English gets by with “this” and “that.” Japanese splits the world by who’s near what: これ (by me), それ (by you), あれ (away from us both), どれ (which?) — you met これ/それ pointing at sushi in Week 1. This こ・そ・あ・ど logic repeats everywhere — この/その/あの for “this/that ___,” ここ/そこ/あそこ for “here/there” — so locking it in now pays off for months.
Today's words
吸う
to breathe in; to inhale
考える
to think (about, of); to think over
死ぬ
to die; to pass away
方
direction; way
好き
liking; being fond of
子
child; kid
Write today's kanji — tap to replay
吸
考
死
方
好
子
See it in real sentences
その時、立てなかった。
My legs failed me then.
これで肩の荷がおりました。
It's like a weight has been lifted from my shoulders.
この先危険物あり。
Danger ahead.
この手紙を出して下さい。
Please mail this letter for me.
あの子には頭が痛い。
That child is a headache.
当分の間これでやっていける。
This will do for the time being.
Practice
Spaced review — recall from earlier days (tap to flip)
to stand (up)
立つ
1d ago
then
では
1d ago
I
僕
3d ago
to get dark
暮れる
3d ago
Recall
Which word means “to think (about, of)”?
Which word means “child”?
Which word means “to die”?
Which word means “liking”?
Listen and choose
What did you hear?
What did you hear?
What did you hear?
Your turn — say it, then check
Say: “My legs failed me then.”
その時、立てなかった。
Say: “It's like a weight has been lifted from my shoulders.”
これで肩の荷がおりました。
👀 Today’s input · ~10 min — where fluency actually comes from
Read your first real books
You can read kana now — so read. Open a Level 0 Tadoku graded reader: picture books made for absolute beginners, almost all kana. Sound each page out loud and don’t stop to look up every word; getting the gist is the goal.