The best way to learn...

SSJup81 · (#1 (**permalink**))

Hi all. What exactly is the best way to learn Kanji? I'm definitely very bad at it. I can recognize some characters without thinking twice about it, but still not much worth talking about. Some Kanji that come to mind that I can recognize, aside from the numbers, are:

Ame (the one that means rain)
Nihon
Nan
Sai
Nihongo
Go (meaning language)
Hon
Koori
Iku
Hikari
Hito/Jin
Naka
Kawa
Yama
Ooki
Genki
Ko/Kodomo
Gakusei
Gakkou
Gatsu/Getsu/Tsuki
Hi (meaning day)
Shiro
Watashi
De (出)
Ima
Kyou

That's all that's coming to mind right off. That list is definitely pathetic, right? So, what methods did you all use when learning Kanji?

Tain · (#2 (**permalink**))

study study study! i keep on forgetting them too, but i'm to lazy to repeat.

i just started on a new method called remembering the kanji, it's kind of a weird method and i wonder if it will pay off. it makes you remember the meaning of the kanji, not the pronunciation. however, what i noticed is that i remember alot of complex kanji easily, and the meaning will follow automatically.

kaelazors · (#3 (**permalink**))

the best way i can remember is just by practicing writing a lot and using it as much as i can whenever possible. usually when i studied for kanji tests, my short term memory would kick in and i could memorize everything i needed to for the exam, but a few days later i'd totally forget it all =/

SSJup81 · (#4 (**permalink**))

Quote:

Originally Posted by kaelazors

the best way i can remember is just buy practicing writing a lot and using it as much as i can whenever possible. usually when i studied for kanji tests, my short term memory would kick in and i could memorize everything i needed to for the exam, but a few days later i'd totally forget it all =/

I think this is my problem. There are some other Kanji characters I might see in my text while reading. My book is starting to use Kanji in the examples. While reading it (yay for furigana), I might remember it for the rest of my lesson, but it seems to be limited to just that. It's like I know what the words might mean if I hear it, but not when I see it.

I guess I'll just stick to trying to writing them out. I really do want to take the level 3 JLPT and would hate to do rotten because of Kanji reasons.

Scoob94P · (#5 (**permalink**))

you think that list is pathetic I only know three!!

日本語
私
出

as you can see, not very many.

Kai13 · (#6 (**permalink**))

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scoob94P

出

What does this mean, btw?

I dunno why, learn Kanji fast, I write it several times (like 5 lines in a row) and can remember it later, I haven't, however, started hitting hard on it.

kyo_9 · (#7 (**permalink**))

people tend to start gradually at first but progress later on.. you just have to wait patiently with writing the same kanji on and on.. but believe me, in times you will not aware how fast you can write and remember it.. studying is hard but don`t take it as a pressure,take it as a pleasure..

Scoob94P · (#8 (**permalink**))

kai13,
出 is 'de' i.e. 'deru' - to go. You will have
出rimasu
出rimashita
出rimasen
etc etc

Harold · (#9 (**permalink**))

Quote:

Originally Posted by SSJup81

Hi all. What exactly is the best way to learn Kanji? I'm definitely very bad at it. I can recognize some characters without thinking twice about it, but still not much worth talking about. Some Kanji that come to mind that I can recognize, aside from the numbers, are:

Ame (the one that means rain)
Nihon
Nan
Sai
Nihongo
Go (meaning language)
Hon
Koori
Iku
Hikari
Hito/Jin
Naka
Kawa
Yama
Ooki
Genki
Ko/Kodomo
Gakusei
Gakkou
Gatsu/Getsu/Tsuki
Hi (meaning day)
Shiro
Watashi
De (出)
Ima
Kyou

That's all that's coming to mind right off. That list is definitely pathetic, right? So, what methods did you all use when learning Kanji?

sai? which sai?

SSJup81 · (#10 (**permalink**))

Quote:

Originally Posted by Harold

sai? which sai?

The one you use with age.

私は二十六才です。
Watashi wa nijuuroku sai desu.
I am 26 years old.