I want to learn japanese from an online site but i'm not sure where to start between kanji, hiragana and katakana. So, if i want to learn japanese so that i can read manga, between which of this three that i need to start with?

Well, when I tried to learn Japanese, I started with hiragana and romanji, you learn how to read and what it means. Katakana works the same way as hiragana, each kana represents a sound. I think Kanji is what you learn after knowing the basics or maybe while learning, but I don't think you should start with Kanji.

Anyway, that's just my opinion, maybe someone who really knows japanese can help you more.

Start with the easiest.. Which is the hiragana alphabet. Then move to katakana (which is usually used only for conversions of words such as hamburger into a japanese word) Then kanji is last... Bu kanji is usually learned along side with hiragana... (because you can write kanji words in hiragana, the kanji is usually shorter)

Well that's just how I am learning... (with the help of http://www.freejapaneselessons.com/ and http://www.learnjapanesefree.com/)

When i tried to learn japanese at the university, lvl one was hiragana and less than 10 kanjis, like hito and some others i forgot . with hiragana u can write lots of "words" and be able to convey meaning to many sounds used to make conversations, after lvl one u are able to buy stuff in japan, know people, talk about you and objects hum.... numbers and time plust i believe we even managed to learn some other things.

Just learn hiragana by heart get an online dictionary and u may be able to read some kids mangas(really slow tho lol)

I blitzed hiragana and katakana at the same time in about 3 weeks through intensive practice, but that was because I moved to Japan and needed to learn to read signs quickly. Convention states you should do hiragana first, then katakana, and then kanji. Do not rely on romanji to learn grammar points and phrases, it is much better if you dive straight in with hiragana examples from the get go. It will give you a much better idea of how words should sound, and improve your reading speed.

For websites I found http://www.Japanesepod101.com and Tae Kim's grammar guide the best for comprehensive learning, as have many others I know.

For kanji, I recommend Heisig's Remember the Kanji book, in conjunction with Kanji.koohii (remembering the kanji) to really get the meaning of individual kanji down. Then you go back an learn the individual readings etc. This method is by far the fastest for learning kanji, and as proof, one guy I know passed the top level Kanji test, something only 5 foreigners have ever done. Basically, his kanji knowledge is better than the average Japanese person's. Kanjibox is good for drilling kanji when you get there, but it is a practice site, not a learning one.

I also recommend Anki, it is a flashcard programme, or http://www.memrise.com, which is a mnemonic based learning site. Both can be used for a wide range of studies. Personally I prefer memrise to Anki, but other's are vice versa.

Also, expose yourself to Japanese as much as possible. If you can't find a Japanese speaker to practice with, then watch Japanese TV and listen to the music. In time you will start to recognise words, and that will help reinforce them.

Manga, I find, is really difficult because if often uses slang which isn't recognised by dictionaries, or taught in most courses. Look for manga that use furigana (these are hiragana or katakana next to kanji to tell you the reading) and do you best to figure it out from there, but don't be surprised if your translation ends up as nonsense. It happens to me a lot, and it is usually because of a slang term I mistranslated. Good luck.

Last edited by CuthienSilmeriel at 10:11 am, Jun 23 2013

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The pen is mightier than the sword...and considerably easier to write with.

First, you need to learn Hiragana and Katakana. It's not really that difficult. this web is helpful: http://www.tofugu.com/2010/10/13/hiragana-guide/
and then you can learn Japanese vocabulary using Hiragana and while you learn it you can learn the Kanji form of the vocabulary as well. That way is the easiest.
I'm currently taking a Japanese course and that is the method my sensei use.

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ꉂꉂ(ᵔᗜᵔ*)笑

http://www.japantoday.com/category/opinions/view/why-you-sh ouldnt-learn-japanese
Read it before you start doing anything Japanese-related.

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its cold down here fam ~

If you mainly wanna start learning how to speak Japanese, then learn the Romaji Japanese sounds so you understand how to pronounce your words.
If you want to learn how to read and write, then I suggest you start learning the Hiragana first, it has around more than double the sounds than the English alphabet.

I'm learning Japanese in school and we start with learning the basic greeting and phrases whilst also learning the Hiragana and their sounds first off.
Most manga and anime fans (mostly anime fans) tend to automatically learn a few Japanese phrases when they watch anime or read manga, so you could use these enjoyable hobbies to keep yourself involved in the Japanese culture, which will also help you gain more enthusiasm to learn Japanese.
control your time though, don't wanna be losing your friends or job over some time to watch anime...

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My full manga list: http://myanimelist.net/mangalist/PinkShippuden