Content Updates for August 2026

These are the content changes we made in August 2026.

Additions and Movements

These are all the items we’ve added, moved and removed during August.

Wed, August 5, 2026 (2 additions, 14 movements)

New Items

• 日本史 vocab - added to level 9
• 履歴 vocab - added to level 26

Level Changes

• Level 19: 歴 kanji - moved down to level 9
• Level 19: 史 kanji - moved down to level 9
• Level 19: 歴史 vocab - moved down to level 9
• Level 19: 履 kanji - moved up to level 26
• Level 19: 履く vocab - moved up to level 28
• Level 19: 履歴書 vocab - moved up to level 27
• Level 21: 履き物 vocab - moved up to level 29
• Level 27: 化 / Change radical - moved down to level 6
• Level 27: 靴 kanji - moved down to level 24
• Level 27: 靴 vocab - moved down to level 24
• Level 30: 系 / Lineage radical - moved down to level 24
• Level 30: 系 kanji - moved down to level 24
• Level 30: 〜系 vocab - moved down to level 24
• Level 30: 日系 vocab - moved down to level 24

Content Changes

• 歴’s primary meaning changed from “Continuation” to “History,” and “Continuation” became a warned meaning for 歴.
• 史 kept “History” as its primary meaning.

Reasoning

• 日本史 was added to introduce the productive pattern “〜史 = history of 〜.”
• 履 moved later so it can be supported by more relevant vocabulary we added like 履歴 (this batch) and 草履 (a later batch).
• 歴 changed to “History” because it better reflects how learners encounter the kanji in real vocabulary like 歴史, 学歴, 履歴, and 履歴書.
• 歴 and 史 are both taught as “History” in the same level, followed by 歴史. While uncommon, this mirrors existing patterns in WaniKani where paired kanji form a compound with the same meaning.
• 靴 was moved earlier so learners encounter “shoes” before learning 履 (footwear).
• 系-related items were moved earlier so learners encounter 〜系 before learning vocabulary like 草食, which was added in the following batch.

Wed, August 12, 2026 (3 additions, 7 movements)

New Items

• 世界史 vocab - added to level 10
• 草食 vocab - added to level 25
• 草原 vocab - added to level 25

Level Changes

• Level 9: 使う vocab - moved up to level 12
• Level 11: 使い方 vocab - moved up to level 13
• Level 19: 学歴 vocab - moved down to level 10
• Level 26: 復 kanji - moved down to level 19
• Level 26: 復習 vocab - moved down to level 19
• Level 26: 回復 vocab - moved down to level 19
• Level 27: 靴下 vocab - moved down to level 24

Reasoning

• 世界史 reinforces the same “〜史” pattern introduced with 日本史.
• 草原 and 草食 introduce 草’s on’yomi earlier and more naturally.
• 使う and 使い方 are adjusted slightly to make room for the new level 9 structure.
• 学歴 becomes easier to learn earlier thanks to 歴’s new meaning.
• 復 and related vocabulary are moved earlier now that their components are already available.
• 靴下 is moved closer to 靴 to keep related vocabulary grouped together.

Wed, August 19, 2026 (4 additions, 7 movements)

New Items

• 史上初 vocab - added to level 16
• 草履 vocab - added to level 26
• 歴然 vocab - added to level 56
• 女史 vocab - added to level 57

Level Changes

• Level 9: 天使 vocab - moved up to level 10
• Level 9: 使用 vocab - moved up to level 10
• Level 9: 使 kanji - moved up to level 10
• Level 27: 長靴 vocab - moved down to level 25
• Level 27: 靴屋 vocab - moved down to level 26
• Level 30: 太陽系 vocab - moved down to level 25
• Level 28: 回復する vocab - moved down to level 20

Reasoning

• 史上初 is a common expression that builds naturally on 史 and 初.
• 草履 reinforces 履’s “footwear” meaning and reading, and teaches an unusual, hard-to-guess reading of 草 (そう).
• 歴然 was added as a high-level word whose meaning is difficult to guess despite an easy reading.
• 女史 introduces a more specialized use of 史 seen in formal or literary contexts.
• 使-related items are shifted up level because 使 uses the radical 史 as a component, and we wanted to keep level 9 focused on 史 items.
• 長靴 and 靴屋 is moved closer to 靴 for better grouping.
• 回復する is moved closer to 回復 to improve learning flow.

Other Updates

These are all the other changes we made to WaniKani content in August.

Radicals

• Change - Added “transform” to the allow list, updated the mnemonic, and added radical illustration.
• Hot Pepper - Added “propaganda” to the warning list, and updated the mnemonic.
• Origin - Added “ex,” “former,” “beginning,” “former time,” “root,” “source,” “cause,” “capital,” “cost,” and “investment” to the warning list.
• Blue - Updated the mnemonic and added radical illustration.
• Half - Updated the mnemonic and added radical illustration.
• Next - Updated the mnemonic and added radical illustration.
• Simultaneous - Updated the mnemonic and added radical illustration.
• Spear - Updated the mnemonic and added radical illustration.
• Clothes - Updated the mnemonic and added radical illustration.
• Dollar - Updated the mnemonic and added radical illustration.
• Football - Updated the mnemonic and added radical illustration.
• Saw - Updated the mnemonic and added radical illustration.
• Demon - Updated the mnemonic and added radical illustration.
• Leather - Updated the mnemonic and added radical illustration.
• Restaurant - Updated the mnemonic and added radical illustration.
• Vines - Updated the mnemonic and added radical illustration.

Kanji

• 当 - Added “bright” to the block list.
• 化 - Updated the radical combination from Leader + Spoon to Change, and updated the meaning mnemonic, meaning hint, reading mnemonic, and reading hint.
• 歴 - Changed the primary meaning to “history”, moved “continuation” to the allow list, and updated the meaning mnemonic, meaning hint, reading mnemonic, and reading hint.
• 憧 - Added 憶 to the visually similar kanji list.
• 壁 - Updated the meaning hint, reading mnemonic, and reading hint.
• 元 - Added “ex,” “former,” “beginning,” “former time,” “root,” “source,” and “cause” to the allow list, and added “capital,” “cost,” and “investment” to the warning list.
• 家 - Added “professional” as an alternative meaning, and updated the meaning mnemonic.
• 良 - Added “food” to the block list.
• 荒 - Updated the meaning mnemonic, meaning hint, reading mnemonic, and reading hint.
• 轄 - Updated the meaning mnemonic and reading hint.
• 吟 - Updated the meaning mnemonic, meaning hint, reading mnemonic, and reading hint.
• 勉 - Updated the reading mnemonic and hint.
• 梅 - Added “Japanese apricot” as an alternative meaning, added “ume tree,” “Japanese plum tree,” “Japanese apricot tree,” “Chinese plum,” “Chinese apricot,” “plum,” “apricot,” “Chinese plum tree,” “Chinese apricot tree,” “plum tree,” and “apricot tree” to the allow list, and updated the meaning mnemonic, meaning hint, reading mnemonic, and reading hint.
• 膝 - Added しつ to the warning list.
• 淀 - Added てん and でん to the alternative readings list.
• 赴 - Added 徒 to the visually similar kanji list.
• 万 - Changed the radical combination from Leaf + Sword to Ground + Prison, updated the meaning mnemonic, meaning hint, reading mnemonic, and reading hint.
• 代 - Added “era” as an alternative meaning, moved “replace,” “period,” and “age” to the allow list, added “substitution” and “replacement” to the allow list, added “fee” and “charge” to the warning list, and updated the meaning mnemonic, meaning hint, reading mnemonic, and reading hint.
• 数 - Updated the reading mnemonic and reading hint.
• 別 - Changed the radical combination from Mouth + Sword + Knife, to Mouth + Prison + Knife, updated the meaning mnemonic, meaning hint, reading mnemonic, and reading hint.
• 成 - Changed the radical combination from Drunkard + Sword, to Prison + Drunkard, updated the meaning mnemonic, meaning hint, reading mnemonic, and reading hint.
• 腕 - Added “ability,” “skill,” “talent,” and “competence” to the allow list, and added “strength” and “physical strength” to the warning list.
• 枢 - Updated the meaning hint, reading mnemonic, and reading hint.
• 遮 - Updated the reading mnemonic and reading hint.
• 崇 - Updated the meaning mnemonic, meaning hint, reading mnemonic, and reading hint.

Vocabulary

• 要る - Added “don’t need” to the block list.
• 歴史 - Updated the meaning explanation.
• 横 - Replaced one of the context sentences and updated the translation of another.
• 政府 - Fixed an error in one of the collocations, updated one of the context sentence translations.
• 出席 - Added “Non-Attendance” to the block list.
• 履歴書 - Changed the primary meaning to “resume”, added “résumé” as an alternative meaning, moved “resumé,” “curriculum vitae,” and “personal history” to the allow list, added “c.v.,” “job history,” “work history,” and “employment history” to the allow list, added “academic history” to the warning list, and updated the meaning explanation.
• 履く - Updated the meaning explanation, added five common word combinations, and updated two context sentence translations.
• 履き物 - Added two common word combinations, and updated one context sentence translation.
• 乏しい - Added “meagre,” “scant,” “scanty,” “inadequate,” “insufficient” to the allow list, added “sparse,” “lack,” “scarcity,” “short,” “short on,” “little,” “very little,” “shortage,” “few,” “very few,” “limited” to the warning list, and updated the meaning explanation and reading explanation.
• 欠乏 - Added “run short,” “running short,” and “lacking” to the allow list, and added “run out” and “running out” to the warning list.
• 遍歴 - Added “journeying” and “wandering” as alternative meanings, moved “history” and “journey” to the allow list, added “accumulated experiences” to the allow list, and updated the meaning explanation.
• 堕胎 - Updated the meaning explanation.
• 鼓膜 - Updated the context sentence translation.
• こんにちは - Added “good day,” “goodday,” and “hi” to the allow list.
• 一台 - Added three common word combinations.
• 二台 - Added three common word combinations.
• 五台 - Added three common word combinations.
• 十台 - Added three common word combinations.
• 早々 - Added “earlier than usual” to the allow list.
• 平ら - Updated one of the context sentence translations.
• 先日 - Moved “other day” to the allow list.
• 元 - Added “beginning,” “former time,” “root,” “source,” and “cause” to the allow list, and added “capital,” “cost,” and “investment” to the warning list.
• 心理学 - Updated a context sentence translation.
• 市町村 - Updated the meaning and reading explanations.
• この前 - Added “other day” to the allow list.
• 作者 - Changed the primary meaning to “creator”, moved “author” to be an alternative meaning, added “artist” as an alternative meaning, moved “writer” to the allow list, added “composer,” “playwright,” and “maker” to the warning list, updated the meaning explanation and reading explanation, updated four common word combinations, and updated one context sentence translation.
• 良い - Added えい to the warning list.
• 新た - Moved “newly” and “freshly” to the allow list, added “anew” to the allow list, and updated the meaning explanation and reading explanation.
• 使う - Added one context sentence translation.
• 寒い - Added “cold weather” as an alternative meaning, added さぶい to the warning list, added “chilly,” “cool,” and “freezing” to the allow list, updated the meaning explanation and reading explanation, added two common word combinations, and added five context sentence translations.
• 指先 - Updated the meaning explanation and reading explanation.
• 使い方 - Added one context sentence translation.
• 気持ち悪い - Changed the primary meaning to “unpleasant”, added “creepy” and “feeling sick” as alternative meanings, moved “bad feeling,” “feeling bad,” and “feeling terrible” to the allow list, added “feel terrible,” “feel sick,” “yuck,” “ew,” “disturbing,” “nasty,” “disgusting,” “yucky,” “unsettling,” “unnerving,” “feel unwell,” and “feeling unwell” to the allow list, added “revolting,” “repulsive,” “nauseated,” “feeling nauseous,” “nauseous,” “uncomfortable,” “annoying,” and “frustrating” to the warning list, added “pleasant” and “feeling good” to the block list, updated the meaning explanation and reading explanation, added seven common word combinations, and updated four context sentence translations.
• 作家 - Changed the primary meaning to “creator”, added “artist” as an alternative meaning, moved “writer” to the allow list, updated the meaning explanation and reading explanation, updated one context sentence translation, and added one context sentence translation.
• 生じる - Added “to thrive” to the block list.
• 不味い - Added “unfavorable” as an alternative meaning, moved “unskillful” to the warning list, added “unpalatable,” “unsavory,” “unsavoury,” “unpleasant,” “troublesome,” “unfavourable,” “problematic,” and “tastes bad” to the allow list, added “unskilful,” “awkward,” “ugly,” “unattractive,” “inconvenient,” “inopportune,” “awful,” “terrible,” “bad,” “not good,” and “no good” to the warning list, updated the meaning explanation, and added five context sentence translations.
• 洗う - Updated the meaning explanation and reading explanation.
• 臭い - Added “to stink,” “to smell,” “reeking,” “to reek,” and “smelling” to the allow list, added “smells fishy” and “cheesy” to the warning list, updated the meaning explanation, added ten common word combinations, and added two context sentence translations.
• 敵 - Added one context sentence translation.
• 振り仮名 - Updated the meaning explanation.
• 冷たい - Added “cold thing,” “icy,” and “freezing” to the allow list, added つべたい to the warning list, added “chilly” to the warning list, updated the meaning explanation and reading explanation, added nine common word combinations, and added four context sentence translations.
• 怖い - Added “scared” as an alternative meaning, added “frightening,” “frightened,” “afraid,” “feel afraid,” “feeling afraid,” “feel scared,” “feeling scared,” “spooky,” “eerie,” “I’m afraid,” and “I’m scared” to the allow list, added “fearsome,” “dread,” “awesome,” “awful,” “horrible,” and “horrifying” to the warning list, updated the meaning explanation and reading explanation, added nine common word combinations, and added two context sentence translations.
• 懐かしい - Added “missed” as an alternative meaning, moved “nostalgia” to the warning list, added “good old,” “fondly remembered,” “wistful,” “brings back memories,” “bringing back memories,” “feels nostalgic,” “feeling nostalgic,” “throwback,” and “beloved” to the allow list, added “yearned for,” “longed for,” “dear,” “familiar,” “fond,” “sweet,” and “i remember this” to the warning list, updated the meaning explanation, and added four context sentence translations.
• 恐い - Changed the primary meaning to “frightening”, moved “scary” to be an alternative meaning, moved “I’m afraid,” “I’m scared,” and “eerie” to the allow list, added “scared,” “frightened,” “fearful,” “fearsome,” “afraid,” “feel afraid,” “feeling afraid,” “feel scared,” “feeling scared,” “terrible,” “terrifying,” “awful,” “horrible,” “horrifying,” and “spooky” to the allow list, added “fierce,” “stern,” “strict,” “dread,” and “awesome” to the warning list, updated the meaning explanation and reading explanation, added ten common word combinations, and added four context sentence translations.
• 簡単 - Added one context sentence translation.
• 油断 - Added one context sentence translation.
• 遠慮 - Added “holding back” as an alternative meaning, moved “decline” to the allow list, added “declining,” “refrain,” “refraining,” “hesitating,” and “reservation” to the allow list, added “passing,” “passing on,” and “avoiding” to the warning list, and updated the meaning explanation.
• 遠慮する - Moved “to restrain” to the warning list, added “to pass,” “to pass on,” and “to avoid” to the warning list, and updated the meaning explanation and reading explanation.
• 獲物 - Changed the primary meaning to “prey”, moved “spoils” to be an alternative meaning, moved “trophy” and “game” to the allow list, added “catch,” “kill,” “loot,” and “plunder” to the allow list, updated the meaning explanation and reading explanation, and added three context sentence translations.
• 妖しい - Added “bewitching” and “eerie” as alternative meanings, moved “charming” to the allow list, added “alluring,” “seductive,” “mesmerizing,” and “enigmatic” to the allow list, added “dubious,” “suspicious,” “questionable,” “shady,” “dodgy,” “fishy,” “sexy,” “uncanny,” “magical,” “supernatural,” “sinister,” and “otherworldly” to the warning list, updated the meaning explanation and reading explanation, added five common word combinations, and added four context sentence translations.
• 透ける - Changed the primary meaning to “to be see-through”, moved “to be transparent” to be an alternative meaning, updated the meaning explanation and reading explanation, added four common word combinations, and added three context sentence translations.
• 拠点 - Changed the primary meaning to “base”, added “base of operations” as an alternative meaning, added “foothold” and “footing” to the allow list, moved “position” and “location” to the warning list, added “site,” “center,” and “stronghold” to the warning list, and updated the meaning explanation.
• 逃れる - Added one context sentence translation.
• 透き通る - Added “to be translucent” as an alternative meaning, updated the meaning explanation, added five common word combinations, and added one context sentence translation.
• 荒い - Updated the reading explanation.
• 袋 - Added one context sentence translation.
• 詐欺 - Added one context sentence translation.
• 官邸 - Added one context sentence translation.
• お風呂 - Added one context sentence translation.
• 銀杏 - Updated the reading explanation.
• 粗い - Updated the reading explanation.
• 神髄 - Updated the meaning explanation.
• 更迭 - Updated the context sentence’s translation.
• 容赦 - Changed the primary meaning to “forgiveness”, moved “pardon” to be an alternative meaning, moved “leniency” to the allow list, added “forgive” and “pardoning” to the allow list, added “tolerance,” “tolerate,” “overlooking,” “overlook,” “going easy,” and “go easy” to the warning list, and updated the meaning explanation.
• 研究室 - Added “research lab” to the allow list.
• 暑い - Changed the primary meaning to “hot”, moved “hot weather” to be an alternative meaning, added “very warm” to the allow list, added “sweltering,” “warm,” “sultry,” “torrid,” “scorching,” “blistering,” “roasting,” “boiling,” and “toasty” to the warning list, updated the meaning explanation, added five common word combinations, and added five context sentence translations.
• 熱い - Changed the primary meaning to “hot”, added “hot to the touch” and “passionate” as alternative meanings, moved “hot thing” to the allow list, added “heated thing,” “heated,” “enthusiastic,” “zealous,” and “fired up” to the allow list, added “intense,” “warm,” “hot weather,” “lit,” “fire,” “hype,” “sick,” “dope,” “awesome,” “amazing,” and “exciting” to the warning list, updated the meaning explanation and reading explanation, added three common word combinations, and added three context sentence translations.
• 外面 - Moved そとづら to be the primary reading, moved がいめん to be an alternative reading, added “outward demeanor” as an alternative meaning, moved “outward appearance” to the allow list, added “external demeanor,” “outward bearing,” and “external bearing” to the allow list, and updated the meaning explanation and reading explanation.
• 梅 - Added “Japanese apricot” as an alternative meaning, added “ume tree,” “Japanese plum tree,” “Japanese apricot tree,” “Chinese plum,” “Chinese apricot,” “plum,” “apricot,” “Chinese plum tree,” “Chinese apricot tree,” “plum tree,” and “apricot tree” to the allow list, and updated the meaning explanation.
• 梅酒 - Added “Japanese plum wine” and “Japanese plum liqueur” as alternative meanings, moved “plum wine,” “plum liquor,” and “umeshu” to the allow list, added “plum liqueur,” “ume liqueur,” “ume liquor,” “apricot wine,” “apricot liqueur,” “apricot liquor,” “Japanese apricot wine,” “Japanese apricot liqueur,” and “Japanese apricot liquor” to the allow list, and updated the meaning explanation.
• 梅干し - Added “pickled Japanese plum” as an alternative meaning, moved “pickled plums” to the allow list, added “pickled Japanese plums,” “pickled plum,” “pickled Japanese apricots,” “pickled apricots,” “pickled Japanese apricot,” and “pickled apricot” to the allow list, updated the meaning explanation, and updated two context sentence translations.
• 構える - Updated the meaning explanation.
• 苗床 - Changed the primary meaning to “seedbed”, added “nursery bed” as an alternative meaning, added “seedling bed” and “seed bed” to the allow list, moved “nursery” to the warning list, and updated the meaning explanation and reading explanation.
• 進呈 - Changed the primary meaning to “presenting”, added “giving” as an alternative meaning, moved “presentation” to the allow list, added “gifting” and “give” to the allow list, added “gift,” “present,” “award,” and “awarding” to the warning list, updated the meaning explanation, and added three context sentence translations.
• 奉仕 - Added “serving” as an alternative meaning, added “serve” to the allow list, moved “attendance” and “ministry” to the warning list, added “dedication,” “dedicate,” “give back,” “giving back,” “work,” “working,” “volunteer,” and “volunteering” to the warning list, updated the meaning explanation, added ten common word combinations, and added four context sentence translations.
• 暁 - Updated one context sentence translation.
• 三十代 - Added “your thirties,” “your 30s,” and “your 30’s” to the allow list, and updated the meaning explanation.
• 〜丁目 - Changed the primary meaning to “city district”, added “chome” as an alternative meaning, moved “town district,” “district,” and “district of a town” to the allow list, added “choume,” “block,” “district of a city,” “city neighborhood,” and “neighborhood of a city” to the allow list, added “street,” “street number,” and “neighborhood” to the warning list, updated the meaning explanation and reading explanation, updated four common word combinations, and updated three context sentence translations.
• 時代 - Updated the meaning explanation.
• 一番目 - Updated the meaning explanation.
• 大学院生 - Added “graduate school student” to the allow list.
• 一代 - Updated the meaning explanation.
• 近代的 - Updated the meaning explanation.
• 外面 - Added “outer surface” to the allow list.
• 駅弁 - Added “station box lunch” to the allow list.
• 年代順 - Updated the meaning explanation.
• 肩 - Added one context sentence translation.
• 腕 - Added “ability” and “skill” as alternative meanings, added “talent,” “competence,” “strength,” and “physical strength” to the allow list, updated the meaning explanation, and added four context sentence translations.
• 右腕 - Added “right-hand person,” “right-hand man,” and “right-hand woman” as alternative meanings, and updated the meaning explanation.
• 幼年時代 - Updated the meaning explanation.
• 筋肉 - Added one context sentence translation.
• 潰す - Added “to rush” to the block list.
• 潰れる - Added “to be rushed” to the block list.
• 束縛 - Moved “shackles” and “confinement” to the allow list, added “fetters,” “yoke,” “tying down,” “tie down,” “constraint,” “constrain,” “restricting,” “restrict,” “restraining,” and “restrain” to the allow list, added “possession,” “possessiveness,” “possess,” “control,” “controlling,” “chain,” and “chains” to the warning list, updated the meaning explanation, added nine common word combinations, and added two context sentence translations.
• 醸造 - Added “brew” to the allow list, moved “distillation” to the warning list, added “distilling,” “distil,” “distill,” “make,” “making,” “produce,” and “producing” to the warning list, updated the meaning explanation, added nine common word combinations, and added three context sentence translations.