The right sentence-mining tool can turn a confusing Japanese sentence into a useful Anki card in seconds. The wrong one can leave you managing dictionaries, browser settings, and card templates instead of learning.
Yomitan vs Migaku comes down to control versus convenience. Yomitan is free, open-source, and built around flexible dictionary lookup and Anki integration. Migaku offers a more guided system for capturing sentences from videos, websites, and other media, though some features require a paid plan.
Your choice depends on how much setup you accept, where you find Japanese content, and whether Anki must remain the center of your study system.
Key Takeaways
- Yomitan is the stronger choice for free, customizable sentence mining with Anki.
- Migaku is easier for capturing subtitles, audio, screenshots, and video context.
- Yomitan depends on imported dictionaries and AnkiConnect for automated card creation.
- Migaku has its own learning ecosystem, and feature access depends on its current free and paid plans.
- For serious Anki users, Yomitan usually offers more control over note types and card fields.
What Yomitan and Migaku Actually Do
Yomitan is a browser extension for looking up Japanese words and expressions while you read online. It is the maintained successor to Yomichan and is available for supported Chromium-based browsers and Firefox. The project is free and open-source, and its source code is available in the Yomitan GitHub repository.
When you hover over or select Japanese text, Yomitan opens a popup with dictionary entries, readings, pitch information when available, audio, and example data. You install dictionary files yourself, which gives you control over the information shown. Japanese learners often combine JMdict-based dictionaries with kanji, pitch-accent, and grammar resources.
Yomitan can also send vocabulary and sentences to Anki. That connection normally uses the free AnkiConnect add-on, so Anki must be installed and running on your computer. You can then create cards with fields such as the target word, reading, definition, sentence, audio, and source URL.
Migaku is a commercial language-learning platform with browser tools and its own card-based study workflow. Its strength is media-based learning. Depending on the supported site and current product version, you can capture words from subtitles or web pages while preserving details such as audio, screenshots, and video timing.
The official Migaku site is the best source for current platform support because its browser, desktop, and mobile features can change. Migaku reduces the amount of manual setup, but it gives you less control than Yomitan over every part of the dictionary and Anki workflow.
The basic difference is simple: Yomitan is a flexible lookup tool that connects to Anki, while Migaku is a broader learning platform with sentence capture built in.
Yomitan vs Migaku: Feature Comparison
The following table summarizes the practical differences for Japanese sentence mining in 2026.
| Feature | Yomitan | Migaku |
|---|---|---|
| Core cost | Free and open-source | Free and paid access, depending on the current plan |
| Main use | Browser lookup and custom card creation | Media-based learning and integrated card capture |
| Japanese dictionaries | Imported by the user | Provided through Migaku’s dictionary system |
| Anki workflow | Direct creation through AnkiConnect | Depends on current Migaku export or integration options |
| Video context | Works best with browser text and configured tools | Strong focus on subtitles, audio, and visual context |
| Customization | High, especially for fields and templates | Easier setup, with less low-level control |
| Mobile use | No native Yomitan mobile app | Mobile availability depends on Migaku’s current apps and features |
| Best fit | Anki users who want control | Learners who want a guided media workflow |
Yomitan’s free price does not mean it has fewer possible features. It means you provide the dictionaries, Anki setup, and card design. Migaku’s subscription model pays for a maintained product with more of those pieces presented in one interface.
For current monthly or annual pricing, check Migaku’s official pricing page before subscribing. Prices, trials, and feature limits are time-sensitive, so older reviews can give you the wrong figure.
How Sentence Mining Works in Each Tool
Suppose you find this sentence in a Japanese video or article:
昨日は雨だったので、家で映画を見ていました。
Yesterday it was raining, so I was watching a movie at home.
You might mine 雨だったので, but you should keep the full sentence on the card. The expression combines 雨, the noun “rain”, だった, the past form of だ, and ので, which gives a reason. Seeing the whole sentence makes the grammar easier to recognize later.
With Yomitan, you select the expression in your browser and inspect the popup. The extension may split the text into useful dictionary entries, but you decide what to add. You can create a card for ので, 雨, or the complete sentence. AnkiConnect then sends the selected information to your chosen note type.
That setup is valuable when you care about card design. For example, you might put 雨だったので in the front field, the full sentence on the back, and the English definition in a separate field. You can also include Japanese audio if your dictionary or configuration provides it.
Yomitan’s main limitation is that you must build the workflow. You need to import dictionaries, configure Anki fields, install AnkiConnect, and test your templates. The Yomitan documentation covers these settings, but beginners can still spend an evening adjusting them.
Migaku usually asks you to do less manual work. On compatible video or web content, you can select a word in the subtitle or page text, inspect its definition, and save a card while keeping the surrounding media. A sentence such as the example above can retain the original audio and the moment where it appeared.
That context can make a major difference. Hearing 雨だったので inside a complete conversation gives you pronunciation, timing, and emotional tone. Yomitan can support audio-based cards, but Migaku tends to make the media connection more visible during capture.
Consider another sentence:
そんなに急がなくても大丈夫だよ。
You don’t have to hurry that much.
The useful target might be 急がなくても, rather than the isolated verb 急ぐ. Yomitan gives you detailed control over which part becomes the expression. Migaku makes it easier to save the line as a complete media card, especially when the sentence comes from subtitles.
Neither tool decides whether a sentence is worth mining. You still need to reject lines that are too easy, too obscure, or dependent on context you won’t remember. A clear sentence with one useful unknown item usually makes a better card than a sentence containing five new grammar points.
Dictionaries, Anki, and Setup Costs
Yomitan’s flexibility comes with a setup cost. You choose and import dictionaries, then decide how entries should appear. A JMdict-based dictionary can provide broad vocabulary coverage, while separate resources can add kanji data, pitch accents, or grammar notes.
The result depends on those sources. If a word has several meanings, Yomitan may display a long list of definitions. You must read the sentence and choose the meaning that fits. That extra decision is useful for advanced learners, but it can slow down beginners.
Anki integration is one of Yomitan’s strongest advantages. You control the note type, card templates, tags, audio fields, and sentence formatting. Anki’s official manual is useful when you need to manage note types, media, or syncing across devices.
The tradeoff is that AnkiConnect requires a desktop setup. Yomitan itself runs in a browser, but automated card creation generally depends on Anki running locally. A learner who reads Japanese mainly on an iPhone or Android device won’t get the same workflow.
Migaku removes much of that technical work. Its dictionary, card creation, and media features are designed to operate together. You don’t need to assemble the same collection of third-party tools before creating your first card.
However, Migaku is less attractive if you already have a carefully designed Anki collection. Check whether the current Migaku version sends cards directly to Anki, exports them in a useful format, or expects you to review them inside Migaku. Integration details can change, and a workflow that fits one version may not fit the next.
The cost difference also affects your decision. Yomitan has no subscription fee. Your main investment is setup time. Migaku has free access and paid features under its current commercial model, so compare the available plan with the functions you actually need rather than assuming every tool is included.
Which Tool Should You Choose?
Choose Yomitan if you already use Anki and want to control every card field. It is also the better fit if you read Japanese news, blogs, ebooks in a browser, or online discussions. You can use the same popup across many sites and adjust the dictionaries to match your level.
Yomitan is especially suitable when your goals include:
- Building a personal vocabulary deck with consistent note types.
- Comparing several dictionary entries before adding a card.
- Adding custom tags, audio, screenshots, or sentence fields.
- Avoiding a recurring subscription.
- Learning how your sentence-mining system works.
Choose Migaku if most of your input comes from video and you want to save lines with minimal interruption. It suits learners who value subtitle timing, native audio, and visual context more than detailed control over dictionary files.
Migaku may be the better option when you want to:
- Capture sentences while watching supported content.
- Keep audio and screenshots attached to new cards.
- Use a more guided workflow instead of configuring several tools.
- Review inside a connected Migaku study system.
- Spend less time maintaining Anki templates.
Many learners can use both without duplicating every card. Yomitan works well for reading-based mining and precise Anki creation. Migaku can handle video sentences where timing and audio matter most. Still, maintaining two review systems can create duplicate vocabulary and scattered study history, so choose one as your main review home.
For a first workflow, start with the tool that matches your main source of Japanese. Browser reading points toward Yomitan. Subtitle-heavy study points toward Migaku. An advanced Anki user should also consider the time saved by avoiding a migration later.
Conclusion
Yomitan and Migaku solve the same problem with different priorities. Yomitan gives you free access, detailed dictionary control, and a strong Anki-centered workflow. Migaku gives you a more integrated way to capture Japanese sentences with media context, while its paid features and integrations depend on the current plan.
If Anki is the fixed center of your study, start with Yomitan and build a simple card template. If authentic video drives your learning, Migaku may save enough capture time to justify its cost. The best sentence miner is the one that lets you collect clear Japanese sentences without interrupting the habit that brings you back tomorrow.
