Top 5 Recommended Japanese Learning Apps & More
AppLearning a new language, especially Japanese, can be a hassle if you do it on your own. There are numerous resources available online whether it be on platforms like YouTube or at your local bookstore. Phone apps for Japanese language learning have also become a useful tool since your classroom is all in your hand. We understand that finding the right Japanese learning app(s) can be confusing and time-consuming, so we did the work for you. Learn how to speak, write and/or read in Japanese with the apps we recommend below.
5 Recommended Japanese Learning Apps
1. Duolingo: Japanese Learning app for Everyday Phrases from Basic to Advanced Levels
Duolingo provides language learning lessons in more than 35 languages. You can try learning Japanese for free, and if you think it suits your needs, you will be given three types of subscriptions: monthly, bi-annual and annual. With Duolingo, you can keep track of your performance, earn rewards, and see how you quickly improve. If you want to learn basic phrases and strengthen your speaking, listening and reading skills in Japanese, the Duolingo app may be for you.
2. JLPT test N1-N5 – Mytest Migii: Japanese Practice Exercises for the JLPT
The Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) is an infamous Japanese language certification test. It needs preparation, of course, so here we have discovered a Japanese learning app just for that. JLPT test N1-N5 – Mytest Migii is an app that provides practice tests from levels N1 to N5. In case you’re unfamiliar with the test, it measures how well you know the Japanese language. The tests are then broken down into levels N1 to N5. This requires heavy Japanese learning as the MyTest Migii app can help determine whether you’re ready to test for the certification.
The app is also free to try out and if you want to have access to more practice questions, remove ads, and use anywhere on your smartphone, even offline, they have subscription plans available. Is the JLPT test N1-N5 – Mytest Migii app for you? Feel free to download it onto your smartphone.
3. Hello Talk: Learn Japanese Communication, Exchange Languages and Learn About Japanese Culture
Do you enjoy sharing your culture and language with others and/or are you interested in learning about other cultures and languages? Then Hello Talk is the app for you. Download and register your account, select Japanese, and have fun.
Hello Talk gives you the opportunity to browse through Japanese-speaker profiles who may either want to learn your language, exchange languages or teach you Japanese. Create a post and insert text in Japanese and have Japanese speakers correct your grammar. Also, connect with Japanese speakers and message them to practice conversations in Japanese on this Japanese learning app. While you’re exchanging messages, both you and the other person will have the ability to correct each other’s sentences (if you both agree to do so, of course).
Hello Talk is free to use, and if you want to have access to a variety of resources like the professional language courses they provide, you will need to invest.
4. Japanese: Learn Japanese using the Free Japanese-English Dictionary Tool with Bonus Features
Are you searching for a completely free Japanese learning app that is a Japanese-English dictionary, helps you understand Japanese phrases and provides flashcards for the JLPT and Kanji Kentei test? Then the Japanese app will be worth the download.
If you want to create your own set of kanji/vocabulary flashcards to maintain learning Japanese, you can do so and organize them in your own folders. Another useful feature of the app that will help you learn and understand Japanese is the text reader. Let’s say you receive an email or text message that contains kanji/vocabulary that you’re unfamiliar with. If you’ve been in a situation similar to that, you can copy the text and paste it into the Japanese app’s text reader. It will then highlight all of the words and phrases that can be translated. If you tap on a certain word or phrase, this Japanese app will bring you to its definition and explanation page.
It’s a handy tool when you’re learning Japanese text. Best of all, there’s no need to pay for this app. No need to worry about those annoying ads. It’s completely free.
5. Bunpo: Easy-to-understand app to Learn Japanese Grammar
For those who are struggling with Japanese grammar or just want to learn Japanese grammar, the Bunpo app is going to be your best friend. Bunpo provides easy-to-understand lessons for learning simple Japanese alphabets (hiragana and katakana) and offers specialized Japanese grammar lessons for the JLPT levels N1 to N5. The Bunpo app is initially free to try, and if you think you will continue to enjoy using it, you can download it onto your Apple or Android smartphone.
There are many more resources especially when it comes to Japanese learning apps. With that in mind, we decided to also share with you two more bonus apps to check out:
- Memrise
- Quizlet
We, at Smiles, hope you enjoy the Japanese learning apps we mentioned above. Let us know if you have any app recommendations for learning Japanese.