Japanese-learning glossary

Key terms, explained in everyday words.

24 terms

Japanese and the dictionary

Kana

The two Japanese syllabaries, hiragana and katakana. Each character is one sound.

Kanji

Characters borrowed from Chinese that stand for whole words or ideas.

Furigana

Small kana printed above kanji to show how to read them.

Romaji

Japanese written in the Latin alphabet. Useful while you learn kana.

JLPT

The Japanese-Language Proficiency Test. Levels run from N5, the easiest, to N1, the hardest.

Sense

One specific meaning of a word. A single word can carry several senses.

Gloss

A short definition of a word in your language.

SRS

Spaced repetition. The app shows a card again right before you would forget it.

Leech

A card you keep missing. It's marked difficult and paused automatically so it stops holding up your reviews.

XP

Experience points you earn by studying. They raise your level over time.

Streak

The number of days in a row you've earned XP. Miss a day with no freeze left and it restarts at 1.

Assignment

A task a Sensei sets in a class, checked by the app against a measurable target.

MMR

Matchmaking rating in Versus. It rises when you win Ranked matches and falls when you lose, and it's used to find you a fair opponent.

Tier

In Ranked, a tier is a step on the ladder. What you buy is a plan, Free, Plus, Premium or Ultimate.

Placement matches

Your first seven Ranked matches, which set your starting tier.

Apex

The top rank, a daily list of the best players in each region.

Klan

The themed names for rank groups, like Genin and Kage.

Juku

A study class run by a Sensei, where students learn together.

Sensei

The teacher of a class. It's a role in that class only.

Student

A student inside a class.

Verified Sensei

Someone whose application was approved, so they can open classes.

Staff

An all-access support account, unrelated to any class role.

Class code

The short code you enter to join a specific class.

Consent

Your agreement, given before anything private is shared, such as when you join a class.

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Flashcards and spaced repetition Placement matches and MMR Plans compared

Japanese-learning glossary

Japanese and the dictionary

Kana

Kanji

Furigana

Romaji

JLPT

Sense

Gloss

Studying and progress

SRS

Leech

XP

Streak

Assignment

Competitive play

MMR

Tier

Placement matches

Apex

Klan

Juku and classes

Juku

Sensei

Student

Verified Sensei

Staff

Class code

Consent

Related

Search

Japanese and the dictionary

Kana

Kanji

Furigana

Romaji

JLPT

Sense

Gloss

Studying and progress

SRS

Leech

XP

Streak

Assignment

Competitive play

MMR

Tier

Placement matches

Apex

Klan

Juku and classes

Juku

Sensei

Student

Verified Sensei

Staff

Class code

Consent

Related