Manana Japanese
Manana Japanese is an iOS and Android app that connects JLPT vocabulary, Japanese kanji, FSRS review, and reading content into one continuous learning flow.
Manana Japanese is an iOS and Android app for learning JLPT vocabulary from N5 to N1, Japanese kanji, FSRS-based review, and reading content.
When you study a word, you start wondering about the kanji inside it.
When you study kanji, similar characters begin to blur together.
And once you memorize a word, you naturally want to see how it is actually used in real sentences.
Manana Japanese was built to keep that learning flow from breaking.
Wait, I have to go to Japan? I’m doomed... haha
Back when I barely knew hiragana, I was sent to the Japanese headquarters for a one-year training program.
Never mind producing results after returning to Korea.
I first had to learn, understand, and somehow survive work in Japanese on-site.
In my first class, I could only catch a few words I recognized.
Whenever I received an assignment email, the first thing I opened was a translator.
And when I tried to speak, my mind would often go completely blank.
That was when I realized something.
Vocabulary is not everything in Japanese.
But from beginner to advanced levels, the foundation that keeps you from falling apart is ultimately vocabulary.
Grammar? Of course it matters. Pronunciation matters too.
But the first thing that always collapsed in front of Japanese was vocabulary.
I wanted to speak, but I did not have the words.
I wanted to read, but I had no words to hold on to.
I wanted to listen, but the words I knew would not come through.
It was the same when preparing for exams, watching dramas, or talking with native speakers.
When facing a long sentence, what keeps you mentally grounded is vocabulary.
When understanding grammar, following the flow of listening, or responding in a real conversation, the more words you know, the longer you can hold your ground.
If grammar is the weapon, vocabulary is the ammunition.
No matter how good the weapon is, you cannot do anything without ammunition.
Vocabulary is the most basic power that helps you keep control in front of Japanese.
So why are existing vocabulary apps so tiring?
“Anki is great, but setting it up drains me before I even start.”
Finding the right deck, downloading it, configuring it.
You are already exhausted before the study session even begins.
“Please stop showing me words I already know.”
You only want to review what you are forgetting, but familiar words keep coming back.
It wastes time, and it quickly becomes tiring.
“So what kanji is this word using?”
The moment you open a dictionary to look up the kanji inside a word,
the study flow you barely managed to build is broken.
So I built it myself as a developer.
As someone learning Japanese, I wanted to solve the frustrations I felt one by one.
As a developer, I wanted to turn those frustrations into an app that actually helped.
Manana Japanese is not an app that stops at memorizing words.
I wanted to build an app where words lead naturally to kanji,
kanji lead to related words,
and review leads into reading content.
Manana Japanese Connects Your Study Flow
Manana Japanese treats each word as a starting point.
A word leads you to the kanji inside it.
A kanji leads you to similar characters and related words.
Words you have learned return through FSRS review, and in reading content, you meet them again in real context.
So your study flow does not break.
So the words you learn today are still with you tomorrow.
Manana Japanese is built around that connected flow.
Key Features
Start with the words you need, like picking a book from a library
Forget complicated setup.
Just like picking up the book you want to read from a library shelf, you can start with the words you need right now.
Japanese vocabulary study does not have to follow one fixed path. You can study by JLPT level, choose themed vocabulary, or jump straight into the topics that matter to you.
You choose the words. The system handles the review.
Pick the words you want to study today and start learning.
As your vocabulary grows, Manana uses the latest FSRS algorithm to calculate when each word should come back. Instead of repeating words you already know, you can focus on the words you actually need to review.
Build long-term memory with less wasted time.
Vocabulary study that starts from the range you need
Study JLPT vocabulary step by step from N5 to N1.
You do not have to take on every word at once. Start with the range that fits your current level and goal. Beginners can focus on essential words, while advanced learners can target N2 and N1 vocabulary that is easy to miss.
Japanese kanji learning
Tap the kanji inside a word to see its explanation right away.
You can check readings, meanings, related words, similar-looking kanji, and even story-based memory hints without leaving your study flow to open a dictionary.
Verb and adjective conjugations
Knowing only the meaning of a verb or adjective is not enough.
Manana shows the base form along with commonly used conjugations, helping you feel less lost when you meet the word in real sentences.
Synonyms, antonyms, and themed vocabulary
Words are easier to remember when you learn them with the words around them.
Manana connects synonyms, antonyms, and related words, helping you understand each word in a wider context. You can also study themed vocabulary such as travel, everyday life, emotions, and business.
Daily reading content
Reading content about Japanese culture and everyday life is added every day.
You can meet the words you have learned in real context, turning vocabulary study naturally into reading practice.
Trends and community
Check Japanese trends in a casual way and see the keywords currently being talked about in Japan.
In the community, you can share questions and experiences with other learners, helping you fill in the gaps that are easy to miss when studying alone.
Daily Telegram learning materials at 10 AM
Receive Japanese learning materials every morning at 10 AM through Telegram.
It is a simple way to build a daily study routine and touch Japanese even before opening the app.
iOS and Android support
Manana Japanese is available on both iOS and Android.
Recommended for learners who
- Are preparing for the JLPT
- Forget Japanese vocabulary soon after memorizing it
- Find it inconvenient to search kanji separately every time
- Want to study vocabulary and kanji together
- Want vocabulary memorization to lead naturally into reading practice
- Want to learn Japanese while naturally exploring Japanese culture
- Want to share study experiences with other learners in a community
Start with Manana Japanese
Japanese study does not have to be complicated.
What matters is that even one word you learn today stays with you.
Manana Japanese is a Japanese learning app that connects vocabulary, kanji, review, and reading content into one continuous study flow.