Hi All,
I'm taking N3 this December and for a while now, I've been frustrated with online Japanese dictionaries for a while. They're good at giving definitions but not at teaching the word.
So I built something that does that https://jp-dict-nu.vercel.app/
For every word, jp-dict shows:
- JMdict definition + JLPT level + how common the word is
- A mnemonic that ties the sound or kanji to the meaning (e.g. 食べる → "tab a roo": imagine a kangaroo at a TABLE eating off the menu)
- A cultural note when the word genuinely has one (お疲れ様, いただきます, 桜, 教室)
- Three real-life example sentences with furigana, pitched at the word's JLPT level - no "this is a pen" clichés Try it: https://jp-dict-nu.vercel.app/word/食べる
It's free for now, no account, no ads. I'm running it on my own expense because I want to use it daily for my N3 prep and felt it would be useful for others.
Honest limitations:
- Pronunciation uses your browser's built-in TTS, so quality varies a lot. iPhone Safari is OK; Chrome on Linux/Windows often has nothing decent. Better TTS is on the list.
- No conjugation handling yet — nomu works, nomimasu doesn't find anything. Stick to dictionary forms for now.
I would love to hear your feedback! I built it for myself but sharing because if it helps me, it'll probably help some of you.