Haley
How would I start learning how to read Kanji? How would I go about starting to learn to read and type using kanji?
May 26, 2015 3:31 AM
Comments · 4
2

Hi,

 

Here is how I have been learning:

 

1. WaniKani (website): This is a SRS based website that also has a mobile app. It helps for remembering kanji but it also teaches common vocabulary at the same time. It's not free, but I think it's worth the price. After 1.5 years of using it, I can recognize about 1300 kanji. It also only focuses on the most common readings and vocabulary which is more efficient than trying to memorize all possible readings of each kanji.

 

2. Remembering the Kanji (book): I've only used the first volume which only helps you memorize meanings and writing of kanji but it has helped me learn incredibly fast. The method it uses for memorizing may not work for everyone but for me it is the best.

 

3. Rikaikun (Chrome browser plugin) or Rikaichan (Firefox). This plugin allows you to translate the kanji in any Japanese web page. Once you learn a few undred kanji you can try switching your Facebook or Google account to display Japanese language and use Rikaikun to translate words you don't understand.

 

4. Read as much Japanese as possible. This helps reenforce new kanji and words I am learning. If I only study kanji without reading, I usually forget the kanji.

 

Whatever method you choose, the most important thing is to do it everyday, continuously.

 

Good luck!

June 2, 2015
1
This is how I started. 1)Buy a book. Any Kanji will do, but of course the one with pictorial, better. 2) Try to memorize as many Kanjis' stroke as much as possible. Later u will get use to it. 3) Memorizing the meaning is the problem. There's no shortcut key for this. Need to practice a lot by reading or doing the exercise. 4) Sometimes we may forget how to write the kanji, but if u follow step 2, just by having a quick glance at the kanji to make as reference, u are able to recall and write it. 5) Repetitive. This is just personal opinion, I would like to hear from others too.
May 26, 2015

Hayley here are some Kanji references for you

 

http://kanjialive.com/214-traditional-kanji-radicals/

http://japanese.about.com/library/blkodarchives.htm

 

Also try these sites for reading materials

 

https://chokochoko.wordpress.com/the-great-library/

http://life.ou.edu/stories/

http://www3.nhk.or.jp/news/easy/

 

Like Andy said Wanikani is an awesome site to learn Kanji the radicals then Kanji and finally vocabulary. I've been using Wanikani for a little over a year now.

June 5, 2015

I recommend, if you have an Android phone, or a computer, to get Anki [AnkiDroid on Android].

There you can find many already built 'decks' of virual flash cards.

You learn them, then use the app to quiz yourself on them, you press whether it was hard, ok, easy then depending on that and how often you get it right, the longer the time until you next see it.

It's similar to Rei's way (another commentor), but it's more fun, and essentially flash card revision like school!

It's also a well known, scientifically proven way to learn, repeating with larger gaps inbetween each time you get it right.

Goodluck! 

June 1, 2015