Reviews of GENKI Kanji for 3rd Ed.

By: The Japan Times Publishing, Ltd.

List of user reviews and ratings for GENKI Kanji for 3rd Ed.

Total ratings

2.70 (Rating count: 21)

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Review summary

GENKI Kanji for 3rd Ed. is a useful Genki-focused study tool with helpful organization and writing aids, but widespread audio issues, limited interactivity, and an outdated UI are the main recurring drawbacks.

Pros

Useful for studying Genki material and aligns with the Genki textbook.
Customizable study options (e.g., definition-first display).
Kanji are grouped by related vocabulary/concepts.
Stroke-order visuals are provided for writing practice.

Cons

Audio often does not play through the device speaker; it only works with headphones or when silent mode is off.
Limited interactivity and lack of engaging features like writing practice or multiple-choice.
Clunky, outdated user interface.
Stroke-order availability is inconsistent; advertised stroke order may not be shown in some cases.

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User Reviews

Recent rating average: 2.50

All time rating average: 2.70

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42% (5)

Date	Author	Comment
2026-02-22	Ba*****	I’m enjoying this app. Good information, for the price. I read a review that said sound only works when headphones are plugged in. This is incorrect. It works, if the switch on your phone (iPhone for sure. Not certain about android) is set so that your phone isn’t on silent mode. That’s the case for many apps. It seems like the sound is broken, but it’s actually just dependent on the toggle switch on the top, left side of the phone. I would definitely recommend this app. It’s not expensive, but is full of good information, and you can change whether you see the definition first, of the kanji. They’re also conveniently grouped, so that you learn similar vocabulary and concepts. It’s simple but effective, with regular use.
I’m enjoying this app. Good information, for the price. I read a review that said sound only works when headphones are plugged in. This is incorrect. It works, if the switch on your phone (iPhone for sure. Not certain about android) is set so that your phone isn’t on silent mode. That’s the case for many apps. It seems like the sound is broken, but it’s actually just dependent on the toggle switch on the top, left side of the phone. I would definitely recommend this app. It’s not expensive, but is full of good information, and you can change whether you see the definition first, of the kanji. They’re also conveniently grouped, so that you learn similar vocabulary and concepts. It’s simple but effective, with regular use.
2025-11-12	Ga*****	In 2025 a kanji app should have drawing practice. Absolutely useless for my study when I already have the book, this does nothing new.
In 2025 a kanji app should have drawing practice. Absolutely useless for my study when I already have the book, this does nothing new.
2025-02-26	Tr*****	The app doesn’t allow you to turn off the English translation for the kanji. Umm, duh??? Why would you build a flash cards app that doesn’t let you hide the answer???
The app doesn’t allow you to turn off the English translation for the kanji. Umm, duh??? Why would you build a flash cards app that doesn’t let you hide the answer???
2024-08-02	YK*****	I had the same issue of the sound working with the Genki vocabulary app until I read a review that said in order for the audio to work, your phone cannot be in Silent Mode. I turned off silent mode and the playback audio totally worked! Same for this app as well. Just make sure silent mode is turned off.
I had the same issue of the sound working with the Genki vocabulary app until I read a review that said in order for the audio to work, your phone cannot be in Silent Mode. I turned off silent mode and the playback audio totally worked! Same for this app as well. Just make sure silent mode is turned off.
2024-04-04	Ph*****	If you have time to spare and want a way to study Genki textbook material directly, this is handy. The user interface is clunky and outdated, however. Looking at mnemonic hints for the characters and viewing the stroke order pulls up images and videos instead of smoother animations that you might see in contemporary apps. I definitely hope that some more quality-of-life features are added, along with a character-writing practice function. It doesn’t have to be flashy or particularly beautiful, but rather smooth and efficient for learning would be nice.
If you have time to spare and want a way to study Genki textbook material directly, this is handy. The user interface is clunky and outdated, however. Looking at mnemonic hints for the characters and viewing the stroke order pulls up images and videos instead of smoother animations that you might see in contemporary apps. I definitely hope that some more quality-of-life features are added, along with a character-writing practice function. It doesn’t have to be flashy or particularly beautiful, but rather smooth and efficient for learning would be nice.
2024-02-29	li*****	I wanted to try this because it follows the textbook but it’s not that useful. Aside from the audio only working with earbuds, the way it teaches and reviews kanji could be more helpful. It gives you all the info about a kanji in the study mode and in the check mode it just asks if you know it. For an app that costs $6 I’d like to see more interactivity (choosing the right kanji from a list of similar looking ones, writing out the strike order with your finger, guessing the kanji from a list of options based on the other characters in the word, etc). I’ve seen these features on other apps that I didn’t have to pay for.
I wanted to try this because it follows the textbook but it’s not that useful. Aside from the audio only working with earbuds, the way it teaches and reviews kanji could be more helpful. It gives you all the info about a kanji in the study mode and in the check mode it just asks if you know it. For an app that costs $6 I’d like to see more interactivity (choosing the right kanji from a list of similar looking ones, writing out the strike order with your finger, guessing the kanji from a list of options based on the other characters in the word, etc). I’ve seen these features on other apps that I didn’t have to pay for.
2024-01-02	ra*****	When using the app, I was mad that there was no sound through the speaker phone, and thought it was broken or a scam. Only to have a friend tell me in Japanese culture, they believed it’s rude to play things outloud on your phone in public. He told me to try using headphones. Sure enough, audio works when connected to headphone!!! Wish the app says that to avoid the miscommunication. But anyways, if you use it, audio only works when connected to headphones. I guess to avoid the app making a scene or being rude in public, they automatically had audio only work with headphones. I would give it 5 stars if they created the ability to play through the speaker, so I don’t have to use headphones in the comfort of my own home. But since here we are only headphones available, 4 stars.
When using the app, I was mad that there was no sound through the speaker phone, and thought it was broken or a scam. Only to have a friend tell me in Japanese culture, they believed it’s rude to play things outloud on your phone in public. He told me to try using headphones. Sure enough, audio works when connected to headphone!!! Wish the app says that to avoid the miscommunication. But anyways, if you use it, audio only works when connected to headphones. I guess to avoid the app making a scene or being rude in public, they automatically had audio only work with headphones. I would give it 5 stars if they created the ability to play through the speaker, so I don’t have to use headphones in the comfort of my own home. But since here we are only headphones available, 4 stars.
2023-10-29	Wo*****	Please fix this app! It is useless without audio!!
Please fix this app! It is useless without audio!!
2023-03-31	ap*****	Why there’s no sound could you please figure it out? Thank you very much
Why there’s no sound could you please figure it out? Thank you very much
2023-03-22	ou*****	Please save your money and do not purchase this app! There’s no sound (yes I’ve turned on the sound setting and my phone volume works just fine). Also, it does not show you the stroke order like advertised. I’m better off just using Quizlet instead.
Please save your money and do not purchase this app! There’s no sound (yes I’ve turned on the sound setting and my phone volume works just fine). Also, it does not show you the stroke order like advertised. I’m better off just using Quizlet instead.