Reading in - understand in your native language.
Writing out - translate out in that foreign language.
Learn alphabets like a, b, c .....
Then learn sub-words like an, and, ant .....
Learn simple nouns first. Pronunciation & spelling.
Then simple verbs. Pronunciation & spelling.
Next simple grammar. Structure.
Learn how to use a 2 languages dictionary. E.g. English-Japanese Dictionary.
Learn how to use native dictionary. E.g. all-Chinese Dictionary.
Memorize word spelling in parts. E.g. happen = hap + pen.
Chinese actual word is a "picture" word. E.g. 田 = square farmland.
Many Chinese words have alike or similar pronunciation sounds.
Japanese uses Chinese characters with different pronunciation.
Japanese pronunciation "bein" = is actually 3 words = be + i + n.