Ringotan

This app is amazing for learning kanji. No ads, good interface, good settings, good way of teaching through spaced repetition - what more could one want from an app like this.

TLDR: * Fantastic free app to use in conjunction with other kanji study materials. Great for learning stroke order but not main learning source to learn readings or meanings. * Links to Genki, Wanikani, JLPT lists and many other kanji learning sources. * Ability to customise settings for optimal learning and accessibility. * Issues with stroke order, readings can be reported as bugs but did note that I dont think they have all been resolved IE “to go” shows as “to say”. Full review: I wanted to wait until I had been using the app a little while before reviewing but I can say, this is one of the best kanji study apps that I have used. I do not use it for learning the meanings but use it alongside other apps/websites so I can learn stroke order. I have found that learning stroke order alongside the meaning, reading and usage of a kanji helps me to retain all the information better. There is an option to link the app to your Wanikani which is perfect but also it pulls the kanji from many other sources such as Genki and JLPT. The only thing that I would deduct any score for is the apple jump scare on the front page, I wish it could be updated to the standard white and red apple that you see on the App Store - but I am splitting hairs here! The customise features make this great too, you can change the size and placement of the drawing box which is great for accessibility. I also like that you can report bugs, such as issues with stroke order and it appears there is a community page online for discussing these. However I did note that some issues raised where not fixed in the app even thought the developer commented on these errors (ie: 行く listed as 言う and stroke order issues for 右 etc.

Brilliant for memorising the correct way to write kanji and kana

The system adapts to keep at it when you’re giving the wrong answers

I was grateful to find an app that would test my writing ability, as writing practice helps me learn/review, but I wanted something app-based. I’m using it paired with WaniKani and the Minna no Nihongo textbook series.

It has some interesting features but some design choices that made it unusable for me. The worst being a lack of support for dark mode and settings for people with less than great vision. Poor contrast in some places, forced white space in much of the UI. Does not respect increasing font size, etc. For me this was enough to delete the app, if it hurts my eyes to use then it’s no good for me. Other things that bugged me were things like only able to select one learning resource. I know I am not the only one using textbooks and online resources such as Wanikani and jpbd.io. Also, no way I could see to create and save my own learning list, I could select a lot of kanji from the jplt list for a custom study but I could not find a way to save it. On the really big plus side, no ads. If the UI had been designed better to support Apple’s in place mechanisms for vision impaired I could have perhaps dealt with the lack of customizability. If your eyes are great and you don’t a flexible and customizable learning plan then give this app a test run, it might very well work for you. If you are a more advanced learner using multiple resources I think you will also find this app too restrictive. Being free and without ads it’s worth giving it a try. Still searching for a well designed kanji writing practice app.

This app is very useful for getting in spaced repetition for learning Kanji. There is only one thing I would change that would make all the difference. After you get far enough in, the phonetic hint for the kanji is not enough. For example the kanji for 写真　has two characters that both give the “SHA shin” hint but each kanji’s first strokes start in different places. And there are several Kanji that are like that. Even if you know both in your mind if you start in the wrong place it will count it as wrong. If there was a way to hint that it is one character or the other this app would be 5 stars without question.

Using this with my 2 classroom textbooks and Wanikani is really great! It’s frustrating to have so many different arrangements of kanji (in each book), but Ringotan makes it easy to study exactly what you want. I find that writing out the kanji is an important step to learn them, beyond just reading flash cards. Thanks for this!

Duolingo has much to learn from this app. Currently it lets you try using a symbol five or six times and when it thinks you’re good, you never see it again. This app makes sure you never forget (granted you try).

Props to developer for making something to help people learn Japanese and not prioritizing making money.