At a glance
Install LinguaCap in Chrome, sign in and play an episode on crunchyroll.com with subtitles on. LinguaCap reads the subtitle track and adds a translation into your language. If you are learning Japanese, Crunchyroll’s tracks will not match the Japanese audio, so load a Japanese .srt or .vtt file for the episode in the extension, or use a service that offers Japanese subtitles.
What you can learn on Crunchyroll
| You are learning | What works | Tip |
|---|---|---|
| Japanese | Japanese audio with your own Japanese .srt or .vtt file | Netflix offers Japanese subtitles for many anime |
| English, Spanish, Portuguese, French or German | The Crunchyroll subtitle track in that language plus a LinguaCap translation | This is reading practice: the audio stays Japanese |
| The language of a dub | Dubbed audio with a matching subtitle track, where Crunchyroll offers one | Check that the text follows what the voices say |
How to turn on dual subtitles on Crunchyroll
- Add LinguaCap to a Chromium browser such as Chrome, Edge or Brave, and sign in.
- Open crunchyroll.com, start an episode and choose a subtitle language in the player.
- LinguaCap shows that line with a translation into your native language. Open the LinguaCap settings to change the order, size or style.
- Click a word to see its translation in context and save it to your dictionary.
Streaming players change from time to time. If LinguaCap does not appear, reload the page with subtitles switched on and see the manual for troubleshooting.
Learning Japanese: bring your own subtitles
To learn Japanese you need Japanese text that matches the Japanese audio. Crunchyroll rarely provides it, but the LinguaCap extension can add a subtitle file to the video in the current tab. Find a Japanese .srt or .vtt file for the episode (the extension links to OpenSubtitles) and upload it as the first subtitle. Add a second file, such as English, as the translation line, or let LinguaCap translate.
Downloaded files are often a little early or late. Use the synchronisation offset in the extension: a positive value shows captions later, a negative value earlier. The file stays only in the current tab until you reload the page.
- Upload works when LinguaCap finds a video player on the page.
- Choose a file made for the same release, so the episode length matches.
- Japanese files often use kanji without readings; click a word to hear it and see its translation.
Where else to find Japanese subtitles
Netflix offers Japanese subtitles for many anime series and films, which often makes it the easiest place to learn Japanese from anime with dual subtitles; its subtitle menu shows a selection of languages based on your region and profile language. Follow the Netflix guide and pick the Japanese track. On YouTube, official clips, trailers and Japanese creators often have Japanese captions too.
A routine for one anime episode
- Watch the opening scene with both lines to get the context.
- Pause at short, everyday lines such as greetings, reactions and requests, and save them as phrases.
- Replay a line at a slower speed and repeat it aloud with Shadowing.
- Watch the rest of the episode for fun, then review the saved phrases as flashcards the next day.
Anime is full of character voices and dramatic speech that people rarely use in real life. Our guide to learning Japanese with anime explains how to choose shows and which phrases are worth saving.
Frequently asked questions
Does Crunchyroll have Japanese subtitles?
Rarely. Crunchyroll mainly offers translated subtitles. To learn Japanese, load a Japanese .srt or .vtt file in the LinguaCap extension, or choose a title on Netflix with Japanese subtitles.
Can I see two subtitles on Crunchyroll at once?
Yes, on a computer with the LinguaCap extension in a Chromium browser: the subtitle track you pick plus a translation, or two subtitle files you upload.
Does it work in the Crunchyroll app?
No. The Crunchyroll apps for phones and TVs cannot load browser extensions.
Is it free?
Dual subtitles are free. Word translation, flashcards and practice have a daily limit on the free plan; Pro removes the limits.
Sources and verification
This article was prepared by the LinguaCap team. Site and app features and plan terms may change; confirm current details at the official sources.
Learn from the anime you watch
Install the free Chrome extension, open an episode and add a translation line or your own Japanese subtitles.