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Nihongo - Japanese Dictionary

Nihongo - Japanese Dictionary

Kanji, kana, vocab and grammar

1.9K ratings
265 reviews
πŸ“š Education
πŸ” Reference
Free
In-App Purchases

Details

Released
July 13, 2014
Updated
October 22, 2026

Features

Developer

Serpenti Sei Japan
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iphone
ipad
🧾$9.99 - $179.99
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About

This app is an offline Japanese study tool that functions as a dictionary, translator, and flashcard creator. It helps users learn Japanese by analyzing text from their surroundings, such as signs and menus, and creating personalized study materials.

βœ“Offline Japanese dictionary
βœ“Picture-to-text translation (OCR)
βœ“Automatic flashcard creation
βœ“Reading assistant with furigana/romaji
βœ“Spaced repetition flashcards
βœ“Search in English, Japanese, or romaji
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What users say about Nihongo

Reviews of Nihongo are mostly positive: the Reference app is rated 4.8/5 from 1.9K App Store ratings. What users like most: excellent dictionary, comprehensive features. Top complaints: occasional bugs and glitches, subscription model could be expensive. Summarized from real user reviews.

Positive things

  • πŸš€Excellent dictionary
  • πŸ‘Comprehensive features
  • πŸ”’Offline compatibility
  • πŸ‘Helpful example sentences
  • πŸ‘Intuitive interface
  • πŸ‘Useful flashcard system
  • πŸ‘Detailed kanji information
  • πŸ‘Accurate OCR and translation
  • πŸ‘Valuable for learning Japanese

Negative things

  • πŸ›Occasional bugs and glitches
  • πŸ’°Subscription model could be expensive
  • πŸ”Difficult to manage flashcards
See all reviews
+2

What's New in Nihongo

1.36.1

October 22, 2026

Bug Fixes * Fix an issue where restoring a backup could incorrectly delete flashcards for words that were removed and then re-added to the dictionary. * Fix layout issues in Search and Flashcards when folding iPhone Duo, rotating an iPad, or resizing a window. * Fix clipped content in dictionary popovers and kanji origin previews. * Fix Clipping toolbar controls appearing in the wrong order in Two Column Reading Mode. * Fix Clippings saved through Shortcuts not appearing immediately when returning to the app. * Fix the ordering of similar hiragana, katakana, and kanji suggestions in handwriting search. * Fix misalignment of the search camera button on iOS 26 and later. * Fix a missing Done button after completing a flashcard session on iOS 18. * Fix the newsletter sign-up form being clipped in smaller iPad windows. * Fix text formatting in flashcard tutorials.

More
13

Subscriptions & In-App Purchases

Nihongo Pro (Monthly)

Flashcards, audio, and more, renewing monthly

$4.991 Month
7 Days trial
Price Updates
October 18, 2026β†’$4.99
July 15, 2024β†’$4.99
June 29, 2024β†’$3.99
How to cancel Nihongo subscription ⁉️

Events

Read more about Nihongo in Liquid Glass
Event EndedMajor Update

Nihongo in Liquid Glass

Plus everything to make the most of iOS 27

Sep 14, 2026 β€” Oct 15, 2026

Read More

Read more about Unlock the Secrets of Kanji
Event EndedMajor Update

Unlock the Secrets of Kanji

New kanji breakdowns based on true history.

Jun 2, 2024 β€” Jul 2, 2024

Read More

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User reviews

Most RecentHighest RatedLowest Rated

My experience with Nihongo

This is an absolutely fantastic app. In depth translation into Japanese hiragana, katakana, and kanji.
RRolls1969

Nice but miss the possibility to add to Anki cards

Please include this feature soon, it is sad that we cannot include the vocabulary to Anki decks
EEdorelle

Response from developer

You can do this actually! If you tap on the share button on a deck, there's an Export option which you can use to create a deck that's usable in Anki. There's an explanation of how to do it here: https://nihongo-app.com/faq.html#flashcards And if you have any trouble getting that to work, please reach out to me at support@nihongo-app.com and I'll be happy to help!

Nice but miss the possibility to add to Anki cards

Please include this feature soon, it is sad that we cannot include the vocabulary to Anki decks
EEdorelle

Very helpful

Easy to use. Wide variety of vocabulary. Example sentences help too.
QQQueen's Quay

Finally, pitch accent in pro

I was initially disappointed the pro version didn’t include pitch accent for some time now but I’m glad you finally got it included for no extra fee.
XXi'anren
See 260 more reviews

Developer apps

Nihongo Lessons
Nihongo Lessons

Learn Japanese Vocab & Grammar

πŸ“š Education

(129)

Free
In-App Purchases
See developer apps

User experience

🐞

Reported Bugs

3 issues

Freezing issues when tapping on kanji

Bug

Font size problems

Bug

Inconsistent OCR and translation accuracy

Bug
✨

Requested Features

5 requests

Handwriting input support

Feature

Customizable flashcard settings

Feature

Monolingual dictionary feature

Feature

Improved backup and sync functionality

Feature

Statistics and progress tracking

Feature

FAQ

What does the Nihongo app do?

Nihongo is an offline Japanese study tool that combines a comprehensive dictionary, a picture-to-text translator, and a flashcard system. It helps users learn Japanese by analyzing text from their environment, such as signs and menus, and creating personalized study materials.

What are the key features of Nihongo?

Key features include an offline dictionary with over 200,000 words, a photo lookup tool using OCR to translate text from images, a reading assistant that adds furigana/romaji to pasted text, and an intelligent flashcard system with spaced repetition for vocabulary and kanji.

Is Nihongo free to use?

The app offers a freemium model. While some core dictionary and search functionalities are available for free, advanced features like audio pronunciations, photo lookup, the reading assistant, and enhanced flashcard capabilities require a 'Nihongo Pro' subscription.

What devices is Nihongo compatible with?

The provided description does not explicitly state compatibility with specific operating systems (iOS or Android) or device types. However, it is described as a mobile application, suggesting it is designed for smartphones and tablets.

How can Nihongo help me learn Japanese vocabulary?

Nihongo helps build vocabulary by allowing you to look up words from your surroundings via photos or pasted text. It automatically generates flashcards for these words, which you can then study using an intuitive spaced repetition system designed to help you master new terms effectively.