How do you add vocabulary to Tomaru from other mobile apps?

Tomaru lets you capture vocabulary directly from other mobile apps using native system text selection on iOS and Android. Instead of copying words into a static list, selected terms are translated and converted into complete flashcards that enter your main FSRS-6 review schedule automatically.

Why capture words directly inside other apps?

You rarely encounter unfamiliar vocabulary inside a flashcard app. Unknown words appear while reading web articles, reviewing chats, studying PDFs, reading ebooks, or browsing social media feeds.

Traditional capture requires leaving your current app, opening a study tool, manually typing the term, and searching for a definition. This friction causes most encountered words to be ignored. By embedding capture tools directly into the system text-selection menu, Tomaru allows you to look up and save new terms in a single step without interrupting your reading.

How does capturing words work on Android?

On Android devices, Tomaru integrates with the standard system text-selection menu. When you highlight a word or phrase in any application that supports standard text selection, Tomaru appears as an action option alongside standard system commands.

Selecting the Tomaru option opens an overlay that translates the highlighted text and provides an instant option to add the word to your study plan.

How does capturing words work on iOS?

On iOS devices, Tomaru functions through the system translation interface. Highlighting text in any app that uses standard system selection allows you to open Tomaru's translation panel directly over your current screen.

The iOS translation panel provides immediate study context beyond a standard dictionary look-up:

• Translation: Renders definitions in your selected explanation language.
• Pronunciation and audio: Displays written guides and reads the text aloud.
• Vocabulary capture: Includes a direct action button to add the term to your active study plan.

What happens after a word is captured?

Captured terms do not sit in an unmanaged list or secondary backlog. A captured word only serves a purpose if a study system brings it back to you later at the optimal moment for recall.

When you add a word from any mobile app, Tomaru builds a complete card—reusing official library resources whenever possible—and sends it straight into your primary FSRS-6 review queue.

To explore other capture methods, such as importing whole passages or printed pages, read our guide on turning text and photos into flashcards.

Are there limits on system text translation?

On the free tier, translating selected text through system integration is a metered feature. Free accounts include 70 text selection translations per week. The translation quota refreshes weekly.

To review feature allowances and tier details, read our guide on is Tomaru free.

Related questions

Does capturing a word from another app create a full flashcard?

Yes. Words captured via system text selection enter your account as complete flashcards, incorporating example sentences, grammar notes, and neural speech audio whenever available in the library.

Can I capture words from any Android or iOS app?

You can capture words from any application that supports standard system text selection, including web browsers, ebook readers, document viewers, and messaging apps.

Do words added from other apps use my main FSRS-6 schedule?

Yes. Captured words enter your central study queue and are scheduled for review using the same FSRS-6 algorithm as official curriculum lists.