Question 1

What is KanjiKanji Modern?

Accepted Answer

KanjiKanji Modern is an iOS app for learning Japanese kanji using spaced repetition. It covers all 2,000+ kanji from JLPT N5 through N1, with adaptive review scheduling, animated stroke-order guides, handwriting practice, and progress analytics. The free tier covers N5 and N4; Premium unlocks the full curriculum.

Question 2

What platforms does it run on?

Accepted Answer

KanjiKanji Modern is currently iOS-only — iPhone first, with iPad support. There is no Android, web, or macOS version today.

Question 3

How many kanji are included?

Accepted Answer

More than 2,000 kanji spanning all five JLPT levels (N5, N4, N3, N2, N1). The set covers the full JLPT vocabulary requirements as well as additional high-frequency characters.

Question 4

Is it good for absolute beginners?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Onboarding includes a brief assessment that places you at the right JLPT level, so absolute beginners start at N5 with a paced introduction (3 new kanji per day on the free tier). No prior Japanese knowledge is assumed.

Question 5

Does it teach hiragana or katakana?

Accepted Answer

No. KanjiKanji Modern is focused on kanji. We assume you already know hiragana and katakana, or are learning them through another resource. Most learners pick up the kana in 1–2 weeks before serious kanji study.

Question 6

Is there a free version?

Accepted Answer

Yes. The free tier includes unlimited reviews, 3 new kanji per day, JLPT N5 and N4 content, stroke-order animations, and progress tracking. It's a real product — not a trial.

Question 7

How much does Premium cost?

Accepted Answer

$9.99 per month, $79.99 per year (saves 33% vs. monthly), or $199.99 lifetime. Monthly subscriptions include a 1-week free trial; yearly subscriptions include a 1-month free trial.

Question 8

What does Premium add?

Accepted Answer

Up to 20 new kanji per day, all JLPT levels (N3, N2, N1), audio pronunciations by native speakers, handwriting practice, custom study sets, advanced analytics, streak freeze protection, and priority support.

Question 9

How do I cancel a subscription?

Accepted Answer

Cancel anytime through Settings → Apple ID → Subscriptions on your iPhone, or through the App Store on a Mac. Cancellation takes effect at the end of the current billing period.

Question 10

Do you offer refunds?

Accepted Answer

Refunds are handled by Apple per their standard App Store policy. Request a refund through reportaproblem.apple.com using the Apple ID that made the purchase.

Question 11

Is Family Sharing supported?

Accepted Answer

Subscriptions are currently single-account and do not support Family Sharing. The Lifetime tier is also single-Apple-ID.

Question 12

What is spaced repetition?

Accepted Answer

Spaced repetition (SRS) is a study technique where review intervals expand or contract based on how confidently you recall an item. Items you almost forgot come back sooner; items you know solidly come back later. KanjiKanji Modern uses an SRS tuned for kanji-specific recall failure modes.

Question 13

How is the curriculum ordered?

Accepted Answer

Kanji are grouped by JLPT level (N5 → N1) and ordered within each level by practical frequency. Within a session, the app interleaves new-kanji learning with due reviews to balance new material against retention work.

Question 14

How many kanji should I learn per day?

Accepted Answer

Most learners do well at 3–10 new kanji per day. The free tier paces you to 3 per day, which is the most common sustainable cadence. Premium raises the cap to 20, but going faster is usually counterproductive — overlearning is the most common failure mode.

Question 15

How long does it take to reach JLPT N5?

Accepted Answer

Most learners finish the active N5 curriculum (≈103 kanji) in 4–8 weeks at the default 3-per-day pace, plus the daily review load. Retention to passing-exam confidence typically takes a few more weeks of consolidated review.

Question 16

Does it teach readings or just meanings?

Accepted Answer

Both. Each kanji has meaning, on'yomi readings, and kun'yomi readings, with separate review opportunities for each. Mnemonic suggestions help connect readings to characters, and contextual example sentences ground them in real usage.

Question 17

Does it teach stroke order?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Every kanji ships with an animated stroke-order guide powered by KanjiVG data, including playback controls. Premium adds handwriting practice with on-device stroke recognition.

Question 18

Can I skip ahead to a specific JLPT level?

Accepted Answer

Yes. The onboarding assessment estimates your level, and you can manually choose where to start. You can also focus a Premium study set on a specific JLPT level for exam preparation.

Question 19

What's the difference between Learn and Review?

Accepted Answer

Learn introduces new kanji you haven't seen before, with meaning, readings, and stroke order. Review tests recall of kanji you've already learned, scheduling them via the SRS algorithm. A typical session interleaves both.

Question 20

Does it work offline?

Accepted Answer

Yes. The free tier works fully offline for review and learning. Premium offline mode unlocks the full curriculum without a network connection — useful for travel or studying on the subway.

Question 21

Does it sync between devices?

Accepted Answer

Optional cloud sync keeps progress aligned across an iPhone and iPad on the same Apple ID. You can also export progress to JSON and import it on a new device.

Question 22

What iOS version is required?

Accepted Answer

KanjiKanji Modern supports recent iOS versions on iPhone and iPad. Check the App Store listing for the current minimum iOS requirement; older devices may not get the latest features.

Question 23

What data does the app collect?

Accepted Answer

Learning progress (which kanji you've studied, your review history, streaks) is stored locally and optionally synced. The app does not sell personal data. See the Privacy Policy for the complete data flow and the App Privacy Nutrition Label.

Question 24

Does handwriting practice send my strokes to a server?

Accepted Answer

No. Handwriting recognition runs entirely on-device using PencilKit and Google ML Kit Digital Ink. Your stroke data never leaves your phone.

Question 25

Can I export my data?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Export your full learning history to JSON from Settings at any time. Import is also supported, which makes device migration straightforward.

Frequently asked questions

About the app

Pricing and subscriptions

Studying and method

Technical and device

Privacy and data

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