SimplyKanji - Read Japanese
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About this app
Read Japanese.
SimplyKanji teaches you to read Japanese -- 2,400+ kanji and 6,000+ vocabulary words, covering every level of the Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT), from N5 to N1.
No accounts. No login. Tap Start and study.
---
"The Simply Kanji app is a lifesaver for students aiming for all levels of the JLPT. Our younger students are completely hooked. They're simple and fun, which makes learning really engaging."
-- Akkywish, App Store Review
---
THE SCIENCE
In 1972, cognitive psychologists Craik and Lockhart showed that how deeply you process information determines how well you retain it. Re-reading produces shallow memory. Retrieving a character from scratch, and rating how hard it was, produces durable memory.
That's what SimplyKanji does. Every card is a retrieval attempt, not a review.
---
WHY LEARNERS GET STUCK
Real posts from people learning Japanese right now:
"I'm stuck grinding Anki flashcards and nothing is sticking."
"I understand kana and now I'm trying to learn kanji but I have absolutely no idea what to do."
"Vocab won't stick. Any tips?"
SimplyKanji was built for exactly this.
---
HOW IT WORKS
1. Open. Tap Start.
2. Choose your JLPT level. Sequential, random, or spaced repetition.
3. Recall. Tap to reveal. Rate how well you knew it.
The app remembers what you struggle with and brings those cards back at the right time.
---
WHAT'S INSIDE
- 2,400+ kanji across all JLPT levels (N5 through N1)
- 6,000+ vocabulary words, each tied to the kanji it uses
- Six study modes: Sequential, Random, Category, Weak Points, Review, Learning
- Spaced repetition that adapts to your memory
- Compound words from native Japanese sources
- Daily goals and streaks
- Works offline -- no internet required
- No tracking. No data collection. Your progress stays on your device.
---
JLPT LEVELS
N5 - Beginner (100 kanji): basic daily life
N4 - Elementary (300 kanji): everyday conversations
N3 - Intermediate (650 kanji): written Japanese
N2 - Upper Intermediate (1,000 kanji): news and literature
N1 - Advanced (2,000+ kanji): native-level texts
---
WHY I BUILT THIS
Years ago, I was living in Japan and commuting by train. I found a flashcard app -- nothing fancy, just kanji organized by JLPT level -- and started reviewing on the ride to work. Five minutes out, five minutes back. Within a few months, something shifted. Signs I'd walked past for years started making sense. Not all of them. But enough that the city felt different. I was reading it.
Then the app disappeared from the App Store. Never updated, just gone. The replacements I tried were either buried in features I didn't need or missing the simplicity that made the original work. So I built SimplyKanji -- the app I wished still existed.
---
Now on iPhone, iPad, and Android.
Five minutes on the train. Start today.
SimplyKanji teaches you to read Japanese -- 2,400+ kanji and 6,000+ vocabulary words, covering every level of the Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT), from N5 to N1.
No accounts. No login. Tap Start and study.
---
"The Simply Kanji app is a lifesaver for students aiming for all levels of the JLPT. Our younger students are completely hooked. They're simple and fun, which makes learning really engaging."
-- Akkywish, App Store Review
---
THE SCIENCE
In 1972, cognitive psychologists Craik and Lockhart showed that how deeply you process information determines how well you retain it. Re-reading produces shallow memory. Retrieving a character from scratch, and rating how hard it was, produces durable memory.
That's what SimplyKanji does. Every card is a retrieval attempt, not a review.
---
WHY LEARNERS GET STUCK
Real posts from people learning Japanese right now:
"I'm stuck grinding Anki flashcards and nothing is sticking."
"I understand kana and now I'm trying to learn kanji but I have absolutely no idea what to do."
"Vocab won't stick. Any tips?"
SimplyKanji was built for exactly this.
---
HOW IT WORKS
1. Open. Tap Start.
2. Choose your JLPT level. Sequential, random, or spaced repetition.
3. Recall. Tap to reveal. Rate how well you knew it.
The app remembers what you struggle with and brings those cards back at the right time.
---
WHAT'S INSIDE
- 2,400+ kanji across all JLPT levels (N5 through N1)
- 6,000+ vocabulary words, each tied to the kanji it uses
- Six study modes: Sequential, Random, Category, Weak Points, Review, Learning
- Spaced repetition that adapts to your memory
- Compound words from native Japanese sources
- Daily goals and streaks
- Works offline -- no internet required
- No tracking. No data collection. Your progress stays on your device.
---
JLPT LEVELS
N5 - Beginner (100 kanji): basic daily life
N4 - Elementary (300 kanji): everyday conversations
N3 - Intermediate (650 kanji): written Japanese
N2 - Upper Intermediate (1,000 kanji): news and literature
N1 - Advanced (2,000+ kanji): native-level texts
---
WHY I BUILT THIS
Years ago, I was living in Japan and commuting by train. I found a flashcard app -- nothing fancy, just kanji organized by JLPT level -- and started reviewing on the ride to work. Five minutes out, five minutes back. Within a few months, something shifted. Signs I'd walked past for years started making sense. Not all of them. But enough that the city felt different. I was reading it.
Then the app disappeared from the App Store. Never updated, just gone. The replacements I tried were either buried in features I didn't need or missing the simplicity that made the original work. So I built SimplyKanji -- the app I wished still existed.
---
Now on iPhone, iPad, and Android.
Five minutes on the train. Start today.
Updated on
Safety starts with understanding how developers collect and share your data. Data privacy and security practices may vary based on your use, region, and age. The developer provided this information and may update it over time.
No data shared with third parties
Learn more about how developers declare sharing
No data collected
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Committed to follow the Play Families Policy
What’s new
Your app icon now appears on the landing screen. Fixed a bug where many words were incorrectly labeled as verbs on flashcards. Tap-to-rate review prompt added. Swipe overlay for card navigation.
Everyone
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About the developer
Catalyst Code LLC
devops@catalystcode.ai
2212 Queen Anne Ave N
Seattle, WA 98109-2383
United States
+1 253-353-2809
