About JP Notes
JP Notes is a free Japanese learning platform built to make JLPT preparation clear, structured, and genuinely useful — especially for Vietnamese and Chinese speakers who can leverage their existing knowledge of Chinese characters.
Our Mission
Learning Japanese should not be locked behind expensive courses or scattered across dozens of half-finished blogs. We organize every grammar point, kanji, and vocabulary set by JLPT level (N5 to N1) so you always know exactly where you stand and what to study next. Everything is free, works on any device, and requires no sign-up.
What Makes JP Notes Different
Most Japanese learning sites are written only for English speakers. We built features specifically for learners who already know Chinese characters — a large, underserved advantage:
- 漢Han-Viet readings on every kanji page — Vietnamese learners can connect Japanese kanji to the Sino-Vietnamese readings they already know (学 → HỌC, 生 → SINH).
- 字Hanzi-Kanji bridge for Chinese speakers — we highlight where Japanese kanji match, resemble, or differ from Chinese characters, including false friends.
- N5Strict JLPT organization — grammar, kanji, vocabulary, reading, conversation, and quizzes are all sorted N5 to N1, with a hub page for each level.
How Our Content Is Made
We use AI language models (Claude and Gemini) to draft explanations, then run every article through a multi-step review process. We are upfront about this — see the AI disclosure on our Terms page.
Accuracy is not left to chance. Kanji readings are cross-checked against verified Jōyō kanji data, grammar points are validated against established JLPT reference lists, and Han-Viet readings are mapped from Sino-Vietnamese dictionaries. Content that fails these checks is regenerated, not published.
Every article also passes a quality and readability pipeline that removes generic filler and ensures examples include furigana and romaji. Reading and conversation lessons include natural audio generated with neural text-to-speech.
Free, Forever
JP Notes is and will remain free to use. We cover hosting and development costs through unobtrusive advertising. There are no paywalls, no locked lessons, and no account required.
Found an error, have a suggestion, or want to get in touch? We read every message — contact us.