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10 Best Apps To Learn the Japanese Language (Quick and Easy)

Updated: 04. Jan, 2023

The world is changing rapidly, and so is the way people spend their time. With mobile phones becoming more technologically advanced, people find it easier to use various apps to do all kinds of things, including learning foreign languages, which has never been as popular as it is now. Over the years, there has been a growing popularity for Japanese among non-native speakers because of popular culture, media, anime, or even a general fascination with the culture.

Today learning a foreign language is easier than ever. If you are someone with a busy schedule but would like to learn a new language like Japanese, then we have some good news for you. In this article, we have curated some of the best apps to learn Japanese within the comfort of your home.

10 Best Apps To Learn the Japanese Language

If you are a beginner or already have a fair knowledge of the Japanese language, there are many apps out there that can help you along your way. These apps will help you learn about Japan in an entirely different way than other courses or textbooks.

Here are the top 10 apps to learn Japanese:

1. Rosetta stone
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Features
Languages available: 25
Oral learning: Yes, speech recognition technology
Written learning: Yes
Learning method: App based lessons
Free trial: Yes, 3 days
Social learning: No

Rosetta Stone is the most advanced application for language learning. It makes language learning simple, enjoyable, and convenient. It is also among the most costly.

The Rosetta Stone software is designed to facilitate language learning. It focuses on teaching you the structure and foundation of words and phrases and includes a number of approaches for learning the language. This application contains whole courses that can be purchased separately or as a package.

It emphasizes building confidence by using pictures and a more casual approach to learning than traditional textbooks. Users listen to native speakers, view video clips, and read texts along with receiving systematic instruction on grammar. The app comes with hundreds of exercises that can be used multiple times before the user reaches the end of their learning experience.

Rosetta Stone also includes realistic situations that teach you how to react correctly in different situations by using all of your senses. Rosetta Stone uses a program called Dynamic Learning Method™ that starts with very simple words and phrases and then expands knowledge as you progress through lessons. There are many pre-recorded dialogues which help learners practice conversation and pronunciation at their own pace.

Visit rosetta stone to learn more about its features
2. Busuu
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Features
Languages available: 12
Oral learning: Yes, mock conversation
Written learning: Yes
Learning method: App based lessons
Free trial: Yes, 30 day free trial
Social learning: No

Busuu is one of the best free language-learning apps, and its Premium subscription is well worth the cost. Despite the limited number of languages included, the content of Busuu is of superior quality. As a learning app, Busuu falls somewhere between a supplementary course app and an online self-study course.

It lets you practice with native speakers and friends, learns about a wide variety of topics, tracks your progress and more. The app offers complimentary membership for accessing some aspects, though you can get many more features if you upgrade via the Premium subscription.

The best features of Busuu are its layout and interactive social network, which enable users to provide and receive feedback from other users. The application is appropriate for beginners and intermediate learners. Its language courses adhere to the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR).

Busuu focuses on teaching all four communication skills to its users (reading, writing, speaking, and listening). Its interface is user-friendly, and it has a community feature which is extremely well-liked among users.

You can also speak with other native Japanese speakers and have actual conversations.

Busuu is an engaging and interactive method of learning Japanese. The app also provides a 14-day money-back guarantee for both its free and paid versions.

Visit busuu to learn more about its features
3. Duolingo
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Features
Languages available: 38
Oral learning: Yes, speaking exercises
Written learning: Yes
Learning method: App based lessons
Free trial: Completely free
Social learning: No

Duolingo is the world’s leading language-learning platform. This gamified app simply allows you to learn a foreign language. It comes with fun and engaging lessons, and this app alo offers one of the best methodologies in the world of education. The platform caters to everyone and is available in many languages, including Japanese.

This app will help you learn the basics of the Japanese language and also provide tests to test your knowledge. You can start with new lessons every day. And they are divided into interesting subjects like food and family, travel and business. This app also includes questions and answers to check your progress along the way.

It also supports artificial intelligence, which means your learning experience with this app will only get better over time.

Using learning streaks, quizzes, challenges, and rewards, the application helps its users expand their vocabularies. It is simple, easily understandable, and most beneficial to novices.

According to the app’s creators, Duolingo contains the equivalent of a semester’s worth of language courses. Moreover, the app is free, and the majority of its features are accessible in its free version.

The paid version of the application, Duolingo Plus, provides ad-free lessons and offline access to course materials. It costs $12.99 per month or $83.99 per year, with a free 14-day trial.

Visit duolingo to learn more about its features
4. Lingodeer
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Features
Languages available: 11
Oral learning: Yes, some speaking exercises
Written learning: Yes
Learning method: App based
Free trial: Yes, offers an unlimited free trial
Social learning: Yes, cultural facts

LingoDeer is an app that claims to improve your Japanese through interactive lessons and fun exercises. It has a simple design that makes it easy to understand and navigate. The lessons are broken down into small sections which teach vocabulary, writing and sentence structure through repetition and various types of questions.

LingoDeer uses audio from native speakers allowing you to learn how words are pronounced in the right context. There are also interesting features like slowing down the speakers’ pace, turning on furigana so you can study kanji (Japanese characters), and learning the meaning and context of a particle with simple taps.

With lessons, tools and activities that adapt to your needs and way of learning, you’ll learn the basics and have fun doing it!

The app is available on both the apple store and the Google play store. It’s compatible with every smartphone. Although you can download it for free, you may have to switch to a premium account, later on, to access certain modules and features.

Visit lingodeer to learn more about its features
5. Pimsleur
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Features
Languages available: 50
Oral learning: Yes, conversations
Written learning: No
Learning method: App based
Free trial: Yes, 7 days
Social learning: No

Pimsleur is one of the best ways to learn Japanese; with its audio-based lessons.

The app is an easy-to-use, portable and strong tool for people who are just starting out. It leverages audio to help beginners develop their speaking and listening skills.

By learning  Japanese with Pimsleur, you will be surprised at how much progress you make in only 30 minutes a day. Pimsleur will take you behind the curtain of language instruction to experience a new, powerful way to learn. The app doesn’t just describe words and phrases – it actually teaches them. Pimsleur Audio only focuses on words and phrases that are important for daily conversation, so learners can build conversational skills effectively.

The lessons consist of 30-minute audio drills that teach essential words and phrases. They’re designed to help you gain proficiency at each stage of learning.

All Pimsleur lessons feature native speakers and obey the 80/20 rule – allowing users to gain quick, relevant skills after nearly 80 hours of immersion.

The monthly subscription fee for the Pimsleur app ranges between $14.99 and $19.99. Additionally, they offer lifetime access to the entire Japanese course. The lifetime access purchase price begins at $150.00.

Visit pimsleur to learn more about its features
6. Anki
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Features
Languages available: 14
Oral learning: No
Written learning: No
Learning method: Flashcard app and website
Free trial: Completely free
Social learning: No

Anki is a flashcard app and website that allows you to create, memorize and recall information as easily as possible. It offers excellent features for learning the Japanese Language from any location.

The app is a lightweight and effective tool that helps you learn facts quickly. With this app, you can import card decks from popular textbooks, which contain multiple-choice questions and answers. The app then turns these into flashcards that you can see as a card appears on the screen and then hear the right answer when it’s chosen. This is ideal for repetition training or learning in a spaced repetition system.

The software is available for Windows, Mac OS X, Linux, iOS and Android. It offers free desktop software which allows you to add your own content or can download pre-made decks from the user community.

The app is completely free and can help you memorize Japanese phrases with ease.

Visit anki to learn more about its features
7. Memrise
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Features
Languages available: 23
Oral learning: Yes, video of native speaker
Written learning: No
Learning method: Flashcard app
Free trial: No, free version
Social learning: No

Memrise is intended to make learning Japanese effective and pleasant. It is an app containing thousands of videos of native Japanese speakers. Using pictures and mnemonics, they assist users to learn and remember words and phrases.

It combines flashcards with other entertaining activities to make studying more fun. The software employs an innovative spaced repetition technique that makes it simple for students to memorize the lessons.

The program contains thousands of videos of native Japanese speakers. It also contains mnemonics and spaced repetition techniques to aid in recalling words and phrases. While commuting or waiting in a store’s checkout line, you can use Memrise on the go to study.

The lessons emphasize the terminology necessary for fundamental communication in everyday situations. You may also create your own course, set linguistic objectives, and compete with others using the application.

However, the classes are only useful for beginners because they do not emphasize grammar or speaking. Memrise provides three plans, each of which is available in both free and paid versions. The premium edition offers access to additional content and features.

Visit memrise to learn more about its features
8. FluentU
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Features
Languages available: 10
Oral learning: No
Written learning: No
Learning method: App based videos
Free trial: Yes, 14 days
Social learning: Yes, real life videos

FluentU is another excellent app to use in learning Japanese. This language learning app is perfect for beginners or connoisseurs who already know a little Japanese. You’ll learn with original video clips and language tips to speak like a native speaker.

The app allows you to master Japanese through authentic content, with interactive quizzes and personalized learning plans that adapt to you so that you can confidently do essential things. In addition, you get to watch all kinds of videos, including music videos, news clips and more, from Japanese natives.

They have over 40 languages to choose from, and over 100,000 videos you can watch. Best of all, FluentU gives you access to a real human teacher who will help you practice with interactive transcripts while listening to cultural notes.

FluentU also has more than 20 different games to keep things fun and interesting as well.

This app will naturally ease you into learning the language as well as many of its cultural nuances.

Visit fluentU to learn more about its features
9. Mondly
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Features
Languages available: 33
Oral learning: Yes, real-life dialogues
Written learning: Yes
Learning method: App based lessons
Free trial: Yes
Social learning: Yes

Another exceptional app for learning the Japanese Language is Mondly. It’s a straightforward, immersive, engaging, and all-around excellent method of learning Japanese. Mondly employs both augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) to assist students in learning while speaking. The fundamental purpose of Mondly is to teach students how to have actual discussions.

The Mondly app can help you quickly improve your reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills. You can also choose what you wish to learn with the app. It offers grammar notes that teach short, important concepts but avoids more advanced grammar subjects.

The Alexa Voice Service is used by the app to make it sound like a real person is speaking to you. It includes audio courses as well as exercises and activities that may be done with others.

As a result, the courses are more appropriate for those who are just beginning to study than for those who are more experienced. Mondly features a free version, but you’ll have to pay $9.99 if you want to use it every month. If you pay $47.99 each year, you can enjoy the subscription version for a year.

Visit mondly to learn more about its features
10. Italki
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Features
Languages available:
Oral learning: Yes, one on one lessons
Written learning: Yes
Learning method: Teachers and app based
Free trial: 12
Social learning: No

Italki is the finest app for practising your Japanese writing and speaking. A key feature is that users and tutors can communicate with one another. You can easily practice with someone on the platform and get feedback.

The app provides a formal platform with a wealth of information, allowing you to get the most value for your money. Italki provides customers with access to over 650 online Japanese tutors, and the sessions can be tailored to the user’s exact needs. It provides about 50 one-on-one, individualized courses with native speakers.

It features a one-of-a-kind ranking system that assists consumers in locating the finest teachers and courses. Message boards and in-app chat capabilities allow users to communicate with one another.

You can choose your Japanese tutor and what you want to study or practice using the app. Tutors choose their own charges, which range from $5.00 to $50.00, with trial classes available at 50% off.

Visit italki to learn more about its features

Frequently Asked Questions On Learning Japanese

Can I learn Japanese with an app as a beginner?

Yes, you can. For absolute beginners, there are several apps with courses that cater to first-time learners of the Japanese language. Many of these applications start from scratch and move up the difficulty levels slowly so that you can learn at your own pace.

How do I choose the best app to learn Japanese?

In general, when looking for the best app to learn Japanese, you will want an app that has: authentic and high-quality content, a fun and interactive learning experience, and a price that’s affordable for you. 

The app should have quality content with different learning methods. Ensure it’s easy to use and has all the features you desire for adequate learning. 

Can I learn everything in the Japanese language with a single app?

It’s not likely. The reality is that it takes years to master the Japanese language and its grammar rules. That’s why we recommend using a wide variety of different resources and apps in your learning process.

Using an app can help you get started, but don’t expect to be fluent after just one app. To learn Japanese effectively (and we mean really master the language), you need more than just one app.

What is the best way to learn Japanese? 

The best way to learn Japanese is through practice. As you start learning the alphabet, you will be able to use them in words and sentences and gain confidence in your pronunciation. Once you’ve mastered the alphabet, continue by studying words as a part of vocabulary and grammar lessons. Along the way, you will acquire knowledge of grammar and vocabulary.

Conclusion

The world of learning has seen a drastic change over the last decade or so. Mobile app developers have brought an entirely new way of learning to the world by creating innovative apps that help students make meaningful progress in their courses and boost confidence levels.

It’s not surprising that more students are opting for language learning apps as opposed to using traditional methods like textbooks. Although some people argue that language apps will not teach you everything you need to know in the Japanese language, they are an effective, easy and cheap way of getting started with learning the language or supplementing another method.

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