Decks
Pick a deck and write its words from memory. The free-hand judge scores every write, and spaced repetition schedules the rest.
These are vocabulary decks. To drill the kana characters themselves, try the kana trainer →
Spaced Repetition Vocabulary Decks
Study Japanese Vocabulary with Spaced-Repetition Decks
Decks turn the words you are learning into an active study routine. Group vocabulary into decks, then study each word by writing its reading from the meaning alone, recalling and producing the word rather than just recognizing it. The free-hand judge scores every write on the spot, and a spaced-repetition system schedules the next review from that score, so the words you struggle with come back often and the ones you know rarely.
How Deck Study Works
Pick a deck to begin a session. For each word you see its meaning, and its kanji where it has one, and write the reading one kana per square. Each square is judged as you write it: a stroke that matches nothing wipes the square for another try, and Hint shows the shape if you are stuck. The word's score sets when it comes back: a shaky write returns within the session, a clean one stretches the interval. You can also review a deck with the Match and Crossword exercises for a change of pace.
Why Spaced Repetition Works
Spaced repetition schedules each review for the moment just before you would forget, so every session targets the words on the edge of your memory. Words you find easy drift to long intervals and stop wasting your time, while difficult words come back quickly until they stick. It is one of the most efficient ways to move vocabulary into long-term memory.
Recall by Handwriting
Writing each word from its meaning forces active recall, the single most effective study action for long-term retention. Because every square is judged by the same recogniser as the kana Trainer, each write also feeds your writing progress for the characters themselves, so you build reading, writing and memory at the same time. It is far stronger than passively flipping through cards.
Keep Learning
Fill your decks from the vocabulary library, look up characters in the kanji library, study Japanese grammar, or review the hiragana and katakana chart.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a vocabulary deck?
A deck is a set of Japanese words you group together to study — for example words from a lesson, a theme, or a textbook chapter. You build decks from the vocabulary library and study them here with spaced repetition.
How does the spaced-repetition schedule work?
There is nothing to rate. The judge scores each word you write, and that score drives the schedule: a word needs about three clean writes to graduate from the learning steps, then returns at growing intervals as long as each review is clean. A poor write brings it back within the same session, and a graduated word that fails re-enters the learning steps.
Why do I handwrite the word instead of just reading it?
Writing the reading from the meaning is active recall: you produce the word from memory rather than merely recognizing it. This is much more effective for long-term retention, and because every square is judged like a kana Trainer write, it reinforces stroke order and the shape of each character at the same time.
How many words should I study each day?
Consistency matters more than volume. A short daily session — often twenty to thirty words — keeps your reviews from piling up and steadily grows your vocabulary. Spaced repetition automatically balances new words against words due for review.
Are these the same as character decks?
No. These are vocabulary decks, whole words. To drill the individual hiragana and katakana characters, use the kana Trainer instead. Both use the same free-hand judge and the same spaced-repetition engine.