Massif curates and indexes authentic foreign-language content; its Japanese tool searches example sentences from novels and dramas.
Open source
24 alternativesjapReader
japReader breaks down Japanese sentences and tracks vocabulary progress while reading.
About japReader
japReader is an open-source app for breaking down Japanese sentences and tracking vocabulary progress while reading. It runs on Windows, Linux, and macOS. It watches the clipboard for Japanese text, then gets parsing and dictionary data from ichi.moe, an external service. It also shows furigana and offers DeepL translations.
Word status can be set to Seen, Known, or Ignored, and tracking checks each parsed dictionary form against word databases that build up as the program is used. Anki cards can be created through the AnkiConnect API. Limits include clipboard watching on Linux, which works only on X11 and not Wayland. The project's FAQ says video media likely has better dictionary options, and manga requires a separate OCR tool to copy text to the clipboard. The Windows installer is not signed, so Windows may show warnings.
Key features
- Clipboard watching that detects Japanese text automatically
- Sentence parsing and dictionary lookup using ichi.moe data
- Furigana display for Japanese text
- Word status tracking with Seen, Known, and Ignored states
- DeepL translations
- One-click Anki sentence and word card creation
Best for: Japanese learners who read copied text such as light novels, ebooks, or visual novel dialogue and want sentence breakdowns and vocabulary tracking.
Good for
- Open source, with source code available in a public GitHub repository
- Available for Windows, Linux, and macOS, with installers and packages for each
- Word status can be changed quickly with mouse buttons in the Reader window
Watch out for
- On Linux, clipboard watching works only on X11, not Wayland
- The Windows installer is not signed and may show warnings
- The FAQ says video media likely has better dictionary options than japReader
japReader at a glance
- Category
- Education & Learning › Language Learning
- Type
- Open-source project
- Pricing
- Not confirmed. Check the site
- Platforms
- Linux, macOS, Windows
- Open source
- Yes · Source code
- Language
- English
- Last checked
- Oct 6, 2026 · Online when checked
- Listed
- Oct 5, 2026
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japReader FAQ
How does word status tracking work?
Each parsed dictionary form of a word is checked against a small collection of word databases that accumulate as the program is used.
Can japReader be used with manga?
Yes, with a separate OCR tool that copies detected text to the clipboard, which japReader then picks up. The README suggests Cloe on Windows and mokuro or other clipboard OCR tools on Linux and macOS.
How are cards sent to Anki?
The Anki feature uses the AnkiConnect API to send the card data.
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