Im a new learner ive just memorized hiragana and katakana and ive been trying to learn kanji for a while but i can only recognize a few characters I’m confused on how some characters are read differently like 日 is read differently if paired with 本語 but need help on overall learning
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I had this same question recently. Here’s an article someone linked me to that I found really helpful: [https://www.tofugu.com/japanese/onyomi-kunyomi/](https://www.tofugu.com/japanese/onyomi-kunyomi/)
I also have had a lot of success using WaniKani to learn Kanji and highly recommend it.
Edit: A note on your example above. It’s important to understand the meanings of the kanji and how they relate to the word you’re talking about. 日 means sun. 本 means book, or origin. Therefore, 日本 is “Sun Origin”, or Land of the Rising Sun, which is what we call Japan. For an english equivalent, think of “geo” (relating to the earth) and how we can pair it with geo-graphy (process of drawing or writing), geo-logy (study of), geo-thermal, etc.
I’m also very much a beginner, however the rule tends to be that there’s one way to pronounce it when it’s grouped with other Kanji and another for when it is alone with hiragana. However this rule isn’t always followed and sometimes there are even more ways of pronouncing it and when it comes to that I don’t know how it works. Also I was told that there’s a correct order of learning kanji which basically goes from most important to less common ones and you can find it by just looking up the order that Japanese school children learn them in.
Kanji can be really difficult, especially if you’re not sure how to approach it. So it’s super important to take it slow.
Most kanji have multiple ways of being said
日 = にち, に or ひ for example
Apparently there is some rule to know which to use and when, but it’s inconsistent so I haven’t bothered with it.
I try to learn kanji in groups of 5, start basic and move onto more difficult stuff.
I also try to learn them with words.
So 日本語 would be a great example for learning these specific characters.
十二月 as another example
Learn the kanji with the words, learn those specific ways to say it. Don’t worry too much about which specific sound you need to use. Learn how to say it when by itself. Then eventually learn which ways it’s said with whichever kanji.
Don’t worry about why that sound is used with that certain kanji, that sort of worry will distract your focus on absorbing the word.
For example: 日 by itself is usually ひ, in 日本語 it becomes に. Don’t worry about why it does this. It’s a looot easier to accept it, absorb it and move one. There are too many kanji, eventually you’ll learn these different ways of being said, but for now don’t look into it too hard.
Look into flashcards, or websites too. Wanikani is really good, and I love it. Imabi.com provides a very detailed (but possibly overwhelming) overview also.
Also look into kanji radicals, it’ll help learn individual kanji that look similar to others.
You can learn kanji by itself, learn it in words, or both!
But allow yourself time to absorb the kanji. Don’t move on to the next kanji so quickly. Learn to write it, make hundreds of sentences using that certain kanji, absorb it.
A schedule is good too! Try 3-5 kanji a week, or however many is comfortable for you.
I hope this helps! It’s a lot to take it, so I am sorry if it is! If you have any questions, please ask! I’ll be happy to answer as best to my abilities
曰く
This is why it’s best to just learn words
Kanji have too many readings to memorize them all
Learn words not individual Kanji. You’ll grasp their understanding better. Not only tnat but your pronunciation will be better as a result.