KAnki allows you to organize flashcards into decks by proficiency level. You can manage decks directly in the configuration file or use external tools for easier editing.
Deck structure Decks in KAnki are organized by proficiency levels defined in KANKI_CONFIG.levels. Each level corresponds to a key in the VOCABULARY object.
var KANKI_CONFIG = { language: "Japanese" , levels: [ "N5" , "N4" ] // Available decks }; var VOCABULARY = { "N5" : [ // N5 level cards ], "N4" : [ // N4 level cards ] };
Creating a new deck
Add the level to KANKI_CONFIG
Add your new level name to the levels array: var KANKI_CONFIG = { language: "Japanese" , levels: [ "N5" , "N4" , "N3" ] // Added N3 };
Create the vocabulary section
Add a corresponding key in the VOCABULARY object: var VOCABULARY = { "N5" : [ { "front" : "こんにちは" , "back" : "Hello" , "notes" : "Greeting" } ], "N4" : [ { "front" : "急ぐ" , "reading" : "いそぐ" , "back" : "To hurry" , "notes" : "Verb" } ], "N3" : [ { "front" : "約束" , "reading" : "やくそく" , "back" : "Promise" , "notes" : "Noun" } ] };
Save and transfer to Kindle
Save the file and transfer it to your Kindle’s kanki/js/ directory.
Managing large decks directly in the configuration file can be tedious. Use these tools for easier deck management:
Üben (Recommended)
KAnki Web Editor
Manual editing
Üben is the official companion tool for KAnki with a modern UI.Features
Import .apkg files from Anki
Visual card editor with preview
Deck organization and management
Direct export to kanki_config.js format
Community deck sharing
Workflow
Import or create deck
Upload an Anki .apkg file or create a new deck in Üben.
Edit cards
Add, modify, or delete cards using the visual editor.
Export configuration
Export your deck as kanki_config.js.
Transfer to Kindle
Copy the exported file to kanki/js/kanki_config.js on your Kindle.
The KAnki Web Editor by Kindlemodshelfguy provides a browser-based editing interface. Features
Upload existing configuration files
Add, edit, and delete cards through a UI
Preview cards for different Kindle generations
Export modified configuration
How to use
Visit https://kindlemodshelf.me/editor.html
Upload your current kanki_config.js
Make your changes in the web interface
Download the updated configuration
Transfer to your Kindle
For small decks or quick changes, edit kanki_config.js directly. Best practices
Use a code editor with JavaScript syntax highlighting
Maintain consistent formatting for readability
Validate JSON syntax before transferring
Keep backup copies of your configuration
Example structure var VOCABULARY = { "N5" : [ { "front" : "こんにちは" , "back" : "Hello" , "notes" : "Greeting" }, { "front" : "水" , "reading" : "みず" , "back" : "Water" , "notes" : "Noun" } ] };
Importing Anki decks You can convert existing Anki decks to KAnki format:
Find or export an Anki deck
Download a shared deck from AnkiWeb or export your own deck as .apkg.
Import to Üben
Upload the .apkg file to Üben .
Customize for KAnki
Edit the deck to match your preferred level structure and add any missing fields.
Export and transfer
Export as kanki_config.js and copy to your Kindle.
When importing from Anki, you may need to manually map Anki’s tags or note types to KAnki’s level system.
Organizing large decks By proficiency level Organize cards into levels that match standardized proficiency frameworks:
var KANKI_CONFIG = { language: "Spanish" , levels: [ "A1" , "A2" , "B1" , "B2" , "C1" , "C2" ] };
By topic or theme Alternatively, organize by subject matter:
var KANKI_CONFIG = { language: "Japanese" , levels: [ "Greetings" , "Food" , "Travel" , "Business" ] };
By word type Group by grammatical category:
var KANKI_CONFIG = { language: "French" , levels: [ "Nouns" , "Verbs" , "Adjectives" , "Phrases" ] };
Changing level names will reset your progress for those decks. If you need to reorganize, export your progress data first.
Card best practices Keep cards simple Focus on one concept per card:
{ "front" : "食べる" , "reading" : "たべる" , "back" : "To eat" , "notes" : "Verb" }
Maintain uniform capitalization and punctuation:
var VOCABULARY = { "N5" : [ { "front" : "こんにちは" , "back" : "Hello" , "notes" : "Greeting" }, { "front" : "ありがとう" , "back" : "Thank you" , "notes" : "Gratitude" }, { "front" : "さようなら" , "back" : "Goodbye" , "notes" : "Parting" } ] };
Add context in notes Use the notes field to provide helpful context:
{ "front" : "高い" , "reading" : "たかい" , "back" : "Expensive/Tall" , "notes" : "Adjective" }
Real example from KAnki Here’s a complete working configuration from the KAnki source:
var KANKI_CONFIG = { language: "Japanese" , levels: [ "N5" , "N4" ] }; var VOCABULARY = { "N5" : [ { "front" : "こんにちは" , "back" : "Hello" , "notes" : "Greeting" }, { "front" : "ありがとう" , "back" : "Thank you" , "notes" : "Gratitude" }, { "front" : "さようなら" , "back" : "Goodbye" , "notes" : "Parting" }, { "front" : "水" , "reading" : "みず" , "back" : "Water" , "notes" : "Noun" }, { "front" : "本" , "reading" : "ほん" , "back" : "Book" , "notes" : "Noun" }, { "front" : "食べる" , "reading" : "たべる" , "back" : "To eat" , "notes" : "Verb" } ], "N4" : [ { "front" : "急ぐ" , "reading" : "いそぐ" , "back" : "To hurry" , "notes" : "Verb" }, { "front" : "必要" , "reading" : "ひつよう" , "back" : "Necessary" , "notes" : "Na-Adjective" }, { "front" : "練習" , "reading" : "れんしゅう" , "back" : "Practice" , "notes" : "Noun/Suru-verb" } ] };
Exporting to Anki If you want to use your KAnki deck on desktop or mobile, convert it to Anki format:
Visit KankiToAnki
Upload your kanki_config.js file
Download the generated .apkg file
Import into Anki desktop or mobile app
Deck maintenance tips
Regular backups : Keep copies of your kanki_config.js fileVersion control : Use git to track changes if editing manuallyTest after changes : Load a few cards after editing to verify syntaxStart small : Begin with 20-30 cards per level before expanding
Next steps
Language setup Configure KAnki for different languages
Custom fonts Install fonts that support your language