FAQ

Common questions. Tap to expand. Use the ふりがな pill to toggle furigana on Japanese terms.
arrow_back Help & FAQ よくある質問
About Nihongo
helpWhat is Nihongo?expand_more

Nihongo is a leveled Japanese reader. You learn by reading real News and classic Stories rewritten to your level (N5–N1), with every word and grammar point tappable for an instant breakdown. A built-in review system, lessons, dictionary, and pronunciation practice turn what you read into long-term memory.

paymentsIs it free?expand_more

Yes — the core is free and unlimited: reading, the review system, grammar reference, and lessons. Some AI extras (example sentences, conversation, co-pilot, tutor, grammar practice, community submit) use a free daily quota; Pro / Ultra remove the cap. Reviewing your words is never limited.

schoolWhat level is it for?expand_more

Complete beginner through advanced. Take the placement quiz and the app picks your starting level; every article is available in five versions (N5 easiest → N1 hardest), so the same story grows with you.

Reading — News & Stories
newspaperWhere does the news come from?expand_more

Only from open, license-cleared sources: Japanese government & ministry press releases, 気象庁きしょうちょう (the weather agency) for 気象・災害 news, and the Japanese Wikipedia current-events portal. We rewrite each into five levels but keep the facts. Full credits are on the Data sources & licenses page.

blockWhy not NHK, Asahi, or other big outlets?expand_more

Those are fully copyrighted — we can't legally copy, rewrite, or redistribute them. To rewrite an article into five levels and break down every word, we need sources that allow adaptation. That's why we use open government/Wikipedia content and public-domain literature instead.

auto_storiesWhat are "Stories"?expand_more

Classic Japanese literature and folktales from 青空文庫あおぞらぶんこ (Aozora Bunko) — works whose copyright has expired, like 桃太郎ももたろう and 竹取たけとり物語ものがたり. Classical texts include a 現代語訳 (modern-Japanese) layer and an old↔modern spelling toggle so they're readable for learners.

tuneHow are the 5 levels made?expand_more

Our engine reads the original, detects its difficulty, then rewrites it into N5–N1 while preserving the facts. Each version is re-checked to confirm it stays in-level. Readings and furigana come from a verified dictionary, not AI.

fact_checkIs the content accurate?expand_more

Facts (readings, meanings, JLPT level, conjugation, stroke order) come from curated dictionaries and engines, not AI. AI only generates language. Even so, language data can contain errors or regional variation — verify anything important with a teacher or authoritative source. See Disclaimers.

Learning
repeatHow does Review work?expand_more

Words and grammar you save go into a smart review system that resurfaces each item right before you'd forget it, scheduling more reviews for hard items and fewer for easy ones. Tap any word while reading to add it.

military_techCan it help me pass the JLPT?expand_more

Lessons train the three tested areas — Vocabulary/Grammar, Reading, and Listening — in the JLPT format. Your Profile shows a pass-readiness estimate for your target level, skill bars vs. a pass line, and what to study next. It's a strong guide, but we can't guarantee any exam result.

micWhat is Speaking / shadowing practice?expand_more

You listen to a sentence, record yourself, and get scored on pronunciation, completeness, and fluency. Speaking isn't on the JLPT, so it's a bonus and doesn't affect your lesson score.

Dictionary
touch_appHow do I look up a word while reading?expand_more

Tap any word for an instant card with reading, meaning, examples, and stroke order — or select any text (even a single character or a phrase) to define or translate it. "View detailed results" opens the full word page.

drawCan I search by drawing a kanji?expand_more

Yes — tap the draw icon in the search bar and write the kanji; we match it to candidates. There's also voice search and type-ahead suggestions. Handwriting works on web, iOS, and Android.

cloud_downloadDoes the dictionary work offline?expand_more

By default lookups use the cloud. On mobile you can download the full dictionary (~18 MB) from the Dictionary page for instant offline lookups; remove it anytime to free space. (Web offline comes later.)

AI features
smart_toyWhat uses AI, and is it reliable?expand_more

AI generates example sentences, explanations, conversation, the co-pilot/tutor, and image/text analysis. It can be confidently wrong — treat output as a study aid, not professional advice, and verify anything important. Facts like readings and JLPT levels do not come from AI.

data_usageWhat's the daily AI quota?expand_more

Free accounts get a set number of AI actions per day (e.g. 10). Reviewing, reading, and the grammar reference are never counted. Pro / Ultra remove the AI cap.

Audio & pronunciation
volume_upCan it read text aloud?expand_more

Yes — articles, sentences, and word cards have natural text-to-speech with synced karaoke highlighting and a speed control. If audio doesn't start on web, tap the screen once first (browsers block autoplay).

Account, sync & billing
syncDo I need an account? Does it sync?expand_more

You can start without one — progress is saved on your device. Sign in (Google/Apple/email) to back up and sync your decks and history across devices.

credit_cardWhat's the difference between Free, Pro, and Ultra?expand_more

Free covers all core learning with a daily AI cap. Pro and Ultra unlock unlimited AI extras and expanded features (shown at purchase). See Subscriptions & Refunds.

cancelHow do I cancel or get a refund?expand_more

Cancel anytime in your Apple or Google account settings; you keep access until the period ends. Deleting the app doesn't cancel. Refunds are handled by the store you bought from — details on the Subscriptions & Refunds page.

Privacy
shield_personWhat data do you collect, and is my mic/camera safe?expand_more

Camera (Scan & Read) and microphone (speaking) are used only when you activate those features, on the content you provide. We don't sell your data or use private content for ads. Full detail in the Privacy Policy.

deleteHow do I delete my account?expand_more

In-app where available, or email us. We delete or de-identify your personal data, except anything we must keep for legal reasons or already-public community content. See Privacy Policy §6.

Still stuck?
mailHow do I contact support?expand_more

Email support@bynetica.com. For copyright issues see the DMCA Policy; to report community content use the in-app report option.

Shown in-app at Settings → Help & FAQ and publicly at bynetica.com/faq.
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