道Nihongo Path

Reading

Articles

Standalone pieces on method and context: how to study, what the exams measure, and where your existing languages help. Read them in any order.

Language8 minJapanese for Hindi speakers: what transfers, what doesn’tAn honest inventory of the advantages you have, and the three places your Hindi will actively mislead you.

Method5 minWhy romaji holds you backRomanised Japanese feels like a shortcut. It is closer to a detour that costs you months.

Exams6 minWhat N5 and N4 testThe JLPT levels in concrete terms: what is on the exam, what it does not measure, and whether you need it.

Method6 minStudying kanji without drowningWhy the character count is the wrong thing to focus on, and what to do instead.

Method5 minA realistic first monthWhat to do, week by week, for your first four weeks, and what to ignore.