Show HN: Gem and I built an open-source app to learn Japanese

7 points

a year ago

I've been fascinated by the Japanese language and culture for a while now, and I wanted to create a simple, no-fuss way for beginners to get started. So, I built *[Nihongo](https://nihongo.site/)*, a free and open-source web app designed to help you learn the fundamentals of Japanese in about a month.

The name of the app, Nihongo (日本語), is the Japanese word for the "Japanese language."

You can check it out here: *[https://nihongo.site/](https://nihongo.site/)*

And for those who like to tinker, the code is available on GitHub: *[https://github.com/predragcvetkovski/nihongo](https://github.com/predragcvetkovski/nihongo)*

The "learn in 30 days" idea isn't about achieving fluency in a month, which we all know is impossible. Instead, the goal is to provide a structured and manageable learning path that covers the essential building blocks of the language in a short period. I wanted to create something that feels less intimidating than many comprehensive (and often expensive) resources out there.

*What the app covers:*

The app is structured into a series of lessons that you can follow at your own pace. It starts with the absolute basics and gradually introduces more complex concepts:

* *The Japanese Writing Systems:* Detailed lessons on Hiragana and Katakana, the two phonetic scripts that are the foundation of written Japanese. * *Essential Grammar:* I've focused on the core grammatical structures you need to start forming your own sentences. * *Core Vocabulary:* You'll learn a curated list of high-frequency words that are immediately useful in everyday conversation. * *Practical Phrases:* The app includes common greetings and phrases that you can start using right away.

*Why I built this:*

I started building this project while testing the latest Gemini 2.5 models on Google AI Studio, and with the Code assistant and Cloud Run I was able to get it to production in less than 3 hours. This as a personal project to solidify my own understanding of Japanese and to build something useful for others who are just starting their learning journey. I'm a big believer in the power of open-source and wanted to create a resource that is accessible to everyone.

This is very much a passion project, and I'm still actively working on it. I'd love to get your feedback, suggestions, and of course, any contributions on GitHub are more than welcome.

Let me know what you think! I'm here to answer any questions you might have.