Japanese is one of the most demanding languages for English speakers to learn, largely because of kanji. There are over 2,000 characters in common use, each with multiple readings and meanings.
Learners who get through that wall consistently use spaced repetition. It's the only practical method for retaining this volume of characters over time.
Free to start. No credit card required.
Kanji and vocabulary require repeated retrieval to move into long-term memory. Seeing a character once, even many times in a single session, doesn't build retention the way spaced review does. Space Repeat schedules each card to reappear at the point your brain is about to forget it, reinforcing the memory at the optimal moment.
The algorithm tracks every card and shows it again right before you would forget it. No manual planning required.
Every review session is a test, not a reading. Pulling information from memory is what builds lasting retention.
Space Repeat is completely free. No paid tier, no feature walls, no subscription required to access spaced repetition.
Yes, completely free. You can build decks for hiragana, katakana, kanji, and JLPT vocabulary at any level with no subscription required.
N5 requires around 100 kanji, N4 around 300, N3 around 650, N2 around 1,000, and N1 around 2,000. Building a separate deck for each level and working through them systematically with spaced repetition is the most efficient path.
Yes. Hiragana and katakana are learnable in one to two weeks with consistent daily review. Building that foundation first makes every subsequent vocabulary card more useful, since you can read the pronunciation guides rather than relying solely on romanisation.
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Create your first deck in minutes. Free to start, nothing to install, no credit card required.
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