# Yomitan > Yomitan’s fit as a browser popup dictionary for looking up Japanese while reading, including setup cost and what it does not replace. Canonical: https://studyjapanese101.com/resources/yomitan Last updated: 2026-08-13 Yomitan lets you hover Japanese text for definitions, readings, and mining. It is a lookup layer, not a curriculum. Published: 2026-08-13 5 min read intermediate · free · involved · Dictionary · Web [Visit Yomitan](https://studyjapanese101.com/go/yomitan) ## Key facts | Fact | Details | | --- | --- | | Best for | Learners reading websites, ebooks, or subtitle files | | Avoid if | You are still learning kana | | Pricing | Free browser extension | | Platform | Web | | Ease of use | involved | ## Pros - Learners reading websites, ebooks, or subtitle files - People who want instant lookups without leaving the page - Anki users who mine sentences ## Cons - You are still learning kana - You want a beginner course - You need a simple search box more than a hover tool Yomitan is a browser popup dictionary. Hover a Japanese word and it shows readings, definitions, and related information from dictionaries you install. Immersion-focused lists such as [donkuri/japanese-resources](https://github.com/donkuri/japanese-resources) treat it as core infrastructure beside Anki. ## What job it does It removes the tab-switching cost of looking up words while you read. With extra setup it can send sentences to Anki. That makes it a companion to [Jisho](https://studyjapanese101.com/resources/jisho), not a replacement. Jisho is easier when you already have a word in mind. Yomitan is easier when the word is sitting in a paragraph. ## Limits Yomitan is not a lesson plan. Dictionary installation, settings, and mining templates take time. Beginners who cannot yet scan kana will fight the tool before they get value from it. ## How to test it Install the extension, add one well-known dictionary set, and read a short [NHK News Web Easy](https://studyjapanese101.com/resources/nhk-news-web-easy) article. If lookup feels faster than copy-paste search, keep it. If setup ate the session, stay with Jisho until reading volume rises. ## Sources checked Product details can change. Evidence pages and their individual check dates appear below. Profile reviewed 2026-08-13. - [Yomitan documentation](https://yomitan.wiki/) - official docs · checked 2026-08-13 · Official documentation for product behavior described in the profile. ## Alternative tools - [Forvo Japanese](https://studyjapanese101.com/resources/forvo-japanese) - A searchable collection of contributed Japanese word and phrase pronunciations. - [Immersion Kit](https://studyjapanese101.com/resources/immersion-kit) - Search Japanese words in anime and drama subtitle lines. - [Jisho](https://studyjapanese101.com/resources/jisho) - A free Japanese-English dictionary you can search from English, romaji, or kanji. ## Related - [Japanese dictionary resource directory](https://studyjapanese101.com/resources/dictionaries) - Browse maintained dictionary and lookup profiles. Use the focused shortlist when you need one recommendation for a specific study job. - [The best Japanese dictionary apps and websites by lookup job](https://studyjapanese101.com/best/japanese-dictionary-apps-and-websites) - Start with Jisho for browser lookup. Choose a phone dictionary for offline use, Yomiwa for camera text, or Yomitan for lookup inside web pages. Kanjipedia serves Japanese-language kanji reference. - [Best Kanji Learning Apps and Methods for Japanese, Compared](https://studyjapanese101.com/best/japanese-kanji-learning-apps) - Use one path. Choose WaniKani for managed order, Kanji Study or Skritter for writing, KLC or RTK for a book method, or Yomitan plus easy reading for a reading-first route. - [Japanese reading resources for beginners](https://studyjapanese101.com/best/japanese-reading-resources-for-beginners) - There is no useful overall winner. Pick a finishable source for the job you have: graded books, annotated text, or a native title. This is not a ranked top five. - [How to read Japanese before you feel ready](https://studyjapanese101.com/blog/read-japanese-before-you-feel-ready) - Waiting until you know enough kanji is how adults never start. Pick a source you can finish, then look up less than you want to. - [How to move from beginner apps to intermediate Japanese](https://studyjapanese101.com/guides/how-to-move-from-beginner-apps-to-intermediate-japanese) - Intermediate Japanese starts when apps stop being the whole method. Keep the review habit that still fits. Replace extra beginner products with pages and audio you finish.