What is new in Inku: personal decks, browser study and a larger library
Inku combines prepared Japanese decks with cards you create yourself. Here is what to look at if you are returning to the app or choosing it for the first time.
Inku now offers a broader choice than prepared iPhone flashcards alone. You can study in a browser, organize your own decks, and create cards for Japanese you find in class or daily life.
Inku is made by the team behind this site. Read our disclosure.
Start with a prepared deck
Inku’s published catalog has 208 kana cards, 2,568 vocabulary cards, 960 kanji and 407 phrases. Vocabulary spans JLPT N5 to N1 and topics such as food, travel and shopping.
That gives a beginner somewhere to start without choosing a shared deck. A returning learner can choose material at a suitable level instead of repeating every beginner word.
Use the level label as a starting point. JLPT decks are curated study material, not official exam vocabulary lists.
Add words from your own Japanese
You can save a catalog card to your Library, group cards into personal decks, or create an original card for a word or phrase you meet.
For example, a trip deck might contain words you need for train tickets, reservations and ordering food. A class deck can hold the expressions you keep forgetting after a lesson.
The benefit is a review queue that can include both the prepared curriculum and your own useful Japanese. You do not have to change apps simply because one word is missing from the catalog.
For a practical example, read how to make your own Japanese flashcards in Inku.
Keep lessons and reviews separate
Lessons introduce new cards. Reviews bring back cards that are due.
On the web, reveal the answer after trying to recall it. Again means you need more practice; Got it means you remembered. Too easy is available for words you already know.
This distinction makes a short session easier to plan. If you have five minutes, review what is due. Take a new lesson when you have time to learn and recall its material.
Use the browser learner when it suits your day
The web learner lets you study on a computer or phone browser. An introductory lesson is available before signup. Continuing into the main web learner requires an account and Inku Pro.
The iPhone app remains available through the App Store. A native Android app is not available yet, although Android users can study in the browser.
Before switching platforms or subscribing, check the current help center for account, progress and purchase rules.
Recognize the new app icon
The current icon shows Sumi, Inku’s ink-drop mascot, against a green background. The updated icon is shown above and on the Inku resource profile.
Decide what belongs in your routine
Choose one prepared deck and add a few personal cards only when they serve a clear purpose. Keep reading, listening and grammar study alongside your reviews.
Inku does not import Anki decks or offer Anki’s note templates and add-ons. If those tools matter to an existing collection, keep it in Anki. Our Inku vs Anki comparison explains the difference.
Open the Inku profile for the current catalog, platform details and limitations, or visit Inku to try the introductory lesson.
Frequently asked questions
Does Inku still have ready-made Japanese decks?
Yes. The prepared library covers kana, vocabulary, kanji and phrases. Personal decks let you organize useful cards and add Japanese from outside the catalog.
Do I need to start again if I already use Anki?
Keep an Anki collection that still serves you. Inku does not import its cards or review history. Try Inku with a separate study goal before deciding whether to change apps.
Evidence and sources
- Inku official site official product · Current prepared catalog, custom cards and decks, browser study, iPhone availability, and Android waitlist.
- Inku help center official docs · Lessons and due reviews, FSRS, Again and Got it controls, personal decks, synthesized pronunciation audio, and platform-specific account guidance.