Do you know how to describe and write the position of something in Japanese using directions?
We have a new unit for your Kanji practice and studies! This features N5 Kanji that deal with directions such as up, down, north, south, etc.
This is the fifth unit in a series of free Kanji writing practice sheets that you can download and print. It features N5 Kanji that will appear on the JLPT N5, and mastering these kanji is an important step to passing the test!
This is the third in a series of free Kanji writing practice sheets that you can download and print.
This series deals with kanji related to the human body. If you want to learn Japanese Kanji that relates to the human body, then you can download these excerpts for free.
We will be releasing more over the coming weeks – so stay tuned to this page as we will update it with new links.
Learning kanji is one of the first big steps in mastering Japanese, and numbers are a great place to start. This free JLPT N5 Kanji Worksheet (Unit 1: Numbers) focuses on essential number-related kanji you’ll encounter early in your studies — perfect for beginners preparing for the JLPT N5. Download the PDF, practice writing each character, and build a strong foundation for your Japanese journey!
Getting ready for the JLPT? Boost your chances of passing with Coto Academy’s JLPT Prep Course — designed for busy learners. This class is perfect for students who plan to take the JLPT exam and work optimally towards their objectives. It covers exam practices and explanations of essentials such as Japanese grammar, vocabulary, kanji, and more!
These are the most basic kanji in Japanese — and they’re also the easiest to learn! Mastering numbers 1 to 10 will help you with counting, dates, prices, time, and more.
Number
Kanji
Kana
Meaning
1
一
いち
One
2
二
に
Two
3
三
さん
Three
4
四
し / よん
Four
5
五
ご
Five
6
六
ろく
Six
7
七
しち / なな
Seven
8
八
はち
Eight
9
九
きゅう / く
Nine
10
十
じゅう
Ten
Free Kanji Number Worksheet
Simply save the picture for your own personal review!
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What is the 日本漢字能力検定?
日本漢字能力検定(Nihon kanjinouryoku kentei), usually knowns as 漢検(Kanken) or the Kanji Kentei, is a test that examines the candidate’s kanji skill. It tests on the candidate’s reading and writing ability of kanji as well as the ability to understand and use them in different contexts. Like the JLPT, it is another good proof of your Japanese knowledge and is useful when applying for jobs in Japan. Although anyone can sit for Kanken, it is challenging for foreign Japanese learners. As such, if you are a foreigner looking for jobs in Japan, acquiring a Kanken certificate will make you stand out from your competitors.
How Difficult is Kanken?
There are in total of 12 levels of Kanken, Grade 10 being the easiest and grade 1 being the hardest. Each level is set for different educational levels starting from primary 1. The requirements and scope of each level are as follows.
Grade 10 (Primary 1 level) Detailed Areas of Focus: Reading & Writing –Ability to read and write kanjis from the first year of the小学校学年別漢字配当表 (list of Kanji by school year). Stroke Order – length of points and strokes. Joints and intersections, stroke order and number of strokes.
Grade 9 (Primary 2 level) Detailed Areas of Focus: Reading & Writing- able to read and write kanji from the second year of the学年別漢字配当表 (list of Kanji by school year). Stroke order – Aware of Length of points and strokes, Joints and intersections; stroke order and number of strokes. Grade 8 (Primary 3 level) Detailed Areas of Focus: Reading & Writing – able to read and write kanjis from the 3rd year of the学年別漢字配当表 (list of Kanji by school year).
Understand onyomi and kunyomi
Write correct kana endings
Roughly understand the concept of antonyms
Roughly understand the concept of homonyms
Stroke Order – know correct stroke orders and number of strokes. Radicals – able to recognize and understand basic radicals.
Grade 7(Primary 4 level) Detailed Areas of Focus Reading and Writing -Able to read and write kanjis from the fourth year of the学年別漢字配当表 (list of Kanji by school year).
Understand onyomi and kunyomi
Write correct kana endings
Roughly understand the concept of antonyms
Roughly understand the concept of homonyms
Know about the fundamental composition of Japanese idioms
Stroke order- know correct stroke orders and number of strokes. Radicals- able to recognize and understand radicals.
Grade 6 (Primary 5 level)
Detailed Areas of Focus: Reading& Writing: Able to read and write kanjis from up to the fifth year of the小学校学年別漢字配当表 (list of Kanji by school year).
Understand onyomi and kunyomi
Write correct kana endings and careful with the correct usage of kana
Know about the structure of idioms
understand the concept of antonyms and synonyms
understand the concept of homonyms
Stroke order -know correct stroke order and number of strokes. Radicals – able to recognize and understand radicals.
Grade 5 (Primary 6 level) Detailed Areas of Focus: Reading and writing: – Able to read and write kanjis from up to the sixth year of the小学校学年別漢字配当表 (list of Kanji by school year).
Understand onyomi and kunyomi
Write correct kana endings and careful with the proper use of kana
Know about the composition of idioms
understand antonyms, synonyms, and homonyms
Idioms – understand four-character idiomatic phrases Stroke order – know the correct stroke order total number of strokes. Radicals – able to understand and recognize radicals.
Grade 4 (Secondary school level) Detailed Areas of Focus Reading & Writing – Able to read and write all kanjis in the 小学校学年別漢字配当表 (list of kanji by school year) as well as about 300 frequently used kanji. Able to use them in a passage appropriately.
Understand onyomi and kunyomi
Write correct kana endings and careful with the proper use of kana
Understand the composition of idioms
understand antonyms, synonyms, and homonyms
Understand the concept of 熟語訓 (special kanji readings) and 当て字 (phonetic equivalents)
Idioms – able to understand the meaning of four-character idiomatic phrases. Radicals – able to recognize the radicals and understand their meanings.
Grade 3 (Secondary school graduate level) Detailed Areas of Focus: Reading & Writing – Able to read and write all kanjis in the 小学校学年別漢字配当表 (list of kanji by school year) as well as about 600 frequently used kanji. Able to use them in a passage appropriately.
Understand onyomi and kunyomi
Write correct kana endings and careful with the proper use of kana
Understand the composition of idioms
understand antonyms, synonyms, and homonyms
Understand 熟語訓 (special kanji readings) and 当て字 (phonetic equivalents)
Idioms – able to understand 4-word idioms. Radicals – able to recognize radicals and understand their meanings.
Grade Semi-2 (High school level)Number of Kanji: 1940 Detailed Areas of Focus Reading & writing – able to read and write about 1940 frequently used Kanji and use them in a passage appropriately.
Understand onyomi and kunyomi
Write correct kana endings and careful with the proper use of kana
Understand the composition of idioms
Understand antonyms, synonyms, and homonyms
Understand 熟語訓 (special kanji readings) and 当て字 (phonetic equivalents)
Idioms -understand 4-word idioms with traceable origins. Radicals – able to recognize radicals and understand the meanings in terms of the composition of kanji.
Grade 2 (High school graduate/ university/ general public level) Detailed Areas of Focus Reading & writing – Mastered the reading and writing of all frequently used Kanji and able to use them in a passage appropriately.
Understand onyomi and kunyomi
Write correct kana endings and careful with the proper use of kana
Understand the composition of idioms
Understand antonyms and synonyms
Understand homonyms
Understand 熟語訓 (special kanji readings) and 当て字 (phonetic equivalents)
Idioms – understand 4-word idioms with traceable origins. Radicals: able to recognize radicals and understand the meanings in terms of the composition of kanji.
Grade Semi-1 (University/general public level) Detailed Areas of Focus Reading and writing – mastered the reading and writing of the 3000 kanji and able to use them appropriately in a passage.
Understand 熟語訓 (special kanji readings) and 当て字 (phonetic equivalents)
Understand anonyms, synonyms, and homonyms
Understand 国字 (Japanese-made Chinese Characters)
Understand Kanji used to represent locations/nations (this is a type of 当て字)
Understand multiple Kanji Labels. (multiple kanji used to indicate the same meaning interchangeably e.g. 国 and 國)
Idioms -able to understand four-character idiomatic compounds, Proverbs, and 故事成語 (idioms derived from historical stories). Classical literature – able to understand kanji, Chinese characters from Japanese and Chinese literature. Grade 1 (University/General Public Level) Detailed Areas of Focus Reading and writing mastered reading and writing of the 6000 kanji and able to use them appropriately in a passage.
Understand 熟語訓 (special kanji readings) and 当て字 (phonetic equivalents)
Understand anonyms, synonyms, and homonyms
Understand 国字
Understand Kanji used to represent locations/nations
Understand multiple Kanji Labels
Idioms – able to understand four-character idiomatic phrases and proverbs. Classical Literature -able to understand kanji, Chinese characters from classical Japanese, Chinese literature.
Total Scores and Percentage to Pass
Grade 1 ~ 2: 200 full score, pass for scoring 80% and above
Grade semi-2 ~ 7: 200 full score, pass for scoring 70% and above
Grade 8 ~ 10: 150 full score, pass for scoring 80% and above
How to register for the Kanken:
The paper test takes place 3 times in a year, usually in February, June, and October. Registration opens 3 months prior to the test. You can simply register for Kanken online through a few simple steps. Click here to register for Kanken If you wish to take any level from Level 7 to Level 2, you can also register for Kanken CBT (Computer Based Testing). Few reasons why you should register for Kanken CBT
It is Much more convenient. You will be sitting for Kanken on a computer at a test venue on the date chosen by yourself. There are more than 150 test venues in the country. Select the one most convenient for you.
You will receive a physical certificate just like others taking the paper test.
You will get notified your test result much faster. Your result slip will be mailed to you in about 10 days after the test
The registration for Kanken CBT can also be done online. Click here for more registration information Registration fee The registration fees are as shown below. Grade 8 – 10: 1500 yen Grade 5 – 7: 2000 yen Grade Semi-2 – 4: 2500 yen Grade 2: 3500 yen Grade Semi-1: 4500 yen Grade 1: 5000 yen
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Whether we like it or not, AI tools are changing how we learn languages, especially when it comes to learning Japanese. Nowadays, there are so many AI tools on the market for learners to use to improve their language skills, some of which may be beneficial for your Japanese language learning journey. But what tools should you use, and how can you effectively use them?
In this blog, we’ll give you some recommendations on what tools you can use and how to effectively utilize AI tools to boost your Japanese learning. We’ll also show you some common mistakes when using AI for language learning so that you can avoid them.
For those who want to learn Japanese without AI (or at least minimize its use), we recommend checking out our blog on learning Japanese on your own.
Why use AI Tools to learn Japanese?
So you’ve decided to start using AI tools to help you learn Japanese. You might be wondering, what are some of the pros of learning with AI? Here are some reasons why people might want to use AI to improve their Japanese language skills:
1. You can personalize your learning experience with AI tools
One thing that some people like about using AI to learn Japanese is the amount of personalization you can have. You can tailor the tool to suit your own learning needs, based on your own Japanese level. For example, you can prompt the AI to speak to you in simple Japanese if you’re planning to learn at the beginner level, and you can work your way up from there.
Some AI tools can also create personalized study guides and quizzes as well. You can copy and paste your notes to the AI, and from there, it will create a study guide based on the notes you have given. In addition, it can also create a quiz to test your JLPT knowledge with just one prompt. With some fine-tuning, you can create instant quizzes that are going to be accurate.
2. Feedback is instant, especially with speaking tools
With tools that allow for speaking practice, feedback can be given to you instantly. Some AI tools can give you feedback based on your input, giving you tips such as how to improve your pronunciation, grammar, and other ways to articulate your thoughts so that they sound more natural to native Japanese speakers. There are even AI chatbots that can give you a topic to discuss based on your JLPT level; you just need to put in the right prompts. AI can be a useful tool to learn how to speak Japanese.
3. It helps with note-taking (especially combined with traditional classes)
AI tools can make note-taking and lesson review much faster and more efficient. Instead of manually organizing everything, you can use AI to summarize your lessons, highlight key vocabulary, and turn your notes into structured study materials within seconds.
When combined with traditional Japanese classes, this becomes even more powerful. You can take what you learn in class and quickly transform it into review sheets, flashcards, or even practice quizzes using AI.
To get the most out of this approach, consider learning with Coto Academy, where structured lessons and real teacher feedback can be enhanced with AI tools for faster progress.
Of course, not every tool is suited for language learning. For this blog, we chose the best AI tools based on the following criteria:
Accuracy: The AI tool must be able to give accurate information when it comes to learning about grammar usage, vocabulary, and cultural nuances that can’t be easily translated into other languages.
JLPT usefulness: The AI also needs to help you prepare for the Japanese Language Proficiency Test by teaching you grammar and vocabulary. For some tools, they must also have the ability to create mock quizzes for you to test your JLPT knowledge.
Speaking practice: For tools that allow you to practice your speaking, they must provide instant feedback and accurate results.
Best AI Tools for Learning Japanese
Here we have compiled a list of recommended AI tools to learn Japanese. Some might be more catered to beginners, while others might be more helpful for advanced learners.
1. DeepL
Pros
Cons
Extremely powerful and accurate translations
Does not highlight specific grammar, only vocabulary and Kanji
You can learn specific vocabulary thanks to the built-in dictionary
Might lead to overreliance on translation, which can result in not learning effectively
The free version only allows you to translate 50,000 characters per month
This translation tool is considered to be more powerful and accurate compared to Google Translate! DeepL basically works similarly to Google Translate, except it includes a built-in dictionary for those who want to learn new vocabulary. Simply paste in a piece of text, and it’ll translate for you into your native language!
Best for: Beginners
Availability: Available on any browser, though there is a mobile version available for iOS and Android.
Pricing: There is a free version available, though the Pro version costs money. Check the tool’s pricing here.
2. Gemini Live
Pros
Cons
You can personalize it to talk according to your Japanese level
Gemini Live can potentially make mistakes that are not noticeable to non-native speakers
Output is mostly natural, clear, and easy to understand
One of our staff members recommended this tool for Japanese-speaking practice. Basically, it’s an AI chatbot that can be set up in a way to help you practice your Japanese speaking. For example, you can set up Gemini Live to speak Japanese according to your level; if you want the chatbot to talk to you about traveling at the JLPT N4 level, you can tell it to do so. In addition, you can also ask Gemini Live to quiz you on certain vocabulary according to JLPT level.
Best for: Beginner, intermediate, and advanced learners.
Availability: Available on any browser, and there is a mobile version available for iOS and Android.
Pricing: A free version is available, though there are subscriptions for Gemini. Check out the tool’s pricing here.
3. Anki + AI Plugins
Pros
Cons
You can create flashcards faster than if you were to manually input the information yourself
Information from AI might not be accurate or up to date
The initial setup can be challenging for beginners
You might be surprised to know that there are AI plugins for Anki, a handy flashcard app! Plugins such as the Anki AI allow the learner to input information from Large Language Models (LLMs) onto their flashcards from AI such as ChatGPT, Gemini, and Claude. The initial setup and installation might be a challenge, but once you get that installed, you can easily make flashcards as fast as possible!
Best for: Beginner, intermediate, and advanced learners.
Availability: Anki is free to use on Windows and Mac. Get Anki here.
Pricing: Free on Windows and Mac, but it costs 4000 yen to get the mobile version.
4. Speak AI
Pros
Cons
Can be integrated with Google Meet, Zoom, and Microsoft Teams
Pay as you use; there is no free version available (except for a seven-day trial)
Speakers can be identified in real time
This is a transcription tool that can be used to transcribe voices to text. Japanese transcriptions can be made easily; for example, it can be used if you’re taking a Japanese class and you want to transcribe everything the teacher has said (and if you struggle with quick note-taking). You can supplement the transcriptions with translation tools such as DeepL as well.
Best for: Beginner and intermediate learners.
Availability: Available on any browser.
Pricing: The individual plan costs $15 per month. Check monthly and annual pricings here.
5. Talkpal
Pros
Cons
Great for practicing speaking, which is essential for fluency
Grammar feedback can be inaccurate or unreliable
Simulates real-life conversations with an AI tutor
May lead to confusion if users rely too heavily on its corrections
Available on both web and mobile platforms
One common feature across many AI tools and language learning apps in general is the ability to practice speaking. At Coto Academy, we even argue that this is the most important skill for proving real fluency.
For that, we recommend Talkpal, an AI-powered language tutor available on both web and mobile platforms. It helps accelerate language learning by allowing users to chat about various topics through text or voice. It simulates real-life conversations, encouraging users to learn actively by interacting with an AI tutor.
Talkpal is especially useful for conversation practice, particularly for learners who feel too shy to speak with real people in their target language. However, one major drawback is that its grammar feedback can sometimes be inaccurate or unreliable, which may lead to confusion if you rely on it too heavily.
Best for: Learners who want to practice speaking naturally
Availability: Web and mobile app
Pricing: They offer a free subscription, but you can upgrade to the paid premium version.
Common Mistakes When Using AI
Even though you’re using AI tools to enhance your Japanese learning, that doesn’t mean that your language learning journey will be smooth. Here are some common mistakes that learners may encounter when using AI tools to learn Japanese, and how to avoid them.
1. Overrelying on translation
Sure, AI can help you to translate Japanese text, but that doesn’t mean that it’s always going to be 100 percent accurate. In fact, sometimes AI can’t capture the nuances and context that will get lost in translation. In addition, there’s a chance that the translation might be inaccurate if you’re trying to translate something from Japanese to other languages.
To avoid this problem, always try to break down the sentence into its individual grammar points and vocabulary. You may use the translated text as a guide, but make sure that you’re not just taking the translation at face value. It might also be helpful to check with a native Japanese speaker to check whether the translation is accurate or not.
2. Lack of human interaction, especially when it comes to speaking
Just because you’re utilizing AI tools to improve your learning doesn’t mean you should ignore human interaction altogether. One example is using AI for speaking practice. Sometimes, it’s easy for AI to make mistakes, whether it be vocabulary or grammar, and unless you’re a native Japanese speaker, you might not be able to spot these mistakes. In addition, sometimes the output that you can get from AI might not sound natural.
AI might help you with your speaking skills, but with that being said, in order to achieve better results, we recommend supplementing AI-assisted learning with human interaction, whether it be from online or in-person classes, or language exchange.
3. Not fact-checking information given by AI
As mentioned before, AI tools are bound to make mistakes; they’re not programmed to say “I don’t know the answer to your question.” As such, the information provided by AI may be inaccurate. This can lead to you gaining false information about how to use certain grammar, as well as outdated or niche vocabulary that isn’t used in daily conversation.
To counter this, make sure you fact-check with trusted sources, such as websites or native Japanese speakers.
How to Combine AI Tools for Faster Learning
Now that you know our recommendations on AI learning tools, as well as how to avoid some common mistakes users might make when using AI, it’s time to incorporate them into your language learning. Here are some recommendations on how to best use these tools to improve your Japanese:
1. Set a daily routine
Just like traditional learning or self-studying any other language, we recommend setting a daily routine for learning Japanese, especially with AI. For example, you might set an hour every morning for learning Japanese; 30 minutes on reading and writing, and the other 30 minutes on listening and speaking. For speaking practice, you might want to pick a topic to talk about with the AI and have a discussion from there (though we wouldn’t recommend relying on the AI too much for speaking practice since we all need social interaction with others).
2. Treat it like a tool, not an expert
At the end of the day, AI is just a tool to help you learn Japanese. You shouldn’t treat it like it knows everything. While it’s good to get instant feedback from the AI, you should always check the AI for inaccuracies, such as incorrect grammar usage. It might be helpful to have a native Japanese speaker fact-check for you in the early stages of your language-learning journey.
Final Recommendation: Which AI Tool Should You Start With?
Now comes the big question: which tool should you use to kickstart your Japanese learning journey? Our answer is that it depends on the learner. For some learners who want to learn vocabulary and grammar, they might benefit from using Anki just for memorization.
Want to learn Japanese with us?
Outside of AI-assisted learning, why not consider taking Japanese lessons with us? Coto Academy has been offering lessons focused on practical Japanese for more than 25 years, with campuses in Shibuya, Shinjuku, Iidabashi, Minato, Yokohama, and online. We offer part-time courses, as well as intensive courses to suit your needs and schedule. Ready to start your language learning journey? Contact us by filling out the form below and get a free level check!
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the best AI for learning languages?
It depends on which AI you are using. What’s more important is how you utilize the AI to improve your language learning.
How can you effectively use AI for better language learning?
There are so many ways to use AI for language learning, but the most effective way for you to use AI is to treat it as a supplementary tool rather than as a learning resource written by an expert.
What are some common mistakes made when using AI tools to learn Japanese?
Overrelying on translations of Japanese text, a lack of human interaction, and not fact-checking information are common mistakes when it comes to AI-assisted language learning. Again, if you’re going to use AI to learn Japanese, make sure to use it as a supplementary tool instead of treating it like it knows everything correctly (sometimes it makes mistakes!)
