For Beginners: The 8 Best Japanese Textbooks & Dictionaries

What’s great about textbooks in the digital age of apps and Japanese learning podcasts?

Unlike apps that teach you random things and don’t get you far…

A Japanese textbook gives you a clear learning path, from Page 1 to 200. It teaches you the alphabet, grammar, writing, reading and everything along the way.

Are textbooks the answer to the entire language? No. Nothing ever is. But they’re a safe start to Japanese. So, if you’re looking for some best Japanese textbooks…

Here’s a list of the best Japanese textbooks for beginners.

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1. GENKI I: An Integrated Course in Elementary Japanese

Genki is the mother of all Japanese learning textbooks. Colleges use this. Self-learners use this.

Almost every Japanese learner I came across… started with this. Heck, I used this in school as well.

Not a learn-in-a-month-for-busy-people book. No shortcuts are taken here. The book covers speaking, listening, reading, and writing in 384 pages. Everything a beginner needs is in here.

If you want a Japanese workbook, I recommended to also get the accompanying workbook: Genki: An Integrated Course in Elementary Japanese Workbook I. Workbooks help you practice what you’ve learned.

2. Japanese for Busy People

This is an easier approach to Japanese… and definitely for less “serious” people. Hence, for busy people. This book talks about Mr. Smith, a foreign lawyer, and his life in Japan.

Through 11 chapters, you’ll learn to read and write Hiragana and Katakana. Also, you’ll learn basic use of nouns, verbs, adjectives, conversations for daily situations as you follow Mr. Smith.

If Genki was made for kids (meaning college kids) at school, this book is more so for adults. Take that information how you will.

3. Can Do Japanese

“Can Do Japanese” is a Japanese textbook made by JapanesePod101.

The book teaches you Japanese via “can do” tasks… where you can “do” or accomplish tasks in Japanese. For example, introduce yourself, talk about your age, hobbies, and so on.

So, whereas most textbooks and lessons dive you into various grammar rules and random words… With “Can Do,” you are learning immediately how to talk about yourself in Japanese and “do things.” If you are looking best Japanese textbooks that don’t overwhelm you and get you speaking, this one may be for you.

The one downside of the “Can Do Japanese” textbook is that it is for the kindle only at the moment.

You CAN get it for free if you join JapanesePod101’s live group classes or private classes though.

4. Minna No Nihongo

This book is up there with Genki in terms of being widespread and popular. However, it’s better for adults and very aggressive in helping you learn fast. For example, you’re required to learn 50 words per lesson. In 250+ pages, each lesson introduces a new sentence patterns (grammar), relevant vocabulary, shows how to use it in real-life situations, and there’s lots of room for practice.

Not for wimpy learners. It’s all in Japanese and is written for foreigners living in Japan.

5. A Dictionary of Basic Japanese Grammar

This is a must for any Japanese learner.

In fact, there are even Intermediate and Advanced versions of this book. It’s a small but fat (636 pages!!) book FILLED with grammar, rules and examples. Great to use as a reference… and you will find yourself reviewing it again and again. Well worth the investment.

I still have my copy.

6. 600 Basic Japanese Verbs: Essential Reference Guide

Another great reference book.

By now, we’ve covered grammar, the alphabet and basics with all the books above.

With 600 Basic Japanese Verbs, you learn to conjugate the 600 most common Japanese verbs quickly. Why verbs? There are a ton of verb conjugations and rules you’ll run into and you learn it all here. It’s the best of the verb book on the market – good for beginners and serious students alike.

7. A Guide to Japanese Grammar

This is the famous Tae Kim’s own grammar book.

300 pages long and a non-traditional approach for learners.

Tae Kim himself isn’t Japanese, but has mastered Japanese… so you’re learning from someone that has succeeded.

The book covers TONS grammatical concepts to understand simple to very complex sentences. You’ll also learn Japanese as it’s spoken by real people including casual speech and slang – things that are NOT taught in most Japanese textbook.

8. Remembering the Kanji 1: A Complete Course

And, can’t forget the Kanji. Want to learn Kanji? This is where you start.

Remembering the Kanji breaks down the 2,000  most common kanji and teaches you how to remember them and write them. You won’t need to write kanji over and over again in order to learn them. Warning: you won’t learn meanings or readings here but it’s an amazing way to master characters. You’ll still need to put in the writing & review time though.

9. Japanese From Zero

This is an honorary mention… and is a favorite amongst self learners, so I figured it’s worth a spot on a list of best Japanese textbooks..

The author, an American, is well known online and speaks Japanese fluently.

10. Learn Japanese with Manga

Learn Japanese with Manga is another great Japanese self-study book can very much be used as a textbook for beginners. Except you’re learning through comics.

I am a fan of unique approaches like this because it makes more interesting and unique. Some may like it. Some may not. It’s really a personal choice. Check it out.

11. Short Stories for Japanese Learners (Level 1, Volume 1)

Amazon’s awash with similar books of “learn Japanese with stories“…

Many of them not great because they’re written by non-natives.

This one IS written by a Japanese teacher. And it’s also a unique twist just like the manga one above — lean with stories. Again, I’m a fan of these approaches because usually that’s what gets people hooked more than the traditional stuff.

12. Japanese Language Writing Practice Book: Learn to Write Hiragana, Katakana and Kanji

Textbooks aside, workbooks are just as great because you get to practice writing…

And through that writing, the language sticks way better.

So, this workbook covers the Japanese alphabet (hiragana & katakana) and kanji. This would be a great addition to whatever other book you use.

Bonus PDF Books

Here are some other books about learning Japanese that you may enjoy!

Similarly… here are bonus stories you can learn Japanese with.

Check out my collection of beginner-levels stories which you can read right after learning to read and write in Japanese…

Conclusion

By the way, as you can see by the BLATANTLY obvious ads I have above and below…

I also recommend JapanesePod101.com (click here!) for their Audio and Video Lessons. Yes, it’s no textbook, but it just might be the best damn online course for speaking, listening and mastering Japanese conversation.

That site would be a perfect supplement with whatever Japanese textbook or dictionary you’re using. Check it out and decide on your own.

Do you have any Japanese textbook that you swear by and recommend?

I’ll add more as I go along. Leave a comment!

– The Main Junkie