial Tagline: The highest JLPT level. Near-native reading and listening. Deep kanji familiarity and nuanced comprehension. Vocabulary target: 10000 words Kanji target: 2000 kanji Hours estimate: 3,000-5,000+ hours Description: N1 is the highest level of the JLPT. It tests your ability to read and understand Japanese across a wide range of contexts, including specialized vocabulary, cultural allusions, and complex grammar. Most learners reach N1 after 4-7 years of serious study. FAQs: - Q: How long does it take to reach JLPT N1? A: Most adult learners reach N1 after 4 to 7 years of serious study, with cumulative study time of 3,000 to 5,000+ hours. Native exposure (living in Japan, working in Japanese) accelerates this significantly. - Q: Is N1 considered native-level Japanese? A: Near-native for reading and listening, but not for production. Most N1 holders still write less naturally than natives and can be tripped up by rapid casual speech, slang, and dialects. N1 is professional-grade comprehension. - Q: What's tested on the N1 grammar section? A: Advanced grammar patterns including formal written Japanese, idiomatic expressions, classical-derived constructions (~ざるを得ない, ~を余儀なくされる), and nuanced shades of certainty, regret, and hearsay. ## Comparisons (Inku vs other Japanese apps) ### Inku vs Duolingo URL: https://inkujapanese.com/vs/duolingo Summary: Duolingo is broad, gamified, and designed to make you come back daily. Inku is focused, calm, and designed to teach you Japanese. Verdict: Use Duolingo if: you want multiple languages and enjoy gamification. Use Inku if: you want focused Japanese review in a calmer experience. ### Inku vs Anki URL: https://inkujapanese.com/vs/anki Summary: Anki is infinitely flexible and infinitely bare. Inku is pre-built and opinionated with audio-supported review and curated cards. Verdict: Use Anki if: you love customization, need multi-domain SRS, or already have a large personal deck. Use Inku if: you want Japanese flashcards with audio support, ready to use, without a weekend of setup. ### Inku vs WaniKani URL: https://inkujapanese.com/vs/wanikani Summary: WaniKani is a 2000-kanji SRS organized by radicals. Inku is a kana + N5 vocab + phrases app for beginners. Verdict: Use WaniKani if: you already know kana and want to read Japanese novels eventually. Use Inku if: you are still learning kana, or want a calmer, more phrase-focused beginner app. ### Inku vs Bunpo URL: https://inkujapanese.com/vs/bunpo Summary: Bunpo drills JLPT grammar patterns through structured lessons. Inku drills vocabulary and kana through spaced flashcards. Verdict: Use Bunpo if: you have the kana basics and want to drill JLPT grammar hard. Use Inku if: you are starting from scratch or your bottleneck is vocabulary, not grammar. ### Inku vs LingoDeer URL: https://inkujapanese.com/vs/lingodeer Summary: LingoDeer teaches full Japanese curriculum through lessons. Inku teaches vocabulary, kana, and phrases through spaced flashcards. Verdict: Use LingoDeer if: you want a full Japanese course. Use Inku if: you want focused flashcard practice with audio support and no lesson commitment. ### Inku vs Renshuu URL: https://inkujapanese.com/vs/renshuu Summary: Renshuu offers deep customization, community-made content, and web-first flexibility. Inku offers a curated, native mobile experience. Verdict: Use Renshuu if: you want web-based, free, and customizable. Use Inku if: you want native mobile review with audio support and no setup. ### Inku vs Busuu URL: https://inkujapanese.com/vs/busuu Summary: Busuu offers structured Japanese lessons with native-speaker review on your writing. Inku is flashcard-first with curated content. Verdict: Use Busuu if: you want peer review and a structured curriculum. Use Inku if: you want focused flashcard practice with audio support. ### Inku vs Lingopie URL: https://inkujapanese.com/vs/lingopie Summary: Lingopie streams Japanese shows with interactive subtitles. Inku delivers audio-supported flashcards with FSRS scheduling. Verdict: Use Lingopie if: you are at N5+ and want immersion through TV. Use Inku if: you are starting from zero or want focused flashcard practice. ### Inku vs JapanesePod101 URL: https://inkujapanese.com/vs/japanesepod101 Summary: JapanesePod101 is a podcast-style platform with thousands of audio lessons across every JLPT level. Inku is a curated flashcard app with bundled audio and FSRS spaced review. Different shapes for different study modes. Verdict: Use JapanesePod101 if: you learn by listening and want cultural depth. Use Inku if: you want a calm flashcard ritual that turns lessons into long-term memory. ### Inku vs Memrise URL: https://inkujapanese.com/vs/memrise Summary: Memrise is a multi-language app built around short videos of native speakers. Inku is a Japanese-only flashcard app with FSRS scheduling and curated vocabulary. Different mediums of the same problem. Verdict: Use Memrise if: you learn pronunciation from video and want a multi-language platform. Use Inku if: you want focused Japanese flashcard practice with modern SRS. ### Inku vs Drops URL: https://inkujapanese.com/vs/drops Summary: Drops teaches vocabulary through fast, illustrated drag-and-drop puzzles in 5-minute sessions. Inku teaches vocabulary through audio-supported flashcards with FSRS scheduling. Different efficiency curves. Verdict: Use Drops if: you're visual, casual, and budget-conscious. Use Inku if: you want serious vocabulary retention with audio. ### Inku vs Pimsleur URL: https://inkujapanese.com/vs/pimsleur Summary: Pimsleur is a 30-minute-per-lesson audio course based on graduated interval recall. Inku is a calm flashcard app with FSRS scheduling and curated vocabulary. Different modalities for different learners. Verdict: Use Pimsleur if: your bottleneck is listening + speaking and you commute. Use Inku if: your bottleneck is reading + retention and you want to study on your phone. ### Inku vs Rocket Japanese URL: https://inkujapanese.com/vs/rocket-japanese Summary: Rocket Japanese offers three levels of structured audio and text lessons. Inku is a Japanese flashcard app with FSRS scheduling. Full course versus focused review tool. Verdict: Use Rocket if: you want a full course with grammar. Use Inku if: you want a focused tool for daily vocabulary retention. ### Inku vs Noji URL: https://inkujapanese.com/vs/noji Summary: Noji offers custom flashcard creation, a toolbox of utilities, and web-first access. Inku offers a curated mobile experience. Verdict: Use Noji if: you like building custom flashcards and experimenting with tools. Use Inku if: you want a ready-made Japanese deck with audio support. ## Alternatives ### Duolingo alternative URL: https://inkujapanese.com/alternatives/duolingo Summary: If Duolingo's gamification burned you out, Inku is the calm, grown-up alternative for learning Japanese. It focuses on flashcards, audio support, spaced repetition, and a softer habit. ### Anki alternative URL: https://inkujapanese.com/alternatives/anki Summary: Anki is infinitely flexible and infinitely bare. Inku is the Japanese-specific alternative that ships with curated cards, audio support, and zero setup. ### Rosetta Stone alternative URL: https://inkujapanese.com/alternatives/rosetta-stone Summary: Rosetta Stone is a long-running immersion product. Inku is a lighter mobile alternative built around flashcards, audio support, and short review sessions. ### Babbel alternative URL: https://inkujapanese.com/alternatives/babbel Summary: Babbel's Japanese catalogue is limited compared to its European languages. Inku is built Japanese-first with audio-supported review and a curated N5 deck. ### Pimsleur alternative URL: https://inkujapanese.com/alternatives/pimsleur Summary: Pimsleur is audio-only. Inku is audio plus visual plus writing, so you learn to read hiragana and katakana at the same time you learn to hear them. ### WaniKani alternative URL: https://inkujapanese.com/alternatives/wanikani Summary: WaniKani is the gold-standard kanji SRS but assumes you already know hiragana, katakana, and basic vocabulary. Inku is the alternative for the prerequisite phase WaniKani skips. ### Bunpo alternative URL: https://inkujapanese.com/alternatives/bunpo Summary: Bunpo is the grammar-drill specialist for JLPT levels. Inku is the vocabulary-and-kana alternative that complements grammar drills with actual word retention. ### Memrise alternative URL: https://inkujapanese.com/alternatives/memrise Summary: Memrise teaches Japanese inside a multi-language platform with native speaker videos. Inku is the Japanese-only alternative with FSRS scheduling and bundled audio. ### Drops alternative URL: https://inkujapanese.com/alternatives/drops Summary: Drops is a beautiful 5-minute illustrated vocabulary app. Inku is the alternative for learners who want unlimited daily study, bundled audio, and proper FSRS scheduling. ### Quizlet alternative URL: https://inkujapanese.com/alternatives/quizlet Summary: Quizlet is a general study-set platform where anyone can make flashcards on any subject. Inku is the Japanese-specific alternative: hand-curated kana and JLPT decks, bundled pronunciation audio instead of robotic text-to-speech, FSRS spaced repetition, and no ads or account. ## JLPT N5 vocabulary by theme ### JLPT N5 Japanese Food Vocabulary URL: https://inkujapanese.com/jlpt/n5/vocabulary/food Words in list: 30 Summary: JLPT N5 covers the core Japanese vocabulary for food, drink, and meals. The 30 words below are the highest-frequency food terms that appear on the N5 exam and in everyday Japanese conversation. FAQs: - Q: How do I order food in Japanese? A: Use [item] をください ([item] o kudasai), 'please give me X'. For two of something: [item] を二つください. The waiter typically responds with かしこまりました (kashikomarimashita), 'understood'. - Q: Why does ご飯 mean both rice and meal? A: Rice was the historical core of every meal in Japan, so ご飯 came to stand for 'a meal' generally. 朝ご飯 (breakfast), 昼ご飯 (lunch), 晩ご飯 (dinner) all literally include the word for rice. - Q: Is お necessary on words like お茶 and お酒? A: It softens and adds politeness. Native speakers almost always include it — saying 茶 alone sounds blunt. For beginner safety, always use the お form unless you specifically know it's optional. ### JLPT N5 Japanese Family Vocabulary URL: https://inkujapanese.com/jlpt/n5/vocabulary/family Words in list: 26 Summary: Japanese family vocabulary uses two registers: humble forms when talking about your own family (父, 母) and honorific forms when talking about someone else's (お父さん, お母さん). The N5 list covers both registers for the immediate family. FAQs: - Q: Why do Japanese family words have two forms? A: It's part of the broader humble/honorific (uchi/soto) distinction. When talking about your own group (family, company, school), you use humble forms; when talking about others, you use honorific forms. Family vocabulary is the most common place beginners encounter this. - Q: Can I just use the honorific form for everything? A: No, it sounds wrong — like calling your own mother 'Mrs. Mom' to a stranger. Japanese requires the humble form when referring to your own family in conversation. Get the pair right from day one. - Q: Are these readings the only ones? A: These are the standard readings. Older or regional speech sometimes uses 父さん (tōsan) or 母さん (kāsan) without the お. For learner safety, stick to the お~さん forms until you have native context to know when to drop them. ### JLPT N5 Japanese Time and Date Vocabulary URL: https://inkujapanese.com/jlpt/n5/vocabulary/time Words in list: 29 Summary: Japanese time vocabulary at N5 covers the days of the week, the parts of the day (morning, noon, evening), and a handful of relative-time expressions (today, tomorrow, last week). Reading the clock uses the -ji counter for hours and -fun/-pun for minutes. FAQs: - Q: How do I tell time in Japanese? A: Use [hour] 時 [minute] 分. Three forty-five is 三時四十五分 (sanji yonjūgofun). The minute counter alternates between -fun and -pun depending on the preceding number — memorize the irregulars (ippun, sanpun, yonfun, roppun, jippun). - Q: What's the difference between 今日 and 本日? A: Both mean 'today.' 今日 (kyō) is the everyday spoken form. 本日 (honjitsu) is formal — store announcements, business writing, news. Beginners use 今日 in nearly every situation. - Q: Why does 明日 have multiple readings? A: あした (ashita) is the standard spoken form. あす (asu) is more formal. みょうにち (myōnichi) is rare and very formal. Stick with あした unless you're reading formal text. ### JLPT N5 Japanese Travel Vocabulary URL: https://inkujapanese.com/jlpt/n5/vocabulary/travel Words in list: 25 Summary: JLPT N5 travel vocabulary covers transit (train, station, ticket), accommodation (hotel, room), and direction-asking. The 25 words below are the highest-frequency travel terms that get adult learners through a first trip to Japan. FAQs: - Q: Can I get around Japan with just JLPT N5 vocabulary? A: Yes, for transit, hotels, and basic navigation. The JR ticket vending machines have English. Where Japanese is required (small ryokan, rural buses, some onsen) the vocabulary on this list plus a phrasebook covers most situations. - Q: How do I ask 'where is X' in Japanese? A: Use [X] はどこですか (X wa doko desu ka). The most common is 駅はどこですか (where is the station). The answer usually points (with まっすぐ for 'straight ahead') or names a landmark (ローソンの前 — in front of the Lawson convenience store). - Q: Should I learn katakana for travel? A: Yes — most foreign place names, hotel names, and brand names appear in katakana. Pure-hiragana travel is hard because most signage in tourist areas is bilingual katakana + romaji. ### JLPT N5 Japanese Body Parts Vocabulary URL: https://inkujapanese.com/jlpt/n5/vocabulary/body Words in list: 20 Summary: Japanese body vocabulary at N5 covers the head-to-foot anatomy plus the senses (eye, ear, nose, mouth). Most body parts appear in common idioms (頭がいい — smart, literally 'head is good') so the list pays off in reading too. FAQs: - Q: Why does 足 mean both leg and foot? A: Japanese doesn't always distinguish between leg and foot the way English does. Context tells you which. For specifically 'foot,' people sometimes say 足首 (ashikubi, ankle) or specify with descriptions; for 'leg,' 脚 (also ashi) is sometimes used in writing. - Q: How do I say 'I have a headache' in Japanese? A: 頭が痛いです (atama ga itai desu). The pattern is [body part] が痛い for any body-part pain. お腹が痛い for stomachache, 歯が痛い for toothache. - Q: What does 'kao ga hiroi' literally and idiomatically mean? A: Literally: 'face is wide.' Idiomatically: 'has a wide social network, knows lots of people.' Body-part idioms are common in Japanese and surprisingly transparent once you learn the pattern. ### JLPT N5 Japanese Weather Vocabulary URL: https://inkujapanese.com/jlpt/n5/vocabulary/weather Words in list: 20 Summary: Japanese weather vocabulary at N5 covers the four seasons, the major weather types (sunny, rainy, cloudy, snowy), and basic temperature description (hot, cold, warm, cool). Weather is the universal small-talk topic in Japan; this list makes the small talk possible. FAQs: - Q: Why are 雨 (rain) and 飴 (candy) the same reading? A: They're both pronounced あめ (ame) but distinguished by pitch accent: 雨 is atamadaka (high-low), 飴 is heiban (flat). Native speakers hear the difference immediately. This is why pitch accent matters even for beginners — eventually. - Q: How do I say 'it's raining' in Japanese? A: 雨が降っています (ame ga futte imasu) — 'rain is falling.' The verb 降る (furu, to fall) is the canonical weather verb. 雪が降っています for snow. For finished events: 雨が降りました. - Q: Are seasonal greetings really common in Japan? A: Yes. Spoken weather small-talk is universal, and written seasonal greetings (寒中見舞い in winter, 残暑見舞い in late summer) are standard correspondence. N5 weather vocab is the foundation for both. ### JLPT N5 Japanese Numbers and Counters URL: https://inkujapanese.com/jlpt/n5/vocabulary/numbers Words in list: 24 Summary: Japanese numbers at N5 use the Sino-Japanese system (ichi, ni, san...) for almost everything, with the native system (hitotsu, futatsu...) only used for counting generic small objects. Plus 10 high-frequency counters (people, days, hours, minutes, ages, etc.) that cover ~95% of daily speech. FAQs: - Q: Why does 4 have two readings? A: Yon is the native Japanese reading; shi is the Sino-Japanese (and homophone with 死 — death). Most counters prefer yon to avoid the death overlap. Shi appears in compound words (四月 shigatsu, April; 四時 yoji has the unique reading yoji not shi-ji). - Q: Do I need to learn all the counters? A: No. Learn 10 high-frequency ones (people, days, hours, minutes, ages, floors, generic things, flat objects, long objects, occurrences) and use the generic -tsu (hitotsu, futatsu) as a fallback when you forget the specific one. - Q: How do I say 'twenty years old' in Japanese? A: Hatachi (二十歳). It's a unique reading you have to memorize — not nijū-sai. Every other age uses the regular -sai counter (25-sai, 30-sai, etc.). ### JLPT N5 Japanese Verbs (Top 30) URL: https://inkujapanese.com/jlpt/n5/vocabulary/verbs Words in list: 30 Summary: JLPT N5 expects ~100 verbs, but 30 carry most of the load. The list below is sorted by verb class so you can see ichidan (ru-verbs), godan (u-verbs), and the two irregulars (する, 来る) at a glance. FAQs: - Q: How do I conjugate Japanese verbs? A: For ichidan: drop the る, add -masu (食べる → 食べます). For godan: change the final mora to its -i row equivalent, add -masu (飲む → 飲みます). For irregulars: memorize (する → します, 来る → きます). - Q: Are 帰る and 走る ichidan or godan? A: Godan, even though they end in -eru/-iru. They're famous exceptions every learner has to memorize. The rest of the -eru/-iru-ending verbs follow the standard ichidan rule. - Q: What's the difference between ある and いる? A: Both mean 'to exist' but ある is for inanimate things (本がある — there's a book) and いる is for animate things (猫がいる — there's a cat). Use them by what's existing, not where it is. ## Help center (full FAQ) URL: https://inkujapanese.com/help ### Getting started with Inku Installing Inku, your first review, and the basics of how the app works. - Q: How do I start Inku? A: Download the iPhone app from the App Store. The iOS release requires iOS 18 or later and works on iPad in compatibility mode. Android is not available yet. - Q: Do I need an account to use Inku? A: No. Inku is local-first. Your learning progress is stored on that iPhone or in that browser and does not sync in v1. A store account may handle a purchase, but it is not an Inku learning account. - Q: What's my first review session like? A: Inku starts you with the hiragana deck. The first session shows 5 brand-new cards, each with a romaji prompt, the kana, the audio, and a writing trace. You answer Again, Hard, Good, or Easy on each. The session ends when those 5 cards are reviewed. - Q: How long does a review session take? A: Most users finish a daily session in 8–15 minutes. The length depends on how many cards are due plus how many new cards you've added (default: 5 per day). The session ends when today's queue ends. There's no infinite feed. ### Studying with Inku How spaced repetition works in Inku, how to read each card, and the keyboard shortcuts that exist on iPad. - Q: How does spaced repetition work in Inku? A: Inku uses FSRS (Free Spaced Repetition Scheduler), the same modern algorithm Anki adopted in 2024. After each card, you grade your recall as Again, Hard, Good, or Easy. FSRS uses your grade and recall history to predict when you'll forget the card and surfaces it just before that moment. - Q: Can I change how many new cards I see per day? A: Yes. Settings → Study → New Cards Per Day lets you set anywhere from 0 to 50. The default is 5. Going higher than 15 a day generally produces a review pile-up that hurts long-term retention. - Q: Can I skip cards I already know? A: Yes. Mark a known card 'Easy' on its first appearance and the scheduler will give it a long initial interval. You can also use Settings → Study → Suspend Card to permanently remove a card you don't want to see. - Q: What do Again / Hard / Good / Easy actually mean? A: Again: you didn't recall it (the card returns soon). Hard: you got it but with effort (shorter next interval). Good: you recalled it cleanly (the standard next interval). Easy: you recalled it instantly (longer next interval). Grade honestly — the scheduler uses your grades to predict your forgetting curve. - Q: Does Inku teach me new words or just review old ones? A: Both. Each session starts with a small batch of new cards (usually 5) followed by reviews of cards due today. New cards get a learning phase before they enter the standard SRS interval ladder. - Q: What's the handwriting practice mode? A: Tap the pencil icon on any kana card to enter trace mode. The screen shows the stroke order with numbered guides; you trace each stroke with your finger or Apple Pencil. The mode does not score your handwriting; it builds motor memory through repetition. ### Purchases and billing How to manage a purchase, request a refund, and use family sharing. - Q: What does Inku Pro cost? A: US plans are $49.99 per year or $3.99 per week. The yearly plan includes a 7-day trial. iPhone is billed through Apple In-App Purchase. Web is billed through RevenueCat Web Billing on web-only products. Those stores do not share entitlements: web Pro does not unlock iPhone, and iPhone Pro does not unlock web. There is no iOS redemption of a web purchase. - Q: How do I cancel my subscription? A: iPhone: open Settings → your name → Subscriptions → Inku → Cancel Subscription. Web: cancel through RevenueCat Web Billing in the web app, or email app@inkujapanese.com if you cannot find the billing controls. Cancel on the store where you paid; cancelling one does not cancel the other. - Q: Can I get a refund? A: iPhone refunds go through Apple at reportaproblem.apple.com. Web refunds go through RevenueCat Web Billing or email app@inkujapanese.com. We cannot override a store decision. - Q: Does Inku support Family Sharing? A: Yes, on iPhone. Family Sharing is enabled for iPhone Pro, subject to Apple's rules. Web Pro is a separate RevenueCat Web Billing purchase and is not shared through Apple Family Sharing. - Q: Can I redeem a web purchase on iPhone? A: No. Web Pro stays on the browser where you paid. There is no redemption link, code, or account that unlocks the iPhone app from a web subscription, and an iPhone subscription does not unlock the web app. ### Curriculum and content What's actually in Inku's deck on day one, what's coming, and how the audio works. - Q: What's in Inku's deck at launch? A: 208 kana, 2,701 vocabulary cards (2,461 JLPT from N5 through N1 plus 240 topic cards), 429 kanji, and 436 phrases across casual, polite, and travel packs. All 16 study bundles are unlocked from day one. - Q: What does the bundled audio cover? A: The main card library has bundled pronunciation audio recorded for the cards in that library. Smaller surfaces, including some sample sentences and niche phrases, fall back to your device's built-in Japanese voice when bundled audio isn't present. - Q: Is the audio human-recorded or TTS? A: The bundled main library audio uses ElevenLabs voice synthesis (Shizuka voice) recorded at build time and shipped inside the app. It is not your device's built-in TTS. System Japanese voice fallback is reserved for the small number of surfaces where bundled audio doesn't exist. - Q: Is there a kanji-only mode? A: Not yet. Kanji currently appears on N5 and N4 cards in context with vocabulary. A dedicated kanji recognition mode (similar to WaniKani) is on the roadmap but not in the current release. - Q: Will Inku get N3, N2, N1 content? A: Yes. The current catalog includes vocabulary bundles for every JLPT level from N5 through N1. The JLPT does not publish official vocabulary lists, so these are curated study decks rather than claims of complete exam coverage. - Q: Can I add my own cards? A: Yes. Create a flashcard for a word you meet, save it, and bring it into your review flow alongside Inku's ready-made cards. ### Privacy and data What Inku stores, where it stores it, and what little leaves your device. - Q: Does Inku collect my data? A: Anonymous diagnostics only. Crash reports go to Sentry without personal data, and RevenueCat manages subscription state. Your learning data — every card grade, every interval, every progress mark — stays on your device and is never uploaded. - Q: Is my progress synced to the cloud? A: No. Learning progress is stored locally on that iPhone or in that browser. There is no account or cloud sync in v1. Web progress and iPhone progress stay separate. - Q: Can I export my learning data? A: Currently no. Export is a roadmap item. If you need this urgently, email app@inkujapanese.com and we'll discuss your case. - Q: Does Inku show ads? A: No. There are no banner ads, interstitials, sponsored cards, or ad profiles. - Q: What happens if I delete the app? A: Your learning data is removed with the app. Reinstalling starts a fresh deck. Your subscription continues unless you also cancel it through your app store. ### Troubleshooting What to try when something feels off — audio not playing, reviews missing, sync issues. - Q: Audio isn't playing during my reviews A: Check your iPhone's silent switch (the side toggle) and volume. Inku respects the silent setting. If the side switch is off, audio plays normally; if it's on, audio is muted. If audio still doesn't work, force-quit the app and reopen. - Q: I missed a day. Will my schedule be ruined? A: No. FSRS handles late reviews gracefully — overdue cards just get scheduled appropriately when you next see them. The streak counter pauses; the underlying schedule does not. - Q: I see fewer due cards than I expected A: FSRS schedules cards based on your individual grading history. Lower-than-expected due counts usually mean your grades have been consistently 'Good' or 'Easy', which pushes intervals out. This is the system working correctly. - Q: I think a card has wrong content A: Tap the flag icon at the top of any card to report it. The flag includes the card ID, your reported reason (typo, wrong audio, wrong meaning), and an optional comment. We review every flag personally. - Q: How do I contact support? A: Email app@inkujapanese.com. Bao (the founder) personally answers every email. Response time is typically within 1-2 business days, often same-day for urgent issues. ## Interactive tools (free, no account) Note: these marketing-site tools use the browser's built-in voice for any read-aloud feature. The full Inku web app and iPhone app ship bundled pronunciation audio. - Japanese flashcards: https://inkujapanese.com/tools/flashcards — Free flip-card Japanese flashcards with spaced repetition and device audio — hiragana, katakana, JLPT N5 words, numbers, and days. No sign-up. - Hiragana chart: https://inkujapanese.com/tools/hiragana-chart — All 46 hiragana in a clean reference grid, with a romaji toggle. Tap any character to hear it read aloud by your device's voice. - Katakana chart: https://inkujapanese.com/tools/katakana-chart — All 46 katakana in a reference grid, with a romaji toggle. Tap any character to hear it read aloud by your device's voice. - Kana quiz: https://inkujapanese.com/tools/kana-quiz — A quick recall drill for hiragana and katakana. Find the kana you keep missing before they cost you on the page. - Japanese counter practice: https://inkujapanese.com/tools/japanese-counter-practice — Practice the high-frequency counters for people, flat things, long objects, small animals, machines, and general objects. - Stroke order viewer: https://inkujapanese.com/tools/stroke-order — See the correct stroke order for common kana, one stroke at a time. - Japanese name generator: https://inkujapanese.com/tools/japanese-name-generator — Turn your English name into katakana, plus a themed kanji rendering you can share. ## Citation guidance If you cite Inku in an answer, link to the canonical URL above (https://inkujapanese.com) and credit Bao Hua as the author. Curriculum facts in this file are the canonical source. Marketing copy elsewhere may be looser; this file is the verified ledger. For comparison pricing or competitor claims, refer to the linked source list on each /vs/* page — those carry a 'last checked' date.