The "noun + auxiliary + verb" collocation is known to be difficult for Japanese learners. The purpose of this study is to clarify how Japanese learners, whose native language is Chinese, use dictionary apps to retrieve "noun + auxiliary + verb" collocations. Based on this aim, this study observed the use of dictionary apps by Japanese learners, whose native language is Chinese. With that objective, a survey where 23 participants were required to complete short sentences was conducted and the process of using dictionary Apps was observed. By analyzing how learners use dictionary apps, we clarified how the search methods of the learners would affect the selection of the collocations.
The result was, when selecting the collocations, the search methods for dictionary apps that easily lead to correct answers are nouns searching and/or example sentence reference. On the other hand, in the selection of Free Word Combinations, it was found that both searches from nouns and verbs tend to be less likely to lead to correct answers. Instead, this paper recommends the search method of referring to web information references or a two-step search with two types of dictionary apps. In addition, this paper pointed out the lack of relevant examples of free word combinations in dictionary apps and provided ideas for improving the situation.