meta: title: FAQ — べんきょうBox description: Common questions about べんきょうBox, plainly answered. Platforms, privacy, features, providers, and the practical stuff. If something here doesn't answer your question, get in touch. url: /faq format: yaml content: - type: page-header body: If something here doesn't answer your question, get in touch. The list grows as customers ask. heading: Common questions, plainly answered eyebrow: FAQ - type: faq-groups body: Common questions about べんきょうBox, grouped by topic. heading: FAQ groups: - id: platforms heading: Platforms items: - question: Where can I get べんきょうBox? answer: Coming soon to iOS and macOS, with Android later. There's no web app, and there isn't one planned. The toolkit runs on your device, not in a browser. - question: When will Android be available? answer: No date yet. It depends on demand. Sign up on the homepage to be notified and add your voice. - question: What versions of iOS and macOS does it need? answer: macOS 10.15 or later. The iOS version requirement is shown on the App Store listing. - question: Why isn't there a web version? answer: A lot of what makes the app good (the dictionary on your device, transcription that doesn't leave the device, your saved translations being yours) only really works as a native app. It also means there's no account to create, no password to remember, and nothing to log into. A web version would be a different, weaker product. - id: privacy heading: Privacy and your data items: - question: Where does my data live? answer: On your device. The dictionary, your saved translations, your word lists, your transcripts, your recordings. The app reaches the network only when you ask it to translate or speak something out loud, and only to the provider you chose. - question: Does my audio leave my device? answer: 'No. Both kinds of audio stay local: recordings you make with the microphone, and audio files you load into the audio clipper. Transcription happens on your device. Only the resulting text is sent to your translation provider, and only when you ask.' - question: What does the app send to providers? answer: Only the text you're translating, or the text you want spoken. Nothing about you, nothing about your other translations, nothing else from the app. - question: Is there any analytics or tracking? answer: No. The app doesn't track your usage and doesn't send analytics anywhere. - question: Do I need an account? answer: No. There's no signup, no login, no account at all. The app is yours from the moment you install it. - id: features heading: Features and how things work items: - question: Can I translate from a photo or sign? answer: Yes, on iOS. Open Translate, tap the camera, point it at the text. The camera is iOS-only because that's where the unprepared reading actually happens. On macOS the same text is almost always already digital, and pasting it in is the simpler path. - question: Can I translate from spoken Japanese? answer: Yes. Tap the microphone in Translate, record what you heard, tap to stop. The transcription happens locally on your device. If it isn't quite right, you can edit it before sending it off to translate. - question: Does the dictionary support languages other than English? answer: No. The dictionary is English to Japanese only. If support for another language would help you, get in touch. - question: What audio formats can the audio clipper load? answer: 'MP3 files from your device. Pick anything you''ve already got: a podcast you''ve downloaded, a clip from a recording app, audio you''ve extracted from a video.' - question: What are word lists? answer: Custom collections you build from dictionary entries. Looking up something you want to remember? Add it to a list. Lists are accessible from the home screen. - question: How do I make my own practice conversations? answer: Open Audio Clipper from the home screen. Load a podcast, a clip, or a recording. Select the range you want to extract. The app splits the audio into segments, and you assign each one to P1 (Person 1), P2 (Person 2), or none. Each turn is transcribed locally, and you get a conversation you can study line by line. You can also build a conversation from scratch by typing or speaking each line. - question: What do JLPT levels mean in the dictionary filter? answer: JLPT (Japanese Language Proficiency Test) is the standard grading scale. N5 is beginner, N1 is the most advanced. The dictionary filter limits results to entries within the levels you choose, so you can study at your range without older or harder vocabulary getting in the way. The filter needs the full dictionary download. - question: Can I tap a kanji to break it down? answer: Yes. Tap any kanji in a translation or dictionary entry to see its components, similar kanji, readings, meanings, and JLPT or grade level. - question: Will my progress be tracked? answer: Not at the moment. The study games are designed to be picked up and put down, not turned into another streak to maintain. If progress tracking would help your practice, get in touch. - id: providers heading: Providers and keys items: - question: Why do I need to bring my own provider? answer: Translation runs against a cloud model, because local models aren't quite small enough and accurate enough for learning yet. Bringing your own key means you pay only for what you use, your costs stay yours, and there's no markup or middleman. - question: Which providers can I use? answer: OpenAI and Google are built in. Beyond that, any OpenAI-compatible endpoint will work, so most providers and many self-hosted setups are supported. You can route text, speech, and image capabilities to different providers if you want to. - question: Where are my API keys stored? answer: On your device, only. They're used to send your requests to the provider you chose, and nothing else. - question: What does it cost to run? answer: It depends on your provider's pricing and how often you translate. For most learners, individual translations cost fractions of a penny. The dictionary, transcription, conjugations, kanji breakdowns, search, and study tools all run locally and have no per-use cost. - question: How does pronunciation work? answer: The app comes with the OS text-to-speech voice built in, which works offline and handles every word, conjugation form, and translation. For higher-quality pronunciation, connect a third-party voice provider in settings. The OS voice can also be improved a little by downloading higher-quality voices in your iOS settings. - question: What works without a provider connected? answer: The dictionary, conjugations, kanji breakdowns, search, word lists, the random word and word search games, scripted conversations, transcription, and the offline pronunciation voice. Translation and higher-quality voices need a provider. - id: practical heading: Practical items: - question: Can I use the app offline? answer: Mostly, yes. The dictionary, your saved translations, transcription, furigana, conjugations, and study games all work offline. Audio that's already been generated for your translations stays available, along with the OS-provided text-to-speech voice. Only fresh translations and higher-quality pronunciation need the network, since they go to your provider. - question: How big is the dictionary download? answer: The lite version is around 20 MB and covers the basics. The full version is around 400 MB and unlocks JLPT and frequency filters, similar kanji, kanji components, and the complete entry set. Both work offline once installed. - question: Is there a cost? answer: A free tier will always exist, and it covers most of what the app does today. Beyond that, pricing isn't finalised yet. The full dictionary download (around 400 MB) and future sync between devices are the parts with real costs behind them, so they're the most likely candidates for a paid tier when the time comes. - question: How do I send feedback or report a bug? answer: Email is the best route. [Get in touch](/contact). - type: card-grid body: Real questions from real customers shape this list. If yours isn't here, get in touch. columns: 1 variant: sub cards: - label: Didn't find your answer? title: Get in touch → body: Real questions from real customers shape this list. href: /contact schema: '@context': https://schema.org '@type': FAQPage name: FAQ — べんきょうBox description: Common questions about べんきょうBox, plainly answered. Platforms, privacy, features, providers, and the practical stuff. If something here doesn't answer your question, get in touch. url: https://getbenkyobox.com/faq mainEntity: - '@type': Question name: Where can I get べんきょうBox? acceptedAnswer: '@type': Answer text: Coming soon to iOS and macOS, with Android later. There's no web app, and there isn't one planned. The toolkit runs on your device, not in a browser. - '@type': Question name: When will Android be available? acceptedAnswer: '@type': Answer text: No date yet. It depends on demand. Sign up on the homepage to be notified and add your voice. - '@type': Question name: What versions of iOS and macOS does it need? acceptedAnswer: '@type': Answer text: macOS 10.15 or later. The iOS version requirement is shown on the App Store listing. - '@type': Question name: Why isn't there a web version? acceptedAnswer: '@type': Answer text: A lot of what makes the app good (the dictionary on your device, transcription that doesn't leave the device, your saved translations being yours) only really works as a native app. It also means there's no account to create, no password to remember, and nothing to log into. A web version would be a different, weaker product. - '@type': Question name: Where does my data live? acceptedAnswer: '@type': Answer text: On your device. The dictionary, your saved translations, your word lists, your transcripts, your recordings. The app reaches the network only when you ask it to translate or speak something out loud, and only to the provider you chose. - '@type': Question name: Does my audio leave my device? acceptedAnswer: '@type': Answer text: 'No. Both kinds of audio stay local: recordings you make with the microphone, and audio files you load into the audio clipper. Transcription happens on your device. Only the resulting text is sent to your translation provider, and only when you ask.' - '@type': Question name: What does the app send to providers? acceptedAnswer: '@type': Answer text: Only the text you're translating, or the text you want spoken. Nothing about you, nothing about your other translations, nothing else from the app. - '@type': Question name: Is there any analytics or tracking? acceptedAnswer: '@type': Answer text: No. The app doesn't track your usage and doesn't send analytics anywhere. - '@type': Question name: Do I need an account? acceptedAnswer: '@type': Answer text: No. There's no signup, no login, no account at all. The app is yours from the moment you install it. - '@type': Question name: Can I translate from a photo or sign? acceptedAnswer: '@type': Answer text: Yes, on iOS. Open Translate, tap the camera, point it at the text. The camera is iOS-only because that's where the unprepared reading actually happens. On macOS the same text is almost always already digital, and pasting it in is the simpler path. - '@type': Question name: Can I translate from spoken Japanese? acceptedAnswer: '@type': Answer text: Yes. Tap the microphone in Translate, record what you heard, tap to stop. The transcription happens locally on your device. If it isn't quite right, you can edit it before sending it off to translate. - '@type': Question name: Does the dictionary support languages other than English? acceptedAnswer: '@type': Answer text: No. The dictionary is English to Japanese only. If support for another language would help you, get in touch. - '@type': Question name: What audio formats can the audio clipper load? acceptedAnswer: '@type': Answer text: 'MP3 files from your device. Pick anything you''ve already got: a podcast you''ve downloaded, a clip from a recording app, audio you''ve extracted from a video.' - '@type': Question name: What are word lists? acceptedAnswer: '@type': Answer text: Custom collections you build from dictionary entries. Looking up something you want to remember? Add it to a list. Lists are accessible from the home screen. - '@type': Question name: How do I make my own practice conversations? acceptedAnswer: '@type': Answer text: Open Audio Clipper from the home screen. Load a podcast, a clip, or a recording. Select the range you want to extract. The app splits the audio into segments, and you assign each one to P1 (Person 1), P2 (Person 2), or none. Each turn is transcribed locally, and you get a conversation you can study line by line. You can also build a conversation from scratch by typing or speaking each line. - '@type': Question name: What do JLPT levels mean in the dictionary filter? acceptedAnswer: '@type': Answer text: JLPT (Japanese Language Proficiency Test) is the standard grading scale. N5 is beginner, N1 is the most advanced. The dictionary filter limits results to entries within the levels you choose, so you can study at your range without older or harder vocabulary getting in the way. The filter needs the full dictionary download. - '@type': Question name: Can I tap a kanji to break it down? acceptedAnswer: '@type': Answer text: Yes. Tap any kanji in a translation or dictionary entry to see its components, similar kanji, readings, meanings, and JLPT or grade level. - '@type': Question name: Will my progress be tracked? acceptedAnswer: '@type': Answer text: Not at the moment. The study games are designed to be picked up and put down, not turned into another streak to maintain. If progress tracking would help your practice, get in touch. - '@type': Question name: Why do I need to bring my own provider? acceptedAnswer: '@type': Answer text: Translation runs against a cloud model, because local models aren't quite small enough and accurate enough for learning yet. Bringing your own key means you pay only for what you use, your costs stay yours, and there's no markup or middleman. - '@type': Question name: Which providers can I use? acceptedAnswer: '@type': Answer text: OpenAI and Google are built in. Beyond that, any OpenAI-compatible endpoint will work, so most providers and many self-hosted setups are supported. You can route text, speech, and image capabilities to different providers if you want to. - '@type': Question name: Where are my API keys stored? acceptedAnswer: '@type': Answer text: On your device, only. They're used to send your requests to the provider you chose, and nothing else. - '@type': Question name: What does it cost to run? acceptedAnswer: '@type': Answer text: It depends on your provider's pricing and how often you translate. For most learners, individual translations cost fractions of a penny. The dictionary, transcription, conjugations, kanji breakdowns, search, and study tools all run locally and have no per-use cost. - '@type': Question name: How does pronunciation work? acceptedAnswer: '@type': Answer text: The app comes with the OS text-to-speech voice built in, which works offline and handles every word, conjugation form, and translation. For higher-quality pronunciation, connect a third-party voice provider in settings. The OS voice can also be improved a little by downloading higher-quality voices in your iOS settings. - '@type': Question name: What works without a provider connected? acceptedAnswer: '@type': Answer text: The dictionary, conjugations, kanji breakdowns, search, word lists, the random word and word search games, scripted conversations, transcription, and the offline pronunciation voice. Translation and higher-quality voices need a provider. - '@type': Question name: Can I use the app offline? acceptedAnswer: '@type': Answer text: Mostly, yes. The dictionary, your saved translations, transcription, furigana, conjugations, and study games all work offline. Audio that's already been generated for your translations stays available, along with the OS-provided text-to-speech voice. Only fresh translations and higher-quality pronunciation need the network, since they go to your provider. - '@type': Question name: How big is the dictionary download? acceptedAnswer: '@type': Answer text: The lite version is around 20 MB and covers the basics. The full version is around 400 MB and unlocks JLPT and frequency filters, similar kanji, kanji components, and the complete entry set. Both work offline once installed. - '@type': Question name: Is there a cost? acceptedAnswer: '@type': Answer text: A free tier will always exist, and it covers most of what the app does today. Beyond that, pricing isn't finalised yet. The full dictionary download (around 400 MB) and future sync between devices are the parts with real costs behind them, so they're the most likely candidates for a paid tier when the time comes. - '@type': Question name: How do I send feedback or report a bug? acceptedAnswer: '@type': Answer text: Email is the best route. [Get in touch](/contact).