Frequently asked questions
Quick answers about the books, where to start and where to buy.
Who is Sunil Kaushik?
Sunil Kaushik is a linguist, interpreter and author with more than 25 years of work in languages, including translation, interpreting, and research in the intelligence and security field. He writes practical, learner-first books on the languages of Asia, starting with Japanese and Mandarin Chinese.
What books has Sunil Kaushik written?
Sixteen books so far: Japanese Kana; JLPT Kanji Workbook (N5 & N4); JLPT Kanji N3 (2 volumes); JLPT Kanji N2 (2 volumes); JLPT Kanji N1 (7 volumes); Foundations of Chinese; HSK 1 Hanzi Workbook; and HSK 1 Grammar and Reading.
I am a complete beginner in Japanese. Which book should I start with?
Start with Japanese Kana, which teaches all 92 hiragana and katakana. Then move to the JLPT Kanji Workbook for N5 & N4 (285 kanji), then N3, N2 and N1.
How many kanji do the JLPT Kanji books cover?
2,250 kanji in 12 volumes: 285 for N5 & N4, 367 for N3 (2 volumes), 367 for N2 (2 volumes) and 1,231 for N1 (7 volumes).
Do the Japanese books have furigana and romaji?
Yes. Every example sentence in the JLPT Kanji books carries furigana and romaji, so you can read the whole book from the first page.
What is special about the Chinese books?
Every word is written four ways — Hanzi, pinyin, Devanagari and IPA — with its meaning in English and Hindi. Hindi readers can use sounds they already know, such as the puff of air in “kh” and “ph”, to pronounce Mandarin correctly from day one.
Do I need to read Hindi to use the Chinese books?
No. The explanations are in English, and every word has pinyin and IPA. The Devanagari line and the Hindi meaning are an extra for readers who know them.
Which HSK syllabus do the Chinese books follow?
The new HSK 3.0 syllabus (levels 1–9) that is in force from July 2026. HSK 1 Hanzi Workbook covers all Level 1 characters, and HSK 1 Grammar and Reading covers every Level 1 grammar point and all 300 Level 1 words.
In which language are the books written?
All books are written in English. The Chinese books also give every meaning in Hindi.
Which formats are available?
Every book is available in paperback. The Japanese books are also available in hardcover, and Foundations of Chinese and HSK 1 Grammar and Reading are also available as Kindle eBooks.
Where can I buy the books?
On Amazon worldwide — including amazon.com, amazon.co.uk, amazon.de, amazon.fr, amazon.es and amazon.co.jp. Each book page on this site has direct links for every format.
Are these books good for self-study?
Yes. They are written for self-study: plain English, the same layout on every page, and answers to every drill inside the book.
I found a mistake. How do I report it?
Write to [email protected]. The author answers every message and sends corrections and extra notes to anyone who asks.
Will there be books for other languages?
Yes. Japanese and Chinese are the first two shelves. Higher HSK levels are being written now, and books for more languages of Asia are planned.