Romaji Drill

About

Is でんしゃ spelled densya or densha? Both — it depends on which system you use. Most people who struggle with romaji were never told that Japanese has two romanisation systems. Kunrei-shiki is what Japanese schools teach; Hepburn is what passports and station signs use. When you spell a word in the other system, this app does not simply mark it wrong. It tells you: "That is Hepburn spelling. In Kunrei-shiki it is densya." ■ Three ways to practise ・Pick — choose the correct spelling out of four ・Read — read the romaji and work out which word it is ・Write — spell it out on the on-screen keyboard (ABC order or QWERTY; long vowels use the ô key) ■ Every mistake comes with the rule behind it Spell it the other way and you are told "that is Hepburn spelling". Write gakô for がっこう and you are told that a small っ doubles the next consonant. Get it right and the rule is still shown. Nothing advances until you have read it. ■ Results point at rules, not just a score Wrong answers are grouped by the rule you missed — double consonants, long vowels, and so on — so you know what to look at next. ■ Practise in the system you need ・Kunrei-shiki — taught in Japanese schools (si, ti, tu, sya) ・Hepburn — passports and station signs (shi, chi, tsu, sha) ・Keyboard input — how you actually type (either spelling is accepted) ■ Nine topics Basic kana, voiced kana, contracted sounds, double consonants, long vowels, the n sound, everyday words, place names, and short sentences. 300 questions in all. ■ Romaji chart All three systems side by side, with the rows where they differ highlighted, plus the rules for っ, ー and ん. ■ Time trial How many can you write in 3 minutes? A best score is kept per system. ■ Also ・Japanese, English, 简体中文, 한국어, Español ・No account, no sign-in. Scores and settings stay on your device ・Prefer no ads? A one-time purchase removes them for good