Yomitan → Anki: AI Sentence Translator

Adds automatic sentence translation to cards created through Yomitan.

When you add a word and example sentence to Anki using Yomitan, the add-on sends the sentence and target word to Google Gemini and fills the SentenceTranslation field with a natural, context-aware translation.

The card is created immediately. Translation runs in the background.

How it works

Yomitan → Anki → Gemini → SentenceTranslation

You use Yomitan as usual:

1. Find a word while watching subtitles.
2. Add the entry to Anki using your normal Yomitan workflow.
3. Anki creates the card immediately.
4. The add-on sends the sentence and target word to Gemini in the background.
5. When the response is ready, SentenceTranslation is filled automatically.

You do not need to do anything for each individual card.

Features

• Context-aware sentence translation instead of word-for-word translation
• The contextual translation of the target word is highlighted in bold
• Background translation without blocking card creation
• Uses your own Google Gemini API key
• Configurable source and target languages
• Structured Gemini output with validation before writing to Anki
• Failed Gemini requests do not prevent the card from being created

Setup

1. Install the add-on

Install the add-on from AnkiWeb.

2. Open the add-on settings

In Anki, go to:

Tools → Add-ons → select "Yomitan → Anki: AI Sentence Translator" → Config

This opens the add-on settings window.

3. Get a Gemini API key

The add-on uses your own Google Gemini API key.

Open Google AI Studio:

https://aistudio.google.com/apikey

1. Sign in with your Google account.
2. Create or select a project if Google asks you to.
3. Create an API key.
4. Copy the API key.

You do not need Python, a terminal, Windows environment variables, or manual file editing.

4. Enter the API key

Paste the key into the Gemini API key field in the add-on settings.

Click Test connection.

If the key is valid and Gemini is available, the add-on will confirm the connection.

5. Choose the languages

Source language:
Leave this as Auto-detect unless you want to specify it manually.

Target language:
Choose the language you want the sentence translated into.

Examples:

Source: Auto-detect
Target: Russian

or

Source: Auto-detect
Target: English

6. Save

Save the settings.

That's it.

From this point on, use Yomitan normally. New cards added through the Yomitan → Anki workflow will be translated automatically in the background.

Example

English

Many employers are adopting a full 5 day office week or a hybrid schedule, so the competition for fully remote positions has increased.

Russian

Многие работодатели возвращаются к полной пятидневке в офисе или вводят гибридный график, поэтому конкуренция за полностью удаленные позиции возросла.

The target word is translated according to the context of the sentence rather than simply using a dictionary definition.

Important

• You need your own Google Gemini API key.
• Gemini API usage is subject to Google's current API limits and pricing.
• The sentence and target word are sent to Google Gemini when a translation is requested.
• The add-on does not intentionally send unrelated Anki cards or collection data for translation.
• If Gemini is unavailable or returns an error, the card remains in Anki normally; only the automatic translation is missing.

Known limitations

• Automatic translation currently applies to new cards added through the supported Yomitan → Anki workflow.
• Existing notes are not automatically backfilled in this version.
• Translation quality depends on the AI model and the context available in the source sentence.
• An internet connection is required when the translation request is made.

Roadmap

• Retry handling for failed translation requests
• Translation of older notes with missing translations
• Additional AI providers
• Improved multilingual options