What kind of vocabulary app is Tomaru?

What is Tomaru? A free vocabulary app with spaced repetition

Tomaru is a free, ad-free vocabulary learning app with ready-made vocabulary decks and FSRS spaced repetition scheduling. Its core idea is simple: help learners build an effective vocabulary habit without setting up a full study system or preparing decks from scratch. The setup work many people face in Anki is handled more directly inside Tomaru.

What vocabulary problem does Tomaru solve?

The hardest part of vocabulary learning is often not motivation. It is knowing how to review at the right time.

Many learners read through a vocabulary book in one weekend or cram before an exam. That can feel productive in the short term, but most words fade after a few weeks. Long-term memory depends less on mass exposure and more on reviewing words before they are forgotten. This is the basic idea behind spaced repetition.

The problem is that manually deciding which word should be reviewed on which day is not realistic. Tomaru solves this by automating the review schedule. Learners set a daily target, study consistently, and let the app decide when each card should return. Vocabulary learning becomes a measurable long-term habit instead of a last-minute sprint.

How does Tomaru help you learn vocabulary?

Free vocabulary decks

Tomaru provides free ready-made vocabulary decks for exams, daily situations, and common word groups. Learners do not need to create cards first or search for materials before starting. For most vocabulary study needs, being ready to use from the beginning is the lowest-friction path.

FSRS spaced repetition

Tomaru uses FSRS, the Free Spaced Repetition Scheduler, to schedule reviews. FSRS is a modern open-source spaced repetition algorithm developed by Jarrett Ye. Its core idea is to predict when recall probability drops below a target threshold, then schedule a review before the learner is likely to forget.

Compared with fixed review intervals, FSRS adjusts dynamically based on how well each learner remembers each card. This makes reviews happen closer to the moment they are actually needed. The goal is to maintain stronger retention with fewer unnecessary reviews.

Tomaru integrates this scheduling model directly into the app and streamlines the learning flow based on real experience with Anki-style study. Learners do not need to tune parameters before getting started; the system schedules reviews from their study history.

AI flashcard creation

In addition to ready-made decks, Tomaru can create vocabulary cards from user-provided text. Learners can paste articles, lyrics, conversations, news, or other text into the app. Tomaru extracts useful words and uses AI to turn them into reviewable cards with explanations and example sentences. This makes it easier to add real language material to a study plan without entering every card manually.

AI practice: grammar, shadowing, and bidirectional translation

Tomaru is not only a review tool. Words that learners have studied can also be used in grammar practice, shadowing, and bidirectional translation exercises. These practice modes are generated around the vocabulary the learner already knows, so review can move from recognition toward actual use.

How is Tomaru different from Anki?

Anki is one of the most powerful spaced repetition tools available, and many serious language learners use it for years. Its strength is flexibility: users can customize card templates, scheduling settings, shared decks, and add-ons.

That flexibility also creates friction for beginners. Many learners spend a lot of time figuring out initial settings, finding the right deck, adjusting defaults, or learning how the tool works before they can focus on studying.

Tomaru makes a different trade-off. It does not try to be the most customizable flashcard tool. It focuses on vocabulary learning: prepared decks, automatic review scheduling, and a clear path from learning words to using them. For learners who want to remember vocabulary efficiently without studying the tool itself, Tomaru offers a lower-friction starting point while keeping spaced repetition at the center.

In short: Anki is best for advanced users who want full control or special workflows. Tomaru is for learners who want to start vocabulary study quickly, avoid setup work, and move between web and mobile more easily.

Who is Tomaru for?

Tomaru is built for learners who need to remember many words within a limited time, but do not want to build their own review system. It is also useful for people who find words in songs, articles, videos, or conversations and want to turn those words into repeatable practice.

It is especially suitable for learners who know spaced repetition works but find Anki setup too time-consuming, or for learners who want vocabulary review to connect with grammar, pronunciation, and translation practice after memorization.

If your goal is clear — remember vocabulary and use it — Tomaru provides a prepared flow so you can spend less time building the system and more time studying.

FAQ

Is Tomaru a free vocabulary app?

Yes. Tomaru is a free, ad-free vocabulary learning app. Public vocabulary decks and the core spaced repetition review flow are free to use. Tomaru does not charge for the core act of learning vocabulary; paid features are focused on extended AI practice.

How does Tomaru schedule reviews?

Tomaru uses FSRS, the Free Spaced Repetition Scheduler. FSRS estimates when each card is likely to be forgotten based on review history, then schedules the next review near that point. This makes reviews follow the learner’s memory curve instead of a fixed calendar.

How is Tomaru different from Anki?

Both use spaced repetition, but they are designed for different users. Anki is powerful and highly customizable, which suits users who want full control. Tomaru provides prepared vocabulary decks, automatic scheduling, and a lower setup cost for learners who mainly want to focus on vocabulary.

Can Tomaru create my own flashcards?

Yes. Tomaru can use AI to create vocabulary cards from text such as articles, lyrics, conversations, or news. This turns real language material into study content that can be reviewed over time.

What can Tomaru do besides vocabulary review?

Tomaru also supports grammar practice, shadowing, and bidirectional translation. These exercises can use words the learner has already studied, helping vocabulary move from recognition toward real use.

Are Tomaru decks official exam materials, and will studying them guarantee a passing score?

No. Most language exams do not publish an exact list of words that will appear on the test. Tomaru uses public learning materials, past exam patterns, common topic ranges, and study needs to estimate useful vocabulary coverage. Tomaru decks are study tools, not official exam materials or a guarantee of passing.

Tomaru was created to make effective spaced repetition easier to access: no gamified distractions, no ads, and no charge for core vocabulary learning. The long-term goal is to keep improving AI-powered practice so learners can not only recognize words, but actually use the language they are learning.

The Tomaru team — looking forward to the day your habit becomes automatic.