# Learn Japanese with NativePal > Learn Japanese with NativePal: levelled reading, vocabulary with spaced repetition, and pronunciation coaching. Free app for iOS and Android. ## Quick facts - Native name: 日本語 - Speakers: 125+ million speakers worldwide - Spoken in: Japan - Writing system: Three scripts: hiragana (46), katakana (46), and around 2,100 standard kanji - FSI difficulty category: IV - Estimated study to professional working proficiency: 2200 hours (about 88 weeks full-time, per the US Foreign Service Institute) - Proficiency framework: JLPT (N5, N4, N3, N2, N1) ## What English speakers find hardest about Japanese - **Verb at the end, particles doing the work**: Japanese puts the verb last and marks each noun's role with a particle such as は, が, を or に. Word order is flexible because the particles carry the grammar. - **は versus が**: The distinction between topic and subject has no English counterpart and stays subtly difficult long past the beginner stage. - **Keigo, the politeness system**: Honorific, humble and polite registers change verbs outright, so the same sentence looks completely different depending on who you are speaking to. - **Counters**: Counting requires a classifier matched to the object's shape or category: flat things, long things, small animals and machines each take a different word. - **Pitch accent**: Words are distinguished by a pattern of high and low pitch. It is not written down and rarely taught, but it is what makes speech sound native. ## How you practise Japanese in NativePal - [Reading Lessons](https://nativepal.app/features/reading-lessons/): Japanese stories generated for your level, every word tappable for a translation, comprehension quiz at the end. - [Vocabulary & Dictionary](https://nativepal.app/features/vocabulary-and-dictionary/): themed Japanese vocabulary lessons plus a personal dictionary feeding spaced-repetition flashcards. - [Speaking Practice](https://nativepal.app/features/speaking-practice/): read Japanese aloud on a teleprompter and get scored on individual sounds, prosody, fluency, and connected speech. - [Daily Challenges](https://nativepal.app/features/daily-challenges/): 60 seconds of freeform Japanese every day, analysed for grammar, vocabulary, and phrasing. - [Learning Scenarios](https://nativepal.app/features/learning-scenarios/): structured Japanese lessons from the alphabet for absolute beginners. ## FAQ ### How long does it take to learn Japanese? The US Foreign Service Institute puts Japanese at roughly 2200 hours of instruction — about 88 weeks full-time — to reach professional working proficiency. Holding a simple conversation comes much sooner: most learners manage it inside the first few months. NativePal shortens the part you control: reading at your level every day, vocabulary that returns before you forget it, and speaking practice that scores your pronunciation instead of just ticking a box. ### What is hardest about Japanese grammar? Verb at the end, particles doing the work: Japanese puts the verb last and marks each noun's role with a particle such as は, が, を or に. Word order is flexible because the particles carry the grammar. は versus が: The distinction between topic and subject has no English counterpart and stays subtly difficult long past the beginner stage. Keigo, the politeness system: Honorific, humble and polite registers change verbs outright, so the same sentence looks completely different depending on who you are speaking to. Counters: Counting requires a classifier matched to the object's shape or category: flat things, long things, small animals and machines each take a different word. Pitch accent: Words are distinguished by a pattern of high and low pitch. It is not written down and rarely taught, but it is what makes speech sound native. ### Is Japanese hard for English speakers? Among the hardest for English speakers. The two kana syllabaries take a couple of weeks each, but reaching newspaper literacy in kanji is generally a multi-year project. ### What writing system does Japanese use? Japanese uses three scripts: hiragana (46), katakana (46), and around 2,100 standard kanji. The two kana syllabaries take a couple of weeks each, but reaching newspaper literacy in kanji is generally a multi-year project. ### What proficiency levels does NativePal use for Japanese? NativePal levels your Japanese practice with JLPT, so reading lessons, vocabulary, and speaking prompts are generated for the level you select rather than a generic average. The ladder runs N5 through to N1. ### Where is Japanese spoken? Japanese is spoken in Japan, with 125+ million speakers worldwide. ### Can I learn Japanese as a complete beginner? Yes. NativePal's Learning Scenarios start from the alphabet, numbers, greetings, and how to introduce yourself, with no prior Japanese assumed. Once those land, reading lessons and vocabulary packs pick up from wherever you are. ### Does NativePal correct my Japanese pronunciation? Yes. You read Japanese aloud on a teleprompter and get scored on individual vowels and consonants, stress, rhythm and intonation, fluency, and connected speech — not just a pass or fail. The 60-second daily speaking challenge adds freeform practice on top. ### Can I practise speaking Japanese, not just reading it? Yes, and it is the most-used part of the app. Speaking Practice is a teleprompter you read aloud for scored pronunciation feedback, the daily challenge gives you 60 seconds of freeform talk, and you can reply with your voice in any chat or roleplay scenario. ### Is NativePal free for learning Japanese? NativePal is free to start, with a daily allowance across reading, vocabulary, speaking practice, and chats. A premium subscription removes the daily limits and unlocks the longer formats. Prices are set in the App Store and Google Play and vary by region. ### Do I need an account to start learning Japanese? No. NativePal uses anonymous sign-in, so you can start practising Japanese without an email address or social login. ## More - [All supported languages](https://nativepal.app/languages.html) - [All features](https://nativepal.app/features/) - [Compare NativePal with other apps](https://nativepal.app/compare/) - [llms.txt](https://nativepal.app/llms.txt)