Comments on: How I studied kanji

By: ross

ross — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 06:23:41 +0000

if you’re still even watching this, how did you do the kanji with multiple readings, like 立? because it seems to always take almost all the way across an a4 sheet to write the ones with more readings down

By: gmwiz05

gmwiz05 — Sat, 05 Mar 2011 04:29:37 +0000

@Alfonse
I find that very funny about the English dictionary thing. As I recall, most of my School education was learning definitions. If I didn’t use the dictionary, someone told me what it meant.
I’m a natural born American citizen and I know more about English than the average person. Mostly, from reading books, talking to people, and looking in the dictionary. School books have glossaries in the back and such… So, if you think about it, you probably did more defining than you think. I even learned about the fundamental differences between British and American English, when I was 4 yrs. of age.
Everything one learns, is by that of heart. With S.R.S. applications such as, Anki and others… I can space out a little of my reviewing. I’ve decided to learn 3 漢字 a day, sometimes more. Learn the vocab that associates with it, too. It seems a waste to use “Remembering the Kanji” when one isn’t “remembering” anything at all. One shouldn’t have to pay money on a book that teaches ideas on mnemonics… as that comes naturally when studying. -duh
I’d rather be listening to music or watching T.V. than reading that book.

Well, all in all, no harm done. Just that, some different approaches, “supposedly”, help some people.

*Note: If you don’t know it by heart, then you are only familiar with it. One needs to have information memorized before they can apply reasoning. This is totally lacking in the Western Education system, presently. Think of it this way,

“It’s ever so better to carve a sculpture, rather than ponder on how it was carved. But, in the end result one still has to carve to find out how it was done.”

I say, cut out the middle man and start carving. -haha

By: ムアーズ

ムアーズ — Sat, 12 Feb 2011 19:06:47 +0000

that’s really fantastic way for learning kanji
i figured it out my self but a little different from you but the idea of writing and reviewing that’s the method that works for me , thanks a lot for the extra tips it was really helpful

By: Alfonse

Alfonse — Wed, 15 Dec 2010 19:59:28 +0000

“I have to question how well the Heisig method teaches you jukugo. Learning the writing and reading for a kanji is pretty easy, it’s learning how the kanji is used and combined with other kanji that takes much more time and effort.”

I think the brilliance of the method is that it splits the work into halves this way. Neither piece, alone, seems hard at all to me.

I went through Heisig volume 1 in 2 months. Now I can pick up any comic book, or turn on Japanese subtitles in any Japanese movie, and understand what’s going on.

True, I didn’t learn the pronunciation of “我” in those 2 months. But you only have to see and hear “我々” a couple times to know what it means.

True, there are exceptions, and there are a few words made up of kanji that you wouldn’t be able to guess from just knowing the meaning of the individual kanji. There are exceptions in pronunciation and meaning of English words, too. I just learn them as needed. I’ve never felt the need to copy an English dictionary to learn English.

If you want to learn how kanji are used in context, it’s hard to beat “just pick up a newspaper”.

By: tara

tara — Sat, 06 Nov 2010 23:25:23 +0000

i started learning japanese about a month (or 2) ago, im in highschool and i hope to go to a college to and study the japanese language in formal classes but for now im learning japanese on my own (itsa passion) and i am doing the same thing ! except with japanese in general, kana, kanji, grammer, vocab ect, i guess scince i dont have a textbook i kinda started making my own to look back to (although i do have audio tapes, many books and the internet as resorces in my learning)

i was surprised to see that someone else did the same thing- and i agree it is fun to see a look on a friends face when they see some words written in hiragana and say “you can READ this ?” and i LOVE looking through it and thinking i know all of this !

im 14 by the way and i know im going to learn japanese ^-^

By: Justin

Justin — Sat, 21 Aug 2010 13:39:28 +0000

Hi! your blog is great and very helpful. Im studying kanji aswell for i will (hopefully) make it to japan to work as a KANGO, However it really frustrates me on what and how to begin. I want to study basic kanji first but we are advised to study medical and nursing kanji terms for our pending interview. so thats my dilemma. Anyway Thanks for sharing your tips really helpful thanks”!!! Justin from Philippines domo arigatou gozaimashita!!!

By: darren

darren — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 08:32:19 +0000

grizzwintgreenlc@hotmail.com

By: darren

darren — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 08:31:27 +0000

yes i would like to see how you write the word “boring” in kanji. can anyone help. if so email me. thanks

By: Matt Katch

Matt Katch — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 00:54:32 +0000

I really like the spaced repitition method that’s big in flashcard programs now like Anki (free online and lots of public Japanese decks). The one I’ve been using recently is from OrangeorApple.com and is an iTouch app called Flashcards Deluxe. It doesn’t have as big of a public library of decks as Anki yet, but it is more flexible, and I’m adding my own decks as I make bazillions of flashcards. Still, my writing suffers w/ only flashcards, and I think I’m going to try the approach from here as well.

By: Lloyd Vincent

Lloyd Vincent — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 03:38:36 +0000

@Bryan: Good job, sticking with it is the real key, more than what particular method you do.

I had the furigana and meanings in my notebook, but cheating was never a problem. The information was right there if I wanted it, but it never “tempted” me. After all, what’s the point of cheating with yourself? I also never “accidentally” saw any of the answers: you’d be surprised how small your field of vision really is for reading.