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Reference

Nihongo - Japanese Dictionary

By Serpenti Sei Japan LLC

Keep Japanese text or a photo in view while checking dictionary definitions and collecting words to study.

View on the App Store Official website
Our take

Japanese learners reading their own passages and collecting encountered vocabulary

Choose Nihongo for a dictionary-centered reading workflow: look up a word in context, return to the passage and review useful words later. The free dictionary and short Clippings offer a starting point. Pro adds OCR and wider study tools; the newer two-column layout has its own device and OS requirements, beyond the minimum needed to install the app.

Keep in mind: The app’s current minimum is iOS/iPadOS 18.6. The 1.36 release note separately requires iOS 27.1 or later for Two Column Reading Mode on Duo/iPad.

What you can do

  • Offline Japanese dictionary, handwriting and conjugation-aware search
  • Clippings with dictionary lookups alongside text; free Clippings are capped at 250 characters
  • Pro Photo Lookup, spaced-repetition cards, audio and Safari reading integration
  • Two Column Reading Mode for iPhone Duo and iPad in the released 1.36 series

Good for

  • Japanese learners reading their own passages and collecting encountered vocabulary
  • Readers who want dictionary definitions beside a passage on a supported larger layout

Consider alternatives for

  • Assuming every installable device supports the two-column layout
  • Assuming all OCR modes and app functions are offline because the dictionary is offline

Read, look up, then return to the text

Use a short passage that matches your level. Keep the passage in view, check the word that blocks understanding and return to the sentence. Capture words worth revisiting rather than turn every word into a new study obligation. The free short-Clipping route is useful for judging whether that sequence suits you.

Check the layout and access separately

The 1.36 announcement shows text or manga beside full dictionary definitions. Its requirement for the two-column layout is higher than the current App Store minimum installation requirement. Photo Lookup and the fuller study workflow require Pro; Pitch Accents is separately licensed and sold.

Editorial basis

Official pricing, FAQ, 1.36 release notes, privacy information and US App Store version 1.36.2 were reviewed November 3, 2026. The Duo image comes from the official announcement; manga is Give My Regards to Black Jack by SHUHO SATO, as credited there. Other images are older store interface examples. No device reading, OCR or flashcard test is claimed, and no payment or positive verdict was promised.

Limitations & considerations

  • The app’s current minimum is iOS/iPadOS 18.6. The 1.36 release note separately requires iOS 27.1 or later for Two Column Reading Mode on Duo/iPad.
  • The store description mentions Google Cloud Vision, while newer release notes describe improved on-device Photo Lookup and retirement of OCR.space. Exact current processing-mode coverage remains unverified.
  • The website pricing page has an older reference date; its main Pro amounts match the current US listing reviewed here. Current local offers can differ.

Privacy & permissions

An offline dictionary does not describe every data flow. The policy documents Firebase analytics and diagnostics, optional newsletter processing and separate services.

The OCR source mismatch needs care: confirm the selected processing mode before sending sensitive documents. We have not established that all photo lookup paths remain on-device.

Privacy policy

Use it for

Read Japanese with a Dictionary Beside It
Sources & review notes Updated Nov 3, 2026

Reviewed by iApp4Me Editorial Team. Recommendations use the linked documentation and attributed accounts; device observations are identified separately.

  1. Nihongo · official overview

    Dictionary and reading/study workflow.

  2. Nihongo · US App Store

    Current version, installation requirements and US in-app purchase list; checked November 3, 2026.

  3. Nihongo · pricing

    Free dictionary, 250-character Clippings limit and Pro/add-on boundaries.

  4. Nihongo 1.36 · official release notes

    October 19, 2026: Duo/two-column requirements, on-device Photo Lookup changes and image credits.

  5. Nihongo · privacy policy

    Analytics, diagnostics and optional communications; not proof that every OCR mode is offline.

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