KAnki supports any language through a simple configuration file. You can customize the language name, proficiency levels, and vocabulary to match your learning goals.
Configuration overview All language settings are stored in kanki/js/kanki_config.js. This file contains two main sections:
KANKI_CONFIG : Language name and proficiency levelsVOCABULARY : Flashcard data organized by level
Basic configuration
Open the configuration file
Navigate to kanki/js/kanki_config.js on your Kindle filesystem.
Set your language
Update the KANKI_CONFIG object with your target language and proficiency levels: var KANKI_CONFIG = { language: "Spanish" , // Change this to your language name levels: [ "A1" , "A2" , "B1" ] // These should match the keys in your VOCABULARY object };
Add your vocabulary
Define your flashcard data in the VOCABULARY object. Each level should contain an array of card objects.
Language examples Japanese (JLPT)
Spanish (CEFR)
Chinese (HSK)
Custom levels
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" : "水" , "reading" : "みず" , "back" : "Water" , "notes" : "Noun" }, { "front" : "本" , "reading" : "ほん" , "back" : "Book" , "notes" : "Noun" } ], "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" } ] };
var KANKI_CONFIG = { language: "Spanish" , levels: [ "A1" , "A2" , "B1" ] }; var VOCABULARY = { "A1" : [ { "front" : "hello" , "back" : "hola" , "notes" : "Greeting" }, { "front" : "tomorrow" , "back" : "mañana" , "notes" : "Time" }, { "front" : "water" , "back" : "agua" , "notes" : "Noun" }, { "front" : "book" , "back" : "libro" , "notes" : "Noun" } ], "A2" : [ { "front" : "to hurry" , "back" : "apurarse" , "notes" : "Verb" }, { "front" : "necessary" , "back" : "necesario" , "notes" : "Adjective" } ] };
var KANKI_CONFIG = { language: "Chinese" , levels: [ "HSK1" , "HSK2" ] }; var VOCABULARY = { "HSK1" : [ { "front" : "你好" , "reading" : "nǐ hǎo" , "back" : "Hello" , "notes" : "Greeting" }, { "front" : "谢谢" , "reading" : "xiè xie" , "back" : "Thank you" , "notes" : "Gratitude" }, { "front" : "水" , "reading" : "shuǐ" , "back" : "Water" , "notes" : "Noun" } ], "HSK2" : [ { "front" : "开始" , "reading" : "kāi shǐ" , "back" : "To begin" , "notes" : "Verb" }, { "front" : "准备" , "reading" : "zhǔn bèi" , "back" : "To prepare" , "notes" : "Verb" } ] };
var KANKI_CONFIG = { language: "French" , levels: [ "Beginner" , "Intermediate" , "Advanced" ] }; var VOCABULARY = { "Beginner" : [ { "front" : "hello" , "back" : "bonjour" , "notes" : "Greeting" }, { "front" : "goodbye" , "back" : "au revoir" , "notes" : "Parting" } ], "Intermediate" : [ { "front" : "perhaps" , "back" : "peut-être" , "notes" : "Adverb" }, { "front" : "to understand" , "back" : "comprendre" , "notes" : "Verb" } ] };
Card properties Each flashcard supports the following properties:
Required properties Property Type Description frontstring The word or phrase in the target language backstring The translation or definition
Optional properties Property Type Description readingstring Pronunciation guide (e.g., romanization for Japanese/Chinese) notesstring Additional context (word type, usage notes, etc.)
The reading property is especially useful for languages with non-alphabetic writing systems like Japanese, Chinese, Korean, or Arabic.
Using the reading property For languages with complex writing systems, add a reading field to help with pronunciation:
Japanese example
Chinese example
Korean example
{ "front" : "食べる" , "reading" : "たべる" , "back" : "To eat" , "notes" : "Verb" }
Proficiency level systems Choose a proficiency level system that matches your learning materials:
System Levels Best for JLPT N5, N4, N3, N2, N1 Japanese CEFR A1, A2, B1, B2, C1, C2 European languages HSK HSK1, HSK2, HSK3, HSK4, HSK5, HSK6 Chinese Custom Any labels Any language
The level names in KANKI_CONFIG.levels must exactly match the keys in your VOCABULARY object. Mismatched names will cause cards not to appear.
Validation checklist Before transferring your configuration to Kindle:
Next steps
Deck management Learn how to organize and structure your vocabulary decks
Custom fonts Install fonts that support your target language characters