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Install and make your first card

Tsumu is available to download on itch.io for macOS and Android (with Windows under verification). Builds can also be compiled from source. Bundled dictionary (jitendex.db) and pitch accent (pitch_accents.db) assets are included in release packages.

macOS

  • Requirements: macOS 13 (Ventura) or later on Apple silicon (M-series).
  • Installation & Gatekeeper: Download Tsumu.app (or disk image / archive) and move it to your /Applications folder. Because early builds may not be notarized with an Apple Developer certificate, macOS Gatekeeper may show a warning that the app cannot be opened or is from an unidentified developer:
    • To bypass in Finder: Right-click (or Control-click) Tsumu.app, select Open, and in the dialog that appears, click Open.
    • Alternatively via Terminal: If macOS prevents launching or reports the app is damaged, remove the quarantine attribute: bash xattr -cr /Applications/Tsumu.app
  • Open the app and wait for its collection and bundled data to initialize. To make a card manually, open Cards, choose Add, and select a word or sentence card. You can also paste screenshots directly into Workshop (see screenshot shortcuts) or mine words directly from your browser with Yomitan.

Android

  • Requirements: Android 11 (API 30) or later.
  • Installation: Download the release APK (tsumu.apk). Open the APK on your device and permit installation from the browser or file manager when prompted. In Tsumu, use Create → Quick Add for typed text, or Import to choose photos. Android's photo picker gives Tsumu access to the photos you select.

Windows

  • Requirements: 64-bit Windows 10 build 19041 or later.
  • Status: The Windows build is currently under verification while bindings are brought up to date with the core library. Do not rely on Windows steps for production card review until verification is complete.

First card

  1. On macOS open Cards → Add; on Android open Create → Quick Add. Choose a Word Card.
  2. Enter a word in dictionary form, such as 食べる. Add a context sentence if you have one.
  3. Check the reading, definition, and other suggested fields, then save. If there are multiple readings, choose the one you mean.
  4. Find the saved card in Cards. It becomes due at the next midnight in your day boundary timezone.
  5. Return after that boundary and follow Review cards to answer it.

Tsumu does not supply a vocabulary course. Choose words from your reading, use Discover on macOS Today or Android Create, or capture them using Yomitan. See Create and edit cards for images, screenshot shortcuts, sentences, and corrections.