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Show HN: A Japanese learning app focused on efficient vocab/grammar acquisition

lessons.nihongo-app.com

81–90 of 123 posts

Re: Show HN: A Japanese learning app focused on efficient vocab/grammar acquisition

#81
post #76

This is one of those cases where the hyphenation really matters. A Japanese learning app would be an app in or by Japanese for learning things. A Japanese-learning app would be an app for learning Japanese.

Whoops! Japanese-learning app then.

Re: Show HN: A Japanese learning app focused on efficient vocab/grammar acquisition

#83
post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I mean nerds like Japanese so it's no surprise that Japanese has the best arrangement of apps and websites. Personally I just read easy manga (like Yotsuba-to) and worked my way up to books. I didn't use any tools except Genki 1+2.

> nerds like Japanese so it's no surprise that Japanese has the best arrangement of apps and websites. It might not be a surprise... but is it true? Pleco (for Chinese) seems to reach a standard well above what's available for Japanese, despite the twin facts that (a) Chinese has much less cultural currency in the English-speaking world than Japanese does; and (b) Pleco is not at all a complex app.† It's a dictionary…

> My brother and sister study Japanese and they use jisho, which is much worse. When I hassle them about it, they're not aware of anything better.

Not sure if this is exactly what you have in mind, but have a look at https://ichi.moe. It splits a sentence into tokens and then gives you the JMdict entries for each token (i.e. same base dictionary data as Jisho).

Re: Show HN: A Japanese learning app focused on efficient vocab/grammar acquisition

#84
post #7

The Japanese learning space feels so crowded. Most are marketed towards beginners, which makes sense when you see statistics (most folks give up). The top tier tools I recommend anyone are Wanikani and Bunpro. Beyond that, reading! I tried a site dedicated to it, but realized that I'm too much of a picky reader to do anything but read things I find interesting. So I read japanese and english books side by side now. I…

I used to live in Japan so I have a pretty good conversation level but still struggle with reading. I tried many apps but it never really "sticked", especially as you said most are geared towards beginner and it's often a hassle until the app can figure out your actual level. So I ended up biting the bullet and taking online group lessons. It is much more expensive, but also way better! I finally got back on track an…

Online group lessons? I'm intrigued, I've only ever seen 1-on-1 stuff. Does that work like normal classrooms, but on Zoom or whatever? With possible breakouts in smaller groups?

PS: Erwan, is that you?

Re: Show HN: A Japanese learning app focused on efficient vocab/grammar acquisition

#85

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> nerds like Japanese so it's no surprise that Japanese has the best arrangement of apps and websites. It might not be a surprise... but is it true? Pleco (for Chinese) seems to reach a standard well above what's available for Japanese, despite the twin facts that (a) Chinese has much less cultural currency in the English-speaking world than Japanese does; and (b) Pleco is not at all a complex app.† It's a dictionary…

> My brother and sister study Japanese and they use jisho, which is much worse. When I hassle them about it, they're not aware of anything better. Not sure if this is exactly what you have in mind, but have a look at https://ichi.moe . It splits a sentence into tokens and then gives you the JMdict entries for each token (i.e. same base dictionary data as Jisho).

You can check out my other app Nihongo for this too (https://nihongo-app.com). :)

Re: Show HN: A Japanese learning app focused on efficient vocab/grammar acquisition

#86

If you are trying to learn Japanese I highly recommend the Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@organicjapanesewithcuredol49 It explains the actual structure of the language in a way I've not seen anywhere else. The creator passed away last year but the content is still incredible and useful.

Agreed. It's tragic that she passed away. The content of her 92 videos describe Japanese grammar better than any textbook in existence (ignoring her own small booklet - and unfortunately she passed before she could finish her newer book).

Re: Show HN: A Japanese learning app focused on efficient vocab/grammar acquisition

#87

If you are trying to learn Japanese I highly recommend the Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@organicjapanesewithcuredol49 It explains the actual structure of the language in a way I've not seen anywhere else. The creator passed away last year but the content is still incredible and useful.

Her grammar lessons were so insightful it was actually exhilarating to watch them for first time. So good I downloaded the entire channel.

Re: Show HN: A Japanese learning app focused on efficient vocab/grammar acquisition

#88
post #26
post #7

The Japanese learning space feels so crowded. Most are marketed towards beginners, which makes sense when you see statistics (most folks give up). The top tier tools I recommend anyone are Wanikani and Bunpro. Beyond that, reading! I tried a site dedicated to it, but realized that I'm too much of a picky reader to do anything but read things I find interesting. So I read japanese and english books side by side now. I…

I’m working on a website for intermediate learners to practice by reading and listening, including Japanese, and Japanese is my strongest second language so I can answer a bit about why it’s so uncommon. Japanese is just really, really hard for computers to deal with. The only reason I got parsing and word segmentation to be pretty good was because I was so familiar with the language and wrote a 3000 line post-proces…

That looks good.

It would be great if you could align it with the JLPT. Including the listening, which I think is the hardest.

I'm useless at learning languages, basically foreign language dyslexic. I've found targeting the tests & applying for then in advance was the only thing that allowed me to progress.

They're a huge motivator. Not just the looming deadline effect, but also passing makes you feel good, as it's a genuine asset as much as it is proof of progress.

Re: Show HN: A Japanese learning app focused on efficient vocab/grammar acquisition

#89
This is great. I'm not going to recommend porting to web (or android) because it's too obvious :). Maybe buy out his existing other assets too?

But if you aligned it with the JLPT I would subscribe. JLPT is the official gauge of progress and is a great motivator.

Re: Show HN: A Japanese learning app focused on efficient vocab/grammar acquisition

#90
post #26
post #7

The Japanese learning space feels so crowded. Most are marketed towards beginners, which makes sense when you see statistics (most folks give up). The top tier tools I recommend anyone are Wanikani and Bunpro. Beyond that, reading! I tried a site dedicated to it, but realized that I'm too much of a picky reader to do anything but read things I find interesting. So I read japanese and english books side by side now. I…

I’m working on a website for intermediate learners to practice by reading and listening, including Japanese, and Japanese is my strongest second language so I can answer a bit about why it’s so uncommon. Japanese is just really, really hard for computers to deal with. The only reason I got parsing and word segmentation to be pretty good was because I was so familiar with the language and wrote a 3000 line post-proces…

Not wanting to sound too rude or harsh, but your tutorial appears to be very non-native Japanese. Grammar mistakes (like ...you+verb instead of ...you ni+verb) plus weird choice of words (tango o suru, seriously what does that mean?)
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