What information is on a Tomaru flashcard and why does it matter?

A flashcard should never be a bare translation container. Passing a simple word-and-definition card during review does not mean you can produce that word in natural conversation or recognize it in fluent speech. Every field on a Tomaru card addresses a specific gap between recognizing that a word exists and knowing how to deploy it correctly.

Why are word-to-translation cards insufficient?

Relying solely on a word paired with a definition builds passive recognition rather than active production. Without context, a learner memorizes an isolated pair of terms without understanding how the target word behaves inside a real sentence.

To bridge the gap from recognition to real-world communication, Tomaru structures cards with dedicated fields that provide comprehensive contextual data.

What fields are on a Tomaru card?

Every field on a card serves a distinct role in turning isolated vocabulary into usable language knowledge:

• The target word and definition: Provides the essential semantic foundation. While necessary, it remains the weakest element when presented without surrounding context.
• Example sentence: Solves the problem of isolation. Words never appear alone in speech or writing. An example sentence demonstrates collocation and register—showing which words keep company with the term and where it fits grammatically.
• Translated example sentence: Prevents study disruption. Without a translation in your native language, an unfamiliar example sentence forces you to consult an external dictionary mid-review, breaking your concentration and distorting FSRS-6 review timing.
• Grammar note in your native language: Bridges the usage gap. Recognizing a word differs from knowing how to use it. Grammar notes explain particle pairings, required prepositions, formality levels, and subtle nuance distinctions.
• Part of speech: Prevents grammatical misuse. Many words function as multiple parts of speech depending on context. Specifying grammatical category stops you from memorizing a definition under the wrong syntactical role.
• Written pronunciation guide: Eliminates reading ambiguity. In languages like Japanese and Chinese, the written character does not automatically convey its reading. A card without a written pronunciation guide teaches only half a word.
• Neural speech audio: Trains real-world auditory recognition. Relying on default device text-to-speech engines can train your ear to robotic cadences and unnatural pitch contours. Tomaru generates audio with high-quality speech models to ensure listening practice reflects natural pronunciation and cadence.

Across Tomaru's official library, 100% of cards include an example sentence, roughly 99% carry parts of speech and grammar notes in your explanation language, and roughly 92% include written pronunciation guides.

How do image cards and masked occlusions work?

Not everything worth learning fits into a standard text definition. Complex concepts, spatial layouts, and physical objects require visual memory.

Tomaru supports image cards and image-masking occlusions, allowing key labels on diagrams, maps, or figures to be hidden and revealed during review. Masking specific regions of an image tests spatial recall directly, offering a more effective study method for visual structures than converting visual details into lengthy text descriptions.

Are user-created cards different from official library cards?

Cards you create yourself are identical in quality to cards installed from official lists. When you capture a word from imported text, photo OCR, or system text selection, Tomaru draws from its central library to populate example sentences, grammar notes, pronunciation guides, and audio.

Whether you generate a card from external reading material or install a pre-built list, every card in your collection enters your daily schedule as a fully populated study entry.

To explore available pre-built lists, read our guide on official word lists. To learn about generating cards from your own reading material, see turning text and photos into flashcards.

Related questions

Why are grammar notes written in my native language?

Grammar notes explain complex usage rules, particle requirements, and social register. Presenting these nuances in your native explanation language ensures clear comprehension without forcing you to decipher unfamiliar grammar jargon in your target language.

Do custom cards created from text include audio?

Yes. When you generate cards from external text or photos, Tomaru populates them using central library assets, including high-quality neural speech audio whenever available.

What coverage do official library cards offer for context fields?

Every card in the official library contains an example sentence, while approximately 99% include parts of speech and native-language grammar notes, and roughly 92% include written pronunciation guides.