In today’s article, I will present some apps that I use to learn Japanese on my phone and tablet with Android, iOS, and even the deceased Windows Phone (which is usually also available on the Windows 10 Store).
All the apps below are free, some may have paid content. They are apps that I chose and use to learn, mandatory apps that should be installed on the phones of Japanese students.
Table of Contents
Japanese Club
Before we talk about popular apps on Android and iOS, I want to recommend our Japanese course that can be accessed from any mobile device through the browser.
Our Japanese course is an extension of the website, we offer Japanese video lessons using traditional teaching elements and also cultural elements like anime and manga.
We are doing our best to make this teaching platform accessible and with the largest amount of content possible, so we invite you to take a look by clicking on the image below:
Japanese Memorization Apps
Anki and Similar Apps
- Android; iOS; Windows; Web
Anki is a well-known spaced repetition memorization website. You can download the app for computer or mobile devices, or use another app that connects to its API to access word decks that help with memorization and review.
Some use the app to learn new words, but I advise using it only to review content that you have already learned or is at your level. It works in a sophisticated way, displaying cards that you need to review at the right time.
On iOS, its version is paid, as it is the only one developed officially. Fortunately, there are alternative versions that connect to the API and are even superior, such as ankiapp, Quizlet, and other apps with the same purpose of spaced repetition memorization.
Memrise
- iOS; Android; Web
A famous app that supports various languages. Now it teaches Japanese in a very practical way, even bringing native voices and using a great memorization system. It has a pro version.
Japanese Kanji Study
- Android
An English app focused on studying kanji, super complete and well organized, with systems that will help you memorize kanji. The app has over 6,000 kanji.
Japanese Lesson Apps
Obenkyo
- Android; Windows
One of the most famous Japanese apps for smartphones, it is quite complete, has exercises, flashcards, quizzes to help with memorizing words, kanji, and even sentences. It has the option to draw, in addition to having basic lessons on Japanese grammar.
It is available in Portuguese, has explanatory articles and lessons. One of the most famous Japanese apps of all time. Unfortunately, it is not available for iOS. You may even find similar ones or apps with the same name, but it’s not the same.
The app is simple, has a memorization system, questions, a small dictionary, kana, kanji, and other Japanese lessons that you can find on any website, including on our Suki Desu site.
JA Sensei – Learn Japanese
- Android
A complete package to learn Japanese! JA Sensei offers easy-to-understand Japanese lessons and various interactive exercises to learn Hiragana, Katakana, Kanji, Japanese vocabulary, Japanese phrases for your travels, numbers, verbs, etc.
Answer audio quizzes, multiple-choice, self-assessment, or drawing (draw kanjis to answer questions!) to memorize your learning.
Japanese Course – NHK 1
- iOS and Android
This app compiles the entire NHK Japanese course into one app, so you can listen to the audios and study. The Japanese Course also helps you understand Japanese culture and the basic letters. There are over 50 audio lessons.
Let’s Learn Japanese: Beginner FREE
- Windows Phone; Windows
Although it seems simple, it is one of the most useful apps, bringing great tests, flashcards, and with a huge vocabulary, one of the most complete apps. I haven’t seen its paid version yet, but this is already a wonderful app.
There are thousands of other apps, but these 4 are the ones I use the most, the most important ones that should not be missing on your phone, these are my recommendations, I hope you make good use of all the apps mentioned above.
Japanese Dictionary Apps
Tenjin and Jisho – Japanese Dictionary
Tenjin is a free offline Japanese dictionary without ads. It focuses on displaying relevant data about words, kanji, examples, and grammar points in a simple, clear, and elegant way. Tenjin makes suggestions, searches while you type, and excels at getting the user the data they want.
In my opinion, it is one of the best dictionaries for Android, as it is in Portuguese. Unfortunately, it is just a dictionary, and does not have all the words you can imagine; if you know English, you should use the workaround Jisho which has everything.
The jisho is the best Japanese dictionary available, there are thousands of APIs and apps that access such a dictionary on the WEB or even an offline version. The word jisho literally means dictionary, so look for apps of this type for your phone.
Tango Master
- Android; Windows
The most complete app for studying on Windows Phone, with it you can locate Kanji using radicals, it comes with a shiritori tool. (Write words starting with the last letter of the previous one).
It also brings a Super Complete Dictionary, lessons, articles, tests, pronunciation of words and kanji, writing, and strokes. This is a true online dictionary, its only downside is being in English, but think positively, you learn 2 languages.
Japanese Game Apps
Karuta Kanji
- Android; iOS
A game that helps with memorizing words and Kanji. It is similar to the game karuta, which instead of using poems, uses simple words in kanji. The good thing is that the app is in Portuguese and allows you to compete online.
The objective of the game is to look at the word in hiragana and grab the card with the same word, but written only in the dreadful kanji! The kanjis in the game are all the kanjis from the Japanese Language Proficiency Test level 4 (JLPT N4). There are 181 kanjis combined into 245 words!
The iOS version is different, but you can easily find various Karuta and Japanese games in the Apple Store. I don’t have details about such games, but the description I made is specific to Android.
Other game apps are:
- Japanese Dungeon: Learn J-Word;
Other Apps for iOS and Android
- 漢字筆順Q – Japanese Kanji Stroke Order – Totally free app, with ads that allows you to study kanji, its reading, meaning, how to write them, and the stroke order;
- Learn Japanese with 50 lessons – An app that has the NHK course in audio for you to study. Learn N5 and various dialogues and vocabulary to fully prepare for your trip to Japan;
- Imiwa? – A very popular English and Japanese dictionary;
- Nihongo – Japanese Dictionary – One of the several English dictionaries found in the Apple Store. Great for those who want to learn 2 languages at the same time;
- Simple Furigana – This app allows you to add furigana to web pages and texts. It also transforms texts for vertical reading;
- Learn Japanese – Manabu Academy – Learn Japanese with Manabu Academy in a fun and intuitive way, Hiragana, Katakana to more complex sentences, that in an easy way to understand, Manabu Academy helps you learn Japanese!
- JClass: Learn Japanese – Learn Japanese with Yui, using different methods, learning by JLPT levels, with a medal system, quizzes, dictionary, etc.;
- Kanji Connect – A little game where you connect kanji to form words. Very good for learning kanji reading and vocabulary;
- HelloTalk – A messaging app that allows you to chat with native speakers who speak Japanese and other languages;
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