Perapera is a pop-up dictionary and study tool for Japanese and Chinese. It works as a free add-on for Firefox and Chrome.
I started studying Chinese in around 2005 and one of my roommates at the time (we were teaching English in Japan) challenged me to make this plugin after I made a comment that this sort of software would be the best way to study Chinese. He bet me I couldn’t make it, so I took 2 weeks and created the first version. Once it was done I thought many students of Chinese and Japanese would find this useful as well, so released it on Firefox.
Now 6 years later, I am actually back in Japan and so is he, so in 2011 we joined up to create this new version and started Perapera Language Tools. We have many ideas for more optimal ways to study different languages (we are language geeks) and are working on different apps to make life easier for students of languages, just like how this plugin has helped people for Chinese and Japanese. Look out for some exciting new developments in the near future! Follow us on Facebook for news and updates on our ongoing projects.
Just downloaded your extension. Are you the same Justin who used to work at JTOC with me, but had to leave to take care of his sick Mom?
Nice work on perapera-kun. Was wondering if you might be interested in discussing ways of working together.
This is the best Chinese language learning tool I have seen. One of the difficulty for Chinese learners is how to segment the sentence into words, this tool does it for you automatically. I have recommended this tool to all my friends whose kids are studying Chinese, since I don’t know their kids directly. Way to go! Big Thanks!
You’re welcome
Thanks for the comment.
Hey Perapera gang, excellent tool. I just stumbled across your site and have only been using it since this afternoon, but I’m impressed to say the least. I hope you don’t take offense to this question, but what are the odds of an Ipad app in the future? Excuse my ignorance, as I know nothing about what it takes to develop something like this, but I have to ask. I’m a big user of nciku.com, which is a very useful tool, but their tooltip dictionary doesn’t work with the latest versions of Firefox (my browser of choice), hence the relief of coming across your work. Anyway, thanks again – you are doing a great job.
JB
Hi Jeff. Thanks for commenting! An iPad app is something we’d love to do someday. So many things to do, so little time
I was wondering if a chrome extension would be coming out at any point. If you haven’t made any plans, would you like to work together to make the port?
Hi! Yes it’s very much in our plans for the near future. Watch this space!
Hi! Big fan on your Chinese PeraPera on FF. But was also wondering if a version will be done for Safari as well? Chinese PeraPera is the only reason why I stay with FF instead of using Safari completely.
Hi David. Thanks for commenting!
At the moment our focus is on developing a Chrome version of PeraPera due to the tons of mails we get about this. If there is enough demand on here we will consider a Safari version too. People?
Im having problems with the new version. My icon or on/off switch went from the default icon (the default icon you can select in the options) to a mix-match of different symbols that don’t do anything. I try clicking on it to activate pera but nothing, and then I try to activate it by right-clicking and pressing the perapera Chinese button, but nothing.
I really enjoyed this add-on but I cant use it now. HELP!!!!!!
Hi. Kinda hard to know why that is happening. Are you using Firefox 8? If not, update your browser and try reinstalling perapera.
Yea I have the latest version of Firefox and I’ve uninstalled and reinstalled the new version of perapeara a couple times. Usually right after I reinstall pera, I have this small icon in the top right hand corner of my screen (similar to the older versions), it works and everythings ok. But as soon as I close my browser and reopen firefox it ether goes away (happened one time) or turns into several small white icons all bunched together (looks like a the go back, home, reload, and other buttons that are part of firefox). Any help?
Any way U can shoot you a screen shot to help figure this out?
Thanks
Sorry “I” can shoot you a screen shot to help out.
UPDATE!!!!
I just installed an old version of firefox (version 7 something) and it fixed the problem.
No longer do I have a random collection of icons where the pera icon should be, AND the translator works once its activated.
Must be a compatibility problem with both versions.
I’ve been using your PeraPeraKun software for a few years now, and I have to say I love it.
After reading your “about” section on your website, I am quite impressed with what you’ve been able to accomplish. I have a similar background, although chronologically reversed, I began learning Chinese first about five years ago, and have only recently gotten into Computer Science. I am curious about a few things:
How have you learned/taught yourself to program such a comprehensive/complex program such as PeraPeraKun. I am really interested in improving my knowledge of programming and would appreciate any tips you may have for me.
Also, I’m guessing you’ve already mastered the language to have been able to develop a dictionary of it! How did you do it so quickly?
Anyway,
Fan of the product!
Keep up the good work,
Fellow student of Chinese language
Hi Daniel. Thanks very much for the comment! The dictionary is open source and not developed by us. As for the programming, I have been tinkering with programs since I was a teenager and it’s been something of a hobby. Programming is something I enjoy..at least most of the time!
Having a pop-up would be perfect in an e-reader because it’s hard to work on a computer.
Could I install and use perapera chinese in an e-reader Linux operated Pocketbook 603?
Or any other e-reader?
Thanks for more info
Mitia
Hi Mitia. I’m not sure it will work, although you could try it out in Firefox for Linux. I would also love to use Perapera for myself in an e-reader. Maybe someday! For the time being, I do my “study reading” on the PC and my relaxed, leisurely reading with books or my iPad. Works well enough for me.
Hi there!
Chinese Perapera has been so far the most useful Chinese tool I have used. I´ve just got an Android phone for xmas and I wanted to read the Tencent News, when I realised I can´t really use this great tool. Haven´t you been thinking of a mobile version of Perapera? Maybe one that I could use even “outside” Firefox?
Anyway, great tool and thanks for helping my studies!
)))
Wishing you a happy new year!
Cathy,
We would love to do some kind of mobile app in the future. Mainly it’s down to finding the time…Thank you for commenting! Happy New Year!
hi there!
I just downloaded the add-on and so far really like it, there is just one thing that kind of bothers me. It’s great that each tone has a colour, that’s how I learn them too, problem though is, your add-on uses the same colours I use for other tones than I do, so I was wondering if, in future, it might be possible for my to select the colours I want a tone to have?
Thanks a lot and Happy New Year
Hi! This has been raised by a number of people so we are going to add colour customisation in the next update. A Happy New 2012 to you too!
Two questions: (1) what’s the relationship between Perapera and Rikaichan or the original idea, Todd Rudick’s rikai.com? (2) Is there a way for others to build upon your code to create solutions for other languages?
Pingback: PeraPera Finally Released for Google Chrome | Chinese Hacks
Guys– will Perepera work on the now-latest FF10? Honestly, they just keep badgering me wih updates. All I am on Firefox for is to use Perapera, or I too would be on Safari!! LOL
will post over at your FB page too.
thanks
Have commented on the FB comment but I will answer here too. An update for 10 will be released in the near future but for now please continue with Firefox 9….