# Ben-Kyo — A Complete Japanese study app

> A Complete Japanese study app (iPhone/iPad app by Matthias Frey.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ben-kyo/id6796636136 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [Matthias Frey](https://appshunter.io/developer/6796636138)
- Category: Education, Travel
- Price: Free
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 18.0 · 7 MB
- Languages: American English
- Released: 2026-08-12
- Data updated: 2026-10-17

## What is Ben?

ben-kyo turns the Japanese you actually hear in daily life into vocabulary you remember.

Record a conversation — a lesson, a chat with a friend, something overheard on the train — or import an audio file you already have. ben-kyo transcribes it on your device, no account or internet connection required.

STUDY AT YOUR LEVEL
Choose a JLPT level from N5 to N1, and ben-kyo scans the transcript for vocabulary at exactly that level, using a built-in Japanese dictionary. Each word it finds gets translated and added to your personal word list, tagged with the sentence it came from — so you always remember where you first heard it.

REVIEW THE SMART WAY
Every word you save gets its own flashcard, scheduled with the same spaced-repetition algorithm (SM-2) that Anki is built on. Grade yourself Again, Hard, Good, or Easy after each card, and ben-kyo adjusts when you'll see it next — so you spend your time on the words you actually struggle with, not the ones you already know.

PRACTICE WITH YOUR OWN WORDS
Generate a short practice conversation built entirely from words in your own list, at the difficulty level you choose. It's a quick, low-pressure way to see your vocabulary used in context before you try it out in real life.

PRIVATE BY DESIGN
ben-kyo runs entirely on-device using Apple's Speech, Translation, and on-device language frameworks. There's no sign-up, no account, no server, and your recordings and word list never leave your phone.

Whether you're studying for the JLPT or just trying to hold onto the Japanese you pick up day to day, ben-kyo turns real conversations into a vocabulary list — and a study habit — that actually sticks.

## Is Ben safe?

Not enough ratings yet to assess Ben.

## Is Ben legit?

Ben-Kyo appears legitimate, with a few gaps. The AppsHunter Legitimacy Score for Ben is 65 out of 100 points across 7 verification signals from App Store and developer data.


## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 2.2 — 2026-10-12

Reminders are gathered - max frequency is every 6 hours

### 2.1 — 2026-09-17

- Edit words by clicking on the word-card for 3 seconds 
- bug fixing for word translation
- bug fixing with reminders

### 2.0 — 2026-09-13

Documents from other apps can be shared directly via "share"

### 1.8 — 2026-09-09

- New Settings: max number of words per day and max number of new words 
- Input from url is now possible
- N1 words were reclassified 
- Notifications appear even if the app isn't opened for up to 14 days

### 1.7 — 2026-08-31

Fixed the study-reminder spam --> now notifications only apprear twice a day; 
fixed pinch zoom

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| [ManabitAI: Japanese Vocab](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/manabitai-japanese-vocab/id6760640262) | — | Free | Education |
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| [JLPT Speak](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/jlpt-speak/id6765824150) | 5.0 (2) | Free | Education |
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## More apps by Matthias Frey

- [Benkyo Now – Learn English](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/benkyo-now-learn-english/id6797872072)
- [pick-l](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pick-l/id6799047841)
- [Hong Kong Mahjong Counter](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hong-kong-mahjong-counter/id6812150781)

All apps by Matthias Frey: https://appshunter.io/developer/6796636138

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*Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-10-17.*