Japanese-learning glossary

Plain-language definitions of key terms.

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, a helpful bridge 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 getting wrong. The app can set it aside so it stops slowing you down.

XP

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

Streak

The number of days in a row you have practiced. Miss a day and it resets.

Assignment

A task a sensei sets in a class, graded by the app against a clear target.

MMR

Matchmaking rating. A hidden number that pairs you with players of similar skill in Versus.

Tier

Two meanings here. Your subscription tier (free, premium, unlimited) and your rank tier on the competitive ladder.

Calibration

Your first placement matches, which set your starting rank.

Apex

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

Klan

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

Juku

A study class. A sensei guides, and murid learn together.

Sensei

A teacher inside a class. It is a role in that class, not an app-wide title.

Murid

A student inside a class.

Verified Sensei

A sensei whose teaching account is approved to run 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 Calibration 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

Calibration

Apex

Klan

Juku and classes

Juku

Sensei

Murid

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

Calibration

Apex

Klan

Juku and classes

Juku

Sensei

Murid

Verified Sensei

Staff

Class code

Consent

Related