は or が
は (wa) marks what you're talking about, and が (ga) marks who does something: 私は学生です (watashi wa gakusei desu), I'm a student; 誰が来ましたか (dare ga kimashita ka), who came?
Japanese course · 27 languages in one app
Learn Japanese by speaking it
You don't have to master kanji before you can talk. Talvo starts with the phrases you'll use in your first week in Japan, shows them in kana and kanji with romaji alongside, and gets you saying them out loud.
First lesson free · iPhone and Mac, one subscription
Your first Japanese phrases
Twelve polite phrases that work with anyone, from a shop assistant to your host family.
| Japanese | Romaji | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| こんにちは | konnichiwa | Hello / Good afternoon |
| おはようございます | ohayō gozaimasu | Good morning (polite) |
| はじめまして | hajimemashite | Nice to meet you |
| ありがとうございます | arigatō gozaimasu | Thank you (polite) |
| すみません | sumimasen | Excuse me / Sorry |
| これをください | kore o kudasai | This one, please |
| いくらですか？ | ikura desu ka? | How much is it? |
| トイレはどこですか？ | toire wa doko desu ka? | Where is the restroom? |
| 英語を話せますか？ | eigo o hanasemasu ka? | Do you speak English? |
| わかりません | wakarimasen | I don't understand |
| もう一度お願いします | mō ichido onegaishimasu | Once more, please |
| いただきます | itadakimasu | Said before eating |
A line over a vowel (ō) means hold it twice as long. It changes meaning, so it's worth getting right from the start.
A conversation you'll practice
Ordering at a café in Tokyo. The tutor plays the staff member and uses the polite Japanese you'll actually hear.
Staffいらっしゃいませ！ご注文はお決まりですか？irasshaimase! go-chūmon wa okimari desu ka?Welcome! Are you ready to order?
Youコーヒーをひとつお願いします。kōhī o hitotsu onegaishimasu.One coffee, please.
Staffホットとアイス、どちらになさいますか？hotto to aisu, dochira ni nasaimasu ka?Hot or iced?
Youアイスでお願いします。aisu de onegaishimasu.Iced, please.
Staffかしこまりました。450円です。kashikomarimashita. yonhyaku gojū en desu.Certainly. That's 450 yen.
Mistakes Talvo helps you fix
Polite or casual
Forms ending in -masu and desu, like たべます (tabemasu), are safe with anyone. Plain forms like たべる (taberu) are for friends. Talvo labels which phrases are polite.
Long vowels change words
おばさん (obasan) is aunt, おばあさん (obāsan) is grandmother. ビル (biru) is a building, ビール (bīru) is beer.
You can answer in romaji
When an exercise asks you to write Japanese, romaji is accepted while you learn kana, and a missing long vowel gets a nudge instead of a fail.
How Talvo teaches Japanese
- Every phrase shows kana or kanji, romaji and a pronunciation guide, with audio
- Every unit, from beginner (A1) to advanced (C1), is written around your interests and the words you already know
- Role-play a café, a market, a taxi or meeting someone new. The tutor speaks first, waits for your answer and corrects you with the reason
- Use the live interpreter when you're talking with a native speaker for real
- Every new word goes into your review deck and comes back right before you'd forget it
Questions about learning Japanese
Do I need to learn hiragana first?
No. Every phrase shows kana or kanji with romaji alongside, so you can start speaking on day one and pick up the script as you go.
Can I learn Japanese with Talvo for free?
Yes, to start. Your first lesson, three live-interpreter exchanges, your reviews and your deck are free. Talvo Pro unlocks unlimited lessons and conversations, and the yearly plan starts with a 7-day free trial.
How is Talvo different from Duolingo?
Duolingo is built around short tap-and-match exercises and daily streaks. Talvo is built around speaking: lessons written around your interests, a tutor you talk to out loud, and a live interpreter for real conversations. Plenty of learners use both.
Can I use Talvo on my Mac?
Yes. Talvo is a native app for iPhone and Mac, and one subscription covers both.
More language guides
Say your first Japanese sentence today.
The first lesson is free. It takes about five minutes.