It started with a diary.
KanjiSteps started with a small wish: to write a diary in Japanese without getting stuck on how to draw every character.
Reading a sentence and writing it by hand are different challenges. KanjiSteps brings a sentence, its readings, its sound, and its stroke sequences into one place so you can practice the words that matter to you.
Small, free, and personal
You can edit any example, explore daily diary prompts, make a worksheet, or share a practice link with a friend. There is no account requirement and no paywall. Optional donations help support the project.
What the tool can and cannot do
Stroke paths come from KanjiVG. Furigana is generated with kuromoji and IPADIC, and voice is generated on your device with OpenJTalk. Automatic readings can be ambiguous, particularly for names. This site does not grade handwriting, promise fluency, or replace a teacher.
New learning notes and examples were developed with AI assistance. They are practical starting points, not materials certified or reviewed by a Japanese-language institution. Corrections are welcome.
Your practice belongs to you
Sentences are processed in your browser. Your notebook is saved only when you choose to save an entry, and you can download a backup. Sharing a practice link deliberately includes your sentence; anyone with that link can read it.
Contact & support
Built by Gilad Ronen. Send feedback, corrections, or sponsorship enquiries to xgiladronenx@gmail.com. KanjiSteps is an independent Preply affiliate. We may earn a commission when you buy lessons through the clearly labeled advertisement on the homepage. The banner artwork is supplied by Preply.