Free Japanese Learning Apps

Trying to learn Japanese? Not sure where to start? Whether you’re looking for kanji, grammar, writing, hiragana, katakana (the Japanese Characters) or Japanese culture, these 5 learning apps will cover every topic of your Japanese study.

1. Google Translate:

That’s right, folks. The wait is finally over. After years of development, the team at Google has finally released the long-awaited Google Translate app for Japanese language learners. And the best part? It’s completely free!

So how does it work? Just type in a word or phrase in English, and the app will translate it into Japanese. You can also use your camera to take a picture of Japanese text, and the app will translate it for you. And if you’re feeling really ambitious, you can even use the app to have a conversation with a native Japanese speaker. Just type in what you want to say in English, and the app will translate it into Japanese and speak it out loud for you.

Of course, there are a few caveats. The app is still in beta, so it’s not perfect. And because it relies on machine translation, it’s not always 100% accurate. But for a free app, it’s pretty darn good. Another great thing is that you can practice your Japanese writing to see if you’re writing well enough that google can translate it.

2. Munkle.it

Munkle.it (that’s us!) is the fastest way to learn anything, and you can easily use an existing free study deck to learn Japanese online, or you can make your own. Your first deck is free, so it’s great if you’re just studying for a specific thing I f you want to master Japanese you can add additional decks (or that Japanese word you just learned). You sign signup for the best flashcard study app here. What makes us unique is we don’t make you repeat things that you’ve already learned, you only study what you dont know, or are about to forget. Munkle works on mobile or desktop, and doesn’t require an app download so any Japanese learner can study wherever they are.

3. Duolingo 

Duolingo is premier free Japanese learning app one of the most popular language learning apps on the market, and for good reason. It’s straightforward and easy to use for every learner, with a variety of different exercises in each Japanese lesson to keep you engaged. It covers Japanese kanji, and the other character styles. The app also keeps track of your progress and awards you with points and virtual currency as you advance. One downside, however, is that Duolingo doesn’t offer much in terms of speaking practice. So if you’re looking to learn how to hold a conversation in Japanese, this might not be the app for you. Duolingo Japanese is a more recent version of the old Pimsleur Japanese CDs/courses. An additional nice thing about this is that it does cover some Japanese culture as well.

4. Tandem 

Tandem is unique among language learning apps in that it focuses on conversation practice. The app connects you with a native speaker who are also looking to learn your language. This gives you the opportunity to have real-life conversations with native Japanese speakers who can help correct your mistakes in your Japanese grammar and teach you colloquial phrases that you wouldn’t find in a textbook. However, Tandem isn’t free; but if you’re serious a serious learning speaking Japanese fluently, it might be worth the investment. This is probably the best alternative to a Japanese tutor.

5. Busuu 

Busuu is another great option for those looking to learn Japanese for free. The Busu Japanese app is set apart from other language learning apps is its focus on grammar. The app offers detailed explanations of grammar rules and provides ample opportunity to practice using them in context. However, like Duolingo, Busuu doesn’t offer much in terms of speaking practice. So if you want to learn how to carry on a conversation in Japanese, you might want to look elsewhere.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, there are many great free apps available that can help you learn Japanese. Duolingo and Busuu are both great for learning grammar, while Munkle is optimized for remembering lots of words easily, and Tandem are great for conversation practice. So whatever your learning style, there’s an app out there that’s perfect for you. So what are you waiting for? Get started and…. Ganbatte!