How Nihondex works
A few things worth knowing before your first session.
Vocab and grammar, level by level
You already know how to read hiragana and katakana. Nihondex now focuses on what matters most: vocabulary and grammar. These two are the core of Japanese fluency, and they are what you will spend most of your time on.
Content is organized by JLPT level, from N5 (beginner) to N1 (advanced). You learn the words and grammar patterns for each level, then prove you know them through review before moving up.
Learn, then review
The loop is simple: learn new words and grammar, then review them on a schedule that keeps them in your long-term memory.
Learn
New vocab and grammar introduced in small batches. Take your time with each one.
Review
SRS schedules each item so you see it right before you forget it. Less time, more retention.
Practice tools
Beyond reviews, the Practice section has targeted tools to build specific skills.
Conjugation
Drill verb conjugations across all forms and politeness levels.
Kanji
Learn kanji readings and meanings, with radical breakdowns.
Numbers
Practice reading and converting Japanese numbers at speed.
Reading
Read graded stories with vocab lookups and comprehension quizzes.
These do not replace your daily reviews. Use them alongside to reinforce what you are learning.
What does ～ mean in reviews?
You will see a tilde (～) in front of or after words throughout Nihondex. It marks the boundary where something else attaches.
Prefix: ～語
Something comes before. 日本語, 英語, 中国語. The tilde is the word that varies.
Suffix: 勉強～
Something comes after. 勉強する, 勉強します, 勉強した. The tilde is the conjugation.
When you see ～て, read it as "the te-form ending". When you see お～, read it as "the honorific prefix". The tilde is a placeholder, not a character you type or pronounce.
Custom mnemonics
Words have no mnemonic by default. You can add your own: a memory hook that connects the sound or meaning to something you already know.
Write your own
During a review, tap the mnemonic card on any word. You can edit it and save your own version. Your custom mnemonic replaces the default for that word everywhere in the app.
Weird, personal, or absurd mnemonics stick better. Use whatever works for you.
Three types of review
Nihondex has three distinct review modes. Knowing when to use each one saves time.
Normal review
SRS-scheduled cards, like Anki. You rate yourself (again, hard, good, easy) and the algorithm schedules the next appearance. Use this for your daily session. It is the core of long-term retention.
Fast review
A quicker pass through due cards with no self-rating. Good for a rapid refresh when you're short on time. Still uses your SRS schedule.
Drill
Intensive practice with no scheduling. Cards you miss come back immediately until you get them right. Use this to hammer a specific set of words. Does not affect your SRS schedule.
Your daily habit should be normal review first. Fast review and drill are tools, not replacements.