Frequently Asked Questions

General

  • Can I install an Android or iPhone app?

    There is no app available at the Google Play Store or the App Store, but you can add an icon to your home screen to get the same full-screen, native-app experience. Here's how:

    1. Navigate to https://ankimono.com on your smartphone browser and log in
    2. At the initial screen, open the browser menu and select Add to Home Screen. An icon will be created on your home screen.
    3. Start the app from the newly created icon to get the full-screen, native-app experience

  • How do I get started?

    Here's a quick guide to get you started.

    1. Create a new deck, or choose and add a deck from the Official Decks
    2. The cards will first appear as New Cards. Memorize some.
    3. From the next day, the cards you have memorized will appear as Cards for Review, scheduled at optimized intervals. Don't forget to come back and review them!

    Repetition and active recall are key to memorizing. Here are some additional tips:

    Tip #1: For optimal experience, create cards on a Mac or PC where you have keyboard input, and memorize them on a smartphone or a tablet where you can handwrite.

    Tip #2: To avoid being overloaded with cards for review, prioritize "Cards for Review" first, and memorize "New Cards" only if you have capacity to review more.

    Tip #3: Use the notification feature to receive notifications when you have cards due for review.

Creating Decks and Cards

  • Can I import cards from another system?

    Import cards with CSV files
    Yes, on a Mac or PC, you can import cards using a CSV or TSV file. Choose a deck you want to import to and show the list of cards. Press the Upload from file button and select columns for the front and back of the card.

  • I have a huge number of cards. Are there other ways to edit cards?

    You can always download cards you have created from the card list screen and edit them with Excel or your favorite editor. When re-importing, specify the card ID column so that the cards get replaced instead of being newly created.

  • How can I create cards for another person?

    You can create cards and share it with another person as follows.

    1. First, create a deck of cards in your account.
    2. In the deck edit screen, check "Public" and save. (Note that at this point your deck is visible to the public) See the deck Settings and make note of the deck ID that is displayed next to "Share".
    3. In the other person's account, press "Find a deck" and then the " ID" button at the top. Enter the deck ID to see the deck.
    4. Press "Add this deck" to add it to My Decks. The deck has now been shared.

    A deck that has once been added to My Decks will remain even if "Public" is later unchecked. If you don't want to share the deck with anybody else, go back to your account and uncheck "Public".

  • How can I format card content to have links, images, super/sub-scripts, etc. when creating cards?

    Card content is created in a lightweight markup language called GitHub flavored Markdown . (Don't worry, if all you want is plain text, just enter that normally.) Some of the frequently used markup examples are listed below. Please see link above for full documentation.

    To Show Use Markup
    ankimono 
    [ankimono](https://ankimoono.com)
    		 
    ![](https://ankimono.com/icon-72.png)
    210 
    2^10^
    H2O 
    H~2~O
    Bold 
    **Bold**
    Italic 
    *Italic*
    • dog
    • cat
    		 
                - dog
            - cat
    1. dog
    2. cat
    		 
                1. dog
            1. cat

    Heading 1

    		 
    # Heading 1

    Heading 2

    		 
    ## Heading 2

Memorizing and Reviewing

  • What are "New Cards" and "Cards for Review"?

    All cards start as "New Cards" and go into the memorizing state when you start memorizing them.

    Each day, you may see a different number of "Cards for Review". These are cards you are about to forget unless they are reviewed.

    Do the "Cards for Review" first, and gradually learn "New Cards" when you have time. This will let you avoid being overloaded with cards due for review.

  • What does the bar chart show?

    Example of chart showing number of cards per level
    Each card has a proficiency level which starts at 0. This level is raised each time you remember the card correctly and lowered each time it's forgotten. The chart shows the number of cards (Y-axis) at each proficiency level (X-axis) and gives you a quick overview of how well you have your cards memorized.

  • What does the button do when answering questions?

    When questions are answered with the Easy! button (and confirmed to be correct), the proficiency level is moved up 2 levels instead of 1. Use this button if you know a card very well and want to push back the next review date more than it is normally pushed back.

  • Can I disable cards I don't want to memorize?

    To disable a card you already know or don't want to memorize, take one of the following two actions:

    • While memorizing or reviewing cards, press the button when the card is displayed
    • In the card list screen, press the button below the card you want to disable

    A disabled card can be enabled again by pressing the button in the card list screen。

    Warning: Disabled cards will never appear for review. If you know a card well but think you may forget it in the future, you can keep extending the review interval instead of disabling the card completely by answering with the "Easy!" button.

Other Useful Features

  • Can I receive notifications on days when there are cards due for review?

    Yes! You can receive notifications on the Chrome browser on a Mac, Windows, or an Android device. From the top right menu, select Settings and set the notification settings for cards due. You will then start receiving notifications on that device at the time set, on days when there are cards due for review.

  • How do I use card flags ?

    Flags are general-purpose markers you can place on each card. An example usage is when you have a need to do something like the following when studying/reviewing cards:

    • You need to edit the card
    • You want to look up more information about the card later
    In these situations, flag the card and come back to them later from the card list page. Flags can be freely switched on an off both while studying and from the card list page.