We probably have no requirement for the translation app. We have NEVER needed, nor had, a smart phone or a translator and have never had trouble. We have traveled to Japan annually for the past 20 years - sometimes twice a year, skipping some years - 4-6 weeks per trip. I do participate in several Apple forums and I do plan to ask there, but since they don't know the difficulties with translating Japanese, they probably won't be of much help.

I was just trying to be overly polite by telling you I would check with Apple as you suggested (even though I suspected I probably wouldn't and that they wouldn't be helpful if I did). The only way we could figure out how to get a translation was to copy the characters into Google translate and see what it said - 'boiler room' - aka hot water I am sorry. Last year in Kanazawa there was a sign on a locked door in our bathroom. Are you speaking of the capture the words on the menu in a photo and get a translation? > I thought that feature sounded attractive, but too good to be true. So, you are right - offline it will be worse. I've found Google translate to be moderate at best in translating and only if I go back and forth and rewrite and revise until it believes what I am trying to say, and then it often comes up with a lousy translation. I think, unfortunately in retrospect, that I was just trying to be polite and thankful to nishin91 for offering help and went overboard in being thankful. When asked if you want to remove the downloaded package, tap Remove.You know, I don't think I really planned to call Apple - or ask them for any advice (beyond maybe what they recommend from their own app offerings)

To delete a language from your device: Tap Remove.

To update a language on your device: Next to the language, tap Update.

To upgrade a language to a higher-quality language pack: Next to the language, tap Upgrade.

You’ll get a list of available languages.

To always use mobile data when you can't use Wi-Fi: Tap Use Wi-Fi or mobile network.

To always confirm before you download without Wi-Fi: Tap Ask before downloading.

On your Android phone or tablet, open the Translate app.

If you don’t use Wi-Fi, it may affect your mobile carrier charges. Since language files are small, when you’re not connected to Wi-Fi, you can download them with mobile data. Tip: In the Translate app, your saved languages show up as Downloaded.

If it asks you to download the language file, tap Download.

If it’s not there, the language can’t be downloaded.

At the bottom, select the language you want to download.

Before you download languages, connect to Wi-Fi.

See languages that work with instant camera translations. This lets you translate them without an internet connection.Īfter you’ve downloaded a language, you could be able to translate it by looking at it through your device's camera lens. You can download languages onto your device.

Google translate offline app