So originally, I was afraid of studing kanji, because naturally for non-asian they looked so alien and complex and I thought I will never remember such difficult things, but then when I got the hang of it it dawn on me how easily I can deal with them, at least visually.
I can learn 100 characters in just 3 days, but there is a problem.
I can’t associate the pronunciation/reading with the characters I learn. So, for example when I hear the pronunciation of a word I can easily retrieve the meaning, but when I look at the character I can’t recall its pronunciation however I try. I can still remember its meaning, but when it comes to pronunciation my head starts to hurt.
I’ve been trying to memorize their reading for the past week, litterally the whole week at least 2 reviews per day via Anki and still no results even though I can understand their translation. I even added audio files to them so my brain can associate the sounds with the visuals but when I turn off the volume and try to remember the reading of kanji I fail miserably.
Any advice?
15 comments
I wouldn’t learn a single kanji with their pronunciation, I would rather set them in context of a whole sentence.
I see you mention trying to learn the readings of kanji a lot. Are you also learning *words* that use the kanji you’ve just learned? Because learning isolated kanji readings is a lot harder and less useful than learning words.
I had this problem too but I’m making slow but steady progress now. Here is what worked for me. Instead of trying to memorize the numerous kun/onyomi for each Kanji, I tried to memorize just 1 onyomi.
Second, instead of trying to just memorize the onyomi for random Kanji, I’m focusing on the onyomi used for the vocab word that is used in the lesson I’m currently studying. Which gives me a bit of context for their meaning and sound.
Third, I’m writing the exercises (sentences) out by hand and saying them aloud (muttering/mumbling to myself) as I do. As I use a Kanji word in various exercise questions, the output (speaking/writing) is helping to reinforce my memory.
Finally, I would try reducing the number of Kanji you’re trying to memorize in a day/week. I would start with a small number like 5 and gradually increase it till you find the sweet spot between progress and retainability.
The only way out is to encounter them more, sadly. After X times you will learn that XY kanji are read as XY.
My trick is not much of a trick at all.
Yesterday I learned this one (among others…):
企て = くわだて
What I did was make a list of words I was learning including 企て.
Stare real hard at 企て, cover up くわだて with paper so you can’t see it.
Say くわだて out loud a lot of times, while staring at the kanji. Stare really hard at that kanji.
Then go down the list and do the same for the other words.
Every 15-20 min, go back to your list, look real hard at your new words, and say them out loud.
The next day, most will stick. Not all, but most.
I learned Kanji as a kind of “spelling”. I had to give up learning onyomi and kunyomi readings early because it was just too much for me to internalize.
So basically I learn:
Chair = isu
Isu is spelled 椅子
So if I see 椅子, and I know it means chair, then I ALSO know the reading, because I know the word.
If you have a 3/ds GameGengo has a good video on some games that help you learn how to read (& write) kanji.
If you have a 3/ds GameGengo has a good video on some games that help you learn how to read (& write) kanji.
If you have a 3/ds GameGengo has a good video on some games that help you learn how to read (& write) kanji.
If you have a 3/ds GameGengo has a good video on some games that help you learn how to read (& write) kanji.
If you have a 3/ds GameGengo has a good video on some games that help you learn how to read (& write) kanji.
If you have a 3/ds GameGengo has a good video on some games that help you learn how to read (& write) kanji.
kanji don’t have pronunciations, words do. there are patterns of pronunciation that overlap a given character, but the word is what dictates the pronunciation not the kanji. learn words and learn the kanji associated with the words. eventually the patterns start merging and help with memorizing new words, but don’t try to just shove raw kanji plus a meaning and pronunciation(s) into your brain, or that’s a lot of probably unnecessary information that won’t help you read or write. (or do, if that works for you, as it does for a small number of people, which is fine, but most don’t and it’s absolutely not necessary.)
yes there are such things as kunyomi and onyomi and all that, but it often confuses newcomers that think they need to memorize that in order to build up words from memorized characters, whereas it’s the opposite. words are always the base unit. read and write them in context to help.
there’s nothing wrong with also looking up information on individual kanji if you like, such as the meanings of the radicals and such, or anything else you like. do whatever makes you happy and you’re interested in. just don’t treat kanji like characters that need to be memorized separately in order to build up reading a word. if you want to try this as a way to help recognizing characters, i recommend [https://smile.amazon.com/Kodansha-Kanji-Learners-Course-Step/dp/1568365268/](https://smile.amazon.com/Kodansha-Kanji-Learners-Course-Step/dp/1568365268/)
WaniKani has really accelerated my kanji learning. I think it’s $5 per month but I 10/10 recommend it.
Maybe you are focusing too much on learning the kanji’s character. I mean, I assume you’ve been learning 100 characters in 3 days, at least once. That’s A LOT. It’s great that you can do that, and I understand it may be what you most like to learn, but don’t expect to learn the readings at the same pace, nor expect your brain to function with the same energy as it does with the characters (it may be somewhat spent I guess).
Also, the comments saying that learning vocab with kanji is better than learning individual readings are right. For most people, it’s a much more efficient method, or even the only working method. It may not be for you, but trying it out doesn’t hurt.