This site introduces, in a simple way, grammar patterns and notation styles to help you read Japanese classics.

There are 12 sections: Introduction, Issues with spoken Classical Japanese, Vocabulary problems, Orthography, Stem elements, Adjectives, Verbs, Paradigm chart (showing verb inflection), Copulas, Useful particles and Expressing concepts. In the vocabulary section, examples are introduced where, even though the word is the same, the meaning differs in classical and modern Japanese. You can download a PDF file that shows how verbs and adjectives inflect.

How to…

Move your cursor to 'Classical Japanese' over the title '文語入門 (Bungo Nyûmon)' to show the 12 items: Introduction, Speaking Issues, Vocabulary Problems, Orthography, Stem Elements, Adjectives, Verbs, Paradigm Chart (PDF), Copulas, Useful Particles, Expressing Concepts, and Bibliography.

Click 'Vocabulary Problems', the third item from the top, to see a table showing examples of differences in meaning between classical and modern Japanese.

Click 'Paradigm Chart (PDF)', the eighth item from the top, to download a PDF of classical verb and adjective conjugations.