Smartphone applications Recommendation Service
Top 10 Japanese Learning Apps in 2020 (Duolingo, HelloTalk, and More)
Studying Japanese can be a drag and it can sometimes require a ton of books. But with the invention of the mobile phone, studying with textbooks is no longer an issue. Now, you can use phone apps instead for a more immersive, interactive learning experience.
There are thousands of apps available, so choosing the right study aid might seem a bit daunting at first. But don’t worry, we’re here to help. In this guide, we’ll go over a few key things to look for when choosing an app to help you study Japanese. We also have a list of our ten favorite apps to help you get started, with our favorite being Renzo's Japanese app.
There are thousands of apps available, so choosing the right study aid might seem a bit daunting at first. But don’t worry, we’re here to help. In this guide, we’ll go over a few key things to look for when choosing an app to help you study Japanese. We also have a list of our ten favorite apps to help you get started, with our favorite being Renzo's Japanese app.
- Last updated: 10-06-2020
- 1,552 views
Table of Contents
Top 10 Japanese Learning Apps
Here’s a list of our ten favorites to get you started on your search.
2
LingoDeer Co, Ltd.Learn Languages
$0.00
| Size | 259.6 MB |
|---|---|
| Best for | Studying |
| In-app purchases | Yes |
6
John A EhlkeManabi Reader - Read Japanese
$0.00
| Size | 382.2 MB |
|---|---|
| Best for | Studying (JLPT) |
| In-app purchases | Yes |
7
Adam CritchleyLearning Japanese with Tae Kim
$0.00
| Size | 20.8 MB |
|---|---|
| Best for | Studying |
| In-app purchases | No |
9
Ankitects Pty LtdAnkiMobile Flashcards
$24.99
| Size | 30.4 MB |
|---|---|
| Best for | Studying (flashcards) |
| In-app purchases | No |
10
Pocketglow LLCSpeakEasy Japanese
$3.99
| Size | 62.5 MB |
|---|---|
| Best for | Travel |
| In-app purchases | Yes |
Compare the Best Japanese Learning Apps
| Image | 1  Renzo Inc. | 2  LingoDeer Co, Ltd. | 3  Duolingo | 4  Memrise | 5  ThinkMac Software | 6  John A Ehlke | 7  Adam Critchley | 8  HelloTalk | 9  Ankitects Pty Ltd | 10  Pocketglow LLC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Japanese | Learn Languages | Language Lessons | Learn Languages Fast | iKanji | Manabi Reader - Read Japanese | Learning Japanese with Tae Kim | Language Learning | AnkiMobile Flashcards | SpeakEasy Japanese |
| Features | The Dictionary That Does It All | Well-Rounded Study and Pronunciation Practice | Comprehensive Learning for Beginners and Intermediate Learners | Spaced Repetition With Great Quiz Options | Kanji Practice Great for JLPT Prep | Learn Through Reading the News | A Grammar Textbook in App Form | Chat With Native Speakers | The Original Spaced Repetition App | For Travelers Who Just Need Phrases |
| Price | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $5.99 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $24.99 | $3.99 |
| Size | 260 MB | 259.6 MB | 145.6 MB | 275.5 MB | 68 MB | 382.2 MB | 20.8 MB | 220.2 MB | 30.4 MB | 62.5 MB |
| Best for | Travel, studying | Studying | Studying | Speaking | Studying (JLPT) | Studying (JLPT) | Studying | Speaking | Studying (flashcards) | Travel |
| In-app purchases | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes |
| Link |
How to Choose a Japanese Learning App – Buying Guide
There are hundreds of apps aimed at teaching you Japanese, and not all of them are great. Here’s a guide to help you figure out what to download and what to skip.
Choose an App Based on Your Goals
By narrowing your search to apps that meet your needs, you can save yourself hours of time and energy.
Going on Vacation? Look for an App That Teaches Useful Phrases
If your main goal is to be able to get around during a trip to Japan, you want to focus on useful phrases rather than a more in-depth study of the language. Look for an app that specifically caters to tourists or one that has a section for tourist-friendly phrases.
It might also be helpful for you to learn to recognize hiragana and katakana. While many signs in Japan are written in the English alphabet, it’ll be extra insurance to learn the Japanese phonetic alphabet—as many place names and station stops out in the boonies are written in kanji and hiragana but not in Roman letters.
Studying for the JLPT? Choose an App That Covers Test-Specific Material
The Japanese Language Proficiency Test is seen as the gold standard in Japanese language testing for foreigners. So it’s not surprising that many (if not most) Japanese learning apps at least give you the option to break things down by JLPT level.
Look for apps that focus on the same kinds of questions and material that you’d find on the test—focusing on reading, grammar, vocabulary, and listening rather than writing, for example. And because the JLPT is set up as a multiple-choice test, the best way to practice is by using an app that mimics that sort of quizzing style.
Just Want to Make Japanese Friends? Pick an App That’ll Help You Find Penpals
Aside from just flashcards and drills, there are also apps that connect you with people around the world. Some allow you to video chat with each other, while others are focused more on written message exchange.
Since many of these apps aren’t only for finding Japanese language partners, look for one that has a relatively large Japanese user base.
Make Sure the App Suits Your Level
While most apps do cater to a wide range of levels, there are apps that are suited for specific levels. For example, general language learning apps, as good as they might be, really only take you through the lower intermediate levels of language.
It might also be helpful to look for an app that can accommodate your needs as they evolve. For example, it may switch from asking you questions in hiragana to kanji as you improve, present problems to you in more difficult language, or offer different sets of activities suited for different levels.
Find an App That Will Help You Practice Your Weak Points
It’s easy to study things that you’re good at, but in order to round out your knowledge, it’s important to also study the things that are a little harder for you. That being said, there are different factors to look for to make sure that your study is as effective as possible.
To Practice Vocabulary, Look for Spaced Repetition Flashcard Apps
Spaced repetition is a technique that ensures you’re reviewing vocabulary as often as you need to in order to commit it to memory. When a flashcard shows up, instead of just flipping it around, you’ll let the app know if you got it correct or incorrect. The more you get a certain card right, the less it’ll show up.
If you have problems remembering a card, it’ll come up more often. This way you’re not studying things you already know well and are instead focusing on the words or points that are harder for you.
Find an App That Will Teach You Word Combinations to Practice Kanji
If you’ve studied Japanese enough, then you know that when it comes to kanji, just knowing the character isn’t enough—you need to know how to use it with other characters. Knowing just the meaning of a single character is almost useless if you can’t affix it to other characters or hiragana to make different words and constructions.
So, instead of apps that just have you match the character to the meaning, look for apps that force you to place characters within words, figure out how each character changes depending on how it’s combined, and choose between similar characters to find the correct answer.
Search for Apps with Audio Content for Practicing Speaking and Pronunciation
Did you know that, in Japanese, the intonation for a word changes depending on whether you’re pronouncing it by itself or in a phrase? That’s why the best way to practice pronunciation is to listen to native speakers as much as possible—and listen to them speak in sentences, not single words.
Look for an app with lots of audio content meant for shadowing—repeating and continuing to repeat just a heartbeat after the audio so you’re basically a sound shadow.
To Practice Reading, Look for Apps That Can Adjust to Your Level
If you’re an intermediate learner, it might be more detrimental than helpful to try to read a paragraph full of kanji you don’t know. So, when looking for a reading-focused app, look for one that can provide you with the furigana or definitions for the vocabulary above your level.
This way, you’ll save yourself the frustration of constantly having to stop reading to look things up in the dictionary, which is a huge demotivator and may turn you off learning a foreign language forever. You’ll also know exactly what you’re supposed to know and not get them confused with the things you needn’t have learned yet.
Make Sure the App Caters to Your Learning Style
Smartphones are interactive in a way textbooks are not, and developers have taken advantage of this to help you learn Japanese in a variety of unconventional ways.
Some utilize Japanese videos and articles taken from the internet to help you learn Japanese as it’s spoken in the real world, in different contexts. Some turn their quizzes into a bunch of different games, which is great if you get bored quickly. So whether or not you think you’re good at languages, it should be easy to find an app that appeals to your learning style.
Looking For More Apps?
Are you looking to get the most out of your phone? There are plenty of applications out there that are useful for things such as enhancing your camera, helping you budget, or managing your health. Since there are a lot out there, we've prepared other buying guides to help you find the best ones!
Summary
There are many facets to learning a language—vocabulary, grammar, reading, speaking, listening, and communication. Communication, of course, isn’t the same as speaking; it involves everything we’ve mentioned, as well as cultural knowledge and a willingness to understand.
We’ve introduced many apps to you, each of which helps you hone in on a specific method of learning. Hopefully, one of them will help you patch up your most obvious weaknesses quickly. But, as with learning every foreign language, remember that open-mindedness, respect, and a willingness to be wrong and be corrected, is perhaps the most important learning tool of all.
Popular Articles
Top 10 Best Rhythm Games for iOS and Android in 2020 (Deemo, Love Live, and More)
We searched high and low to find the best rhythm games available for iOS and Android. To us, the best games match movement requirements to screen size, use music that you actually want to listen to, and include some extra features like storylines and character bonding.Though, of course, different games work better in different situations – some games are better for sitting down and playing for hours at a time, while others are great for when you’re stuck waiting in a line. Keeping these things in mind, we’ve prepared a buying guide and handpicked our favorite rhythm games for both Android and iOS, with Cytus II taking first place.
Smartphone applications
9,611 views
Top 10 Best Dating Sims for iOS and Android in 2020 (Mystic Messenger, Hatoful Boyfriend, and More)
Looking for a love story that features you as the main character? Dating sims are becoming increasingly popular, and this is very clear when you search for them on either the App Store or Google Play. There are so many options to choose from, including a wide variety of settings and themes, that it can be overwhelming! This is especially true if you're new to the world of dating sims.We've looked at some of the most popular dating sims available and made a list of features to consider. We found that the best games have high-quality writing, engaging characters and a variety of characters to romance. See why we loved Mystic Messenger the most and some other great games to try.
Smartphone applications
4,065 views
Top 10 Best Diary Apps in 2021 (1SE, Penzu, and More)
Sometimes it feels like there’s so much going on that it can be hard to remember it all. That’s why we’ve decided to find the best diary apps available online. After poring over reviews and descriptions, we’ve figured out that the best diary apps work on the platforms you’re most comfortable using, record the information you want to save, have external backup, and include features that make it easier to keep on journaling.Whether you’re too busy to write, a diary traditionalist, or a more visual-focused person, the best apps looks different for everyone. Keeping these things in mind, we handpicked our favorite diary apps available online, including our number one pick, Diaro.
Smartphone applications
4,801 views
Top 10 Best JRPGs for iOS and Android Online 2020
If you’re not sure what you’re looking for, it can be a little tricky to get started with Japanese role-playing games, otherwise known as JRPGs. If you pick something that is too difficult, you might get discouraged from continuing. But on the other hand, if you pick something that is too easy, you might get bored and not keep going. So, where do you start, whether you're a pro looking for a good turn-based game or a newbie looking for an easy game? Keep reading for tips on how to choose the best JRPG for your iOS or Android.
Smartphone applications
5,900 views
Top 10 Best Budgeting Apps for Couples to Download in 2020 (EveryDollar, Mint, and More)
Money management as a couple is never an easy task. However, we can't run from this responsibility, as budgeting is crucial for maintaining our household finances. The good news is that budgeting apps can help couples successfully manage their money! Try using these nifty apps with your partner for more efficient and enjoyable budgeting. We've tracked down the ten best budgeting apps that specifically work well for couples. We especially like EveryDollar, an app with an efficient interface and useful budgeting tools that even beginners can understand. If you're interested in looking at different apps, we've crafted a buying guide to help you weed through the many options available!
Smartphone applications
558 views
Top 15 Best Japanese Dating Apps Online 2020 - Tried and True!
The thing about being overseas is loneliness gets to you. Fast. And it doesn’t help that Tinder isn’t cutting it for you anymore. (Or maybe you’re thinking about trying a dating app for the first time but are feeling a bit chicken.) You don’t know what kind of people you’re going to be paired with–will they be looking for a date, marriage, or just friendship? Will we have similar interests? Will I even find a match?Okay, well, first, slow down. Breathe. To help you out, we tried out the 15 most popular Japanese dating apps, and picked out ones that would be most effective at finding someone a girlfriend. Members from our editing department came together and compared the following:1. How Serious Users are about Dating2. Results (How Many Likes Received & Matches Made)3. How Suitable Matches were (Age, Appearance, and General Atmosphere)4. CostThis is how we tested and found the most exceptional Japanese dating apps.※All apps were tested by Japanese staff in Japanese. Even in cases that the app was originally non-Japanese (like Tinder), we downloaded and tested the Japanese version.
Smartphone applications
2,828 views
Popular Item Lists
Search by Category
Household goods
Home electronics, PC, camera
Cosmetics and skincare
Food and drinks
Kitchen supplies
Clothing
Shoes
Accessories
Kids and baby
Interior and furniture
Hobbies
Outdoor
DIY and tools
Sports and fitness
Pets
Books, CDs, DVDs
Games
Cars and motorcycles
Gifts
Housing equipment and renovation
Smartphones and mobile phones
Mobile data
Investment and asset management
Credit cards and loans
Insurance
Music
Smartphone applications