Sinau

Learn Japanese from zero, 10 minutes a day.

Start from your first word, with furigana and romaji, so you can begin before you know hiragana. Then go on to JLPT N5, N4, N3, or JFT-Basic for work in Japan. Everything explained in plain words.

Start from zero, free · All units free · no card · nothing to install

Want to work in Japan (SSW)? Start the JFT-Basic path

Japanese study paths in Sinau

you want to learn Japanese

You are not alone: in fiscal 2025, 216,802 people took JFT-Basic worldwide.

Why learning Japanese so often stalls halfway

One clear road

N5 → N4 → JFT-Basic. Every day Sinau has your next cards ready, so you just start.

Cards that come back on time

Each card returns right before you would forget it. About 10 minutes a day, and every day you study gets its 済 stamp.

Know if you are ready before you book

A score under 200 means a 45-day wait to retake. The 60-minute mock on Sinau gives you a score estimate first.

From the first word to test day

  1. Pick your goal: JLPT N5, N4 and N3, or JFT-Basic for the SSW visa. Starting from zero? N5 first. Sinau lays out the road from the very first word.
  2. Study 10 minutes a day: Open Sinau and tap Start studying. Cards you are about to forget and new ones are ready; rate how well you knew each, and Sinau schedules the next time.
  3. Test yourself before the day: A mock in four parts, one hour for all of it, then your estimated score. A2 starts at 200.

Everything JFT-Basic asks for, in one app

Listening with pictures

Hear a conversation, then pick the right picture.

Conversations at work

Office, shop, station: what to say and when.

Kanji with their readings

Furigana and romaji are on from day one, so you can start before you know hiragana.

Everyday reading

Timetables, notices, labels: find the information asked for.

Mock exam

4 parts, 48 questions, one hour. Score estimate from 10 to 250.

Your notes become cards

Photograph a module page or class notes, and Sinau makes flashcards and a quiz.

Your next step: JLPT N3

The N3 path builds on N4 and works the same way: daily cards, grammar explained in plain words, JLPT N3-style practice, and a mock exam on the real timings (30 + 70 + 40 minutes). All three stages are out.

See the N3 path

Content you can check

Checked against the dictionary

Words and kanji are matched automatically against the JMdict and KANJIDIC dictionaries.

Sentences by real people

Example sentences come from Tatoeba, and we credit every author.

AI is always labelled

Questions, voices and pictures made by AI are marked on screen.

Spot a mistake? Report it

Every card has a Report a mistake button.

Sinau is not affiliated with the Japan Foundation. The mock score is an estimate, not an official result.

Questions people ask

What is JFT-Basic, and why does it matter?

A computer-based Japanese test by the Japan Foundation for people who want to work in Japan. Its A2 level is the language requirement of the SSW (Tokutei Ginou) visa, together with the skills test of your field.

I am starting from zero. Can I?

Yes. The path starts at N5, and reading help (furigana and romaji) is on from day one, so you can start before you know hiragana.

How long until I am ready?

The whole path is about 2,000 cards. At 20 new cards a day that is roughly 3 to 4 months, at 10 about 7. Sinau shows an estimated finish date at your pace.

How much does the JFT-Basic test cost?

It depends on the country where you take it (in Indonesia, for example, it is IDR 550,000 per attempt via Prometric). Results come the same day, and with a score under 200 you can only retake it 45 days later. That is why Sinau gives you a score estimate first.

How is it different from JLPT N4?

For the SSW visa, JLPT N4 is accepted too. On Sinau, N4 is part of the road to JFT-Basic, so you get ready for both.

I passed N4 or JFT-Basic. What next?

JLPT N3. The N3 path on Sinau builds on N4: it has 1,439 N3 words in 58 units, 109 N3 grammar points, JLPT N3-style practice, and an N3 mock exam on the real timings (30 + 70 + 40 minutes).

Is Sinau official?

No. Sinau is not affiliated with the Japan Foundation. Its practice is built in a similar shape, and the score is an estimate.

Do I need to install an app?

No. Sinau runs in your phone browser and can be added to the home screen like an app.

How do I pay? Can I get a refund?

Outside Indonesia, Pro is paid by card in US dollars, monthly or yearly, and renews until you cancel (cancel any time). In Indonesia, Pro is a one-time payment in rupiah for 1, 6 or 12 months (QRIS, bank transfer or e-wallet) with no automatic renewal. Payments are not refundable, so try exam practice and the mock exam free for 7 days first.

JFT-Basic and JLPT are names of third-party tests. Sinau is not affiliated with their organisers.