Questions & Answers

The KMT (Kumi Mastery Tiers) is our mastery system. It tracks what you actually know across kana, radicals, kanji, vocabulary, and grammar, and uses that to personalize your learning path. JLPT levels are test benchmarks, not learning frameworks. They tell you where to aim, but they don't tell you what to study next. Kumi covers all JLPT content, but the order you learn it in is based on your real progress, not a fixed test grouping. You learn faster because you're always working on what you're actually ready for.

The LPE (Learning Priority Engine) is Kumi's proprietary engine that decides what you should learn next. It personalizes your learning path based on what you've already mastered, not a fixed sequence everyone follows. It keeps lessons at the edge of what you know: hard enough to matter, never drowning. The LPE adapts in real time: if you're strong in one area and weaker in another, it adjusts accordingly. It's the reason Kumi doesn't need to follow the same rigid order as every other app.

Yes. Interest tags let you tell Kumi what you care about (anime, tech, politics, travel, gaming, whatever), and the app surfaces examples, vocabulary, and context from those worlds. Lessons stay relevant because they're built around you. Communication style lets you choose how you want to be spoken to: formal, casual, delinquent slang, medieval fantasy wizard. Kumi even matches its tone to how you like to talk, so it reads like your app, not a textbook.

Most serious learners juggle 3 to 5 different apps: one for kanji, one for grammar, one for vocab, one for SRS, one for reading. Kumi brings all of that into one system. Because everything lives in one place, your progress in one skill directly informs your progress in others. One subscription can replace what used to take a patchwork of tools. Kumi runs on the web today and includes a built-in dictionary, with a mobile app and offline access on the roadmap. One subscription replaces the whole stack.

Kumi has its own mastery system (the KMT) that tracks what you actually know, not what chapter you're on. The LPE personalizes your learning path based on your real progress instead of forcing everyone down the same JLPT-ordered curriculum. Most apps use JLPT because it's easy to build around, not because it's the best way to learn. Kumi covers everything JLPT tests for, but the order and timing are driven by your actual mastery. No dark patterns, no fake streaks. Learning that respects your time.

The LPE (Learning Priority Engine) assesses your current knowledge and builds a path that's specific to you. It tracks mastery across kana, radicals, kanji, vocabulary, and grammar, then adapts what you see based on where you are, not where the curriculum says you should be. You don't waste time on stuff you already know, and you don't get thrown into content you're not ready for. Interest tags and communication style let you further personalize: tell Kumi what you care about and how you want to be spoken to, and the app adjusts examples, vocab, and tone accordingly.

Today the dictionary and study tools center on 210,000+ vocabulary entries and 13,000+ kanji plus variants, alongside a full grammar path that is live and professionally validated. Every grammar entry has been reviewed by a linguist for accuracy, context, and real-world usage. We don't skip content because it's niche or difficult: comprehensive coverage is core to real mastery.

No! Kumi works for complete beginners through advanced learners. When you start, you'll tell us about your current level, and we'll adapt the content accordingly. Day one of hiragana or deep in N1 prep, Kumi starts from what you already know.

Kumi has three tiers. Starter (Crane) is free forever, no card required, and includes the full dictionary, kana lessons, weakness-aware review, and the Kumi Social hub. Core (Tiger) is $15/month and unlocks full lessons across every domain, the Learning Priority Engine, and your mastery and analytics. Mastery (Kirin) is planned at $45/month and will add mock exams, AI chat, generative reading, and AI coaching; it is on the roadmap and not yet available. Monthly and annual billing are both available (pay yearly and get two months free), and early adopters keep 20% off for as long as they stay subscribed. See the pricing page for the full comparison.

Kumi runs on the web today, and a mobile app is on the roadmap. The plan is sync across all your devices, so you can learn on your phone and pick up where you left off on your laptop, plus offline access for learning on the train or a flight. Both mobile and offline are planned for the future rather than available right now. On the web you already get the full built-in dictionary so you never need to tab out to look things up.

Kumi connects kana, kanji, and vocabulary in context rather than isolating them. While we create a personalized path, you can also focus on specific topics or areas you want to prioritize. The system adapts to your goals.

Yes! Learning to read is core to mastering Japanese. Kumi includes reading materials across difficulty levels, with integrated vocabulary support to help you understand real Japanese text.

Absolutely. Kumi covers both formal and casual Japanese, including spoken patterns and colloquialisms. The communication style feature lets you choose how you want to be spoken to: formal, casual, delinquent slang, medieval fantasy wizard, whatever fits your vibe. The app adapts its tone and language register to match. Tell Kumi your goals and interests, and it will prioritize the content that matters to you.

Yes. Every Kumi account comes with the Kumi Social hub, included on all tiers, including the free Starter plan. You get a public profile at your own @handle, a brain visualization that shows your mastery across concepts as a living knowledge graph, and leaderboards where you can rank by EXP, concepts mastered, and streaks over the week, month, or all time. You can also build concept lists, share them publicly, and compete on list-specific leaderboards. Learning is better with people around you, so the social layer is part of Kumi for everyone.

Mastery (Kirin) is the planned top tier for test-style prep and generative help. It is on the roadmap and not yet available. When it launches it will include everything in Core (Tiger), plus on-demand mock exams and generated test runs with JLPT-style pacing, the full practice mode library, immersive AI chat, generative reading articles at your KMT or JLPT level, AI explanations and coaching on your answers, and priority support. Add your email on the Mastery card on the pricing page to be notified when it goes live.