r/HelpLearningJapanese

In the past, I've tried to learn other languages and people have given me plenty of apps and resources to help me learn, each helping in different things. Ive been reccomended a speaking app, a vocabulary app, a grammar app, dictionaries, news articles, social networking, etc. Is this all too much? What apps should do you guys reccomend, what should focus on, and how should I structure my notes? What specific optimal path can I follow consistently in order to be able to become proficient within a few years?

I started to learn on Duo but a lot of people said it was bad so I continued ilwith a different method.

I now know Hiragana, some numbers, some days and that's kind of it.

Would I get anything out of Duolingo or am I better off to just delete it and continue with a different app or method?

I’m Japanese but I was raised in America and want to connect better with like my distant family who only speak Japanese. I’m pretty good already with reading hirgana, katakana, and some kanji, but I’m having trouble picking up words. For example, everyday things like pencils, books, yk? Any tips to help me pick up things faster?

Lately I have been thinking about how your language learning stack shifts as you move through Japanese. Early on you need one kind of setup, then you outgrow it, and what used to help suddenly starts to slow you down, while new things become boosters. I noticed this in my own path and got curious how it looks for other people who also try to learn languages in the long run.

My path started without a plan. First I just built the base: hiragana and katakana, the most common phrases, simple sentence patterns, just enough to read and understand something. Then came textbooks and grammar in chunks, where you basically assemble sentences like LEGO and feel proud you can say more than konnichiwa and arigatou.

With kanji I stopped treating it like a sprint and switched to a distance mode: little by little, with repetition and mnemonics, without trying to close a hundred characters in one night.

Later it became clearer that the best setup is a mix by job. Something for structure and grammar, something for vocabulary and review, something for ear training, and something short and daily for the days when you do not have time for a long session. Also over the last year the role of AI has shifted noticeably, ai language learning app formats became handy for quick grammar explanations and mini dialogues when there is nobody to ask.

Out of what I tried across language learning apps over the years: Duol͏ingo mostly as a habit anchor, An͏ki for vocabulary and spaced repetition, Bu͏npo for grammar, Pro͏mova app as a short lesson and review format to keep a daily rhythm. In parallel I watched online language courses and YouTube, but they worked for me only as a supplement, not as the core.

And the further you go, the more immersion matters. Short clips, vlogs, simple dialogues, gradually content slightly above your level but not so hard it kills motivation. I also stopped waiting for the moment when I would be ready to speak perfectly and just started speaking, even if it was simple at first. Over time you freeze less and you build thoughts faster.

Question for you: which one resource ended up being the most useful in the long run, and at what stage did it work best? And separately, has anyone actually found the best language learning app specifically for Japanese, or are you still assembling a stack of 3 or 4 tools?

I'm currently learning Japanese, and wanted an iOS app that removed all the friction from reading native texts. So, after a year of development, I created, Toku Reader. 

The goal was to let me import any text into a minimalist, native reading space with zero distractions - to make the effort of reading Japanese seamless. I'm posting this because I'd love the community's honest feedback the app. Please use my app and let me know!

Toku Reader's Core Features:

• Instant Lookup: Tap any word to immediately surface furigana/pinyin, definitions, and conjugations.
• Integrated Dictionary: A proper dictionary built directly into the reading space.
• Web Reading: Browse any Japanese/Chinese website and use the same tap-to-read mechanics.
• 100% Offline: The parser and reader work completely offline on any text.
• System-Wide Integration: Share texts directly from your iPhone (Notes, Safari, Mail, Google Drive) straight into the reader.
• Flashcard Export: Save words effortlessly for future review.

**App Store Link:**https://apps.apple.com/app/toku-reader-%E8%AA%AD/id6761078304

Japanese Reader

Multiple ways to search words

Surf Japanese websites and just tap-to-read

I am trying to perfect my Japanese reading by reading books. When I come across a kanji I don’t know how to read, I use Google Translate (Google Lens) but it’s a bit cumbersome.

Is there an app which just simply features the furigana ?