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Setting Up Dictionaries

Mekuru uses offline dictionaries for word lookups. It supports the same Yomitan formats used by the browser extension, plus several built-in downloads.

Supported Sources

You can add dictionaries in three ways:

  • Yomitan .zip - the standard format used by Yomitan and older Yomichan dictionary packs
  • Yomitan collection .json - a backup export that can contain multiple dictionaries
  • Built-in downloads - free packs from Settings > Downloads, including JMdict and KANJIDIC

Importing a Dictionary File

  1. Open the Dictionary tab.
  2. Tap the Manage Dictionaries button in the top-right corner.
  3. Tap + in the Dictionary Manager.
  4. Select a supported .zip or .json file.
  5. Wait for the import to finish. Large dictionaries can take a moment.

Dictionary manager showing imported dictionaries

Tip: You can import multiple dictionaries. Mekuru merges enabled dictionaries into the same lookup workflow and orders them based on the order it appears in the dictionary manager.

Using Built-in Downloads

If you do not want to find dictionary files manually, open Settings > Downloads and install the built-in packs there. Those downloads are imported for you automatically.

After Import

Once a dictionary is available, it can be used for:

  • Tap-to-lookup while reading
  • Search in the Dictionary tab
  • Compound word resolution for multi-token matches

For enabling, disabling, reordering, or deleting dictionaries, see Managing Dictionaries.