Why I Built LangBuddy AI: A Personal Journey in Learning Japanese
As a lifelong learner of Japanese with a Japanese mother, my language journey has been anything but traditional. Growing up, my mother and grandparents spoke to me in Japanese, which gave me a strong foundation in speaking, but left several gaps in other areas, especially when it comes to reading and writing kanji. My Japanese was informal, conversational, and never followed the structured approach of the Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) or formal learning paths.
While I became proficient in speaking, my literacy in Japanese lagged behind. I had never formally learned kanji or grammar in a way that fit into traditional study methods. This made my Japanese abilities somewhat lopsided—great in conversation, but lacking when it came to understanding written Japanese or using more formal speech patterns.
Searching for the Right Tool Japanese Learning Tool
Over the years, I tried many popular Japanese learning apps like WaniKani, Anki, and Lingodeer, hoping they would help me bridge the gaps in my knowledge. While these tools are incredible for many learners, they often followed a structured process that didn’t match where I was in my learning journey. I needed something more flexible, something that could meet me where I was—already fluent in everyday conversations but missing formal education, especially in kanji.
Most of these apps felt too rigid, taking me back to the basics or adhering strictly to the JLPT levels. But I didn’t need to start from scratch; I needed a tool that would fill in the holes in my existing knowledge and give me the flexibility to learn on my own terms. That’s when I realized that the solution I was searching for wasn’t out there, so I decided to build it myself.
The Birth of LangBuddy AI
Since I couldn’t find the perfect tool, I started piecing together a solution by using various apps, websites, and even AI tools. I began gathering content to read from all over the web, learning on the fly, and using multiple tools to cross-reference kanji meanings, stroke orders, and synonym nuances. However, constantly switching between different apps disrupted my workflow, making it difficult to track what I had already learned.
It hit me that what I really needed was an all-in-one tool that could assist me wherever I was learning, without forcing me to switch platforms or abandon my natural learning process. That’s when I came up with the idea of creating a Chrome extension. This would allow me to learn Japanese directly on any webpage I visited, with instant translation, kanji breakdowns, and the additional context I needed—all in one place.
Why LangBuddy AI Is Different
What sets LangBuddy AI apart from other Japanese learning tools is its ability to adapt to you, no matter where you are in your learning journey. Whether you’re a beginner, an intermediate learner, or someone like me who speaks well but struggles with kanji, LangBuddy AI gives you the flexibility to learn what you need in real time.
Some of the standout features I created specifically to fill the gaps in my own learning include:
- Kanji Stroke Order Diagrams: I wanted a tool that could show me how to write kanji properly, on demand, so I integrated quick stroke order diagrams for every kanji.
- Synonym Comparisons: Many tools don’t emphasize the nuanced differences between similar words. LangBuddy AI gives you clear explanations of when to use different synonyms and what context is most appropriate.
- Onyomi and Kunyomi Readings: I needed a quick way to access both the onyomi and kunyomi readings of kanji to deepen my understanding, so I built that feature in as well.
- AI-Enhanced Learning: One of the most powerful features of LangBuddy AI is its seamless integration of AI-driven learning. Simply highlight any text on a webpage, and LangBuddy AI will provide immediate translations, context, and deeper insights.
Building LangBuddy AI for Everyone
At first, I built LangBuddy AI as a tool just for myself. It was my personal study assistant that helped me learn on my own terms. But as I kept refining it, I realized it could help other Japanese learners who, like me, found existing tools too rigid or structured.
LangBuddy AI is designed to support your Japanese learning journey in a flexible, intuitive way. Whether you’re reading Japanese news, browsing social media, or diving into an ebook, this tool is there to assist you—breaking down kanji, explaining nuanced meanings, and giving you real-time examples without interrupting your flow.
My Personal Journey, Shared with the World
LangBuddy AI was born out of my personal frustrations with traditional learning tools and my desire for a more flexible, personalized solution. If you’re a Japanese learner who struggles to find the right balance between structured learning and real-world immersion, I encourage you to give LangBuddy AI a try. I built it for people like me—learners who already know a lot but need help filling in the gaps, especially when it comes to kanji and formal writing.
I hope LangBuddy AI can transform your Japanese learning experience as much as it has mine. Let’s take this journey together and unlock the full potential of our Japanese language skills.