Learning a language like Japanese is a personal and professional investment that can open doors in the workplace, cultural, and academic fields. Thanks to new technologies, mastering this language is within reach of anyone from their mobile phone, regardless of their starting level. Japan's rise in sectors such as technology, entertainment, and international trade has made Japanese increasingly in demand, and Japanese learning apps have multiplied, offering accessible, practical, and up-to-date resources. In this guide, you'll find a comprehensive and detailed selection of the best apps for learning Japanese from your mobile phone, with their advantages, features, and tips for getting the most out of each one.
Advantages of learning Japanese with mobile apps
Digital learning has revolutionized the way we access languages. Japanese apps not only offer flexible scheduling and ubiquity, but they also allow you to adapt your study process to your personal preferences, specific needs, and lifestyle. Some key advantages of using these apps include:
- Practice daily and anywhere: You only need your phone to advance your studies, without depending on academies or in-person classes.
- Personalized lessons according to level: You can start from scratch or reinforce what you already know, and adjust the difficulty as you progress.
- Variety of exercisesFrom kanji writing, text reading, listening practice, to real conversations with native speakers.
- Gamification and motivationMany apps incorporate games, achievements, and rewards that help maintain consistency and interest.
- Offline access: Some apps allow you to download content and study even without an internet connection.
Why learn Japanese today?
Japanese, with more than 125 million native speakers and recognized as one of the most influential languages in the world, is the key to one of the most fascinating cultures and a highly competitive job market. Technology companies, anime producers, video game producers, and multinationals are looking for profiles with Japanese skills., a trend that continues to grow due to Japan's influence on the global cultural scene. Furthermore, learning this language opens the door to new friendships, trips, scholarships, and experiences that enrich both personal and professional lives.
How do you choose the best apps for learning Japanese?
The selection of apps we present has been made taking into account criteria such as content quality, adaptability to different levels, functionality, user ratings, updated materials, the ability to interact with native speakers, ease of use, and reinforcement tools such as games, memory cards, or calligraphy exercises. All of them include clear explanations, audio from native speakers, interactive exercises, and progress tracking systems.
The best apps for learning Japanese on your mobile
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LingoDeer
LingoDeer has established itself as one of the most comprehensive platforms for self-learning Japanese. Designed by experts in Asian language teaching, the course ranges from the most basic aspects—such as the hiragana, katakana, and kanji alphabets—to advanced grammar and vocabulary topics, covering real-life situations and Japanese culture.
It includes structured lessons with audio from native speakers, exercises to practice pronunciation, reading, and writing, interactive tests, dialogues, and detailed grammar explanations. One of its strengths is the ability to adapt learning to your pace, downloading materials to work offline and setting personalized daily goals. It also has interactive stories that are ideal for immersing yourself in the language and reinforcing what you've learned through spaced repetition.
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Busuu
Busuu stands out for its communicative and collaborative approach to learning Japanese. The app guides you from basic to advanced levels through short lessons, writing, listening, and speaking exercises with real-life practice.
One of Busuu's differentiating points is its global community: you can correct and be corrected by native speakers, receive immediate feedback, or even practice in real time. It includes materials on Japanese culture and everyday situations, with expression exercises (speaking, writing, listening, and reading), as well as assessments to track your progress.
The daily goal system and flexible session planning make it adaptable to any routine, allowing you to study from a few minutes to longer sessions. It also features personalized study plans and visual progress tracking.
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HelloTalk
HelloTalk focuses on direct interaction with native Japanese speakers. It acts as a linguistic social network where you can chat, voice and text, receive corrections, and practice with real people.
It offers automatic translation, voice recognition, tools for correcting messages, and the option to record audio to receive feedback on your pronunciation.
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Learn Japanese with Ling
The Ling app is characterized by its ease of use and its progressive approach to teaching Japanese. It includes up to 200 lessons ranging from basic to advanced levels, allowing you to choose your pace.
Its method integrates grammar, vocabulary, writing and listening exercises, as well as recorded conversations with native speakers. It includes mini-games, periodic reviews, and a personalized questioning system to reinforce what has been learned.
The immediate feedback system allows for errors to be detected and corrected instantly, which is especially useful for those seeking self-directed and structured learning. It also provides the opportunity to practice both spoken and written Japanese, improving knowledge retention.
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japanese nemo
Nemo focuses on quick memorization and correct pronunciation of key Japanese words and phrases. It features a repertoire of common phrases and words, all recorded by native speakers, making it easy to listen, repeat, and self-correct.
Its simple and clear interface allows you to practice on both mobile devices and tablets, and the option to use the app offline makes it an ideal tool for traveling. It includes Spanish translation, slow playback to capture pronunciation nuances, and the creation of personalized playlists based on your interests.
Plus, Nemo is cross-platform and includes a listening practice mode that's perfect for reinforcing passive learning while you do other activities.
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Learn Japanese – 6.000 words
This app is ideal for those looking to expand their vocabulary systematically and efficiently. It offers more than 10 main topics, divided into 145 lessons and organized into different categories (travel, work, relationships, culture, etc.), making it easy to memorize by context.
The exercises are based on spaced repetition, associated images, and native audio, which increases retention. It's especially useful as a complement to improving your ability to express yourself and understand.
Specialized apps and complementary resources to master Japanese
- Kana Town: Specialized in memorizing hiragana and katakana syllabaries through repetitions and mini-games.
- Kanji Studio, Kanji Recognizer: Learn to identify, write, and understand thousands of kanji using flashcards, stroke animations, and personalized tests.
- Makimono Japanese Dictionary and Takoboto: Japanese-English and Japanese-Spanish dictionaries to look up words, phrases, conjugations, and usage examples in different contexts.
- Imiwa?: Advanced dictionary to look up meanings, radicals, conjugations, and examples of kanji and vocabulary, without needing a connection.
- Tae Kim's Guide to Learning Japanese: A free digital manual covering everything from essential grammar to advanced expressions, ideal for self-learners and those who want to delve deeper into the structure and uses of the language.
- Japanesepod101: Podcast and audio lessons, with dialogues, grammar explanations, and vocabulary, suitable for all levels, including tools for practicing pronunciation and listening comprehension.
- iTalki: Platform to connect with native teachers in individual classes, adapting learning to your personal needs and goals.
- Waygo: Translate written Japanese text (menus, signs, labels) in real time using your phone's camera, ideal for travelers and self-taught students.
- Pocket Colony: A social role-playing game with a Japanese interface to learn vocabulary, kanji, and expressions in a fun and highly interactive environment.
Practical tips for improving your Japanese language skills quickly using mobile apps
- Set a realistic goal and personalize it: define whether you want to speak, read, write, or all of them.
- Combines several apps to cover all skills (listening, writing, grammar, speaking, and vocabulary).
- Integrate practice with native speakers or contextualized conversation exercises to gain fluency from the start.
- Use review resources such as flashcards, podcasts, and news to reinforce what you've learned.