Comparison

The Kodansha Kanji Usage Guide vs Wabtec DSS

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

The Kodansha Kanji Usage Guide

This reference app helps intermediate Japanese learners understand and differentiate between kun homophones, words with the same kun reading but different kanji and meanings. It provides detailed usage articles, examples, and indexes for over 1,600 kanji.

Highlights
  • Detailed usage articles for kun homophones
  • Thousands of compound words and examples
  • Indexes for On-Kun reading and English meaning
  • Offline access
  • History and bookmarks
  • Jump to related dictionary app
Features
Read full description

The Kodansha Kanji Usage Guide is the first Japanese-English resource devoted exclusively to kun homophones—words that share the same kun reading but are written with different kanji, and often differ in meaning. Kun homophones are one of the major stumbling blocks faced by intermediate level students as they try to make sense of written Japanese. Words like /noboru/ (登る, 上る,昇る) or /kaeru/ (変える替える換える代える), for example, can be written with several different kanji, each contributing a distinct shade of meaning. The often-subtle nuances conveyed by kanji confuse even Japanese people, and very few dictionaries provide good guidance on kanji usage. The Kodansha Kanji Usage Guide is a new type of reference work that enables learners to deepen their understanding of how kun homophones are used in contemporary Japanese. The first Japanese-English resource devoted exclusively to kun homophones, the book presents detailed usage articles that show the differences and similarities for some 670 homophone groups, or approximately 1,600 kanji headings—the vast majority of single character kun homophones in current use. KEY FEATURES * Examples show how the words are used, either by themselves or in combination with other words or word elements * Over 675 usage articles bring together etymologically kun homophones under a single entry. * Thousands of compound words and examples illustrate how each homophone is used in context * Ability to jump from entry to the corresponding entry in The Kodansha Kanji Learner's Dictionary: Revised and Expanded app, if installed * Covers the Jōyō Kanji, Jinmei Kanji and common non-Jōyō Kanji character sets * Indexes for quickly locating entries by On-Kun reading and by English meaning * no Internet connection required * History and bookmarks With headwords arranged in Japanese a-i-u-e-o order and thousands of illustrative examples of kanji in context, the Usage Guide is at once a dictionary and a manual—an all-around resource for clarity on kanji used in native-Japanese words. Armed with this unique text, learners will discover in kanji new meanings they never knew existed, and learn to write Japanese more articulately than ever before. ABOUT CJKI The CJK Dictionary Institute is directed by Jack Halpern, editor of the New Japanese-English Character Dictionary and The Kodansha Kanji Learner's Dictionary, now standard reference works. Be sure to check out our other dictionary apps available for iOS (search for "cjki").

About

Wabtec DSS

Explore a combined portfolio of digital and electronics offerings designed to advance automation in freight and mining. This app provides a first look at solutions driving safety, productivity, and efficiency in transportation.

Highlights
  • Digital and electronics offerings
  • Advanced automation for freight
  • Automation for mining industries
  • Enhanced safety
  • Increased productivity
  • Improved efficiency
Features
Read full description

GE Transportation is now part of Wabtec Corporation, establishing a Fortune 500, global transportation and logistics leader that is accelerating the future of transportation. At the 2019 Digital Solutions Summit, we will offer a first look into our combined portfolio of digital and electronics offerings that bring advanced automation to the freight and mining industries, driving safety, productivity and efficiency.

Screenshots

The Kodansha Kanji Usage Guide4 screens
Wabtec DSS4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Wabtec DSS at Free against The Kodansha Kanji Usage Guide's $9.99. Wabtec DSS also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.7) and update cadence (every 7 months vs every 24 months). The Kodansha Kanji Usage Guide's advantage is ratings volume (3 vs 1). On ads, in-app purchases, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Wabtec DSS is free to download; The Kodansha Kanji Usage Guide costs $9.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Wabtec DSS holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.7. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 3 and 1 respectively.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

The Kodansha Kanji Usage Guide ships an update every 24 months, Wabtec DSS every 7 months. The most recent releases landed on October 20, 2026 and October 12, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
The Kodansha Kanji Usage Guide versus Wabtec DSS: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterThe Kodansha Kanji Usage GuideWabtec DSS
Price$9.99Free — better
Rating4.7 (3 ratings)5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews66.7% of reviews—
Number of ratings3 — better1
Update frequencyEvery 24 monthsEvery 7 months — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch — better
Requires iOS9.09.0
Further details — not scored
Size15 MB66 MB
Age rating4+17+
DeveloperCJKICreative Management Services MC2

Customer experience

The Kodansha Kanji Usage Guide

All ratings3 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews3 reviews
Positive66.7%
Neutral0.0%
Negative33.3%

Wabtec DSS

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

The Kodansha Kanji Usage Guide

No in-app purchases

None

Wabtec DSS

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is The Kodansha Kanji Usage Guide free?
The Kodansha Kanji Usage Guide costs $9.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Wabtec DSS free?
Wabtec DSS is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, The Kodansha Kanji Usage Guide or Wabtec DSS?
Wabtec DSS is rated higher. The Kodansha Kanji Usage Guide averages 4.7 out of 5 from 3 ratings, while Wabtec DSS averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.
Do The Kodansha Kanji Usage Guide or Wabtec DSS have ads?
Neither The Kodansha Kanji Usage Guide nor Wabtec DSS shows ads.
Which is updated more often, The Kodansha Kanji Usage Guide or Wabtec DSS?
The Kodansha Kanji Usage Guide ships an update every 24 months, and Wabtec DSS every 7 months. Most recently, The Kodansha Kanji Usage Guide was updated on October 20, 2026 and Wabtec DSS on October 12, 2026.

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