Rated 5 out of 5 stars

My favourite Firefox add-on is Rikaichan. As a student learning Japanese at a university level, I spend a lot of time reading Japanese texts online. I used to copy the kanji and words I didn't know, open a new tab, look up the Jim Breen online dictionary, paste the text, search... now, with the Rikaichan add-on, you can simply hover over the text, and BAM, there's the translation!!

Of course, this is brilliant for when you see a kanji that you don't know how to pronounce, plus it tells you right away if the word you've looked up is a name; in Jim Breen, you have to activate a separate dictionary. Furthermore, when looking up verbs that are in any form other than the dictionary form, it tells you explicitly what form of the verb it is. For example, if you look up 食べさせる, it will come up with the dictionary form 食べる(causative), which is actually more powerful than the Jim Breen website, which just directs you to the dictionary form without telling you the original verb form.

For anyone wishing to experience to Japanese online, nothing beats the simplicity of using the Rikaichan Firefox add-on.

This review is for a previous version of the add-on (2.04.1-signed). 

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

This is one of the two best add-ons I ever acquired. I use it very often and it is SUPER useful. It has a vast dictionary, and the feature that lets me hover over kanji to see the pronunciation and reading has been ever so valuable to me. Thanks so much, Rikaichan! I give your add-on a 10 of 10 rating!

This review is for a previous version of the add-on (2.04.1-signed). 

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

I love it! Arigatou

This review is for a previous version of the add-on (2.03.1-signed). 

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Really useful! Wish there was an android version.

This review is for a previous version of the add-on (2.03.1-signed). 

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Awesome!

This review is for a previous version of the add-on (2.02.1-signed). 

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Really great add-ons!! Really save time when translating kanji and japanese characters!

This review is for a previous version of the add-on (2.02.1-signed). 

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Just works, absolutely great tool. Great for kanji studying, reading, learning.
Many thanks to the author.

This review is for a previous version of the add-on (2.02.1-signed). 

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

@abelity, it's already compatible with FF4, did you not notice?

This review is for a previous version of the add-on (2.01.1-signed). 

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

This is an extremely useful add on. I've been using it for years now and was never disappointed once. Cant wait for a working version for FF 4, I'm seriously considering downgrading my FF so I can use this add on again.

This review is for a previous version of the add-on (2.01.1-signed). 

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

will be very useful include a romaji pronunciation next to hiragana text (it's the same, i know, but i don't remember all hiragana alphabet, will be more faster reading with the western alphabet)... but still is a very good tool.

This review is for a previous version of the add-on (2.01.1-signed). 

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

This is very useful, you have no idea! Try it now!

This review is for a previous version of the add-on (2.01.1-signed). 

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Rikaichan is up there with Firebug as my absolute favorite, indispensable addons. I never thought I'd need this as much as I do but to a non-native Japanese speaker with no Japanese acquaintences (or tv for that matter), it is truly essential. Just like user scantly I, too, type a word in a text field for a quick lookup. I now don't need google language tools to fill in forms in Japanese and it takes me much less time to get an overview on what is what on any Japanese page.

This review is for a previous version of the add-on (2.01.1-signed). 

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Excellent!

This review is for a previous version of the add-on (2.01.1-signed). 

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Life saver extension. I really like that it tells you how the word is conjugated. I often write in words I hear people saying in a text field to get a quick translation of the word I want to know.

This review is for a previous version of the add-on (2.00). 

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

Version 1.09 is corrupt. Use version 1.08 -- it installs.

This review is for a previous version of the add-on (1.09). 

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

nice and very helpful, thanks!

This review is for a previous version of the add-on (1.09). 

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

Wonderful utility since the day it was born. Unfortunately, using Firefox 3.6.3 and rikaichan 1.09 with no additional MS or Logitech, middle-mouse button autoscroll causes pop-ups to stop working, which can be a bit of a nuisance.

This review is for a previous version of the add-on (1.09). 

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Estoy agradecida de que lo crearan, es una herramienta super útil.
Altamente recomendable.

This review is for a previous version of the add-on (1.09). 

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Since I installed the last update, I can't write in Japanes, something seems to be messed up with my IME support and I'm quite sure it's about rikaichan's last update

This review is for a previous version of the add-on (1.08). 

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

rikai-chan stands for "理解 ちゃん" ? ;-)

This review is for a previous version of the add-on (1.08).