How to Use Picture The Words
Welcome to Picture The Words! Our platform combines visual learning, contextual examples, and interactive tools to help you build lasting vocabulary across multiple languages.
Getting Started: Installing the Browser Extension
On the Chrome Web Store listing. The extension is complete and working. Its Chrome Web Store listing is currently in review, which is Google’s standard process for any extension that reads page content.
You do not need to wait for it. The manual installation below takes about a minute and gives you exactly the same extension — the same code, the same features. When the listing is approved, installing becomes a single click instead, and anything you have saved carries over untouched.
- Download the extension package using the button above.
- Open your browser's extensions page — for Chrome, go to
chrome://extensions(Edge and Brave use the same address, since they're built on the same base as Chrome). - Turn on Developer mode (top right of the page) if you're installing from a downloaded file rather than the Web Store.
- Click Load unpacked and select the unzipped extension folder. The Picture The Words icon will appear in your toolbar.
- Pin the icon so it stays visible, then click it once to confirm it's active.
Good to know before you start:
- Currently built and tested for Chrome and other Chromium-based browsers (Edge, Brave). Firefox and Safari support isn't available yet.
- Word lookups work by hovering over text on a page — there's no need to click or select anything.
- Hover-lookup reads Japanese text on the page and shows the meaning in English.
- The first lookup on a page may take a moment to warm up the dictionary — after that it's instant.
1. Learn with Flashcards
Start by exploring our visual flashcards.
Each flashcard includes:
- A carefully designed illustration that represents the concept.
- The word in your target language.
- Its pronunciation.
- The translation in your native language.
- Related words and word forms to expand your vocabulary.
Study the cards at your own pace or review them regularly to strengthen long-term memory.
2. Use the Visual Dictionary
Need to look up a word quickly?
Simply search for any word or concept in the Visual Dictionary.
Each entry brings together:
- A memorable illustration.
- Pronunciation and audio.
- Meanings and translations.
- Related vocabulary.
- Common word forms and inflections.
- Example sentences showing the word used in context.
The Visual Dictionary is designed to help you understand not just what a word means, but how it is used in everyday language.
3. Learn While You Browse
Install the Picture The Words Browser Extension to turn the web into a language-learning environment.
When reading websites, simply hover over a supported word to instantly see:
- Its illustration.
- Translation.
- Pronunciation and audio.
- Lemma (dictionary form) and inflection.
- Related words.
- Example sentences.
This lets you understand unfamiliar vocabulary without interrupting your reading.
Works alongside Yomitan. If you already use Yomitan for on-page lookups, you can keep using it — the two don't conflict. Yomitan is great for deep dictionary detail; Picture The Words is focused on visual memory and flashcards, so they complement each other well.
4. Save Words to Your Flashcards
Found a useful word while browsing?
With a single click, save it directly to your personal flashcard collection.
Your saved words can then be reviewed later using the same visual flashcards, helping you reinforce vocabulary you've encountered in real-world contexts. Once you log in from the extension's Settings tab, saved words also sync to your account, so the same review deck is available on this website too.
Learn Naturally
Rather than memorising isolated word lists, Picture The Words helps you connect images, sounds, meanings, and real-life usage to create stronger, longer-lasting memories.
Whether you're studying with flashcards, searching the Visual Dictionary, or discovering new words while browsing the web, every interaction builds your vocabulary in a natural and engaging way.