Romaji Drill

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 have taught;
since December 2025 the national standard has been based on Hepburn,
which passports and station signs also 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 two to 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
・Hepburn — the national standard, also on passports and signs (shi, chi, tsu, sha)
・Kunrei-shiki — what Japanese schools have taught (si, ti, tu, sya)
・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