Midori (Japanese Dictionary) App Reviews

This app is one of the most impressive pieces of software Ive ever encountered. It does everything you could possibly want in a Japanese dictionary, and it is beautifully designed and extremely intuitive to use. I use it all the time but I still occasionally happen on a delightful feature I hadnt noticed before. For example, I just discovered that tapping the kanji stroke order brings up an actual animation of writing the character -- and you can even fast forward and rewind it! Since the static stroke order chart already provides the needed information, this kind of additional polish just feels above and beyond. Its lovely to see such care put into an app. Highly recommended.

I love this app, and wouldnt be where I am in my Japanese learning without it (passed JLPT N2, working on N1). I love that I can save unknown words to a bookmark list, then export that list, and use Epwing2Anki to create Anki flashcards from it. It was also a godsend when I went to Japan for a month in April. My only problem with this app: On my iPad 2, it crashes frequently when adding a word to a bookmark list. I would say it crashes with about every eighth or ninth add. Hopefully this will be fixed in an upcoming rev.

If youre looking for a Japanese dictionary, your search can end here! Ive been using Midori for over 6 years. From learning kanji and vocab to finding new phrases to drilling study material, this app does it all! Its been a lifesaver on two long-term trips to Japan and now Im using it to study for the JLPT. Some of my favorite features: • Doesnt require Internet • Search in Japanese, English, radicals or touch-screen write • thousands of helpful sample sentences with furigana • Names database • Bookmark any word, organize in lists and practice with flashcards function • Usage insight (ie: "archaic", "usually written in kana", etc. • Fast, smooth, never crashes I cant recommend this app enough! More than worth the money.

Still the best dictionary out there for anyone learning Japanese. I use this app daily. Highly recommended!

Im impressed not only by the features, but by the regular updating. One little suggestion: the kanji recognizing algorithm has room for improvement. Sometimes I have to resort to mazec keyboard.

This is simply the best Japanese Language resource available, well worth the money spent. Its simply easy to use, quick, and comprehensive. The new update with force touch makes it even better, and is expertly integrated. I cannot think of anything bad about this app. The best Japanese dictionary available.

OK, first off, Newbies? —Look no further. Seriously the one and absolute reigning champ: Buy this App!! Now then, where was I? Oh, yeah: Currently, (at least on my iPhone 5 with iOS 9.2, for ea. saved “file” (eg., “fave nouns” “expressions”, I must email files separately. This takes some time, and after 4 years, I have lots of files! And what is advantage of the “Midori” format for “sharing” these files? I can’t see what that’s for. So for anyway new — look no further — that’s just a given, Midori’s the BEST. But even that gets better (and they *do* keep improving!) So Midori-chan, ちょっとお願いがあるよ: Please change “Share” to let us bundle / send more than 1 file — or “all files”, since via email, it’s not that hard, anyway. Kinda wish we could have an improved SRS / “Quiz” feature — one with more readable (LARGE) text, and options to turn *on* and *off” furigana while quizzing. If you make it *really* good, we’d stay with you — no need for Anki, or what have you! And also, again re.“sharing”, besides “plain text”, wish there could be other options besides “CSV / TSV”, too. But hey! Totally small potatoes, folks, compared to all we get with MIdori. So, to review: New kids on block: Buy it / Buy it / Buy it! 緑さま、you always keep making things better and better. 私の望みも聞いて下さい ;-)

This last update added in slide-in/split screen support for iOS 9 iPads, which is the reason I chose to come back and write a review. This feature will get used A LOT with me. I live in Japan. This app has met my needs in every situation Ive used it for. Communication, translation, reference, study... I literally keep this app at the ready in my English classes as well. Ive used this app for years and it is well worth the price. Of all the Japanese/English dictionaries on the app store, its been the best for me, and I cant recommend it enough.

This is still the best 日本語辞書 in the App Store. The new side by side function in iPad makes this even better cutting out many taps--such a huge time saver considering how often I need to look up words. Thank you for continuing to keep this app up to date.

This is hands down the best Japanese dictionary app out of all the ones I checked out for iOS. It does everything I would want out of an electronic dictionary. Look up words in English or Japanese by entering characters, or selecting radicals, or drawing the kanji. It automatically saves everything you look up to the history so you can refer to it later. You can also bookmark useful entries and organize them into folders. Each entry is very detailed: gives the definition, shows stroke order, gives example sentences, shows the relevant kanjis meaning, and lets you add notes. All words are cross-linked so you can easily jump to another entry. What a wonderful job this developer has done! Worth every penny!

This is some of the best money Ive ever spent. 6 years ago I bought a Canon Wordtank G50 in Japan for ¥25,000. This app outshines the Wordtank in every single feature!! Ill give this app 5 stars when they improve the syncing capability between devices. Having to email myself a file is a little troublesome and awkward.

The example sentences, despite abundant, are barely satisfying in arrangement，which can definitely be improved by an distinctive array according to their meanings. I am really looking forward to seeing the progress in the next version.

I have been living in Japan for two years now and this app is the only one I use for studying, translation, and clarification; easily the most used app on my phone. It is the best money I have ever spent!

This app has a great design and I like how it incorporates the example sentences with the furigana - it looks really good. A big plus for me is that it can usually understand the kanji when I draw one for when Im reading a paper book and want to look something up and cant guess the kanjis reading. I also love the flash cards. It has beautiful animations and you can scroll back and forth and also test yourself using kanji, furigana, or English, or any combination as you like. Plus this app gets updates from the author unlike some other Japanese apps that were good but have been abandoned.

Just watch the promotional video on the app page, it shows the app at its best. Very extensive catalog, always manage to find what Im looking for. Lists all kanji with their multiple readings as well as radicals that make it up, as well as vocab each kanji is used in. Every entry has multiple examples and all examples can be audio played. In addition, this app has pre-organized lists such as JPLT5/4/3/2/1 Vocab/Kanji, Kanji by grade level, parts of speech, and you can even make your own lists/folders to study items. The search function is also really handy to find obscure kanji, by searching by radicals or drawing it. Buy this app, you wont need another dictionary!

I use this app all the time. As many other reviewers have said - look no further. This is THE Japanese app you are looking for! I really like the ability to create bookmark folders and add notes. However, since I use this on my iPhone and iPad Pro I really wish bookmarks, notes, and history syncd via iCloud. Its ok that you can share/export. But thats cumbersome and not a good way to keep multiple devices syncd. So, please add iCloud syncing! One other idea - create an extension that would allow users to select text in another app and then translate from the share sheet using Midori. Keep up the great work and updates!

I am a mid-level student of Japanese. This thing is an amazing learning too! Get it now!

The dictionary is extensive and easy to search. Some times I wish there were more examples for use of less common words but its the best dictionary/translation tool out there as far as apps go!

I literally cant even express how amazing this app is. It is THE BEST. The lookup is so automatic and when you favorite a word you can turn your list into flash cards just like that. $5? Id pay $15 for this amazingness!

The interface is great and makes the dictionary very easy to use. The handwritten kanji recognition works well. You can bookmark definitions/kanji and add your own notes. And bookmarked entries can be grouped into folders and sub folders which is great when using the flash card feature. The flash card feature is basic but works very well and has some configuration options for studying. Occasionally I still use the free "imiwa?" application to look up words. Ive run into a few entries in midori that are inaccurate or incomplete but thats rare so its good to have imiwa as a backup. The one feature that imiwa has that is superior is the translation tool. I dont want to explain the details but its much better than midori. Otherwise, midori is the better application and well worth the cost.