Looking for a GOOD kanji app

[aoisenshi]

I'm going to Japan this summer and I'm pretty fluent in the Japanese language. Like, speaking it. Not reading kanji so much. I've looked around for a LONG time for a kanji app that isn't geared towards learning kanji and passing the JLPT. I'm looking for an app that just opens up and allows entry of kanji and then gives you the reading and translation. I guess I would also need to be able to enter a combination of kanji, not just one. (a native drawing entry system would be nice since it's kind of a pain to go through the international keyboards).

Sorry, that seems like a lot of "demands." Haha. But it would be awesome if someone knew of an app like this! Thanks a bunch!

 

[Gokunama]

I know a good kanji dictionary geared towards foreigners is in the works at a very reputable app company (one of my favorite app companies). I'm not sure if I should give details yet, but I could send an email asking them if it's alright if you contact them about that app (I don't know if it has native Japanese kanji input or not, it would work better if you could ask the your Qs directly).

 

[kitsunekon]

I'm looking for an app that just opens up and allows entry of kanji and then gives you the reading and translation. I guess I would also need to be able to enter a combination of kanji, not just one. (a native drawing entry system would be nice since it's kind of a pain to go through the international keyboards).

This is exactly what I'm looking for, also. Sort of like rikaichan, the firefox addon implemented for the iPod touch. I'm on the verge of getting ShinKanji, but then I saw this thread...

I know a good kanji dictionary geared towards foreigners is in the works at a very reputable app company (one of my favorite app companies). I'm not sure if I should give details yet, but I could send an email asking them if it's alright if you contact them about that app (I don't know if it has native Japanese kanji input or not, it would work better if you could ask the your Qs directly).

Please let me know too, Gokunama. Thanks!

 

[aoisenshi]

Thanks for the info, Gokunama! It would be awesome if I could contact them, but no worries if that's not okay! I'm leaving at the end of June so I hope it'll be out by then!

 

[Gokunama]

I don't see a way to send you a PM, so send me a PM and I'll pass along the contact info (you'll have to allow PM's from other forum members to get my PM, both of you have that on 'disallow').

 

[shigzeo]

well, i will be excited to hear of a new app for kanji - not just learning but actual real-world use. cheers goku

 

[tokyoblue]

Sounds like you want a dictionary. Try the free app Kotoba which uses Jim Breen's excellent dictionary. It doesn't have a handwriting recognition entry system, but it's a good app and even breaks down kanji compounds into individual characters and, if I remember correctly, shows stroke info as well. If you need a more thorough dictionary try Eijiro for $9.99. It isn't designed for Kanji study, but is a great resource. Be warned that not all of the eijiro entries contain kanji readings.

 

[tokyoblue]

Sorry that should be iEijiro for $8.99.

 

[aoisenshi]

Alright, I think I enabled PM'ing in my profile. I didn't see any option for "Allow PMs" but I did turn on "allow users to send me emails"

And I checked it out, tokyoblue. I seems like a great app, but a review says that the example sentences don't have furigana and I kind of need that since my kanji isn't so great...

 

[Fe1]

I come to the thread late, and bearing related information (not quite what you asked for). In case you get to the point of actually writing Kanji, I have purchased two apps which more-or-less fit that bill.

One is called iShodo, a calligraphy app. The other is more for entertainment, called Zen Magic. Both let you practise strokes on the screen. Of the two, iShodo is clearly more professional.

I used to live in Japan too.

 

[mrbass]

ShinKanji is very good especially with the recent update allowing compound words. There is quite a plethora of Japanese apps and I think I've reviewed all the major ones and best ones IMHO. Kanji Flip just had a UI update too which is sweet. A quick FYI...shinkanji is as far as I know the only Japanese app that allows drawing input Japanese. This is a huge difference as others use Apple's built in iphone Chinese drawing pad one and you get irrelevant Chinese kanji as a result.

 

[Gokunama]

WishoTouch has just come out, I'm wondering how that is...

It has a native input method, but it is dependabt on entering the kanji in with the correct stroke order..

The other limitation is kanji compounds can only be searched with the initial kanji...

I'm currently trying out another kanji learning software... looks great so far, but I don't get the edit test system.