MARU: Learn Japanese Hiragana 4+

Free Beginner Kana Practices

Overdreamer, LLC

Designed for iPad

    • 4.9 • 12.8K Ratings
    • Free
    • Offers In-App Purchases

Screenshots

Description

Hey there! (•u•) Interested in learning Japanese but don't know where to start? You've come to the right place! MARU Japanese Kana, loved by over a million learners worldwide with an average rating of 4.9 (thank you so much!), is just what you need. As a lifelong learner of Japanese myself, I created this app to make Japanese alphabets less intimidating and more enjoyable. It's a simple app that focuses on one thing but does it very well: helping you start learning Japanese. I wish MARU had been around when I started learning Japanese. Lucky you!

Stop learning with those robotic voices and non-native pronunciations. That will impede your learning effectiveness. Dive in and experience authentic Japanese through exercises voiced by a professional voice actress. With 14 different practice varieties, learning Hiragana and Katakana becomes a breeze. Reading, writing, listening, typing, and even building your vocabulary – it's all here, making it the perfect start to your Japanese journey!

What's the catch? You’ll see an ad after every five mistakes. Since MARU's launch in 2017, it’s been downloaded over a million times, yet ad revenue has been modest. But that’s okay! My goal is to spread the joy of learning Japanese.

To fulfill that goal, I try to provide tremendous value for everyone and keep as little as possible behind the Pro Version.

Here’s what you’ll find in the default Free Version:

• All 105 Hiragana and Katakana characters, not just the basic ones.
• A short ad after 5 mistakes. No mistakes = No ads.
• Over 300 everyday words for practice, like "hello" and "thank you."
• Clear voice recordings for all words and characters.
• MARU-kun, our adorable mascot, greets and motivates you each time you practice.
• Date and Time that changes every minute to teach you Japanese words for numbers and calendar.
• A smart feature that identifies your weak spots and helps you improve.
• A fun way to practice Katakana using familiar Hiragana words.

My app is completely free with minimal ads, but if you choose to upgrade to the Pro Version (one-time purchase), you’ll enjoy:

• An ad-free experience.
• Offline practice, anytime, anywhere.
• Writing and typing exercises.
• Timed challenges to test yourself.
• Access to more words for time, date, and Katakana.

Don't just take my word for it. Here’s one of my favorite reviews:

"This is MY #1 app for learning Japanese. I downloaded EVERY Japanese app I could find without paying a single dime. The app does exactly what it promises - nice graphics, great voice acting, and awesome practice methods. I'm in love with this awesome app!" - A happy user

Thanks for reading! If you're interested, just download and start your Japanese learning adventure with MARU! (•u•)

What’s New

Version 2.15

やっほー! Your favorite Hiragana learning app just got an update (•u•):

• New MARU(•u•) Design! I’ve given MARU a new app icon, brighter colors, and some new expressions. MARU’s lip-syncing is smoother now too.

Let me know if you liked it! Thank you for your support! Keep learning with MARU!

Ratings and Reviews

4.9 out of 5
12.8K Ratings

12.8K Ratings

Hdbdhehheheh ,

This app is just what I need (one recommendation)

I don’t write app reviews. Over the years I’ve maybe written 5 at most. This one deserves a review. It simple, it’s perfect for what it is. You aren’t bogged down with ads because the developer is an amazing and generous person. Seriously, I appreciate you and your way of developing this app. You only get “punishment ads” if you get five questions wrong you get an ad. There are no time limits which the other similar apps tend to have. That is a huge turn off for me. I have dyslexia, it takes me a second to take everything in. Not having a time limit helps a lot.

I also enjoy the use of basic words. It would be nice for beginners if their translation was on there maybe even just in small font. Most of the words I already know but occasionally I forget and it would be nice to have a simple reminder. That honestly isn’t a big deal my one and only suggestion really is that it would be amazing if when given a word if in the answer section you had to pick each hiragana/katakan. Some what like a fill in the blank of that makes sense. Instead of just selecting the completed translation already spelled out in the answer box. Seriously though, this app is amazing and I really appreciate you for making it as clean and simple as possible.

SayokiiSaiko ,

Great Resource for Learning ひらがな and かたかな

I’ve been trying to learn the two Japanese alphabets: hiragana, and katana. My goal is to get to N5 proficiency at some point. At first, I was using Duolingo to practice my hiragana. It went well, but by the time I was getting started with my katana, they implemented this stupid feature, or rather, removed a vital one—the ability to practice to earn back hearts. Seeing this, I knew I’d need a different place to learn my katana, and then I came upon this app. And let me tell you, I’m glad I left Duolingo. This app is everything. The layout is very user-friendly. Notifications are fun, and motivating. I like the voice they chose for the characters and the fact that it plays for every kana character. Being an auditory and visual learner, this app is great. The choice to only have ads play after every five mistakes is SUPERIOR to the five strikes and your out feature I’m used to. It encourages you to do well, but the punishment isn’t severe in the slightest. I’ve been improving well with my katana and, for that I’m grateful this app exists. I only wish it was available for kanji as well! Ah well, maybe in the future.

Christopher8541 ,

FANTASTIC

I have been intimidated by the Japanese written language for many years. I have learned the spoken language on and off several times in my life and always lost steam because I figured, well, I will never learn to read or write Japanese anyway so what is the point. At age 43, and with a renewed interest in Karate, I am tackling the language once again. This time I intend to become fluent in the spoken language, and master both Hiragana and Katakana. I will worry about Kanji later, but am positive I can learn a few hundred...I mean, Japanese elementary school kids do right? So why not me? Anyway, this app is FANTASTIC for drilling the kana. I was AMAZED at how quickly I learned them all. I started this app yesterday and have already unlocked every row (you will see what I mean when you start using this app). And YES, it is true that this app is free and you only see ads if you make 5 mistakes. Then the mistake count is reset to zero. I have only seen like 3 ads so far, but now I know all of the Hiragana so probably will not see anymore ads while doing those drills. FINALLY AND PLEASE READ THIS: The drills build in complexity and soon you are recognizing words like Yakitori...I LOVE THIS APP!!!

App Privacy

The developer, Overdreamer, LLC, indicated that the app’s privacy practices may include handling of data as described below. For more information, see the developer’s privacy policy.

Data Used to Track You

The following data may be used to track you across apps and websites owned by other companies:

  • Location
  • Identifiers
  • Usage Data
  • Diagnostics

Data Linked to You

The following data may be collected and linked to your identity:

  • Location
  • Identifiers
  • Usage Data
  • Diagnostics

Data Not Linked to You

The following data may be collected but it is not linked to your identity:

  • Diagnostics

Privacy practices may vary, for example, based on the features you use or your age. Learn More

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