For anyone who wants to actually speak Japanese
Learn Japanese by speaking from day one
Lingrow is an iOS app that teaches Japanese through real voice conversations. You get 200+ scenarios, furigana above the kanji in every transcript, and feedback after every conversation on grammar, vocabulary, fluency and pronunciation.
Updated 10 September 2026. Features and pricing wording checked this month.
Key facts
- Lingrow gives Japanese learners 200+ conversation scenarios across 3 difficulty levels.
- Turn off furigana with the "Show Furigana" setting once you don't need the kana reading above kanji.
- Japanese feedback covers word order, the は/が/を particles and plain versus です/ます politeness.
- Lingrow holds a 4.7 App Store rating from 328 ratings in September 2026.
- Lingrow explains and gives feedback in 33 languages, so you don't have to learn through English.
Real Japanese conversations
Lingrow gives you 200+ conversation scenarios in Japanese at beginner, intermediate and advanced difficulty. You order coffee, catch the train, meet friends, sit a job interview and make the small talk that comes with all of it. The AI partner listens, replies in Japanese and adapts to your level, so a total beginner and someone who already reads kanji can work through the same scenario without either one being bored or lost.
Feedback on grammar and politeness
Lingrow corrects you while you speak, then gives a written summary after every conversation covering grammar, vocabulary, fluency and pronunciation. For Japanese that means the subject-object-verb order English speakers get backwards, the particles は, が and を that decide what a sentence is actually about, and whether plain form or です/ます was the right call. Conversation scores track whether these are improving.
Learn in your own language
You don't have to learn through English. Lingrow explains, corrects and translates in any of 33 languages, from Arabic and Hindi to Polish and Vietnamese. You pick your language when you sign up and can change it later in settings. Your corrections, your hints and your end-of-conversation feedback all arrive in the language you actually think in. The tap-a-word dictionary, the flashcards and the guided lessons are in English.
Furigana, not a kanji course
Japanese asks English speakers to learn three scripts at once: hiragana, katakana and kanji. Lingrow doesn't teach kanji or run a kana course. Instead, furigana readings sit above the kanji in every conversation transcript, so you can read along and speak without being stopped by a character you haven't learned yet. Turn furigana off in settings once you don't need it. For systematic kanji study, you'll want a separate tool alongside Lingrow.
Vocabulary and flashcards
Lingrow ships a small starter set of Japanese flashcards, not a big curated library, so most of your deck comes from you. Save any word straight from a conversation transcript and it goes into your own deck with audio and an example sentence. A spaced-repetition scheduler brings each word back before you forget it, and daily reminders keep the reviews from piling up. The words you actually needed mid-conversation are the ones you review.
Who it suits
Beginners who want to speak before they've mastered kanji, travellers who want to survive a trip in Japanese, and learners who study kanji elsewhere but have nowhere to practise saying it out loud. Furigana means you're never blocked by a character you can't read yet. If you want a structured course in hiragana, katakana and kanji, pair Lingrow with something built for that; conversation is what Lingrow does.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Lingrow good for Japanese beginners?
- Yes. Beginner scenarios have the AI partner speak slowly and simply, and furigana above the kanji means you can read the transcript before you can read kanji unaided. Hints arrive in your own language. Lingrow doesn't teach hiragana, katakana or kanji systematically, so pair it with a script-focused app if you're starting from zero.
- Does Lingrow teach kanji?
- No. Lingrow doesn't have a kanji or kana course. What it has is furigana: kana readings above every kanji in conversation transcripts, so you can speak and follow along without knowing the character yet. Turn furigana off in settings once you've learned a word. For structured kanji study, use a dedicated tool alongside Lingrow.
- Does Lingrow correct my Japanese grammar?
- Yes. You get corrections while you speak, then a written summary covering grammar, vocabulary, fluency and pronunciation. For Japanese the recurring issues are word order, the は/が/を particles and choosing between plain form and です/ます, and the summary tells you which ones to work on next.
- Can I use Lingrow if English isn't my first language?
- Yes. Lingrow supports 33 languages for explanations and feedback, so you can learn through Arabic, Hindi, Polish, Vietnamese, Russian, Thai and 27 others instead of English. You choose your language when you sign up and can change it in settings. The tap-a-word dictionary, flashcards and guided lessons are still in English.
- How much does Lingrow cost and is there a free trial?
- Lingrow is a subscription and it starts with a free trial, so you can try Japanese conversations before paying anything. Prices vary by country, so check the App Store for yours. Lingrow is iOS only at the moment, so there's no Android or web version to try instead.
- Can Lingrow replace a Japanese tutor?
- For daily speaking practice, yes, and at a fraction of the cost per hour. Lingrow is available any time, never judges you and repeats a scenario as often as you like. A tutor is still worth adding, if you can afford one, for kanji study, exam coaching and someone holding you accountable.
Start speaking Japanese today
Download Lingrow on iOS and have your first Japanese conversation in a few minutes.
Read more: the best apps to learn Japanese, the best apps to practise Japanese speaking, the best Duolingo alternatives for Japanese.