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Before looking at the best apps for learning Japanese. Let’s look at some of the benefits of learning a new language.Whether it is understanding a new culture, bettering your grasp on your own native language, or having better concentration skills– learning a new language has no downside. 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.
Looking for the best Japanese learning Apps? If you can study off of your mobile device (warning: most people can’t because they’re prone to multitasking) then this is for you.
Rosetta Stone is one of the best-known language learning systems, offering 24 different languages, and now you can find it on an app for your mobile phone. Rosetta Stone uses an immersive method when it comes to learning Spanish and it's based on real-world conversations, where you have to use your instincts to learn new words and concepts. Best Language Learning Apps. You’re here because you're looking for language learning apps so you can keep learning anytime, anyplace, anywhere. For an in-depth look at our seven favorite tools check out our best language learning software article. If you want to see a little more variety and some extra interesting concepts keep reading!
✅ Hey, if you REALLY want to learn & speak Japanese with a complete learning system, (2,000+ audio/video courses, apps, study tools and more)Sign up at JapanesePod101 (click here)and start learning! I recommend ’em as a teacher & learner.
Here are the top 13 FREE Japanese iOS & Android Apps in no particular order. And here are some things you should do:
- Pass along and share with the Japanese learning world.
- Download the apps for your enjoyment.
- Leave me a comment and tell me what else to add.
1. WordPower – Learn 1 new word every day.Sends you an alert for a new word daily – good for motivation, staying on track. It takes a second to check it and learn a new word. You can also learn the top 100 or 200 words but it’s the Word of the Day that’s the best. 1 Great feature. No extra baggage.
- iOS: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/learn-japanese-free-wordpower/id295249549?mt=8
- Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.innovativelanguage.wordpowerlite.jp&hl=en
2. Learning Japanese – This is Tae Kim’s site in App form. Great as a reference feature and for learning grammar rules. If you love the site, you’ll love this. Completely Free and a good way to review grammar.
- iOS: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/learning-japanese/id377785100?mt=8
- Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.alexisblaze.japanese_grammar
3. Innovative Language 101 – Free Japanese Audio and Video lessons from JPOD101. They release 2-3 new lessons every week. All of their new lessons are free so you can sit back, download and learn Japanese with Audio and Video Lessons. Highly recommended.
Free Apps For Mac Computer
- iOS: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/innovative-language-101-learn/id668386019?mt=8
- Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.innovativelanguage.innovativelanguage101&hl=en
4. HelloTalk – Great for finding native Japanese speakers to chat with. This is a messenger App from the language exchange angle. Highly recommended if you’re not shy. Simply put, you can find Japanese speakers and even see speakers in your location.
- iOS: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/hellotalk-language-exchange/id557130558?mt=8
- Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.hellotalk&hl=en
5. Imiwa? Dictionary – Hands down, THE best dictionary App I’ve seen so far. You can even paste in Japanese text to have it broken down, word by word. This is iOS only. Don’t worry, there’s a good Android App down below.
- iOS: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/imiwa-japanese-dictionary/id288499125?mt=8
6. TenguGo Kana (Hiragana and Katakana) – Perfect for beginners that want to learn the Japanese alphabet (kana) – Hiragana and Katakana.
- iOS:https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/tengugo-kana-hiragana-katakana/id487344705?mt=8
7. Hiragana and Katakana – Complete Basics of Japanese – Another good App for learning the Kana. Complete beginners also would be interested in this.
- iOS:https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/hiragana-katakana-complete/id385817288?mt=8
8. KanjiQ – Japanese Kanji Stroke Order Free. This is all about the proper Kanji stroke, if you’re a Kanji nut! 13,000+ kanji inside. Great for practice. Kanji are divided from N1 to N5.
- iOS:https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/kanjiq-japanese-kanji-stroke/id557842213?mt=8
9. Ameba – Ameba is a Japanese blog network… not really a learning tool… but it CAN BE, if you use it that way. Start your own blog in Japanese, find native speakers, read others’ blogs to boost your Japanese.
The value is there if you look for it. However, this isn’t for beginners or people that can’t sit down and spend 10 minutes on a blog entry.
- iOS:https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/ameba/id349442137?mt=8
Best Japanese Learning Apps For Mac Websites Renew Membership
10. Memrise- Choose Japanese and you’ll find plenty of vocab, kana and phrase courses and quizzes. It also reminds you to keep learning. Highly recommended for vocab.
- iOS: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/memrise-ultimate-memorisation/id635966718?mt=8
- Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.memrise.android.memrisecompanion&hl=en
11. Anki – AnkiDroid Flashcards – Yes, the world famous SRS flashcard system. I added it here because it’s free but paid for iOS. Amazing app and a must have for drilling and learning words/kanji effectively.
- Android:https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.ichi2.anki
12. JED – Japanese Dictionary – Probably THE best Android dictionary App. Easy too look up words, can search in romaji, english etc. Has furigana for kanji, Handy example sentences. This is an Android only app.
- Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.umibouzu.jed&feature=search_result
Mac App Store
13. Obenkyou – Great general App to learn Japanese with. Learn Kana, Vocab, Kanji, Grammar/Particles and it includes Tae Kim’s Grammar guide. This is an Android only App.
- Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.Obenkyo&feature=search_result
So, what do you think?
Did I miss a FREE yet awesome App that should be up here?
Be sure to leave me a comment and a link.
Yes, this top 13 list is barely scratching the surface. There are definitely more. Let’s make it a top 20 or top 30 list.
Hope you enjoy these apps.
– Written by the Main Junkie
P.S. I highly recommend this for Japanese learners. If you REALLY want to learn to Japanese with effective lessons by real teachers – Sign up for free at JapanesePod101 (click here) and start learning!
This page is a collection of the ultimate and best resources for learning Japanese!
I’m aiming to collect all the tools you need to learn Japanese right here on this one page.
I try to share as many free Japanese learning resources as possible, although there are also some paid products that I highly recommend.
The list is updated every time I find a great new resource that will help you kick start your Japanese studies! Know a great tool or resource that I don’t already have here? Please let me know and I’ll include it in the next update 🙂
Please note that at Team Japanese, I use affiliate links to help support the costs of running my site. This means I may make a small commission from any product you buy based on my recommendation, at no extra cost to you.
Contents
- 1 Best online Japanese courses
- 2 Best resources for reading and writing
- 3 Best Japanese dictionaries
- 4 Best Japanese grammar resources
- 5 Best resources for Japanese reading practice
- 6 Other great Japanese learning resources
- 7 Where to buy Japanese language materials online
Best online Japanese courses
JapanesePod101
JapanesePod101 has literally thousands of audio lessons to choose from, which will take you from complete beginner to highly advanced. You’ll never get bored or run out of study material with this highly recommended course! What’s more, basic membership is FREE for life. Read my full review here or sign up for your lifetime free membership right here!
Rocket Languages
Another excellent course to learn Japanese by yourself. Learn Japanese online, at your own pace, with interactive audio lessons, flashcards, voice recognition software, Japanese culture lessons, a forum where you can get help from native teachers, and more. You can read my full review here or get your free, no commitment trial here.
Best resources for reading and writing
Free hiragana and katakana printable worksheets
This free printable workbook will teach you all the kana, and has lots of space for practising your handwriting on grid squares.
Not clear on the different Japanese scripts? This post will explain all.
Hiragana and katakana online quiz
Practise your hiragana and katakana recognition online here. (You will have to make a free account to access the quiz, but it only takes a second.)
Free kanji radicals book
This free printable workbook from JapanesePod101 is the perfect introduction to kanji for beginners. It works on teaching ‘radicals’ – the building blocks of kanji. By teaching essential radicals first, this book introduces over 1500 kanji.
Remembering the Kanji
This book is generally recognized as the fastest and most efficient way of memorizing the 2000-ish Japanese jouyou kanji (the kanji required for basic literacy in Japan). It’s a real slog to get through all of it, but if you’re serious about becoming fluent in Japanese, it’s a must.
Best Japanese Learning Apps For Mac Websites Renew Online
Kanji Koohi
This is a great free website which works in conjunction with the book above. Users share their mnemonics and stories to help remember the kanji.
Best Japanese dictionaries
Jisho
This is a great free online dictionary which has search functions for kanji, sample sentences, and Japanese names, in addition to normal words.
imiwa?
My favourite Japanese dictionary app for iPhone and iPad.
Best Japanese grammar resources
Tae Kim’s Japanese Grammar Guide
Comprehensive and completely free guide to Japanese grammar. Available online, or as a free pdf or app.
A Dictionary of Basic Japanese Grammar, A Dictionary of Intermediate Japanese Grammar and A Dictionary of Advanced Japanese Grammar
If you are serious about learning Japanese, these books will be your bibles.
Best resources for Japanese reading practice
Traditional Japanese Children’s Stories
Traditional Japanese fairy tales written in very simple Japanese with English translation line-by-line underneath. Perfect for beginners.
Watanoc
Watanoc is a free web magazine in simple Japanese. Topics include food and popular culture. When you hover your mouse over a word, it will pop up with an English translation, and you can also turn on a translation into English (also Vietnamese and Chinese) after each sentence. Recommended for upper beginners and lower intermediate.
NHK News Web Easy
The top news stories each day in simple Japanese, complete with furigana (pronunciation guides) on the kanji and a Japanese-to-Japanese dictionary on hover. Great reading practice for intermediate students.
Manabi reader app
This app is awesome for Japanese reading practice on the go. It lets you read any text with furigana on the kanji. You can also click on selected words to get a dictionary definition, and then add them to your personal word bank for review. You can choose from their selected texts (news, blogs or folktales), or enter your own url to read any website through the app. Sadly it’s iPhone only at the moment.
Other great Japanese learning resources
italki
Hooks you up with language exchange partners and cheap one-on-one language teachers online.
Lang-8
Practise your Japanese writing skills by posting in Japanese. Your writing will be corrected by a native speaker.
FluentU
Learn Japanese through subtitled YouTube videos.
rikaikun, rikaichan
Awesome browser extensions to help you read Japanese online. Simply hover over a Japanese word and a mini dictionary entry will pop up. rikaikun is for Chrome, rikaichan is for Firefox.
Where to buy Japanese language materials online
OMG Japan
Ships directly from Japan to almost any country in the world. They have a fantastic assortment of Japanese language books and study materials. Can’t find what you need in their shop? They’ll buy and ship any item from Japan for you through their proxy service.
Amazon.com
Amazon will probably be your best choice for any Japanese textbooks and study guides. They also have an ever-growing assortment of books in Japanese and bilingual books.
Amazon.co.jp
If you’re looking for a book published in Japan, you might have more luck on Amazon.co.jp. They will ship anywhere in the world – although of course, shipping will be more expensive. Some of the site is translated into English.
What are your top resources for learning Japanese? Let me know and I’ll update our list.