A simple study routine
A study routine at your pace.
New cards appear when no reviews are due. Keep going or stop whenever you like.
Review what’s due.
Practice familiar cards first. FSRS schedules each review using your previous answers.
Practice those cards first.
Learn the next new card.
Meet your next card.
When no reviews are due, study the next card’s meaning and explanation, then try recalling it.
水を飲みます。
みずをのみます。
I drink water.
Learn, then practice recallingSet your own pace.
Keep learning new cards while no reviews are due, or stop and return later. There’s no daily new-card limit.
Prepared material. Personal reviews.
A clear path through
beginner Japanese.
The path is ready. You decide how far to go each session.
Your material is ready.
Follow the kana, N5, and N4 curriculum with prepared cards and English explanations.
Learn before you recall.
See each new card’s meaning and explanation before trying to remember it.
Reviews come first.
Due cards get priority. When none are due, the next new card is introduced.
Go at your own pace.
Continue when you have time, or stop and pick up later. Your progress is saved.
A closer look
Your learning questions, answered.
When can I learn new cards?
New cards are introduced when no reviews are due. Study shows the meaning and explanation first, then gives you a chance to recall the answer. Keep learning while the review queue is clear, or stop and return later. There is no daily new-card limit.
What is spaced repetition?
It is a way to revisit material over time instead of studying every card equally often. After you recall an answer and rate how it went, HeyKana uses that review to schedule the next one.
What happens when I forget an answer?
Reveal the answer and mark your recall honestly. A difficult card needs more practice, and your answer helps the scheduler decide when to bring it back. Choose Wrong when you could not recall it, and Correct when you could.
Why learn in card groups?
Groups bring related Japanese words or patterns together. Guided study uses prerequisites to help you build on the material you have already learned, rather than leaving you to choose your next card at random.
What will I study?
HeyKana focuses on Japanese for English speakers, with a guided path through kana, N5, and N4. Prepared vocabulary, kanji, and grammar cards introduce new material after its foundations.
Does the drawing area grade my handwriting?
No. The drawing area is a scratchpad for working through an answer. You check the card and assess your own recall.
Make room for a habit
Progress you can keep coming back to.
Your progress stays yours.
Your learning history and review schedule are saved to your account, ready when you return.
A missed answer is useful.
Every review tells the scheduler something. Be honest about what you remember and let the next review adapt.
A clear place to return.
Find cards due now and see what comes next. Your learning dashboard keeps your reviews and guided groups together.