# Tae Kim > Tae Kim’s grammar guide fit for beginners who want a free, complete explanation path without a paid app or textbook purchase. Canonical: https://studyjapanese101.com/resources/tae-kim Last updated: 2026-09-01 Tae Kim’s Guide explains Japanese grammar from kana through advanced topics. It is a reference and reading path, not a review system. Published: 2026-08-13 5 min read beginner · intermediate · free · easy · Grammar · Web [Visit Tae Kim](https://studyjapanese101.com/go/taekim) ## Key facts | Fact | Details | | --- | --- | | Best for | Learners who want a free grammar explanation path | | Avoid if | You need typed retrieval practice | | Pricing | Free website; paid print and Kindle editions exist | | Platform | Web | | Ease of use | easy | ## Pros - Learners who want a free grammar explanation path - People who prefer reading to drilling - Textbook users who need a second explanation ## Cons - You need typed retrieval practice - You want lots of native audio - You need a teacher to sequence homework Tae Kim’s Guide to Japanese is a long-running free grammar site. Both [awesome-japanese](https://github.com/yudataguy/awesome-japanese) and All Language Resources treat it as a complete explanation resource, not as an app. ## What job it does It explains how constructions work, from writing systems through clauses. You can read it in order or jump to a point you met in class. The Complete Guide starts with hiragana, then katakana. That supports the existing claim that the path begins at kana. It is still an explanation, not a review queue. Pair it with a drill from the [kana shortlist](https://studyjapanese101.com/best/hiragana-and-katakana-learning-resources) if you need recall practice. That is a different job from [Bunpro](https://studyjapanese101.com/resources/bunpro). Bunpro asks you to retrieve the pattern. Tae Kim asks you to understand the explanation. ## Limits Audio is limited. There is no built-in SRS. Some wording is casual and a few older pages show their age. Pair it with example-rich practice and real input. ## How to test it Read the first grammar chapters and one page for a point you already half-know. If the explanation clears the confusion, keep it as a reference. If you need drills, add Bunpro or a textbook workbook rather than rereading the same page. ## Sources checked Product details can change. Evidence pages and their individual check dates appear below. Profile reviewed 2026-09-01. - [Tae Kim Complete Guide](https://guidetojapanese.org/learn/complete/) - official product · checked 2026-09-01 · Official product page used for the public description, platform, and current offering. - [Tae Kim Complete Guide writing systems](https://guidetojapanese.org/learn/series/complete-guide/) - official product · checked 2026-09-01 · Official writing-system introduction that starts with hiragana, then katakana, before grammar. ## Alternative tools - [A Dictionary of Japanese Grammar](https://studyjapanese101.com/resources/dictionary-of-japanese-grammar) - A three-volume grammar dictionary for looking up patterns you already met. - [Bunpo](https://studyjapanese101.com/resources/bunpo) - Multi-language grammar lessons with Japanese, SRS review, and paid Plus or Platinum plans. - [Bunpro](https://studyjapanese101.com/resources/bunpro) - Typed grammar and vocabulary reviews inside changing sentence prompts. ## Related - [Japanese grammar resources](https://studyjapanese101.com/resources/grammar) - Grammar study fails when explanations never become retrieval. Pick the job first. - [Hiragana and Katakana Resources for a Two-Week Start](https://studyjapanese101.com/best/hiragana-and-katakana-learning-resources) - Learn hiragana, then katakana, with one drill and one review loop. Inku fits prepared cards with audio on iPhone. Real Kana fits typed recall. A textbook or Irodori can teach the same script inside a course. - [Free Japanese Learning Resources: Build a Study Routine](https://studyjapanese101.com/best/free-japanese-learning-resources) - A complete free stack can start with Irodori for sequence, Tae Kim for explanation, Jisho for lookup, Renshuu for optional review, Tadoku for reading, and Nihongo con Teppei for audio. You do not need all six on day one. - [Best Japanese Grammar Resources: What to Use and When](https://studyjapanese101.com/best/japanese-grammar-resources) - Start with Tae Kim for a free explanation path, use Bunpro when retrieval is the bottleneck, keep Imabi or A Dictionary of Japanese Grammar for deeper lookup, and use Maggie Sensei for extra examples. - [A beginner Japanese path that does not start with Anki](https://studyjapanese101.com/blog/a-beginner-path-that-does-not-start-with-anki) - Anki is a powerful memory engine. It is a poor first app if you do not yet know what to put on the cards. - [Learn kana in two weeks](https://studyjapanese101.com/guides/learn-kana-in-two-weeks) - Learn hiragana in week one and katakana in week two. Use one drill and one review loop. Two weeks is a schedule, not a guarantee.