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When I was learning Japanese, my go-to device was my Nintendo DS. On it, I used the game “Kanji Sono-mama Rakubiki Jiten,” an electronic Japanese dictionary and kanji translator, and I got my money’s worth.
I used that baby every single day throughout college for my Japanese classes. When I lived in Japan, I carried it around with me like a good luck charm, just in case I ever came across something I couldn’t translate.
However, that was in the age of flip phones. I adored my rose-gold Japanese flip phone (yes, you know, those things that flipped open and had a top screen display and a keyboard below- you may now find them in museums). But the world turned! Time marched on! Phones became less flippy!
Now, with these fancy smartphones of ours, we’re capable of carrying around dozens of language resources all on the same phone, no bulky Nintendo DS dictionary needed (admittedly, I still use it from time to time, because the 20-year-old me that still resides deep inside thinks it’s just so cool).
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- The best language-learning apps for 2021 By Simon Hill and Paula Beaton December 1, 2020 There are countless apps out there designed to help you learn a new language, which makes it tricky to pick.
The best language-learning apps can help you build a vocabulary in your target language, develop proper grammar and eventually become fluent through lessons that are easy to digest and retain.
Have a look below for some of the best learning tools out there, all waiting to assist you on your path to improving your Japanese.
Kana
Like its name implies, this app is for the basics of the basics of written Japanese. If you’re a complete beginner with the Japanese writing system, I would start here, out of all of the apps.
If you’re laying down the foundations of kana- specifically, hiragana and katakana- this app is as simple as it is necessary.
Neatly divided into chapters, you’ll learn the stroke order of each character, which all come with a voiced pronunciation.
Quizzes and detailed explanations on pronunciation are available, as are kana charts.
If breakfast is the most important meal of the day, kana is the most important…alphabet? Of the day? Alpha-bit Cereal? Ok, moving on.
Price
Free, but offers in-app purchases and contains ads.
Download
Download from Google Play: Kana (Hiragana & Katakana) App
Download on iTunes: TenguGo Kana Hiragana Katakana
Bravolol’s Learn Japanese Phrases, Japanese Translator
This is a great app for those who are at a beginner level of Japanese. I would recommend at least knowing hiragana and katakana, although it’s not completely necessary since romaji is provided (romaji is the Romanized Japanese- literally “roman letters”).
The home screen colorfully organizes all of the different categories covered: travel, weather, animals, etc.
Once you select a category, you’re led to a list of common words and phrases relating to it (some of these are restricted unless you upgrade to premium, unfortunately).
Click on one, and the written Japanese, along with the romaji underneath, will appear. A voice (either female or male, an option that can be changed by clicking the face icon in the upper right-hand corner) will pronounce the word or phrase for you.
A cool feature is the ability to slow down what’s being said (click the snail icon) or to play it at the natural speed (click the volume icon).
Note: One odd thing I noticed is their Romanization of words like 少々お待ちください “sho-sho o-machi kudasai” (please wait a moment). They write it as “syosyou”. Which, okay, maybe that’s just me being picky, but it’s something to just be aware of.
Price
Free, but offers in-app purchases and contains ads.
Download
Download from Google Play: Learn Japanese Phrases | Japanese Translator
Download on iTunes: Learn Japanese Phrases & Words – Bravolol Limited
Memrise
Another great beginner’s tool, Memrise employs spaced-repetition-software (SRS) to drill words and grammar into your head with a rote memorization method- but with cute spaceships!
Like a video game, you play levels and advance in the app once they’ve been completed, or when you’ve mastered the flashcards in the level.
You’re able to adjust the difficulty at the start when it prompts you to input your level of Japanese, but overall, the app is definitely aimed at beginners.
Once you get going, it’s very straightforward. Sometimes, repeated memorization is the best medicine for those pesky words that feel unnatural or are difficult memorize through other methods.
For an additional cost, the premium version offers the ability to chat with native speakers of Japanese, advance to a more difficult version of the app, and overall, use more learning tools.
The things they offer at a hefty price, though, can be found for free in other apps, so I’d suggest passing (unless you’re a Rockefeller, then, hey! The world is your oyster).
Price
Free, but offers in-app purchases.
Download
Download from Google Play: Memrise: Learn New Languages, Grammar & Vocabulary
Download on iTunes: Memrise: Language Learning
Yomiwa
This app is best used for translation, above all, but is also a great tool for reading and writing practice. No romaji is used, so you’ll need to know at least your basic kana to get the best use out of it.
If you know how to spell a word in Japanese, you can type with the Japanese or English keyboard, or write it out with a stylus (or your finger, in a pinch).
You’ll get the translation and be taken to a page that breaks the word down by its individual hiragana or kanji, which you can select and delve into even further.
And, if you’re looking up a verb, it will provide you with an entire list of different conjugations of that verb. Quite handy, if you ask me.
One of the coolest features of the app is, unfortunately, one you have a shell out a few bucks for. But, if you’re on a trip to Japan and think you’ll use it a lot, it would definitely be worth it.
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The app has the option of using the camera to scan kanji (on a sign, let’s say, or in a menu) and translate it from that live image. You can also upload a photo, which it will scan and translate for you.
Ah, technology!
Price
Free, but offers in-app purchases.
Download
Download from Google Play: Yomiwa – Japanese Translator
Download on iTunes: Yomiwa Japanese Dictionary
Japanese Kanji Study
This is one of the best kanji apps on the market, and one I’ve used almost daily for quite some time now.
This is an amazing supplement to your kanji studies, especially if you’re on the go (riding the train, killing time at the post office, etc.). It allows for quick kanji look-up by radical or stroke order, or by simply drawing the kanji onto the screen (best with a stylus).
This app is the next best thing to having an actual teacher with you, showing you how to properly write a kanji. It shows you an animation of the correct stroke order, which you can pause and replay as many times as needed.
Each kanji has its own page that displays a breakdown (its different readings, different meanings), as well as example words and sentences.
The quizzes are excellent for drilling definitions and stroke order into your head (the quiz calls you out if you write a kanji out of stroke order). You can download free kanji lists by JLPT levels and focus on cementing each kanji list before moving onto the next one.
If you’re looking to begin learning kanji, want to advance from the level you’re at, or need a solid app to help you review old kanji, this is the best one I can recommend.
Price
Free, but offers in-app purchases.
Download
Download from Google Play: Japanese Kanji Study – 漢字学習
Download on iTunes: Kanji Study
Tae Kim’s Learning Japanese
This is the app that, design-wise, is the closest thing to a textbook. Divided into lessons, this app is fantastic for anyone wanting to learn or brush up on their Japanese.
Feel free to start wherever you feel comfortable, whether that’s at the basics with hiragana, or at a higher-level topic like transitive and intransitive verbs (I know we’d all love to ignore complicated grammar points, but we need to learn them eventually).
What makes this app stand apart from the rest is how much thought goes into each lesson. In detail, you’re given an overview of the lesson and the points being taught.
Japanese words mentioned are highlighted and can be tapped to show their English definition without leaving the page.
I’d recommend this for those that have roughly a year or more of Japanese under their belt. Then again, I don’t think it’s ever too early to start learning the more complicated lessons for fun (yes, that’s right, I said “fun”, yes I know, I am a nerd).
Price
Free
Download
Download from Google Play: Learning Japanese
Download on iTunes: Learning Japanese
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JapanesePod101
An extension of www.japanesepod101.com, this podcast has dozens of lessons and discussions on Japanese language and culture. Some of the episodes are spoken entirely in Japanese, while some have both Japanese and English.
Topics range from basic Japanese greetings to famous Japanese authors and their impact on Japanese culture. The episodes aren’t just limited to audio lessons, either- videos are included, as well.
Be sure to make full use of the podcast by creating a free account on their website, where you’ll find transcripts of the lessons (conveniently either in romaji, kanji, or English). You’ll also see the vocabulary, kanji, and grammar points that are in the lesson, all organized into their own sections.
The podcast and the website are the powerhouse couple of the Japanese app world.
For anyone looking to really dive into learning more Japanese on their own, they’re truly a dream team. Find the podcast with whatever podcast app you use.
If you have a paid subscription to Japanesepod101, you can access the audio and video lessons through their Innovative Language app. The app is fast and easy to use, which makes it great for learning Japanese on the go. If you want to know more, check out our Japanesepod101 review article. Happy trails!
Price
Many podcasts are free. The app is free, but you’ll need a premium membership to be able to access all of the lessons.
Download
Download from Google Play: Innovative: Learn 34 Languages
Download on iTunes: Innovative 101 Learn Languages
Hello Talk
Gone are the days of pen pals who wrote to each other with, well, pens. This app allows you to connect with people from all around the world.
It’s incredibly easy to connect with native Japanese speakers who are happy to talk and help you with the language, or with any other questions you may have. In turn, you’re able to help them with your native language, the language they’re seeking to learn, as well.
Create a profile, add some hobbies to your page, and write a short bio explaining who you are and what you’d be interested in chatting about. Soon, you’ll have plenty of people messaging you, eager to have a friendly talk.
You can communicate with text or voice messages, which your partner can correct or edit to help you learn. As part of the language exchange theme, you can do the same for them as they try communicating with you in your language.
This is an app to have fun with and not take too seriously. It’s nice going into the experience knowing that everyone is there to learn and that mistakes are going to be made. That’s part of the fun! And, as a bonus, you may make some friends along the way.
Price
Free, but offers in-app purchases.
Download
Download from Google Play: HelloTalk Learn Languages Free
Download on iTunes: HelloTalk Language Exchange
I hope this list helps you on your quest to find the right Japanese language apps for you!
Let us know if you have any experience with these, what you thought of them, or if you have any suggestions of your own.
Kristen is a Michigan-born, Brooklyn-based freelance writer. She studied abroad in Japan during college and realized that it was, in fact, possible to fall in love with a country. She lived there after college, teaching English for a year deep in the countryside of Shiga Prefecture. After then traveling the world as a Japanese-speaking flight attendant for two years, she finally planted her feet on the ground. Kristen enjoys her days reading as many books as humanly possible, writing as much as she can, and traveling back to Michigan to see her lovely family at any opportunity.
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Hello Junkies!
Today, you will see some of the desktop software you can use for learning Japanese!
Some people want to learn with Japanese textbooks. Other people want audio lessons to listen. And then, there’s Japanese language software. With these all-in-one “packages,” you will have no problem mastering the reading, speaking, and listening aspects of your Japanese learning!
Let’s start!
This guide gives YOU the top Japanese language software.
1. JapanesePod101
What’s it about:JapanesePod101 is a program. It is Japanese language software that you DON’T have to download and install. You can learn on any device – computer, iPhone, iPad, Tablet or Android.
- Rating: 4/5
- ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
- Prices: It depends on the plan: Free, $4/month, $10/month, $23/month
- Technology: for any Computer & Smartphone
What makes it so powerful?
You get a boat-ton of Audio/Video lessons by real teachers and voice actors.
They advertise having 500+ hours of lessons inside. Each lesson is just 3 to 15 minutes long. So, this makes it very fast and easy to learn with them. Lessons cover: speaking, reading, writing and listening. However, the JapanesePod101’s strength is conversation and listening, in my opinion.
I’ve been able to learn 100+ Japanese conversations thanks to their lessons.
JapanesePod101 also has — flashcards, quizzes, word lists, PDF books, lesson notes and much more to help you master lessons fast.
Basically, you get everything you need to learn Japanese.
Ok, what’s next?
2. Human Japanese
App Store
What it’s about: Human Japanese presents the Japanese language from square one in a warm and engaging tone.
- Rating: 4/5
- ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
- Prices: Around $34
- Technology: for Windows computers
Going much deeper than the canned phrases and vocab of other products, it approaches the language in an integrated way, with discussion, recordings, animations, illustrations, photos, reviews, and more.
The core promise of Human Japanese is to “show” you how Japanese works. You are NOT expected to magically know things that you haven’t learned yet. This makes your journey into Japanese a joy, as each new piece that falls into place makes sense and every new example sentence is comprehensible.
Why it’s good?
Best bang for the buck in-depth learning quality without breaking the bank.
Definitely one of my favorite Japanese language software.
3. Pimsleur Japanese
What it’s about: It offers a quick way to get started and can have you talking basic Japanese in a very short period of time with audio based learning methods
- Rating: 4/5
- ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
- Prices: Starting from $135
- Technology: for Windows & Mac
Why it’s good?
This is an excellent way of learning the language for people who are time poor or who want to learn on the go. Simply begin listening and provide the answers at the prompts and you will find that you are naturally learning Japanese. While it might not be your ultimate solution for fluency, it can be a good compliment to your more traditional learning methods.
If you are a beginner to Japanese and just want to try level 1, click here.
4. Rosetta Stone
Mac App Store
What it’s about: The holy grail of language learning,
Rosetta Stone gets an honorable mention in the list of Japanese language software. It lets you have high quality language learning. This will be easier for you if you are learning Japanese for the first time. However, if you are an intermediate learner that has traditional learning experience in Japanese, you can also use this to benefit from the opportunity to approach the language in a new way.
- Rating: 3/5
- ⭐⭐⭐☆☆
- Prices: Around $135
- Technology: for Windows & Mac & mobile devices
Why it’s good?
The application is extremely polished and immersion style learning is best for those who do not like to talk about technicalities of grammar.
You can take a look and order this Japanese language software here for better Japanese learning!
If you’re interested, you can read a more in-depth Rosetta Stone review here.
5. Anki – Spaced Memorization Software
What it’s about: Anki is not “Japanese language software” exactly.
But, you can definitely use it to learn Japanese words and phrases. It’s a spaced repetition flashcard software that helps you study and remember things for a long time. Spaced repetition basically means that cards are spaced over time before you see them. So, you see a Japanese word today, then in 3 days, then in 7 days.
There are tons of Japanese flashcard decks inside Anki and that’s why it makes it the list.
- Rating: 4/5
- ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
- Prices: free
- Technology: for Windows & Mac
Why it’s good?
It’s great for memorizing words and phrases. That’s pretty much all you can do.
6 . Transparent Japanese
Transparent is another noteworthy Japanese language software.
They’ve been around for ages.
What it’s about: You can learn at your own pace and in a fun way so you enjoy it while you learn. This language learning software is excellent for people who need to learn the Language fast. It starts with basic vocabulary and pronunciation before you progress to more advanced areas of grammar, reading and practical conversation so you are able to communicate clearly.
- Rating: 3/5
- ⭐⭐⭐☆☆
- Prices: Around $69
- Technology: for Windows & Mac
Why it’s good?
If you still are used to learning from books but lack motivation from its passiveness, this is the tool for you. You will still retain a certain book-like aspect from its interface, but also have interactive games and quizzes to help you become more confident in your learning.
Buy a copy here to take your Japanese learning to another level.
7. Instant Immersion Japanese
What it’s about: This software brings Japanese words and phrases and associate it with pictures.
It will help you to learn or reinforce vocabulary of a new language. The main goal is to teach you new vocabulary, improve your pronunciation and ability to understand native speakers. Basically, the practical skills you need.
- Rating: 4/5
- ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
- Prices: Around $59
- Technology: for Windows & Mac
Why it’s good?
You can learn basic, but very useful Japanese vocabulary from this software like numbers, food, time, colors and the likes. Also, vocabulary is grouped by different topics so you can choose to learn words and phrases that are the most essential for you.
Try a copy here, so you can set to learn topics you need more learning on.
8. Learn Japanese Now! 9.0
What it’s about: An all-in-one software for learning Japanese, this software has videos that give you an interactive environment with native speakers, and it also has interactive games aside from the standard learning materials.
- Rating: 3/5
- ⭐⭐⭐☆☆
- Prices: $9 to $49
- Technology: for Windows & Mac
Why it’s good: This will let you get out of the monotonous learning process of the standard textbook, and it practices you for real life conversations.
Check out further details and you order your copy here.
9. Japanese Essentials
What it’s about: This is an imperative study guide for Japanese learning students in all levels. It provides clear and simple explanations of how Japanese grammar works and with hundreds of example sentences.
- Rating: 3/5
- ⭐⭐⭐☆☆
- Prices: $79
- Technology: for Windows & Mac
Why it’s good?
It is easy to understand and learn for people who have no idea about the language. It is perfect if you are on a business trip or for tourists traveling Japan. It’s a great beginner guide to the language of Japan which is also designed as a Japanese phrase book.
You can grab a copy here before a big trip to Japan!
That’s it for now.
These are the top Japanese language software.
If you prefer having all-in-one learning packages, then grab any one of these softwares. One thing I personally like about such packages is that you can finish them.
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What do I mean? Well, it comes to an end.
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You reach lesson #50 or #60, and that’s it, program over.
That gives me a sense of accomplishment.
You can’t get that with other resources like podcasts or YouTube channels.
Good luck and until next time!