[8 Ways to Learn Kanji] Key to Pass the JLPT!
Table of Contents
1. How do Japanese people learn kanji?
2. Why do you need to learn kanji?
3. 8 Ways to Learn Kanji
4. Summary
5. Similar Articles
6. Comment
A: How do Japanese people learn kanji?
A: They learn by repeatedly writing them out!
We often receive questions from students studying Japanese, asking, “How do Japanese people learn kanji?”
Actually, Japanese students study kanji for 6 years in elementary school, learning approximately 1,026 characters. They learn by writing them out every day and taking tests. Additionally, living in Japan exposes them to kanji in schools and books, aiding in memorization.
So how should foreigners learn?
Here, we’ll share stories from foreign students who have successfully learned many kanji.
Why do you need to learn kanji?
For foreign learners, memorizing many kanji characters beyond hiragana and katakana can be quite challenging.
So why do you need to memorize kanji in the first place?
Simply put, there are various benefits beyond just writing and reading.
Using kanji allows for conveying meanings that are difficult to express with hiragana, and it enhances vocabulary. When reading, understanding kanji enables quicker and more accurate comprehension of the meaning of sentences.
Moreover, Japanese society is filled with kanji. Kanji learning is not only essential for understanding words and sentences accurately but also for daily life and understanding Japanese culture.
8 Ways to Learn Kanji
① Write to memorize!
In Japan, bookstores and online sites sell kanji practice materials for both Japanese elementary school students and foreigners! Purchase them and practice by writing directly in the book or in a notebook. Repeating writing multiple times helps solidify it in memory.
②Write while saying it aloud
Another effective way to learn kanji is first to memorize how to read them. Once you understand the readings, it’s good to practice writing next.
Also, when studying kanji at home, it’s recommended to speak aloud while writing.
By seeing kanji, hearing the pronunciation, and writing them, you engage various senses, helping kanji stick in your mind more firmly.
③Learn through illustrations or silhouettes
Since many kanji are derived from actual objects, associating them with illustrations or silhouettes can be effective for memorization!
④ Memorize by radical
It’s recommended to learn kanji grouped by radicals, understand the meaning of each radical, and memorize kanji sharing the same radical.
For example, “さんずい” radical is related to “water,” encompassing characters like sea, wave, and lake. Understanding the meaning of radicals assists in memorizing new kanji characters.
Similarly, “きへん” radical relates to “tree,” including characters like forest, woods, and village. Organizing kanji by radicals helps in understanding their meanings and relationships more easily.
⑤ Create paper or app flashcards
Let’s practice by writing kanji on one side and reading on the other.
Compile the kanji you want to memorize on flashcards for easy review anytime.
⑥ Hang kanji posters in your room and make it a habit to see them every day
By seeing them every day, you can ensure not to forget kanji characters.
However, it’s crucial not just to look but to look consciously!
For those living in Japan, it might be beneficial to try searching for memorized kanji characters in the streets.
⑦ Create stories
You need to know the meanings of the parts of kanji characters, but you can create a story once you’ve memorized some kanji characters. This will make it easier to imagine.
For example, the kanji for “男 – man” is composed of “田 – field” and “力 – power.”
So, if you say “a man works in the field with power,” the kanji for “男 – man” might come to mind more easily.
⑧ Use it a lot in chats and emails with Japanese people!
Once you’ve memorized a certain amount, try using it a lot with Japanese people.
Since Japanese people also use many kanji characters, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to review the ones you know and learn new ones!
Summary
How did you find this article? We’ve learned that there are many methods for learning kanji characters.
Finally, when we hear stories from students who have memorized kanji, everyone seems to be trying hard to find the method that suits them best.
Try various methods yourself and enjoy studying in the way that suits you best!
