Hitome

Japanese on your Lock Screen

Learn a kanji every time you look at your phone

Hitome puts a question on your Lock Screen: what does mean? Tap the answer without opening the app. A few seconds at a time, it adds up to kana and all 2,136 jōyō kanji, from JLPT N5 to N1.

App StoreComing soon to iPhone

From your first hiragana to N1

Hitome teaches in the order of the JLPT levels. Pick where you start, or take a two-minute test that places you.

  • Kanaあアhiragana and katakana142
  • N5山mountain103
  • N4発departure181
  • N3議discussion370
  • N2熱heat369
  • N1策plan, scheme1,113

One example from each level. Kanji meanings, readings and words come from KANJIDIC2 and JMdict, stroke order from KanjiVG.

Short questions, all day

Questions on your Lock Screen

A new question every hour on the Lock Screen widget. Tap one of two answers and the widget shows the reading and your score.

In notifications too

Pick your times. Press a notification to answer, even while the phone is locked.

Review that plans itself

Every answer moves a kanji in your review schedule. What you are about to forget comes back first.

Stroke order and writing

Watch each stroke, then write the kanji yourself on a practice grid.

Start where you are

New to Japanese? Begin with hiragana and katakana. Know some kanji? A short test finds your level.

Offline, no account

Everything lives on your iPhone. No sign-up, and it works in airplane mode.

Try it, then decide

Free

  • The first 10 kanji of your plan, with readings and words
  • A Lock Screen question to try during setup
  • The placement test

Hitome Pro PRO

  • Questions on the Lock Screen and in notifications
  • Review that schedules itself
  • Kana and all 2,136 kanji, N5 to N1
  • Stroke order and writing practice
  • Home Screen widgets

Pro is yearly (with a 7-day free trial), weekly, or a one-time lifetime purchase. The App Store shows the price for your country before you pay.

What to expect

What we promise

  • No account and no ads
  • Your progress stays on your iPhone
  • Works without internet
  • The real price and the trial end date before you pay

What it doesn't do yet

  • Grammar lessons. Hitome teaches kana, kanji, readings and words
  • Sync between devices
  • iPad and Android. It needs an iPhone with iOS 17 or later
  • Kanji meanings in every language. Some still show in English

Questions

Japanese has more than one alphabet. Which one does Hitome teach?

Japanese is written with three scripts: hiragana and katakana (the two kana, about 46 basic sounds each) and kanji, characters that carry meaning. Hitome teaches all three: both kana first if you need them, then the 2,136 jōyō kanji with their readings and example words.

Does Hitome teach grammar?

Not yet. Hitome is for reading: kana, kanji, readings and vocabulary. It works well next to a textbook, a class or a grammar app.

How do I add the Lock Screen widget?

Touch and hold the Lock Screen, tap Customize, choose the Lock Screen, tap the area under the clock and pick Hitome. The app shows a short video of these steps.

Do I need the internet?

No. Lessons, questions and review all work offline. Buying or restoring Pro needs a connection.

How do I cancel the trial or Pro?

In iPhone Settings, tap your name, then Subscriptions, then Hitome. Cancel at least 24 hours before the trial ends and you are not charged.