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Best iPhone Apps For Learning Japanese

By: Mishka Bulldozer

Break Studios Contributing Writer

With the advent of technology, eventually you're going to need the best iPhone apps for learning Japanese. Japan is the economic epicenter of the Eastern hemisphere, and no matter what industry you're involved in, you're going to end up doing business with companies in this country. The following apps will help with character recognition, basic vocabulary, and even useful phrases. If you want to quickly boost your language skills, then be sure to try out the best iPhone apps for learning Japanese.

  1. Kanji Flip. With over 2,200 Kanji characters, Kanji Flip is one of the best iPhone apps for learning Japanese. Users are given Kanji symbols in a flash card fashion, all of which are divided by level of difficulty and given accompanying Hiragana and Katakana spellings to further one's understanding. There is also a Quiz Mode, which allows interested parties to drill themselves on the different meanings of certain Kanji symbols in their various configurations. With the functionality of a deck of flash cards without the need to carry so many little papers with you, Kanji Flip is one of the best iPhone apps for learning how to read the ever-expanding Japanese language.
  2. Gengo Talking Japanese Dictionary. If you're in need of something that will help you with your Japanese pronunciation, then Gengo is one of the best iPhone apps for learning Japanese. This digital lexicon gives you the ability to hear everyday words in their natural Japanese pronunciation, allowing for greater accuracy when you need to start saying them. The best part is, you can look up an unfamiliar character by using its streamlined searching function and be able to pronounce it as if you grew up speaking the language.
  3. Talking Japanese Phrasebook. Even if you're not trying to become a fluent speaker of a language, it always helps to know a few useful words and phrases. This is where Talking Japanese Phrasebook comes in. This is one of the most versatile iPhone apps for learning Japanese, giving users the Romanji, Japanese pronunciation and English translation for common useful phrases. If you're looking for a quick introduction to the language, then this is the app for you.
  4. Pocket Japanese. For the closest thing to a classroom experience, try Pocket Japanese. This iPhone app contains numerous steps and processes to assist users in learning or improving their Japanese. From audio lessons to popular grammatical structures, this app really takes a teacher-based learning experience and puts it at your fingertips. While some users may see this as a bit intense, since there's no better way to utilize this app than through daily drilling, it really is one of the most comprehensive ways to learn Japanese with your iPhone. 

Japanese is one of the most difficult languages for any English speaker to learn, which is why you need these iPhone apps. While using any one of these isn't a replacement for classroom-based education, if you don't have the time to attend a series of lectures, this is your best bet. Let your technology work for you with these best iPhone apps for learning Japanese.

Posted on: Oct. 16, 2010