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KAnki’s reversible cards feature allows you to practice vocabulary in both directions: from target language to native language, and from native language to target language. This bidirectional practice improves both recognition and production skills.

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How it works

By default, KAnki displays cards with the target language (the language you’re learning) on the front and your native language on the back. When you activate reversed mode:
  • The native language appears on the front
  • The target language appears on the back
  • All cards in your current session are reversed
  • Your mode preference is saved between sessions

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Toggling card direction

To switch between modes, select the Reverse Cards option from the app menu. The toggle button becomes highlighted when reversed mode is active. From main.js:1351: 
function toggleCardDirection() {
  isReversedMode = !isReversedMode;
  currentCardIndex = 0;
  
  updateDirectionDisplay();
  displayCurrentCard(false);
  saveDeck();
  
  showToast(
    isReversedMode ? "Flip: Native → Target" : "Flip: Target → Native",
    1500
  );
}
When you switch modes, the card counter resets to 0 and your position in the deck restarts. This prevents confusion when the card content suddenly changes.

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Display logic

The card display function checks the isReversedMode flag to determine which content to show: From main.js:507: 
if (isReversedMode) {
  frontElement.innerHTML = card.back;
  backElement.textContent = card.front;
} else {
  frontElement.innerHTML = card.front;
  backElement.textContent = card.back;
}

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Mode indicator

The level display at the top of the screen shows your current card direction: 
N5 • Target→Native    (Normal mode)
N5 • Native→Target    (Reversed mode)
This indicator updates automatically when you toggle the mode, helping you stay aware of which direction you’re practicing.
The direction indicator works alongside other filters. For example: N5 ★ • Native→Target means you’re viewing N5 starred cards in reversed mode.

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Why use reversed cards

Practicing in both directions develops different language skills:

Target→Native (Default)

Recognition skill: Understanding when you see or hear the target languageUseful for: Reading, listening comprehension, understanding conversations

Native→Target (Reversed)

Production skill: Actively recalling and producing the target languageUseful for: Speaking, writing, active conversation

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Example: Japanese study

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Default mode (Target→Native)

Front: こんにちは (konnichiwa)
Back: Hello You practice recognizing Japanese words and understanding their meaning.

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Reversed mode (Native→Target)

Front: Hello
Back: こんにちは (konnichiwa) You practice producing Japanese words from English prompts.
Many language learners find reversed mode significantly more challenging because production (recall) is harder than recognition. This is normal and indicates you’re working on a deeper level of mastery.

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Reversed mode with readings

For cards with pronunciation guides (the reading field), the display adapts intelligently: Normal card structure: 
{"front": "水", "reading": "みず", "back": "Water", "notes": "Noun"}
From main.js:203: 
var displayText = front;
if (reading) {
  displayText = front + " (" + reading + ")";
}
In normal mode, the front shows: 水 (みず)
In reversed mode, the front shows: Water The reading is automatically included in the target language display but not in the native language display.

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Spaced repetition behavior

Important: Reversed mode does not create separate scheduling for each direction. The same card is used regardless of mode, with the same:
  • Difficulty level
  • Next review date
  • Review history
  • Statistics
This means:
  • Reviewing a card in reversed mode advances its spaced repetition schedule
  • Both directions share the same difficulty progression
  • You can switch modes mid-session without affecting scheduling
If you want separate spaced repetition schedules for each direction, you would need to create separate card entries in your vocabulary configuration.

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Persistence

Your mode preference is saved to localStorage along with your deck data. When you reload the app, KAnki restores your last selected mode. From main.js:1367: 
saveDeck();  // Saves isReversedMode state
The mode state is loaded on app initialization at main.js:894: 
if (reverseToggleBtn && isReversedMode) {
  reverseToggleBtn.classList.add("active");
}

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Combined with other features

Reversed mode works seamlessly with all other KAnki features:
  • Level filtering: Reverse cards from specific proficiency levels
  • Starred cards: Practice starred vocabulary in both directions
  • Error review: Review mistakes in either direction
  • Statistics: View counts apply regardless of card direction

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