Lets talk WaniKani. Is it me? Am I the problem?

11 comments

1. > does anyone have a better suggestion/solution?

   Just learn kanji in the context of words, ie just learn vocabulary. Download something like the tango N5 deck in anki and just do that.

2. Whats your WK level? We’d require some context to understand if it just isn’t for you or if you’re perhaps still too early on to get a real impression of it.

   Myself, it rules. The mnemonics help at times but I’ve gotten to the point where memorisation just occurs from the kanji itself, no external English needed. Its handy how it handles all the SRS shit for me and I can quickly rattle through it on whatever device I have at hand, either at work or out and about.

3. I’m just a beginner, but from what i’ve seen wanikani isn’t for everyone, like how anki isn’t for everyone. I like wanikani very much because of how it breaks things down (specifically in radicals), gives me a mnemonic (don’t have to spend time making one up), and then teaches the on’yomi and kun’yomi when I need it.
   it eliminates all the preparing and let’s me get straight into it.

   radicals are important imo because it helps you better understand how to write it and what to see, especially when many kanji look alike. too it helps me figure out WHY is means what it means. wanikani, though, makes up some of the radical meanings, which i greatly don’t like, but it’s whatever. i’m learning kanji and have seen growth.

   what might confuse you is the Spaced Repetition System. the very same thing anki uses. you can google for the exact definition but to put it simply:
   it shows you the word for “rain” today to memorize.
   you get quizzed on “rain” tomorrow.
   you get quizzed on “rain” after three days.
   then after five.
   then ten.
   etc etc until you have it engraved into your memory.
   that’s why you don’t see some in reviews until days later, because you got better at remembering.

   as for *your plans*, you should look into anki, same thing but free on computer (last time i checked). i didn’t get anki because it costs a lot on phone (and i use my phone to study). you get to pick the decks, such as an N5 study deck, and do as you wish with adding and removing vocab/kanji. you can even add grammar into the mix, which wanikani doesn’t focus on.

   now as for *using wanikani*, i learned best in a youtube video. i wanted to see if WK was worth so i kinda already knew the ropes before going in. they too have a guide in the community forums that you can find by scrolling all the way down in your home screen.

   [here’s the tutorial i watched](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=9zhS14ZT0Ew)

   overall, don’t beat yourself up. this isn’t going to be a quick and easy journey, it WILL TAKE TIME. a lot of time. it helped me from feeling discouraged by accepting that. wanikani should take you a year or two to complete. some are three to four years in. know your limits and overall enjoy the time knowing that you’ll soon be able to watch movies, make friends, read books, text others, apply for jobs, ALL in japanese. i know this had nothing to do with your post, but i hope this encourages you. God bless!

4. WaniKani is a rip off and mnemonics aren’t needed

5. The radicals do help later on by giving hints about the meanings of new kanji. For example, most of the kanji for internal organs have the moon radical.

   During the lesson I normally write (badly) the kanij, reading, and meaning. This helps me retain the information better. I used to just click though reading everything and go blank when it came to the first review.

   At the start of a new level I write out all of the meanings, readings, and meanings with the intention of writing a simple sentence to help me get the meaning in context.

   During the lesson, I normally write (badly) the kanij, reading, and meaning. This helps me retain the information better. I used to just click through reading everything and go blank when it came to the first review. Either by creating a new mnemonic that works for me, creating a physical action to remember (sounds weird but it works) or drilling the kanji.

   If you have paid for your subscription I would suggest to trying some different approaches and seeing what works for you. If not try and look for other resources that might suit you better. Anki is popular (I didn’t like it) and renshuu, where you can find N5 kanji and vocab lists to practice.

   Edit ; There is also a mobile app Tsurukame if you struggle to fit in your reviews when they come up within a reasonable time.

   Good luck with your studies^^

6. If you want to skip the radicals you can customize the answer to accept “radical” as the answer. And then you can type “radical” when one appears. If you’re just starting it’s really slow and all you get in the beginning is radicals, but believe me it picks up when you start accumulating more and more and more kanji and vocabulary.

7. switch to RTK

   It would probably make much more sense to you

8. Do not besmirch the holy wanikani in this subreddit.

   Here’s my thoughts, https://old.reddit.com/r/LearnJapanese/comments/118pw73/questions_about_wanikani/j9j4hll/.

   If wanikani isn’t for you, don’t waste your money.

9. I feel this way about bunpro because it doesn’t limit your learning like wanikani does. I think just give it time and things will get better… lol
   Hopefully

10. Using WaniKani is very much buying in to the WaniKani philosophy which is radical -> kanji -> vocab.

    I love it because all you really need to do is force yourself to keep cranking and you WILL learn all the kanji.

    For folks who want to personalize their learning journey or want more integrated soeaking/grammar, I could see it not being a good fit.

11. Use user scripts. Omega reorder script will help you do the stuff you need to level up. Search the Wanikani forums and there’s tons of guides how to set it up