Rubiyomi helps you read Japanese in games without leaving the game.
Press ⌥ Space and drag around the text you want to read. Rubiyomi opens a small window with its reading and controls for more help.
A lookup takes place in a small window over what you are reading.
The first result shows the Japanese and its reading. Open Meaning for a definition, or use the other controls in the same window.
The standard lookup runs on your Mac.
Rubiyomi captures a still of your display so you can select text. That still stays on your Mac. Optional online features are off by default and can send the text or image you select for processing when you use them.
- On your Mac
- Ordinary lookups: the still, the selected text, readings, word help, and spoken Japanese.
- Optional, off by default
- Online help can send selected text or a cropped image when you use it.
About the price
Rubiyomi
- RequiresmacOS 14+ (2023) · Apple Silicon
- LanguageJapanese
- UpdatesLifetime on your purchase channel
- Direct seatsUp to 3 Macs
One-time purchase. You get Rubiyomi plus optional AI when you enable it. Direct buyers get a license key (shown after checkout and emailed). The DMG is free to download; activation needs that license. Mac App Store buyers use their Apple ID — no pasteable key.
Why it exists
I made Rubiyomi because I kept leaving games to look up Japanese. I wanted to make that interruption smaller.
Questions
Is there free hiragana and katakana practice?
Yes. Free hiragana practice and free katakana practice run in the browser. No account. No ad networks.
Which Macs does Rubiyomi support?
Rubiyomi requires macOS 14 or later (2023 and later) on a Mac with Apple Silicon. Intel Macs are not supported. Japanese only.
Will it work with my game?
Compatibility varies by game. Fullscreen modes and the way a game handles other windows can affect Peek. See Help for capture tips and known limitations.
Does it pause the game?
Rubiyomi captures a still of your screen for the lookup. The game may continue running underneath.
Does it translate the whole screen?
Rubiyomi helps with the Japanese you select rather than replacing all of the game’s text with English.
Does it need the internet or AI?
Readings and basic word help work offline without AI. Optional online help needs an internet connection and is off by default. Full-sentence translation has additional system and setup requirements, explained in Help.
Does it send anything from my screen?
Normal lookups stay on your Mac. Optional online features can send selected text or a cropped image for processing when used. See Privacy for what is sent and how it is handled.
Why does it need Screen Recording permission?
macOS requires this permission so Rubiyomi can capture a still of your display for you to select text. It does not continuously record video.
What does the purchase include?
One-time purchase of Rubiyomi on a supported Mac, with lifetime updates on the channel you bought. Optional AI is included when you enable it (rate-limited, off by default). Direct: license key for up to 3 Macs, verified online at least every 7 days. Mac App Store (when live): Apple ID ownership, no Rubiyomi seat limit. See Terms.
Where is my license? How do I update?
Direct: the key is shown on the success page and emailed after checkout. Paste it in the app. If you lose it, recover your license with the purchase email. Re-download the latest DMG from this site for updates — your Keychain license stays. App Store: updates through the Mac App Store; no pasteable key.