Do I need to know hiragana and katakana first?

Yes — you should learn Hiragana and Katakana first, and this study tool guides you through them before introducing kanji. These two phonetic alphabets form the foundation of written Japanese and are essential for reading words, grammar endings, and beginner material.

Once you can read them comfortably, you’ll move on to JLPT N5, where you begin learning kanji, vocabulary, and sentence patterns step-by-step. Starting with kana ensures you can follow the lessons smoothly and build strong reading skills from the beginning.