Frequently asked questions

Yes. The free version gives you 9,406 words (the top 100 of every topic, including almost all N5 vocabulary), all 284 N5 and N4 kanji, hiragana, katakana, 122 N5 grammar lessons, every practice exam set (with a 7-day pause per level), the dictionary, three audio decks, speaking practice and kanji writing, with ads.

All 38,085 words, the N3 to N1 kanji, no ads, offline study, exam practice without the 7-day pause, and unlimited audio decks that can be downloaded as audio files. Premium is bought inside the app through Google Play; the plans and prices are listed there, and subscriptions can be cancelled any time from Google Play. Words you have already studied stay reviewable even if a subscription ends.

All content ships inside the app. On the free version, starting a study session, quiz or practice exam needs an internet connection, while Premium works fully offline. Speaking practice uses the phone's speech recogniser, which on most phones needs internet.

No. There is no account, sign-up or password, and the developer has no server.

Your study progress is stored on your phone only. Before switching phones or uninstalling, export a backup file from the side panel (Back up data), then import it on the new phone. Without it the progress is lost.

The interface comes in 13 languages: Indonesian, English, Vietnamese, Nepali, Burmese, Filipino, Thai, Khmer, Mongolian, Sinhala, Bengali, Hindi and Chinese. Word meanings are complete in 11 languages; Khmer and Chinese cover every free word, with the rest shown in English. Grammar lessons and exam explanations are available in 12 languages; for Chinese both are still in English. The translation language can be chosen separately from the interface language.

From your phone's text-to-speech engine, usually Google Text-to-speech, so no audio files are downloaded. If the phone has no Japanese voice yet, the app shows how to install one. Quality and speed differ between phones, which is why listening scores cannot be compared across devices.

No. Speaking practice sends your speech to your phone's speech-recognition service (usually Google's) and only receives the recognised text back. The app does not record, store or send audio to the developer. Microphone permission is only requested when you open speaking practice.

No. TokuGo scores are an estimate based on the percentage of correct answers, for tracking progress. The official exams use a different scaled scoring. The app shows the official bands (A1, A2.1, A2.2 for JFT-Basic; section minimums for the JLPT) so you know where you stand, without a pass or fail verdict.

The highest stage of a word or kanji. Pressing Know it on a card only takes it to Known; Mastered is reached by answering it correctly in quizzes on three different days. Mastered words keep being reviewed when due and drop back on a mistake.

The Japan Foundation does not publish a JFT-Basic vocabulary list. Word levels in TokuGo (N5 to N1) are an estimate from the old JLPT lists and usage frequency; JFT-Basic tests the same basic vocabulary as N5 and N4 plus workplace words, which live in the Workplace group.

Vocabulary and kanji from JMdict and KANJIDIC by the Electronic Dictionary Research and Development Group (CC BY-SA 4.0), stroke order from KanjiVG (CC BY-SA 3.0), word frequency from wordfreq. Grammar lessons and all practice questions were written for TokuGo and audited before release; no official questions are copied.

On list screens, occasionally when the app opens, and after a session ends. Never on card, quiz, kana or grammar lesson, speaking practice, kanji writing, audio player or exam question screens. Premium removes all of them.

Android 7.0 and up, phones and tablets. All content ships inside the app.

Email the address in the footer of this page. Reports of wrong words, meanings or questions are very welcome.