Japanese English Dictionary
JapanDict provides Japanese definitions in English, alongside pitch accent, example sentences, and kanji stroke animations.
Coverage
English translations offer full coverage, since the JMdict dictionary is English-first. JapanDict's dictionary data comes from JMdict, a community-maintained multilingual Japanese dictionary.
How to search in English
You don't need an account to search in English: click the "â‹®" menu next to the search box and choose "English" under "Search languages" (word dictionary) or under the kanji dictionary's language list (kanji search). Your choice is included in the search URL, so you can bookmark or share a link that keeps that language.
Registered users can also set English as their permanent default search language, so results appear in English automatically without selecting it every time:
- Log in and go to Settings.
- Set "Search language" to "Japanese and English" for word searches.
- Set "Search kanji language" to "Japanese and English" for kanji searches.
- Click Save.
This preference is saved to your account and applies across sessions and devices, wherever you're logged in.
Features that work in any language
- Pitch accent display
- Kanji stroke order animations
- Kanji drawing search
- Example sentences
- JLPT vocabulary lists
- Conjugation audio
Search in English on JapanDict
Frequently asked questions
Is the Japanese English dictionary free?
Yes, JapanDict is completely free to use. It is supported by advertising.
How complete is the English coverage?
English translations offer full coverage, since the JMdict dictionary is English-first.
Can I search for words by typing in English?
Yes -- select English from the search box's language menu for a one-off search, or set it as your permanent default in Settings if you have an account.