Kanji Learner's Dictionary vs Sakura Kanji Dictionary
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Kanji Learner's Dictionary
This comprehensive dictionary app provides detailed information on 3,002 kanji characters, including meanings, readings, and stroke order diagrams. It offers multiple search methods and is designed for learners of Japanese.
- 3,002 kanji entry characters
- Animated stroke-order diagrams
- Multiple search modes (SKIP, radical, meaning)
- Toggle between kana and romaji
- Core meanings for quick understanding
- Context-sensitive pop-ups
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The Kodansha Kanji Learner's Dictionary: Revised and Expanded is the best kanji-learning tool available for electronic devices. Based on the recently-published revised edition of Jack Halpern’s world-renowned The Kodansha Kanji Learner's Dictionary, this iOS edition is an easy-to-use electronic dictionary that fully satisfies the practical needs of beginning and intermediate learners. This up-to-date dictionary covers 3,002 kanji entry characters – 772 more than in the original edition – and covers all the characters in the recently revised Jōyō Kanji and Jinmei Kanji lists prescribed by the Japanese government. This app gives learners quick access to all the benefits of the print edition, plus additional functionality made possible by the iOS platform, including quick and intuitive interfaces for looking up kanji by SKIP or by radical, the ability to toggle between kana and romaji display for readings, various additional ways to look up kanji or compounds (eg. by on and kun readings, English meaning, or SKIP number), animated stroke-order diagrams, context-sensitive pop-ups, and much more. No kanji dictionary on the market today offers such a full range of features in such a stunning, user-friendly interface. No stone has been left unturned to create this high-quality application of superb design. **************** Please note: If you currently own The Kodansha Kanji Learner's Dictionary for iOS developed by CJKI, and are running iOS 5 or higher, you can make an in-app purchase that will enable your application to access all the additional content contained in this Revised and Expanded app. First update your app to the most recent version (2.0), and then go to Settings > Add-ons in the Info menu. **************** HIGHLIGHTS: * core meanings that concisely define the most dominant sense of each character, giving the learner an instant grasp of a character's fundamental meaning * the System of Kanji Indexing by Patterns (SKIP), which enables even complete beginners to locate characters with accuracy and speed * 3,002 main entry characters, including all the characters in the Jōyō Kanji and Jinmei Kanji lists * approximately 46,000 senses for 35,000 words, word elements, and illustrative examples * covers all high-frequency compounds based on frequency statistics compiled by the Agency for Cultural Affairs in 2010 * character meanings ordered in a manner that shows how each character contributes to the meanings of compound words * animated stroke order diagrams for all 2,136 Jōyō entry characters * 9,200 character readings, including readings used only in names * multiple search modes including kana, romaji, SKIP, radical, English meaning, and entry number * 1,300 homophones with core meanings explain differences between closely related characters * a special Browser which allows uers to browse characters by SKIP number, frequency ranking, or Jōyō grade * links allowing users to jump to corresponding entry in The Kodansha Kanji Usage Guide app, if installed * audio for all compounds * useful appendixes on stroke counting, pronunciation, kana, and more * intuitive interface for quickly looking up characters by SKIP or radicals * tapping on any character or word allows users to jump to the relevant entry * no Internet connection required * history and bookmarks **************** NOTE: For US educational institutions, this app can be purchased at a 50% discount through Apple’s Volume Purchase Program. See http://www.apple.com/education/ipad/volume-purchase-program/ for more information. **************** 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").
Sakura Kanji Dictionary
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Sakura Kanji Dictionary is a brilliant new Japanese character dictionary that is the best on the iOS platform, going far beyond all others in its level of information. • 13108 character headwords • 10000 stroke-order animations • multiple font variations with archaic forms • computer codes and paper dictionary references • Unicode Consortium's UniHan information • includes a kanji handwriting recognition interface • includes a stroke order practice/testing mini-app APPLICATION FUNCTIONALITY • search on English, Japanese and kana phonetics • real-time progressing look-up • wildcard pattern searches -with * ? • unique searching in triplicate • spelling suggestions for English • romaji pronunciations for headwords • audio pronunciation of Japanese words and phrases • automatic history • Japanese Handwriting recognition • support for search from other applications • Hyperlinked cross-references to third-party dictionaries • OS-independent app localization • Bookmarks with folders and editable notations • Kanji-a-Day feature with various lists -such as JLPT and KanjiKentei levels • "Today" Widget for random kanji at your assigned level • "Broadcast" search in real-time across iPad split windows or second screens • "Kanji Lookup" extension for searching in other apps • DarkMode & 3D Touch support • Supports iOS 14 through to iOS 27 • iPhone, iPod, and iPad support • No internet connection required for most features SOCIAL MEDIA • Facebook, Twitter & Evernote posts. • Full layout for definition emails and Evernote posts. Try it and see for yourself the sleek performance on the powerful UniDict® engine and attractive display. UniDict® is a custom dictionary engine that has outsold all other dictionary delivery engines on iOS devices. It is the best of breed for it's category providing users with a up to the minute features, a strong and robust structure and an intuitive design and navigation. All UniDict® applications are cross linked to create an ecosphere of reference tools and content.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: Sakura Kanji Dictionary at $14.99 against Kanji Learner's Dictionary's $19.99. Sakura Kanji Dictionary also leads on update cadence (every 2 months vs every 4 months). Kanji Learner's Dictionary's advantage is chart position (#194 vs unranked) and iOS requirement (10.3 vs 15.0). On ads, in-app purchases and device support 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
Kanji Learner's Dictionary costs $19.99 and Sakura Kanji Dictionary $14.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
Kanji Learner's Dictionary ships an update every 4 months, Sakura Kanji Dictionary every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on November 2, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Kanji Learner's Dictionary | Sakura Kanji Dictionary |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $19.99 | $14.99 — better |
| Rating | 4.6 (12 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 94.7% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 12 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | Every 2 months — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Paid | — |
| Best chart rank | #194 — better | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 10.3 — better | 15.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 114 MB | 1022 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | CJKI | Enfour, Inc. |
In-app purchases
Kanji Learner's Dictionary
No in-app purchases
Sakura Kanji Dictionary
No in-app purchases






