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Meikipop provides instant Japanese dictionary lookups using OCR to read text directly from your screen. This guide covers the essential workflow to get you started.

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Getting started

1

Launch meikipop

Start the application by running the executable or using the command:
python -m src.main
Once running, you’ll see the meikipop icon in your system tray. A message confirms the app is ready:
meikipop runs silently in the background. Look for the icon in your system tray (Windows/Linux) or menu bar (macOS).
2

Select your scan region (first run)

The first time you run meikipop in region mode, you’ll be prompted to select a screen area to scan:
  • Click and drag to select the area containing Japanese text (like a game window or manga reader)
  • Release the mouse to confirm your selection
  • Press Esc to cancel
The selected region will be sent to the OCR provider. You can change this region anytime from the system tray menu.
3

Position your mouse over Japanese text

Move your cursor over any Japanese text visible on your screen within the selected region.
4

Press and hold the hotkey

Press and hold the configured hotkey (default: Shift) to trigger OCR and display dictionary results.
The first lookup may take a moment depending on your internet connection, as the screenshot is sent to the OCR provider.
5

View dictionary entries

A popup window appears near your cursor showing:
  • Written form (kanji/kana)
  • Reading in hiragana
  • English definitions
  • Optional: part of speech, tags, deconjugation info
Keep holding the hotkey and move your mouse to look up additional words.
6

Release the hotkey

Release the hotkey to hide the popup window.

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Using the right-click menu

Right-click the system tray icon to access quick actions:
  • Settings: Open the full configuration dialog
  • Reselect Scan Region: Choose a new area of your screen to scan
  • Toggle Scan Mode: Switch between region and fullscreen modes
  • Enable/Disable Auto Scan Mode: Toggle continuous scanning
  • Switch OCR Provider: Choose between available OCR backends
  • Quit: Exit meikipop

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Hotkey options

You can configure the trigger hotkey in Settings. Available options include:
  • shift (default)
  • ctrl
  • alt
  • ctrl+shift
  • ctrl+alt
  • shift+alt
  • ctrl+shift+alt
On macOS, you may need to grant Input Monitoring, Screen Recording, and Accessibility permissions in System Preferences > Security & Privacy.

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Understanding the popup display

The dictionary popup shows entries in this format:

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Vocabulary entries

食べる [たべる] [v1, vt]
(1) to eat; (2) to live on; to make a living
  • 食べる: Written form (kanji/kana)
  • [たべる]: Reading in hiragana
  • [v1, vt]: Tags (when enabled)
  • Numbered definitions (when “Show All Glosses” is enabled)

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Kanji entries

When “Show Kanji Entries” is enabled: 
食 [ショク, ジキ, く.う, く.らう, た.べる]
食, eat, food
  • Large kanji character
  • On-yomi and kun-yomi readings
  • English meanings
  • Optional: example words, radical components

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Tips for efficient lookups

Hold and move: Keep the hotkey pressed while moving your mouse to quickly look up multiple words without repeatedly pressing the key.
Auto scan mode: For even faster lookups, enable auto scan mode from the tray menu. This continuously scans your screen region, eliminating the need to press the hotkey.
Max lookup length: Adjust this setting (default: 25 characters) to control how much text meikipop attempts to match against the dictionary.

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Troubleshooting common issues

  • First lookup is always slower as it initializes the OCR connection
  • For Google Lens: Enable “Google Lens Compression” in Settings to improve speed on slow connections
  • Consider using auto scan mode for perceived latency improvements
  • Ensure text is clear and well-lit
  • Try selecting a more precise scan region
  • Google Lens compression may slightly reduce accuracy for better speed
  • Consider alternative OCR providers like owocr with local models

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Next steps

Configuration

Customize hotkeys, OCR providers, and lookup behavior

Auto scan mode

Enable continuous scanning for instant lookups

Themes and appearance

Personalize popup colors, fonts, and display options

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