Best Learning Japanese Grammar / Vocabulary Apps

These are the best Japanese apps to learn Japanese grammar and vocabulary on the iphone.

AccelaStudy English / Japanese - Best Japanese iPhone Apps


AccelaStudy Japanese | English $10 try demo has 2,100 words (will review once again 1.4 update comes out, UI redesign, Leitner, audio quiz). Is a vocabulary flashcard program with pronunciation for both in Japanese and English. Three modes exist, namely Study, Flashcards and Quiz. Study allows you to browse through the vocabulary to learn what you can. If most words are new to you it's best to go and deselect all 63 categories and just choose a few to work with at a time. Works really well to narrow your focus of study. Navigate by swiping left or right. In all three modes you can change to have English, Kanji, Hiragan or Romaji displayed. For example, in Flashcards mode you can have the Front show Kanji (can have hints in hiragana or romaji if you wish) and the back of the card display English. You can switch that around too so the Front shows English and back shows Kanji. Quiz mode is pretty fun giving a choice of 4 answers. You can choose 10, 20, or 30 questions. Easy or Difficult quiz mode. Difficult mode pair questions with answers of the same part of speech. When you click on correct answer it'll highlight green while taking you to next question. Wrong one advances to next question but highlights the wrong answer in red briefly. Audio options can be spoken in either Japanese or English. Can disable audio if you wish and automatically play it when you slide to the next one.

Human Japanese - Best Japanese iPhone Apps


Human Japanese $10 try demo (first 8 chapters, full version has 40 chapters) is mostly a book with lots of interactivity such as quizzes and helpful chart tables, pronunciations sprinkled throughout. I like the authors tone and writing style quite a bit. He keeps it entertaining throught which you can judge for yourself with the demo. If you've never taken a Japanese class or need a refresher in rudimentary Japanese, Human Japanese on the iPhone is a worthy purchase. Covers origin of Japanese and has tidbits of why certain idiosyncrasies exist in the Japanese language. Nearly in every case you see vocabulary or example it's clickable with a Japanese female speaking the word. Hiragana and Katakana (kana) clicked on shows animated stroke order. Human Japanese doesn't cover Kanji just touches on it briefly but gives you a solid foundation to build upon to further your Japanese studies.

Japanese Flip - Best Japanese iPhone Apps


Japanese Flip $7 6,000 Japanese words using a flashbased program. Browse mode allows you to quickly flip through Japanese words (Previous Card or Next Card) to learn them initially. Toggle on/off Furigana as seen in 4th and 5th screenshot. Tapping white screen space will reveal answer which then you can mark Right or Wrong. Japanese Flip keeps repeating Japanese vocabulary you marked Wrong. Progress is automatically saved. Has a nice flashcard algorithm for repeatedly quizzing you on ones you need help with. Can create your own list of words which will appear in whichever level your currently working in.

Pocket Japanese - Best Japanese iPhone Apps



Pocket Japanese Newbie (1-25 lessons) $10 try demo (1 lesson)
Pocket Japanese Beginner (1-25 lessons) $10 try demo (1 lesson)
Pocket Japanese Advanced Blog (1-10 lessons) $5
Pocket Japanese Advanced Blog (11-20 lessons) $5

Pocket Japanese takes an 8 step approach to learning which reinforces everything you learned over and over. Try the demo and see if it's beneficial to your pursuit of Japanese study. Also check out the japanesepod101.com for excellent podcasts.
1) Lesson Write Up
which covers briefly which points it'll cover.
2) Entire Lesson Audio
has about a 5 min or so audio lesson with translations provided and many repeats.
3) Line-By-Line
lets you click on each sentence to hear it in the Kanji section, English translation, Romaji, and Hiragana (kana) all line-by-line. 4) Review track is audio of key vocabulary being reviewed and repeated with translation said after it's spoken.
5) Vocabulary List has about 15 vocabulary depending on lesson which allows you to review your vocabulary. When you add it to Word Bank it allows you to review it later. If you have an iphone you can Record and playback your pronunciation. Supposed an ipod touch 2G would work too with a microphone.
6) Vocabulary Flashcards
allows you to display either Japanese (kanji), romaji, English, or Audio and have you flip it over to see answer which you can mark correct or wrong.
7) Expansion has audio with additional related sentences
8) Grammar Point covers some pratical usage and shows verb tenses for instance.

 

 

Updated May 2009


Back Best Japanese iPhone Apps